Warlords of the witcher world

Chapter 217 The bald man’s claim to the east and west

After Radovid declared war, the Ismina River became the focus of the war.

Before the war began, Radovid had assembled an army of up to one hundred thousand men in Vizima.

Then the Northern Federation also responded tit-for-tat and assembled a similar number of troops in Ireland.

To show the unity of the Federation, this army brought together Aedirnians, Rivians, Temerians, and Skellige.

The Queen of Rivia, the Temerian Marshal, and the Skellige royal family all came with the army.

In doing so, Herme is emphasizing the unity of the north, and using this to form a sharp contrast with the bald king, confirming his identity as the destroyer of northern unity.

However, how everything will turn out ultimately depends on what happens on the battlefield.

In the pre-war meeting, Herme believed that Radovid's next target must be Elland. If the bald man wants to fight him, let him do it.

Hermey wanted this, and Radovid was also providing convenience to him.

The Lord Protector is unwilling to let this civil war in the north prolong. With the current situation in the north, the sooner this civil war ends, the better. From this point of view, Herme believes that Radovid on the opposite side is probably fighting the same tactics as himself. idea.

Just as Herme expected, after the war began, Radovid's army began to advance towards Elland.

Therefore, the troops of the Northern Federation blocked Radovid's army at the Ismina River.

The two sides then started a confrontation here.

There was no fighting between the two sides, just a confrontation, but soldiers exploring the situation could always be seen on both sides of the river.

Although there was no fighting, everyone was very active in other aspects.

Every night, the scene on both sides of the strait is very spectacular, and the firelight is so dense that it is like two cities standing there.

The local Temerians provided services to both sides at the same time, earning coins from the soldiers.

After all, this was a civil war for northerners, and the people behaved as usual.

There are also people who are secretly colluding with the locals to resell supplies, but if they are discovered, they will be hanged immediately.

"Alas, this war seems to have no end in sight."

By the Ismina River, under a temporary guard post of the Aedirian army, several soldiers were chatting together, and one of the veterans complained.

Their tower has a temporary wooden tower that allows people to see the scenery further away.

There are many such wooden towers on both sides of the strait. Both sides are closely observing the movements on the other side and are ready to take action at any time.

The veterans did not wear armor, but they all wore breastplates.

On the front line, this thing cannot be taken off at any time. This is a rule of thumb.

The weapons were placed where they were easiest to pick up, so that they would not be hindered. From a glance, it seemed that these people had a lot of war experience.

"Okay, okay, stop complaining. I know everyone has grievances, but let's focus on our affairs. If the Redanians have any movements, we have to notice them as soon as possible. Don't let them all It’s in front of us, and we’re still chatting here.”

One of the ten captains said that compared to the few veterans who were deeply resentful, he was more open-minded.

He is a veteran who followed Hemei when the Lord Protector was rectifying the situation in Vengerburg. He then followed the Lord Protector through countless battles and saw all kinds of battles.

In his opinion, the next victory must belong to Aedirn and the Northern Federation.

After all, the Protector's achievements are there.

And that Radovid was just a newcomer who had just debuted. He had a few victories, but also failures. He was incomparable to Lord Protector.

This also represents the thinking of many people in this army now.

It is this that allows them to continue fighting, otherwise deserters will inevitably appear - this kind of thing has already happened with the Redanians.

The problem of desertion is a problem that has always plagued all armies. After all, many soldiers were recruited, and it is normal for them to be unable to endure the hardships of the army.

Merely killing soldiers will not prevent the desertion problem.

Therefore, it is very important for soldiers to maintain their confidence and their belief in the justice of war. This is why Hemei chose to be conservative in front of the bald head.

And this choice also gave him rewards. In the Aedian army, everyone turned their resentment towards the Redanians for being forced to continue fighting.

"Hey, recruit, is there any movement from the Redanians across the way?"

The captain was obviously very prestigious. The veteran heard his order and did not continue to complain. Instead, he shouted to the recruits on the wooden sentry post to ask if they had discovered anything.

The recruits who were napping above were immediately startled and glanced towards the other side.

Unlike the veterans who only took off their breastplates, the recruits were fully armed and even pulled down their faceplates for fear of being killed.

The place where they were located was formerly a crossing of the Ismina River, where soldiers could wade across the water, so a sentry post was set up.

If the Redanians are crossing the river, they can be seen here for the first time.

"Nothing at all."

