Chapter 1311 - 1229: First Contact (Part 1)
"The enemy is at our doorstep, and now you’re telling me this? What’s the point?"
"Before the battle, Her Highness Jeanne ordered three times, declared five times, have you all forgotten?"
"Senior Pastor, take note of the names, you’ll be the first to review at the post-battle summary meeting."
The commander of the hunting battalion responsible for external reconnaissance left with a face full of dirt, while Michelle Nai, the interim battle commander of the first battalion of Joan of Arc Castle, scratched the back of his head in frustration.
Having served as a Corps Commander and Deputy Warlord of the Imperial Guard, this was his first time assuming the role of a Battle Commander.
Although it was only interim, as long as he performed well, he could be confirmed.
If he failed this time, who knows when the next opportunity would come.
No matter what, he had to stay focused.
Shaking off some distractions, Michelle shifted his gaze to the battlefield.
After the reconnaissance of both sides’ hunters and scouts, he roughly understood the basic situation.
This Vampire Army of unknown origin likely ran into the fog while marching.
The reason Michelle was still in the camp while the vampires were on the march wasn’t that the vampires woke up early, but because they typically set out in the evening and camped at dawn.
This was a skirmish, with enemy forces numbering around 3,000 to 5,000, while our forces were about 5,500.
At this moment, the enemy had marched all night and was fatigued, while our forces just awoke, full of energy.
We can fight.
The vampire commander on the other side was obviously no fool. Upon realizing the encounter, they immediately chose to face the enemy rather than evade.
Both sides lined up their formations around seven or eight in the morning, with the sunlight not yet too intense.
The march speed of the Holy Alliance was famous throughout the continent; if they fled, they would likely have to engage when the sun was at its peak.
Taking up the spyglass, Michelle looked through the narrow field of vision, seeing a red line extending from the left side to the right in the distance, while a black line was nearer.
Between the red and black lines, both sides’ hunters and dispersed troops were freely firing at each other.
Clearly, in terms of free shooting, the hunters of the Holy Alliance still held an advantage.
They had already cleared a sufficiently wide and safe area in front of the frontlines.
"Grenadiers, it’s your turn, launch the holy water grenades, let them have a taste."
In the military terminology of the Holy Alliance, grenadiers were not soldiers who threw grenades but those using grenade launchers.
Through the gaps in the line, groups of grenadiers carrying long-barreled grenade launchers and launch stands moved forward.
Setting up the launchers on the grass, they inserted holy water grenades into the long barrels, and the small clockwork chamber hummed softly.
Dozens of holy water grenades flew into the air, tracing an arc in the sky, and then white mist began to rise within the red line.
When it came to dealing with vampires, the church had not been idle for centuries.
The Holy Water Grenade that Horn once faced directly was finally having the intended effect at this moment.
Waves of mist enveloped the line, dispersing the blood mist that had spread within the formation.
Among the fog loomed ghostly shadows, but the orderly battle lines didn’t waver much.
Michelle frowned: "Damn, why?"
The lieutenant, who had just finished summarizing the intelligence, immediately answered Michelle’s question.
"Full-cover light-blocking uniforms? How were they made?"
"Unknown, vampire technology."
Indeed, to fight effectively under holy water and sunlight, Serafe was relentless in effort.
During the previous battle in Greewu City, the reason Falan and other elites could escape was due to the large number of extraordinary monks’ divine art, holy water, and sunlight.
Having learned from that painful experience, Serafe quickly developed these uniforms, though currently only partially equipped.
Not only was the outer body covered by light-blocking clothing, but even breathing required connection to a breathing mask on the face via a blood mist bottle on the back, to guard against the Holy Alliance’s "poison gas grenades."
However, while they blocked light, they didn’t block it entirely, nor could they completely seal out air and moisture.
So whether holy water or sunlight, suppression would still occur, just not decisively.
