Chapter 196 How to Make Them Fight
"Leon, Brennus's Lion Knights are here too... How are we going to get them to fight?"
The person who asked the question was Amy. Raphael had previously taken a few of the best rangers to scout the battlefield. After returning, he drew a situation map on the ground. Now several leaders were discussing countermeasures together.
"It's best not to harass the Jatu people now. I don't want to fight the Jatu army alone. Judging from the current situation, only the Lion Knights have no worries, so we have to let them break the deadlock. The Lion Knights must be here to deal with the Raven Army... It happens, Ryan, don't you have dozens of Raven Riders with you?"
The Lord looked at Sir Ryan.
"Lord Leon, are you planning to..."
Ryan didn't mind helping out; he wanted to destroy the army of the Stern Crow Kingdom more than Leon did.
"I plan to have your men go to the Lion Knights to provoke them and anger Brennus... This duke has a bad temper. Let your riders find ways to insult him. He will definitely attack the Raven Stern Kingdom's troops."
The lord took a wooden stick, tapped the ground at the location marked 'Brenus', and then drew a line extending to the location marked 'Raven Stern'.
"As long as they start fighting, the Jatu people will definitely try to take advantage... If you let your men finish their work and run to where the Jatu people are now, they will probably be able to escape..."
The stick in Leon's hand drew an arc from 'Lin Ya' to 'Jatu'.
"I understand. I'll arrange it right away..."
Ryan went there happily. As long as Gregory IV's army could be destroyed here, Ryan didn't care about the loss at all.
After all, King Ravenstern is the biggest enemy of him and Ursula's rebel army.
…
Gregory IV was very relaxed at this time because he had a small misunderstanding - he thought those Jatu people were from the Zakar tribe that he had agreed to cooperate with...
He had previously agreed with Zakar that he would give the grassland east of Eagle Claw Castle to the Jatu people, so that the Jatu people would cooperate with him in attacking the Sarleon Territory and at least block the reinforcements from the eastern part of the Sarleon Kingdom.
So he thought that Zakar was being 'kind' and sent a large army over...
He felt that the Jatu would certainly not attack him.
Of course, he also knew that the Jatu people would not be kind enough to help him fight. He thought that these Jatu people were planning to come and see the grassland they were about to get, and take advantage of it - the Jatu people would definitely plunder.
He was about to attack Eagle Claw Fort, but he chose to retreat when the Jatu people arrived because he believed that Eagle Claw Fort could become his territory at any time, and he didn't want the Jatu people to take advantage of him...
After all, he couldn't restrain the Jatu people. What would he do if the Jatu people took advantage of the attack on Eagle Claw Castle to loot?
Therefore, he withdrew his troops in time, intending to wait for Fothergill in Eagle Claw Castle to surrender voluntarily - after all, Fothergill certainly didn't want to fall into the hands of the Jatu people, right?
So Gregory IV sent envoys to Eagle Claw Castle to persuade it to surrender, and then set up camp to the north of Eagle Claw Castle.
But who knew that before the messenger could even enter the city, Duke Brunus arrived here with the Lion Knights.
Moreover, not long after arriving, Brennus broke the situation on the battlefield.
In fact, Brunus's troops are in the best situation among all the forces here.
With Lion Lake City under his control, he could obtain a steady supply of military supplies. Moreover, the team he led was the Lion Knights and the Royal City Guards, all of which were directly under King Ulric.
Brennus's own private troops have already set off for Cliff Bay, loaded with a large amount of treasure...
That is to say, Brennus will not be too concerned about the losses now - at least there will be no losses for himself.
However, there are a large number of Jatu people here now, so Brennus had no intention of acting rashly. He just asked his troops to keep a close eye on the Stern Crow Army and see how the situation develops.
But what he didn't expect was that a unit of dozens of Crow Cavalrymen actually appeared in front of his formation in a dignified manner, and they all took off their Crow skirts and exposed their buttocks to the Duke!
