Chapter 70: Shotgun Assault on Cavalry
TL: Etude
The artillery on the high ground had already noticed the approaching enemy. The pikemen who came to assist had planted the ends of their long spears into the ground, ready to defend against the cavalry.
Following Pauls command, the artillerymen adjusted the direction of their cannons, now loaded with shot, aiming at the inevitable path of the advancing Baylding knights.
Aibut saw the Aldan soldiers turning to face them in a defensive stance.
Hmph! Grayman has only arranged two thin layers of spearmen against us. We can easily break through them.
Knights of this era possessed their own fiefs, wore the finest equipment, ate the best food, and held a high social status. Indoctrinated repeatedly with virtues like loyalty and bravery, they valued honor and faith more than their own lives. All these aspects bestowed upon knights both material and spiritual strength.
If they ever betrayed these virtues of loyalty and bravery, like hesitating to charge upon their lords command, they would lose everything. For a knight, such a punishment was more dreadful than death.
Thus, despite the dangers of charging, they would still rush towards the enemy without hesitation. The first knight to engage the enemy would be honored and rewarded supremely, regardless of whether they survived.
Both the knights and their warhorses were clad in heavy armor, naturally forming a formidable heavy cavalry.
The warhorses wore specially made iron masks with a single opening at the front. This allowed the horses nearly a 360-degree view, using a small gap in vision to see the terrain and obstacles ahead without getting distracted by the surroundings or frightened by a forest of long spears.
Facing a spear formation, the knights didnt just charge blindly. Even with a resolve to die, horses would instinctively avoid sharp objects. A blind charge was only a last resort under dire circumstances and required specific terrain and distance.
Typically, the first row of knights would throw spears or shoot with short bows, then disperse to the sides. The following knights would decide to continue throwing or to charge directly. Once a small breach was made, the subsequent cavalry would rapidly enlarge the gap and wreak havoc inside the formation.
Unless facing well-trained troops, most people, especially those hastily conscripted militias, would psychologically collapse under the powerful onslaught of a cavalry charge, often scattering in disarray.
Although Aibut led only a few dozen cavalry, as they drew closer, they still exerted immense pressure on the Aldan army, causing many soldiers to sweat nervously.
Damn, weve underestimated them! Paul regretted, seeing the rising dust in the distance. Two rows of spearmen might not be enough to hold them back.
He and two battalion commanders fiercely whipped their horses, running along the formation, hoping to quickly relay a new order: Rows three to six, fall back!
The sudden command to change formation caused some confusion, especially with enemy cavalry charging at high speed.
Aibut, observing the movements in the Aldan troops, sneered, Too late! Such thin lines are practically suicidal.
He targeted a gap between two infantry battalions, planning to break through there for a pincer attack.
Then, the Aldan armys cannons fired!
Eight cannons firing shot simultaneously was a terrifying spectacle. Accompanied by flashes of fire and billowing smoke, each cannon spewed hundreds of pellets, creating a 30 to 50-meter wide arc at a distance of 400 meters. A deadly metallic storm surged towards the Baylding cavalry.
As Aibut and his nearby knights raised their spears, countless lethal pellets also struck from their right side. Nearly half of the 30-knight assault team were instantly brought down, both men and horses riddled with holes. Their armor proved useless against this onslaught.
The remaining knights were nearly all injured, both man and horse. Horses that hadnt died either lay on the ground neighing in pain or ran uncontrollably in panic. Fallen knights struggled to avoid being trampled by their mounts, or lay wailing in agony from their wounds.
A few knights at the rear, fortunate to be unharmed, lost control of their warhorses in the face of the unfolding tragedy, letting their startled mounts carry them aimlessly across the battlefield.
Paul, staring at the grim scene, felt a sense of familiarity and murmured to himself, Their morale is broken.
He quickly recovered, ordering the last four rows of pikemen to turn and face the infantry directly ahead.
In fact, the will of the Baylding soldiers in front had already shattered. As they approached the Aldan army again, they were hit by two volleys from the musketeers and a round of mortar fire. Their morale had hit rock bottom, with many quietly deserting.
Finally, the soldiers who didnt approach the musketeers side reached the Aldan troops. They tried several times to disrupt the pikemens formation, but every approach was met with a single response from the pikemen a direct thrust, without evasion or cover.
At the officers command, a row of spears thrust forward in unison, each time claiming lives.
Eventually, realizing the futility of their efforts, they instinctively distanced themselves from the enemy, their fear of death overpowering them, indifferent to the overseers whips lashing their backs.
As an overseer knight was about to execute a few cowards to set an example, he saw the terrible demise of his comrades through the gaps in the Aldan ranks. His sword clattered to the ground beneath his horse.
Many Baylding militia at the front also witnessed this.
The encircling knights are completely annihilated! This dreadful news quickly spread among them, creating panic. These were the knights they had revered!
The overseers nearby militia pleaded with him not to send them to certain death. Realizing the situation, he whipped the crowd to disperse them and spurred his horse away without looking back.
Seeing the Aldan troops raise their spears for a charge, the abandoned Baylding militia knelt, crying and begging for mercy, devoid of any will to flee.
With the situation under control, Paul said to his officers, Gentlemen, it looks like well be having dinner in Butuya City tonight.
The orders were swiftly issued: The first infantry battalion and musketeers would advance towards Butuya City gates, and the second infantry battalion would gather prisoners.
Angelo and his companions had been observing the battlefield, now realizing that defeat was inevitable.
That idiot, that bastard Aibut, hes failed! he cursed bitterly. Everything was lost.
What should we do now, my lord? Should we retreat and hold out in the city? asked two barons, their faces filled with despair.
Angelo shook his head, Even if we rally some fleeing troops, its useless. Butuya cant be defended.
He pointed southward, We cant stay in our own lands either. With only the old, the young, and women left, they cant resist Graymans army. We should gather some valuables, take our families, and head south to seek refuge with Count Kent. He will surely shelter us.
The three quickly agreed and ran in the opposite direction of the Aldan army.
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