Chapter 32: The Battle of Symes

Unlike the Irish who had lost their backbone, the Norman knights were drilled through years of training, with tactics almost ingrained in their bones. These seasoned knights spontaneously formed tight formations, resembling an iron wall pressing against the enemy.

The biggest mistake for infantry when facing cavalry is to scatter, and at this moment, the Irish were completely unable to form tight ranks, resulting in them scattering in all directions.

More critically, they were backed against a river. Although the river was not deep and the current not swift, it still hindered the Irish retreat.

A battle fought with one's back to the river requires a strong leader, and now the Irish were just lambs to the slaughter.

In an instant, the knights cut through the crowd like a hot knife through butter. Countless Irish fell under the lances and swords, while many more lost their lives under the trampling hooves.

The squires and soldiers following the knights protected their flanks, expanding the slaughter and reaping enemy lives. The phalanx soldiers, deployed in battle for the first time, acted like a hammer, deeply embedding themselves into the enemy ranks, devouring all lives in their path.

Lord Kaiman, standing on the city tower, watched the massacre with trembling fear. The fleeing Irish thought of seeking his help, crying and banging on the castle gate, begging him to open it and let them in.

But Kaiman lacked the courage to do so.

Thus, they could only watch as the Norman knights approached and slaughtered the Irish, with the few survivors tied like cattle and horses behind the knights' warhorses.

The entire river was stained red with Irish blood, and corpses floated downstream towards the east.

The Irish who barely crossed the river didn't have time to look back; they had to keep running. John's knights soon crossed the river as well, pursuing the scattered Irish.

This battle, like the previous ones, ended in a crushing defeat for the enemy, making John feel that it was not interesting at all.

Even before the battlefield was cleared, John rode directly to the gates of Symes, quietly staring at Kaiman on the city wall.

At this moment, silence was the most powerful weapon. John stared intently at Kaiman, making him shiver with fear.

The stench of blood outside the city was overwhelming, and all one could see were bodies and pools of blood, accompanied by the screams of countless Irishmen. And all of this was the work of the man before him.

Soon, Kaiman answered John with his actions.

The gates of Symes Castle slowly opened, as if welcoming John inside. John remained unmoved until Kaiman disappeared from the city wall.

Soon, Kaiman appeared at the gate, accompanied by a priest and his attendants, walking towards John.

"My lord."

Kaiman's demeanor was extremely humble as he approached John and then slowly prostrated himself on the ground before him.

"Now you understand?" John had no intention of letting him off easily. "When I sent an envoy to demand your submission, why did you refuse to submit to me?"

This question made Kaiman's scalp tingle with fear. He could only respond, trembling, "I was truly out of my mind at the time..."

John, feigning sudden realization, said, "Oh, I see. You, like those Irish outside the city, were deluded by Rodri's lies?"

Of course, Kaiman couldn't agree to such a damning statement. He shook his head vigorously, as if trying to shake off all the guilt from himself.

"I absolutely submit to you. Besides, I never submitted to Rodri either, Your Highness."

Kaiman's current attitude was as if he had always been a loyal servant to the kingdom, which John found somewhat amusing. But sometimes, that's just how things are.

John decided not to torment Kaiman any further. He took a sword from a royal guard beside him and threw it in front of Kaiman. The dust it raised stung Kaiman's eyes, but he didn't dare move.

"From today onwards, you will represent the entirety of Symes, and your family, in your loyalty to me, and to the House of Plantagenet."

Kaiman felt a mix of humiliation and fear as he looked at the sword on the ground. Regardless of his feelings, he had to accept this reality.

In his view, given John's current capabilities, conquering his small castle would be all too easy. Rather than resisting to the end, it was better to surrender to John directly.

Kaiman slowly picked up the sword from the ground, holding it with both hands, his expression solemn and respectful.

"Very good, I am very satisfied." John gently nudged his horse's sides, causing it to rear up before slowly entering the castle. The royal guards behind John, in their proud conqueror stance, followed him with heads held high.

Upon entering the castle, John immediately took over the largest room in the main keep. This room had originally belonged to Lord Kaiman, but now it was John's. The royal guards also drove away the castle's original guards and took over John's security.

Outside, the knights and soldiers continued their hunt, only returning to the castle in the evening. Nearly everyone came back with a large number of captives and spoils, truly returning in triumph. However, the person John most wanted to see, Rodri, was nowhere to be found.

"We haven't discovered Rodri's elite guard either," Little Roches reported to John. "None of the more formidable units under the High King were found. What we destroyed was just a rabble."

A rabble...

John gazed out over the plain outside the city, strewn with blood and corpses, while crows circled in the sky. Those hoping to scavenge spoils from the bodies were still there, cleaning up the battlefield.

The stench from outside didn't dampen the revelry within the castle. The knights feasted and drank heartily, oblivious to the carnage beyond the walls.

"If we didn't catch him this time, we'll get him eventually." Although John spoke nonchalantly, his mood was clearly affected. The battle had demonstrated Rodri's lack of strategic prowess, but he remained a threat. As long as Rodri was at large, John felt uneasy.

Little Roches didn't notice John's expression and merely nodded. Victory in battle was temporary; dividing the spoils and stabilizing the political situation were ongoing concerns. John stepped away from the window and returned to the table in the center of the room.

"Roches, have Silvio inventory the storerooms," John decided to indulge himself for a moment. "Bring out their finest goods. I need to experience what it means to live like a human being."