Imperial Crown

In the dark night, the cold wind blew.

But Fangma Slope was particularly lively.

Although Fangma Slope was called a slope, it was actually a hill rising from the ground. Halfway up the mountain, the terrain suddenly changed. It no longer went up all the way, but instead went down a part, creating a natural shelter, and it was quite spacious, accommodating a 100-man army and more than 200 war horses and pack horses.

If it weren't for the lack of water inside, this place would have become a nest or stronghold for horse thieves.

The Eagle Army was so extravagant that they lit eleven bonfires. The fire crackled and the smoke flew out along the top of the sky, which was a bit warm like cooking smoke.

The soldiers gathered in groups of ten. Although they roughly maintained their formation, many "mixed troops" were inevitable.

But the liveliness was the same.

Tomorrow will be a big battle. Eric not only provided enough bonfires, but also generously distributed supplies. There was a pot on each bonfire to cook broth, and there were many bacon racks outside to roast, making the whole camp full of meat aroma.

Eric even gave everyone wine.

Although every five people could only share one wine bag, it was also real wine, which was much better than nothing!

The soldiers ate meat with big mouthfuls, sipped wine, and broke off a piece of bread from time to time to throw it into the broth and take a bite, laughing very satisfied.

Eric and others were no exception. Although they had a higher status, no one would consider the so-called eating manners when marching outside, just like Mosing Gan, who was holding a piece of roasted bacon with both hands and chewing happily, with grease all over his hands and mouth.

Although he ate in a rough manner, his eating method was very particular. He used his fingers to tear the bacon apart along the texture of the meat, sandwiched it in the soft toasted bread, and then stuffed it into his mouth. In the end, he even licked his fingers, making a "tsk tsk" sound.

Everyone was originally chatting casually, but gradually they were attracted by his eating method and watched quietly.

Mosingan didn't care about that. He stuffed the last bite of meat into his mouth, took a big sip of wine, and made a comfortable sound: "It's great!"

At this time, he found that the surroundings had become quiet. He turned his head and looked around: "Why are you looking at me if you don't eat?"

"You look so delicious." Eric rubbed his stomach, or more precisely, his plastron: "I had almost eaten, and you showed me that you were hungry again."

Gol also started to tease: "Look at you, it's as if you haven't eaten meat for centuries."

"That's not right. If I hadn't followed the Baron, I wouldn't have eaten a bite of meat in a year." Mosingan wiped his hands on the blanket and said without hesitation: "If I had meat every meal, my physique would definitely not be worse than Master Weisdong!"

"Just brag." Link laughed: "Did you hear what we just said?"

"What?" Mosingan threw another piece of bacon next to the campfire.

"We're going to the battlefield tomorrow." Eric's voice was a little lower: "Don't you want to leave some news for your family?"

"There's nothing to leave." Mosingan adjusted the position of the smoked meat nonchalantly: "I'm not like you, with a family. I'm still single until now. Even if I leave it, no one will see it."

"Don't leave one for your mother?" Simon reminded in a low voice.

"None of your business." Mosingan was quite impatient.

"Forget it if you don't leave it." Eric didn't dwell on this issue: "Mosingan, don't make that barbecue. We're going to the battlefield tomorrow. We have to reconfirm the tactics today."

"Okay." Mosingan clapped his hands and focused his attention back.

Eric took out the map and spread it out, and everyone gathered around.

"This is the 'Scorpion Nest', this is where we are stationed." Eric's finger moved between the two: "According to the map, the straight-line distance is about ten kilometers. If the cavalry charges at full speed, they can reach it within half an hour even in winter."

"So from luring the enemy to the formal contact, including the time it takes for the enemy to assemble, we have at most one and a half hours to prepare."

"Just to confirm, the task of luring the enemy is given to you, is it okay?" Eric looked at Weisdong with an inquiring look.

The latter grinned and nodded: "Absolutely no problem! With the blood-eyed warhorse, they can't catch up with me!"

"This..." Mosingan frowned slightly: "Do we have to lure the enemy? You know, Master Weisdong now represents the Baron to the outside world. If something unexpected happens..."

"Don't look at the only hand left, my riding skills are quite good!" Weisdong pounded his chest: "I have been riding since I was eight years old!"

Eric agreed with Weisdong: "Yes, Master Weisdong's riding skills can be said to be the best among us."

"And the tactic of luring the enemy is imperative. The enemy is a horse thief. If they move like this, they will be very strong. Feng, our numbers and combat power are already at a disadvantage. We must control the time and place of the battle in our hands to overcome the disadvantage. "

Mosingan nodded and accepted this explanation, and added: "As the Baron said, the other side is the largest horse thief nearby. Once provoked, they will quickly launch an attack."

"That's it." Eric put away the map and wiped a clean and flat piece of land on the ground with his hands: "After luring the enemy, it's time to engage in battle."

"Based on the other side's full-scale deployment, we will face a team of horse thieves with more than 150 people."

"A horse thief of the size of the 'Sand King' must have experts who are good at bows and arrows and equestrian skills, so the first step in their tactics must be mounted shooting!"

Weisidong snorted: "Just ride and shoot. They have bows and we have crossbows. Let's see who is afraid of whom!"

