Imperial Crown.

Chapter 91: Horses as a City
Just as the vanguard was retreating, Eric was riding on his warhorse with a stern look on his face, moving slowly with the entire army.

The army's movement was much slower than when Visdon set out, and most of the soldiers were walking.

Because just outside the army formation, the remaining pack horses had been tied together with ropes, forming a semicircle that enveloped the entire army.

Seen from a high place, it looks like a moving city.

Most of the scouts sent out by the Scorpion Nest followed Visdon's team, and the small number that remained was wiped out by Simon and other extraordinary people.

This could delay the time it took Helaiti to notice their plan, although it was quite limited. But even if it was only for a moment, it could increase the chances of the plan's success.

"Can Visdon come back?" Goyle came to Eric and rode side by side with him.

"I don't know, and it doesn't matter." Eric still stared ahead with an expressionless face.

Goyle sighed and nodded slowly.

He understood what Eric meant. It would be great if Visdon could succeed as the vanguard to lure the enemy this time, but if not, then they would take over Visdon's mission.

Just then, Simon's voice rang out: "Back!"

Gore looked happy, but his expression immediately changed, becoming surprised and gloomy.

Visdon rushed to the front, he almost lay on the horse's back, his whole body was soaked in blood, and a layer of dark red ice crystals formed on the chain mail. His only remaining left hand was hanging on the ground with a half-sword in his hand, and only the battle flag with a red background and black stripes behind him was still fluttering in the wind.

Behind him was the vanguard troops that were barely maintaining their formation.

Their condition was only slightly better than that of Visdon. Some were missing their noses, some were missing their ears, and some were missing their fingers. They were huddled together, covered in blood.

There were forty-nine people when they went out, but there were less than twenty when they came back!
Not even a single one of Gore's sword and shield soldiers was able to come back alive.

The whole team looked like they had rushed out of a sea of ​​blood!
"Stop where you are!" Eric also saw this scene. He looked solemn, with a trace of worry in his eyes: "Release the horses and let them come in from both sides!"

But Visdon seemed not to hear it and continued walking forward.

Gore glanced at Eric, and after getting a look of approval, he quickly took people to bring Weston and others back to the army.

As soon as he returned to the formation, Weisdon slid off his horse, leaving a circle of bright red marks on the snow.

The situation of the Vanguard was mixed.

Some soldiers fell directly from their horses, a few lost their breath permanently as soon as they got off their horses, and more of them fell into a state of exhaustion; other soldiers were able to dismount by themselves, but judging from their trembling bodies, they were obviously exhausted.

Soldiers came forward to bandage them and handed them water bags.

Goll helped Visdon up, took off his visor, put a bottle of healing potion to his mouth and poured it into his mouth.

Weisdong took the potion and slowly opened his eyes. He choked on a mouthful of blood and said in a hoarse voice:
"……water."

Goyle quickly brought the water bag to his mouth.

Sucking on the water bag, Weston sucked greedily until the beer in the water bag was finished, and then a little color appeared on his face.

Seeing Weisdon like this, Goyle knew that he must have fought hard, but he couldn't explain the doubts in his heart: "What happened, why is the loss so great?"

Weston murmured weakly: "...Too much."

"What?" Goyle didn't understand.

But Eric, who was not far away, had already understood.

Not only could he understand it, he could also see it, and his face turned ashen!
The huge group of horse bandits has at least over one hundred and fifty people!

Counting yesterday's casualties and the losses in the recent battle, as well as the scouts sent out by the Scorpion Nest, Heleti's paper strength has reached nearly 280 people!
"Simon!" Eric's eyebrows jumped wildly, but he lowered his voice: "What's going on? Didn't you say that Heleti only had more than 150 men? "

"That's absolutely correct..." Simon's expression was also very ugly: "Helati indeed only has more than 150 men under his command. Even if there is an error, it won't be too much!"

Eric was about to scold when he heard this, but suddenly he thought of something and his face changed suddenly:

“…Oh no!”

The information Simon provided could not be false, and now that the facts and the information conflict, there is only one explanation -

Helaiti, united with other horse thieves!
He was already prepared!!!

Even with two and a half, almost three times the number of troops crushing the enemy, Helaiti was still so cautious. He first sent people to test the enemy, and then he would not come out until they took the initiative to attack!

At this moment, Eric finally realized the heavy weight of the title "Sand King".

"Everyone, group of three, ready to fight!!!"

Following Eric's command, the soldiers of the Eagle Army moved, gathering together in groups of three, including sword and shield soldiers, spearmen, and crossbowmen.

If there is a shortage of people, we will adjust and supplement them on our own.

Looking at the surging bandits, Simon also realized the problem and asked in a low voice:

"…What about the Baron?"

"The intelligence can no longer be sent out." Eric's eyes were heavy: "What we have to do is to hold them back here, hold Heleti back!"

"Buy time for the Baron!"

At the same time, Heleti also saw Eric's arrangement. His eyes became slightly solemn. The Eagle Army's previous performance made him more cautious:
"Everyone dismounts and uses pack horses as a wall - what kind of tactic is this?"

He had never heard of it, let alone seen it.

Even on the Bloody Highlands, horses are a very important resource and no one is willing to waste them.

