When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 846 - 797: Nightmare Cannonade

At the break of dawn, sentries from the outskirts of Shuimi Town brought back urgent military news.

Traces of the Thousand River Valley Army had appeared at the fishing port on the outskirts of Shuimi Town.

The Count and Knights, who were out indulging in pleasures, were pulled from the beds of women or out of taverns by their attendants, hurriedly mounted their horses, and rushed to the church in the town center, where they held a pre-battle meeting in the dining room.

Counts, knights, and valets of all sizes crowded around the table, clamoring to inquire about and exchange information, like a swarm of buzzing flies.

Amid the noisy background, Knight Commander Belengar forcefully opened his bloodshot eyes from a hangover: "Requesting assistance without knowing the numbers, what if it's just a small enemy force?"

Opposite him, Count Heinzman wiped his face with a cold handkerchief, showing no concern for Belengar's dignity: "Our four thousand infantry and three hundred knights will collapse with one blast of the Spring Cannon. At least first join forces with the Norn Allied Forces!"

"Do you want to disgrace the name of the Immortal Stone Field nobility?"

"This is war!"

"I think you're a Cheka of the Holy Alliance! Deliberately handing Shuimi Town to the Thousand River Valley People!"

"You're the Cheka! Wanting to hand the army over to the Thousand River Valley People, aren't you?!"

"You trench...!"

Heinzman grabbed the collar of the Knight Commander across from him, who was shocked and angry: "Are you setting a trap for me?"

The two nobles quickly tore into each other across the table, knocking the fine porcelain plates and cutlery onto the ground.

The attendants and junior nobles on both sides followed suit in trying to break up the fight, and other soldiers, hearing the commotion, squeezed in even more.

"Don't push, don't push."

"Let go of Lord Heinzman!"

The chaotic dining room was in a frenzy for almost ten minutes before it finally settled down, and both sides finally reached an agreement.

First gather the soldiers and line up on the flat ground north of the town, then continue to send out knights to scout.

If there are many enemies, move north, cross the Ham River, and join the Norn Army. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

If there are few, advance east and swallow this army in one go, establishing the reputation of the Immortal Stone Field People.

"Our strategy is to deal with all changes by not changing," Heinzman shouted to the noisy crowd.

...

The line between the sky and the mountains revealed a hint of fishbelly white, and a layer of frost lay over the pine forest at the end of the horizon.

In the morning light, Shuimi Town was in chaos, with dozens of pennant flags weaving between the eaves, guards in chainmail following behind horse tails.

Jeska could determine that the garrison in Shuimi Town was preparing to leave from the northern gate.

All those different flags were converging from the south of the town to the north.

It was unclear whether they intended to flee or engage in battle with the Thousand River Valley Army on the open terrain to the north.

Holding his binoculars, Jeska continued observing the enemy army's movements and ordered, "Have Kolebo lead the Holy Gun Cavalry and entangle those few hundred Extraordinary Knights across the way.

The Rangers and Beastman Cavalry can move out now, engage the enemy infantry, and don't let them run too far for real.

Also, have some Rangers spread out as much as possible, intercept the enemy's messenger cavalry, and isolate their communications as much as possible."

Three Messengers quickly split up and ran off.

Seeing the pennant flags in the town slowly converge, Jeska put down his binoculars: "Prepare, the infantry can attack now."

Griffin, standing beside Jeska, was shocked: "Now? Only two thousand have landed."

Jeska and his team had landed at a small fishing port, and the pier was only so large.

From before daybreak until now, even at their fastest speed, only 12 ships had disembarked, with a total of over two hundred cavalry paired with just over two thousand infantry.

"There's no time, if we don't attack now, they'll get away." Jeska handed the binoculars to Griffin, "Two thousand can fight, bring the Spring Cannon up.

I'll lead the team first, and as soon as the remaining two thousand or so are ashore, form ranks and head to the battlefield."

The officers' shouting orders echoed one after another; on the open ground outside the fishing port, soldiers began discarding their baggage and donning armor.

Sailing isn't like marching on land; if heavy armor falls into the water, it would be better if they knew advanced breathing techniques. If not, or if their level is low, then only drowning awaits.

Officers commanding hundreds for the first time nervously inspected the troops, then reported to their superiors.

"Ready!"

"The terrain ahead is flat, advance with a six-column formation in battle."

Compared to the usual four-column advance, six columns are more convenient for transforming into a battle formation.

Because six columns horizontally are just six rows deep, it only requires turning to convert the columns into a horizontal formation.

"First battle, stay sharp everyone!"

"Remind each other, keep your smelling salts plentiful, wear the electric gold, and don't wander off."

The new officers nervously scolded the new recruits. Although it wasn't their first time on the battlefield, the Norn Mountain People still felt tense using the new tactics for the first time.

With the drummer's urgent beat and the trumpet's marching orders, the two-thousand-strong force set off to the tune of "Salvation Army March."

"Everyone respects Dalia, worships Kleheris..."

"...Only us, line after line, Holy Alliance Salvation Army."

Boots sewn with scraps of cloth and cashmere crunched into the snow, making a pressing noise.

The armor reflected the snow light, and beneath their armor, wearing thick wool coats, the soldiers of the Norn New Army trudged through the endless white snow.

A dragon formed by long spears and Holy Guns marched grandly across the snow towards Shuimi Town.

"Neigh—neigh—"

On both sides of the soldiers, the snow accumulated on the branches fell one after another.

Before the soldiers could turn their heads, they saw over a hundred cavalrymen gallop out on each side.

The snow kicked up by their hooves danced in the air, swirling and drifting.

...

"How did they know we were going to form ranks in the north?!" Count Heinzman furiously cursed as he watched the Rangers galloping back and forth across the snow-covered wilderness.

"What's the use in saying that now?" Cavalry commander Belengar pointed with his sword, and the remaining three hundred knights charged out.

"And you still say you're not a Cheka?"

"I'm a Cheka, and you're short-haired, huh?"

The two commanders bickered, but they didn't stop issuing orders.

While Belengar led the cavalry in skirmishes, under Heinzman's command, a 70x60 large phalanx began advancing with somewhat unsteady steps.

However, the Holy Gun Cavalry and the Rangers cooperated very well; with only half the number of the Extraordinary Knights, they managed to hold them.

The remaining Rangers circled the infantry phalanx, showering them with arrows.

The neat phalanx's pace gradually slowed, and Heinzman, both anxious and angry, waved his whip, urging them on.

He heard a faint singing.

The cold wind blew across his face, the cold sun shone on the snow.

From the forest came the faint sound of drums and trumpets. Even Count Heinzman turned to look.

From behind the hillside, a dragon formed by spears and armor appeared on their flank.

As they came into view, the drumbeat's rhythm changed sharply, flags swayed up and down, and the melody immediately changed.

Like a butterfly among flowers, the silver dragon continuously disbanded and reformed as it moved, transforming the original columns into a horizontal formation.

Over the undulating hillside, rows of Norn New Army soldiers, like human walls lifted by waves, broke through snow piles and advanced toward them.

Then, Heinzman and Belengar heard the nightmarish sound of artillery fire.