Chapter 197 Imagination

The battle between the main force and the coalition forces took place 40 kilometers away and ended 40 kilometers away.

School officials still don’t know what happened, and the information Winters received is even more fragmentary.

Some people say that General Arpad entered and exited the barbarian formation seven times, killing the barbarians until they were defeated and defeated.

Some people also say that General Sackler killed three major leaders with three shots, leaving the barbarians invincible and pissed off.

Everyone said they had noses and eyes, as if they were right there.

Lieutenant Colonel Jessica took out the map, rummaged through it for a long time with his chin on his chin, and suddenly clapped his hands: "It should be here."

Winters and Andre looked closer.

The lieutenant colonel clicked twice on the map.

"valley?"

"It runs east-west, and there are valleys covered by woods on the north and south sides." Lieutenant Colonel Jessica rubbed his chin: "The messenger said that the old man set up an ambush in the valley. In my opinion, he just chose a place where he would not be outflanked."

"Then?"

"Then get ready and fight."

"Is it that simple?" Andre couldn't believe it.

"How difficult do you think it is?" Lieutenant Colonel Jessica's attitude was cold: "Isn't a battle just one attack and one defense? The difficulty lies not in fighting, but in how to get the opponent to fight on the battlefield you choose."

Winters asked: "How did General Sackler do it?"

"Want to know? Ask him." Lieutenant Colonel Jessica sighed: "We will see him soon."

…

Forty kilometers southwest of the vanguard echelon, there is an unknown valley.

It's a stretch to call it a valley, but it's actually just a lowland between two hills.

It is this lowland less than two kilometers wide that is now covered with the dead, wounded and the corpses of war horses.

Plato soldiers with blood and injuries on their bodies were walking in the valley, and when they saw the surviving Hedians, they stabbed them hard.

Sackler coughed blood and sat in the carriage listening to Colonel Laszlo's report on the battle situation.

This battle was extremely dangerous. The Herd cavalry who charged the most fiercely was less than five meters away from Sackler himself.

The phalanx in which Sackler was located was attacked from all directions. Sackler himself was hit by three arrows, two of which hit his breastplate, and one of which hit his helmet.

Colonel Laszlo repeated mechanically: "Fifty-six auxiliary centurions... were all destroyed. Eighteen of the centurions alone died - some from the wild roads, some from the United Provinces and Veneta. There were also Twelve centurions are waiting for military action. The four brigades of the Sixth Army on the left wing were also beaten to the point of losing their structure..."

[Note: Yeluzi refers to officers with non-scientific background, including the so-called "Plato temporary officers". These officers are few in number, not reused, and will never be promoted to colonel]

…

Dusk the day before yesterday.

"Let's go." Sackler reviewed the entire army for the last time and walked out of the camp without looking back.

The Plato army marched eastward under the cover of night, and the rearguard burned everything they could not take away.

…

Yesterday morning.

"The barbarians have retreated!" The Plato soldiers looked at the enemy's back and shouted encouragingly to each other: "The barbarians have retreated."

The Herdian forward caught up with the Plato army, and after a small encounter, the Herdian forward was routed.

The Plato army continued eastward, and the damaged baggage vehicles were abandoned one after another.

…

Late yesterday night.

The Palatine army finally arrived at the battlefield chosen by Szekely.

Szekely took up position in the valley, arranging his troops in three lines.

A small number of light cavalry were placed in the first line, auxiliaries in the second line, and the standing army formed the third line.

The chief brigades of the two legions were deployed on the hills on the north and south sides.

The dieter is eager to compete. In order to prove his ability and establish his prestige, he needs a decisive victory.

He sent troops to stop the fighting between the various tribes for the spoils of war, and urged the cavalry of each tribe to pursue them all night.

Both sides were willing to fight decisively, and the battle began in this nameless valley.

…

Early this morning, the outpost cavalry from both sides took the lead in fighting.

Plato's light cavalry were outnumbered and defeated.

The two centurions retreated without permission and were executed on the spot according to military law.

At dawn, the fog dissipated, Hurd's Qingqi returned to the formation, and the coalition forces arrived on the battlefield.

The narrow width prevented the Hurds from spreading out, but the Eaters still sent troops to outflank them from further away.