Dismounting at this time means completely giving up mobility, and also means that Eric chose this place as the final battlefield.

If you don’t win, you will die!

What was Eric doing? Desperately stalling for time, or was he really confident he could beat me here?

"Interesting..." Although he said so, Heleti's expression was very cold. He raised his arm and pointed forward: "Eugene, I leave it to you."

Eugene took a deep breath and stroked the scar on his shoulder left by Weston. "Don't worry, Lord Sand King. I will definitely bring Eric and the so-called 'Baron' back alive for you!"

After saying that, he rode out on his horse: "Follow me!"

More than 140 horse bandits, led by Eugene, rushed forward like wolves and pigs, roaring!
The purpose of this battle is to establish authority!

Eugene won a great victory in the previous encounter. Now he has to continue this momentum, not giving the opponent any breathing time, and defeat them when their morale is at its lowest!
The herd of horses surrounding the Eagle Army was getting closer and closer in front of Eugene. He gradually lowered his lance, found the most balanced point, and stabbed in first like a cone!
"Eh-"

The packhorse that stood in front of the spear had its shoulder torn by the lance, and fell to the ground with a shrill scream.

Eugene sneered. He had already seen Eric's face. The distance between them was no more than thirty meters!

He only needed to take care of two more pack horses, and then he would be able to lead his team forward and overwhelm Eric with a sea of ​​people!

But at this moment, the horse under his crotch suddenly screamed, and then fell down with him!
Although he used his fighting spirit to protect his body in time, Eugene still felt suffocated after falling. He struggled to sit up from the ground, and when he saw his warhorse falling to the ground with a broken neck, a trace of fear emerged in his eyes!
He finally discovered the real secret of this "Packhorse Wall"!

The reason why they cannot become war horses is not because of their poor physique or lack of physical strength. The most important factor is that they have not received training and will run away once they are frightened.

Each packhorse had at least six or seven ropes tied to it, connecting it to the surrounding packhorses. However, due to the dense formation, it was impossible to see from the outside.

Because they are connected by ropes, they restrain each other. Once they cannot exert force in the same direction, they will all be locked in place.

When the outer layer of packhorses falls down, the power of this "packhorse wall" can be truly revealed. The rope connecting them becomes the best tripwire, and any warhorse that wants to break through will fall down!
"Slow down - stop!!!" Eugene waved and shouted behind him!

However, it's too late!

The horse thieves had no way of controlling their war horses, which were running at full speed, and they all rushed into the pack horses, followed by screams one after another!
The scene was far more tragic than Eugene had expected!

Some were like Eugene. After killing the pack horses, their war horses were tripped and they fell down. However, they had no fighting spirit and were wearing heavy armor. Even if they did not die on the spot, they would not be able to get up again in a short time without anyone's help!
Some of them relied on their own agility and tried to jump onto the pack horses, but the frightened pack horses displayed amazing attack power, kicking their hind legs and front hooves to knock these people to the ground, leaving them to be trampled into meat paste by their companions who followed.

Even if someone succeeded occasionally, they would be surprised to find that they were unable to control the packhorse, and would then be shot into a sieve by the crossbow arrows that followed!
Others wanted to rein in their horses, but were bumped by their companions who were following closely, and the two of them and their horses rolled into a ball!
These tragic scenes made Eugene close his eyes in pain.

In just a few tens of seconds, more than a dozen horse thieves lost their lives.

The loss is secondary. Now that the offensive has been thwarted, the goal of annihilating the enemy in one fell swoop has completely failed!

Lord Heleti is still watching from behind!
The screams of the horse thieves were a heavy blow to Eugene, but they were also the clarion call for the Eagle Army to charge.

Gore, Link, Mosingan and Simon each led their men into the herd.

The four extraordinary men moved in and out among the herd of horses, looking for every valuable target. If they saw a horse thief fall to the ground, they would give him a finishing blow if he was not dead; if they saw someone who was slowed down, they would cut off his hooves and then kill him.

The Eagle Army is implementing the formulated tactics.

The crossbowmen would shoot at close range, knocking the men off their horses, and the spearmen would follow up with another shot. The sword and shield soldiers would deal with those horse thieves who had fallen off their horses but were not dead.

The Packhorse City Wall seemed like a wriggling flesh-grinding stone, sapping the lives of the horse thieves.

The fighting is still going on and is tending to become a protracted war.

Eugene was a battle-hardened veteran after all. The pain and loss only lasted for a moment. His mind began to work rapidly, thinking about how to crack this tactic!

There was a sound of wind and a spear was handed over from the side.

"Come here and die!" Eugene said impatiently, stepped aside to avoid the gun tip, grabbed the gun barrel and pulled it hard behind him!
With a low cry of surprise, an Eagle Army soldier was dragged under the packhorse in front of him by Eugene. Before Eugene could make a move, the panicked packhorse kicked the soldier on the head.

With a clear sound of bone cracking, blood oozes out of the soldier's leather helmet, his eyes roll back and he faints.

Seeing this scene, Eugene's eyes suddenly lit up and he shouted:

"Pass my order, everyone, dismount and fight on foot!"

The moment he heard Eugene's order, Eric quietly clenched his fists.

This "Iron Shield" found the flaw in the Tuoma City Wall!

……

(End of this chapter)