novelraw Chapter 32: Striking Fast Against Slow
Chapter 32: Striking Fast Against Slow
Originally, the Border Army didn't want to keep running, but the moment they showed signs of resting, Duwien immediately turned his forces around.
Seeing the Ironwall Legion attempting to flank them and strike at their vulnerable side, the Border Army general had no choice but to order his troops to accelerate and seize advantageous positions.
If viewed from high above, the two armies resembled giant serpents twisting and slithering across the land, each trying to bite the other's midsection.
Yet in less than half an hour, one 'giant serpent' began to widen. This wasn't because it grew stronger—the Border Army simply couldn't run anymore.
They struggled to maintain effective formations, with soldiers from various units falling behind and their battle array beginning to scatter.
Henwil had been continuously observing the enemy's situation, and seeing this development, he knew the opportunity had arrived!
He immediately informed Duwien that the time was right!
Duwien ordered the entire army to halt, with the front lines becoming the rear guard as the legion turned around on the spot.
In just over ten minutes, they had formed an engagement formation.
When the Border Army general saw the Ironwall Legion stop, he immediately recognized their intention. He sounded the horn, ordering his troops to form defensive arrays and prepare to withstand the coming assault.But the soldiers were in complete disarray. Even as the Ironwall Legion's vanguard began advancing, many Border Army soldiers still hadn't reached their positions within the formation.
Looking at the loose formation, the gasping soldiers, and some even collapsing from exhaustion, the Border Army general felt ice-cold dread wash over him, knowing something terrible was about to happen.
The Ironwall Legion's front formation barely exerted any effort before piercing through the enemy's defensive system. Spears knocked soldier after soldier to the ground, continuously disrupting their formations.
Due to their frequent group movements, the Ironwall Legion had developed numerous habits. For instance, during forced marches, soldiers who fell behind would integrate into the nearest square formation.
This same principle applied in battle—the Ironwall Legion primarily fought in hundred-man square formations that charged and advanced through enemy lines. The smallest units were fifty-man formations, and any soldier who became separated immediately joined the closest square formation.
If a formation grew too large, officers would promptly split it into two standard hundred-man squares.
The several thousand Border Army troops were being mercilessly slaughtered by the numerically inferior Ironwall Legion.
Warfare fundamentally involved using numerical superiority—no matter how brave you were, you couldn't withstand multiple spears thrusting at you simultaneously.
The Border Army commander, no longer concerned about the Ironwall Legion's nearly thousand-strong reserve force, charged into the battlefield with his Guard Corps and thousand-strong cavalry unit.
Seeing this situation, Duwien followed Henwil's instructions and didn't deploy their five hundred cavalry. Instead, he sent the remaining hundred-man units to block the path where the enemy cavalry would emerge.
After these hundred-man units joined the battle, the Border Army cavalry found themselves trapped within the chaotic battlefield. In this kind of combat, cavalry without momentum were little better than infantry.
Soon, several hundred-man units holding shields and spears began constricting the cavalry's movement space.
After two hours of fighting, Henwil personally led the final hundred-man unit into the thick of battle.
Looking at the loose formation, the gasping soldiers, and some even collapsing from exhaustion, the Border Army general felt ice-cold dread wash over him, knowing something terrible was about to happen.
Henwil frequently commanded them through various formation changes. During the Six Bay Mountain era, these men served as Henwil's messengers, delivering his defensive deployment orders. During the great penetration period, they protected Henwil during transactions with nobles.
Sometimes, when encountering stubborn nobles, they would brutally attack them to demonstrate Henwil's resolve.
This hundred-man unit might not have been the most formidable in the Ironwall Legion, but they were the most responsive to Henwil's commands. At the very least, these men never treated Henwil like a child.
Now they followed Henwil to drive the Border Army commander to a specified location.
Henwil's hundred-man unit carried only short swords for personal defense, holding large shields in one hand and spears in the other—a full infantry unit with long weapons.
Every extra inch of length meant extra strength! On the battlefield, cavalry had advantage over infantry, armor had advantage over cloth, and long weapons had advantage over short ones.
Henwil commanded his square formation, knocking down any Border Army soldiers who tried to approach while consistently advancing toward the enemy's banner position.
After such prolonged fighting, many soldiers were too exhausted to continue combat. No Border Army unit could stop this fresh fighting force.
The Border Army commander now had about seven hundred men surrounding him, barely resisting the swarming Ironwall Legion soldiers.
Therefore, when Henwil led his charge, the previously holding Border Army defensive perimeter immediately tore open a massive gap.
...
Henwil raised his shield to block an opponent's sword slash. As he was pushed back, he thrust his combat spear, accurately piercing the gap between the enemy's helmet and armor.
The moment Henwil withdrew his spear, another great sword cleanly severed the spear shaft midway. This armored Border Army soldier, having cut the spear, followed with an upward diagonal slash aimed at severing Henwil's shield-holding left arm.
Henwil reacted with lightning speed, smashing the broken spear shaft against the opponent's face. Forcing the enemy to instinctively dodge sideways, Henwil retracted his shield to block the slash while stepping forward.
Simultaneously, he reversed-drew the short sword at his waist with his right hand and thrust it horizontally into the opponent's neck. Withdrawing the short sword released a spray of blood.
Before Henwil could readjust his grip on the short sword, another great sword came slashing down. Henwil could only block with his reverse-gripped short sword.
But this strike carried tremendous force, slamming Henwil's own short sword against his shoulder. The opponent's great sword pressed down with renewed force, forcing Henwil to one knee.
The enemy's great sword carved a half-centimeter deep notch into Henwil's short sword. The armored warrior twisted his sword, swinging horizontally toward Henwil's head, but the blade was caught by the short sword's crossguard.
However, the impact transmitted through the crossguard, driving it against Henwil's helmet with a dull metallic clang. Fighting through dizziness, Henwil slammed his shield against the opponent's arm.
The attack to the wrist made the enemy lean forward slightly. Henwil had already released his short sword and drawn a compact hand crossbow, aiming at the gap in the opponent's helmet.
He pulled the trigger, and a five-inch crossbow bolt flew out, precisely embedding itself in the enemy's helmet. The armored soldier fell backward as Henwil discarded his ruined short sword.
The leather armor on his shoulder had been cut through, revealing the chainmail beneath. Moving his left shoulder sent sharp pain shooting through him—his scapula was likely fractured.
Adrenaline kicked in, allowing Henwil to quickly ignore the pain. He grabbed his opponent's great sword and charged toward the next armored warrior rushing at him.
Now it became a race against time—who could hold out longer. His spear guard unit would break through soon and rescue him.