He even kept shaking his lower body and making all kinds of disgusting and obscene gestures...
As the Duke of the kingdom, Brunus was treated politely everywhere. When had he ever been insulted like this?
So he immediately ordered an attack on the Crow Stern Kingdom's troops.
Of course, Brennus was not completely blinded by anger. He let Kaedron attack as the vanguard - Kaedron must die anyway, and it would be best if he died at the hands of the Crow Stern Kingdom's troops.
Kaedren himself knew this, so he didn't hesitate and launched a charge directly.
But the little detachment mounted their horses and fled, and Kedren's men were unable to catch up.
However, Kaedren did not care about the deliberately disgusting team. He led his team and rushed directly towards the main force of the Stern Crow Kingdom.
This looked like a tragic suicide, but there was a small accident in the middle - Kaedren himself was willing to use his life in exchange for the continuation of his family, but the rogue knights under his command did not think so...
These rogue knights have no intention of following Kaedren to death. They are just leaders of the Red Brotherhood. How could gangsters possibly get involved in such a fatal battle?
For a few hundred remnant soldiers to attack an army of several thousand men was essentially suicide.
As a result, the hundreds of men under Kaedren scattered during the charge, planning to escape separately. This just happened to protect Ryan's men, and most of the Raven Riders returned alive.
His men fled in all directions, and when Kaedren rushed to the front of the Ravenstern Kingdom's army, he was already alone...
The Raven Stern army was also somewhat confused by this situation. Gregory IV was even dumbfounded. He originally thought that the Sarleon Kingdom was going to use hundreds of death squads to ram their formation, and then the Lion Knights would charge in large numbers...
This is a common field combat method used by the Lion Knights. Before the heavy knights of the Lion Knights charge, they often send a group of Fierce Lion Cavalry to charge in front and clear away obstacles such as chevaux de frise and spears.
Even if they cannot be cleared out, the Lion Knights behind them can know where the dense areas of spearmen and archers are. The Lion Knights can bypass the spears and break into the enemy formation from the enemy's weak points.
The civilian cavalry who charged in the first wave were equivalent to a suicide squad. If they survived and were not disabled, they would be given the status of armed retainers of the Lion Knights, that is, they would become assistants to the Lion Knights in combat.
Being able to become a Lion Squire from a civilian cavalryman actually greatly improves their status - they will become members of the Royal Knights.
Of course, most of them still cannot become Lion Knights in the end, after all, they are not of noble birth.
But no matter what, they are still eating the emperor's food. No matter what era or place, people are always more willing to eat the emperor's food...
In fact, this is considered a tradition of the Order of the Lion, but this tradition has changed a bit by now.
This tradition has existed since the establishment of the Lion Knights. In fact, it is part of the Lion Knights' honor system. Originally, it meant that one must first have the awareness and spirit to sacrifice for the country before becoming a member of the glorious Lion Knights.
At the same time, this method is also used to replenish the Knights' organization that has been damaged in combat - allowing the bravest and most self-sacrificing people to fill in. This is not only fair, but also in line with the first creed of the Lion Knights to 'protect the country at all costs'.
But now, it has probably simply become a civil service exam...
A civil service exam where you gamble your life.
As the King of Ravenstern, Gregory IV knew a lot, and he also knew about the field combat tradition of the Order of the Lion.
Therefore, he had been cautious in withdrawing the troops of the Stern Raven Territory. The front row was currently composed of neither spearmen nor archers, but highland warriors holding greatswords.
He planned to let the first wave of soldiers from the Kingdom of Sarleon rush to the front, and let the Highland warriors deal with them without exposing the situation of his own formation, and use the enemy's corpses as an obstacle to the Lion Knights' charge.
He planned to wait until the main force of the Lion Knights began to charge, and then deploy spears and archers in a targeted manner.
After all, the Lion Knights were famous and powerful, so Gregory IV was actually very careful and mentally prepared to suffer heavy casualties.
