Chapter 392 Spear and Shield
August 9, 358 in the Pande calendar, cloudy.
Salem Wasteland.
On this day, His Majesty Leon, King of the New Pende Kingdom, and Marius Gaius, Emperor of the Bacchus Empire, made a huge bet.
At first, we all thought this was a bet that required no skills and was entirely based on luck, just like a fair fight in ancient times...
It wasn't until halfway through the battle that I realized that smart gamblers never let anyone know all their chips.
Moreover, what determines the outcome of a gambling game is never the skill but the mentality.
Ramon once said this to me, but I never understood what he meant until now.
——Excerpt from "New Pendor Battle Diary", written by Lisadilan Aino.
…
The next morning, the sky was a little gloomy.
Clouds obscured the sky, but there was not a breeze on the wasteland, and the hot summer day became even more dull.
Horns sounded from time to time in both teams' lineups.
The French horn of the Bacchus Empire is deep and long, while the trumpet of the Fierce Lion Realm is crisp and exciting.
The two armies faced each other across the wilderness, several hundred meters apart .
But neither side stood still in the formation, and there were many cavalrymen moving back and forth on both sides.
Some were messengers, some were specially arranged patrol rangers, and some were constantly changing positions to confuse the enemy.
Although this open and aboveboard battle seems like a gentlemanly fight, no matter how gentlemanly a fight is, it will not be a mindless confrontation, and the two sides will not stand still at attention - in fact, both sides will keep testing each other.
They are all looking for the opponent's flaws.
The military formation of the Bacchus Empire looked extremely solid. Spears and giant shields were combined into two hedgehog-like phalanxes, with crossbowmen surrounded in the phalanxes.
Behind each phalanx was a large cavalry unit, and some cavalry were being deployed to the two sides.
In the middle of the two phalanxes was the best-equipped and most highly trained Immortal Legion in the entire Bacchus Empire, with broad-bladed javelins already in their hands.
In front of the Immortal Legion, the iconic battle flag of Emperor Marius himself was raised - the flag did not have a golden eagle, but two horizontal beam-shaped symbols surrounded by cassia twigs.
This symbol symbolizes that after Marius' reforms, the natives of Pende and the Bacchus were treated equally, and both ethnic groups were the backbone of the empire.
But there were only battle flags, no banners, and no ceremonial guards of an emperor.
"Is that really Emperor Marius? So simple?"
Lisadilan had the best eyesight. He could see a commander standing in front of the Immortal Legion array. That man was also wearing Immortal officer armor, but the champion helmet on his head had a dark gold tassel.
The helmets of the Bacchus Empire all have broom-like tassels, which have different colors and arrangement orders. This is also the military rank of the Bacchus Empire, mainly to quickly distinguish positions and responsibilities.
The dark gold solid helmet tassel usually means the supreme commander.
But Risadiran wasn't sure if it was Emperor Marius - the man's procession looked too plain, and he didn't look like an emperor.
"Just keep it simple..."
Leon looked back at his own battle flag - he also had no flag and was dressed similarly to the Noldor Rangers around him. Alice, who was riding on him, also wore the same horse clothes as the Noldor Guards. Only the hood lining with gold edges under the helmet could reveal his identity.
If Li Ang had not been worried that some soldiers might not recognize him, he would not even have worn the black lining with gold edges. The gold edges were actually woven with gold thread, which pricked the skin and was uncomfortable to wear.
"Your Majesty, they have begun to march..."
Risa Dillan reminded.
Leon looked back and saw that the army of the Bacchus Empire was already moving forward slowly.
"Bang! Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-bang!"
Bacchus's array moved forward slowly but steadily. Every ten steps forward, they would drop their shields and stop their spears, then move forward again.
The army formation of tens of thousands of people marched in almost the same pace, their movements were uniform and orderly.
The large-scale and disciplined military formation brought a terrifying pressure. The troops behind Li Ang also became silent at this time, and only the sound of the horses' pace could be heard.
Li Ang slowly drew out his sword and looked back at the troops behind him.
Morale doesn't seem to be very high...
Leon stood at the forefront of the center army, with the Noldor Guards beside him, the Noldor troops of Islandil on the left, the Griffin Knights and the Lion Lake City heavy cavalry led by Fothert behind him, and behind them were the rangers of the Horn Summoning Rangers and the Fierce Lion cavalry brought by the lords.
The central army that Li Ang deployed today was composed entirely of cavalry, with a total of nearly four thousand cavalry.
