Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 159 The Second Choice
The first to arrive were not Heard's light cavalry, but Lieutenant Bard, who was in charge of gathering the missing.

When Bard and his riders caught up with the main group, almost every rider had an extra person sitting behind them.

"We found more than twenty, but the rest are impossible to find in the dark," Bud reported to the lieutenant colonel.

But the lieutenant colonel was more concerned about something else: "Are there pursuers?"

"Didn't see it."

Lieutenant Colonel Jessica looked grim, stroking his stubble for a long time before finally making up his mind.

He commanded, "Tell everyone to stop resting and set off now."

The militia of the supply corps was reduced by 30% in an instant, and the lieutenant colonel had no choice but to order the weapons of the dead to be distributed to the drivers and merchants.

These civilians, who had never received military training, were temporarily organized into a unit and placed under the command of Bud—because they trusted only Lieutenant Bud.

All the Dussacs who were still able to ride horses were placed under the personal command of the lieutenant colonel. Andrei returned to his post as an infantry officer, in charge of leading Bader's 100-man unit.

The original plan was to rest for two hours at the temporary camp, but in reality, even half an hour wasn't enough. Before the last carriage in the caravan even entered the camp, the carriages inside were already setting off again.

The militiamen, rickshaw pullers, and merchants were full of complaints—but it's not their fault.

The so-called pursuers were nowhere to be seen, but the brutal one-eyed lieutenant colonel's forced march was real, and it happened after a bloody battle.

Not only were the living exhausted, but the livestock also suffered terribly.

Many drivers and merchants pleaded for a rest, as their animals were about to give out.

But the only answer was no.

Winters frequently saw dead mules and horses lying by the roadside. While the owners of the livestock were still weeping, others were already moving the cargo from one wagon to another.

The supply train dared not abandon its provisions, and the merchants were reluctant to discard their goods. Although the pursuers might be nearby, no one could be certain whether they were actually pursuing them.

As a result, the Paratians wanted to escape, but dared not run freely. So they dragged their heavy loads across the wasteland, dodging the unseen enemies behind them.

The convoy was able to maintain order entirely thanks to Dussac's saber and the prestige that several officers had accumulated over the years.

Even the lieutenants were having doubts: given Lieutenant Colonel Jessica's interrogation methods, it wouldn't be surprising if those Hurds revealed something.

“Do you remember that rabbit?” Bud asked.

"What rabbit?" Andrei asked, puzzled.

Winters replied, "A rabbit that's been beaten so badly it's afraid to admit it's a raccoon."

After discussing it, the group decided to explain their concerns to the lieutenant colonel.

Lieutenant Colonel Jessica set up a carriage as a temporary command post.

When Winters approached the lieutenant colonel, the latter was engrossed in working on a map.

“Sir, it’s too dangerous to go in the dark. Several horses have broken their hooves after stepping into rat holes.” Winters tentatively suggested, “How about we wait until dawn to move out? We can send more scouts to check the situation in the rear.”

"I've already sent them," the lieutenant colonel said without looking up. "Instead of worrying about what's behind us, we should think about how to avoid taking the wrong path."

"The forced march has resulted in the loss of too many mules and horses, and the road ahead may be difficult."

Lieutenant Colonel Jessica looked up at Winters, raising an eyebrow: "You also think I'm being paranoid?"

"I will resolutely obey your judgment."

“Small-scale raids on supply lines are a consistent tactic of the Heds.” The lieutenant colonel leaned back to continue his work on the map. “But think about it, how many days has it been since we’ve encountered any messengers returning from the front?”

Winters felt a chill run down his spine.

The supply line also served as a communication line, and messengers traveling along the route frequently encountered baggage trains. Occasionally, they would stop by to ask for a drink of water and exchange news from the front and rear.

But in the last few days, I've only seen messengers pass by behind me, but I haven't encountered any messengers coming from the front.

“In any case, it’s safest to return to the riverside camp first.” Lieutenant Colonel Jessica casually handed Winters a roll of parchment: “I suspect the camps ahead have already fallen.”

Winters unfolded the parchment; it was a map. He finally understood what the lieutenant colonel had been busy with.

The militia was not valued; maps were only distributed down to the battalion commander level, and there were no centurions. Lieutenant Colonel Jessica was drawing maps for his three centurions.

The lieutenant colonel calmly said, "You don't need to worry. I'll take responsibility for anything. Just obey orders."

“Lieutenant Colonel, we are the least worried.” Winters smiled. “The only reason I’m telling you this is because I have some doubts.”

