Since the Accounting: A Chronicle of the Roman Khanate

Chapter 732 Is Saint Tang Sai'er also a Lolita Mom?
The mercenaries' charge came quickly and went just as fast. Once they engaged in hand-to-hand combat, they couldn't hold out for long and were forced to retreat. Those behind them didn't even get a chance to fight; seeing the front lines retreating, they turned and ran as well. Soon, everyone had run back.

However, the opposing side outnumbered them, and the Italian mercenaries maintaining the line did not participate in the attack, keeping their ranks orderly. Moreover, the defenders were few in number and, apart from their melee weapons, had nothing else capable of inflicting effective casualties. Therefore, in the brief engagement, they did not actually suffer many losses, and perhaps not even as many as they had during the retreat due to panic and crowding, resulting in many being knocked down or trampled.

Under the command of those commanders, the defeated mercenaries quickly regrouped.

Tang Sai'er couldn't make out how many people they had. She sensed that there might be a few more flags participating in this attack. However, the flags of these ragtag mercenaries were very disorganized, and it was impossible to be sure whether there were genuinely more different flags, or if they simply hadn't been noticed, or if they hadn't bothered to keep track...

Captain Martin also stated that while observing the enemy's flags might provide some basic information in her hometown, it would be of little use against these individuals.

Mercenary groups are essentially commercial organizations. In Italian, mercenary group and company are simply the same word. Therefore, most mercenary groups are not the strictly disciplined armies she imagined, but rather makeshift operations like small companies.

Similarly, like the numerous small companies in various city-states, these ragtag mercenary groups were always a mixed bag, rising and falling in a flash. They might not last long, disbanding due to a lack of business; or they might be too successful, immediately landing large orders and participating in large-scale battles, only to be scattered as cannon fodder. As for internal and external conflicts, such as mergers with competitors or disputes between partners, these would all lead to the company's rapid demise.

Captain Martin and Jessica were longtime comrades-in-arms and veterans who had fought all over Europe, but even he didn't recognize these things—mainly because there was no need to remember them. Even their leader himself might not be able to say how many men he had or how strong they were. Observing the flags of these mercenary groups wouldn't reveal anything either.

As expected, this time, the enemy's charge was no different from the last. They successfully broke through again, but after a short engagement, they began to flee once more. The defenders' current forces were insufficient to pursue them, and they could only watch as these people ran back in a flash…

People began to have doubts: was the enemy deliberately holding back, or was they planning something else? They didn't seem to be in a hurry to fight their way back to camp. However, because of the presence of the Italian mercenaries, Tang Sai'er didn't dare commit Gu Liu's cavalry to the pursuit. She could only urge everyone to remain calm, fight a few more times, and they would roughly figure out the enemy's tactics.

Captain Martin also cautioned that the ragtag mercenaries currently deployed were lacking in morale and combat effectiveness. However, the established mercenary groups were still worth being wary of. The man who had just claimed to be from the St. George's Legion—if that was true, then they likely possessed more than what they had displayed so far.

Larger mercenary groups, especially those that have made a name for themselves, are generally quite disciplined. In terms of discipline and training, they are often far more disciplined than the so-called "regular armies" of many noble families. Moreover, like successful large corporations, they typically have their own unique management strategies and fighting styles, and some even have theoretical systems and mentorship programs.

To maintain a company's survival in Italy's fiercely competitive and treacherous environment for so long, they must all possess unique skills. Therefore, the manager's self-introduction was a product of experience gained in that environment: generally, hearing such self-introductions allows others to understand their capabilities and carefully consider their next move.

Veteran mercenaries know that while the general impression of the Italian army is often of crossbowmen and heavy infantry, the Saint George Mercenary Group is quite different. This is because Italian mercenary captains place great emphasis on military education and mentorship, and the Saint George Mercenary Group originated from a group of Holy Roman Empire soldiers.

At the time, Rodrício of the Visconti family assisted his cousin in controlling Milan. However, after the success, Rodrício's lust for power grew, and he wanted to seize power from his nephew.

However, his nephew was also very powerful, causing his plot to fail and forcing him to flee in panic. Having lost his territory and soldiers, he could only become a mercenary and gather a group of Holy Roman Empire allies to attempt a counterattack on Milan. Most of those he persuaded to join him in this great undertaking were knights and cavalry, even including some returning Crusader knights. Therefore, from the very beginning, they were known for their use of heavily armored cavalry.

In contrast, one of their rivals, the White Mercenaries, preferred to construct their lines using archers and dismounted cavalry, keeping only a small number of men on horseback as a mobile force. This is likely because Sir John Hawkwood, the key figure of the White Mercenaries, was from England and was probably a longbowman by training.