Klose and Sigismund led the Silver Hand and the Free Corps on the left wing, a few hundred meters away from the cavalry. The Silver Mist Rangers were also there, with nearly two thousand people.
On the right wing were the conscripted soldiers led by Leofric and other lords, nearly two thousand strong, standing under seven or eight different lords' flags.
This was Li Ang's formation, with cavalry in the center and infantry on the two wings - this was a completely unorthodox approach.
Generally speaking, infantry would be placed in the center and cavalry on the two wings, because cavalry needed more space and it was also necessary to avoid letting the horses face crossbows and spears directly.
But today things are different.
Because there are no other tactics planned today...
"Your Majesty...how do we act?"
Lisadilan seemed a little nervous as he looked at the Bacchus army formation that was slowly approaching from five or six hundred meters away.
"Don't panic...let Leofric move forward and let Klose move back..."
Li Ang glared at Lisa Dilan, then turned around and gave orders.
The messengers on the left and right waved the command flags - this place was all flat and the view was good, so they could just use the command flags to send messages.
The infantry on the right wing began to slowly line up and move forward, while the left wing paused for a few seconds before gradually retreating.
"Your Majesty, why did you ask us to retreat? We haven't even started the battle yet. Could it be that the messenger made a mistake?"
In the Silver Hand array, Sigismund said to Klose in confusion.
"Even if we are wrong, we have to obey orders..."
Klose held up his sword and retreated step by step - this was Klose's greatest advantage. Even if he had many doubts in his heart, he would resolutely obey orders.
Sigismund had no choice but to retreat step by step with Klose.
If you look at the battlefield from the air, Leon's formation has been adjusted to a diagonal distribution.
The infantry on the right wing was isolated in front, while the left wing retreated two hundred meters.
This adjustment seemed like a child's play, but what was strange was that the army of the Bacchus Empire suddenly stopped moving.
They stopped moving forward and began to move sideways.
The two hedgehog-like phalanxes moved closer, the Immortal Legion in the middle also made the formation more dense, and the cavalry behind also began to deploy to both sides.
This is a defensive posture.
"They stopped? Why?"
Risa Dilan's face was bewildered. He neither understood why Leon asked Klose to retreat, nor why the Bacchus stopped.
"Hahahaha... because they have no confidence... they have no confidence in winning at all!!"
Leon laughed and answered Sadiran's question, then raised his sword and turned around and shouted: "Brothers! Did you see it?! They stopped! They are scared!!"
"Those cowards are no match for us!"
"We only have to face one enemy! It's Emperor Marius under the opposite flag!! Just one enemy!!"
"Everyone! Follow me and charge!!"
"ha!!"
All the teams shouted war cries in unison, and the charge horns sounded behind Li Ang at the same time.
“Wuwu…wuwu…wuwu…”
The charge of the Fierce Lion Realm was urgent and loud. Leon didn't say any more nonsense and rushed directly to the Emperor Marius opposite him.
The distance between the two sides is about four hundred meters, which is the most suitable distance for cavalry charge.
After thirty meters, Alice accelerated to a sprint, her golden ponytail fluttering in the wind at high speed.
Leon glanced back and saw that the soldiers behind him had bright eyes, either looking at him or at the battle flag of Emperor Marius opposite.
Very good...morale boosted!
The infantry on both wings also began to move forward quickly. They were far away and probably could not hear Leon's words to boost morale, but they definitely knew what to do when the charge sounded - block the two wings and prevent the Bacchus from cutting off the cavalry's charge.
Li Ang didn't look back and took the lance in his hand.
The Bacchus people certainly did not stop because they were afraid. Leon just said that deliberately to boost morale.
The Bacchus stopped because Emperor Marius was a little confused by Leon's blind operation - facing the neat army formation approaching him in the battlefield, the two wings responded in completely different ways, which would make anyone feel confused.
It is understandable that the cavalry is the center of the army. Marius also knows that Le Ang is definitely unwilling to fight against him in battle. He had already anticipated that Le Ang might concentrate a large number of cavalry to force a charge.
So he ordered all of Bacchus's troops to move forward in an orderly manner. This was both a test and a coercion. He wanted to force Le Ang to get his troops moving and determine the specific tactics that Le Ang would implement based on Le Ang's response.
In the end, Leon did respond, but Emperor Marius did not understand this response. Leon's troops on both wings were infantry, not cavalry, who needed to keep a distance between them. What did it mean that the right wing was advancing and the left wing was retreating? Could there be an ambush somewhere?
