After resting for a few days in Custer City, the entire Flame Legion, the magician corps and the 20,000 soldiers led by Carsente set out on the journey back to the imperial capital.
Before I left, I realized how rich the fat pig lord of Custer City was. He took care of all the logistical supplies for this war, including food and fodder supplies. Before I left, he gave 20,000 gold coins each to the Flame Legion and the Magician Corps. In addition, all the officers who came back alive at the level of division commander and above received 1,000 gold coins each, which was equivalent to more than a year's salary for a division commander.
I did not hesitate to distribute the gold coins to my subordinates, the junior and middle-ranking officers, and the soldiers who had performed outstandingly in previous battles. They were my future team, and even if they would still be loyal to Thacker, it was definitely not a bad thing if my efforts could earn me more loyalty.
Carrying two boxes full of crystals, Yaruo and six-color elves, I followed Thacker's main force and set out on the road back to the imperial capital. For some reason, Thacker broke up a light cavalry division and a bow cavalry division and placed them on both sides of the marching brigade, and sent a light cavalry to cover the rear. The central army was divided into two parts, with Carsent's 20,000 unequipped cavalry in the front, Thacker's two heavy cavalry divisions and magician troops in the back, and my super small division (4,000 people) sandwiched between the two heavy cavalry divisions.
For some reason, the entire army did not approach any city during the entire march. At most, they asked the garrisons in nearby cities to deliver rations or provide necessary supplies. The rest of the time was spent in the wilderness. Could it be that the army of this world also knew not to disturb the people
After following the army for a few days, I was almost unable to bear it. I spent almost half of my time on horseback, and it was almost dark when I rested at night, so I had no chance to do anything. Yaruo, the only one who was free, basically didn't say a word. At most, I asked one question and she answered one, which made me very depressed.
It was not long after noon that day, probably only an hour after lunch? After a commotion ahead, the entire army began to slow down and gradually stopped moving forward.
"What's going on? What happened ahead?" Looking at the front where it looked like they were going to set up camp, I asked Matthew beside me.
"My lord, we are probably at Crescent Lake ahead. The governor there is the Minister of Finance's man. There's a rumor that two elite divisions of the Minister of Military Affairs mysteriously disappeared here during the rotation. I guess Lord Sack has some ideas about this, too?" Matthew whispered mysteriously in my ear.
"I'll go take a look. If there are any orders from the front, execute them immediately. Also, be alert. I don't want you to suffer the same misfortune as those two divisions..." I haven't seen Sack since the start of the march. I have been trying to appease the six-color elf with the help of Yaruo, trying to adapt to each other as soon as possible. Or maybe I'm lucky. In the past few days, I have been able to make this weird little thing integrate into my body without knowing it, but I still feel bad. I always feel like there is something extra in my body.
"Sir, is there any problem? Why are we setting up camp so early today?" When I came to Thack, there were already many people gathered around Thack and Wink. No doubt, they were all thinking about some difficult problems.
"Hanlong, you came just in time. I was just about to send someone to call you! We were just wondering, how can a light cavalry division and a heavy cavalry division be completely annihilated while marching in this area which is mainly plains with a small amount of shrubs? And the enemy's military strength does not exceed one legion."
"Ambush!" I blurted out without even thinking after hearing what Thacker said. I've seen the tactics of heavy cavalry charging and light cavalry supporting on both wings. Unless there is a large army that is much stronger than them, it is impossible to wipe them out completely, especially in such a plain area. Those heavy cavalry can't escape, but it's easy for the light cavalry to escape. If it is an ambush, especially a trap of encircling on all sides and adding anti-cavalry escape, then it is possible to wipe out two divisions like this.
"Ambush? But how can you ambush in a place like this? Although the grass here is long, it is impossible for the cavalry to see it. And the woods here are not big enough to ambush a large army that can destroy two elite cavalry. Do you think they all know invisibility magic? It's really funny. I think you have a problem with your brain!" As soon as I said this, a voice that I hated so much came out. It was the voice of Claude who I left in the forest. Damn, how can this guy be so lucky
"I don't need magic to dig a hole and bury myself, right? Or do you think all those dead people on the continent are magicians?" I maliciously compared the idiot to a dead person, but this guy was not stupid. He understood what I meant after a little thought. But before he could react, someone else answered first.
