Chapter 1556: Chapter 73: Siege (43)_5
Houdel also stood up and lazily gave a salute. He was in a state of emptiness after excessive excitent, unable to muster enthusiasm for anything.
“The salute is not up to standard,” Kadar remained graceful, “deducting one point, Cadet Houdel.”
“Are we still scoring today?” Houdel asked wearily.
“Today, scoring is even more critical,” Kadar answered seriously.
At this mont, the reserve officers noticed that what Kadar held was not a saber or a firearm, but a short bow.
Along with the bow in his left hand were three arrows with vermillion-red arrowheads, with several more of the sa type in the quiver at his side.
Houdel and Claude were both newcors, and although they found it strange to bring a bow into battle, they didn’t think it was a big deal.
Little Majiya, however, widened his eyes and tentatively asked the instructor, “What you have there… is it a Vermillion Arrow?”
“Recognize it?” Kadar raised the short bow with vermillion-tipped arrows towards Little Majiya.
“I’ve heard my father ntion it.”
“Don’t worry, no matter whose body these arrows hit today, they won’t be yours,” Kadar joked, then regained his seriousness and asked, “Did you move the cheval de frise?”
“Yes,” Claude replied.
With Houdel listless, Claude had to step forward.
“Good,” Kadar pondered for a mont, nodded, and said, “I’ll add fifty points for each of you.”
Claude couldn’t help but widen his eyes.
“Who was the first to go out and move it?” Kadar asked again.
“It was Houdel,” Claude answered quickly.
“Well done,” Kadar said flatly, “I’ll add a hundred points for you. Go back to the encampnt and see who needs help. The battle’s not over, and the evacuation of the wounded will have to wait.”
After speaking, Kadar was about to ride off.
“Instructor,” Houdel called out from behind, “are points really that important?”
“Very important,” Kadar turned back and asked, “Why?”
“Is life important?” Houdel asked again.
“Why do you ask?” Kadar raised an eyebrow.
“I didn’t do it for the points,” Houdel pointed to his peers beside him, “and neither did they.”
“I know,” Kadar nodded, “otherwise, why would I add fifty points for you all? Add a hundred points for you? Do you think it’s a reward? No, it’s not a reward; nothing is worthy of the courage of self-sacrifice. I’m only paying homage to the ‘inheritors of the Allied Army.’
—————–
On the road to Jade Crossing, Major Caspar Lobres was re-establishing the defensive line.
Having failed to hold the “Bend Gate,” he knew he had committed a grave mistake.
But there was no ti for self-pity; whether it was the gallows or the firing squad, those were matters for later.
The urgent priority was to prevent the rebels from taking advantage of their victory and seizing Jade Crossing at full force.
He was powerless to interfere in the main battlefield—the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Battalions on the high ground would have to fend for themselves.
However, the Fourth Battalion could still play a role in delaying the rebel pursuit.
Major Lobres overca a strong sense of dizziness and nausea—he had been knocked off his horse by shellfire from the rebels, hitting the back of his head—as he sent ssengers to inform the Tenth Battalion and the artillery convoy behind them and gathered his scattered n to set up roadblocks on the avenue.
But the pursuers ca even faster than his worst anticipation.
Major Lobres had hardly gathered a Hundred-n Squad when the sound of the approaching cavalry was already in his ears.
“Don’t panic!” Major Lobres loudly encouraged his subordinates, “Show so courage!”
Yet, from the eyes of his subordinates, he saw nothing but fear.
How could they not panic?
The scattered long spearn had only short swords for defense—no one would carry the cumberso super long spears when fleeing.
Most of the sword and shield bearers had lost their shields, and many had discarded their armor—as it was all a burden when running.
“The road is narrow,” Major Lobres racked his brain trying to reassure his n, dryly explaining, “the rebel cavalry can’t exert their power here!”
Unfortunately, although the major was a competent component, he was not a charismatic leader capable of inspiring his n to fight to the death for him.
As he spoke, the silhouette of the rebel cavalry appeared at the end of the road.
A bowshot away, it quickly draws near.
“What a beautiful white horse” was the last thought in the life of Caspar Lobres.
—————–
As Winters Montagne personally led the Armored Cavalry sweeping down the provincial highway like a hurricane.
The battle at 50 High Ground also reached an intense climax.
The Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth battalions of the United Province Army National Guard Second Corps launched a fierce assault on the five battalions of Paratu New Army’s Iron Peak County Infantry Regint with overwhelming montum.
However, unlike the outco on the provincial highway, those [steadfast] three battalions were unable to break the five battalions of the Iron Peak County Regint.
Square formations comprised of sword and shield bearers and halberdiers indeed had a slight advantage in the spear duels.
But a square formation lacking cavalry support was truly not the complete Ned Smith square formation.
Not to ntion, during the battle, soldiers dressed in blue-grey coarse uniforms demonstrated astonishing toughness.
The square formation led by Vansco Alda could repel the blue-grey ranks every ti, but it could never completely crush any of the Iron Peak County Regint’s battalions.
Because whenever the [steadfast] formation drove back the imdiate enemy, the other blue-grey ranks were able to promptly support, cover the friendly forces’ withdrawal, and reorganize.
In practice, the [steadfast] formation was not clumsier than Iron Peak County Military’s ranks; in fact, it was even more flexible in turning.
However, it was three against five, and the latter had cavalry support, so not even the [steadfast] could achieve a quick victory.
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