Chapter 1416 - 761: Battlefield Situation (2)

Chapter 1416: Chapter 761: Battlefield Situation (2)

Toes are chopped off to deal with criminals who have violent tendencies, so they can’t run away easily, even when healed, and they are doomed to labor for life.

These soldiers left, but the blood on the ground remained, and the far-off wailing seemed to still echo.

The father and daughter in the house were stunned after watching the whole process, but undoubtedly felt a sense of relief.

They initially didn’t know what was happening, but their impression of these people changed...

At that moment, when the cavalry advanced, a company of a hundred infantrymen also set out almost simultaneously, and their ambush positions were even further ahead, but two legs couldn’t match four legs, so they only entered the town after Reynard and the others seized the Church.

With the city’s "decapitation," there was basically no organized resistance, and sporadic groups broke at first contact.

More of the issue was maintaining order; splitting into teams of five to enforce the law, the troublemaking small gangs were easily crushed, and those trying to resist violently met swift and deadly ends.

By the time you swing out a weapon, I have already fired a round with my pistol—five shots symbolizing five lives; the wailing, screaming, and flying flesh are enough to scare them.

They are merely riffraff, truly significant figures wouldn’t show themselves amidst chaos.

After the infantry arrived, the cavalry began dispersing, patrolling the streets, which heightened the deterrence against those people.

But soon, they noticed something—the army didn’t steal or loot, nor did it slaughter or engage in orgiastic destruction.

On the contrary, they maintained order, dealt heavy blows to troublemakers, and announced every action they took.

This ironically showcased them as the defenders here, while the local armed forces appeared more like rebels.

Regardless, today made those around feel that this army was different...

This operation to seize the town consisted of just a hundred cavalry plus three hundred infantry; the main force was still behind.

When the red banners were raised for reconnaissance, the news was relayed, and after notifying Reynard, they turned back to inform the main force.

In a war, the whole situation moves with a tug; once action is taken, it must be swift and decisive.

Barton didn’t yet know the situation at the front or if Reynard successfully controlled the town as planned, but he had already ordered the main force to move.

Dividing the remaining troops into three units, they aggressively moved towards the nearby Knight’s Domains around the town.

The main force moving forward certainly wasn’t as fierce as a cavalry raid, and with artillery as the focus, it allowed those Knight’s Domains time to react.

They might not know this was Hamlet’s army for quelling the rebellion, or even what this newly appeared force was.

From the looks of it, it was apparent it wouldn’t end well!

"Ding ding ding!"

The bell rang, quickly gathering people within the Knight’s Domain, usually sounded when encountering robbers or bandits, or some major event.

The barons in the towns behind could live in mansions, but this Knight’s Domain in such a peripheral area obviously couldn’t.

The core of the whole Knight’s Domain was a brickstone fortress with military capabilities, albeit not up to a true castle’s scale, even less than Hamlet’s outpost, yet here it stands as a nail hammered into Hamlet.

Around it, developments like civilian houses, wooden watchtowers, and an outer stone wall line the perimeter.

Now, the territory’s people gathered at the fortress entrance and began entering; even if the outer wall is breached, they could rely on it for resistance.

From this, the population can be seen, generally no more than around a hundred, not possibly exceeding five hundred; otherwise, it’d be considered a town. If thirty able-bodied men can be rallied, it’d be quite good.

Handing them spears quickly forms a sparse and varied-height spear regiment; looking at their undisguised panic and frail bodies, one’s confidence in their combat ability wanes.

With the help of his retainers, the knight donned his cumbersome yet well-protective full suit of knight’s armor, adorned with a family crest tabard, then mounted a stout warhorse also draped in a horse tabard.

To the serfs, an armed knight appears almost god-like; after the knight circles before them, even hungry serfs would proudly puff out their chests.

This Knight’s Domain supports his family; only he can have such armor. With it, typical bows, crossbows, and spears can’t harm him—saying he could kill all the serfs alone isn’t an exaggeration.

Unless they band together to drag him off the horse, open the visor like a can opener, and insert a dagger, which is a civilian’s way to counter a knight.

But is that possible?

"Damn it, hurry!"

The knight called up the territorial people, assembling ten guards who usually accompany him—they are the core force.

Their equipment is slightly better, at least featuring iron chestplates, spears as primary weapons, longswords as secondary, with some holding crossbows.

The remaining forty serfs were temporarily converted to spear soldiers, along with some hunters forming the archers.

Altogether, the troop barely exceeds a hundred, which encompasses the whole Knight’s Domain rally-able force.

Their alacrity can also be attributed to the previously appearing Extreme Darkness and Blood Moon, sparking their sense of crisis.

With the troop assembled, the knight assessed his base, cooling his anxiety slightly.

Unsure of the enemy’s exact numbers and situation, he preferred holding here, as he had already dispatched messengers for reinforcements.

The best option was leaning on the first line of defense to examine the situation, deal damage to the enemy’s vital strength.

"Quickly, archers and crossbowmen, take high positions and distribute arrows!"

The knight commanded the troop to occupy advantageous positions, while he went to the front, dismounting to ascend the high walls and look outside.

Only then did they see the advancing, though not overly hasty, orderly troops, but the knight’s heart sank.

A total of three thousand main forces, requiring splitting across multiple towns, left a few hundred, plus Reynard led a hundred cavalry and three hundred infantry to raid the town.

Less than two thousand remained and were separated into three units, so the forces here numbered four to five hundred.

The problem was that his entire Knight’s Domain might not have five hundred people—how was this to be fought?

According to convention, before fighting, one should shout for surrender; if they yield, how great that would be. A scout rode over to persuade surrender; he was approaching when he shouted a few words.

Simply stated their identity and warned that continuing their current behavior constitutes rebellion, with surrender as the only way to ensure safety, otherwise they assume the consequences.

For some reason, the knight reacted like a cat with its tail stepped on, shouting loudly.

"Shoot him down and earn a silver coin!"

Upon his words, the archers and crossbowmen hesitated momentarily before firing at the person, many never having seen a silver coin—the power of money spoken for.

Fortunately, when the cry sounded, he sensed something amiss and turned to flee; though frightful, the messy arrows didn’t kill him, as any taking hit were stopped by chest armor and backplate...

Under the knight’s visor, his expression grew serious, but not yet despairing; a thousand or two would make him surrender, but five hundred made him want to hold.

The number didn’t crush him; his confidence lay in having already sent out messengers, believing that holding firm will lead to reinforcements arriving to defeat the enemy.

Crucially, seeing this as his territory, him being told it’s not his and to surrender is intolerable.

For someone who struggled half his life to finally claim a territory, surrendering is unacceptable.

The exhorting scout returned to the main force, relaying the situation, and the commander flew into a rage.

What was this?

Not only did the enemy refuse to surrender but dared retaliate!