Chapter 300:
In the southern region of Furel, the rebellion-suppression army led by Princess Catherine of the Kingdom of Ordo confronted the rebel army of the Greedy Wolf Jars.
The kingdom’s main army arrived at Thorn Fortress in March, joining forces with the defenders there. Catherine immediately launched an attack on the rebel forces under the command of Samar, securing consecutive victories thanks to their numerical superiority.
The situation around Thorn Fortress reversed, with the kingdom’s army now besieging Samar’s rebels.
At a critical moment, Scott and other accompanying wizards played a vital role. They organized a suicide squad using enchantments and drugs, which fiercely attacked the kingdom’s army at its weakest point. After breaking through, the squad took on the task of covering the retreat of the main forces to the south.
After losing about one-fifth of their troops, Samar led his army to retreat to the Furel region, joining forces with the main rebel army moving northward, halting the kingdom’s army’s further advancement southward.
Duke Jars had already swept clean all opposition in the southern territories and could finally turn his attention northward.
The kingdom’s army numbered around 50,000, while the rebels had over 40,000. Although the difference wasn’t vast, the kingdom’s troops had superior weaponry and equipment, especially the royal troops, who were almost entirely armored. The number of knights in the kingdom’s army also significantly outnumbered those in the rebel forces. However, the actual combat results showed that the rebels’ fighting capability was surprisingly on par with the kingdom’s army.
According to the veteran generals under the princess, several illogical phenomena were observed in the rebel forces:
Their extraordinary reconnaissance capability allowed them to detect and prepare for the kingdom’s troops in advance, especially if there was no cover like forests.
Incredible defensive capabilities, with their leather jackets providing protection comparable to metal armor, raised questions about the rebels’ advanced manufacturing techniques.
Unusually high combat fervor, fighting fearlessly and relentlessly, surpassing even the faith-empowered Holy Knights of the Church. Unfortunately, these fanatics lacked discipline, charging and fighting without coordination, often not distinguishing between friend and foe. Some speculated these bloodthirsty soldiers were barbarian warriors recruited by Jars.
The last challenging aspect was the longbowmen. Jars’ troops included a large number of archers, whose relentless barrage caused significant trouble for the kingdom’s forces.
The kingdom’s only overwhelming advantage over the rebels was their cavalry, more precisely, the knights.
Besides the royal knight order, many noble youths from northern territories, with their excellent upbringing, martial training, and personal arms and armor, formed a formidable cavalry force. Since the rebellion’s outbreak in the south, numerous ambitious nobles had flocked to Catherine’s banner, accumulating fame and wealth with their lances and swords.
And of course, winning Princess Catherine’s heart in the process would be a splendid bonus.
Until June, both sides engaged in a tug-of-war in the Furel region, with alternating offenses and defenses, and varying outcomes. With the arrival of June and increased rainfall, the frequency of battles significantly decreased.
Fortaleza, a key transportation hub city in the Furel region, is where Catherine set her command.
On another rainy day, the city was shrouded in a continuous drizzle.
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Catherine had just finished a dinner with her generals. As they dispersed, a few high-ranking military officers stayed behind, as was customary. Unless there were special arrangements, this would be their time to discuss the war situation with the princess.
Everyone followed Catherine from the hall to a smaller room.
Naturally, the most pressing topic was the ongoing Jars rebellion. Since the battle at Thorn Fortress, the high command of the kingdom’s army had noticed many strange aspects in the rebel forces, and their direct engagement with Jars’ main forces made it clear that these anomalies were directly affecting the outcome of the war.
“Perhaps there really is some mysterious power aiding Jars,” Duke Dodge said helplessly, spreading his hands.
Catherine frowned, reminded of the inexplicable fire that reduced the capital’s food warehouses to ashes last year. The information gathered then was equally baffling.
Moreover, according to the captives, there indeed were mysterious figures within Jars’ army, referred to as “Clerics,” capable of praying to the gods for extraordinary strength for their soldiers.
This inevitably brought to mind the legends of witches and wizards.
A strange atmosphere pervaded the meeting room as whispers arose among the attendees. Despite their rational minds advising against wild speculations, everyone grew up hearing tales about witches.
Catherine encouraged everyone: “So far, we haven’t encountered any insurmountable problems. No matter how frenzied the enemy soldiers are, they can still be killed by our weapons. Their superior protection can’t withstand blunt force. As long as we maintain our formation and employ sensible tactics, our numerical advantage should lead us to victory. The only real challenge is their longbowmen. Jars has been plotting this rebellion for a long time, training a large number of longbowmen in secret, ready to be deployed in battle.”
Indeed, the problem was tricky. In the south’s rainy environment, the effectiveness of cavalry was significantly limited on soft ground. While knights struggled through the mud, the longbowmen could freely rain arrows, reaping lives.
During the discussion, Lady Knight Ofina suggested: “Lords of the Northwest Bay used two powerful weapons unknown before in their conflicts – Thunder Hammers and Fire Crossbows. The Thunder Hammer, in particular, can kill an enemy from a mile away, making it sound like the perfect counter to longbowmen. Maybe we could purchase these in large quantities in the name of the kingdom’s army to counter the rebel longbowmen.”
Ofina had been in the capital gathering supplies and recruiting troops for the southern campaign and was tasked by Catherine to monitor the situation in the Northwest Bay – mainly to protect her runaway sister. Thus, she was more familiar with certain aspects of that region.
Most dismissed Ofina’s suggestion, shaking their heads. The rural lords of the Northwest Bay, inexperienced in war, were generally seen as naive. Even those from the Northwest who participated in the liberation of Crystal Shine were perceived as overconfident, poorly equipped, and undisciplined.
Of course, there were exceptions like Baron Andrew of Baylding and Viscount Jace of Emden, whose military acumen and troops were commendable. Baron Andrew’s outstanding performance even earned Princess Catherine’s commendation. However, such examples were rare among the Northwest lords, and their forces were considered small but efficient.
In the minds of most high-ranking officers of the kingdom’s army, the early-year “Usurper War” in the Northwest Bay was merely a brawl among peasants. Someone’s wild imagination might have created a few bizarre weapons, causing a few extra deaths, leading to their exaggerated reputation as invincible and extraordinary.
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