Hawkwood claimed to have been knighted for his military achievements at the Battle of Cressy, but many doubted this, believing he had done so after gaining fame. Regardless of the truth, his lineage was heavily influenced by this English style. Hawkwood's pinnacle battle at Castagnaro was similar to the command of his former boss, Edward the Black Prince, at Poitiers.

Therefore, in Captain Martin's judgment, the one to be wary of now is not these people in front of them, but the enemy's cavalry. Moreover, in terms of both quantity and quality, they are certainly not at the level of the ragtag riders from before.

Based on current intelligence, the size and strength of the enemy are still uncertain. However, every mercenary group with any standing has such a core force. Compared to those "freelance mercenaries" whose whereabouts are uncertain and whose skill levels vary greatly, or even outsourced companies, these people are the backbone of the mercenary group.

The afternoon's attack on the convoy was not suitable for cavalry. Furthermore, these Italians were always cunning, preferring to keep their forces hidden from both enemies and employers. These reserve soldiers were the foundation of the mercenary group's existence, and they certainly wouldn't use them lightly.

After all, employers these days aren't exactly pushovers. When distributing spoils and rewards after a battle, they don't really look at how much you contributed, but rather how much strength you have left. If all these loyal elites are wiped out, then forget about getting rewards and bonuses; the mercenary group itself probably won't be able to survive.

Right now, it's still uncertain what the enemy is thinking—whether they're determined to break through here, or just want to make a show of force to demonstrate to their employer. But on the battlefield, one must be prepared for the worst. Although they probably won't deploy their elite troops here to fight to the death, we still need to be prepared. If they plan to use cavalry to outflank us and launch a surprise attack from another direction, we must also be prepared to counter that.

Tang Sai'er thought this made a lot of sense, so she sent Li Li with his men to scout out the woods on both sides. Although theoretically, it wasn't suitable for a large army to pass through, let alone heavy cavalry, Captain Martin had already warned them that these people weren't ordinary enemies, but enemies who understood military strategy. In other words, they had to use their own understanding to try and guess their possible intentions.

Those who understand military strategy believe that it is precisely in places that everyone considers difficult to traverse that a surprise attack is meaningful.

Of course, the other party's thinking might be the opposite. Because once they start speculating with each other, they might end up facing a "scheme using a scheme." However, these risks must also be considered.

Although the number of people here is small, letting Lili and his men leave would further weaken the defenders' lines. However, in Tang Sai'er's view, the possibility of a direct breakthrough is still not very high. Compared to the risks on the flanks, it's still worth doing.

This time, their reorganization took much longer, and it seemed there was even a quarrel on their end. A small group of horsemen came to the front and gave orders to the Italian mercenaries, but the mercenaries remained calm and waited, completely ignoring their shouts. After a while, seeing that it still had no effect, the men had no choice but to return dejectedly.

Before long, another group of soldiers appeared at the intersection. The Italians and the previous ragtag mercenaries stepped aside to let them pass one by one.

Their equipment looked significantly better than the previous groups, and their ranks were much more orderly. There were also drummers and horn players in the ranks. To the rhythmic sounds of their instruments, they began to advance methodically.

However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that these men were not in good condition. Their armor was filthy, covered in mud, and even bore the marks of smoke, fire, and weapon damage. The soldiers were also travel-worn, some bearing wounds. Even the flag held by the standard-bearer had several holes in it.

The soldiers seemed somewhat listless, mechanically following orders and advancing slowly. When Tang Sai'er got close enough, she could even see the fatigue and hesitation on their faces, even a hint of fear. Some were almost numb, while others were clearly looking around anxiously, as if trying to assess the surrounding situation at any moment.

"Why did you bring over a defeated army? They're not even as good as those ragtag troops—at least they have sharp eyes and seem quite clever," Tang Sai'er commented.

“This is the Prague Civic Legion,” Captain Martin said. “They’re probably scared after being beaten this afternoon. I’ve seen them before; they shouldn’t be like this…”

"They can fight like this?" Tang Sai'er herself didn't believe that Zhu Wenkui and his team had that kind of strength: "If Wenkui and Lao Yang were that strong, they probably would have fought their way out on their own, and we wouldn't have needed to try to rescue them..." "Uh... I don't know..." Captain Martin was also unsure.

Zhu Wenkui himself wasn't entirely confident in his command abilities. He often told everyone that the battlefield was a place of life and death, and that he could just play with firearms and wouldn't interfere with command.

