Chapter 797 New tactics
A moment ago, when he was chatting and laughing with James, the deputy commander of the legion who was following him, the soldiers walking in front were suddenly attacked by hidden arrows from both sides of the dense forest. Four people died on the spot and three were injured.
The soldiers of the Palace Guards reacted and immediately chased after him. Unexpectedly, they were pierced through the soles of their feet by the hunting traps that had been set along the way. The other two people were pierced in the thighs and abdomens by flying short spears, and they bled immediately.
Soon, these guys who came and went without a trace fled here without even leaving a body.
..—What happened in the front? "Art asked the soldiers of the Palace Guards who came to report.
"Reporting to your lord, the Count, we were attacked by enemies ambushing on both sides of the dense forest! Lord Comor sent me to tell you, be careful!"
At this time, the guards around Art suddenly raised their shields to protect the surroundings.
hh "Don't be nervous, it's just a group of stragglers, nothing to worry about."
hh Ate looked around at the surrounding airless woods, and said to Odo, the deputy commander of the legion beside him: "Odo, pass on I order to speed up the march and leave this dense forest immediately! "
"Yes, sir."
After Odo whispered a few words to the messenger behind him, the messenger ran towards the rear waving his whip.
"Sir, what shall we do with these guys who sneak up on us?" Lusignan asked.
"These people are just trying to delay our march, so it's nothing to worry about. Speed up and keep moving!"
· "Speed up and keep moving!"
· So, after a short stay, thousands of people from the Welsh Army set out on the journey again.
After walking along this commercial road in the dense forest for about half an hour, everyone finally walked out and set foot on the vast plains again.
Looking at the scorching sun above his head gradually setting towards the west, Art knew that it was already getting late. So, he asked Ron to take out the map, spread it out in front of him, and found the plain where he was currently.
Looking at the circle on the map marked with the characters Alychis, Art looked up at the peak in front of him on the west side of Alychis. At this moment, he understood that his own land was already within feet.
After putting away the map and handing it to Ron, Art pointed to the high mountain in front of him and said excitedly to the people following him: "In another hour, we will arrive at Arechis. With just a short rest, the army will be able to completely level the mountain that is blocking us. The military fortress in front of us."
Odo frowned slightly and asked, "Sir, do we need to wait until the radiation arrives before attacking the city?"
"No need!" Art rejected Odo's proposal. "This time, I don't plan to attack by force. Instead, I will use the bombs in our hands to open a way and use this military castle to test the new strategy I have been planning for a long time."
"That's right, I want to change the previous tactics that relied heavily on battering rams, ladders and climbing towers to attack. You have also seen that in the Battle of Soronborg, if we had not used the secret passage to attack the defenders from behind, our casualties would have doubled. Compared with Soronborg, Milan's attack is several times more difficult. If we continue to attack the city in the original way, I am afraid it will cause a lot of casualties." Art's brows showed some worry.
"Sir, what is the new strategy you are talking about~" Odo looked at Art expectantly.
"Bomb clear the way!" Art stretched out his right hand and made an attack gesture.
Bomb?”
“Yes! Compared with battering rams, bombs can break open city gates faster. For a small military fortress like Alychisburg, it is easy to blow open the city gates there. At the same time, use crossbowmen to suppress the enemies on the wall, shields to cover the grenadier’s advance, throw bombs up the city wall, and then use ladders to reach the top. This In this way, we can attack in one go. I believe that it will take less than half an hour to defeat the defenders inside." For these high-ranking officers who have participated in dozens of battles, it is indeed difficult to accept the new tactics that Art said. In their view, the most direct way to go into battle to kill the enemy is to charge into the battle and use the cold weapons in their hands to harvest the enemy's heads. This can not only show personal bravery, but also be the most objective way to obtain military merit rewards. Once the grenadiers participate, some disputes will inevitably arise over the distribution of credit.
Seeing that several people were silent, Art explained: "As senior officers of the legion, you must have a longer-term strategic vision. The future battlefield will not be determined by the number of people, but must rely on new weapons and new tactics. Of course, there is a process for you to adapt slowly."
"I think you have also seen the power of the mass murder weapon developed by the Weapons Workshop in the Valley. If it were not limited by the current production, why would we carry the swords in our hands and exchange lives with the enemy. Once the production of bombs in the later period is greatly increased, I can guarantee you that it won't be long before the Wells Army will dominate the entire southern continent!"
