Ch.214First War

If Lord Ludwig had endured just one more day, the outcome might have been different.

Thousands of Ka’har would have been helplessly slaughtered under a rain of arrows, blocked by the wall.

Conversely, if Aishan-Gioro Amin’s control had been just a bit stronger, the result would have been different.

Unknown to Amin, Ludwig’s forces were in a situation where they had no choice but to march out.

On a battlefield beyond the wall’s range,

Ka’har mounted archers could have repeatedly attacked and retreated, forcing one-sided casualties on the imperial army.

But whether by chance or fate, both commanders could no longer hold back and issued attack orders at almost the same moment.

To be precise, Ludwig was slightly faster.

While Havar, who had pressured Amin into giving the attack order, was gleefully directing his soldiers to prepare for battle, the Landenburg forces were already stepping outside the wall.

“The imperial dogs have gone mad! Thinking they can fight us on open plains!”

Receiving the scout’s report, Havar smiled instead.

He knew well that enemies on open ground were easier to deal with than those barricaded behind walls.

“What should we do? If we wait for all of them to come out…”

“No, we attack right now! If we hesitate, they might hide again!”

Havar immediately ordered the attack.

He couldn’t know whether the imperial army would send out their entire force to advance, or just test the waters before retreating behind the wall.

So he chose what his heart told him.

To seize this opportunity and fight as quickly and fiercely as possible.

He didn’t want to waste this golden chance when the enemy had rushed out from behind the wall—a battle he had barely convinced Amin to allow.

“First and Second Thousand-Units, mount up and attack from both sides! Third Thousand-Unit, take shields and advance through the center!”

Havar commanded three thousand White Banner troops and one hundred fifty warriors.

He divided them into three thousand-unit groups with fifty warriors each, converting two thousand of them into cavalry.

Though trained as infantry, the White Banner troops were much better utilized as cavalry in an open field battle.

“Let’s go! The time has come to spill imperial blood across the plains!”

“OOOOOHHH!”

Two thousand mounted White Banner troops charged forward with battle cries.

Toward the Landenburg forces that had just begun to emerge from behind the wall.

—-

“They’re charging at this moment…?”

Ludwig exhaled smoke with a dumbfounded expression.

The sound of hooves pounded the earth like hail, and clouds of dust rose behind the charging enemies.

The battle cries of the White Banner troops led by Havar echoed loudly enough to reach the top of the wall.

Even at a glance, they numbered in the thousands.

It was obvious they had committed at least half their forces to this attack.

‘No, why now of all times…’

It was a completely incomprehensible move.

Just when Landenburg was forced to commit most of its troops to an unfavorable battle—exactly as the enemy’s delaying tactics had intended—they voluntarily came within range.

If they had waited just a bit longer, they could have fought a much more favorable battle.

Even Ludwig couldn’t have predicted this.

How could he have known that the enemies who came to attack the wall would be led by a fool who couldn’t properly control his subordinates and a battle-maniac who preferred bloody combat over safe victory?

This was a first for Ludwig. Until now, the Ka’har armies he had faced were legions directly commanded by Aishan-Gioro Orhan.

In other words, they were men who absolutely obeyed Orhan’s orders.

Ludwig didn’t properly understand the true nature of these people who openly showed hostility when their commander displayed weakness by trying to avoid battle.

Had he known, he would have waited a few more days, until the enemy’s division became more apparent.

‘Well, the reason doesn’t matter now. I need to respond first…!’

Ludwig looked down below the wall.

Having just begun to deploy his forces, only about half his troops were outside the wall.

Eight hundred infantry divided into four units, and a thousand cavalry waiting at the front on both flanks. Plus four Masters.

The rest were preparing to descend the wall and move outside, while four hundred archers remained in reserve, lined up on top of the wall.

‘It’s too late to recall the troops. Trying to bring them back inside the wall now would only leave them vulnerable to attack from behind. Given the situation, we have no choice but to fight with our backs to the wall while continuing to deploy our forces…!’

Ludwig’s forces consisted of two thousand infantry, a thousand archers, and a thousand cavalry.

Four hundred light cavalry and four hundred heavy cavalry.

Adding two hundred knights, who were essentially an elite version of heavy cavalry, meant he had six hundred heavy cavalry units in total.

Six hundred heavy cavalry was an unprecedented number among imperial lords, but they were facing a unique people who could convert even their infantry to cavalry when needed.

It was hardly enough force to face them.

Indeed, the approaching enemy cavalry alone outnumbered Landenburg’s by two to one.

‘At least it’s fortunate that we sent out the cavalry first. We might somehow be able to withstand their frontal charge.’

Having finished his assessment, Ludwig immediately looked back and issued orders.

“Archers! Climb to the top of the wall and target the enemy cavalry! Infantry, continue facing outside the wall!”

At his thunderous command, six hundred archers lined up inside the wall hurriedly began climbing the stairs.

The four hundred already on the wall aimed their bows at the enemy.

“Second and Third Infantry Units, defend the center! First and Fourth Infantry Units, gather at the rear flanks! Cavalry, wait until the enemy is close enough!”

The soldiers outside the wall quickly formed their positions.

