Chapter 271 Chapter271-The Battle Commences
The most intense debate arose over the appointment of the commander for the right army, with the fiercest competition between Knight Kaido and Knight Anna.
Both Margaret and Bosiden showed interest, but they stepped back in the face of the strong contention between Anna and Kaido.
Kaido argued that he was battle-hardened and exceptionally brave, also emphasizing his connection as the brother-in-law of a baron.
In contrast, Anna countered fiercely.
She too claimed to be experienced and courageous in battle.
Moreover, she highlighted her illustrious Katerina family background and her crucial role in supporting Lord Howard's rise from Yami Village, asserting her status as Howard's trusted confidant.
Kaido, visibly agitated and on the verge of anger, was promptly calmed by Howard, who ultimately chose Anna as the commander of the right army.
Though Kaido was internally dissatisfied, he refrained from voicing his discontent.
Under Resarite's command, the army immediately set out towards Grey Valley, west of Wislot city.
The conscripted soldiers of Wislot, under Mayor Portwan, were already stationed in Grey Valley, awaiting orders.
A day later, Resarite led a surprise attack with his force of over 1,300 soldiers against the 1,500 troops assembled by Portwan.
As a mayor, Portwan was adept at urban management and stabilizing economies, but he lacked military expertise.
His ability to ride a horse without falling behind was considered commendable for someone of his background, but his military prowess was severely limited.
Portwan's army was led by three commanders: Mibo's chief spy, Portia, in command of the left army; Mayor Portwan himself leading the center; and Karlondo, the president of the Wislot Merchants' Association, commanding the right.
Among these three, not one was experienced in warfare.
Karlondo, like Portwan, was a specialist in commerce, with no knowledge of military tactics.
Portia, although deployed by Mibo to Wislot to monitor movements in Fernsouth and temporarily granted command of the left army by Portwan, primarily specialized in espionage.
His military ability was slightly better than the other two, but still not of a high standard.
Howard's army and Portwan's forces commenced their first clash.
Following Resarite's advice, they discarded any notion of a tentative skirmish to test the enemy's strength.
Instead, they were ready to switch to a full-frontal assault at the first sign of weakness, aiming to annihilate the opposing forces in a single battle.
Bosiden, with his background in diplomacy, felt uneasy about this aggressive strategy.
In his professional judgment, it seemed too risky.
However, having been recommended by Resarite for his position with Howard and owing to their shared history, Bosiden found it impossible to oppose Resarite's viewpoint.
Despite his reservations, he reluctantly endorsed Resarite's plan.
Margaret agreed with Resarite's approach, seeing its strategic merit.
Anna, after scrutinizing the marching map and the terrain of Grey Valley, bravely overcame her reservations and supported Resarite's plan.
Kaido, known for his bold and direct nature, and having built a reputation for bravery before meeting Howard, found Resarite's plan aligned with his personality and thus, concurred with the strategy.
With the rest of the council in agreement, Howard also endorsed Resarite's plan, resulting in a unanimous decision for the first engagement's strategy.
Under Resarite's meticulous coordination, Howard's army cleverly and silently approached Portwan's troops, using the towering vegetation of the valley to their advantage.
Although Portwan's soldiers maintained good discipline as city defenders, their military training and awareness were somewhat lacking.
They hadn't even taken basic precautions like securing a vantage point with a wide field of view or setting up sentries for alertness.
Leading the left wing, Howard and his troops stealthily approached within five hundred meters of Portwan's army, moving along a stream and using reed thickets for cover.
Surprisingly, not a single enemy soldier detected them, reflecting a severe lack of defensive awareness.
As per the prearranged plan, Howard drew his two-handed sword and, with the ferocity of a berserk warrior, let out a thunderous roar while charging towards Portwan's forces.
Portwan himself, engrossed in a discussion about next quarter's procurement with the president of the merchants' association, was startled by Howard's war cry and fell off his horse.
The president, upon seeing Howard's forces crossing the stream and advancing towards them, fainted on the spot in sheer terror.
Resarite unsheathed his sword, and the military musicians sounded the horns.
The entire army shifted from a probing attack to a full-scale charge, aiming to break the enemy's line in one decisive blow.
Both Resarite and Anna's troops launched a comprehensive assault.
The light and heavy cavalry charged into the midst of Portwan's soldiers, resembling a pack of wolves descending upon a flock of sheep.