As for JASK's military capabilities... it seems that only Guo Kang particularly values ​​him at the moment. Apart from him, even he himself has little confidence in him.

Everyone felt that Guo Kang's words were just polite words and encouragement. After all, as Zhu Wenkui's most active commander, he had to give him face. But the truth was, although Captain Jessica had fought for most of his life, he had almost never won any key battles, and in the end, he even lost his position in the Bohemian court.

During his time fighting alongside Zhu Wenkui and Guo Kang, he primarily undertook defensive and front-line maintenance tasks. His abilities in this area were recognized by his superiors and the corps; they believed he was adept at quickly constructing fortifications and holding his ground under pressure, adapting to changing battlefield conditions. Therefore, whenever there was a need to withstand pressure or draw away and repel the enemy's main offensive, he was the first person everyone thought of sending.

In short, whether he possesses the command ability to win decisive battles is anyone's guess. After several major battles, however, he has certainly earned the title of "Bohemian King of Endurance"...

Therefore, people aren't too worried about Tang Sai'er's side; they don't expect them to be able to hold out for long. But as for whether they can defeat the enemy on their own, that's definitely not something to be expected.

"Perhaps these people have fought too many times and are almost at their breaking point," Tang Sai'er judged. "Look, those Italians are impervious to reason and just don't want to go in. Those ragtag troops from before clearly don't want to repeat the previous charges in vain. I guess Prague will have no choice but to commit their own people. I suspect that the others are too cunning, which is why they're the ones fighting today's tough battles."

Everyone agreed that this made a lot of sense.

As they approached, the Prague citizens' army visibly hesitated, with some even halting their advance. Just as Tang Sai'er was contemplating whether to launch an attack, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from behind.

"What's going on! Where's Li Li?"

She assumed the enemy had indeed sent cavalry to flank them, and her first thought was, "What was Li Li doing? Why didn't he report this?" But just then, Gu Liu rode up, waving and shouting, "Our own people! Holy Mother! Holy Mother! Someone's come to our aid!"

"what?"

Tang Sai'er quickly told Captain Martin to keep an eye on things while she went back to check what was going on. Meanwhile, Gu Liu, with a rider following behind, saw this and proudly called out to Tang Sai'er, "I'm Haji Gray! Don't you remember me? Aren't you surprised, Your Highness?"

"Why are you here?" Tang Sai'er was even more surprised than when she was ambushed by the Italians than when she was pleasantly surprised.

"I'm here to help you?" Haji Gray seemed surprised as well. "Aren't we allies? What's wrong?"

As he spoke, he pointed behind him and said, "Look, these are all the people I brought. There can't be any fakes here, can there?"

"It's not that..." Tang Sai'er thought for a moment, then felt a little embarrassed to say why she was surprised...

She glanced at the group of riders and noticed there were only thirty or forty of them. Curious, she asked, "That's strange. Your tribe must have far more than this many people. Is this all that's come? The battle couldn't have been this intense."

“No, no, there wasn’t much fighting. They were just making trouble among themselves,” Haji Gray waved his hand and explained. “However, once the others had their fill, they all left on their own. Only my close associates were willing to come along.”

"Uh……"

“Don’t worry, ninety percent of our tribe’s strength is here. We can’t rely on the others; they’re just there to bolster our strength.” Seeing her speechless expression, Haji Gley quickly explained, “They’re not just ordinary herders; they’re companions I personally selected, and skilled rabbits. Originally, I planned to use them to deal with my uncle, but now that’s no longer necessary, so they’ve come here to help you.”

"Don't you want to go and loot some things?" Tang Sai'er pointed behind her: "With so few men, and they still have to rush over, they probably won't be able to bring much loot."

"Let's forget about that little bit of cash for now." Haji Gray waved his hand. "With my help, do you think I can't get something? But I think there are better opportunities than money if I follow you. So, do you need me to step in?"

"Wait a minute. There really is an opportunity." Tang Sai'er immediately thought of a solution.

She told the men to rest first, then returned to the front lines. Fighting had broken out, but the Prague people were too timid, so it wasn't too intense.

"How's the situation here?" she asked Captain Martin.

"The pressure isn't too great," Captain Martin replied, glancing at her before hesitating to speak further.

"What's wrong?" Tang Sai'er asked curiously.

"Why did they call you 'Saint Mary' just now? Those guys are clearly much older than you." Captain Martin couldn't help but point behind him and ask directly, "You had a child without being married? I didn't know that before."

"puff……"

Tang Sai'er couldn't hold back any longer.

(End of this chapter)