Mandarin Duck Formation in Actual Combat
Lyon's eyes lit up upon hearing this; Thorsten's tactics were undoubtedly more sophisticated and effective.
He immediately agreed, "Okay! We'll do it your way! Conserve horsepower and exhaust its strength!"
Without further hesitation, the two immediately issued new orders to the cavalrymen who had already gathered around them.
The bugle sounded again, this time signaling a retreat and a change of direction.
The surviving cavalrymen began to struggle to shake off the monsters and head towards Lyon and Thorsten.
Soon, the two cavalry units, like well-trained hunting dogs, started moving again.
However, they did not rush into the fleeing soldiers at full speed to kill them. Instead, they maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far, like two deadly shadows, relentlessly pursuing the flanks and rear of the main force of the frantically fleeing Sauron soldiers.
The fleeing soldiers ran for their lives, thinking they had shaken off their pursuers, and just as they were about to slow down and catch their breath.
Suddenly, the bugles of the Goldfinch Cavalry and the roar of muskets would sound from the left flank, and several arrows would even land precisely on the ground in front of them, forcing them to continue their escape to the right front.
When they instinctively veer to the right, Thorsten on the right flank will immediately lead the Sauron Cavalry to accelerate and close in.
They unleashed a powerful, distinctive war cry in the Sauron language, and even used lassos to drag down and execute slow-moving, routed soldiers.
This forced the routed army to flee forward in terror, without a moment's rest.
Soon, Karl's infantry phalanx engaged in direct combat with the twisted monsters, covered in blood, who were still tearing apart the corpses and wounded of the Sauron!
Faced with these inhuman enemies, who reeked of blood and decay, Karl calmly employed the Mandarin Duck Formation system he had trained over a long period.
The entire infantry force was not a dense human wall, but consisted of ten independent combat units, or ten squads.
Each class forms a small offensive and defensive fortress, spaced about ten steps apart. They can operate independently or support each other, forming a large, flexible square formation with varying density.
At the very front stood two heavily armored swordsmen wielding Sword and Shield Bearer; they were like moving city walls, the cornerstones of the formation.
Immediately following behind, to the side and rear of each Sword and Shield Bearer, were two spearmen wielding long spears, whose spears could thrust out from between or above the shields, creating a deadly attack range.
Between the spearmen was a soldier wielding Tangpa, Tangpa resembled a giant harpoon with branches. It could be used for stabbing, parrying, and locking down enemy weapons, making it a versatile weapon.
Behind the column were two Musketeers, responsible for long-range attacks and responding to any unexpected threats.
At the very back were two auxiliary soldiers, each carrying a sharp scimitar, responsible for severing the heads of the Sauron, and also to protect the Musketeers who lacked melee combat skills.
At the very center of the squad was the squad leader, who was responsible for observing the overall situation and issuing instructions.
The monsters immediately noticed this larger and more orderly group of new "prey." They abandoned tearing at the corpses, their bloodlust driving them to roar wildly. They immediately turned and pounced on Karl's square formation! A dark, imposing mass, their momentum terrifying.
Facing the surging tide of monsters, Karl stood at the rear of the formation, commanding from a position with his longsword raised high, his voice steady and powerful. "Halt! Hold your ground!"
The order was given, and the well-trained sergeants and officers immediately repeated it loudly, calming the inevitable nervousness of some new recruits.
"Stay calm! Remember the training! Trust your brothers!"
"Shields, hold! Spears, prepare!"
The monsters' attack was imminent!
"Boom! Bang! Bang!"
The monster at the very front slammed into the tightly packed shield wall of the Sword and Shield Bearer, producing a dull thud!
The Sword and Shield Bearer jolted, but their training immediately put them in a standard stance: sideways lunge, their shoulders braced against the inside of their shields, their right hands gripping their short swords or Armed Sword, ready to strike.
Some of the crazed monsters even slashed their weapons into the wooden shields, only to get them stuck and unable to pull them out for a while.
Just as the monster rammed into them, the spearmen behind the Sword and Shield Bearer moved!
"Prick!"
With the sergeant's roar, several sharp spears shot out like venomous snakes from their holes, swiftly thrusting out from the gaps in the shields!
With a roar, Roderick channeled all his strength into his arms, and his spear pierced precisely through the chest of the foremost, exceptionally strong goblin clad in tattered leather armor!
However, the goblin unleashed an astonishing ferocity before its death, gripping the spear shaft embedded in its body with both hands, preventing Roderick from pulling the spear back for a moment!
Even more terrifying, the goblin pulled out a poisoned throwing knife with its other hand and hurled it at Roderick's face with a sinister grin!
The throwing knife gleamed coldly in the firelight, drawing ever closer! Roderick's pupils contracted, but his spear was bound, making it difficult to dodge!
At the critical moment!
"Clang!"
A crisp metallic clang rang out! Oliver, the veteran Tangpa- wielding soldier standing to Roderick's side and behind, reacted swiftly, thrusting his long Tangpa forward and skillfully flicking it with a side branch, precisely deflecting the deadly throwing knife away!
"Thanks, Oliver!" Roderick seized the opportunity, roared, and forcefully pulled back his spear, spraying out a mouthful of blood.
Almost simultaneously, in another battle formation, an exceptionally agile ghoul, using its leaping ability, actually jumped over the front shield line and into the interior of the formation! Wielding a rusty machete, it charged straight at sergeant William, the core of the formation!
"Squad leader, watch out!" Oliver once again demonstrated the ingenuity of his Tangpa. He quickly took a step to the side, thrusting the Tangpa forward to perfectly block the ghoul's cleaver, its sharp side branches firmly wedging the blade!
Squad leader William broke out in a cold sweat, but reacted quickly, immediately drawing his sword to prepare for a counterattack.
Meanwhile, Roderick, who had already withdrawn his spear, saw this situation and thrust it out without hesitation, piercing the ghoul's neck from the side!
On the other side, a Kobold was trying to parry a spear and charge into the fray had just deflected a spear and hadn't even had time to feel relieved when he heard a gunshot!
Mark, the Musketeers in the rear, calmly pulled the trigger, and the lead bullet instantly ripped off its skull.
Similar scenes played out repeatedly in the ten Mandarin Duck Formation.
The monsters' frenzied attacks were effectively divided and neutralized by this well-coordinated, combined long-range and close-range, offensive and defensive formation.
Their brute force and numerical advantage could not be concentrated; instead, they were fragmented into smaller formations and trapped in a predicament of fighting alone.
Long spears blocked their path, swords and shields held firm, Tangpa sniped; the squad leader commanded with composure.
The soldiers of the Broomflower trusted each other and cooperated seamlessly, making the most of their training.
The monsters, despite their ferocious roars and fearless charges, were like crashing into a wall of spikes, unable to overcome it, resulting in heavy casualties.
The entire formation was like a highly efficient killing machine, steadily crushing forward, leaving behind a trail of monster corpses wherever it went.