I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy

Chapter 112: Battle Of Hattin Forest (4)

When the horn sounded, the Reich Empires crossbowmen and mages were joking with each other.

Damn those Francois cowards! Theyre so scared.

I cant believe they dragged 10,000 men just to catch one brigade.

Ah, Mark. Theres no point cursing those wholl soon be dead with holes in their bodies, right?

However, they were actually filled with tremendous fear inside.

They felt a secret thrill watching over 400 knights on the right wing be helpless against Lieutenant Anastasias archer cavalry and Lieutenant Colonel Werners knights, but the reality of facing soldiers 2.5 times their number only brought fear and doubt.

The fear stemmed from the overwhelming difference in numbers, and the doubt arose from whether their Major General, Peter Yaeger, who had turned the tide in unfavorable battles, could win this time.

This time, were not shooting directly at them but firing in an arc! Aim at the same angle as your squad leader!

Tilt your crossbow as much as the guy next to you and pull the trigger!

Dont think, just shoot arrows as youve been trained! Anyone who hesitates, thinking, What if I die? will be the first to go down!

When the crossbowmens commander gave the order to fire, the soldiers had no choice but to let go of all other thoughts.

Because if they got distracted and slowed down in firing or reloading, they could be painfully kicked by their squad or company commanders or even whipped upon returning after winning.

Perhaps due to this haste, the Reich Empires army successfully initiated the first long-range attack before the soldiers of the Francois Republic.

Their arrows hit the Francois Republics crossbowmen, who were at the vanguard, eager to rain down arrows and magic on the Reich Empires soldiers as quickly as possible.

Damn it, Emilia.

Sergeant Jang! Sergeant Jang!!

Reich Empire, you filthy pigs!

The soldiers of the Francois Republic cursed with boiling blood, stepping over the bodies of their comrades who had been with them just moments ago, advancing forward.

When they reached a suitable position, their commander gave the order.

Rain arrows on them! Unleash magic! Annihilate their infantry!

Shoot them all! By any means necessary, we must kill Major General Yaeger!

We must win at all costs!

Upon that command, the soldiers of the Francois Republic fired arrows and magic, while the infantry of the Reich Empire took cover behind the planks set up behind the palisades.

The fairly thick planks could block most of the enemys arrows, but some arrows pierced through.

Naturally, they couldnt withstand the magic, which was difficult to block even with iron armor.

The soldiers of the Reich Empire could only crouch behind the planks, listening to the dying screams of their comrades.

Damn, to die like this.

Why is my helmet

My arm! My arm!

In this way, both armies exchanged arrows relentlessly, reducing each others forces, and in the meantime, the infantry of the Francois Republic reached near the Reich Empires troops.

The commanders of the Empires infantry issued orders at a dizzyingly fast pace.

Remove the planks and form a tight formation. Collision is imminent!

Dont be scared of the enemy! We will win!

Long live the Reich Empire! Long live Deus!

Meanwhile, watching all this, Major General Yaeger believed that the current orders he was issuing could completely turn the tide of the battle.

Because even in a brawl involving dozens of people, collective strength could be exerted only when everyones timing and assault were synchronized.

He was confident that the well-trained infantry of the Reich Empire could unsettle the Francois infantry with just minor movements before properly confronting them.

Thus, he continued to visualize in his mind the placement, position, and morale of his troops, and the location and condition of the enemy, imagining an opportunity to shake up his 4,000 soldiers.

While slowly swinging the baton in his right hand from top to bottom, he said,

Signal the whole army. Tell the entire infantry to maintain formation and retreat ten steps when the enemy approaches the palisades.

Upon hearing this, the staff officers around the Major General shook their heads in disbelief.

Because, logically, placing infantry behind the palisades was more advantageous for defense.

Thus, among them, Colonel Cherny, the brigades operations officer, was about to protest to Major General Yaeger, but the standard-bearers had already waved their flags, ordering a ten-step retreat amidst the approaching enemy.

The soldiers of the Reich Empire began to retreat, maintaining their formation and leaving the palisades behind.

The Francois infantry, seeing this, cheered and began to advance rapidly.

The cowardly pigs are abandoning the palisades and retreating!

See, Private? Like I said, numbers matter. Look at them, retreating step by step.

Haha, really? So, does that mean were winning?

In line with their assertion, the trumpeters and drummers, following the orders of Division Commander Pompadour, beat their drums more vigorously.

It was literally a sound to thrust spears forward and charge at full strength to slaughter the enemy soldiers.

Usually, it was a sound most soldiers hated, bringing back terrible memories just by hearing it.

But perhaps, in a situation where the enemy was fleeing, charging turned into a somewhat pleasant battle experience, as it meant fewer casualties for ones own side and mass deaths for the enemy.

Even laughter could be heard among the experienced sergeants and corporals of the Republic who had participated in combat at least once.

Weve already won! Haha!

If theyre going to do that, they should just stand and block. Damn those guys. Why did they die so soon?

Hey, rookies, arent you lucky? The wars going to end quickly!

So, with the expectation of a one-sided massacre, they marched forward spiritedly, but the faces of the experienced non-commissioned officers and officers began to turn pale.

Because they had prepared to charge, assuming the enemy was behind the palisades from 70 meters away, but what if that gap collapsed?

People might not fall easily, but the chances of a spearhead at the end of a long stick missing its target and the formation getting disrupted increased.

Because of this, the soldiers charging power could decrease, leading to a counterattack.

But if they stopped carelessly, the infantry in front could be crushed to death by the soldiers behind them.

Watching this situation, Major General Yaeger ridiculed the Francois Republics army, saying,

They know theyve miscalculated the timing of their attack, but theyre forced to continue advancing, knowing theyll face a fierce counterattack.

In such a situation, from Division Commander Pompadour, who led the entire army, to the junior officers, including the platoon leaders, had no choice but to cover up the immediate problem and encourage their troops unconditionally.

Charge! Show the glory of the Francois Republic!

For the greatness of our Republic, for Francois, for the people!

Brave soldiers, step forward. I will stand before you!

These words meant, regardless of anything, just bury it and charge.

Seeing this, the officers of the Reich Empire laughed at them and ordered,

Ten steps back! Then, when they remove the palisades, impale them with the spears youve been aiming at the enemy!

Surely theres no virgin here, right? Impale them like youre in bed!

Show your manhood here!

So, the soldiers of the Reich Empire perfectly maintained their formation and moved ten steps back, while the infantry of the Francois Republic kicked down the palisades as they surged forward.

Just by that, the unsupported palisades, rather the wooden fences deliberately left without supports in response to the full-army charge of the Francois Republics infantry, easily fell due to the continuous kicking.

This slowed down the Francois Republics soldiers, and when the spears in the first and second rows and those behind were slightly lifted to avoid stabbing their own troops,

Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Reich Empire!

Prove that even infantry can be brave men!

Now is the time! Charge as per Major General Yaegers orders!

The soldiers of the Reich Empire advanced while maintaining their formation and stabbed the soldiers of the Francois Republic with their spears.

Due to their formation being disrupted and being subjected to a uniform charge, the Francois Republic, instead of their previously confident appearance, began to display a scene resembling hell on earth.