"Yes, yes! If we dig pits on the roads that the two armies must pass through and hide the troops underground, then we can surprise the two armies. If the distance is close enough, the three elite infantry divisions can completely wipe out the two cavalry divisions. However, do the two divisions not even have a single person escaping when they see the unfavorable situation?" After waking up, Pavel also remembered the most important issue.
“Hahaha, maybe some people think that those two cavalrymen are idiots who only know how to fight to the death and don’t know how to retreat. I wonder what explanation our upstart division commander has?” After hearing the doubts raised by Pavel, Claude was extremely excited, but he didn’t know that when he said that I was an idiot and a upstart, a cold light flashed in Sack’s eyes... I am an idiot and a upstart, then what kind of people are those who like idiots and upstarts...
"Three infantry divisions were ambushed on the road that the troops had to pass through. Then, behind them, in the direction where the two cavalry divisions would pass over their heads, we made a U-shaped pocket. The edges of the U-shaped pocket were all equipped with horse trip ropes. One layer was not enough for two layers, and two layers were not enough for three layers. Given my personality, I installed 10 layers to ensure that the horses could not pass through.
Then put an infantry division at the bottom of the U-shape and place a light cavalry division in the distance. In this way, when the two cavalry divisions pass over the heads of the three infantry divisions, the two cavalry divisions will be dead.
The three infantry divisions blocked the retreat of the cavalry division, which was a U-shaped gap, and kept pressing from behind the cavalry division. The enemy's heavy cavalry division had no chance to turn around and charge. The only thing they could do was to rush forward, distance themselves from the infantry, and then look for an opportunity to turn around and attack the infantry. But this was a way to kill them faster. The cavalry would turn them from cavalry into pure infantry, and then they would be completely destroyed by the front and back attacks. And a light cavalry division was used to mop up the rear, I don't think everyone would think they would leave a single person alive, right?"
After hearing what I said, everyone fell silent. The officers here were almost all commanders of the cavalry units. Although they found this analysis of the situation difficult to accept, they also knew that if they encountered such a situation, the cavalry would basically end up like this, and complete annihilation would be their fate.
"Hanlong is right. I think this is the situation. Let's take a look at what we should do if we encounter such a situation." Sack's face was full of joy, and he even seemed happier than he himself thought.
"My division will just stand guard at the rear. When there is a problem at the rear, the front army will stop advancing, and the light cavalry that is left behind will pass through my division's air strike. Then our army will attack with instant crossbow carts at close range, which will be enough to completely collapse the pursuers at the rear. Then we can send out the archers and magicians to clear the horse trip ropes in front. Of course, this can be done slowly."
"Do you have any other opinions? If you have any, please raise them!" Seeing that I took on the most dangerous position, Thacker had no objection. But judging from how he handled problems in the past, if I failed, at least I would have bought time for his heavy cavalry troops in front. And then, it must be as he said when I occupied the south gate of Huangshi City, to let the heavy cavalry completely destroy us and the enemy troops who were mixed together...
"Sir, there are spies over there!" A group of people were walking beside the military camp that was being repaired, discussing possible situations while revising and perfecting the marching plan. At this time, a guard of Carsent suddenly shouted and tried to find a horse to chase. . . . . .
At the same time as the guard called out, Wenk's light spear also shot towards the spy. In a few seconds, the light spear exploded more than ten meters behind the spy. Although the spy was knocked over, it obviously did not cause much damage. Instead, the guy ran faster towards a horse not far away. It seemed impossible to catch up. Even if he was as powerful as Thacker, it was impossible for him to catch up with a galloping horse with such a big gap, let alone others.
"Damn it, if we could catch him, we would have a lot less trouble..."