Realm of Power

The June rain hit his face with a rare coldness. Murphy O'Brien rode a war horse like a sharp blade cutting through the rain curtain, galloping towards the deputy fort of the capital. The horse's hooves raised the muddy water on the ground, and in his Behind him, more than a dozen Murphy dragon armored cavalry followed, heading towards the auxiliary fort, carrying The Murphy cavalrymen with red strips of cloth representing the desire for revenge were driving their horses and swarmed up on the temporary pedals set up. The red streamers on their heads were flying behind them. They miraculously attacked the city wall with their cavalry, completely overpowering the guards. The Praetorian Guards on the east wall were caught off guard;

It triggered the tragic war that later historians called the "Southwestern War".

The reason why it was tragic was not only because of the battle, but also because of the profound impact this war had on the southwest and even the entire Gaul. It was like the sound of the dusk bell in the dusk of the empire, and the use of cavalry to launch siege warfare also made Mephio The name Boone is one of the few that has made a mark in the history of imperial affairs.

"Hua Hua"

The wind of war broke out, and the Guards on the city wall were mobilizing their troops as much as possible. It was still a little late for Stanley Spencer to give the order to gather the heavy cavalry. He could only mobilize the 3,000 infantry as a reserve first. The Guards Soldiers were running between the city roads. If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, who would have believed that the cavalry could also climb the city wall?

"Order to resist with all your strength. If anyone escapes without permission, kill them!"

A regular Guards officer felt the turmoil among his men. He pulled out his sword at the front of the queue and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Everyone, hold still! Anyone who dares to escape will be killed! Those who survive after the war will enter the Guards." Army! "But his inspiring voice seemed so small compared to the densely packed Murphy Dragon Armor cavalry coming up from the auxiliary fort below.

"Put up the battle flag, the commando team ascends the city!"

Murphy O'Brien's horse stopped below the auxiliary fort, raised his head, and his vengeful eyes flashed like blood. He sent people to attack the east in order to cause the Guards to be short of strength at the east gate. 2,000 heavy armored cavalry divided into four groups and rushed towards the four auxiliary forts. He directly ordered his men to erect their battle flags on the enemy's side. Within the shooting range of the arrow cluster, his move immediately brought the morale of the Murphy Dragon Armor Cavalry to its peak.

"Stanley Spencer, you coward, how dare you come out and fight!" Murphy O'Brien's voice that shook the entire battlefield penetrated the rain curtain, and the faces of the Guardsmen above turned even paler. The long sword in his hand fell, like cutting off a rain curtain and pointing at the city wall. The sharpness of each team of 200 heavy armored cavalry raised their horses' hooves and rushed up to the city wall like a tsunami and landslide, stepping on the thick wooden boards of the auxiliary fort and the city wall. The Imperial Guards hurriedly set up a dense barrage of spears. The rain hit every soldier's face, making it look so white that it was scary.

"For the empire, kill!"

To build momentum. The spearmen in front shouted in unison, and the dense spear points stood upright at the same time, as if a forest of spears suddenly appeared on the city wall. The cavalry rushing towards them completely ignored the spear formation in front of them. Shouting "Murphy breaks the formation", people and horses rushed in like a whirlwind.

"Clang" The sharp weapon pierced the armor, causing a sharp metal friction, and the spear pierced the belly of the war horse in front of him. With a burst of blood raining down, the cavalry above realized that they were blocked and jumped off their horses bravely. Use your own body to hold down the spear pointed toward the front for your companions behind.

"Hold on, never waver!" The voice of the captain of the Guards echoed on the city wall. In the hazy white rain curtain, the heavy armored cavalry flashing like monsters crashed into the battlements of the city wall. The huge war horses were like The beast's tail hit the group of Imperial Guard soldiers hard,

"Pop! Pah! Pah!" There is a huge disparity in strength. Infantry is at a natural disadvantage against cavalry. Although a temporary wall of guns was erected inside, they were crushed by heavy cavalry that was as heavy as a mountain. The spears on the battlements were The soldiers were hit and flew out like kites with broken strings. They hit the east wall defense line one after another. With almost no effort, the city wall already showed a one-sided situation.