Around eight o'clock, the allied forces of Hud's tribe pressed forward.

Hurd's cavalry rushed into the auxiliary line, and in the narrow valley, men and horses from both sides were crowded together.

Splashes of blood flew into the eyes of soldiers on both sides, and the killed could not even fall down.

In this tragic battle, the auxiliary troops were quickly defeated and retreated behind the third line.

The large square formation of the standing army began to engage the enemy.

The impregnable phalanx blocked the assault of Herd's cavalry.

Following the White Lion's suggestion, the cavalrymen jumped off their saddles and engaged in foot combat.

The chief brigade located on the hills on both sides was supposed to provide fire support, but they were entangled on the left and right flanks of the Herd coalition forces.

In the fierce fighting, the overall formation of Plato's army began to squeeze toward the right wing, leaving more and more exposed space on the left wing.

The Eater was waiting for this moment, and he personally led the elite of Suzi's headquarters to attack the gap on the left flank of Plato's army.

Suzi's troops rushed straight into the forest of spears without giving way to those who dared to fight to the death.

The riders and horses were all killed on the spot, but a gap was also opened in the forest of spears.

The remaining ones rushed into the formation and slashed, and the already shaky left-wing phalanx of Plato was instantly routed.

The Suzi cavalry began to circle back towards the rear of the Plato central army. Szekely sent reorganized auxiliary troops to resist. However, they were no match for the recharged Suzi cavalry.

"[Herd] wins!" The dieter laughed heartily.

The Herd coalition is sure of victory, and the Suz cavalry is sweeping the front from south to north.

"We won." Szekler was exhausted.

The Herd coalition forces have pressed forward across the board, and Sackler has shown the trump card he patiently kept hidden in his sleeves.

The shrill charge of the horn resounded through the valley.

Four brigades of heavy cavalry attacked from the woods on the south side of the battle line and charged towards the back of the Suzi cavalry.

After repeated attacks from the back, Suzi's cavalry was instantly defeated.

The Palatine infantrymen were greatly encouraged and shouted to push back the Herd coalition forces.

The rest of the troops on the front tried to change directions to meet the attack, but were unable to organize effectively, and were eventually forced to retreat by the broken troops.

One of the Hittites started running away, and all the Hittites started running away.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the left and right wings of the Herd coalition also began to retreat.

The Heds who retreated outside the valley received news that their old camp had been attacked by another group of Platt hussars.

In fact, there was no need to attack at all. The "old camp" of the vanguards of the various ministries didn't even have a wall for carriages. It was just a piece of leeward flat land used to store the horses and a little baggage.

[Note: slave horse, that is, a spare horse]

The remaining courage of the cavalrymen was beaten to ashes, and they dispersed and went back to rescue their old camps.

…

"This is another battle where the infantry sheds blood and the cavalry wins glory." Every officer in the valley couldn't help but think this way.

A simple gallows was erected, and the execution ground was arranged on the hill.

According to Plato's military law, after the battle is over, executions must begin...executing one's own people.

Twelve centurions were stripped of their armor, bound and kneeling in a row - the soldiers were not defeated, but the officers escaped and were hanged;

Soldiers with cinnabar marks on their backs were picked out one after another - those with cinnabar marks on their backs were beheaded;

More soldiers began to draw lots of life and death - the officers did not retreat, the soldiers were defeated and killed.

In the past twenty years, Szekely has never softened his heart, because military law is everything to the Plato army.

But today, the hard-hearted Sackler can no longer kill anyone.

"Forget it," Sackler said softly.

Laszlo asked expressionlessly: "What did you say?"

"I said, forget it." Sackler slapped his chest hard and coughed. "Shave their hair and put them in death row camps."

"yes."

"Tell them. If you can return to Plato, give your life back to them. If you can't return to Plato, just drag a Hed to support you."

"yes."

Sackler asked again: "Is Arpad back?"

"Not yet, maybe still chasing the remaining enemies."

"You don't have to wait for him. You take people to retrieve the carts we abandoned along the road. I'll wait for you in front. I'll retrieve as many as I can in one day, just one day."

"Yes." Colonel Laszlo turned and left.

Szekely stood up with difficulty. He was seven years younger than Arpad, but he had aged earlier than the latter.

