Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 241 - 241 125 The Battle of Longka I Disparity

241: Chapter 125: The Battle of Longka I (Disparity) 241: Chapter 125: The Battle of Longka I (Disparity) Along with everyone else, Leon ascended to the top of the arrow tower within the Longka encampment, gazing up into the vast azure sky.

The clear weather naturally showed no sign of rain, indicating that no miracle was likely to happen.

A circular magic barrier formed in response to the movements of the blond youth’s fingers.

By his side, Sir Redo’s eyelids involuntarily twitched, a trace of suspicion in his mind.

A magician?

Is this child a magician?

Does Lord Leon have a magician advisor?

However, Redo’s gaze then shifted to the magic vision the other was conjuring, without further comment.

Although Redo didn’t know where Leon had recruited this young spellcaster from,

having a mage who dared to defy the King’s decree to partake in internal conflict, who was unknown of origin, was obviously advantageous for their side.

…Leon’s gaze shifted away from the horizon and focused on the screen of light before him, observing the magnified distant scene.

As Kovis shifted the long-range magic view, everyone quickly estimated the approximate numbers of the approaching enemy.

Far from the wooden outer walls on the fields of Longka, the disorganized militias were reassembling into horizontal lines, roughly divided into four groups amounting to more than two hundred people.

However, despite the fact that just this frontline of the enemy forces was approaching the numbers of Longka’s force, their equipment was rudimentary, not even matching the average armed civilians; most lacked armor, and there were very few decent shields among them.

If it was just these rabble, Longka’s soldiers could easily crush them.

But behind this obviously cannon fodder troop, there were another two hundred well-equipped soldiers, with spears and shields, helmets and armor, and distinct banners.

These main forces of the Wolf Family were divided into four square formations, serving as the central army.

On the left flank to the north of the army formation were about fifty archers equipped with longbows.

But compared to these soldiers, the greatest threat was still on the southern side of the right flank, where more than fifty heavy cavalry with distinctive armor were positioned.

But the five hundred soldiers forming ranks to the west of Longka were not the entire force.

When Kovis moved the image of the magic circle to the far side of the river to the northwest,

one could see that a slightly slower Column was still rushing to the scene, also numbering more than two hundred.

…After this round of observation, the enemy’s forces, combined on both banks of the river, amounted to at least over seven hundred.

Seeing that the number of enemies outside Longka probably hadn’t reached a thousand, Leon felt a slight easing of pressure, a small consolation.

Perhaps it was the panicked report of the scout rider that caused a mistake in estimating the baggage train.

But it could not be ruled out that the enemy might have more soldiers beyond their line of sight.

Of course, even without being four times their own number, the enemy was still nearly three times the strength of their own, and the readily visible disadvantage Longka faced had not significantly diminished.

Leon mulled over it, clutching his hand armor.

He knew that Longka’s defense plans, in theory, could not sustain so many enemies.

This was, after all, a wooden fortification hastily constructed, not a carefully crafted bulwark of earth and stone.

The wooden fortress could only serve to delay the enemy and hinder combat.

The number of attacking enemies at twice the number of their own was already the limit of what they had anticipated; now there was about a third more than what the extreme case their plans had accounted for, this wasn’t just the straw that broke the camel’s back, but a heavy stone.

They had only prepared one table’s worth of food, yet two or three tables full of guests had arrived.

How could the meal still be served?

In reality, there’s no divine perspective to drag troops around with a mouse, showing off maneuvers in battle.

In fact, once the two armies engage, it’s impossible to separate without one side being defeated or routed; the impact of numerical inferiority in reality is much clearer than in games.

Being outnumbered by a factor of one allows the enemy to easily envelop you from the sides; nearly three times as many mean that one’s own side may well face encirclement from all directions.

This army isn’t composed of sharpshooters, but merely soldiers made up of armed civilians.

Once surrounded, the collapse of our morale will begin.

But if they choose to retreat…

Leon frowned, supporting himself on the crenels of the arrow tower as he surveyed the camp below.

Yielding Longka to the enemy was equally unwise.

The enemy might not know, but they understood their own affairs: the Thorny Flower Territory currently had no troops.

If they let the enemy of this size establish itself here, retaking this ground before Baron Eriv reinforced them would assuredly be impossible.

The cost of offense and defense, of retaking strongholds, cannot be mentioned in the same breath.

And if Longka fell, even if one could retreat safely and join the one hundred Farolis red-robed infantry at the supply camp, they might be able to resist the enemy’s harassment back at Selva.

But with the enemy using this as a stronghold, other villages and towns around Longka would inevitably suffer.

Especially Platon.

Longka’s fields…

it seems that after being trampled by the enemy, they certainly can’t be preserved.

If Platon is also set ablaze, plus the disasters in the surrounding villages…

Even if Baron Eriv’s grand plan succeeds in the end, this region will still face a serious food shortage.

“Sir, we are not without chances of winning,” Mr.

Brian Sr.

said, stroking his thick beard, calmly assessing the strength of both friends and foes and turning to Leon, “Look at the disorderly state of the enemy’s front ranks, that rabble was probably hastily gathered just to make up the numbers.

They probably haven’t even undergone formation training.

The enemy’s combat effectiveness isn’t as formidable as it seems.”

By his side, Sir Redo also nodded in agreement, “You’re right, centurion.

Mr.

Leon, from what I see, the training level of your soldiers is acceptable, superior to the enemy’s vanguard.

As long as we rely on the terrain and battlefield fortifications to delay for half a day, with the reinforcements from Wacht and Selva arriving, the outcome is not yet decided.”