Engaging the Enemy

Victor watched Ron and his team disappear into the distance.

He then turned his gaze back to the camp. His earlier words had not only inspired the warriors who had already set out but had also ignited the fighting spirit of every soldier about to depart.

Victor smiled and nodded. "Fortunately, over the years, my consistent practice of rewarding good deeds and punishing wrongdoings has earned their trust. Simply making empty promises wouldn't have motivated these men. Number 1, add a task to the calculation module: based on the territory's conditions and my current funds, create a new set of regulations for rewarding military achievements. Try not to impact the territory's future development, but ensure that I can quickly fulfill the rewards promised to them after this battle."

"Task established, Victor. Considering you'll be using combat assistance this afternoon, this task is estimated to take 1 day to complete."

"Alright, Number 1. We have enough time. This will also be the first time I'm using combat assistance in actual combat. I wonder how effective it will be."

Victor had already planned to participate directly in the battle. He was confident in his strength and skills. Coupled with the combat assistance system provided by his golden finger, which could offer instructions and analyze battlefield situations during combat, these factors assured him. Victor wouldn't claim to be a match for a hundred men, but he was confident he could handle twenty to thirty men by utilizing terrain advantages.

Soon, the sky began to brighten, and the auxiliary troops started their march. Unlike the cavalry, who had two horses per rider and whose weapons, equipment, and supplies were carried by packhorses, the infantry would travel by boat. The auxiliary troops, however, had to rely on their own two feet. Some supplies could be transported by carts, so they had to depart the earliest.

Victor stood by, watching the 600 auxiliary soldiers file out. They wore no armor, primarily carried long spears, and their expressions lacked the spirited energy of the other warriors.

Victor knew that such troops could only serve in supporting roles, like building camps or transporting supplies – logistical tasks. They couldn't be relied upon for combat.

He had to change this situation. He wanted to build a powerful army, not just relying on standing troops but also having sufficient reserves and replenishment forces. The auxiliary troops must become a key focus for future development, improving their treatment and combat capabilities. Boosting their willingness to fight had to be the top priority.

However, Victor knew that these ideas would take time to implement. The most pressing matter was to win this war. If they lost, who knew what would happen to the territory afterward.

"Captain Jack, how much longer until the ships can leave port?" Victor asked Captain Jack.

"My lord, my men are all ready. As soon as the infantry boards the ships, we can set sail," Captain Jack replied.

Victor nodded in acknowledgment.

Then, he addressed everyone, "Depart! Victory in this battle is assured!"

"Victory!" All the officers and stewards, led by Powell, echoed in unison.

Victor, clad in chainmail, stood at the forefront of the cavalry, his gaze firm as he scanned each warrior. Behind him, over a hundred elite cavalrymen were ready for battle. Their horses were groomed to a gleaming sheen, and the warriors, armed with lances and shields, appeared exceptionally imposing.

At Victor's signal, the cavalry quickly formed ranks, their synchronized movements demonstrating their disciplined training. Victor mounted his warhorse, surveyed the entire unit from his elevated position once more, and then slowly raised his longsword, pointing it towards the main battlefield in the distance.

No additional words were needed; everything was understood. The cavalrymen followed suit, their horses' hooves thundering like rolling thunder, echoing in the quiet morning air. Victor led this valiant force out of the camp, advancing towards the unknown and the challenges ahead.

To conserve the horses' energy, the troop's pace was not fast, and the noise of their march was minimal. Victor was engaged in discussion with James and Jack.

"James, your cavalry are all equipped with chainmail. For the charge, focus your efforts on the right flank. I will bear any losses. Since they are your subordinates, it would be inconvenient for me to grant them land, so we will settle with gold coins."

"There's no need for you to pay, Victor. My father told me when I departed to cherish every soldier, but not to be timid. He will cover all battle-related compensation for the first two years of pioneering."

"Uncle Ronald has indeed thought everything through. You have such excellent starting conditions. If I can't help you secure the Baron title, I would be letting him down," Victor said with a laugh.