Without the support of a large infantry group, relying only on one or a few thin gun formations was completely unable to stop the continuous attacks of the heavy cavalry.

Once the heavy war horses wearing metal armor broke through, they had the opportunity to forcefully squeeze into the crowd behind them. If the Guards tried to close the breach, they would have to pay not only the blood and corpses of the soldiers, but also the first ones to rush into the city wall. The death squads among the cavalry are all the most elite "Murphy Dragon Spears"

Thirty thousand Murphy's heavy armor, only five hundred dragon spears, which is enough to show his elite.

Although Murphy's Legion lost 150 dragoons in the gamble between the southwest and northwest, the remaining 350 dragoons were enough to make the guards on the city wall pay a heavy price. , these dragon lance cavalry are elites who have experienced hundreds of battles, and are not afraid of death. The heavy melee weapon in their hands is the three-ball flail. As long as Rushing into the crowd, a cold light flashed across the body, and the Imperial Guards fell to pieces. There were sounds of broken spears and broken bones everywhere. The armor on the Dragon Lancers was also thicker than that of other cavalry. The Imperial Guards The army's weapons were slashed on it, and only sparks could be seen from the collision, but the cavalry above were still alive and kicking.

"Oh my god, what a monster!"

Huge fear enveloped the hearts of the Guards soldiers. In front of these monster-like heavy armored cavalry, the hastily formed infantry array of the Guards was as vulnerable as if it were made of paper and mud. The soldiers seemed to have been swept by a strong wind. The ripe ears of wheat fell down row after row,

Rain mixed with blood exploded from the bodies of the soldiers on both sides. The heavy armored cavalry, which was completely unafraid of death, also began to suffer casualties. The cavalry was thrown off the horse as if it had been hit hard, but in this cavalry Behind are more heavy armored cavalry,

"Go forward and crush them!"

The Murphy Dragon Armored Cavalry behind the Dragoon Cavalry was aroused by the scene in front of him. Kill! "The spear broke, and the spearman rolled to the ground, like a purple storm flashing in the lightning and thunder. Murphy's cavalry jumped into the city wall like a wave and overwhelmed the defense line.

"Hold it, or everyone will die!"

The Guards were in chaos. The officers were driving the soldiers frantically. The scattered formations of the spearmen collided heavily with the oncoming heavy horses. The collision of steel and steel, the spears pierced the heavy armor of the cavalry, and they were beaten. Under the rapid impact, the spear made a crisp snapping sound as it was overwhelmed.

"Ah" screams were heard everywhere. The Imperial Guard infantry, which had no way to retreat, was heavily trampled under the hoofs of the horses by the Murphy Dragon Armored Cavalry, and there were pieces of meat under the horses' hoofs. Then came the second row behind, and the third row crowded together out of fear. Guards infantry, horses passing by, corpses lying across the battlements,

"Asshole, you forgot that Murphy's Dragon Armor Cavalry is also called the Formation Breaking Cavalry!" Stanley Spencer angrily cursed himself for being stupid. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked at this scene helplessly. At this moment, he remembered that Murphy The Dragoons were famous for their ferocious close combat capabilities on the eastern battlefield, and Murphy's ability to break formations. Even the heavy-armed Changge soldiers that the Central Asians are proud of have been defeated before, but now they are attacking with light infantry. It is like sending a sheep into the tiger's mouth. The opponent is bleeding all the way. It is only a matter of time before they capture the east wall.

"Sir Stanley, I think the city wall should be abandoned!" Algernon Julia suddenly said with a stern face next to him, her beautiful eyes seemed to be dyed red by the tragedy of the battlefield at this moment. It's really too tragic,

"Abandon the city wall?" Stanley Spencer heard her words, took a deep breath in astonishment, and shook his head.

"Don't be so pessimistic. I admit that although the opponent's offensive is sharp, the main force of our army has not been greatly damaged, and it is fully possible to continue fighting with it! Moreover, our heavy cavalry has not yet been dispatched. As long as it is assembled, we can launch a counterattack. It’s the time when the enemy is tired, and the enemy’s cavalry has climbed onto the city wall, but they may not be able to get down!”