But he didn't expect that the group of people who rushed over would disperse just a hundred meters away.
Only Kaedren rushed forward alone. Although he was hesitant, he seemed determined. He was running alone and of course he would hesitate.
But Kaedren knew that he had to die at the hands of the Raven Stern army, so he was still determined.
But in the eyes of Gregory IV, this meant that the troops of the Kingdom of Fierce Lion did not dare to charge!
Has the first wave of suicide squad, who were once the bravest and least fearless, become like this now?
"Capture this man! The Sarleon army seems to have become somewhat corrupt... The Lion Knights may not be as strong as they once were! All forces advance!"
Gregory IV felt that the army of the Sarleon Kingdom was probably in bad shape. Seeing how the soldiers had no will to fight, maybe the Lion Knights were no longer useful, or they had no morale at all in the absence of Ulrich himself?
Gregory IV then ordered the entire army to advance in formation, intending to test the reaction of the Order of the Lion.
Kaedren originally planned to seek death, so when the Raven Stern army came, he did not resist or surrender at all.
As a result, Gregory IV's troops welcomed him into the army of the Kingdom of Raven Stern.
Gregory IV even praised Kaedron lavishly. He felt that Kaedron was the only warrior in the Sarleon Kingdom who dared to charge forward bravely even though all his men had fled...
"Your name is Keldren? Sir Baron, you are a warrior, but why did your troops abandon you? Also...how did the Lion Knights arrive so quickly? Doesn't King Ulric care about the safety of Sarleon?"
Gregory IV was going to ask about the specific situation of the Kingdom of Kedren Sarleon.
And Kaedren was seeking death, but his own troops fled, but he did not die. Instead, he was "welcomed" into the enemy camp unscathed...
what does that mean?
This means that he is definitely a rebel...
Brennus ordered Kedron to charge into the battle and die, but his troops escaped and he himself was welcomed into the enemy's formation - this situation seemed like he was completely surrendering to the enemy in the middle of a battle!
Especially in the eyes of Brennus, this was undoubtedly a defection.
This time, Kaedren's family is probably finished...
Kaedren also realized that he had messed up the last chance to save his family!
Therefore, Kaedren is not planning to seek death now. He sought death before for the survival of his family, but the current situation means that the whole family is doomed, so he should find a way to stay alive!
If he wants to live, he must be recruited by the Kingdom of Ravenstern...
So Kedren reacted quickly and misled Gregory IV, preparing to save himself once again.
"My Eagle Claw Castle was attacked and occupied by the traitor Fothert, so I originally took Lion Lake City and planned to exchange it for another city... But who knew that Brennus secretly led his troops to attack Lion Lake City. He looted Lion Lake City, stole my property, and insisted that I was a traitor! Not only that, Brennus also planned to use my soldiers as cannon fodder... I couldn't let my soldiers die, so I let them leave on their own. But now I really have nowhere to go... Your Majesty, please give me a decent way to die. I have lost everything, and now I just want to maintain my honor."
Keldren is indeed a cunning noble with a quick mind. This kind of "tragic lord who was slandered and persecuted" story is actually the easiest to recruit in front of a king...
"I will not kill a noble like you. Since the Kingdom of Sarleon cannot accommodate you, you might as well join my Kingdom of Ravenstern... However, Baron Kedren, I heard that Ulric is ill... In other words, the appearance of the Lion Knights here is just Brennus' personal behavior?"
Sure enough, thinking about the way Kedren charged into the battle alone, neither resisting nor surrendering, and seeking death, Gregory IV was even a little moved...
"His Majesty is indeed seriously ill. I don't know why the Lion Knights are here... Anyway, they attacked Lion Lake City indiscriminately!"
Kaedren was telling the truth this time, he really didn't know.
But his answer obviously misled Gregory IV greatly...
Gregory IV felt that the will of the Lion Knights might not be strong enough, so he once again ordered the entire army to slowly move forward for a distance.
