Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest-Chapter 314 - 20: Firepower Coverage (Extra - for alliance leader Lord Xiaoyingjun)
Chapter 314: Chapter 20: Firepower Coverage (Extra Chapter for alliance leader Lord Xiaoyingjun)
Roman had been on this land for the fourth year.
This year, winter lingered a little longer.
A huge army, and another even larger army, had moved toward each other as if by a silent agreement.
Field combat!
Without key terrain features or defensive architecture to rely on.
Whatever form the war took—maneuver warfare, guerrilla warfare, raiding, or ambush—although these are different tactics, they could all be categorized as field combat.
There were only two goals in tactics.
One was to preserve oneself, and the other was to annihilate the enemy.
During the battle with the nobles’ coalition, Roman also hoped to employ some tactics.
However, at that time, the soldiers’ quality was not up to standard.
If you commanded them to feign a retreat, they would turn it into a real defeat, beyond recall, and even if you managed to call them back, it would take half a day to regroup—a what kind of army could you count on that?
If you chose a location for an ambush and waited for the enemy to enter the trap, some green recruit might fire an arrow before the enemy even arrived—what was the benefit of such discipline?
They couldn’t even form a complex military formation properly.
Roman didn’t like uncontrollable factors.
Now, the army had met the standards, the military equipment had been upgraded, and the foundation for executing tactics was in place.
But...
What was the need for tactics now?
...
After marching for a day, the afternoon sky began to darken.
Night fell quickly in the winter.
The two sides were more than ten miles apart, which could be considered a safe distance, and they set up camps respectively.
"Should we attack the camp tonight?" Jet asked.
He countered, "If I give you three thousand men, how many can you bring back to me?"
After silently calculating for a moment, Jet said, "No less than two thousand!"
Ordinary believers’ armies would certainly panic, but Sword Masters and other troop types would definitely be on guard.
But the result was that he could shatter a substantial portion of the Holy War Army in one battle.
Roman waved his hand, "Forget it, let them rest well tonight, just arrange for sentries and secret guards to keep watch."
His abstaining from an attack didn’t mean the enemy wouldn’t come.
It was a special time, and there was no harm in staying alert.
The night passed peacefully.
The menial workers prepared a large meal.
Today’s breakfast consisted of steamed bread, bacon, salted meat soup, and a small bowl of maltose per person.
A simple breakfast, but it effectively replenished their energy.
After the soldiers finished eating, the menial workers didn’t have time to eat themselves before they started assisting all the soldiers in donning their armor. Those who had armored up also helped others who hadn’t yet done so. Underneath was cotton clothing with padding, allowing the plate armor to fit snugly on their bodies.
Each set of plate armor weighed about thirty pounds, not covering the entire body, which would’ve been too complex.
The specific components were breastplates, helmets, neck guards, shoulder armor, arm guards, and leg guards, linked through drilled holes and slots.
These parts had all undergone heat treatment through hardening and tempering and had been polished and coated with oil and wax to prevent rust.
Only the hands, feet, elbows, knees, and other joint areas lacked armored protection.
During their training, they had worn plate armor every day, gradually getting used to its weight.
Carrying sixty pounds and covering five kilometers of the cross-country course in half an hour each day was their routine task.
After they had eaten and drank well, the plate armor was also fully donned.
The situation was similar with the Holy War Army on the other side, albeit with more difficult logistics.
It was impossible to fight on an empty stomach.
When morning arrived, both sides began marching toward each other.
Along the secondary roads of Black Iron Avenue.
The north wind howled, and the hazy sun in the sky seemed somewhat warm because of it.
Then, the Holy War Army saw thousands of shimmering figures on the horizon of Black Iron Avenue.
They were neatly arrayed in square formations, and the many squares together formed a curved line.
From a bird’s-eye view, this patch of land acquired a silvery "C" shape.
"My All Gods above!" Matthew groaned, his breath nearly stopping.
He was horrified to find that after the casualties of the spring rain battle, when everyone thought the River Valley King was licking his wounds, a new, more powerful, and better-equipped army had emerged from that basin.
They silently stood before him, orderly and just as the defeated Judgement Knights had described.
Their formations exuded a special aura.
Cold yet solemn, brave and sublime, invincible in battle, irresistible in the attack.
Any Conquest Knight who charged their lines would certainly not return.
"They are coming towards us..." Bishop Elva exclaimed in surprise.
He had lived a long life and had seen the Divine Mysterious Shield Guard Army, but he had never seen an army like this.
Individually they might not be strong, but as they approached, one could feel a staggering oppressive force.
Marshal Archil said nothing, his gaze fixated on the advancing plate armor soldiers.
"Lord Matthew, let us launch an attack!" Angus exclaimed loudly.
"Are you mad?!" Matthew looked at him in shock.
"We have no retreat!" Sir Angus spoke resolutely, "The believers are right behind us. If we don’t stand, what will become of them?"
Indeed! They had no retreat.
Where to retreat? To abandon this wilderness?
The blasphemers were coming up close behind them, unhurriedly following.