He looked at the ravine filled with corpses: dark red liquid flowed down the hillside and formed a stream at the bottom of the valley.

If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, no one would believe that "blood" would really "flow into a river."

A green-helmeted messenger cavalry ran into the valley and charged towards the eagle flag.

The guards held halberds to intercept, and the cavalrymen were ordered to roll their saddles and dismount, and stumbled towards the eagle flag holding a letter.

Of course, the guards around the Eagle Flag would not let him get close to the general easily.

Two guards captured the messenger, and another guard took the letter and handed it to Szekely.

Sackler took the letter, tore it open, and said nothing for a long time.

The knuckles of his left hand holding the letter were no longer bloody due to exerting too much force.

Thirty years later, the Hed's iron hooves once again set foot on the land of Plato.

[Barbarian invasion], which had not happened in thirty years, frightened the Palatine Council.

The Grand Council bypassed the army headquarters and issued five orders in a row, strictly ordering the expeditionary force to withdraw troops and return reinforcements.

But now, the Grand Council no longer has to worry about the Hurd Raiders.

Because they are back.

Also destroyed the second pontoon bridge of the Plato Expeditionary Force.

…

after one day.

Familiar felt tents, familiar leaders of various tribes - there are a few missing, but the atmosphere is completely different from before.

"Healthy Eater, you rotten skin that crows have eaten! Carrion wrapped in grass that even cattle will not eat!" The chief of the Blackwater Tribe was furious. If he had not had weapons in his hands, he might have fought to the death with the Healthy Eater.

He pointed at the healthy eater's nose and shouted angrily: "Throw the Blackwater tribe to the two-legged people, but your Suzi tribe runs very fast! Are you worthy of being a war leader?"

Arpad led the hussars in pursuit for fifty kilometers, and specifically selected small tribes to kill.

Seeing their allies being hunted, Haidong and Suzi ignored them and only focused on escaping for their lives.

On the contrary, the Terdun-Chihe Allied Forces took in many remaining soldiers.

"Short bow! You tailless gelding! Do you dare to blame me? I will blame you again!" The dieter was also furious: "Seeing that the situation of the Chinese army is not good, why don't your left wing come to support?"

"Go back and eat your mother's milk!" The chief of the Blackwater Ministry yelled: "You yourself have been defeated, and you still want us to take over? Let me ask you, why did you incorporate Haidong Dong into your central army? But you didn't let us Gray Eyes to lead the left wing?”

"I don't have to explain it to you!"

"Can't you answer? Let me tell you! You are full of selfish desires and are worried that Gray Eyes will lead a single wing to achieve meritorious service, so you let Gray Eyes and you be in the middle army, but let us small tribes be on the left wing! Who are we small tribes in the first place? You don’t listen to anyone, you expect us to fight?”

"That's your problem." The dieter sneered to himself.

"You war chief! I don't accept it!" The chief of the Blackwater Tribe is a broken man. If he doesn't overthrow the healthy eaters today, the end of the Blackwater Tribe will be tomorrow: "You have never thought about the tribes at all! You are not worthy of commanding the tribes!"

"I don't deserve it, who does?"

"I recommend the White Lion! Haidong and Suzi! They all treat us small tribes as cattle! Only the White Lion treats us as human beings! You, I don't accept it! White Lion, I accept it!" The chief of the Black Water Department glared at the other tribal leaders :"speak!"

No one responded to him.

"Speak!" the chief of the Blackwater Tribe yelled: "Do you want to be slaves to the Suzi Tribe?"

There was another moment of silence.

The chief of the Blackwater tribe took off his hat angrily, threw it on the ground, raised his legs and started to walk out, but no one else stopped him.

The roaster grabbed the arm of the chief of the Blackwater tribe and looked at the current war leader: "Eater, the leaders of the tribes gave you a chance, but you betrayed the trust of the leaders of the tribes. Why don't you let others try?"

The leaders of the tribes agreed with their eyes, but did not dare to speak.

The healthy eater stood up and looked around with a murderous look: "The white lion is not a descendant of the Golden God and is not qualified to be a Khan!"

The red-faced fire-warmer immediately pushed back: "Who wants to nominate the white lion to be the Great Khan? All we have to do is nominate the white lion to lead us in the war!"