But this is a plain...
However, the person on the opposite side was Le Ang after all, and Marius did not believe that Le Ang was fooling around, so he stopped and planned to observe for a while.
But in fact, Li Ang is really messing around...
Li Ang was not good at commanding large-scale battles - he had no experience in commanding nearly 10,000 people before. A battle involving a few hundred people is completely different from a large-scale battle involving tens of thousands of people.
When facing Agathon yesterday, he had enough time and space, so he was able to set up an ambush and try to double-team his opponent using the woodpecker tactic.
But today was different. He had neither time nor confidence, so he had no plan to arrange any complicated tactics last night.
It is important to see yourself clearly. Most people do not have enough understanding of themselves.
But Li Ang knows himself very well.
He knew his weaknesses. A modern man, someone who had never led an army of tens of thousands before, could not possibly surpass Emperor Marius, who had decades of experience, in commanding large-scale battles.
There are people who are good at talking about war on paper everywhere, but when faced with a war involving tens of thousands of people, most people will feel helpless.
Li Ang also knows what he is good at.
Every good game player is good at testing and exploiting psychology.
There is actually no special meaning in Leon asking Klose to retreat. He is just testing the mentality of the Bacchus people in this way.
If the Bacchus Empire continued to move forward without wavering, it would mean that Emperor Marius had absolute confidence in defeating himself.
But if Bacchus's army stops...
The right time, the right place, and the right people. If the right time and the right place are fair to both parties, then Li Ang will naturally seek the right people.
On the battlefield, the morale and faith of the troops are the greatest harmony among people.
Since Emperor Marius had no confidence in victory, the other Bacchus naturally would not have the same...
In this way, Leon gained confidence - and he knew how to bring confidence to his subordinates.
To outsiders, the Bacchus were just advancing and stopping normally, but on the battlefield, every action would bring a different mentality to the soldiers - the two states of marching forward and stopping were the difference between attack and defense, and the difference between spear and shield for the soldiers.
Soldiers' courage and morale are different in different situations.
Following the coach in the charge requires a different mentality and fighting spirit than following the defensive formation - the former means that the coach is sure of victory, while the latter means that everything is uncertain.
Of course, in reality, Li Ang was not sure of winning.
But the soldiers didn't know that. They only saw their king rushing in front, looking like he was afraid that the enemy would run away...
This is the tactic that Leon is pursuing - if this kind of psychological application can be considered a tactic.
In front of the Immortal Legion's formation, Marius saw the cavalry rushing towards him.
He couldn't see that far, but he could guess that the person rushing in the front must be Li Ang.
Emperor Marius was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and smiled bitterly: "I knew you would charge... but I really didn't expect you to charge now..."
Then he raised his sword: "Let Agathon attack! Spears in formation!"
"Everyone, please be determined to die on the battlefield... Our cavalry will not reinforce us. I can only ask you to fight to the end! I will always stand among you!"
"Honor is immortal! The empire is indestructible!!"
Emperor Marius was certainly aware of the morale decline and he made a final mobilization in the short time before Leon's cavalry rushed over, and then stood under his own flag with sword and shield in hand.
“Immortality and indestructibility!!”
The Immortal Legion also responded to their emperor with a unified war roar.
Afterwards, the two armies officially engaged in battle.
Leon certainly would not use cavalry to charge the spear formation. He also ignored the Bacchus infantry phalanxes on both sides, but rushed directly towards the Immortal Legion in the middle.
But this was actually a very dangerous move - Marius made such an arrangement in order to lure Li Ang to charge at his central army.
The spear phalanxes on both sides will limit Leon's battle line, and the crossbowmen can also output damage from the sides, while the Bacchus cavalry in the back row will protect the two wings and move to both sides of Leon's cavalry.
In other words, the cavalry led by Leon could not bypass the two phalanxes and break in from the side, and could only break through the Immortal Legion's formation head-on.
The width of the front array is only two hundred meters, and the two infantry phalanxes will continue to fire crossbows.
If Leon's cavalry cannot quickly break through the Immortal Legion or force other Bacchus troops to move, then they will most likely be forced to stop and then be hit in the middle by the Bacchus cavalry on both wings - this is also the Woodpecker Tactics.
Of course, Bacchus' cavalry must first defeat Leon's infantry following from both wings.
This is a contest between spear and shield, but also a contest between determination and confidence.