Howard, leading the left-wing cavalry, swung around in a semi-circular maneuver to Portwan's right flank, effectively cutting off their retreat.
With Grey Valley's northern and southern exits - a narrow mountain path to the north and a stream to the south - Howard's cavalry blocked the northern path, intent on preventing any escape and annihilating the enemy in one fell swoop.
Howard's left-wing infantry engaged in close-quarters combat, fiercely clashing with Portwan's troops.
Archers, usually a significant advantage in such terrain, were underutilized by Portwan due to poor positioning.
The defenders' archers couldn't occupy any advantageous terrain, let alone secure a good vantage point or higher ground, severely limiting their effectiveness.
Amidst the cavalry charge led by Resarite and Anna, Portwan's archers were completely overwhelmed, unable to shoot or aim properly.
A daring archer attempted to draw his bow despite the threat of the cavalry, but before he could complete the action, he was impaled by a massive lance.
Portwan's troops, accustomed to city defense, had never experienced such warfare.
Now, with their retreat cut off and morale shattered, they were in utter disarray.
Portia, seizing the moment, bellowed, "Don't panic! The enemy has cut off our escape; if we don't fight, we all die! But if we fight bravely, we still have a chance! Quartermasters, destroy all our cooking gear! We fight with our backs against the wall! Brothers, follow me into battle!"
Unexpectedly, Portia displayed military capabilities far beyond his usual role in this crisis.
Resarite took a long, thoughtful look at him, committing this man to memory.
Portwan, struggling to his feet and hearing Portia's words, also rallied the troops to fight.
Karlondo, the president of the merchants' association, had fainted, but his deputy, Madam Agate, took command and called the soldiers to battle.
Kaido, galloping on his horse with perfect control of the reins, would look back, thrust, and impale an enemy light infantryman, leaving no chance of survival.
His ferocity was unmatched.
Margaret, with her agile fighting style, used a dagger in tandem with her black cloak, often striking enemies unaware and dealing a heavy blow to their morale.
Anna, gripping her knightly sword, was followed by a few light cavalrymen forming a V-shaped formation, advancing steadily with a balance of offense and defense.
Mounted on his horse, Bosiden wielded a knight's sword, but his combat skills were mediocre; the damage he inflicted by sword was less than that caused by his horse's charge.
Resarite, overseeing the key moments of the battle, suddenly had a stroke of insight.
He ordered the archers to ascend the high mountain on the right flank, and they promptly began to climb.
Subsequently, Resarite dispatched a reserve force to reinforce Howard's offensive on the left.
This special unit, consisting of over twenty cavalrymen, was under Resarite's direct command and acted as a pivotal force on the battlefield, capable of tipping the scales like a domino.
Howard, now dismounted, wielded his two-handed sword with lethal proficiency, his armor stained red but his eyes still clear, though with a hint of ferocity.
His troops on the left were locked in direct combat with Portia's forces, the struggle intense and unresolved.
The cavalry squad led by Howard was tasked with cutting off the enemy's main force's retreat route, facing immense pressure.
The soldiers understood that their only escape was through the narrow path to the north, resulting in fierce attacks in that direction.
Fortunately, the narrow mountain path allowed the cavalry to charge back and forth, staining the entrance red and maintaining control of Grey Valley's northern exit.
Realizing that the mountain path had not been breached, Resarite judged that their hold could not last indefinitely.
Thus, he dispatched the remaining cavalry reserve to support the left flank.
If the left flank broke through, Portia's army would collapse, demoralizing the entire enemy force and leading them back to despair.
Victory would be certain.
The archers, who had earlier climbed the high mountain on the right, proved to be a masterstroke.
From their vantage point, they could launch deadly volleys, further tipping the battle in Howard's favor.
As seconds ticked into minutes, Howard seemed to be in a frenzy, his eyes burning with a berserker's rage.
Through the slits of his helmet, he could clearly see the figures of his enemies.
With each swing of his great sword, blood splattered, hissing as it struck.
In one such instance, blood spattered into Howard's eyes, momentarily blinding him.
On this battlefield, the distinction between nobility and commoners faded into irrelevance.
Amidst blood and darkness, the only path that emerged was one carved by struggle and survival.
The northern mountain pass remained impregnable under the stalwart defense of Howard's cavalry.
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