The recruit, who glanced hastily, replied, not forgetting to straighten his back and pray that the veteran would not cause trouble for him.

"Are you really sure?"

The veteran below asked again, but he could see the boy's absent-minded look.

The recruit took another look to make sure there was no movement of the Redanian army in front of him.

So he raised his head and answered confidently.

"No."

The veteran looked at the appearance of the new recruits above, and clicked his tongue disdainfully. It was not just reporting news, but it was like being inspected by the Lord Protector.

It seems that these newcomers still need to practice more. They are probably still full of war fantasies, and they must not be tired enough.

And just when everyone at this outpost thought that the front was safe, on the opposite side, a firework suddenly rose into the sky, and then the firework exploded above.

Everyone was stunned when they saw this scene.

"Damn, this is, this is the signal for the Redanians to attack."

The captain's rich experience immediately told him what the fireworks in the sky represented.

On the small wooden tower, the recruits also issued a warning.

"There are a large number of Redanian cavalry crossing the river!"

Then, the captain heard the alarm bell ringing. It was a copper bell that was being rung with all his strength, and the horns were also going up one after another.

Then he saw squadrons of hoplites and archers hurrying toward the river bank.

As for the artillery positions that had been set up on the river bank, the artillerymen also hurriedly removed their equipment and camouflage and prepared for battle.

"Captain Ten, what should we do?"

The newbie on the tower asked slightly panicked, while the other veterans just stood silently beside the captain.

"Come on, let's join in."

.

On the Ismina River, groups of Redanian cavalry were riding their horses.

The war horse bravely stepped into the river, its hooves rose and fell, and water splashed.

The river reflected the brave figures of these Redanian knights, but in an instant they were shattered by the hooves of horses stepping into the water.

The mounted musketeers dismounted after reaching the firing range and tilted their fire at the enemy on the river bank.

The musketeers all have the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Redania on their chests, which represents that they are the musketeers belonging to the royal family.

Some Redanians also set up guns carried by horses, and used these large guns to continuously bombard the other side.

The addition of muskets undoubtedly made the entire war look more intense.

The artillery deployed by the defenders on the river bank also kept roaring, but unfortunately most of the time it could only stir up a column of water, which would then wet the nearby Redanians.

These Redanians seemed not to have seen this and continued to move forward without showing any fear.

But as the Redanians got closer to the river bank, their casualties increased, and more and more unlucky ones were hit by cannonballs.

Once hit by artillery, the scene is often extremely miserable.

The body that had been shattered by the shells fell into the water, and the blood dyed the entire water surface red. The running water quickly took away the blood, but then new blood continued to join it.

On the river bank controlled by the Aedian people, the Aedian people urgently formed a series of shield walls, and soldiers stationed nearby were continuously joining the shield walls.

The archers were firing guns and arrows desperately, but unfortunately most of the attacks were deflected by the armor of the galloping Redanian knights.

The armor of the Redanian Knights lives up to its reputation.

Occasionally, a Redanian knight would be shot off his horse, but in an instant he would be submerged among the galloping horses, as if he had never existed.

These Redanian knights also advanced without fear.

When approaching the Aedirnian shield wall, the horse of the Redanian knight at the front subconsciously rose up and hit the upper body of the defending soldier.

This unexpected impact directly knocked people over and knocked them down, causing a hole in the shield wall.

Just like this, the Redanian knights continued to create gaps one after another in the shield wall. The knights rushed into the Aedirnians behind who were rushing towards the shield wall and killed them wantonly. The shield wall was also It became a mess under such an impact and eventually disintegrated.

After the lance in his hand was broken, the Redanian immediately drew his sword and kept slashing at the enemies around him.

The battle turned into a melee. The Redanian knights relied on their thick armor to dart back and forth among the enemy groups. However, there were also constant Redanian knights who unfortunately were dismounted from their horses during the siege, and were then treated as lowly in their eyes. Infantry kill.

Finally, facing the constant attacks from the Redanian knights, the shield wall finally collapsed.Seeing the situation, the shooters also began to retreat, while the artillerymen did not forget to drive nails into the cannon doors while running away, so that the enemy could not use the artillery at all.

The soldiers of Aedirn fled from the river bank in embarrassment. They roughly divided into two groups to flee.

The Redanians did not cheer or stop, but continued to pursue the fleeing enemy, which showed that their plan was clear.

