Chapter 398: Display Our Technological Supremacy. (2)
When directly capturing a castle was difficult, a commonly used method was to lay siege and starve out the forces inside.
However, that approach was currently unfeasible. Attempting it would only result in their own forces starving to death. All the supplies meant for the Roderick forces were locked inside the castle.
The surrounding vassal lords were already destitute, leaving no places to plunder. Recapturing the castle was the only way to secure a steady supply of provisions.
“Find a solution! A solution!”
“F-for now, I believe we need to acquire siege weapons. If we can attack the forces and trebuchets on the castle walls while widening the existing breaches, we could leverage our numerical advantage.”
“How do you propose we obtain them?”
“If we scour the surrounding territories, there might still be some left. We can requisition from them, and if that’s insufficient, we may have to craft new ones using resources from here.”
“Ugh… Do you think such a plan would work against that castle?”
“We don’t have a choice, do we? We need to try something.”
Reluctantly, Count Glasgow nodded. Whether it worked or not, they had to attempt everything possible.
“Search the surrounding territories for siege weapons and supplies. Promise them that the Marquisate will fully compensate them later.”
Following Count Glasgow’s orders, a portion of the troops dispersed to nearby lands.
Several days later, they returned with only three trebuchets and a single battering ram.
Count Glasgow exhaled sharply and asked, “Is this all? What about provisions?”
“Most were destroyed by the Fenris forces and the bandit groups… The intact supplies were already requisitioned by us. The other territories are starving as well.”
“Urgh… Urghhhh…”
Grinding his teeth, Count Glasgow remained speechless. It was true that the Marquisate had requisitioned an enormous amount of supplies and manpower, leaving the surrounding areas barren.
It was somewhat understandable for Fenris, as they had been raiding western territories for some time. However, the bandit groups they had failed to fully eradicate were still a significant issue.
“F-fine. Attack with the trebuchets we brought.”
The battering ram was deemed unnecessary. It would be destroyed by concentrated attacks before even reaching the walls.
The Roderick forces attempted an assault using the salvaged trebuchets.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The stones didn’t even reach the castle walls, falling short. The good-quality siege weapons had already been taken by the First Legion, leaving them with old, poorly functioning equipment.
“Move closer and use lighter stones,” he ordered, clinging to a sliver of hope. Indeed, as they moved closer and used lighter projectiles, the stones reached the castle walls.
But simply hitting the walls wasn’t enough.
Crash!
The stones flying toward the castle shattered mid-air, struck by spears hurled from within the castle.
Lightweight and small stones were easily intercepted by the knights of Fenris.
With only three stones being launched at a time, they posed no real threat.
“Ugh…”
As Count Glasgow agonized, unable to find a solution, Ghislain smirked and muttered,
“Display our technological supremacy.”
Creak…
Fenris’s mobile corps loaded their trebuchets with light stones and began firing back.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The stones arced high in the air before raining down on the Roderick forces’ encampment.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
“Ahhh!”
“They’re launching trebuchet attacks!”
“We need to pull the troops further back!”
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, soldiers began falling.
Count Glasgow clenched his teeth. They couldn’t attack, yet, the enemy could. The frustration was maddening.
“Fall back! Pull the troops further back!”
The Roderick forces retreated in disarray, leaving the three salvaged trebuchets destroyed in the chaos.
It was then that Count Glasgow realized the harsh truth, war wasn’t won solely by knights and extraordinary individuals.
A difference in technology could yield such overwhelming results.
Count Glasgow nervously bit his nails.
“What should I do? What on earth can I do?”
When he first set out, he hadn’t imagined this kind of situation. Leading this massive army had filled him with pride and confidence.
Fenris was beneath his notice. His mind had been consumed with thoughts of earning glory against the ducal family and making his name known throughout the kingdom.
Yet now, even after losing 10,000 soldiers to the Fenris forces, he couldn’t see a way to victory.
Surrendering wasn’t an option. If they failed to reclaim the castle, their main force would be doomed.
“No, that’s not it. Fenris has plenty of provisions, I heard. The main force will easily take that place.”
It was a small consolation, but even if the main force succeeded, Count Glasgow would still be disgraced as the fool who lost his troops to someone like Fenris. Worse yet, he could lose not only his honor, but his life.
He had to recapture the castle at all costs.
Count Glasgow spoke with a grim expression.
“Lead the cavalry and shield bearers to charge straight at the castle. Make sure the cavalry carries shields as well.”