Retreat to Kant Territory? The blasphemers would chase us all the way to Kant Territory.
There, the terrain would still present no harsh features for defense, inevitably leading to battle.
Keep avoiding battle? Withdraw from Kant Territory?
That would mean willingly surrendering our base to the enemy.
They could return to Divine Mysterious, shamed, but what about the farmers who sought refuge with the Holy War Army and the remaining residents of Kant Territory? Could we just let them be harmed by the blasphemers?
"Bishop, Your Grace!" Matthew looked toward the Church Court Bishop.
Elva really wanted to suggest retreat, but loyalty to the Church Court and faith in the All Gods prevailed.
After all, their mission was to combat the blasphemers!
"Let’s launch an attack!" Archil said as well.
This battle... at face value, they might not be without chance of victory...
Even if the outcome would be grim.
They did have three thousand armored soldiers, though most were clad in Lock Armor, leather armor, and padded armor, with the rest being unprotected.
...
An army of thirty thousand was overwhelmingly large; the dust kicked up by their march could be seen blanketing the sky for miles and truly covered the land.
Judgement Knights and Demon Hunting Knights kept a watchful eye and hovered on the flanks.
Their discipline was high; they never charged blindly, always checking first for caltrops and traps. If the situation was uncertain, some knights would rather wait until the end of the conflict than take risks.
Of course, once the battle began, everything would be laid bare.
...
"They’ve launched an attack," said Jet. "It’s the Bow Cavalry."
Hundreds of Bow Cavalry charged forward, targeting the flank of the River Valley Army. They harassed and probed, attempting to disrupt their formation.
"Snipers!" Dick shouted.
As the Bow Cavalry drew within a hundred meters, dozens of arrows suddenly burst from the River Valley formation, cutting through the Void and immediately killing more than thirty Light Cavalry.
When the Bow Cavalry reached a distance of fifty to sixty meters, they fired arrows and were met with a volley in return, resulting in dozens more Bow Cavalry hitting the ground. The River Valley formation did not falter in the slightest, forcing the remaining Bow Cavalry to retreat in disarray.
Within the formation stood forty Snipers, all possessing the physical prowess of a First Rank Knight. After their Transfer into Snipers, their Talent was enhanced, making their marksmanship far superior to that of ordinary people; they were the squad leaders among the Archers.
Whereas other soldiers were fully armored, Archers wore half-armor, and the Sniper team wore none.
Ordinary soldiers wielded Longbows, but the Snipers used Recurve Bows, some equipped with the fragmented Longbows confiscated in the battle of Spring Rain.
The Bow Cavalry’s probing did not stop the progress of the River Valley formation.
They continued to advance on foot.
Closer! Closer! Ever closer!
Crossing the wilderness, they appeared like a silver flood tide sweeping in.
At the forefront of this silver steel flood was a large disordered mass resembling a ball of mixed yarn—the Holy War Army.
...
"Armored Soldiers, prepare! Sword Masters, prepare!"
Seeing the moderate effect of the Light Cavalry, the Holy War Army took action.
Thirty-three nuns from the Holy City and 666 Choir Nuns began to chant collectively.
The thirty thousand-plus fanatical believers, believers, and shallow believers, under the inspiration of the holy hymns and faith, could unleash astonishing morale.
Even though Matthew felt this battle would be extremely tough, he still believed that even thousands of armored soldiers could not easily crush them. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
After all, theoretically, they could encircle the enemy.
If it came to close combat, the Holy War Army could wear down the blasphemers’ forces, though at a high cost.
...
"All units, halt! Prepare the first discharge!"
The order echoed down the ranks as every Captain called out.
Thousands of Plate Armor Soldiers stopped, took their Longbows from their backs and Arrow Bags from their belts.
In the few seconds the Holy War Army stood stunned, a total of six thousand Plate Armor Soldiers stepped forward in unison, raising their Longbows and arrows in a neat line.
"Fire!"
...
Like a shadow had momentarily crossed the sun, thirty thousand people sensed a brief dimming in the sky’s light as if something had obscured it.
Then the brightness returned.
Swiftly followed by a chorus of agonizing cries!
The position of the Holy War Army was not too dense, but neither was it sparse, and the front row came directly under the barrage of arrow rain.
They indeed held shields, but not everyone had one, and not all shields could adequately protect against the arrows.
Only now did they realize their enemy was not just fully armored, they were also equipped with Longbows.
They had the basic shooting skills to form a strong covering fire.
...
"All units, prepare the second discharge!"
"Fire!"
...
Again, the brightness of the sky was overshadowed.
More dreadful screams echoed within the Holy War Army ranks, even affecting some nuns, shaking the entire army.
"Conquest Knights! Lead the charge against the enemy’s flank!" The Judgement Knights and Demon Hunting Knights had no choice but to lead the Cavalry in a charge; the Conquest Knight unit had about three hundred knights, with the rest being regular Cavalry.
"Sword Masters! Attack!" The Marshal of the Sword Masters also shouted.
"Javelin throwers! Javelin throwers!"
...
"Prepare the third round of fire!"
"Fire!"
...
