Ch.215The Battle for Both Sides

The Ka’har cavalry tactics are like hunting.

They divide their cavalry into about ten small units that spread out, then advance and retreat in circular patterns while firing arrows. It’s a tactic of maintaining distance from the enemy while unleashing one-sided attacks.

If the enemy tries to endure, they continue firing arrows with constant resupply until cracks form in the enemy lines. When the enemy formation collapses under the endless rain of arrows, they charge all at once to finish them off.

If enemy cavalry recklessly pursues, they retreat while luring them away, then surround and annihilate the enemy cavalry once they’re separated from their main force. Skilled mounted archers can fire arrows behind them while retreating, forcing pursuers to endure a rain of arrows with their bodies as they give chase.

For them, it was a tactic that guaranteed victory. Heavy cavalry that could withstand arrows couldn’t match their speed to pursue, while light cavalry that could keep up would helplessly fall with every arrow fired at both horse and rider. From the beginning, they could even win in close combat against the Empire’s light cavalry when numbers were similar.

As long as they maintained sufficient distance and their horses didn’t tire, they couldn’t be defeated tactically.

Their only weakness was lacking the impact force to annihilate enemies who hid behind shields and armor to endure the arrow rain until the end… In such cases, they could simply withdraw and attack elsewhere.

—-

Lord Ludwig had fought the Ka’har many times and knew their tactics well. Even their few weaknesses.

His solution was simple yet definitive.

Hold out with infantry formations and archer fire until the Ka’har horses tired, then deploy cavalry waiting behind the formation when the enemy arrows ran out or their speed slowed. His judgment was that by accepting some losses and deploying light cavalry to hold the exhausted Ka’har in place, then charging with heavy cavalry, he could crush them.

That’s why the current situation was unexpected even for him.

The enemy attacked before his infantry could properly deploy, and his forces were divided on both sides of the Wall of Berengaria with insufficient numbers. Worse yet, the enemy wasn’t composed of skilled mounted archers like typical Ka’har, but rather clumsy cavalry with well-trained infantry.

He had no choice but to lead with heavy cavalry that should have been used in the later stages of battle. He hoped the White Banner troops would be weaker than other Ka’har cavalry since they were originally trained as infantry.

For now, that belief was rewarded.

The White Banner cavalry advancing through the arrow rain from the wall had already lost 10% of their forces. Still, they numbered around 1,800.

‘They show no signs of turning back… are they really planning to charge straight in?’

While Landenburg’s heavy cavalry slowly advanced to close the distance, the White Banner cavalry that should have long since begun a counter-charge were still approaching them. They continued firing arrows that would barely penetrate the full plate armor and horse armor.

Rather than retreating beyond the wall’s arrow range with arrows in their backs to regroup for another charge, they seemed determined to push forward and settle the matter.

This was expected from the moment they attacked with a thousand infantry. The tactic of advancing and retreating with mounted archers only makes sense when everyone is mounted. In a situation with mixed infantry, retreating mounted archers would mean abandoning all infantry as prey for enemy cavalry.

Except for the cavalry firing arrows, this resembled battles between Westerners rather than fighting against Ka’har.

Ignoring the battlefield noise with one ear, Ludwig calmly waited for the right moment. The moment when the light cavalry following under the protection of heavy cavalry would get close enough to charge the White Banner troops.

It didn’t take long.

“Light cavalry! Bind their feet from the flanks! Heavy cavalry, frontal charge! Annihilate the enemy!”

Lord Ludwig’s orders were already beyond hearing range. Even if they could be heard, the sound of hooves and Ka’har war cries would have drowned them out.

However, the massive military flags raised on the wall, the banners signaling charge, could still be seen by all. The knights followed their orders.

“All knights in charging formation! Show the pride of Landenburg!”

“Fight with all your might! The Twelve Knights, Berengaria will protect us!”

Two Masters commanding the heavy cavalry units. The Sixth Sword Michel Lambert and the Tenth Sword Nigel shouted loudly.

Both primarily used lances, making their “Sword” title somewhat ironic.

“For Landenburg!”

The cavalry responded in unison as they increased their speed.

“Light cavalry! Take up spears and shields! The time has come to fight with honor!”

The light cavalry, advancing under the protection of the heavy cavalry wall, split to the sides and moved forward.

