CHAPTER 384: CHAPTER 263: REMOVING THE FIREWOOD FROM UNDER THE POT

The Pannonian cavalry halted briefly a hundred meters away, waiting for their comrades to arrive while simultaneously spreading out their formation.

Then the leaders shouted "Attack!" The cavalry spurred their warhorses forward, the animals breaking into a trot on the uneven grasslands. Though the saddle jolted, the cavalry gripped their reins with their left hands, their waists and hips secured by four-corner saddles, and their tightly clenched thighs steadied the horses’ flanks; they were still fairly stable. Their shiny longswords in their right hands were raised high, ready to swing down with force as they approached the enemy, bolstered by the momentum of their charge and confident they could smash through the thick shield armor of their foes.

But just as this excitement surged, they saw someone in that line of "enemy slaves" ahead waving a red flag. Instantly, countless arrows flew forth, striking the riders and horses with precision. Screams erupted from wounded cavalrymen, while the arrows pierced the warhorses eliciting pained shrieks. Chaos ensued as riders and horses collapsed en masse, those in the forefront falling victim almost without exception, some even causing panic among those cavalry following behind, leading to disarray and injuries, including several horses twisting their hooves.

The cavalry, already in motion, could not stop their charge abruptly, so they maneuvered around their injured peers and continued forward.

Thus, wave after wave of arrows rained down at brief intervals upon the Pannonian cavalry.

Due to the narrow lowlands between the valley, the cavalry couldn’t widen their front. Their tightly packed formation became a prime target within the crossbow soldiers’ range. After four rounds of crossbow volleys, the sounds of cries and horses’ screeches persisted relentlessly, while fallen horsemen struggled on the dry grasslands amidst the billowing dust stirred by their agony.

The Pannonian cavalry ceased advancing. Within mere moments, hundreds of their comrades had fallen, rapidly dampening their morale.

The Pannonian cavalry began retreating, turning towards the adjacent hills...

At this point, the First Battalion of the Third Legion had already wiped out the enemy, and now confronted hundreds of enemy riders on the southern hills by readjusting their formation.

Valerius seized this opportunity and led the crossbow soldiers to reposition behind the infantry formation.

Eorokus approached Valerius in haste, asking urgently, "Do we still have crossbow arrows?"

"We have enough for at least three more rounds," Valerius answered.

"Then that’s sufficient." Eorokus first glanced at the enemy riders lingering hesitantly on the southern hills, before turning to point at the enemies still fiercely battling: "Captain Valerius, I want your crossbow soldiers to fire their remaining arrows at them. Then, I will dispatch five Centurions to launch an attack, while the remaining soldiers will keep an eye on those riders and aim to crush the enemies as swiftly as possible!"

"As you command!" Valerius agreed without hesitation.

Once the crossbow and Crossbow Cannon teams defeated the enemies at hand, ten Centurions from the Second Legion maneuvered to attack the Brochi Army’s flanks.

The Brochi Warriors resisted stubbornly. However, neighboring tribal leaders instinctively sensed danger and led their fighters to rush in for reinforcements. As a result, the number of warriors on the far-left flank of the Brochi Army swelled to nearly 2,000, resembling an enormous, bloated mass of flesh. Though Second Legion soldiers managed to encircle them, they momentarily struggled to eliminate this swelling force.

However, this diversion left other sections of the neighboring Brochi Army thinner, and their offensive against the Nix Army on the hills weakened significantly. Meanwhile, the remaining Centurions of the Second Legion adhered to their defensive-first strategy, keeping both sides locked in a stalemate.

But the injection of fresh forces into the Nix Army swiftly broke this temporary balance.

The crossbow soldiers launched rapid three-round volleys at the rear of the Brochi Army, causing significant casualties with nearly every arrow fired, followed by a charge of 500 energetic soldiers from Nix’s Third Legion, which terrified the Brochi Warriors.

To worsen matters, Torrelugo, observing these changes unfold from his vantage point, immediately ordered the copper horn to sound the attack signal.

On the hills, the Second Legion soldiers were already brimming with anticipation and unleashed a swift counterattack, which proved to be the final straw for the beleaguered Brochi Warriors.

First besieged by the crossbow soldiers, then flanked and sandwiched by the Second and Third Legion soldiers, the Brochi Warriors fled, their collapse rippling down to their far-left flank. These warriors, also under assault by the Third Legion, crumbled rapidly. Worse, their escape route was blocked by retreating tribesmen, leading most despairing Brochi Warriors to surrender to the ferocious Nix soldiers.

Like a snowball rolling downhill, the Brochi Army’s collapse spread rapidly from west to east. The Nix Army’s deliberate herding of fleeing fighters to the east significantly contributed to this outcome.

