Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1226 - 36 Great Alliance Moves Forward (21)

Chapter 1226: Chapter 36 Great Alliance Moves Forward (21)

Luosong has lost his second warhorse.

As the sun slanted westward, on the northern plains of River Valley Village, cavalry pledged loyalty under flags bearing the same emblem, wielding sabers and handguns, fighting fiercely to the death.

The church bell tower’s peak, with its quadrants war flag, disappeared behind the ridge of the knoll; the people there could not see the main clash of the cavalry, and the cavalry were unaware of the main battlefield’s outcome.

Perhaps the battle has already been decided, perhaps the gunfire in River Valley Village has faded, but none of that matters now because everyone caught in the melee is fighting for their own survival.

The desperate counterattack by Thunder Group County cavalry took the New Reclamation Expeditionary Army cavalry greatly by surprise.

Initially hunted like prey, the Thunder Group County cavalry suddenly turned, charging headlong without regard for their lives. The New Reclamation Expeditionary Army cavalry’s meticulously practiced semi-reverse maneuver had no opportunity to be deployed.

Sanel’s New Reclamation Expeditionary Army cavalry, the remnant of Paratu’s Standing Army cavalry remnants, later augmented by Adams’ newly recruited four squadrons, eventually expanded to a thousand-strong force.

Yet its core strength was still the pistol cavalry force, rapidly armed after the Grand Council received weaponry from the Federated Provinces following the Kingsfort coup, cobbling together the remaining Standing Army cavalry and patrol cavalry from various regions.

Sanel treasured them greatly, holding them back since the war began, even allowing them to dismount and rest. However, under pressure, Sanel had no choice but to deploy them into an unplanned battlefield.

The two cavalry forces clashed like colossal waves, initially with gunfire and fiery tongues, leaving only blades and swords in the remainder.

It was during this initial phase that Luosong lost his second warhorse.

A charging Council cavalryman fired twice at him, the first hitting his breastplate, the second striking his warhorse’s forehead.

The shot on the breastplate left a deep dent, while the one that hit the horse’s forehead instantly killed it.

The saddle’s front helped him stay aboard momentarily but the captain was eventually thrown off, darkness shrouding his vision.

At a certain moment, Luosong thought it might be best to simply die, yet something compelled him to regaining consciousness, to open his eyes, to stand up.

His subordinates rushed recklessly to rescue their captain, clashing with the New Reclamation Expeditionary Army troops aiming to kill enemy officers.

A Thunder Group County cavalryman dismounted and unhesitatingly gave his horse to the captain.

Luosong didn’t utter any pretense but took the reins, raised his saber, and charged at the nearest enemy once more.

The battle fought in traditional cavalry warfare form, as the weary Thunder Group County cavalry faced the waiting New Reclamation Expeditionary Army cavalry, no one expected the latter to falter first.

Backed by the Federated Provinces arsenal, the Grand Council of Kingsfort generously equipped each cavalryman with two revolver pistols and a saber.

The New Reclamation Expeditionary Army cavalry dragged into melee had only to empty their pistols, holster them, and draw sabers for close combat.

Yet, in these simple three movements, the majority of New Reclamation Expeditionary Army cavalry failed.

Because the melee commenced too swiftly, before two pistols could be unloaded, the enemy was at close quarters.

The New Reclamation Expeditionary Army cavalry could not draw their sabers in time, many were forced to use their costly revolver guns as awkward hammers to ward off Thunder Group County cavalry wielding sabers.

Riding his third warhorse through several exchanges, Luosong incapacitated three enemies.

He swung mechanically and powerfully, the brown-clad adversaries raising their handguns to block but unable to withstand the long blade’s impact.

The blade pushed against the gun barrel downwards, scattering sparks, finally landing on the unprotected shoulder of the enemy with certainty.

Luosong also was struck twice by rifle butts, their iron-clad stock crashed heavily against his arm and back armor. Painful, but insignificant compared to other body aches.

Shooting before the charge knocked several Thunder Group County cavalry from the saddle but, in melee combat, they quickly fell at a disadvantage.

Luosong scanned his surroundings, both cavalry forces were locked in battle, leaving his men the only ones on the saddle. To the captain, cavalry warfare prioritizes horsemanship, the enemy’s horsemanship truly lacking.

Discharging both handguns, the New Reclamation Expeditionary Army cavalrymen all sought to evade the enemy, reload, and return to battle.

Disengage, reload, and return to battle. Pistols being their most effective weapon also rendered them excessively reliant on sidearms inadvertently.

Some New Reclamation Expeditionary Army pistol cavalrymen attempted to disengage and reload, prompting more of their cavalrymen to withdraw from combat.

When everyone avoided melee, the temporary retreat evolved into a withdrawal, which morphed into a full retreat.

This is cavalry warfare, explosive and swift, arriving quickly and ending even quicker. When one side chooses to withdraw from engagement, the other can scarcely prevent it, merely deciding whether to pursue.

The brown-clothed cavalry surged like a tide then scattered like a raven flock. The battlefield resembled a flood-swept forest, leaving Thunder Group County and Mont Blanc County cavalry like lone trees.

Lieutenant Legendre of Mont Blanc County immediately sought Captain Luosong.

The lieutenant’s blood and sweat on his face had dried to mud-like substance.

"Do we pursue?" asked the lieutenant.

"Withdraw," replied the captain plainly and directly.

Capable Mont Blanc County and Thunder Group County cavalry spent time collecting stray warhorses, then swiftly evacuated with the wounded.

They had no time nor energy to retrieve fallen comrades, leaving them with enemy corpses abandoned on the battlefield.

...

[Fifteen minutes later]

"The Thunder Group County cavalry need to sortie again," said Colonel Bod to Captain Luosong.

Luosong said nothing, standing atop the bell tower, overlooking the battlefield situation clearly.

Thunder Group and Bian River County cavalry units fully retreated to the West Bank, whereas Thunder Group and Bian River County infantry units were trapped on the East Bank.

Two New Reclamation Expeditionary Army infantry battalions reinforced the right-wing from the central armies, persistently pushing the Alliance’s left-wing northward, forcing a gradual retreat from River Valley Village.

The Alliance’s left-wing line was compressed and distorted, nearing from a line to a circle.

Only the silver-bordered military flag floating amid smoke testified that the Bian River County and Thunder Group County units were still fighting.

The Alliance’s right-wing also detached from the central army, for the opposite reason—the Mont Blanc County troops advanced on the East Bank, catching up with the retreating Council’s left-wing three square formations.

Battle erupted on the edge of East Bank farmland, opening a large gap between River Valley Village and the Alliance’s right-wing—similarly exposed for the Council army.

"At this point in the battle," Colonel Bod stated to the captain, "it’s not about who can win, but who loses first. We, them, are all waiting for a signal, a signal of total collapse."

Luosong tightened his lips, "Just my cavalry won’t be enough."

This sounded cowardly but Colonel Bod understood the captain was only stating facts.

"Hence I’ve prepared a reinforcements for you," Colonel Bod’s gaze fiery, "the last reinforcements."

...

Luosong mounted his fourth warhorse.

He donned his helmet and waved his whip, as if declaring an ordinary matter, "Let’s go!"

The last Thunder Group County and Bian River County cavalry galloped down the cannon-blasted slope, rushing northward into battle.

Mont Blanc County’s Second Infantry Battalion, Mont Blanc County’s Sixth Infantry Battalion, Thunder Group County’s Second Infantry Battalion closely followed behind.

As the Alliance deployed their last reinforcements, at the southern tip of the whole battlefield, a unit never seen before emerged on the horizon.