plumnovel #418 - Mizzam admits that he had a gambling element
#418 - Mizzam admits that he had a gambling element
“Good news! Good news!”
The goldfinch insignia flag representing Prince Condé cut through the black smoke, the armored knight holding the battle flag shouting before even getting close.
This knight from Hotham County charged to the front of the army formation, abruptly reining in his horse, which reared up on its hind legs and neighed loudly.
“How is it?”
Mizam, who had been pacing anxiously, darted in front of the messenger knight, almost nose to nose, and asked.
“A great victory!” The transcendent knight of Hotham County raised the visor of his bird-beaked helmet, revealing a face soaked with sweat. “Our glorious knights broke through the enemy's square with just one charge. Lord Alman requests that you launch a full-scale attack as soon as possible to avoid missing the opportunity.”
“Hmph, do you think I don’t know that?”
Mizam said this, but the frown on his face completely smoothed out, as if crumpled white paper had been instantly flattened.
When the Salvation Army left their position, he had already ordered the people upwind to stop burning straw and firewood, but the smoke and dust wouldn't dissipate so quickly.
The smoke and dust obscured his vision, and for a while, he even suspected he had presbyopia, wondering if he had mistaken the Salvation Army for trees, otherwise how could they suddenly disappear into the smoke and dust.
Three minutes ago, he sent many knights to scout for news, but they were mostly blocked by those damned Kushite knight traitors.
This undoubtedly made Mizam extremely annoyed. He knew he couldn't trust the Kushites!
The Church had been secretly trying to annex and assimilate the Kushites for years, but before they succeeded, this rebellion broke out.
But after this is over, when the Church raises the butcher's knife to the Kushites again, even those Aier scholars who spend their days in the Imperial Parliament doing nothing but whining will have nothing to say.
The occurrence of this series of events resulted in Mizam not being able to capture Hohen's movements in time.
To be precise, he realized that the Salvation Army's square formation had moved, but he couldn't clearly determine how they moved and their exact location.
So Mizam only made some simple rightward adjustments, waiting for the Salvation Army to fight to the death.
It wasn't until a knight broke through the interference of the Kushite knights and Holy Gun Knights, bringing accurate information to Mizam, that he was horrified to discover: these Salvation Army infantry were moving exceptionally fast.
In just five minutes, the Salvation Army infantry actually appeared on Mizam's side front!
This was a battlefield! Normally, Imperial infantry would have their formation collapse halfway through such a charge.
Moreover, it had only been five minutes! If it were his guards, they would still be struggling to get started!
If more and more knights hadn't brought back reports, Mizam would have thought it was false information.
At this speed, in another ten minutes at most, these damned rebels would be charging at Mizam from the side!
Not that Mizam was praising these guards, but they were all foreign soldiers from Hotham County, their morale was already low, and it would be good enough if they could face the enemy head-on. It would be absurd to expect these infantry to maintain their morale and fight back after being attacked from the side.
Then, set up a defensive formation on the spot?
Based on his understanding of his own infantry, it would be a blessing from the Holy Lord if they could complete a turn to the right within ten minutes, let alone form a formation to meet the attack.
The Dunjall square formation guaranteed anti-shock capabilities, but the cost was that its maneuverability was far inferior to infantry of the same level.
Mizam realized that there was no time to adjust. If he insisted on adjusting, the guards would probably be in the process of adjusting their position when Hohen's army charged over.
What if he directly sent the Edict Company to charge the Salvation Army's center? But wouldn't that be repeating the Battle of Pavia?
The Edict Company was too far from the main square, and the infantry couldn't provide effective support. Once they were trapped in the enemy's formation, they couldn't easily escape, and in the end, they could only be blown to death by that Devil's Wind.
The best way to fight these Salvation Army infantry was to use infantry to forcefully attack,消耗their mana and lead bullets, and then let the knights attack.
Mizam wasn't very knowledgeable about military affairs, but he could sense the urgency of the situation.
The servants still remembered the scene at that time, Mizam was so anxious that he was pacing back and forth around the rock.
Fortunately, there was Alman, a veteran of the battlefield, who proposed an emergency countermeasure.
According to the scouts, the Salvation Army's right wing of more than four thousand troops was separated from the center and left wing, lagging behind by at least a hundred meters.
Then, use the Edict Company to charge the Salvation Army's right wing. If they return to defend, it will slow down their attack speed, giving Mizam time to adjust.
If they don't return to respond, then directly try to break through the enemy's formation.