"That's different." Eric emphasized: "The range of the riding bow itself is not good, but if you charge up and use the power of the horse, you can throw it beyond the precise range of the crossbow. We don't have many crossbowmen, so we can't Wasted on shooting.”

"Then what should we do?" Gower muttered dissatisfiedly: "Are we just going to be beaten?"

"Just getting beaten." Eric glanced at Goyle: "And your sword and shield soldiers have to push me to the front!"

As he spoke, he drew a pattern on the ground: "This is the horse slope, this is the entrance. All you have to do is cover the pikemen behind you. No matter how the opponent shoots, block it as firmly as sheep intestines!"

"If it were an encounter, I would not play this way." Eric was not blindly tough, and slowed down his tone: "But this time when faced with our provocation, the opponent must have annihilated us as the primary goal. As long as tactics are If it doesn’t meet expectations, they will give up riding and shooting and switch to a strong attack!”

Gower, who was a little gloomy at first, suddenly lit up: "So, that's when the trap comes into play?"

"That's right." Eric drew another line: "There are pitfalls, and the second is attrition. The most important thing is to prevent them from charging and slow them down!"

"The entrance to Fangmapo is narrow. We can only spread thirty people. If the opponent is cavalry, it will be even less. When two or three spears are used to deal with one horse thief, we will have a numerical advantage at the local level!"

"Wait, what about us?" Link pointed at his nose and asked: "You brought up Mosingan's spearmen and Gower's sword and shield soldiers. Where are my crossbowmen? What are they doing?"

Eric smiled mysteriously: "You will know when the time comes."

"...Sir Eric, do you know that you deserve a beating after imitating Lord Baron?" Link couldn't help but complain in a low voice.

"Ahem..." Eric smiled awkwardly.

"I also have a question." Vesdon raised his hands like a student and said: "Since the cavalry cannot be deployed, what if the opponent chooses to dismount and fight on foot?"

When these words came out, everyone looked at me and I looked at you, and they all laughed.

"It would be great if that were the case!" Mosingan said: "How can a group of horse thieves dismount and fight on foot, how can they be our opponents?"

Of course, this is not without bragging, but it is also true - the combat effectiveness of a dismounted cavalry is destined to be greatly reduced.

Weisidong scratched his head and smiled innocently.

"There's only so much about the tactical part." Eric clapped his hands: "The rest depends on the specific situation tomorrow, and then we can make detailed arrangements."

"There is another part..." Simon, who had been deep in thought, raised his head and looked at Eric: "How to deal with the strong opponent?"

"This is what I'm going to say next." Eric grabbed a handful of stones and scattered seven of them on the ground: "According to the information sent by Lord Baron Volaf, 'Sand King' Heleti has extraordinary men. Seven, most of them are first-order, and only two need to be dealt with. "

"First of all, there's Jose the 'Poisonous Hook'." Eric rolled out the first stone: "The second-level Corruption Knight is also a veteran who worked hard with Heleti. He is known for his ferocity."

"Secondly, there is 'Iron Shield' Eugene." He rolled out the second stone: "Although he is only a level one, he is a traitor to the Iron Legion. He is thoughtful and tactical, and his defensive ability is very strong. Even if he is against Ordinarily the second level will not be at a disadvantage."

Link looked astonished: "Is that why you have to keep one hand in mind when planning your tactics?"

"There is no way, the same teacher taught me, so I can't break the moves." Eric smiled bitterly: "So, to deal with the strong men led by the two of them, it's up to you to take action."

"They won't know that you have become a first-level transcendent. Once you enter the chaos stage, you will seize the opportunity, two or three together, strive to kill with one hit, quickly create attrition, and wipe out the difference between us. Quantity difference!”

"Move quickly. Once the opponent realizes this, you must spread out and change the goal from annihilating the enemy to reducing the damage caused by the Chao Chao on the other side to our soldiers."

"But... what to do with the 'Sand King'?" Mosingan asked the most critical question: "That is a third-level knight!"

"..." Eric's eyes became extremely determined: "I will deal with it."

"You?" Mosingan said with worry in his eyes, "But you are only at the second level."

"...If I can't stop it, you can't change anything together." Eric smiled: "You don't have to worry too much, we just need to hold on until the Baron breaks into the 'Scorpion's Nest'."

The originally relaxed atmosphere gradually became more solemn.

"Okay, don't be too nervous." Eric glanced to the side: "How can you lead people to the battlefield when you are like this?"

"Get a good rest tonight, tomorrow is the time to see the real chapter!"

After Eric finished speaking, everyone dispersed with their own thoughts.

The bonfire was still strong, but most of the soldiers had fallen asleep. They were too tired from the journey.

But Mosingan hadn't rested yet. He leaned against the wall, holding parchment in one hand and a piece of charcoal in the other. He stared at the dark sky in a daze. He wanted to take action several times, but he didn't know what to write. Order something.

After thinking for a long time, he lowered his head, drank the last gulp of beer in the wine bag, and wrote a line of words neatly and awkwardly on the parchment:

Love you, mother.

After folding the parchment and stuffing it into his luggage, Mosingan took out a diamond-shaped pendant from his neck. It was woven with daylilies and was also the amulet given to him by his mother before leaving. Now it has been soaked white by sweat.

After giving it a light kiss, Mosingan crawled into the quilt and fell asleep.

Prepare for the battle the next day.

…