Blood tax

Chapter 597: Landing Site Bastion and "Operation Trebuchet"

Rockets with orange tails continued to rise from the river, and fell in rows and groups. When they flew closer, they could even see long cylinders on the ground, with tilted spiral iron plates inlaid at the tail of the flames. This grand meteor shower covered the barbarian mercenaries following the super heavy cavalry. The huge flames and continuous explosions engulfed many lines of soldiers. The super heavy cavalry who rushed into the battle line infantry suddenly found that the infantry behind them had disappeared, and some places had already been burned.

The fleet concentrated its firepower to cut off the Canaanite army. In each wave, dozens of fireballs broke through the air, spreading fire over the wilderness where the army was scattered, setting flesh, clothing, and vegetation on fire; or simply smashed into the ground, exploding with a bang.

The super-heavy cavalry were blocked by the endless explosions, flames and increasingly dense smoke, and were engaged in a melee with the battle-line infantry who were holding their positions.

Paulus continued to send out troops, but most of the troops rushing to support the super-heavy cavalry were stopped halfway by the fleet's firepower, and could only watch the super-heavy cavalry that broke through the formation fall into a melee.

The landing site on the Tyrne River is an important support point of the Bayerland Line. Seizing it can cut off the connection between the land and the fleet, forcing the Great Republic Army to shrink southward and reorganize its front. In this way, the initiative in Cherkasy will return to Canaan, and the elven troops will also gain a more stable front, making it easier to launch a decisive attack from the west.

Both sides were concentrating all their strength. Sequence 4 demigod "Law Master" Provis arrived with a group of high-level elves composed entirely of elders. As soon as they arrived at the headquarters, Paulus briefly explained the situation: "The firepower of the human fleet is very strong, and our infantry cannot keep up with the advance of the heavy troops.

"The super-heavy cavalry can disperse the infantry at the landing site, but at least one or two hundred will be lost. What about the human infantry? Even if a few thousand are killed, there are still tens of thousands waiting behind them."

Provis said:

“I have brought the will of the Senate—Her Highness Galadilla has gathered enough authority, and the Nebula Temple is about to open the road to the eternal land.

"In this way, our army will have an inexhaustible supply of spiritual energy, and various mysteries will descend one after another."

Paulus pointed to the situation on the east and west fronts on the sand table and said, "Then, humans will definitely deploy artifacts behind the Sun Fortress. If we fail to destroy the Bayerland Landing Site, our army should avoid the firepower of the river fleet and concentrate our forces on the west side.

"According to reconnaissance, Bayerland is constructing a multi-faceted fort, an obtuse fort, and a crown fort in the western front to protect the Sun Fortress in the center. I have made arrangements to attack the fortress under construction; the attack on the landing site can also mobilize the enemy's forces and weaken the defense of the fortified area. The enemy's infantry is very tenacious when relying on the fortress. If we can destroy their fortifications, it will be helpful for our army to find their weak points and break through. If one point is broken, the whole line will be unstable. Our army can threaten their magic weapon from the side and rear."

At 6:26 on June 11, the battle for the Cherkasy landing site entered a fierce stage.

The Canaanite super-heavy cavalry, lacking infantry support, continued to attack the Bayerlan Line. Many artillery positions were destroyed. Whenever the Katyusha rockets paused, the Canaanites drove the barbarian mercenaries to attack.

Bayerland's reinforcements also continued to arrive. The infantrymen set fire to the chevaux de frise and haystacks, creating thick smoke. The super-heavy cavalry lost their direction in the thick smoke and could only fight the nearest enemy in turns.

At 11:30, the situation at the landing site became increasingly critical. The defense line consisting solely of the Marines, battle infantry, and artillery could not withstand the fierce attack of the Extraordinary Knights.

The rapid drumbeats of preparation for war sounded. The infantry at the landing site was already in danger, and the General Front Committee decided to use the reserve force, the armored cavalry grenadiers composed entirely of Beyonders, to counterattack the Canaanite heavy cavalry!