"Right now, we still have to rely on the spring gun to force holy oil into the vampire’s body?"
"I’m afraid that’s the only option."
"Fuck!"
Honestly, if this thing had come out sooner, relying on the Empire’s cold weapon tactics, the kingdom would likely have fallen long ago.
Calming his mind, Michelle mounted his horse: "I’m going to the front lines to command. You give the orders, move to the left side, the ground on the right is all water, can’t move too fast."
The operation staff immediately took out paper and pen to write notes to each Corps Commander.
Don’t underestimate this step, the order of movement, how to move, and the specific position to move to all had to be clearly written.
The General Staff even required the lieutenant to state reasons to help the Corps Commanders understand.
Let them know what happened? How did it happen? Why did it happen?
Only then could commands be efficient, and junior officers wouldn’t make erroneous judgments of their superiors’ instructions.
Michelle’s so-called right side having water actually meant:
There were many streams and puddles on the right side of the battlefield, making it difficult to form formations ("the ground on the right is all water").
Therefore, they had to go left, otherwise, advancing or retreating would easily be hindered ("can’t move too fast").
As the battleline of the Holy Alliance slowly moved towards the advantageous position on the left, the vampires in the distance clearly noticed this.
They also needed the battlefield on the left side (for them, it was the right side).
As the Holy Alliance battle line shifted, they too made a move.
Much to Michelle’s surprise, although these vampires were wailing under the lashes of the high-ranking vampires, they efficiently completed the formation change.
The stirring Baroque language rang out, accompanied by the unique cymbal sound of the Royal Court.
The marching columns began to change formation.
The leather boots stepped neatly on the ground, turned smoothly, then split and connected again.
By the time both sides could clearly see each other’s banners, both the Holy Alliance and the Royal Court had already set up wide lines of battle.
From left to right on the battlefield, layer by layer, were long lines of red and black, with each corner of the formation line being a soldier holding a spring gun or blood contract gun.
"Adjust formation, the nearest corps doesn’t need to advance anymore, prepare to confront the enemy."
"Three-pounders provide cover, send the cuirassier cavalry to divert their imperial blood servant knights."
"Grenadiers, don’t just stand there, what are you doing? Keep launching the holy water grenades, are we short on holy water?"
On the battlefield at this moment, the fourth, fifth, and sixth corps, being at the rear, were the first to enter the battle range.
"Everyone, shoulder arms, advance at a common pace." The Corps Commanders shouted, "Let’s see who dares to disobey orders and put down the spring gun."
This was a military suggestion given to the Holy Alliance by the Windmill’s military observation group after observing the battle in Greewu City.
During the process of advancing towards the enemy, no matter how determined or brave the veteran, there are moments when their resolve wavers.
This is not the same as facing an enemy in a grand formation because the opponent also has the ability for long-range armor-piercing shots this time.
The infantry tended to stop and start counterattacking when they couldn’t bear being hit anymore.
However, this often happened before reaching the optimal position, and to get them to put down their spring guns and reorganize for another advance would take quite a long time.
This is how opportunities are gradually lost.
Therefore, officers must constantly supervise, ensuring that no one fires on their own when entering the optimal position.
Only at critical moments, such as covering allies, are they allowed to stop and counterattack.
When your comrade beside you falls one by one, you’re not allowed to dodge and defend, nor can you avenge them and counterattack.
You must wait for orders, greet the lead bullets with your burning chest, until the praise of the Holy Wind arrives.
You must march into death to march into victory.
The era of line battles lacked the brutal close-quarter combat of the past, but it was equally bloody and cruel.
With orderly steps, the interspersed fourth, fifth, and sixth corps began to slowly push forward toward the vampire line.
Bang!
A bullet pierced the chest of a soldier of the Holy Alliance, making him clutch his chest and collapse, writhing in pain on the ground.
As if this shot signaled the beginning, sporadic thudding and whooshing sounds immediately filled everyone’s ears.