CHAPTER 388: CHAPTER 267: CABDES DROWNS

The tribal leaders also realized the danger and loudly shouted to stop their tribesmen from crossing the river, forcing them to turn and face the enemy...

This chaotic scene unfolded before Pequot’s eyes. Late the previous night, he led 2,000 soldiers, each carrying four large loaves of bread, crossed the floating bridge, dismantled it, and then headed to the pre-selected campsite.

This campsite was in a dense forest, far from the forest road and outside the Pannonian scouts’ reconnaissance range.

Throughout the next day, he stayed put but sent soldiers most skilled in forest maneuvering to secretly observe the enemy’s movements without being detected by enemy scouts.

When he learned that the enemy intended to camp on the north bank of the Kupa River at dusk, he contemplated a night raid, but most of his troops were new recruits. Additionally, the night was extremely dark with no moon, and the enemy leader was cautious, making it likely that an attempted surprise attack could mistakenly alert the enemy instead.

He repressed this impulse and decided to continue with his original plan.

This morning, he and his soldiers finished eating their dry bread with the rainwater. Guided by the Scodisiqi new soldiers familiar with the forest terrain, they began a silent march through the dense woods towards the forest road. The drizzle and thin mist proved advantageous, as most birds and beasts stayed in their nests, not causing any disturbances that would arouse the Pannonians’ suspicions...

Finally, the entire team concealed themselves in the dense forest at the rear of the Pannonian Army, who were crossing the river, constantly updated on the Pannonian crossing by dispatched scouts.

After a successful march and camping the day before, Cabdes had let down his guard considerably. Today, he focused all his attention on the river crossing, only habitually dispatching a few scouts around; having done so, others were even more neglectful.

Upon learning that more than half of the enemy troops had crossed the river, Pequot decisively issued the command to attack.

To ensure a swift attack and a longer fight, Pequot didn’t have the soldiers wear armor but only equipped them with shields and short swords. Now his goal was achieved: the enemy troops remaining on the north bank were in disarray without sufficient time to reorganize. He even saw some enemies, in their anxiety, inadvertently pulling out their long spears strapped to their backs, breaking their waist belts, causing their trousers to slip to their feet...

"Let’s earn our merit!" Pequot raised his short sword and shouted loudly.

"Let’s earn our merit!!!..." The soldiers responded in unison, full of excitement.

"Avenge!" He shouted again.

"Avenge!!!" Most of the soldiers roared, like thunder.

Besides some old soldiers especially requested by Oluus and Pequot from the Military Department to act as team officers, the rest of the Fourth Legion comprised mainly Skodisqi Reserve Tribes, with only a few Panoni Reserve Tribes members. Previously, Maximus left the Fourth Legion behind to implement a deception strategy. Distrustful of the Panonian new soldiers within the Fourth Legion, he removed them all and replaced them with Skodisqi people.

Now, under Pequot’s command, this troop, eager for merit and filled with hatred for the enemy, charged towards the enemy with high morale.

Had Andres been present, in such an emergency, he would have led the charge to boost morale. But Cabdes only rode his horse behind the troops, shouting anxiously. His son, Casinos, whom he appointed to command the main force, was no different.

A general is the soul of his soldiers; if the leaders cannot set an example, how can the soldiers dare to fight bravely?

Pequot charged at the front but did not blindly rush into battle. His sharp eyes scanned the enemy frontlines, noticing a spot where the enemy was without shields, potentially intimidated by his side’s momentum, trembling while holding long spears...

He sprinted towards them.

Before he reached, the pale enemy let out a desperate shout, thrusting the spear forward.

Pequot only slightly tilted his head, effortlessly dodging the spear tip, accelerated forward with a leap, and swiftly stabbed with his short sword, piercing the opponent’s neck. Then, using his left hand’s square shield, he forcefully shoved forward, pushing the severely wounded enemy away, blocking an incoming spear from behind while making them retreat.

Seizing the opportunity, Pequot wedged into the gap at the enemy front, guarding his head and chest with the square shield while rapidly stabbing his short sword towards the left-front, immediately eliciting several painful screams.

The enemies struck by the sword exposed their bodies beneath the shield’s protection, soon stabbed down by the pursuing Nix Soldiers...

Following closely behind Pequot were seasoned veterans who had fought beside him back in Italy. With rich combat experience and fearlessness, they formed a sharp spear-tip, effortlessly slicing through the hastily assembled formations of the Segestica Army. They continued slaughtering at the front while soldiers poured in from the back, constantly widening the breach in the enemy lines...

