Chapter 240 Encountering the Enemy
The army of Arda is marching on the dirt road in the wilderness. The weather is clear and sunny today. Although the weather in the northwest bay is slightly chilly in March and April, the soldiers are still sweating profusely after walking for a long time.
Although it was past noon, the troops had not eaten yet, because they were very close to Fort Bido. The commander of the troops, Bryce, decided to arrive at the destination first, set up camp, and then let the whole army have a meal.
"Monitor, when will we have dinner?"
Joss touched his belly, and there were constant "gurgling" sounds of protest from inside.
"We are almost at Bideau Castle! We can enjoy a delicious lunch there! Really, you can't bear to be so hungry?"
Makarov took out a paper package from his backpack and threw it to Jos. "Give it to each person. Let's use this to cushion our stomachs first."
"Monitor, what is this?"
"The biscuits sold by Feilong Pavilion are so cheap that you are helping the bastards."
"Feilongting? Is that the newly opened restaurant at the entrance of the town?"
"I've been there. The cuisine there is said to be from somewhere in the south. It's delicious."
"This biscuit is also a Southern biscuit..."
After chewing some biscuits, a song came from the front, and they didn’t know who was leading it. Jos and the others listened carefully and recognized it as "Ode to Our Lord, Count Grammy" that was recently popular in the military camp.
"Paul Grammy~Your Majesty, my lord!"
"Mobilized soldiers from all over the territory~"
"Twelve elite companies, sixty rounds of bullets per man~"
"He said~ Tough guys, I look forward to fighting side by side with you~"
"The enemy covets our farmland and minerals~ and our treasury worth tens of thousands~"
"Don't pretend to be a bear for me~ Let the enemy know that we are not easy to mess with~"
…
Although it sounds a little silly, the slightly witty lyrics and this tune are really suitable for marching.
Jos's class also joined in the chorus, and their feet began to light up unconsciously.
"God's protection is like wind, thunder and lightning~Who doesn't know Lord Grayman and his soldiers~"
…
"Goodbye~Dear Louise~Don't cry~"
"Not every arrow can hit. If every arrow can hit, then who can the lord find as a soldier~"
"We have cannons and muskets, and we can shoot down a hole~"
"We receive our military pay on time every month~ Who can receive money on time like us~"
"Lord Grayman~my lord~the hero with the shining laurel~your soldiers are always the most loyal~"
"As long as you continue to let us sweep away the enemy~ we will overturn the whole world for you~"
After singing one side, while waiting for the second round, there was a scream:
"It seems like someone is running over!"
Jos and the others looked up and saw billowing smoke and dust rising on the road ahead, as if a large group of people were running towards it.
A man riding a horse with the rank of second lieutenant ran up to Lieutenant Colonel Bryce and stopped next to him. He looked like a scout who was in front of the troops and was responsible for exploring the road. Bryce was riding a horse just a few steps away. Not far from Lofban.
The two of them whispered for a while, not knowing what they were talking about.
Makarov turned back to his squad and said, "Everyone, be prepared, there may be enemies ahead."
"Hmm~"
Joss took off the flintlock gun from the back of his sling and held it nervously, sweat suddenly forming in his palms. Is the first battle in life finally coming?
Then I saw Lieutenant Colonel Bryce becoming nervous and serious. The two messengers beside him ran to both ends of the marching team one after another, shouting as they ran:
"Discover the enemy cavalry and form a phalanx! Form a phalanx!"
The whole army was immediately enveloped in a tense and solemn atmosphere.
Fortunately, the usual rigorous training worked. The company at the front first stood in three rows, and the companies behind them connected in turn.
In just ten minutes, the first and second battalions were responsible for each side and constructed a hollow square array with a side length of about 30 meters.
In the open space inside the phalanx, the baggage of the transportation company was placed, and soldiers from the transportation company were also added to the phalanx.
In addition to the baggage, the artillery battery was also placed in the open space in the middle. The artillery crew members unloaded the cannon and ammunition and built a firing position. Due to an unexpected situation, another high-speed assault of cavalry arrived. They had no time to set up artillery outside the hollow phalanx, so they had to retreat inside the phalanx to prepare for firing and wait for the right opportunity.
There is no mistake. One post, one content, one 6 one, one book, one book, one read!
After a tense period of activity, the Arda army waited for the arrival of the enemy.
Standing on a temporary high platform made of ammunition boxes, Bryce, Joyce and the two deputy battalion commanders held up binoculars to observe the situation ahead.
"Judging from the flag, the cavalry running wildly in front are the cavalry of the Heller family, and the two groups chasing after them are of course the Kent family - our enemies!"
"Are our allies already finished, and there are only a few remnants left?"
"It's a wild idea. Deal with the cavalry in front of you first, and then get down to the Heller family!"
…
Derrick Heller led his knights to rush north. Since the terrain ahead was flat, he saw the Arda army from a distance.
At first, he thought he was coming to intercept his enemy, but the enemy changed from a marching formation to a strange square formation in a very short period of time. This speed of formation change showed that it was an extremely elite army, at least those under his command. A conscripted militia could never do that.
Just as he was ready to give it his all, he gradually saw the flag of the army in front of him - a bright red flag with a golden flying dragon.
It was the army of the ally Arda. Derrick suddenly felt like he had found a way out of a desperate situation, even though he was still complaining about the Arda army's delays in the morning.
He raised his lance high, letting the Heller family flag tied to the lance head flutter in the wind.
Fortunately, the other party recognized him. A man standing high inside the square formation, who looked like a general from his dress, kept waving his arms to the right.
Derrick understood what the other party meant. This was to let him pass from the right side of the square formation - for him, it was the left side. In short, don't get close to them.
He understood this very well. At the dangerous moment of facing the enemy, if his own army formation loosened, it might bring dangerous consequences. So he waved his hand and led the knights to turn left. The Heller family's team quickly ran past the hollow square formation. They were exhausted and could only run to the back to find a place to rest.
When passing by the square formation, Derrick roughly estimated the number of Arda's army, about 1,000 people.
He began to worry again. Can such a small number of people stop the impact of hundreds of cavalrymen from the Kent family? Moreover, the defensive square formation they set up was not solid, with only three thin layers of soldiers on the periphery.
What's more exaggerated is that the "guns" held by the soldiers are too short. Besides, are they guns? The shape is so weird.
Father in heaven! Bless them!