Ironvine Territory (Sixty-Four)

Jindio and his banner were positioned at the rear of the main formation, and he was looking at the battlefield ahead with a grim expression.

His expression grew increasingly grim, especially when he saw that his infantry's front line had been torn apart by the enemy's Heavy Cavalry and was beginning to show signs of chaos.

Jindio quickly launched into a tirade. "Shit, Broly, you're a piece of shit! I told you before that you had to leave room for maneuver when changing formations, but you didn't listen at all!"

"You have a whole battalion of troops, and you don't even know to prepare Reserve Force for two or three squads?"

After saying that, Jindio threw his riding whip to the ground.

His adjutant quickly picked up the riding whip and carefully handed it to the Regimental Commander. At this moment, the Regimental Commander was angry about the behavior of the First Battalion Broly. If he didn't pick up the riding whip, he would easily get involved.

Jindio took the riding crop and glared fiercely at his adjutant.

"Send someone to inform Jax to command his Second Battalion and Ves's Third Battalion to regroup and reorganize their battle formation. Don't worry about the chaotic First Battalion; let Broly figure it out himself."

If the routed soldiers of the First Battalion disrupt the formation, they can be dealt with as needed. Also, quickly notify the Cavalry to reorganize their troops immediately. If they hadn't all been negligent, the vanguard wouldn't have encountered this problem.

Jindio issued several military orders, shifting the blame for the frontline defeat onto the First Battalion and the Cavalry, completely forgetting that he had previously forced the Cavalry to serve as the vanguard and overestimated the fighting strength of his own Cavalry.

The adjutant hurried off on horseback to relay the order, while Jindio remained standing and observing.

He discovered that after the Northlands Cavalry had routed the infantry square of the First Battalion, they did not continue their charge. Instead, they used their formation to pressure the routed soldiers of the First Battalion to retreat.

He realized that the enemy intended to use the same tactic again, employing routed soldiers to disrupt his own army's formation behind them.

"You underestimate my troops. Jax doesn't care about human lives."

Soon, a large number of the First Battalion's routed soldiers were herded towards the central army by James's Heavy Cavalry like sheep.

However, the Duchy Army in the center, under Jax's command, had already formed battle lines and were ready to meet the enemy.

When they saw the fleeing soldiers coming towards them, they did not issue a warning.

Instead, he raised his hand and fired three volleys, a continuous rain of arrows covering the front of the fleeing soldiers. Some of the soldiers at the front were caught in the arrow barrage and turned into pincushions. The fleeing soldiers were immediately terrified.

Within the central army formation, a bald officer excitedly licked his lips and said to another middle-aged officer standing beside him, "Ves, see, I told you so."

"A bow and arrow are more effective than shouting."

Ves said slowly, "I think I saw Broly."

That should be right, he was running in the lead. I never expected that this guy wouldn't die under the enemy's Iron Hoof, but instead died in your rain of arrows."

Bald officer Jax spat. "So what if he's dead? Anyway, given how petty the Regimental Commander is, he won't let him go. It might be easier for him to die by my hand."

Ves nodded in agreement and said, "Let's shout something to get the fleeing soldiers to run up the mountain. Killing them all like this will only damage the morale of our soldiers."

As soon as the order was given, several loud-voiced soldiers ran out from the central army formation and shouted at the routed soldiers who were caught in a dilemma and fleeing in all directions on the battlefield, "Run to the mountains on both sides, do not charge the army formation, or you will be killed without mercy."

After being shouted three times, the routed soldiers, who had been like headless flies, immediately understood and ran around the Heavy Cavalry and the center of the battlefield towards the hills on both sides of the road.

Seeing that the routed soldiers were beginning to regain their senses, the Heavy Cavalry, which had already regrouped, did not continue to drive them away.

Soon, an open space appeared between the Heavy Cavalry and the enemy's central formation.

James led his Cavalry to the rear of the Heavy Cavalry and began to form ranks.

The two armies began to stand facing each other across the open space. The once noisy battlefield gradually quieted down, with only the occasional snort of warhorses.

The next moment, Jindio had his flag waved, and the war drums sounded once more.

The central army formation began to move slowly forward, with the Pikemen in the front row raising their spears and the Sword-and-Shield Soldiers raising their shields to protect their flanks.

James narrowed his eyes; just by looking at this formation, he knew that the opposing force was extremely difficult to deal with.

The army formation before them moved in little by little, like a giant tortoise shell, and given the terrain, even if they ordered Heavy Cavalry charge now, the effect wouldn't be very good.

Just as James was hesitating about whether to order a retreat and look for another opportunity.

A mournful horn call suddenly rang out, rousing James's spirits. "It's finally here!"