Are there still any doubts?

"Nothing."

"Then get lost."

"Yes." Winters saluted.

……

According to the map, it is about sixteen kilometers from the ambush site to the riverside camp.

However, this 16-kilometer distance is only the distance shown on the map. Due to the undulating terrain, the actual distance is far greater than this figure.

The caravan had already traveled for most of the day before encountering Hart's cavalry.

After that life-or-death struggle, there wasn't even time to catch their breath; the convoy immediately turned back.

Lieutenant Colonel Jessica ruthlessly drove the Parat people to march at a speed of escape, covering in one night the distance that normally takes two days.

The cost was that thirty-three mules and horses were injured or died from exhaustion, seventeen carts were abandoned, and thirteen more carts were lost along the way.

The journey was arduous, and many of the seriously wounded succumbed to their injuries and died. Many others were also injured in accidents while marching at night.

Finally, as dawn broke on the horizon, the River Styx slowly emerged from behind the outline of the hillside.

The great river, like a silver ribbon, meanders through the yellow-green fields, its undulating surface shimmering with countless points of golden light.

Brother Reid stood on the hillside, hands on his hips, pointing at the river and praising it: "Look at this Azure Dragon on the left, White Tiger on the right, and Jade Belt Water in front of the gate, this is truly a feng shui treasure! But I have no offspring, so thinking about these things is useless, hahahaha!"

Winters didn't understand what the old man was rambling on about again. He circled the caravan, shouting, "The river camp is just ahead! We're almost there! Wine, meat, bread, warm blankets, everything! Hang in there!"

As Winters tried to encourage everyone, a gunshot rang out in the distance.

Gunshots echoed through the valley as Pierre ran down the hill behind him. He waved a flag and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Winters couldn't hear what Pierre was shouting, but he didn't need to.

"The Hurds are coming!" Winters roared. "Speed ​​up! Hundreds, assemble!"

The crowd was stunned at first, but when they came to their senses, the coachman whipped the animals, which were already at their limit, and the Montagne Hundred militiamen rushed toward Winters in a panic.

"They're here?" Lieutenant Colonel Jessica rode up to Winters on a brown horse.

“Here we come!” Winters replied.

On the western ridge, Hart's cavalry appeared one after another.

In their eyes, convoys of wagons were slowly making their way toward the Paratist camp on the west bank of the Styx.

They stopped and stood still, as if waiting for an order.

Wintersmo counted the number of Hart's cavalry: "Less than a hundred came."

“It’s probably just the vanguard,” Jessica said with a grim face. “There might be other forces hiding on the reverse slope.”

The Dussacks arrived one after another around the lieutenant colonel, forming a chaotic group.

Winters and Andrei's hundred-man squad was rapidly assembling. Bud and his ragtag group remained with the convoy. Dussacs and his men also arrived one after another, forming a chaotic huddle behind the lieutenant colonel.

At that very moment, the Hed made their move. They realized they couldn't allow the Paratul to form a proper line.

One rider broke through the crowd, followed closely by a hundred others, charging down the hill.
The thunderous sound of horses' hooves echoed through the valley, the overlapping echoes as powerful as thunder.

All the Paratians were captivated by the imposing presence of Hed's cavalry, while the one-eyed lieutenant colonel seemed completely unconcerned.

"Looking at the mountain makes the horse run itself to death, let them run for a while." Jessica took his left hand off the hilt of his saber and calmly gave the order to the lieutenants: "Lieutenant Montagne."

"exist!"

"You're in the reserve team."

"Yes!"

"Lieutenant Cellini."

"exist!"

"Protect the cavalry."

"Yes."

The ridges may not seem far apart, but getting there requires navigating a long downhill and a long uphill.

The Hud man controlled his speed, jogging slowly towards the bottom of the ditch.

There's still an uphill stretch ahead, and they don't intend to waste their horsepower right from the start.

Lieutenant Colonel Jessica cleared his throat and roared at the Dussacs, "Don't fucking scatter like headless chickens! Form ranks like spearmen. Arrowhead formation! Control your horses!"

The young Dusaks in the Paratú cavalry had never received any training in cavalry warfare, and they formed a haphazard wedge formation under the old Dusak's reprimands.

The lieutenant colonel's gaze swept over his riders, his tone icy: "The old marshal once said that the Heds are fierce and brave in battle, and skilled in archery and horsemanship. Two Heds cavalrymen can deal with three Palatine cavalrymen as easily as cutting melons and vegetables."

