Ironvine Territory (Eighty-three)

After the Ursus troops split up, the army continued to advance, getting closer and closer to the battle flag.

Ursus recalled the original battle plan. Although his Cavalry had been annihilated by the vanguard of the Southern Marching Legion, his Fourth Legion and the Coalition of Nobles still had a numerical advantage.

After breaching the outer walls of Ironwire City, they also drove Count Lloyd and his troops into the inner city. Although they still had some strength, the inner city was only suitable for defense. There was only one city gate, and they only needed to set up a camp near the city gate to keep an eye on Count Lloyd's troops.

It can be said that Ursus's army is now invincible. Originally, Ursus wanted to take advantage of the Southern Marching Legion's eagerness to rescue Ironwire City, so that the outer camp was set up with the left and right flanks forming a pincer movement, while actively leaving a large area in the middle open, relying on the thick walls of the inner camp to resist the attack.

When the Southern Marching Legion is exhausted and has formed a large salient in the middle region, Ursus will personally lead his elite troops to concentrate the main force for a decisive battle.

However, Victor's desperate night raid turned Ursus's forces into the ones caught in the crossfire. Even with a numerical advantage, how could they possibly muster their strength in such a short time?

Large numbers of troops were routed in their sleep, and several camps that were originally positioned to support each other were also captured in one battle, failing to achieve the original plan at all.

Rick, the Regimental Commander who was originally the left-wing commander, should have been able to mobilize at least five noble private armies in addition to his Second Regiment, and should have had eleven battle flags symbolizing the battalion with a total force of over ten thousand.

But in reality, before he died in battle, he only had two battalion flags with him, totaling no more than 1,500, including the personal guards of the right-wing commander, Ternesov.

With such limited forces, facing the elite Southern Marching Legion in a night raid, they were outnumbered and outmatched in quality, so there was no reason for them to succeed.

It could even be said that Rick's ability to organize a battle was enough to live up to Ursus's trust in him, and Rick eventual death in battle was worthy of the official position and generous treatment given to him by the Grand Duchy.

Putting himself in Rick's shoes, Ursus didn't think he could have done better, but he was still disappointed that Rick couldn't hold off the enemy's attack.

Thinking about this, Ursus felt that he was being rather cold-hearted. Both Rick and Ternesov, who had been captured due to psychological trauma, were his old subordinates, and their relationship was quite deep.

Ursus, mounted on his horse, gradually calmed his thoughts. "Rick, and Ternesov, let me see what the enemy is made of. Whether this is revenge or another encounter, it all depends on this battle!"

Under the Golden Sunflower battle flag, Victor frowned as he looked at the smoke and dust rising from the east and west. He said to Michael beside him, "The enemy is cunning. These two units are very coordinated and will probably attack simultaneously. Go tell Baron Brown that the flanks and rear are now in his hands."

I will stand with Knight Yellen to defend against any frontal attacks.

Then Victor turned to Knight Yellen: "Yellen, just follow the previous plan. Don't be afraid of the enemy's size. As long as we occupy advantageous terrain and prevent them from deploying their troops, even if they come with ten thousand men, these Repeating Crossbow can make them retreat from where they came from."

Knight Yellen slapped his breastplate, making a clanging sound, "Yes, Viscount Victor, rest assured, even if I die in battle, I will not let the enemy cross my lines."

Victor quickly waved his hand. "There's no need for that. I have a backup plan. If we really can't hold on, we can just retreat with the troops."

"Yes!"

After speaking, Knight Yellen turned and left, his expression resolute, his steps hurried.

Seeing that Knight Yellen had left, Victor turned his attention to the front, watching the Duchy Army gradually approaching.

Victor, holding up his binoculars, observed and remarked, "They certainly seem to be elite troops, but judging by the fact that over 70% are armored, this is probably the standard of Silver Maple City's Imperial Guard Legion!"

To Victor's surprise, the attack was not launched from the front lines. After the Duchy Army arrived in front of him, it did not attack immediately. Instead, it reorganized and adjusted its formation, and even raised its military flag, appearing quite calm and composed.

Victor clicked his tongue in amazement. "As expected of the Fourth Legion, sweeping through the elite of the Ironvine Territory, they are indeed not an easy opponent to deal with."

Victor couldn't help but worry for Yellen. Judging from the raised military flags, the enemy in front of them must be the Ursus Legion Commander. And judging from the armor coverage and the speed of their formation changes, they were top-notch elite troops.

Even Victor's elite troops could only manage a 50/50 chance of victory. To win, they would need to rely on external factors. The Great Oak Territory army under Knight Yellen alone could not withstand this elite force that outnumbered them several times over.

"Notify the Repeating Crossbow team to fire all their bolts before the battle begins, don't hold back."

Furthermore, the Bed Crossbow and Catapult are all being used to target the enemy forces on the flanks and rear first; I'm worried that Baron Brown's side will also have difficulty dealing with them."

In Victor's view, the elite force of the duchy facing them head-on was clearly not easy to deal with, and the Duchy Army that had circled around to the rear was also connected to this enemy force and was certainly not easy to deal with either. They must not be careless.

As Victor's guess was correct, the enemy force coming from the flank and rear immediately set up their attack and launched a full-scale assault.

Baron Brown's side was in dire straits from the start. If it weren't for the barrage of stones from the Catapult and the precise sniping from the Bed Crossbow, which made the enemy hesitant to attack, Baron Brown might have been wiped out in one fell swoop.

Baron Brown, who had narrowly escaped being beheaded by the enemy for commanding too far ahead, was cursing loudly. "... Damn it... We've fought the Duchy Legion before, how can they be so crazy?"

Yes, madness—that was the feeling he got from the Duchy Army. Whether soldiers or officers, they were all exceptionally brave in the attack they had just launched, as if they had a life-or-death feud with his troops.

Those soldiers dared to charge head-on into the Spearman Phalanx while wearing light armor, and when faced with a volley of arrows, they did not parry at all, but charged straight ahead, bearing the arrows with them.

Each and every one of them was ready to die, not one of them retreated, and even when wounded, they continued to fight until they died.

This greatly shocked Baron Brown and his soldiers. After last night's night raid, they had already lost their fascination with the Duchy's army, but now they had to look at them in a new light.

Baron Brown managed to hold out in the first round of battle with the help of Bed Crossbow and Catapult, but his troops' formation had been disrupted, a considerable number of junior officers had been killed, and the two front-line squads had essentially lost their organization.

Left with no other choice, Baron Brown led his troops to retreat a short distance, intending to regroup in preparation for the upcoming battle.

Victor also sent someone to Baron Brown to ask if he needed support. Baron Brown naturally knew that Victor still had a backup plan, but at this moment, the battle had just begun, and Baron Brown felt that he could not afford to expose this backup plan, so he refused immediately.

Soon the enemy launched a second attack. This time, not only did the enemy attack from Baron Brown's flank and rear, but the elite troops directly under the Legion Commander of the Fourth Legion in front of him also launched an attack.