Chapter 522: Turning the Tide
Chapter 522 – Turning the Tide
“General Fedotov!”
The messenger’s horse raised its hooves so high in front of Fedotov that it barely braked itself.
The man on the horse, on the other hand, almost rolled off.
“What happened?”
Fedotov’s sense of foreboding grew stronger.
“Our cavalry …… our cavalry ……”
The messenger’s voice choked with sobs.
“Speak!” The muscles in Harper’s face twisted, and both hands grabbed the messenger’s shirt as the shadow of his last defeat once again gripped his heart.
“Our cavalry is finished.”
Cavalry? Most of the Protectorate’s cavalry was originally hidden behind a mound, according to the pre-battle plan, this cavalry main force served as a reserve, if the Protectorate’s frontal forces fought well, they would take the opportunity to move out when the Etonians retreated, breaking down the Etonians’ last psychological line of defense, making their retreat turn into a rout, and enlarging the results of the battle, if the Protectorate’s frontal forces fought poorly, they would use the cover of the terrain to go around to the Etonians’ flanks and rear. If the Protectorate’s frontal troops are not doing well, they will use the cover of the terrain to go around to the Etonians’ flanks and rear to attack.
Fedotov, who was the commander of the army, forced his brain to calm down as he asked the messenger, “Don’t panic, what exactly happened?”
The messenger recounted the situation, “We were staying quietly behind the mound, waiting for your order. All of a sudden there were fires in the crowd, and not just fires, but also terrible loud noises. The flames and rattling didn’t do much harm to our knights, only a few unlucky ones were burned. But to our war-horse it was a great deal worse; the poor animals had never seen such a battle before, and their coats were so flammable that the horses became frightened, and, no longer accepting the control of their masters, ran wildly about behind the mound.”
The messenger recalled the scene with a palpitating heart, “O so many strong war-horse, trampling wantonly through the crowd, and a number of warriors were trampled to pieces on the spot.”
“Ah!” Fedotov covered his face in agony. “What happened afterward, was the situation under control?”
“With everyone’s efforts, the mood of the warhorses stabilized a little, but they still didn’t listen to us very well, we were trying our best to pacify them, just at this time, a group of people rushed towards us, some of them were on horseback, some were on foot, and they didn’t look like they were in formation, we thought it was a small detachment of the Etonians, and we immediately organized our manpower to fend off their attack, and by this time, the strange fire and loud noises reappeared, the mounts panicked again, and we were thus attacked by them in extreme confusion.”
“And …… then …… then,” faltered the herald, “we . . we were scattered by them, and I came desperately to report to you.”
“Damn it, how many men were in that group?”
“It was too smoky to tell exactly, but I estimate there were over 500.”
“More than 500 people?More than 500 people took you guys out?” Fedotov was furious.
“The situation at that time was too chaotic, and those people at the head of that group were simply demons from hell, while our swords couldn’t cut them in the slightest, especially the one at the head, who wielded a large iron chain, and every time he wielded it, he could harvest a large swath of life.”
The messenger described it so with a horrified face.
“A demon wielding a chain?” Harper’s body twitched as he recalled that terrible defeat he had earlier, when it was also that chain demon that had charged into his oh-so-famous ranks ahead of him and slaughtered his soldiers like a chopping block. “General?”
Harper looked to his superior Fedotov for further instructions.
Fedotov’s heart was now very torn, whether he should withdraw the infantry that was fighting now to rescue his cavalry, this was a very valuable force, every time he fought Fedotov couldn’t afford to let the cavalry fight in the front, but let the infantry serve as cannon fodder to consume the enemy’s strength first, and then deployed the cavalry to determine the victory or defeat with a single blow. This time, of course, but I did not expect the cavalry that stayed in the rear to encounter a critical situation first. Not to mention that this cavalry’s combat power is strong, its constituents are also mostly knights and noble sons, if it folds in their own hands, going back definitely won’t have good fruit to eat.
But what would be the consequences of withdrawing the infantry that was stuck together with the enemy, if some asshole misunderstood his order and shouted “the Protectorate is defeated”, then wouldn’t it be all over?
He looked to the mound that was used to cover the cavalry, where a faint smoke was billowing out.
“Pass on my order!” Fedotov roared, “Urge the army in front to fight hard, if you can end the battle within half an hour, everyone will be rewarded with 10 gold coins …… no! Reward 50!”
“Harper! You immediately lead the men to gather the cavalry!” Fedotov’s eyes shot flames of fury that scorched his men, Harper feared him more than the chained demon, his body shivered before yelling, “Yes, General!”
“All the rest!” Fedotov turned his horse and looked around instantly, leaving him with something like six or seven hundred men at his side, “Guard against a possible sneak attack by the Etonians!”
He was now banking on a quick end to the battle at hand, and then leaving his main body of infantry to deal with the strange group.
The order to reward 50 gold coins was conveyed to the infantrymen who were fighting, and the effect was just as Fedotov had hoped, morale was boosted and the soldiers swung their weapons even harder.
However, what he didn’t anticipate was that the Etonian army, which was originally losing ground, also changed its trend and regained its morale.
“Damn it, do they know something happened to our cavalry? Damn it!”
Fedotov cursed.
With a mischievous sound of a sword being sheathed, Fedotov drew his own saber.
“Gentlemen!” He yelled as he looked around at his men, “Now is the most crucial moment! This battle will determine the success or failure of our expedition, whether we go back as heroes to enjoy the glory of victory, or go back as defeated troops to bear the shame of defeat, it all depends on this moment. I order all men to follow me closely and charge the Etonians. See that man in the white helmet and armor? That’s the Archduke of Eton, he’s the primary target of our strike, anyone who captures or kills him, I’ll personally report to His Majesty the King and the Archbishop, knighthoods, riches, and beautiful women, as many as you want!”
After a bit of mobilization, Fedotov raised his own sword high, “Now I order – Charge!”
His legs clamped down hard on the belly of his mount, and even the man with the horse shot out like an arrow off the string.
The people who originally stayed behind with him, who all had their own mounts, also followed Fedotov as he charged towards the Etonian army.
Fedotov, who was leading the charge, didn’t notice that from behind the mound where he had hidden his cavalry, a team flashed out and followed the path of their charge towards them.
And above the fighting Etonian infantry, a terrible heat was gathering.
(End of chapter)