Turning to Captain Jack, he continued, "Your men have rested well; they are all full of spirit. After this battle, they will be tempered, and their morale will be comparable to that of the Iron Knights."

"Lord Victor, you jest. I have personally witnessed the combat effectiveness of the Iron Knights. These young men are indeed excellent, but they are still far behind the Iron Knights and require much more training and combat experience," Jack replied.

"Are you being humble or confident? You acknowledge their shortcomings, yet believe they can reach the same level through effort. Actually, I have an idea. Currently, the cavalry in the Golden Sunflower Territory primarily consists of light cavalry wearing leather armor. I plan to purchase a batch of chainmail and form a shock cavalry unit specifically for breaking enemy lines. Jack, you will be in charge of this unit. What do you think?" Victor said with a smile.

"Jack will do his utmost to repay your grace, my lord." As a former knight who joined later, receiving such an important position and trust made him incredibly excited.

"After this battle, I will re-confer the title of Knight upon you. It is well-deserved," Victor said, raising his hand to stop Jack, who was about to dismount and bow.

"Knight Jack, that title truly suits you," James chimed in from the side.

"Thank you, my lord." Being re-conferred the title of Knight was incredibly significant for Jack. As a knight who had lost his lord in war, although he was powerless to prevent it, he had indeed failed in his duty to protect his lord. Losing his knighthood was understandable. However, for a freeman who had become a knight through his own efforts, such a failure was a negation of the meaning of the first half of his life. Now, with the opportunity to regain his knightly status, Jack secretly resolved to fight bravely in this battle and secure victory for his Baron.

Even with the reduced speed, the troop arrived at the predetermined battlefield before noon. They halted on the north slope. The cavalrymen unbuckled their horses' bridles and took out sleeping bags and black beans from the packhorses, feeding and watering their mounts to restore their stamina.

Victor was personally tending to his mount. This was his responsibility to a companion who would fight alongside him. His upbringing had taught him never to delegate such tasks.

The warhorse eagerly licked the black beans from his hand, shaking its head happily. Victor stroked its mane with pleasure. The mount he had brought this time was a black horse, only two and a half years old, but strong and agile. It could carry Victor, clad in chainmail, for 20 kilometers without tiring, making it an excellent warhorse. Victor had named him Grape.

"Grape, I'm counting on you this afternoon."

Grape seemed to understand Victor's words, nodding and whinnying. Victor quickly patted him. Although there was still some time before the battle began, it was best to remain as quiet as possible when acting as an ambush force.

After adjusting Grape's tack, Victor looked around. Some cavalrymen who had finished feeding were having a quick bite of dry rations, others were cleaning their weapons, and some were lying on the slope, resting with their eyes closed. Everyone was conserving their energy for the afternoon's combat.

Victor glanced at the sun and confirmed the time with Number 1 in his mind. It was almost 1 PM, with just over an hour left until the battle commenced.

Victor walked to the side of the slope, where he had a clear view of the Great Fish River in the distance. He could vaguely see several ships in the shaded area west of the river, not far from Jizi Bay.

Victor nodded. Captain Jack was indeed experienced. By using the river channel for cover, the ships would be virtually undetectable to the enemy advancing from the west. Moreover, with the current, the landing would only take a few minutes, combining stealth with operational efficiency.

Victor arranged for a messenger to signal the fleet to continue holding their position and then returned to the sheltered side of the slope.

At that moment, he saw a cavalryman reporting to James and Jack. He immediately recognized the cavalryman as a member of Ron's cavalry squad.

Victor directly called out, "How is Ron's diversionary operation going? Is it proceeding according to plan?"

Upon seeing Victor, the cavalryman immediately saluted and replied, "My lord, everything is going smoothly. This morning, Lord Ron led us to attack one of their patrol squads. Afterward, we dragged the bodies and threw them into their camp, using taunts to provoke those Barbarians, calling them cowards who dared not fight him one-on-one. The Barbarians, being proud, sent out many men to challenge Lord Ron to single combat. Lord Ron defeated their best fighters three times in a row, and those fellows couldn't hold back any longer and launched a full-scale attack to surround us."

