Neither Claude nor Skri knew when the light cavalry of Canas would make a comeback.
This time, the enemy only sent a light cavalry unit to investigate 1st Ranger Tribe.
Claude and Skri believed that the enemy already knew that there was only a single battalion stationed in the area. The next time they came, it would be an entire regiment.
However, even after Claude and the others gathered all of their forces and built defensive structures at the entrance of the mountain path, they sent away the women, children, the elderly, the young, and the captives, the enemy still didn't show up.
Even the scouts they sent out had to travel for three days and two nights before they could find traces of the enemy scouts in the depths of the prairie.
Even after September, Claude and Skri still didn't understand what was going on. It was as if the enemy had forgotten about the area once more.
That September, however, the plains were bustling with activity. Second Ranger Tribe, which was supposed to join up with the others, was harassed and ambushed by the light cavalry of Canas. They suffered heavy casualties and had no choice but to retreat.
On the other side, 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions were in a similar situation. They couldn't be bothered with scouting anymore. Instead, they were trying to think of a way to keep themselves alive under the constant assault of light cavalry.
From their position on the map, it could be concluded that they weren't retreating while resisting as described in the battle report. Instead, they were fleeing in panic.
Because it only took them one day and one night to return to the place where they had started a week ago.
At the end of September, a report from frontline command stated that Bluefeather, which had been resting in Braveso for two months, had officially entered the Canas Plains with two second-line corps.
Bluefeather's chief, Lieutenant-General Edparker, expressed that he was confident in leading three corps to suppress the anti-Aueran alliance in Northbay and wait for the reinforcements to arrive before launching an attack to wipe out Canas in one fell swoop.
According to the report, Bluefeather's chief of staff, General Michaelch Priest, had an intense argument with Lieutenant-General Edpuck. Michaelch believed that Bluefeather entering the plains was a risky move, while Edpuck believed that the anti-Aueran alliance had lost three duchies in a row and was scared out of their wits.
Now was the best time to beat a drowning dog. He could not delay any longer.
The argument between the two generals was so intense that Prince Hansbach had no choice but to temporarily suspend General Michelc as the chief of staff of Bluefeather. He let Lieutenant General Edparker lead three corps into the Great Plains of Canas and act according to circumstances.
That was something that happened a week ago. Claude and Skri believed that it was Bluefeather and the other two corps that entered the plains that forced Canas to give up on their plans to attack the area abandoned by the nobles and focus on defending against Bluefeather and the other three corps.
It looked like 1st Ranger Tribe would be peaceful for a while longer. The enemy wouldn't attack anytime soon.
By the middle of the tenth month, Skree received reports from frontline command that Bluefeather was still advancing towards Northbay. They had already joined up with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions. The light cavalry of Canas were no longer as rampant as before, daring to ambush enemy formations in small groups.
They only monitored the advance of the three corps from afar and didn't dare to get too close.
Claude used the opportunity to return to Squirrel Village under the guise of transporting supplies and spent the night with his lover, Sheila.
But when he returned to Count Krilaus' castle, he saw Skri trembling as he held a letter with a pale face.
"What's wrong?" Claude asked.
"We lost. Bluefeather and the two second-line corps were defeated by the enemy," Skri replied with a trembling voice.
"What did you say?"
Claude snatched the letter from Skri's hands and read it carefully. It was indeed the latest battle report from frontline command.
It stated that Bluefeather and the two second-line corps had engaged in a hasty battle with the anti-Auerian army in the Great Plains of Canas. In just half a day, the two second-line corps were the first to be defeated. Following that, Bluefeather couldn't do much on its own. After dealing heavy damage to the enemy, almost all of them were wiped out on the plains.
Now, the second-line corps and Bluefeather's logistics department were fleeing from the pursuit of Canas' light cavalry.
Prince Hansbach had already ordered a second-line corps stationed at the border to enter the plains to provide support. At the same time, he ordered the royal guard to stop resting and rush to the border between Askilin and the Great Plains of Canas.
"How is that possible?"