It was also at this moment that reinforcements from the Northern Federal camp finally arrived, and a line of shooters carrying heavy muskets and gun racks was seen forming a line.

When the larger group of collapsed deserters saw this, they did not continue to flee in a single line, but ran to the several roads made by the musketeers, opening up the shooting range for the musketeers.

Although these men were broken, they were also experienced warriors and so knew what to do when.

As the heavy muskets continued to roar, Redanian knights fell one after another. Even Redanian heavy armor could not stop such heavy matchlock guns.

But they still charged bravely. Each spearman did not become timid because of the death of his comrades, and continued to charge forward bravely.

The musketeers were not frightened by the approach of the enemy. These musketeers, who had experienced countless battles, just withdrew after the last round and followed the infantry who followed.

Another shield wall was formed in front of the Redanian knights. Compared with the previous shield wall that was easily broken through by the knights because it was not thick enough, this shield wall was thick enough and the soldiers inside were elite enough.

The Redanians ran directly into it, but this time they were blocked by the shield wall after killing some Aedirnians.

On the flank, a group of heavy cavalry from Aden and Hacklan came out, and on the other flank were the Aedian musketeers who had not known when they had moved over. They set up their muskets and started shooting.

Under the double strangulation of muskets and cavalry, the Redanian knights suffered heavy losses. These proud knights had to put down their arrogance and retreat toward the rear in embarrassment.

On the other side, on the river bank, the Redanian knights chasing the small group of deserters rushed into a reed marsh.

The reeds, which were taller than humans and horses, were like a forest. They looked so intimidating that many experienced knights reined in their horses.

But the newcomers who were entering the battle for the first time didn't think so much and rushed in regardless.

For these children of Redania's privileged class, they want to prove themselves on the battlefield, and cutting off the enemy's head is the most important thing. Only in this way can they prove themselves to their elders who look down on them.

Some old knights want to call these stupid young people back, but it's a pity that the young people who kill them don't care so much, and they think these old people are hindering them.

And you didn't see it, these Aedianites took off their armor all over the floor. If you don't reap the fruits of this victory, you would be really sorry for yourself.

However, as soon as they rushed into the reeds, they found that their sight suddenly narrowed to the reeds around them, and they could not see where the enemy was.

And the next moment, they found their horses and armor dragging them into the mud among the reeds, and then the Aedirn counterattack arrived.

The Cossacks and Kaedwins, wearing single clothes and holding axes and scimitars, burst out of the reeds. Unlike the knights who were trapped in the mud and struggled to take a single step, they moved flexibly and freely.

The Cossacks are desperadoes who have played countless lives on the steppes, and the Kaedwens are lumberjacks recruited from the great forest.

The two would be perfect to open a can in a place like this.

It's a pity that these children of Redania's privileged class were cut down in the mud before they could start their glorious life.

Just die in an inconspicuous place.

After killing these Redanian knights, the ambushers did not rush out. Instead, they continued to wait on the spot.

These veterans on the battlefield all know that there are Redanian knights outside, and they will not take chances.

Moreover, their body is suitable for fighting in the mud. If they go out, they will be slaughtered by those heavily armored knights.

In this way, after crossing the river, after a brief breakthrough, the Redanians ran into the trap of the Aedirnians. As a result, they suffered heavy losses and were forced back to the river bank.

On the river bank, a large number of Redanian infantry had gathered at this moment. These iron cans, which were no less than knights, formed a firm battle line to guard the river bank they occupied.

Groups of Northern Federal soldiers surrounded them, and the two sides started a fierce battle on the river bank.

Although the Redanians have been continuously deploying troops, the Aedirnians are still more convenient than them after all, and there are several shooting points on the river bank that can be occupied to continuously tilt their firepower against the red army.

Therefore, the Redanians were still retreating slowly, and the battle moved to the river.

"Radovid...what are you doing? If he keeps doing this, I can win this battle even if I lie down."

After winning such a victory, the Lord Protector of Aden was not happy at all. He looked at the fighting in front of him on the mountain and said in confusion.

"Master Protector?"

Valentine was very puzzled. They seemed to be winning this battle, but Lord Protector had such an attitude.

"Blindly attacking a well-protected and well-planned preset position is not what a good commander should do. If he keeps fighting like this, it will only be a matter of time before Radovid's army is finished. And is Radovid such a person? "

"No."

Before thinking, Valentine said subconsciously.

Radovid has never been a mediocre person, this is an impression that has been deeply rooted in people's hearts.