The Dussacks had various expressions: some were nervous, some were fearful, but most were resentful.

"You disagree?" Lieutenant Colonel Jessica roared, "Let me tell you, while you were still breastfeeding, the Hed children were already roaming the land in saddlebags! While you were still crawling on the ground, the Hed children were already learning to ride horses!"

Anglu, who was in the queue, heard Pierre beside him let out a cold snort from deep within his nose.

"But the old marshal also said that a hundred Paratau cavalrymen would never fear a hundred Hed barbarians! A thousand Paratau cavalrymen could easily defeat fifteen hundred Hed cavalrymen! That is the power of discipline, tactics, and formation!"

Everyone's breathing became rapid.

"I know most of you haven't received proper cavalry training," Lieutenant Colonel Jessica roared. "But that doesn't matter. What are these hundred or so Hed barbarians? Follow me! Cut them down!"

Before he finished speaking, the lieutenant colonel took the lead, roaring as he charged down the hillside: "Uukhai!"

The Paratul cavalrymen were taken aback at first, but then involuntarily followed the figure and charged forward: "Uukhai!"

Winters blurted out a curse, and the highest-ranking commander on the scene was the first to rush out, without even having a chance to stop him.

Andrei was also stunned, but he quickly came to his senses.

"All men! Run! March!" Lieutenant Cellini shouted, leading his men to chase after the cavalry.

In the blink of an eye, only Lieutenant Montagne and his hundred-man squad remained on the hilltop, shivering in the cold west wind.

"Square formation." Winters ordered helplessly, "Musketeers, prepare matchlocks and load ammunition."

In the ravine, the distance between the two groups of cavalry was rapidly closing.

The Heds didn't seem to have any formation whatsoever.

The Palatine cavalry barely maintained a wedge formation that was on the verge of falling apart, with the lieutenant colonel himself acting as the spearhead.

As the two sides were about to collide with a deafening roar, the Paratu people on the hillside held their breath and watched intently.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Three gunshots rang out across the valley.

Winters looked in the direction of the sound and saw several Heds watching the battle from the opposite hillside; the gunshots were coming from there.

After the gunshot, something strange happened in the valley.

The seemingly disorganized Hundred Riders of Hedde suddenly split in two, each circling around to the left and right sides of the Plato wedge formation.

"Oh no!" Winters exclaimed inwardly.

"Oh no!" Andrei shouted in his mind.

The advantage of the wedge formation is that it is easy to turn. As long as everyone follows the person in front, the rider in charge of guiding can easily control the direction of the impact.

But the Heds were clearly not prepared to engage the Paratu in a head-on confrontation. They split into two groups and flanked the Paratu cavalry formation.

The wedge formation can certainly be split in two, but such a change of formation while moving is something these rookie cavalrymen who only know how to blindly charge are not capable of handling.

The one-eyed lieutenant colonel gritted his teeth and yanked the reins with his left hand. The wedge formation, charging forward, turned with him and slammed into the left flank of the Hart cavalry.

In an instant, men and horses were thrown into chaos. The Paratul and Hed people, having survived the first wave of attacks, began a melee.

The fifty-odd cavalrymen on the right flank did not choose to support their comrades, but instead bypassed the battle and headed straight for the convoy.

Nearly a hundred more Hart cavalrymen charged out from the opposite slope at the ridgeline of the hillside.

The Hed cavalry, their helmets adorned with feathers and wielding spears, charged with strange cries toward the Palatine warriors who were fighting fiercely in the valley below.

Andrei and his soldiers finally arrived and joined the battle.

More than fifty of Hart's cavalrymen on the right flank swept past the small square of Montagne's centurion.

Winters' musketeers opened fire, but not a single Hart cavalryman fell from his horse.

The Hurds completely ignored the militia in formation and charged straight at the clumsy caravan.

A difficult choice was suddenly presented to Winters.

Rescue convoy?

Support the battle in the ravine?

The convoy contained only Bard and civilians; a massacre awaited them.

The battle in the valley appeared to be evenly matched, with the Paratus having a better chance of winning.

In the blink of an eye, he had made his choice.

"If we lose this battle, no one will survive!" Winters' roar seemed to be a self-suggestion: "Form ranks! Everyone! Follow me!"

As for Bard... they can only rely on themselves.

I finished writing this chapter while taking a break.

Thank you to all the readers who voted for the book with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Thank you everyone, sending you love!

Due to time constraints, I will not be able to thank everyone individually here. I will express my gratitude in the next chapter. I apologize.

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(End of this chapter)