Translator: Cinder Translations
...
"They've retreated!"
The orc cavalry, unable to break through the formations, fled in panic toward the exit, while the Allied army erupted into thunderous cheers.
Many soldiers, having retreated this far, could hardly believe their eyes.
Just moments ago, they had been fighting fiercely, their minds gripped by fear and tension, with no time to think much beyond the battle at hand.
But as the dust from the enemy's hooves grew distant, it felt as if they had awoken from a deep dream.
Unable to contain their excitement, many began shouting hysterically.
"Form up! Maintain discipline! No one acts without orders."
Schroeder immediately issued orders to prevent any rash actions that might give the enemy an opening.
"The North-westerners have withstood the orc charge!"
The knights of the capital, gathered around Catherine, expressed their admiration.
They had seen it clearly—the orc cavalry's primary target had been the two central North-western formations. Like wolves, they had surrounded and torn into them with relentless assaults, blocking the view of the surrounding allied forces.
Yet the North-western formations stood firm like stubborn rocks, withstanding wave after wave of attack.
"Are the orcs really retreating?"
Catherine furrowed her brow, still recalling how the orcs' feigned retreat in Sunset Valley had lured the Allied infantry into advancing, leading to a series of disastrous defeats for the Kingdom's forces.
When the orc cavalry on their flank charged, the knights briefly clashed with them. But since the orcs were merely providing cover for their main force's retreat, the skirmish didn't escalate, and the two sides quickly disengaged.
At this moment, they received word from Schroeder: Cover the infantry's advance on the flank.
The Allied infantry immediately changed formation, shifting from a hollow square to a column and began advancing, with artillery moving alongside them.
The 3-pound and 6-pound light cannons were pushed forward by human strength, while heavier cannons were drawn by horses.
The infantry's speed was slower due to the need to move with the artillery, but the imposing presence of the heavy metal tubes gave them a strong sense of security.
The central Alden battalion maintained perfect formation, ready to switch back to the hollow square at any moment.
The infantry moved cautiously behind them, with cavalry providing protection, maintaining pace with the infantry's advance, securing the flanks.
The whole Allied army was like a steamroller—slow, heavy, but relentlessly advancing.
"Lev's squad, assemble here!"
"Grug, Ressa!"
"I'm here, Grug is dead!"
The orc positions were filled with shouting, as horses galloped back and forth, carrying their riders in search of comrades and superiors.
The failed attacks and chaotic retreat had thrown the orc cavalry into disarray.
Just as they began to reorganize, the advancing Allied army halted. The artillery could now reach the orcs.
The 6-pound cannons deployed quickly, while the heavier artillery moved more slowly. A deadly barrage fell upon the orc forces.
The artillery shells screamed through the air, hitting the areas where the orc cavalry had concentrated. Horses scattered in panic, causing widespread chaos. The once-formed ranks quickly fell apart. Even those who managed to control their horses were forced to spread out to reduce the risk of being hit by the shells.
"The orcs have lost their edge. Their formations have become sloppy. If our cavalry on both wings charges, we can crush them immediately."
Behind the infantry, a few knights who had sprinted over from the flanks conveyed their lords' suggestions to Paul.
Paul furrowed his brow and asked his chief of staff, "Schroeder, what do you think?"
Schroeder swallowed nervously, "This involves changing the overall battle plan. I leave that decision to you; I'm just responsible for the details."
Paul could tell that his chief of staff was subtly in favor of the proposal.
The initial strategy was to use the firepower advantage of the artillery to press forward slowly, step by step, until the orcs could no longer bear the casualties and withdrew. This strategy was agreed upon before the battle.
It would likely only result in a minor victory, but for the Kingdom's army, which had retreated this far, even a small victory would be precious.
A failure, on the other hand, would cause the Kingdom's army, which had just stabilized, to collapse again. It would be a huge blow to the newly-formed Alden army.
Paul needed a guaranteed victory, no matter how small. Under this heavy burden, he hated any deviation from the plan.
But... he raised his binoculars, and the small lens revealed the situation at the orc positions.
When the orcs first arrived, their army had been orderly, their morale high, their momentum intimidating.
But now they were disordered, perhaps still burning with fighting spirit, but more marked by frustration from their inability to achieve victory.
To annihilate this cavalry would mean severing the orcs' grasp on the North-west, a tempting opportunity.
Paul's fingers tapped lightly on the lens, his mind in intense conflict.
Time passed, second by second, until the orcs' horns sounded again across the battlefield—they were launching a second charge.
"Alright, gentlemen, go back and inform your superiors to stick to the original plan."
Paul's hesitation caused the opportunity to slip away.
The lords who had made the suggestion shook their heads in disappointment after receiving the reply.
"He lacks the decisiveness. He just lost a great opportunity."
"Our commander has lost his chance to make history."
"Earl Grayman may be young, but he's more cautious than some old men."
The lords grumbled as they directed their soldiers to brace for the second orc cavalry charge.
But this time, they faced the orcs with much more ease. Allowing the artillery to advance and strike was the right call. Though the orcs were furious, their charge was less tight and well-organized due to the pressure from the artillery.
Out of caution, the Allied infantry quickly reformed into the hollow square, with bayonets, loaded ammunition, and ready to fire. The orc cavalry circled around them again and again, but ultimately retreated after leaving a ring of corpses in their wake. The second assault was repelled.
But the orc assault stopped only when the attack on the Allied army ended. The Allies' fire continued to pound the orcs, chasing them until they were out of range.
"General, pick a few of the bravest warriors, and let me lead another charge!"
Orc warrior Warder, wielding the sword given to him by Calem, stormed up to the commander in a fury. Two failed charges had demoralized his comrades, and their spirits were low.
Warder was furious, calling his comrades cowards. When he scolded them, he was immediately met with a retort, "If you're so brave, why didn't you charge into the human bayonets? If you had, we would've followed you without hesitation."
Warder couldn't reply, but was it really his fault? He wasn't afraid of death, but persuading his horses to charge to their deaths was much harder. As soon as they saw the gleaming bayonets, the horses would refuse to obey and turn away.
(End of the Chapter)
---
Read (FF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c848. [+1]
Early Access at $5.
Translated (5) Series, (2.6K+) Chapters, (3.5M+) Words.