Chapter 1313 - 1231: The Downcast Ones
[Yanke Village]
[3:30 PM]
The golden sunlight pierced through the gray clouds, casting beams onto the fluffy green grass.
However, above the grassy land, there was chaos everywhere.
The pockmarked grass, broken trees, collapsed houses, and blood-stained earth turning a reddish-brown color.
The earlier noisy cannon fire, dense gunshots, and repeated shouts of "Praise Holy Wind" were all gone.
Sparrows were jubilantly pecking at carrion as they hopped around.
And the service soldiers were like scavengers after the battle, cleaning up the battlefield and collecting the spoils.
According to the rules of the Holy Alliance, the spoils are distributed based on merits; hiding them is a serious crime.
The severity is on the same level as the wanton killing of civilians, and at worst, it could even result in beheading.
The Holy Alliance’s first encounter with the Vampire Army ended just two hours after it began.
Interestingly, Battle Commander Michelle did not pursue for long but chose to return.
It was evident that the combat strength of this Vampire Army exceeded his expectations.
Not in the sense of being unbelievably low as in the Empire, but exceptionally high.
Whether it was the speed of changing formations, morale on the battlefield, or the accuracy of their firearms, it surpassed his imagination.
His pursuit was merely a gesture; the recruits relied solely on enthusiasm, and their situation wasn’t optimistic.
This was just a chance encounter with an ordinary vampire unit; what if they met an elite army?
Originally, the officers of the new battle group thought they could complete the task of eradicating vampires alone, but now they were doubtful.
However, Hanske didn’t know this; he only knew the Holy Alliance had defeated the vampires.
This was enough to stir excitement.
He hummed a ditty, pushing a small cart, which contained a high-ranking vampire, ready to be burned.
Many vampires have the ability to feign death; if hastily buried, they might dig themselves out in the night.
The vampire in the cart had only a severed arm connected to its right shoulder, with dark red, foul-smelling blood oozing out, emitting a pungent odor.
This was a high-ranking vampire, now being pushed in a makeshift wooden cart like garbage.
"You seem quite happy."
"Well, we won a big victory, right."
To Hanske, the battle seemed well-executed, but in Pierre’s view, it was not: "If you think like that, you’re wrong. This battle can only count as a small victory."
"Why?"
The main reason this vampire army managed to effectively counterattack and retreat today was due to the Holy Alliance Corps’ lack of coordination.
Ideally, three or four corps should have launched a coordinated volley to break the enemy’s line, ensuring they couldn’t receive reinforcements in time.
There’s only one reserve unit, and it can’t simultaneously support multiple collapsing battle lines.
But in practice, the Eighth Army of the Fourth Corps advanced recklessly, failing to coordinate with friendly forces, and got too close to the enemy.
The other corps either couldn’t keep pace with the Fourth and Eighth Corps or couldn’t resist pausing and fired back.
Thus, the Fourth Corps broke through the vampire line it faced, only to encounter the vampire’s reserve unit immediately.
The vampire commander on the other side wasn’t clueless; they had deployed a reserve unit in advance and took advantage of the timing, catching the Fourth Corps off guard.
If it weren’t for the cuirassier cavalry coming to the rescue, the Fourth Corps would have been nearly defeated.
The movement of the cuirassier cavalry and the Fourth Corps completely disrupted the overall strategic deployment, ultimately causing chaos among the other corps.
"Now do you understand?" Pierre exhaled a smoke ring.
"But I still don’t get it; didn’t you say they practiced this maneuver hundreds or thousands of times?"
"You’ve never been through a marching formation; you don’t understand, even the most elite Imperial Guard can’t ensure a tidy formation throughout."
The battlefield terrain is ever-changing, especially when a corps spreads in a horizontal formation spanning 80 to 100 meters.
Their march path includes shrubs, grasslands, streams, embankments, fences, and fallen trees.
The pace of advancement and obstacles encountered by each corps is different, so both the Corps Commander and Battle Commander must maintain as tidy a formation as possible.
Clearly, the Corps Commanders of the new battle group lacked experience.
They might have performed well in training grounds but showed cowardice in real battles.
Some advanced too fast, leaving the support range of other corps.
Others advanced too slowly, unable to support and cover the flank of other corps.
Among the recruits, even desertion occurred, with more than a few.
If not for the Vampire Army being intimidated by the Fourth and Eighth Corps’ coordinated assault and voluntarily withdrawing, the outcome of this battle would have been uncertain.
The coordinated assault is indeed powerful, but it’s not a cure-all that ensures victory with every use on the battlefield.
Listening to Pierre’s narration, Hanske was stunned: "Isn’t it said that the Holy Alliance infantry is fearless and highly spirited? Are there deserters?"
"Why not? Even Gray Robe Valley had deserters!" Pierre rolled his eyes, "Morale isn’t a protective charm; not every soldier has such high awareness."
"Isn’t the Holy Alliance severe on deserters? Are they sent to the Trinity Education Team?"
"Of course, but don’t think His Majesty Saint Sun lacks empathy. His Majesty Saint’s Grandson is very understanding." Pierre pointed to the campfire in the camp, hands on hips, "Deserters of the Holy Alliance refer to soldiers who flee the army.
If you flee the battlefield out of fear, officers in the rear will reorganize the soldiers who fled, and even priests will offer comfort.
Once reorganization is complete, you must continue to fight; repeat fleeing merely results in discharge.
The key judgment for desertion by the Exorcism Court is unauthorized departure from the army."
Finally, Hanske realized, but thinking of the bodies he saw on the battlefield made his heart tremble.
It’s a terrifying battlefield where death lurks at every moment, and comrades fall at each step.
Watching from afar was enough to make him weak-kneed, not to mention being in the midst of it.
Two muskets scatter the soldier’s soul; boss, I’m just a civilian.
What kind of mindset and will do these Holy Alliance soldiers have to step onto such a brutal battlefield?
Anyway, Hanske didn’t possess such feelings and courage.
"I think I’d better quietly find my sister." After a long silence, Hanske finally spoke gloomily, "The battlefield is not for me."
"That’s your choice." Pierre shrugged, "Besides, you’re only 14; there’s a long way ahead."
"..." Apparently not in a good mood, Hanske only mumbled a low "mm."
Seeing the atmosphere a bit heavy, Pierre started another topic: "Is it strange I know so much?"
"...It’s alright."
"Firstly, I’ve witnessed many battles myself. Secondly, my son graduated from military school, and sometimes I read his books.
I should be retired by now, but mainly because I can’t idle at home; my second son suggested I manage logistics.
But I still prefer running with the army, doing small tasks, rather than sitting in an office.
And relying on my son for promotion doesn’t sit right.
My second son is the most... let’s not talk about it; just know he’s a Battle Commander of a certain battle group."
"In our battle group," Hanske replied gloomily.
With a pause in his stride, Pierre Nai’s eyes slowly widened, and after a moment, he asked, "Why, how do you know?"
"Daxson told me."
"Daxson... How did he find out?!"
"He said the whole battle group knew, except for you." After a pause, Hanske continued, "I was told on the first day I knew you."
"..."
Another gloomy person joined the conversation.