This was still a test, and the Lion Knights responded this time. Brunus split the Lion Knights into two teams to the side, and it seemed that they had no intention of launching a charge.
So Gregory IV came to a conclusion - the Lion Knights might not have been sent by Ulrich, but were brought out by Grand Commander Brunus to stir up trouble and gain benefits. He did not dare to let the Lion Knights suffer too much damage!
With Jatu's army also here, the Lion Knights will most likely retreat if they scare Brennus!
"All troops, listen up! Line up and move forward! Kill the Lion Knights!"
Gregory IV believed that this might be the best chance to defeat the Order of the Lion!
A troop that is not determined enough and dares not suffer losses will never be able to exert its full strength!
If the undefeated record of the Lion Knights could be ended in a field battle, it would be more valuable to the Kingdom of Ravenstern than gaining a large piece of territory.
Moreover, as long as Brunus's army is defeated, there is no need to worry about Eagle Claw Castle at all. We can just march straight to Lion Lake City, and Lion Lake City can be easily captured.
Because Fothert in Eagle Claw Castle didn't dare to come out at all due to the current situation, the Jatu people were still here!
Gregory IV regarded the Jatu people as allies. Although this ally was unreliable, at least it could scare people, right?
So the Stern Crow army went out in large numbers and launched an active attack on Brennus's formation!
Brennus was first angry and then surprised.
What made him angry first was that he had given Kaedren a chance to clear his reputation, but Kaedren actually disregarded the lives of his entire family and surrendered to the enemy?
He felt that his efforts for his brother-in-law were in vain.
And the surprise that followed was that the brother-in-law did not seem to surrender to the enemy, but instead led the enemy to attack?
This really is going undercover!
Brennus thought it was Kedren who ordered the Ravenstern to attack...
The enemy actually took the initiative to attack the Lion Knights in a field battle. This was indeed a huge surprise to Brennus...
He just ordered the Lion Knights to split into two teams to the side. He originally thought that Kaedren's troops had fled and failed to test the situation of the Raven Stern Army, so it would be best to stabilize it, so he adjusted the formation.
But if the Ravencrows attack actively, then there will be no need for stability - the enemy cannot set up a spear formation while moving, and the Lion Knights like it best when the two armies collide in a field battle!
"The Knights of the Lion! Charge!"
"Glory is my life!"
A uniform shout rang out, and hundreds of Lion Knights, armed like cans, marched forward from both sides, formed two rows in front of the formation, and began to charge towards the enemy.
The Lion Knights were in the front row, and the followers filled the gaps in the second row.
After the first round of Lion Knights set off, the second round of Lion Knights, several dozen meters behind, also began to charge in the same way...
The entire Lion Knights launched five rounds of charges in succession at the approaching Raven Army in the way they were best at.
There was a loud roar of killing and the sound of horse hooves.
The sound of lances breaking could be heard one after another, and the screams of people were almost completely inaudible at this time.
A single misjudgment could ruin everything, especially a king's.
Gregory IV's misjudgment on the battlefield caused the Raven Stern troops to be torn to pieces by the Lion Knights in just a few minutes.
The Lion Knights came on the king's orders, their will to fight was much stronger than he imagined, and their commander, Brennus, didn't care about any losses at all!
The reaction of the Jatu people was completely beyond Gregory IV's expectations - while the two armies were fighting, the Jatu cavalry attacked the original camp of the Stern Crow Kingdom troops!
The Jatu people were actually there to get supplies...
When there is a misjudgment on something, it always leads to a series of mistakes.
Gregory IV also made a mistake in his judgment of Fotherg...
He thought Fawcett didn't dare to leave the city, but Fawcett left the city very determinedly at this time.
The Lion Knights ravaged the Ravenstern forces west of Eagle's Talon, while the Jatu moved from the east to the north of Eagle's Talon and occupied the Ravenstern camp.
This led to Fotherg in the city seeing an opportunity.
In fact, Fother had already started making preparations since he saw those Jatu people.
Prepare to run away.