Unlike the heavy cavalry covered head to toe in steel plate, their protection consisted only of light armor and shields. This was unavoidable to match the speed of Ka’har cavalry. Though this wasn’t the situation they had trained for—pursuing a retreating enemy—their task hadn’t changed much.

Bind the feet of the Ka’har cavalry.

If the enemy had any sense, they would scatter in groups of dozens to avoid being annihilated by the heavy cavalry. The Landenburg light cavalry’s orders were to prevent them from dispersing and wreaking havoc across the battlefield.

One hundred per group, the light cavalry divided into four units charged forward with lances tucked under their arms like a storm. They spread wide to prevent the enemy from scattering and to reduce casualties from the arrow rain.

“The Empire’s cavalry is coming! Shoot! Let’s bury them in the plains!”

The White Banner’s arrows mercilessly poured toward them.

“Aagh!”

“Kuh!”

Light cavalrymen hit by powerful bows fell helplessly, and horses with arrows in their necks rolled on the ground with death cries. The front of the light cavalry formation crumbled as if being eaten away.

Once the charge began, there was no way to avoid the arrows. They could only hold their shields and spur their horses, praying they wouldn’t be unhorsed.

“Don’t fear, charge! The Empire’s enemy is right before us!”

A charge disregarding life itself. Breaking through the downpour of death, Landenburg’s light cavalry charged fiercely toward the White Banner troops.

“Front line, lances! Time to trample them! Forward!”

The White Banner vanguard also put away their bows and gripped cavalry lances. They too had no intention of retreating.

If they had been Blue Banner or Red Banner troops, they would have skillfully retreated while firing backward shots to toy with the enemy. However, the White Banner cavalry lacked such skill. They couldn’t dodge or deflect the arrows raining from the wall either. Their only option was to charge head-on.

Finally, hundreds of cavalry collided violently.

Buried in the intense crash, the screams of horses and men could barely be heard.

While a light cavalry lance pierced through one White Banner soldier, three cavalry spears flew toward him and struck. Horses with crushed bones tumbled with sorrowful groans, throwing their riders to the ground.

Soldiers impaled on spears fell, spitting blood foam. Each soldier represented some twenty years—nearly a thousand years of life extinguished in an instant.

“Draw swords! We must bind their feet!”

The lucky cavalrymen who survived the initial impact drew their swords and began close combat. They had lost more than half the light cavalry, but they had fulfilled their duty. The rest was up to the heavy cavalry.

“Now! All heavy cavalry charge! Crush them before they scatter!”

“Ooooh!”

With a thunderous roar that shook heaven and earth, the armored warhorses trampled the ground as they charged.

The West’s strongest troop type, heavy cavalry. Their charge, protected by steel armor covering their entire bodies and horse armor, was like an unstoppable avalanche.

The White Banner cavalry was no exception. Neither arrows nor spears worked, and everything they touched shattered.

Like a sandcastle swept away by waves, one corner of the White Banner began to fall apart. Only the warriors positioned fifty each on both wings had the ability to avoid the heavy cavalry lances.

“You metal lumps!”

“Kieeee!”

True to their reputation as warrior horsemen, they displayed remarkable skill.

They accurately deflected incoming lance tips and pierced the gaps in the heavy cavalry’s armor. Even with full plate armor covering the entire body, it was impossible to perfectly cover eye holes or joint areas.

Some even avoided lances by leaning as if falling from their horses, then cut the unarmored legs of the enemy horses.

Despite their valiant fight, the White Banner’s wings suffered massive casualties. The knights Ludwig had placed at the front of the heavy cavalry numbered two hundred—twice their number.

When Nigel and Michel, positioned in the middle ranks, joined in, the warriors had no way to counter.

The White Banner wing cavalry began to diminish rapidly. Still, they outnumbered the Landenburg cavalry two to one.

‘The cavalry battle will work out somehow.’

Lord Ludwig breathed a sigh of relief. The enemy’s cavalry operation was more unskilled than expected, despite their impressive horsemanship.

‘The problem is the center…’

Lord Ludwig looked down at the infantry battle unfolding in the center of the battlefield. Contrary to the cavalry wings’ good performance, the infantry battle in the center was being pushed back significantly.