Maximus, seated near the rear center of the Nix Formation, eyes closed in repose, heard the copper horn signals emanating from the west. He opened his eyes immediately, only to hear Flanitnus exclaim excitedly, "The Second Legion has sounded the attack horn. Our right wing must hold a decisive advantage. I trust they’ll secure victory shortly!"

"Leader, should we wait until Torrelugo’s messenger arrives with details of the battle before making a decision?" Quintus offered a reminder.

"There’s no need to wait. Have the First Legion start their attack!" Maximus decisively issued the order, then jested to Quintus, "Didn’t you previously assure me that Torrelugo, Eorokus, and that newly appointed crossbow soldier captain Val... Valerius are all highly reliable? What now—losing confidence when it matters most?"

Quintus replied earnestly, "Providing alternative advice for your consideration is part of my duty as your Staff Officer."

Maximus nodded, then suddenly recalled something and said, "According to Hagux, who recently extracted information from the Aldeans, this Pannonian Army stores most of its provisions and supplies at an Alde Tribe village on the east side of the Kolana River. They have left several thousand warriors to defend the village, along with several thousand Scodisqi slaves...

This village is merely five or six miles away from us. After securing victory here, should we immediately split forces to attack it? This will prevent retreating Pannonian forces from escaping to the village to hold their ground, which could delay the swift conclusion of this battle and hinder our timely reinforcement of Oluus and Pequot."

"Leader, you raise an important point. We should indeed act preemptively," Quintus contemplated before suggesting, "Perhaps we should immediately send word to our right wing, notifying Torrelugo to detach part of his forces to head south along the Kolana River and swiftly capture that village once the Third Legion achieves victory. This way, the Pannonian Army, already defeated and deprived of their supplies, will be completely crushed."

"You’re absolutely right. As the Second Legion is closest to the Kolana River, they may finish their battle earliest and are indeed the ideal choice to attack the village. Of course, this would hand them yet another accomplishment, possibly sparking complaints from other legions, so you’ll need to smooth things over with the Military Department afterward," Maximus remarked with a hint of jest, showing his agreement with Quintus’s proposal.

"There’s no avoiding it; luck happens to favor the Second Legion this time—they occupy the most advantageous position," Quintus shrugged.

Maximus glanced around before his gaze settled on a teenage boy, "Akegu, you heard everything we just discussed, didn’t you?"

"I did, Leader."

"Then I want you to serve as my messenger immediately. Go find Legion Commander Torrelugo and relay my orders. Can you do it?"

"Leader, I promise to complete the mission!" Akegu saluted excitedly and prepared to run west.

"Wait a moment," Flanitnus interjected. "Leader, it’s best if the troops Torrelugo dispatches carry the Pannonian Army’s captured flags or a tribal leader among the prisoners, and also include some Scodisqi new recruits."

"Excellent idea!" Maximus immediately grasped the intention: If the warriors defending the village learn their army has failed, their morale will crumble. Coupled with Scodisqi new recruits shouting provocations from outside the village walls, and inciting a rebellion among the thousands of Scodisqi slaves within, this dual pressure would make it easy to seize the village...

Maximus turned to Akegu, "Got all that?"

"Got it!" Akegu quickly repeated with precision, "Tell Legion Commander Torrelugo to detach part of his forces. Among these soldiers must be some Scodisqi new recruits, carrying captured Pannonian banners or a tribal leader prisoner, to march south along the Kolana River and swiftly capture the village storing the Pannonian Army’s provisions."

"Very well, go quickly." Maximus waved his hand, and Akegu bolted off, disappearing from sight.

Maximus then turned to his attendant and issued another command: "Notify Hagux to send cavalry familiar with the enemy’s condition to guide the Second Legion’s attack on the village."

"Understood!"

"Inform Captain Gaius that their Engineering Team must immediately head to the Second Legion and accompany the forces attacking the village, ready to construct siege weapons as needed."

"Understood!"

........................

Seeing their tribespeople abandon the fight against the enemy, cast aside their weapons, and turn to flee in terror—crying and shouting during their escape while ruthlessly shoving and trampling on their own companions blocking their way—and witnessing the ruthless adversaries chasing them like seasoned herders driving clumsy cattle and sheep along the narrow lowlands of the valley towards the east, leading to an ever-growing tide of fleeing warriors spreading across the valley...

Standing on the opposite hill, Bricks watched the collapse of his army unfold, feeling an intense pain in his chest and utter blankness in his mind.

He had once ridiculed Andres for being an idiot, squandering an absolute manpower advantage only to suffer repeated defeats. Yet now, facing a similar disaster himself, he couldn’t muster the will to turn the tide or lead his attendants to block even the smallest troop of chasing enemies to save a few more tribespeople. When he saw a small group of enemies advancing toward his position, he swiftly fled with his attendants.