Following the command flag from the command center, more than a dozen assault boats quickly sailed towards the riverside.

Xiutolalmira from Homenworth was among them. She led a team of two first-year female cavalrymen, holding the reins tightly, and huddled together with her teammates and horses in the assault boat. Shells and rockets flew overhead, so low that they seemed like they would fall into the boat at any time.

Canaan's artillery fire also fell into the river from time to time, and black and yellow water columns rose and fell. Mira silently licked the half-melted chocolate, and the others also chewed something. The water splashed on the cavalry's blue uniform and silver breastplate, and rolled down with the slight trembling of the shoulders.

"Boom!"

With a muffled sound, the assault boat approached the shore. Mira stuffed half a piece of chocolate into her pocket and put the copper helmet with red and blue feathers on her head. Several squadrons of cavalry rushed out of the boat and stepped on the deep or shallow river water to the shore.

As soon as they stepped on the solid ground, Mira took out her lance, and the others sorted out their sabers and rifles. From the corner of their eyes, they could even see a giant creature the size of a war elephant charging into the crowd of infantry at the breastwork a few dozen steps away.

“Oh, it’s so big!”

Mira exclaimed, and the two first-year Shutoral were also startled. It was the first time for everyone to see the heavy cavalry blessed by elf magic, and they were shocked by the size.

With a loud military call, the assault cavalry issued the order to counterattack! Several squadrons of cavalry had formed hundreds of combat teams.

"Ready to fight!"

The counterattack troops were all Extraordinary and reserve Extraordinary, either officers or sergeants, and were elite cavalry that could form small teams to fight. There was no time to mobilize in the current situation. With the support of continuous reinforcements, Canaan's super-heavy cavalry had already defeated the troops at the landing site.

The standard-bearer shouted the battle cry and ran in front of the assembled cavalry.

"Attack, everyone attack! Rescue the infantry guys!"

The three armored cavalrymen in Mira's group rushed towards the enemy near the breastwork. They were so fast that they left all the cavalry behind.

A few dozen meters away, a figure like a city wall was rumbling and crushing several riflemen into pulp. Mira held a spear and stabbed into the gap between the armor of the super heavy cavalry.

The special lance was tied with a bomb, and Mira stabbed it with all her strength, piercing through the shield and piercing the armor with a bang. After Homer Watts obtained the information about Galadya's super-heavy armor, Bayerlan specially designed the fire lance cavalry to restrain the heavy armored units with psychic shields. The elf super-heavy cavalry shook as if it had been hit by a cannonball. This blow destroyed his shield and damaged half of his breastplate.

The second rider followed closely. The agile cavalryman was carrying a bundle of grenades and passed behind the super-heavy cavalry. The bundle of grenades spun in his hand like a meteor hammer and threw it at the elf who was turning around.

"boom!"

The huge heavy cavalryman tilted his body and fell to the ground with his mount. The flames of the bomb wrapped around his armor and burned. The elf hurriedly took off his armor and rolled over on the sand. Just as he was about to escape into the smoke, the third rider of Mira's team came out from the side.

Her skills were even more advanced, as she was a professional lancer, and at the end of the trio, she aimed a spear at the throat of the elf that had fallen off its horse.

The three riders fought together in perfect harmony, breaking shields, shattering armor, and delivering fatal blows in an instant.

There were roars along the Tyrne River, and the counterattack of the Bayerlan armored grenadiers continued to attack the Canaanite super-heavy cavalry with fire spears and grenade beams. The flames, explosions and fragments covered the sky, and the wailing of people and the wailing of horses were endless.

At 2 p.m., when the horses were killed, Mira and her team members all engaged in infantry combat. Canaan and his vassal army failed to destroy the Grand Republic landing site despite the use of super-heavy cavalry.