Claude was shocked. Everyone knew that the anti-Auerian army that moved from Rimodra to Canas only had four corps at most. One of them was Nasri's standing corps, the most elite of the anti-Auerian army, but it was only comparable to a second-line corps in Aueras.
Two were light cavalry corps from Canas and one was a private corps formed by the nobles of Askilin.
Those four corps were already frightened by the mere twang of a bowstring. How could they possibly defeat three corps led by Bluefeather in one go?
Two days later, Skri received a more detailed report from his good friend at frontline command.
The anti-Auerian army deployed a total of nine corps for the battle on the Great Plains of Canas.
What surprised the Auerian army the most was that the two light cavalry corps from Canas that were assisting Nasri had returned to Northbay without anyone noticing. They even brought with them a second-line corps from Nasri.
The Nasri standing corps that had moved from Rimodra to Northbay would join forces with the newly arrived second line corps to stop Bluefeather's three corps. Both sides were advancing side by side. When they suddenly met on the plains, the two corps from Nasri had already gotten into formation and were marching towards Bluefeather.
Bluefeather didn't expect the enemy to launch such a large scale battle and was at a disadvantage at first, but they quickly regained their footing. At the same time, they ordered the two second-line corps to get into formation on their left and right flanks to prevent a surprise attack from Canas's light cavalry.
It had to be said that Bluefeather's response was perfect. After the three corps got into formation, their flanks were ambushed by Canas's light cavalry.
However, Canas was going all out this time, mobilizing a total of seven light cavalry corps.
Apart from the two light cavalry corps from Nasri and the two light cavalry corps from Rimodra, they also formed three temporary light cavalry corps.
Leading the charge were the three temporary light cavalry regiments. These three light cavalry regiments were made up of older herdsmen and teenagers. They were there to die. They could only move forward and could not retreat. If anyone tried to retreat, they would be executed on the spot.
Just like that, these three temporarily formed light cavalry legions launched an endless assault on the two second-line legions on the flanks. Wave after wave of assault, the front of the formation was filled with the corpses of men and horses, piling up like a mountain …
The cannons of the two secondary corps were almost all fired red. Only then did Canas send in the four elite light cavalry corps.
Just like that, Bluefeather's flanks were breached. Countless light cavalry charged into the formation of the two second-line legions and began a massacre. The two second-line legions were quickly overwhelmed by the enemy's swarm of light cavalry, and their defensive formation was quickly broken, causing them to fall into disarray.
The light cavalry of Canas attacked Bluefeather from the flanks and the rear. Bluefeather was surrounded on all sides, and the bloody battle lasted until evening. The last of Bluefeather's soldiers died on the battlefield.
Apart from the logistics and healers who were left at the back, almost all of Bluefeather was wiped out on the plains.
Around fifty thousand soldiers under Lieutenant-General Edparker died in battle and around six thousand were wounded or captured.
Bluefeather was sixty thousand strong and the two second-line corps had a total of around a hundred and ten thousand soldiers. Aueras suffered around a hundred and fifty thousand casualties in the battle that the anti-Auerian alliance called Canastia's victory. Even though the two second-line corps weren't completely wiped out, the fleeing soldiers couldn't escape the pursuit of Canas' light cavalry. In the end, less than five thousand managed to make it back.
That defeat was like a heavy blow to the arrogant Aueras that thought victory was within their grasp. It caused a huge uproar in the kingdom.
When Stellin X heard about the defeat, he vomited blood and fell to the ground, bedridden.
The first thing he did when he woke up was to send a letter to Prince Hansbach, reprimanding him and telling him to learn his lesson and not to make the mistake of underestimating the enemy again. The kingdom had no more soldiers to spare for a few more defeats.
"Becker is in 2nd Ranger Battalion. I wonder if he made it back," Dyavid said worriedly.
Becker was Berklin, one of the four nobles. After conquering Wilfgang, the first prince decided to form three more ranger battalions. Berklin was transferred to the 2nd Ranger Battalion. This time, he also entered the Great Plains of Canas, but there was no news of him.
"Don't worry, Becker isn't an idiot. He'll be fine.