“That’s too dangerous!”
“We just need to break through the range of their trebuchets. The cavalry and shield bearers in the vanguard will block the arrows. Meanwhile, the rest of the troops can press forward.”
“The casualties will be immense.”
“Do we have any other options? The entire army will charge! Even if we lose 10,000 men, if 20,000 get through, we’ll win!”
The strategist swallowed hard. Even if 20,000 managed to enter, there was no guarantee of victory especially since Count Fenris alone could likely hold off thousands of soldiers.
Yet, there was no alternative.
“The troops have already experienced one attack. They won’t panic like before. This time, go all in and charge without hesitation. If all these men charge at once, even a hundred trebuchets won’t stop them. Understood?”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Booooom!
The battle horn sounded, and the Roderick forces reformed their ranks.
The soldiers who received the orders trembled with fear. They knew they were charging toward the castle under a relentless barrage of attacks, prepared to die.
Their only hope of survival lay in reaching the castle as quickly as possible. It was their best chance of staying alive.
As the Roderick forces prepared for their charge, Ghislain clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Tsk, tsk… What a waste of men.”
In his eyes, it was the worst possible strategy. They should have retreated to reassess and seek a better approach.
Still, he understood their desperation. With their supply lines strained, urgency was inevitable.
“Well, since they’re coming, let’s give them a better reason to charge. Open the gates.”
Creak…
At Ghislain’s command, the massive gates of Linderstein swung open.
The sturdy gates were large enough to allow hundreds of men to pass through simultaneously.
When the gates suddenly opened, Count Glasgow was taken aback.
“What’s this? Why are they opening the gates? Are they coming out to fight?”
If so, that would be even better. A direct confrontation was something they could win. No matter how many masters were on the enemy’s side, the overwhelming numbers were in Glasgow’s favor.
Yet the Fenris forces on the walls didn’t budge. Instead, Ghislain fired a single arrow that landed in the midst of the Roderick forces.
Count Glasgow blinked in confusion.
“What’s that? What does it mean?”
“There’s a note tied to the arrow.”
“Bring it to me.”
Hoping for an offer of negotiation, he unfolded the note with slight anticipation.
[We’ve opened the gates. If you’re confident, come on in.]
“You… you little bastard! How dare you!”
It was pure mockery, born of overwhelming confidence. Count Glasgow’s face turned red with fury.
“How dare that northern bumpkin mock me!”
The truth was that in terms of both reputation and ability, Count Glasgow was no match for Count Fenris. But having long looked down on the north, Glasgow couldn’t endure such an insult.
“Charge immediately! We can do this! Shield bearers, block the arrows with all your might!”
“Waaaahhh!”
The soldiers roared loudly, trying to shake off their fear, and charged forward.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
The cavalry led the charge, followed by the shield bearers. Their task was to secure a foothold and shield against the incoming arrows.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The trebuchets fired again from the castle, raining destruction on the advancing soldiers. Many were torn apart in the hail of stones.
Yet, unlike before, the troops pressed on with determination. A significant number managed to survive and continue their advance.
With their sheer numbers, nearly 30,000 strong, the trebuchets couldn’t stop them all.
As the soldiers swarmed toward the castle like ants, the archers unleashed a torrent of arrows.
Whoosh!
“Ahhhhhh!”
Thousands of soldiers fell under the rain of arrows.
The cavalry and shield bearers who barely made it to the walls formed a defensive formation, raising their shields.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
While their horses were killed, the soldiers who raised their shields survived. Foot soldiers following closely behind used their protection to advance in pairs or groups of three.
Seeing this, Count Glasgow’s bloodshot eyes widened in a smile.
“See! It’s working! We just need to keep pushing in!”
With the arrow fire divided, more soldiers managed to survive. But the expressions of his strategists remained grim.
“Thousands are already dead.”
“Even if we get inside, can we win?”
“Count Fenris hasn’t even made a move yet.”
If there were no masters on the opposing side, victory might have been possible. However, Count Fenris was a man who had once defeated an army of 20,000 with only a few thousand mercenaries.
Throwing soldiers into the fray wouldn’t be enough to achieve victory.
As if to confirm the strategists’ grim predictions, a new movement emerged atop the castle walls, distinct from anything seen before.
Ghislain swung his spear a few times and then spoke.
“Knights, follow me. Leave the arrow volleys to the rear.”
