Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

Chapter 248: The Battle of Fort Bidou 7

TL: Etude

The right wing of the army was defeated!

The generals of Kent’s army witnessed a scene they found hard to accept. They had thought their archers could match the enemy’s fire crossbows, or at least hold out longer.

The earlier volley of muskets had drawn everyone’s attention on the battlefield, then, under the watchful eyes of both sides, Kent’s right wing was decimated by a bayonet charge from the Alda forces.

This outcome had a more direct impact on the lower-ranking soldiers; it was evident that the morale of Kent’s army plummeted instantly, while the morale of the allied forces surged.

The resounding sounds of battle rose again, and with morale shifting from one side to the other, the allied forces began to push the enemy back step by step.

The Alda army reloaded their ammunition, turned direction, and began to shoot advancing from the right flank of Kent’s army.

Suddenly attacked by fire from the flank, Kent’s army’s morale hit rock bottom, with soldiers fleeing in disarray.

Jace, in a fit of rage, harshly whipped an officer, who was clearly in a state of panic, bellowing, “Go! Lead the reserve troops to block the enemy on the right wing!”

He was already considering a retreat, but the collapse of the right wing had left him in a near encirclement. Hastily ordering a retreat could easily turn into a rout.

The reserve troops rushed forward, but to Jace’s dismay, a volley from the Alda’s fire crossbows scattered them.

In Jace’s original plan, the reserve troops, being second-line forces, were chosen for their lower equipment and quality. Expecting them to hold back the Alda was a sign of his desperation.

Moreover, Alda’s artillery had been active throughout, initially focusing on destroying several of Kent’s bolt throwers, then targeting their reserve troops.

To minimize casualties and prevent these troops, who would shout “magic is at work” after a few cannon shots, from scattering, Jace had no choice but to have the reserves lie down in the bushes.

Even so, by the time the reserves were called to reinforce the right wing, their numbers had already dwindled by nearly half.

Defeat was inevitable, and Jace ordered a retreat.

As expected, except for the knights and a few elite soldiers who maintained basic order, most of the troops ran around like headless flies.

Count Parker seized the opportunity to wave his command flag. The formations that had stayed back as reserves quickly advanced to join the pursuit.

Jace, escorted by his family knights, fled eastward in a panic, and other lords who were allied with the Kent family also fended for themselves.

The allied forces chased the fleeing soldiers for several miles before calling off the pursuit. By the time they returned to their camp, it was already evening.

…

“Ha ha ha!”

“Drink, drink!”

As night fell, the entire camp was filled with laughter and cheer. Bonfires were lit everywhere, and soldiers from various units gathered around them to feast and drink heartily.

Although their ultimate objective, Fort Bidou, had not yet been captured, today’s victory was significant and called for a celebration. In honor of this great victory, all the lords and generals agreed to reward their troops.

In their hurried retreat, Kent’s army had no time to gather their supplies, leaving them for the allied forces.

During the clearing of Kent’s camp, there were some unpleasant incidents between the troops of different territories as they tried to claim more spoils for themselves. Count Parker, who had personally led the cavalry in pursuit of the enemy, proposed upon his return that all captured goods be pooled together. A fair distribution plan, considering all parties, would be discussed after the capture of Fort Bidou.

Due to Count Parker’s prestige, everyone agreed to his proposal.

After clearing the battlefield, slaughtering of pigs and sheep began in each military camp. The lower-ranked soldiers, usually eating simple foods like black bread, finally had a chance to satiate themselves with a hearty meat meal that evening.

Due to the abundant spoils, and in order to earn a good reputation and maintain morale, the lords were happy to show off their generosity for one night, especially since the newly captured pigs and sheep were still considered “public resources.”

In a room where various lords and generals gathered, the atmosphere was even more joyous. They merrily exchanged toasts and eagerly discussed the day’s battle.

Lieutenant Colonel Bryce Ald, the commander of the Alda forces, became a minor focus of the banquet. After all, the Alda troops had contributed significantly to the day’s battle.

Everyone had seen the Alda troops advance in thin three-line formations, steadily moving forward despite the rain of arrows, and within minutes of closing in, they shattered the right-wing archers of Kent’s army and then repelled the counterattack of the reserve troops, leading to the eventual collapse of the entire Kent army.

“Derrick, let’s have a drink!” Derrick of the Heller family raised his cup and clinked it heavily with Bryce’s.

“To your health!” Bryce, not one to shy away, drained his cup along with Derrick.

The Heller family’s troops had greatly benefited from the Alda’s performance that day. The Portry infantry, along with the Alda infantry, formed the left wing of the allied forces, although they were positioned behind the Alda infantry. When the Alda troops attacked, the Potter infantry advanced closely behind them and easily dealt with the Kent soldiers, who were already demoralized by the firearms.

This battle redeemed the previous shame of defeat caused by Derrick’s recklessness, so he was very grateful to the Alda.

Many well-known figures in the allied forces, including Count Parker, came to drink with Bryce. Although many of them still displayed a noble’s haughty attitude towards a commoner, their tone had softened considerably since their first meeting.

Undoubtedly, today’s battle had demonstrated to the northwestern lords the powerful military force at Lakeheart Town’s disposal. Not only were their weapons formidable, but the quality of their soldiers was exceptionally high. Some generals who had participated in last year’s royalist rebellion were secretly comparing them to the royal family’s elite troops and were surprised to find that this unit surpassed them.

However, there was a significant shortcoming – the force was too small. A thousand-man unit was barely enough to occupy a moderately sized town.

Who knew how many such units Lakeheart Town controlled?

In the future, they would have to carefully consider their dealings with the “exiled family” that ruled the most remote territory in the northwest.

Although Bryce prided himself on his drinking capacity, he was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol. Ideally, as a commander, he shouldn’t have drunk so much, but refusing drinks from various lords could have strained their relationship with the Grayman family.

To handle this situation, only Bryce, one of the two battalion commanders, attended the banquet. Joyce, using an arm injury as an excuse, didn’t come. He had been wounded in the arm during the day’s battle, fortunately not seriously.

In case of an emergency, Joyce would replace Bryce in commanding the troops.

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