"That's why it's strange, and that's why I'm worried. This guy Radovid must be up to something."

Herme kept touching her chin, thinking about the possible activities of the bald king opposite.

At this moment, in front of him, a group of Rivia scythe hands walked past, going to participate in the battle ahead.

These sicklemen did not join the battle immediately. Instead, they detoured to one side and attacked the Redanian front line. This made the Lord Protector think of something.

"Is there any movement of Redanians upstream and downstream?"

Herme's question made Valentine a little confused. Why did the Lord Protector suddenly ask about this matter? But as an experienced attendant, he immediately gave an answer.

"There is no such news at the moment, but I will send additional manpower immediately."

Valentine was a smart man and immediately realized what the Protector wanted to do, so he gave the order.

The Protector nodded and continued to focus on the battlefield, watching the two armies fighting in the river and watching the river become red with blood.

Then he just hoped that that bastard Radovid would not do anything outrageous - after all, this is a world with magic.

If it were a normal strategic confrontation, he would not be afraid at all and would just take advantage of it.

Suddenly, Hemei felt a wave of fatigue welling up in her heart. After a long period of thinking and commanding, it was very common to feel tired.

So Herme directly asked the attendant to bring a kettle and drank a black liquid, which was a kind of refreshing agent from Aden. It tasted thick and bitter, but fortunately it had a good effect and made people feel warm. The whole person is energetic.

While the commanders were racking their brains to think about the behavior patterns of the other side, the soldiers on the front line were not so annoyed, but they were on the most dangerous front line and in the most deadly fighting.

People kept falling. These comrades who once stood in the same trench now only wanted to kill each other desperately.

While the fighting was raging on the ferry, something happened in the upper reaches of the Ismina River.

"I heard that there was a severe beating down there, and many people died."

"Really? It seems we are very lucky this time."

"Yes, my family has found a fiancée for me. She grew up in the same village as me. I want to go back and get married."

Upstream, two scouts were chatting, grateful that they did not have to directly participate in the battle.

However, the next moment they had to change their minds, oh, no need, because they had already been shot to death by crossbow arrows.

One second the two scouts were thinking about their good life after the war, and the next second they found a crossbow arrow lodged in their throats.

"go ahead."

Following these words, several Redanian soldiers came out of the nearby bushes, holding heavy crossbows in their hands.

While these Redanian soldiers were applying wounds to the corpses on the ground, not far away, a large Redanian army was crossing the river.

This army fully deserves the name of a large army, with flags everywhere, spears everywhere, strong and robust infantry walking side by side with proud and powerful cavalry.

"Your Majesty, Hermey must not have thought of your decision."

Someone beside Radovid said flatteringly, but Radovid didn't even pay attention to this person, which made this person very embarrassed for a moment.

But after having been a deceiver by Radovid’s side for so long, this man didn’t care about it at all and planned to continue to flatter Radovid.

However, the next moment he saw the bored look on the king's face, he knew that the situation was about to overturn.

"Drag this guy down and chop him down."

It is very dangerous to be a deceitful minister. After all, to put it bluntly, he is just a clown kept by the king. What his future will be depends on what the king wants.

It would be even more dangerous to be Radovid's deceitful minister. The bald king would fall out whenever he wanted to, and many people had already been beheaded.

But for the sake of the incredible wealth, there are still people who continue to flatter Radovid.

After all, if it succeeds, then the whole person will be prosperous.

And if you fail, since you all know how dangerous this is, don't complain if you lose.

So the courtier didn't react much when he was taken away. He had been with Radovid for a long time and was mentally prepared for this day.

Radovid, on the other hand, looked downstream. He could not see the Aedirnians yet, but he would be able to see them soon.

Radovid was quite proud of his move to attack the east and west. This move directly allowed his elite to successfully cross the river.

Although the King of Redania is young, his war experience is unparalleled by few in the entire north.

Of course he could see that storming the ferry was seeking death, but that was what he wanted to do. Otherwise, how could he distract the enemy?
He stationed his troops at the ford for several days and did not move for this reason, to make the Aedianites think that he would inevitably launch a war in this direction.

Therefore, his attempt to attack the east and west was successful.

Unable to restrain himself, he began to laugh at the Lord Protector of Aedirn in his heart. The so-called invincible was nothing more than that, and he didn't even see it.

This made him more and more convinced that victory must belong to him.

(End of this chapter)