Victory was already assured, even if they stayed put. But Ghislain’s body itched to do more than just watch.
Without hesitation, he leaped down from the castle walls.
Boom!
“Ahhh!”
As Ghislain plunged his spear into the ground, an explosive wave of mana erupted, sending the Roderick soldiers nearby flying, their bodies bursting apart.
Flash!
Every time his spear moved, a crimson line cut through the air.
The soldiers, who had been focusing on blocking arrows and advancing toward the gates, were caught completely off guard by the sudden attack.
Boom! Boom!
Ghislain swiftly slaughtered the enemies around him, leaving the Roderick army in disarray.
“Ahhh!”
“The enemy is out!”
“Fight! Fight back!”
By now, the trebuchet and arrow fire had shifted to targeting the rear of the Roderick forces.
Some soldiers desperately threw aside their shields and charged at Ghislain, but none were a match for him.
As Ghislain continued his rampage, new adversaries approached.
“It’s just one man! Everyone, attack at once!”
The knights of Roderick shouted as they advanced toward Ghislain, skillfully dodging trebuchet fire and deflecting arrows like the seasoned warriors they were.
Yet even they were unable to withstand Ghislain’s relentless attacks, falling one after another.
Meanwhile, 200 knights from the Fenris forces began rappelling down the walls with ropes.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Ow, ow, ow!”
“We jumped too fast!”
“Damn it! I think I dislocated my arm!”
The walls were simply too high for a graceful descent like Ghislain’s. Most of the knights had to roll upon landing, unable to avoid the impact entirely.
It was excruciating, enough to make them cry out in pain.
The Roderick soldiers who were charging at Ghislain turned their attention to the fallen knights.
“They’re all sprawled out!”
“Kill them first!”
“This is our chance!”
For the Roderick forces, who desperately needed to thin the enemy’s numbers, this was an excellent opportunity.
Jumping from such a height was sheer madness, and the shock would surely leave the knights vulnerable. They believed they could take them down.
Swish! Swish!
But things didn’t go as they hoped. Rising to his feet like a rabid beast, Kaor began to wreak havoc among the approaching soldiers.
“Get up, you idiots! Are you going to die lying down?”
Every swing of Kaor’s sword felled scores of soldiers. His combat skills had only sharpened with experience.
Seizing the moment, the other knights got to their feet and launched themselves at the Roderick forces.
“Ahhh! These bastards aren’t even hurt!”
The Roderick soldiers screamed as they were overwhelmed by the Fenris knights.
They had endured trebuchets and volleys of arrows to make it this far, and they were already exhausted.
Meanwhile, reinforcements from the rear continued to fall under the ongoing long-range attacks, making it impossible to consolidate their forces.
And now, 200 Fenris knights were rampaging through their ranks, leaving the Roderick soldiers with no way to stop them.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Ahhhhh!”
The screams of the Roderick soldiers echoed everywhere. They had fought through hell to reach the castle, only to face certain death upon arrival.
Unable to bear it any longer, the strategists shouted at Count Glasgow.
“We must retreat! The Count of Fenris is holding the front! There’s no way to break through!”
“Ugh… We’ve made it this far! We’re so close! If we just get past him, we can break in!”
“We can’t! This approach won’t work! Without surrounding the castle with a massive army, Count Fenris will kill everyone who comes near him!”
“Ahhhh! Count Fenris!”
Count Glasgow’s eyes brimmed with tears of blood. In mere moments, over 10,000 soldiers had been lost. And the losses were only accelerating.
Without siege towers or similar equipment, capturing the castle was impossible.
“Retreat! Fall back!”
He screamed the order as if his voice would tear.
Bwoooo!
The retreat horn sounded, and the Roderick soldiers turned with relief, grateful to escape with their lives.
Although they would have to endure more trebuchet and arrow fire as they fled, it was better than advancing into certain death.
When the Fenris knights moved to pursue the retreating soldiers, Ghislain’s voice rang out.
“Stop!”
At that single command, the knights halted. The trebuchet and arrow fire from the walls ceased as well.
Ghislain, drenched in blood, took a deep breath and shouted.
“Fenris!”
He thrust his spear forward, pointing at the fleeing Roderick forces, whose ranks were completely shattered.
“Charge!”
His voice roared louder than ever across the battlefield. At the same time, the soldiers on the walls disappeared.
Moments later,
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Mounted Fenris soldiers burst out of the open gates and through the breached walls, charging at the enemy.