"But our horses were already warmed up and ran extremely fast; they couldn't catch us. Lord Ron is currently leading the Barbarians in circles and will definitely arrive here at the planned time. Lord Ron sent me to report to you."

"You've worked hard. Thank you for your efforts; you've provided a crucial piece for our victory," Victor said, patting his shoulder.

"What is your name, soldier?"

"My lord, my name is Michael. I am one of the serf soldiers you recruited. I used to be a coachman on the farm. You gave me the opportunity to change my destiny, and I am deeply honored to contribute to your cause," the soldier, Michael, bowed to Victor.

"You are excellent. I merely provided an opportunity, and you seized it. I hope you will perform even better in the upcoming battle. When the combat begins later, you will stay by my side."

Victor understood clearly that as a serf soldier, even though Michael was familiar with horses from a young age, it would have taken him many months of effort to defeat numerous opponents and become a cavalryman. His combat skills would likely be relatively lacking. Ron probably sent him to deliver the message for this very reason – to have Michael stay close to Victor, who was confident he could protect him and provide him with better opportunities.

Victor believed that increasing the initiative of serf soldiers couldn't solely rely on benefits and treatment; it could also be achieved by setting examples, stimulating their combat awareness and fighting spirit. Michael was a very suitable candidate for this.

These were merely interludes between battles. Victor sent out messengers to inform the auxiliary troops that they could advance to the front lines; at the same time, he ordered all cavalry to prepare for battle.

Soon, a little over half an hour later, Victor also saw two groups in the distance, one behind the other, approaching the hills. The one in front was Ron and his small team.

Victor returned to the leeward slope, immediately mounted his warhorse, and called for all cavalry to get ready, awaiting only his signal. After speaking, he rode alone to the hillside.

The cavalry moved quickly. In just a few minutes, Ron's team had crept to the outer edge of the hills.

The Barbarian cavalry followed closely behind them. Ron's team quickly reached the foot of the slope and began to ascend. The Barbarians, seeing this, began to do the same, attempting to chase Ron down for revenge.

After a quick assessment, Victor decisively gave the signal. Upon receiving it, the ships in the river immediately charged towards the shallows.

All the cavalry mounted their warhorses and followed behind Victor.

Victor led the charge, cresting the hilltop and sprinting down the slope. All the cavalry followed him, forming a funnel. The Barbarian cavalry hesitated upon seeing this.

Victor, wielding his lance, charged down the slope with unstoppable momentum. In moments, he reached the Barbarian cavalry. Targeting the Barbarian soldier directly in front of him, he exerted force with his right hand, guided by the combat assistance system, and thrust forward. Combined with the downhill momentum, the Barbarian soldier was impaled and thrown from his horse. The surrounding Barbarian soldiers faltered and instinctively dodged away.

Victor then led the charge directly into the enemy ranks, followed by James's mail-clad cavalry and Jack's team. Cooperating with Ron's team's counterattack from behind, they broke through the formation of the Barbarian cavalry, who were caught between advancing and retreating.

Victor, riding his well-trained warhorse, weaved through the enemy ranks like lightning.

He had discarded his lance after impaling the first enemy, as it was no longer convenient for angled attacks. Now, he drew the longsword from his side. In his hands, the sword was a blur of motion. With the help of the combat assistance system, every swing accurately struck the vital points of the Barbarian cavalry. He was invincible. Several Barbarian warriors, seeing this, began to surround Victor.

Victor showed no fear in the face of the surrounding enemies; instead, he grew more excited.

He used his superb combat skills and rich experience to skillfully evade the enemies' attacks. Even arrows shot from blind spots were promptly alerted by the combat assistance system.

At the same time, Victor was looking for opportunities to counterattack. Whenever a Barbarian cavalryman attempted to get close, the combat assistance system would highlight the openings and weaknesses in the Barbarian soldier's movements. Victor would then quickly adjust his stance, point his sword tip at the opponent's weakness, and kill them with lightning speed.

Everyone was astonished by Victor's clean and decisive fighting style. Gradually, no one dared to stand in his way. Wherever he charged, the Barbarian cavalry would scatter and flee.