In the age of cold weapons, no troop type could create such tremendous momentum as a cavalry charge while dealing a devastating blow to the enemy's morale.
Especially knights whose men and horses were both clad in heavy armor—they were practically the heavy tanks of modern warfare.
Unless trenches had been dug in advance, even the dense pike formations most effective against cavalry would find it difficult to withstand that terrifying, howling impact.
Because soldiers were human, not machines. Faced with enormous creatures weighing over half a ton, horse and rider together, charging straight at them, any normal person would instinctively feel fear.
When they saw comrades beside them skewered by lances, struck down by horses, or trampled to death, it was easy for their survival instinct to drive them to turn and flee.
That was why, in many cases, a single charge by organized knights and retainers could rout the enemy and win the battle.
One only had to look at the widespread unrest among the soldiers at the front of the formation as they faced the Noble Coalition's cavalry charge to see just how effective this simple and brutal tactic was.
These men were not undisciplined mercenaries, nor were they hastily conscripted militia. They were the main regular army Raymond had painstakingly built.
Although they had been formed only recently and might still lack training and combat experience, their discipline and loyalty were beyond doubt.
Many of them had not feared death at all in their pursuit of a better future, and they had fought with exceptional bravery in previous battles.
Yet now, facing the tidal charge of massed heavy cavalry, they still could not help but tremble with fear.
The only thing worthy of praise was that they did not collapse or flee. Instead, amid the officers'