Don't forget about that wily old man, Shashli. That old fellow was known to be the best at escaping in his battalion. He was also transferred to 2nd Ranger Battalion and is in the same brigade as Becker. With him taking care of him, he'll be fine. "That was all Claude could do to console Dyavid.
At the end of the tenth month, Canas scouts appeared in the area once more. Three or four of them approached Count Krylaus' castle in an impudent manner, yelling something along the lines of 'you're done for, surrender now and we'll spare your lives'.
Furious, Claude personally led his men out to set up an ambush at night. When the scouts returned the next day, they suddenly launched an ambush and wiped out three to four waves of enemy scouts. Only then did the enemy scouts feel a little wary and didn't dare to get too close to the castle.
Even though it was a small gain, Claude and Skri knew that the appearance of the scouts meant that they would be attacking the castle soon.
"I finally understand why the enemy had to scout this area thoroughly in September," Claude said as he slapped his head.
Claude slapped his head in hindsight. "The enemy didn't want to reclaim this region. They just wanted to know how many people we had stationed here and whether it would affect their planned battle in the plains.
That's why they didn't come even after we made our preparations.
Now that they've won the battle, they're free to take care of us. "
Skri smiled bitterly. "We didn't receive the order to retreat, so we have to stay here.
No matter how many enemies come, we have to defend this castle. Perhaps we won't be able to go back. "
Captain Kurdwick of the 4th Brigade said, "The castle has enough provisions and ammunition for us to hold out for three months. I hope that the enemy will retreat by the end of the year. It will be winter then, and I don't think the enemy will be able to last that long outside the castle."
"Let's hope so.
Major Skri said, "There are more and more enemy scouts outside, and I estimate that the main force of the enemy will arrive in two or three days.
Everyone, check your equipment and boost your morale. Don't let anything slip. "
Skri's prediction was spot on.
On the second of the eleventh month, a large group of enemies appeared at the foot of the castle.
"Heavens, a regiment of Canas light cavalry and a regiment of foot soldiers.
Wait, are my eyes playing tricks on me? This infantry regiment is flying the flag of the former Askilin Duchy. Didn't we destroy the Askilin Duchy? "Mazik yelled from the top of the city wall with a telescope in his hand.
"There's nothing strange about that. After Duke Askilin surrendered, the nobles in Rimodra weren't willing to see the Duchy of Askilin perish. They gathered their private soldiers and those who didn't want to surrender and rebuilt the Askilin Legion to serve the anti-Austrian alliance.
"It's said that Duke Rimodra, who fled to Northbay, wanted to do the same and build his own exile army in preparation for the restoration of his duchy.
"However, after he built three regiments, he complained that he couldn't handle it and wanted the anti-Aueran alliance to pay for it. They're currently in the middle of a dispute."
What Claude said was what he read from the battle reports sent by the frontline command. He also asked Skri to find out if there was any news of Berklin from his friends at the frontline command.
After checking with his telescope for a while, Claude said, "Looks like the newly formed Askilin army is really tight on funds. They actually hired a regiment of soldiers for the nobles in this region. Looks like the nobles here are going to have to bleed a lot.
Myjack, can you help me take a look and see if the family insignia of the 14 nobles here are together with the Askilinian infantry regiment's flag? "
Myjack took the monocular and fished out a notebook from his backpack. He flipped it open and quickly reported, "Yes, sir. The family insignia of the 14 fief nobles and the Askilinian Infantry Regiment's flag are standing side by side.
Looks like it's just as you said. The nobles hired the Askilin infantry to reclaim their territories. "
"Look, Sir. Those are the light infantry cannons of our kingdom," Makec said as he pointed into the distance.
The Canasian light cavalry was split into four battalions. Each of them dragged two standard Aueran light infantry cannons and set up camp around Count Krilaus' castle. The Askilin soldiers set up camp about a kilometer away from the front of the castle.
"Those cannons might have been captured by the enemy," Claude said, "Looks like the enemy won't attack today.
Claude said, "Looks like the enemy won't attack today. Tomorrow is the time for us to perform our defense.
Let the soldiers rest early tonight so that they'll be ready for battle tomorrow. "
"Yes, Sir," Makec said.
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