Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1224 - 33. Great Alliance Moves Forward (19)_2

Chapter 1224: 33. Great Alliance Moves Forward (19)_2

The heavy cavalry of Thunder Group County roared as they charged into the last enemy square formation on the mound, crashing and trampling the brown-clad infantry, turning the formation into utter chaos.

The spear-bearing front row of the council army in other directions either fled or turned to fight. However, as soon as they wavered, the light cavalry from Thunder Group County, who had been circling beyond the range of firearms, also charged forward.

Amidst the thunderous sound of hooves, regardless of how the United Province officer led by example or urged encouragement, the last council army square formation on the artillery position collapsed irreversibly like ice struck by a heavy hammer.

In the chaos of battle, Luosong, filled with murderous intent, searched for the United Province officer, but he couldn’t find that light blue uniform anywhere.

Luosong reined in his horse, taking in the scene around him: the brown-clad soldiers fled in panic in all directions, pursued by the Thunder Group County cavalry who slew indiscriminately like madmen. Both the fleeing and the pursuing were engulfed in utter madness.

"Sound the retreat!" Luosong shouted, flicking the fresh blood off his saber, habitually ordering the bugler: "Relay the order to all! Regroup and reorganize!"

No one responded; his bugler had died in the earlier charge.

Luosong pursed his lips and rode toward the position of the banners of the third and fourth squadrons, searching for the bugler among the light cavalry squadrons.

At that moment, Luosong heard a familiar sound of hooves.

It wasn’t the chaotic thunder of thousands of horses but the sound of hundreds upon hundreds of warhorses advancing with coordinated and identical steps—the sound of a cavalry charge.

Luosong looked back in shock to see the enemy cavalry, previously resting at the southernmost end of the battlefield, had somehow completed their charge preparations.

Three cavalry squadrons of the New Reclamation Expeditionary Army spread out entirely across the plains, forming a giant net, sweeping toward the mound where the artillery position was located at great speed.

Luosong immediately charged toward the banner of the light cavalry squadron, and the shrill sound of retreat soon echoed over the mound. The Thunder Group County cavalry ceased pursuing the fleeing enemy and, following Captain Luosong’s banner, withdrew from the artillery position from the west like a retreating tide.

Luosong wished to bring his troops to the outskirts of the battlefield to reorganize, but the New Reclamation Legion’s cavalry had no intention of giving him this opportunity.

They circled around the mound from the east, briefly disappearing from Luosong’s sight, then reappeared on the flank and rear of the Thunder Group County cavalry.

The Thunder Group County cavalry was already at their limit, many bearing wounded soldiers and comrades who had lost their warhorses. In contrast, the cavalry of the New Reclamation Expeditionary Army had not yet entered combat.

Slow against fast, the distance between them rapidly shortened. Many Thunder Group County cavalrymen fell from their horses during the gallop, disappearing under the hooves of their pursuers.

Luosong’s warhorse was frothing at the mouth, its nostrils flaring like a broken bellows, gasping for breath. No matter how Luosong urged it, it couldn’t run faster than the pursuers’ horses.

Clenching his teeth, just as Luosong was about to issue the order to "turn and fight," an unexpected reinforcement charged between the Thunder Group County cavalry and their pursuers.

In the ranks of the Four Counties Allied Forces, the cavalry of Riverside County, poorly equipped, poorly mounted, and rarely trained, usually handled the "odd jobs" despised by the cavalrymen, unlike the Thunder Group cavalry who were seen as a decisive force.

But this time, the Riverside County cavalry saved the Thunder Group cavalry.

The commander of the Riverside County light cavalry, Lieutenant Lejeune, noticed the changing battle situation and promptly gathered all the subordinates he could find, rushing to provide support.

Lieutenant Lejeune seized a perfect window for engagement, surprising both allies and enemies. Even though the enemy cavalry tried desperately to adjust their formation in response, they were still cut off halfway by the Riverside County light cavalry.

"The people from Riverside County have held up the faux army!" shouted the junior officer leading the Thunder Group County light cavalry as he caught up to Luosong, voice hoarse with shouting: "The ford is just ahead!"

Captain Luosong turned his head to look back at the Riverside County allies fighting desperately amid the dust—they were too few in number and exhausted from their task of shielding the battlefield. All they could manage was to delay the enemy.

The junior officer of the Thunder Group County light cavalry repeated: "The ford!"

"Stop!" Luosong yanked hard on the reins, causing his warhorse to rear up. Drawing his saber, he roared out an order: "Turn and face the enemy!"

...

Meanwhile, at the other end of the battlefield, Gaisa Adonis easily captured the east bank upstream of the nameless creek.

The two battalions deployed by the enemy on the riverbank had traded shots with the White Mountain County troops across the river, holding their own. However, once they entered hand-to-hand combat, they immediately fled.

The sword and shield bearers of White Mountain County drove the brown-clad soldiers out of the small farmhouses on the east bank like dogs chasing rabbits.

Nevertheless, Colonel Gaisa’s sense of unease grew stronger—the combat effectiveness displayed by the enemy was entirely inconsistent with Colonel Bod’s pre-battle predictions.

The enemy’s three battalions deployed to the rear had made no movements, simply watching as their comrades defending the riverbank were driven back.

Unable to fathom what Sanel was planning, Colonel Gaisa Adonis decided not to think any further. Whatever tricks Sanel had, a punch would settle it.

"Sound the drums!" Colonel Gaisa ordered: "Advance!"

As Gaisa prepared to engage head-on, Sanel arrived on the left flank of the council army.

Colonel Sanel Caroy—the nominal commander of the council army—rode directly into the middle square formation of the second line and angrily berated another officer in uniform from the center formation: "Why haven’t you moved?!"

The scolded officer glanced coldly at Sanel: "We are of the same rank, Colonel Sanel. I am not your subordinate."

"Fine! Fine!! Fine!!!" Sanel repeated three times, repressing his anger as he gritted his teeth and asked, "When exactly are you willing to engage? Nagy—Colonel!"

"When the time is right, I will issue the attack order."

"The plan has changed! There’s no time!"

"The Sixth Legion is the cornerstone of the Republic. It is the presence of the Fifth and Sixth Legions that forces others to bow in allegiance. If the Sixth Legion loses too much strength here, the Grand Council’s control over Paratu will be shaken." The officer known as Colonel Nagy glanced at Sanel and said calmly, "As for your men, a high number of casualties is insignificant."

Sanel shouted almost at the top of his lungs: "If all my men die, yours won’t survive either!"

"Is that so?" Colonel Nagy maintained a placid expression: "I think that might not be the case."

Having said that, he gave a slight nod and ignored Sanel.

Sanel stood there for a long moment, ultimately letting out an angry roar, then rode away.