"There is you! There is me! There are gray eyes! There are so many descendants of the Golden God! There is no reason for an outsider to be the war leader!" The dieter also yelled.

"You and I don't have to fight for seats like dogs fighting for meat." The white lion said calmly: "Just follow the rules of the meeting. Put out the lights and cover the dome. If the leaders of the tribes agree, call 'Ai'; If you don’t agree, say ‘eh’.”

In secret meetings, no one can see each other and can only hear voices, which is equivalent to anonymous voting.

This method is rarely used in major meetings between ministries, because the meeting itself is an occasion to say something, and there is no need to be secretive at all.

"There are really not many people who dare to openly oppose healthy eaters." The little lion thought to himself: "Otherwise, my brother would not ask for a secret meeting."

The oil lamps were blown out, the domes were covered, and the leaders of the tribes exchanged places in the darkness.

The white lion said: "We can no longer fight head-on with the Platoans until the backup forces from all the tribes join us."

There was a burst of "Ai" approval in the tent.

Chief Blackwater shouted loudest and most obviously. Anyway, he has offended the dieters, so he just broke the can and threw it away.

"It is impossible for the Platoans to stay in the wilderness forever. You and I should use the method we are best at. Dozens or dozens of cavalry will harass them, intercept and kill messengers, and seize baggage. We just don't confront them head-on."

There was another burst of "Ai" approval.

"Harassment?" The healthy eaters couldn't help but ask: "Can they kill all the Two-legged people just by harassment? Once they cross the River Styx, we can no longer stop them!"

"Then make it impossible for them to cross the River Styx."

"Why can't they cross the River Styx? They are heading northeast, obviously looking for a shallow place to cross the river!"

"Going to the shallow water upstream, the Palatuan people didn't have enough food and drink, so they prepared pontoons."

The dieter understood: "You want us to hit the pontoon?"

"No." White Lion replied, "I have already sent people to fight."

…

…

Seven days later, early morning.

Winters and the old magic stick took the little lion for a walk on the west bank of the Styx.

The little lion was listless and lazily walked on the river beach, leaving paw prints all the way.

Its mane has not yet grown up, and it does not look like a lion from a distance, but more like a dog with a particularly large head.

The old magic stick wrapped his leather robe tightly and scolded: "You little beast, hurry up and pee! I'm freezing to death!"

"Do you still want to walk your dog?" Winters said with a heavy heart.

The riverbanks on both sides were littered with charred remains of pontoons.

The first pontoon bridge used prefabricated components brought from Plato.

The second pontoon bridge uses a pontoon box made of wooden boards and asphalt.

The planks are gone, so carts can be dismantled and trees can be cut down; the engineers still have some asphalt.

The problem was that there were thousands of Huds waiting on the other side of the river.

Yes, the Hurd raiders who burned the pontoon bridge—and for the second time—not only failed to cross the river. They also set up camp on the other side, facing the Plato army across the river.

No matter how skilled the Plato engineers were, they would not be able to erect a pontoon bridge if the other side was lost.

Brother Red chanted casually: "[Selika language] Mount Tai collapses in front but remains unchanged; elk rises to the left but does not blink; then you can control your interests and wait for the enemy."

"What are you talking about?"

The old man stroked his beard and glanced at Winters: "I'm just telling you, no matter what happens, you have to have a good attitude. Look at you now, with a straight face, as if the sky is falling."

Winters sighed: "Looking at how unhurried you are, you have prepared the Hed Shaman's outfit early in the morning, right?"

"Hmph, how can I eat two luxuries?"

"Does the living saint have any clever tips that you can teach me?"

"Ahem. We are in enemy territory, with pursuers behind us, a river in front of us, and enemy troops waiting on the other side of the river." Brother Rhett said in a relaxed tone: "Boy, in every history book I've ever read, you guys are... It’s a certain death situation.”

"There is still a way." Winters said softly, "It just takes a little imagination."

[This battle in the valley is a reference to the "Battle of Kulikovo", between the Golden Horde and the Principality of Muscovy. Mamai Khan discovered a flaw in Muscovy's left wing and put all his chips on the line. The front line that was about to sweep across the Principality of Muscovy was defeated by a very "conventional" heavy cavalry back attack]

One more chapter is due, one more chapter is owed.

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