105 The King of Tivoli (1/2)
As news of the calamity happening on the right flank trickled through to the soldiers at the front, moral skyrocketed for the troops of Aidonia and at the same time moral sunk to its lowest for the opposing troops, rumors of a battlefield butcher had spread through the ranks like wild-fire.
The unsettled enemy soldiers couldn't help but be terrified upon hearing accounts of the carnage left on the river banks, they were all on edge hoping the stories were exaggerated.
Thud! A pale-facedman in his thirties dressed in tight black leather armor was dumped before Commander Genk as captains and scouts reported the situation of the right flank.
Even though he had the utmost confidence in Hartley, hearing the reports from multiple people left commander Genk stunned, he looked over at the youth standing nonchalantly, the youth returned his gaze and with a smile the commander didn't bother asking any questions. No use in looking a gift horse in the mouth he thought.
Turning back his attention to the prisoner tied and bleeding on the ground he smiled at the whimpering man, ”I have some questions for you, if you lie even one time then....”
Commander Genk worked his way forward towards the handful of grey stone buildings, entering one of the buildings he saw a family of five hunkered together in wide-eyed fear, he tried his best to reassure the family that they would not be harmed, that seem to make them even more nervous, all he could do was sigh.
In the simple room were six of his captains and a scout peaking out a window into the distance. This building had the perfect vantage point to survey the surroundings.
The interrogation of the captured captain had netted them vital information on the placements of the ambush set ahead, even he had not expected the terrified man to break so easily.
Confirmation of the information had been done by the people in the room and various scouts. UP ahead were a crossbow squad and heavy infantry plus a squad of lance wielding cavalry, the bane of foot soldiers. It would have been a disaster had they been taken by surprise, he was confident they would have won the battle in the end but the losses would have been colossus.
With the threat of a potential ambush hanging over every road leading towards the capital,commander Genk made a decision to nip the threat in the bud, the last thing he needed was to fight a protracted hit and run gorilla war.
His next best option was to launch a counter ambush and have a decisive victory to shatter the capabilities of the rebel army en route to the capital. Hartley quietly shadowed the commander as he made his preparations, he knew very little about military tactics and was happy to learn through experience.
After gathering all his captains It was late in the evening and Commander Genk sat at a table with a crude map, ”I want you to take your men up this road and assault this position.” he said as he pointed out positions on the map.
Captain Bojin had a sour face, he and his troops were being sent as the vanguards of the counter ambush. This was sure to lead to heavy casualties for his squad.
”Sir I thought I saw movement to the rear that's why we didn't cross the bridge with the rest of the troops, we were guarding from a possible attack and protectingthe soldiers back.”
Commander Genk waved his hand as if that was no issue,”forget about that,” then he returned to looking at the map, ”use a shield formation because the enemy is suspected to be equipped with a squad of crossbow men set up on the ridge.”
Captain Bojin stood there looking like he had something to say but didn't know how to say it.
”Dismissed, be ready in twenty minutes,” said Commander Genk before turning his attention to the other captains who were having their own discussions.
Captain Bojin stood there scowling without moving. Finally some of commander Genk's true feelings towards Captain Bojin leaked out, with a bulging vein standing erect in the middle of his forehead, eyes wide and spittle flying everywhere he barked, ”You have your orders, do you dare refuse your duty as a soldier of Aidonia?”
The commander stood up abruptly knocking over a stool and towered above captain Bojin eyes wild and itching to break the captain in two with his bare hands for insubordination, how could he forget the casualties taken because this twerp was playing at politics in the middle of a battle. The room went quiet and captain Bojin retreated quickly and unwillingly began making preparations....
Soon clashes between the two opposing forces rang out in the last throes of the evening sunshine as the two armies violently met beside the ridge.
Commander Genk stepped into the roadhis robe whipping about in the wind, this time he was leading his men from the front. The commotion of swords clanging reverberated through the air in the chaotic battle. The screams of the dying was overridden by the volatile clashes of men and weapons, blood and severed body parts of both sides began to scatter around the battlefield making the ground muddy with blood.