After hearing this, everyone was instantly infected by Art's ambition.
Otto was the first to speak, "Sir, since you said so, then we will do as you said. We have been with you since you had nothing, and watched you step by step from the patrol officer. After so many years, we have achieved great results. It’s obvious to all, we believe you!”
Att shook his head and said with a smile: “I said, Odo, why have you learned to flatter me now!”
Everyone laughed after hearing this.
"Okay, give me the order to speed up the march!"
When thousands of troops from the Welsh Army were less than five miles away from Arachisburg, Angus and others who had been testing the area around the fort also had a certain understanding of the defense here.
“.—Lord Angus, we have found out clearly. They dug a large number of pits and traps around the military fort, which are enough to cause damage to our cavalry and infantry~” Reyek half-crouched on the ground and communicated with Angus about the situation he and his men learned.
Angus wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked: "Are there any battle losses?"
Reyek nodded and replied: "The horses of the two guys got stuck in the hole. One of them had a broken arm and the other had a broken leg bone."
"It seems that everyone's situation is similar, and the people I led are not much better. But I found that the closer to the city wall, the greater the density of traps. I really don't know what kind of traps these bastards have set under the city wall.—"
Reyek clenched his fists after hearing this, with a trace of murderous intent flashing in his eyes, "Master Angus, otherwise I will go and check it out personally."
"No! This is too risky. It's better to wait until the master arrives before making a decision. Send a few people to closely monitor their every move. The rest rested where they were. ‖
Du～
Du～
In the afternoon, the low sound of horns sounded throughout this Arechis.
Hurry up, go up to the city wall, the Burgundians are coming!"
hh On the city wall, the officer in charge of the city defense shouted loudly to the soldiers under the city wall.
Looking at the densely packed soldiers rolling in like dark clouds, everyone on the city wall was stunned for a moment, and everything seemed to freeze in an instant.
At this time, Lord Kane Hawke of Arechis, who had already heard the news, quickly came to the city wall with his bodyguards, pushed aside the onlookers, and came to the crenellated wall.
Looking at the Burgundian army approaching the south gate like a black cloud, he couldn't help but take a breath.
After a moment, he finally recovered and shouted loudly: "Everyone, return to your fighting positions and prepare to meet the enemy!"
At this time, the defenders who had reacted took action again and ran towards their fighting positions.
Kane Hawke looked at the Burgundians outside the city gate from a distance, who were less than 500 steps away. At this moment, he suddenly felt that all his careful preparations seemed to be in vain in front of these guys.
For this southern expedition army that defeated and even captured many Lombard military nobles, the small Aletchisburg was just a piece of meat in the enemy's mouth. But even so, Kane Hawke still had no intention of surrendering. In his opinion, the glory brought by death in battle is far greater than the shame left by surrender.
Even if he is outnumbered, he will fight to the death!
.-Odo, pass my order, and the army will move back to the east and west sides respectively, and surround me completely. "
"Yes, sir!"
Otto turned to the soldiers holding signal flags behind him and said: "Send the order, the army will advance to the east and west sides, move back to surround the entire city!"
"Guys of the Guards Corps, follow me!" Commander Comer, who was walking in front, gestured, and then led the legion soldiers to the right.
After receiving the signal, the mercenary leader Gray Wolf led his men to the left, heading towards the north city gate.
In the blink of an eye, Aletchisburg was surrounded like an iron barrel by thousands of troops outside the city, with three floors inside and three outside, and it was blocked.
"Ron, get Rogge's grenadiers ready."
“I understand, sir.” Ron then turned and left.
Ater asked Angus again: "Sergeant major, how is the situation with the enemy that I asked you to find out?" Hole. But the bottom of the city wall is inaccessible, and the situation is unknown. "
"The situation you mentioned is similar to what the guy brought back by Lusignan, but~" Art pointed out his finger and motioned Angus to look at the open space outside the city gate. "There is a hole big enough to sink three carriages hidden in the only place leading to the city!"
"What!" Angus broke into a cold sweat after hearing this. "Sir, it's my fault!"
“I can’t blame you. I can’t let the cavalry company lose a small team of men just to explore the defense outside the city. In this way, without further ado, you immediately arrange the manpower to build a bridge with the ladder we brought. Remember, the gap must be narrow. "
"Sir, I'll do it right away!"
"Odo, give me the order to rest for a while and prepare to attack the city!"
"Yes, sir!"