On the opposite riverbank, seeing the friendly army under sudden attack, Temagis, in shock, immediately intended to order the troops across to aid. However, the river was clogged with Segestica Warriors wading across, blocking the path for any rescue effort. He had no choice but to dispatch people to the riverbank to force the warriors to return quickly and fight the enemy.

Some Segestica Warriors in the river complied, while others ignored the orders, speeding up their crossing. Upon nearing the riverbank, they clashed and bickered with the Desitia Warriors blocking their way, creating additional chaos near the riverbank...

An exasperated Temagis almost wanted to cut down these cowardly warriors himself, but that was impossible. He had to order the troops to open a path first...

During this process, the assaulting Nix Army had already pierced through the enemy lines, with Pequot heading straight for Cabdes behind the formations.

Riding on horseback, Cabdes personally witnessed Pequot’s invincibility, slashing down many within the formations. Now, this bloodied, fierce warrior was charging towards him, filling him with fear, shouting in panic, "Quick... block him!" while instinctively turning his horse away.

The warhorse jumped into the river immediately, with Cabdes, as he did last year, abandoning the troops and fleeing...

Unfortunately, in haste, the horse collided with returning soldiers, tumbling amidst neighs into the river.

The event unfolded too swiftly, and before Cabdes could react, the icy river water filled his mouth and nose, followed by the warhorse’s body crashing heavily on his right leg. Overwhelmed with excruciating pain, he opened his mouth, only to let more river water flood in...

Originally left on the north bank, the Segestica warriors numbered slightly over 3,000, offering no absolute numerical advantage. Moreover, being thrust into battle hastily, under the fierce assault of the Nix people, the hastily assembled formation quickly collapsed. In addition to their Great Chief fleeing first, some people witnessed him engulfed by the river...

Among the Segestica warriors in this expedition, some were captured by the Nix people last year and redeemed later, harboring innate fear for the Nix. The fierce Nix soldier assault further shook their morale. Seeing Cabdes submerged in the river revived painful memories from last year, prompting them to toss away their weapons and run...

The Segestica Army fighting on the north bank of Kupa River soon crumbled, with most of the fleeing soldiers plunging into the river to escape to the south bank, while a smaller fraction fled along the riverbank...

Pequot hadn’t expected the enemy to be defeated so quickly, with the river suddenly filled with panicked screams that almost blocked the flow.

Some Nix soldiers followed into the river in pursuit. The felled fugitives not only dyed the river red with blood, but their cries further terrified those ahead, pushing them to flee desperately, even at the cost of trampling others...

Observing the river’s misery, Temagis painfully closed his eyes and then ordered the riverbank troops to clear a path and do their utmost to rescue the allied soldiers ashore.

Meanwhile, noticing the opposite bank’s enemy formations intact and orderly, Pequot quickly sent men to halt the soldiers from crossing the river and called back those pursuing other fugitives.

Pequot regrouped his forces on the north bank, while Temagis collected the fugitives on the south bank...

After some time, the river stretch was void of people, only distant downstream silhouettes bobbing and faint cries for help echoed...

The north bank of Kupa River then held nearly 2,000 Nix soldiers, opposing over 10,000 warriors of the Panoni Alliance Army on the south bank. The Panoni Alliance undoubtedly boasted greater strength, yet the Nix men yelled insults from the riverbank, even making mocking gestures like urinating and mooning. Nevertheless, the Panoni Alliance remained silent.

"Leader, these Nix are too outrageous! They merely defeated the Segestica Army via surprise, yet dare act so arrogantly! We should cross and wipe them out, avenging our fallen Segestica comrades and Great Chief Cabdes!" a Desitia tribal leader furiously remarked.

Another tribal leader, understanding Temagis’ thoughts, also advised, "Great Chief, the enemy’s forces are few. If we retreat without fighting, it would invite ridicule and tarnish your prestige. Defeating them, on the other hand, would greatly boost our morale!"

Temagis pondered for a long time, then shook his head, saying, "You’ve all crossed the river earlier and should know clearly that although the river here is shallow, it’s quite difficult to traverse. Now, with the enemy guarding the riverbank, attacking by crossing the river puts us at a significant disadvantage, increasing unnecessary casualties!"

"Look at our warriors; they show no anger against such enemy insults, indicating the Segestica’s defeat greatly affected them. Fighting with shaken morale and on disadvantageous terrain, even if victorious, the casualties our warriors would bear might be truly unbearable—"