“Here they come.”
King Charles leaped onto his horse and looked at the charging bulk of metal headed his way.
“Heavy cavalrymen? They do inspire fear at a glance. I’d expect no less from the elite army that took down more than a hundred thousand soldiers.”
Just the sight of the heavy armor cloaking both the rider and the steeds was already intimidating. There was no doubt they were faced with a powerful enemy.
Even when the Eastern Romain Empire was at its strongest, their heavy cavalrymen numbered merely in the hundreds. Yet, the Scourge of God commanded an army of over 3000 cavalrymen!
“Your Majesty!” the knights confidently declared, “Please put your mind at ease! We, the knights of France, will never lose to those heavy cavalrymen.”
They had never seen how powerful the Khitans’ heavy cavalrymen were, but there was a history of heavy cavalrymen in the history of the Eastern Romain Empire.
The Eastern Romain Empire’s heavy cavalrymen did boast an incredible reputation, having accomplished many formidable feats on the battlefield but they had also suffered their fair share of losses.
They lost to the Turks’ light cavalrymen in the Battle of Manzikert. (T/N: This was the battle in which the Eastern Roman Empire lost control of Anatolia to the Turks.)
They lost to Norman cavalrymen in the Battle of Dyrrhachium.
The Eastern Romain Empire lost all their heavy cavalrymen in those two battles, and they were so weakened by the end of it that they couldn’t afford to build such an expensive, elite army of cavalrymen anymore.
The French heavy cavalrymen were a dominant force in Europe. They were dressed in shiny plate mails that didn’t pale in comparison to the Metal Fortresses, and it just so happened that they were adept at charging with their lances, just like the Normans.
It’s a battle we can fight!
We can win this!
“Good!” King Charles nodded with a smile. “Let’s show the Khitans what a real knight is!”
Similar to the Crusade troops stationed elsewhere, the troops stationed at River Po were made up of several armies, and they listened to their respective commanders’ orders.
Standing at the center of their military formation was King Charles’ French army. The left was covered by the prince-elector’s heavy infantrymen and mercenaries. The right was an alliance of the armies of many small nations and cities.
They are getting close.
…
“Hoh!” Shu Yichao first looked at the map, followed by the flags. “It looks like the French? Today’s battle should be easier than the previous two then!”
There were no fences, ditches, cannons, or ballistae; it was purely a straightforward clash… What was there to hesitate over?
“Our target is the enemy formation! Brothers, charge with me!”
At Shu Yichao’s order, the entire army began to accelerate.
Since it was the French, Shu Yichao couldn’t be bothered to use his Jeweled Bow. With his red-tasseled spear in hand, he charged headfirst into the enemy formation.
The blood twin-headed eagle’s sharp claws had swiped down!
“My Lord!” King Charles, who was overlooking the situation from a higher ground, plucked out a couple strands of his beard. “The Khitan Caesar is charging at the forefront?!”
He couldn’t believe that a commander of an army would be this reckless. As much as he thought that this was a foolish move, he had to admit that his actions fitted this era, which sung praises of heroes.
Where else would a hero stand if not at the forefront of a fray?
“Ready…” King Charles prepared to issue his command.
He had no plans of getting his knights tank Shu Yichao’s charge. The thought of being rammed in the face by those metal cans sent shivers down his spine.
Such glory should be left to the spearmen from poorer places. As for whether they would survive the ordeal or not, that was not within his scope of consideration.
We’ll talk about it after their metal cavalrymen slow down.
Unfortunately, he forgot one thing.
The French knights were renowned for a unique trait—charging into the battlefield on their own accord.
The Khitans were charging in with their commander at the forefront. How could the French knights not get hyped up witnessing such valiance? Whether it was to defend their knightly honor or to capture the enemy commander, they had to give a response!
“Knights of Quintenas, charge!”
A knight dressed in shiny armor raised his house flag and charged at the Metal Fortresses with his subordinates.
“!!!” King Charles froze up.
“Knights of Baron Grosvenor, charge!”
“Knights of Viscount Vattier, charge!”
With someone taking the lead, it was only natural there would be a second and a third. Before King Charles could issue his order, the French knights had already gone ahead to launch their attack.
The few knights who barely managed to hold their position looked at King Charles with expectant eyes, hoping to receive the order for them to charge and fight for their honor.
“…” Left with no choice, King Charles could only wave his hand.
It would only be worse if I hold them back. Forget it, we have the superiority in numbers anyway!
“Charge, brave knights of France!”
“Charge!”
Just like that, the French launched an all-out attack.
The prince-elector on the left flank was stunned. This is different from what we have agreed on!
The steeds charged so fast that the riders could only hear the wind roaring in their ears. It only took moments for the two forces to clash into each other.
“Khitan Caesar!” a French knight roared, “Remember my name! The one who defeated you is…”
Bam!
A red-tasseled spear surged forth, and the knight was sent flying from the impact.
The knight was wearing a 70 armor plate mail, but it was futile before his armor-breaking weapon. Warm blood spilled across the air, forming a thin blood mist.
Following that, Shu Yichao didn’t bother waving his spear anymore. He simply held it firmly in place, occasionally shifting it to wherever the enemies were.
Bam bam bam bam!!!
Brilliant crimson fluid exploded like flowers blossoming amidst a metal forest. The flower of death blossomed wherever Shu Yichao tread.
It didn’t take long for the other French knights to realize that something was amiss.
Pah!
The knight had most definitely jabbed his lance into their enemy, but for some reason, the Metal Fortress was unfazed as if a towering mountain.
“What?!” The knight was horrified.
He was familiar with the charging prowess of a cavalryman. Even if the opponent was a heavy cavalryman, there was no way he could have escaped unscathed after receiving such an attack!
However, there was soon no need for him to think about it anymore.
The Metal Fortress swung his metal cudgel and blasted his head into bits.
Admittedly, the French knights were formidable. Some unlucky Metal Fortresses received two simultaneous attacks and ended up getting knocked off their steeds. Just as they were climbing up, they received another charging blow…
The Metal Fortresses suffered some casualties as a result.
However, such situations were rare.
By the time both sides had finished charging, the French knights shockingly realized that this was the true dawn of despair.
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