War Beasts

Battle has always placed great importance on tactical command related to morale.

When our soldiers are strong and robust, the pushing back of an enemy position in one wave can often determine the outcome of the war.

On the small hills where Damian's army is located, 160 archers are providing assistance with their shooting. Schmalen's left-wing cavalry has to retreat from the battlefield, leaving behind a large number of servant corpses.

Armor is crucial on the battlefield. Without it, any arrow or blade can be lethal, as seen with these unfortunate servants and peasants. However, with a set of chainmail and a helmet, the mortality rate is significantly reduced, as with these knights.

The knights hardly suffer any casualties, and those wounded are carried off the battlefield by companions and attendants. Even when pierced by arrows, it's mostly flesh wounds, with few unlucky souls dying instantly from neck shots.

"Damn it, what a bunch of weaklings!" Seeing the situation, the Wagnerian knight roared loudly, immediately gaining responses from many knights. They cheered for their victory.

Of course, these knights wouldn't admit that they were saved by a group of archers. After all, these soldiers are just assistant tools of the knightly; only the knights themselves are the decisive force on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, on Damian's left flank, Baron Kenan's army is also under attack by a large group of bandits. Despite their usual fierceness, these bandits falter before a legitimate knightly commanded army. Baron Kenan even personally spears one of the bandit knights. Many knights dismount to engage the enemy, commanding their attendants and militia to drive back the bandits.

Yes, knights are capable of dismounting for prolonged combat, proficient both in archery and horsemanship, not limited to single weapons like swords or lances. Many knights on the battlefield act as junior commanders, such as squad leaders, with some specifically commanding archers or cavalry. This contrasts sharply with the traditional image of knights in literature, riding warhorses, adorned in splendid armor, wielding refined lances.

In fact, much of this knightly literature was created during the decline of the knightly class and the rise of new classes, much like the bushido in Japan. During the Azuchi-Momoyama period in Japan, samurai were also proficient in spears, swords, bows, and firearms, not restricted to one weapon. However, the bushido imposed by the fascist Japanese government during the wartime era enforced a distorted symbolism of the samurai sword and ritual suicide.

For Damian, most of the over hundred knights, many of whom don't ride horses or charge into battle, serve primarily as junior commanders, ensuring the morale stability of the basic troops, ready to engage the enemy at any time, knowing when to advance and when to retreat.

The foundation of war lies in these junior commanders.

Schmalen's knights are numerous, so he organizes another group of knights to break through Baron Kenan's left flank and then attack Damian's center. However, Damian, with a significant advantage, naturally won't allow Schmalen to act so recklessly.

"Bring out our Damian trebuchet!" Then, the militia pushes out this improved torsion trebuchet, aiming it at the gathering knights. Schmalen laughs heartily at the sight, "What rubbish trebuchet, thinking it can hit our brave knights…" But in the midst of their conversation, a massive boulder hurtles toward them, reducing a knight's warhorse to minced meat.

Even though the distance is close to a hundred meters, it not only hits its mark but also has such terrifying lethality!

It's important to note that during this period, Western Europe was still using traction trebuchets powered by human labor. These trebuchets had short attack distances, and their effectiveness relied on the number and organization of the rope pullers.

In other words, their efficacy depended on the moods of God.

However, torsion trebuchets, utilizing physical concepts, were already advanced war machines in Western Europe.

Schmalen's knights fear the enemy's trebuchet, and the just-gathered charging formation quickly disperses. But Damian won't miss this opportunity; he immediately issued orders, allowing the trebuchet to fire freely.

In fact, at this moment, Schmalen's army is still quite strong compared to Damian.

They have more numbers and stronger combat power, almost surrounding the central army where Damian is located. However, due to factors such as grassroots command, army morale, and war machinery, they have an advantage but cannot utilize it. Even the advantage diminishes gradually with the fatigue of the army and the casualties of grassroots knights.

There are catapults on the mountain, archers on the mountain slopes, and caltrops at the foot of the mountain. Schmalen's army faces triple obstacles but has no way to resolve any of them. Knights and bandit knights are both very dissatisfied with this situation.

Therefore, when the battle progressed to noon and after more than a hundred of Schmalen's knights died without progress, the contradictions between the two sides erupted completely. Orthodox knights accused the bandit knight camp of being a bunch of useless people, unable to even break through the line formed by the elderly and weak on the opposite side.

The bandit knights, under the instigation of infiltrators like Henrik and Jeffrey, accused the orthodox knights of being even more useless. Despite having numerical and equipment advantages, they still couldn't break through Wagner's defensive line.

Jeffrey, once a renowned bandit knight, with a sharp tongue, slammed the table and shouted, "We're all here to risk our lives, why should you coward hide behind and watch?"

This incited the emotions of the bandit knights. If Schmalen hadn't promised them territory distribution after defeating the enemy, who would be willing to risk their lives for him and his underlings for free?

This is also why Schmalen had to declare that he would concentrate on redistributing the territory of Gothingen County after the war. If he didn't do this, he wouldn't have enough resources to pacify the people.

"We almost broke the enemy's right wing!" Orthodox knights retorted one after another.

"Enough! Shut up all of you!"

Schmalen displayed his boldness, forcefully slammed the table, and stopped the confrontation between the two factions.

"Where are the halflings? Let them send out their war beasts!"

Yes, Schmalen bought a group of wandering halflings. Unlike goblins, halflings are part of the normal order camp. They like cooking and traveling, are good at herding, and can cultivate powerful war beasts.

Soon, a noisy group of small figures joined the battlefield.

As the afternoon arrived, the battle between the two sides continued.

"Wait, what is that!?" Damian widened his eyes upon seeing the enormous creature on the opposing side.

In Schmalen's army, there unexpectedly appeared a giant boar as big as a house, clad in armor!

"Go, King Boar!" Schmalen enjoyed the surprised looks of the knights.

In this world, there are not only green-skinned orcs and war beasts but also flying pegasus in the Alps. But how could Damian, originally a member of modern society, know about these means of victory?

Schmalen was convinced that as long as the King Boar charged forward, everything would turn out fine!