"Your Excellency's idea is good, but I must say, if that's the case, then we are really doomed!"

Algernon Julia said slowly and calmly, "Although your lord has temporarily issued an order to assemble the heavy cavalry, it is already too late. Haven't you discovered that the four auxiliary forts are dealing with the lowest section of the eastern section of the city wall?" , the opponent's cavalry is like four continuous attack lines,

However, in just ten minutes, 2,000 of our hastily engaged Imperial Guards fell, and all four corresponding battlements were breached without exception. If we continue to persist, more and more troops will be defeated. , our army's general is really at an end. To put it bluntly, the opponent has completely dominated the city wall battlefield. As long as there are enough numbers to sweep along the city wall, it is useless even if we have tens of thousands of troops! "

Algernon Julia paused in her voice, pointed to the city at her feet, and said slowly, "I wonder if you have ever observed the width of the city wall! The city of the southwest capital below us is really not that wide. I just checked it visually. , fully twenty meters wide, completely It is completely inconsistent with the general rule that the city wall is only eight meters long. The southwest capital is not a military fortress, but it has a tower passage that is enough for ten horses to run parallel. There is no doubt that this city passage must have been specially built by Murphy O'Brien. From the castle to the city road, he had already had such a plan.

"Now he is constantly accumulating troops. It seems that he is taking advantage of the situation, but in fact he is not advancing very fast. He simply wants to crush us all like beans on this city road! The soldiers who continue to retreat will make Even if we gather the heavy cavalry, we can't launch a counterattack unless both of us crush the broken army in the middle."

"If there is such a disregard for the lives of soldiers, coupled with the current unfavorable war situation, I am afraid that the entire army will collapse immediately! By then, we will really be unable to recover."

"Then what should we do? If we abandon the city wall, we will be in an undefendable situation!" Stanley Spencer looked hesitant.

"Instead of wasting it like this, we might as well drag the enemy into the quagmire of urban street fighting." Algernon Julia said in a cold tone, "Murphy O'Brien has 20,000 people, and we have 40,000, and there are still more than 200,000 left to spare." If we want to take advantage of the southwest people who want to show our advantages, is there any more favorable terrain than the countless criss-crossing streets in the city?

"Introducing streets?" Stanley Spencer was stunned for a moment, and said hesitantly on his face, "Even if we lure the opponent's cavalry into the city streets, there is nothing that can stop our army. Even if there are streets to distract the opponent's troops, it will be useless!"

"Who said there is no obstacle?" Algernon Julia said without hesitation, her eyes twinkling.

"What do you mean, miss?" Stanley Spencer looked confused. He had never thought about the street fighting after the city was broken, and naturally he was not prepared. But the confident look on Algernon Julia's face made him confused. through

Algernon Julia sneered, "You have forgotten, we control the entire southwest capital. We can drive all the southwest people into the streets. These untouchables are our natural obstacles to stop Murphy's cavalry." Iron hoof is perfect, and we only need to send troops to launch a sudden attack from the rear.

Faced with a large number of civilians blocking the road. Haha, I also want to see if Murphy O'Brien is so cruel as to order an attack! If he orders an attack on civilians, his reputation in the southwest will be ruined. If he hesitates. . . . . A cruel sneer appeared on Algernon Julia's lips. "As long as the opponent's morale fails, or the morale of the army is turbulent, our heavy cavalry will have the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. Murphy will be proud of his strength." The cavalry is overrun! "

"Using civilians to block, but also sending troops to attack, isn't this too..." Stanley Spencer secretly smacked his tongue after hearing this. His face turned pale, his lips trembled a few times, and his eyes looked at Algernon Julia beside him with a bit of fear.

This woman's heart is really unusually cruel! , that is a full 200,000 Southwest people. If the corpses are piled up, they can be built as high as a city wall. This woman actually thought of using 200,000 Southwest civilians as a barrier to contain Murphy's cavalry. This cold-blooded strategy has already been To a certain extent. Thinking of the previous tragic night attack on Long Street and the scene of this woman driving her men to fight to the death, even a veteran battlefield veteran like Stanley Spencer, who was used to seeing mountains of corpses and seas of blood, felt chills running down his spine. But he couldn't deny that this method was really good.