……

Both sides deployed strong forces at the Cherkasy landing site, and after fierce fighting, neither side made a breakthrough. Bayerland held the fortifications along the river to protect the fleet; Canaan also compressed Bayerland's defense line, making the opponent's plan to expand the landing site fail.

The main forces of the two armies were deployed one after another. After the battle line was stabilized, the vast sea of ​​marching columns and square formations began to line up under the command of military flags.

At 2 p.m., the Grand Republican Army formed a huge front stretching for miles from the Tyrne River, through the Sun Fortress, Crown Fort, Obtuse Fort, and the westernmost Multifaceted Fort. The blood-stained wilderness was covered with dazzling blue, and neat horizontal columns were arranged under the command of drums. The neat steps made the ground vibrate slightly, and each battalion entered its respective combat position.

大共和军的右翼是陆战队、塞瓦斯托第1军、突击骑兵军一部，向西依次为第1、第2、第3、第6、第9军、第12军和维罗纳第2军。

The armies confronted Canaan under the cover of cavalry and artillery, and protected the fortresses that were being built at a rapid pace. Canaan also deployed half-elves, mercenaries and withered magicians at the front.

The cavalry of both sides temporarily lost their space for maneuver and most of them withdrew from the battlefield.

The air was filled with suppressed thunder, the tension was increasing exponentially, and a major war was imminent.

His Majesty Francis, Count Lamor, Werner and other generals and many elders gathered at the Sun Fortress. General Baldwin, Sidious and Erza had already arrived at the front line, and several demigods were also ready to join the battle. Roland wrote in his diary:
"On June 6, the second day of the battle, the entire army made arrangements for a decisive battle. I decided to carry out Operation Trebuchet."

He put the diary into his pocket, took a deep breath, and asked the people who were watching him:
"Is the Lord here?"

The crowd's eyes turned to Sonya who had just arrived. The Countess also put on light armor and said with certainty:

"Griffith is setting up the wishing vessel."

In this way, the conditions for a decisive battle have been met.

"Battleship Squadron One, attack."

In order to buy time for the construction of the fortress, the General Front Committee issued an order for the fleet to attack. Four black battleships with towering masts stood tall like mountains, forming a column and cutting through the waves, pressing towards the left wing of Canaan.

Black smoke billowed over the river like a raging fire. With a low roar, the flagship began to fire from the port side. The shells that were ready to fire flew out of the barrel like thunder, and the warships behind opened fire one after another. A black cloud of smoke suddenly rose from the elves' position.

Canaan's artillery immediately fired back. They not only had artillery, but also had incredibly powerful supernatural beings who summoned meteorites and lightning to attack the river. Red shells dragged black smoke across the sky, and golden-red meteorites fell from the sky and collided with the roaring lightning.

Under such a large-scale fire attack, the shield had lost its meaning. Suddenly, a flash of fire appeared on the battleship on the river, and a psychic-projected spear hit the hull. The hard oak planks shattered like paper, and the fragments flew everywhere, cutting off the heads and arms of a group of sailors near the gun position.

The bombardment of the battleships shook Canaan's position, but the real purpose was not this.

Under the cover of artillery fire, Arendelle commanded the battlecruiser, the Brunhilde, to pass through the right side of the main battleship of the First Squadron. The battlecruiser was powerful enough for the Tyrne River, but the task of ground attack belonged to the battleship with heavy armor and heavy artillery. The task of Brunhilde was to cover a formation of steam gunboats, transport ships and steam assault boats.

During the main battle, this squadron would cross the waterway monitored by the elven fortress "White Tower" and head straight for the lakes and swamps east of Canaan.

This was a secret mission, and Harandil, who had just saved his life, was in charge. Griffith and Roland gave it a very high priority when formulating the entire Canaan attack plan. The manpower and transportation capacity assigned to them were very sufficient, and the steam engines and artillery were the best.

Their mission is to carry out "Catapult Operation" when the two armies meet in battle!