Heavy cavalry at the front of both flanks, with light cavalry following behind them.

It was a formation designed to have the heavy cavalry withstand the arrows shot by Ka’har cavalry, then use the light cavalry to entangle the enemy once they got close enough.

Eight hundred infantry formed three defensive squares behind the cavalry.

They prayed their large shields and spears would hold back the enemy cavalry.

The Ka’har legion, encountered for the first time in eight years, approached with strange battle cries.

======[Haschal]======

‘…They’re really coming.’

[See? I told you Amin couldn’t possibly suppress the warriors’ discontent.]

Even so, I never expected there would be so many madmen openly charging toward the wall.

I couldn’t help but sigh as I watched the cavalry approaching like a sandstorm.

If they were going to attack anyway, they should have either charged earlier or much later. Why exactly at this timing…

Half the archers had descended from the wall, and the cavalry and infantry were practically separated.

It was a perfectly timed attack when Landenburg’s defenses were at their weakest.

Maintaining the standoff would have been their best strategy, so this must be their second-best option.

‘I hope Nigel and Leonore are alright…’

[If you’re so worried, why didn’t you move with the knights? Instead of watching from here like a coward.]

As Hersella said, I was still standing on top of the wall watching the approaching enemies.

Even as Leonore, using the alias René, and Nigel, wearing full plate armor instead of his usual equipment, faced the enemies outside the wall with the knights.

‘Not a coward, but a secret weapon? I wanted to join them, but Ludwig objected.’

Ludwig had opposed me taking the front line.

He said it would be troublesome if I died, and that there was a better strategy than putting me at the front.

As soon as he learned that my arrows and javelins could devastate a narrow area, he placed me alone on top of the wall.

He told me to attack from the wall once the enemies got close enough.

It was more like how one would deploy a mage rather than a knight.

In fact, those standing beside me were mages.

Though there were only twenty of them.

The small number was to be expected.

Skilled mages preferred joining magic towers rather than becoming a lord’s private soldiers.

[Secret weapon? Bah. The Empire’s battle doctrine is as pathetic as ever. A Champion should lead from the front, not hide behind warriors to avoid danger. Both you and them, all hiding behind warriors. What a waste of talent.]

Hersella clicked her tongue mockingly.

As she said, Landenburg’s other Masters were also positioned in the middle of the formation rather than at the front of the knights.

It contrasted with the Ka’har, where Champions always led from the front, but… strategically, this approach was more rational.

No matter how strong a Master might be, unless their weapon could extend several meters, their attack range was no different from other knights.

This was especially true in mounted combat, where movement was restricted.

Besides, even a Master could die if stabbed by blind spears from all directions or, worse, trampled by dozens of hooves after falling from their horse.

How pointless would it be to lose one of only fifty Masters in the entire Empire that way?

That’s why the Empire typically positioned Masters in the middle of the formation, using them to tear through enemy lines after the front-line knights had broken through.

Of course, if the opponents were such rabble that there was no risk of falling, they would simply place Masters at the front and push forward.

“The enemy has entered range! Archers! Fire!”

At Ludwig’s command, four hundred arrows were simultaneously released toward the enemy’s vanguard. Silver rain seemed to cover the sky.

White Banner cavalry at the front fell to the arrows and disappeared as if sucked under the hooves of the horses behind them.

Whether they died from the arrows or from being trampled by their comrades’ horses, only they would know.

“White Banner troops! Increase speed! The imperial dogs are right before us!”

A thunderous shout erupted from the middle of the enemy formation.

Must be their commander. His voice alone revealed his aggressive personality.

[That voice… the enemy commander must be Havar.]

‘Havar? Who’s that?’

[A Champion from the White Banner troops. A man true to a warrior’s nature—open-hearted and full of vigor.]

In other words, an empty-headed fool who doesn’t value his life.

“Keep firing! We must reduce their numbers as much as possible!”

“Spread out and counterattack! Teach these imperial dogs how to shoot arrows!”

As if challenging Ludwig’s orders, Havar shouted once more.

The enemy’s mounted archers on both flanks scattered into small units and began approaching, firing arrows at Landenburg’s cavalry.

Most arrows bounced off the heavy cavalry’s armor, but the powerful bows shot by warriors could knock down even heavy cavalry from the impact of a direct hit.

“Ugh!”

A few unlucky heavy cavalry soldiers fell with short cries.

Though their armor wasn’t penetrated, the combined shock of the powerful impact and falling from their horses prevented them from getting up immediately.

If they had fallen during a charge rather than while waiting, they would have been trampled to death.

“Neeeigh—!”

The warhorses were more problematic than the heavy cavalry.

Unlike humans, the barding on horses had gaps in various places, and even if arrows didn’t pierce them, the shock could startle the horses into rearing.

Knights could perform the feat of deflecting powerful arrows with their swords, but expecting such skill from ordinary heavy cavalry was difficult.

After enduring the rain of arrows for several dozen seconds…

“Knights of Landenburg! Advance! The fate of the Empire rests on this battle!”

Perhaps judging that the distance had closed sufficiently, Landenburg’s cavalry finally began to move forward.