No matter what Murphy O'Brien chooses, the balance of this war has already tilted to his side in advance.

"Sir Stanley. His Majesty the Emperor has entrusted you with important responsibilities. The northwest is no longer accessible. If there is another southwest...it will only be 200,000 untouchables. Do you need to be so concerned?" Algernon Julia looked at the hesitant one. Stanley Spencer's eyebrows were slightly raised, and his tone was so cold that it made people feel chilling, just like the confused rain in front of him,

"Okay! That's all now." Stanley Spencer finally nodded affirmatively. After all, he is a person who came out of the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood. When he put down all pity, he completely replaced it with the arrangement for the enemy. This eastern The famous general's ruthlessness is not inferior to that of Algernon Julia.

After all, this is the southwest far away from the core area of ​​the empire. Murphy O'Brien has already fallen out with the empire. If we can pacify the southwest this time and remove a thorn in His Majesty's eye, the credit will not be much compared to pacifying the northwest. However, the two of them didn't know that their selfish intentions had triggered the flames of war that ignited the entire Gallic Empire.

"Report, our army has occupied the east wall!"

Reports from the front made Murphy O'Brien finally show a hint of joy. The rain in the sky was much lighter, and the sky was dark. The air pressure was very low, so low that it made people breathless. The raindrops hit the high places. On the city wall, the battlements are stained with the blood of soldiers from both sides. The white The raindrops were swaying, ups and downs in the wind, stretching their lonely figures to their heart's content. In just two hours of offensive and defensive battle, the place had turned into a sea of ​​blood. Under the erosion of the rain, the red water flowed from Falling rain fell from the city wall, and the whole city seemed to be crying.

"Let's go to town!"

Murphy O'Brien waved his hand excitedly, and led his men to step onto the plank leading to the battlement. His face was filled with excitement of regaining control of the overall situation. On the other side, the Imperial Guards who had received the order were moving with The disintegrating situation entered the city. They rushed into every corner of the city like wolves and tigers, killing everyone. All the Southwesters they saw were driven out of their houses. The elderly and children were not spared. Soon, the streets and alleys were crowded with Southwesters. The Imperial Guards drove these people toward the east and west districts, where the city was located. In the direction of the door, the crowded street was filled with people and it was almost impossible to pass through.

Orfeo Buon, who had just climbed onto the city wall, had already dismounted from his horse. He had just received the report that most of the guards on the city wall had been routed. Now the entire city wall had fallen into his hands. He ordered the east and west gates to be opened. Let more Murphy cavalry enter the city. He looked deeply at the majestic city houses in front of him and was thinking about how to find that bastard Stanley Spencer.

"Sir, the approach of the Third Squadron is blocked!"

"Sir, the approach of the 7th Squadron is blocked!"

Just as his heart was surging, the sudden report made his heart freeze.

"What, you said the Guards drove civilians to block the road?" Aoife O'Boon angrily grabbed the collar of the reporting soldier with his angry hand. The excitement on his face was unexpectedly interrupted. He had been in charge of the southwest for 2 months. He was used to thinking of himself as a southwesterner, but he didn't expect that the Imperial Guards would collapse from the city wall and play such a trick. What did the other party want? It would be a joke if blocking the road could stop one's own iron hoofs.

"Yes, sir, all roads into the inner area are completely blocked!" The soldier who reported the report turned pale with fright.

"Take me to see it!"

Ofeobuen took a deep breath and ordered with a gloomy face. The soldiers quickly took him there. Five hundred meters away from the inner area, Ofeobuen had to stop his horse. The whip in his hand even snapped. fell to the ground

The sight in front of him made his eyebrows knit together completely. It was so despicable. The anger in Aofei O'Bun's eyes could kill someone.

The street ahead was already crowded with people. They were not the Imperial Guards infantrymen fighting, but countless Southwestern civilians. Many of them were old people, children, women, and many young and middle-aged people. They were crowded together, crying and wailing.

"Don't kill us!" The crying and wailing were so loud that they reached the sky, and their cavalry could only stare at these civilians. (To be continued..)