Under the charge of 300 Edict Company knights and 900 transcendent knights from Hotham County, if they could break the Salvation Army's infantry square, then their flank would be exposed to the Church's army.
This way, Mizam wouldn't need to change formation to the right, and could directly charge and fight a classic right-wing oblique line tactic. The Salvation Army moves, and the Church's army follows.
As long as they rush into the enemy's ranks before the Salvation Army, although they can't achieve a complete victory, they can swallow up the enemy's four thousand men and take their baggage train.
Anyone with half a brain knew that once the baggage train was gone, morale would definitely drop significantly.
Moreover, if successful, then the Salvation Army's flank would be nakedly exposed to the Edict Company.
No matter how fast they change formation and move, can they be faster than the Edict Company's charge?
The only flaw in this plan was that the Salvation Army had a strong anti-shock capability, with a not-weak rejection effect on knights.
Mizam planned based on past battles, even if the Edict Company acted as the vanguard, they might not be able to break through the Salvation Army's square formation that could blow out the Devil's Wind head-on.
But looking at the situation, he still agreed to Alman's suggestion.
Mizam admitted that he was gambling, but he obviously bet right.
Alman's Edict Company broke the Salvation Army's formation with just one charge. With the cover of the smoke and dust, these Salvation Army soldiers didn't even have a chance to blow out that terrifying Devil's Wind!
Thinking of his previous performance, Mizam even found it a bit funny. What was he so anxious about?
The moment the enemy left their position, they entered a countdown to death. He had overestimated these farmer rebels.
No matter how fast they grow, standing in front of the Imperial knights who have developed for thousands of years, they are still like naked infants.
Satisfiedly stroking the beaver flag belonging to the Little Pool City militia, Mizam sneered and threw it aside: “Tell Alman, we will immediately oblique attack, do a good job of guiding and providing intelligence.”
“Yes, Priest Mizam.”
Turning his face, Mizam put on a smile: “Lady Marika, I need to trouble you to take the Lower River knights to disrupt the Salvation Army infantry's advance.”
Countess Marika glanced at the purple-faced mercenary knights and Lower River knights behind her, and then looked at the vaguely visible long dragon in the distance, with a hesitant expression on her face.
Mizam looked at Alman in the smoke and dust, and said in a low voice: “You know, if Prince Condé can obtain the entire Thousand River Valley, His Highness will not hesitate to give the Osla family a duchy in the Thousand River Valley, located in the Kushite territory, how about it?”
Looking at the situation on the battlefield, Marika took a deep breath and gave Mizam a deep look: “The Osla family will not forget your promise.”
“I am willing to guarantee this.” Mizam solemnly drew a 屮 cross on his forehead.
In Marika's loud command, except for the 200 Lower River knights and the remaining 400 mercenary knights who stayed behind to guard the baggage camp, the remaining 1,000 Lower River knights rushed towards the smoke and dust.
In the previous battle, Marika didn't trust these mercenary knights at all. They took the money and put on such a shameful performance.
Drinking fake medicine, that's what you deserve!
The previously diffused straw smoke and dust dissipated a lot, but the whirlwind stirred up by the warhorses once again stirred up the smoke.
Marika changed into a set of heavy armor, her figure hidden in the smoke and dust, leaving only a roughly clear back.
“Count Koma, have someone send an order, the entire army prepares to charge straight ahead!” Facing Count Koma, who came from a lower background, Mizam was not so polite.
“Yes, Lord Mizam.” Count Koma was not annoyed, and rode his horse happily towards his own infantry square formation.
After issuing multiple orders in succession, Mizam nodded triumphantly as he watched the gradually moving infantry square formation.
Although he had never commanded an army, it didn't seem difficult.
Finally, Mizam called his servant: “Immediately have the messenger dress neatly. I will now draft a victory report. Once we win, immediately take a boat to Feiliu Fort to report the news!”
“Yes!”
Riding his horse, his body rising and falling with the warhorse, Mizam came to the very front of the army.
He opened his mouth and was about to order the entire army to charge, but was interrupted by a faint crackling sound like popping beans.
In the smoke and dust, the silhouettes of galloping cavalry were intertwined, and from time to time there were noisy footsteps of infantry charging.
Leaping electric light and screams rang out one after another, as if fighting griffins in a rain cloud.
This sound seems a little too close. Mizam frowned but quickly relaxed, but it should be enough to hold back the Salvation Army's pace.
The charge horn sounded on the battlefield, the hooves of the mercenary knights beside him pawing at the ground, Mizam pointed his scepter straight ahead.
“All troops, charge!”