Groups of plate-armored knights, followed by a large number of half-armored gun-wielding retinues, accelerating with all their strength, were quite frightening. Just the dust billowing up in the distance and the ground shaking were enough to scare everyone. There was chaos in the front, running around like ants on a hot pot.
At least three soldiers from the forward defense companies fled their camps and posts one after another. They even gave up their weapons and flags. They just took off the burden of their armor and stomach and ran towards the rear camp regardless of the situation. The prepared forward fortifications can be thrown to the enemy.
Therefore, these hostile knights moved almost non-stop, flattening, overturning and breaking through the simple and crude horses and ditches on the outermost edge; they also overturned and overturned the scattered tents in the forward camp; and then followed. He charged towards the second formation without any respite or pause.
The fleeing soldiers, like bursting water, had jumped into the trenches on the sides one after another, and the companies in the second line of formation that were alerted and assembled bypassed from both sides. ; Exhausted, they fled to the third line of defense behind them.
At this time, Polikar, the representative of the Marseille Port City Chamber of Commerce who happened to be invited to watch the battle, and the head of the Morel and Sons Chamber of Commerce, couldn't help but look surprised and horrified when he saw this scene; while the Toulon Fortress nearby In the observation group, someone even bluntly suggested: "Captain Rorschach Corps, the current Toulon Fortress garrison can send at least a thousand experienced soldiers to help you reorganize the army and prepare for the attack." Provide corresponding help for subsequent operations." "The Navy can also remove the cannons from the ship to use..."
"Thank you for your kindness, but it's of no use." Jiang Tian smiled slightly, waved his hand gently towards the void and said: He heard the bugler standing next to him blowing a long trumpet, and then it turned into mountains and plains. the sound of drums;
Amidst the sound of drums, the companies in the second line of formation, which were obviously shaken and impetuous, quickly stabilized; while the veterans and sergeants scolded and scolded, they stabilized their weapons again. ; It's like being cast under some kind of calming magic.
At this time, the strike/shooter company supporting from the rear formation was belatedly firing a volley of arrows; but unexpectedly and not unexpectedly, it missed those heavily armored knights with horses and armor; Most of them were scattered on the gun-wielding half-armored cavalry retinue that followed.
In an instant, there was a clang of armor, human bodies, and mounts, splatters of blood, and screams. The gun-wielding guards who were charging intensively quickly pulled away after losing dozens of their companions. spaced apart from each other to make the array spread out and sparse.
At this time, the knight at the forefront of the sprint, holding the long-handled flag gun, almost reached the edge of the second barrier, and could clearly see each other, filled with tension, excitement, fear, horror and other emotions. A collection of distorted faces and expressions that are almost frozen.
Just when these armored knights, armed to the teeth, were about to break through the thin fortress formed by the horses, fences, and shallow trenches again; the next moment, something suddenly changed, and they heard a roar, and suddenly there was a sound beside them. It exploded and spattered large amounts of dust and smoke, and the ground instantly burst open.
A large piece of the ground was torn apart, and they fell into it with people and horses neighing and screaming. Then what appeared in the billowing smoke was a deep trench with a predetermined width of ten feet, like a crack in the earth that suddenly opened in front of the formation, swallowing up two or three rows of pioneer knights.
They and their mounts were turned into corpses and wounded who were impaled on sharp wooden stakes, whining loudly and groaning in pain. It also greatly hindered and blocked the momentum of the subsequent knights' attack; although there were always people who were brave enough to take advantage of the trend and jump through the air at high speed...
However, they were pecked by the spears, hooks, sickles, and axes that stretched out from behind the simple formation on the opposite side. Although they may not be able to penetrate the plate armor, they were easily pushed back. ; Or he was forced to move and dodge, and lost his footing again and fell into the deep trench.
This layer upon layer is superimposed on those companions who are wearing sharp stakes and wailing for help. Despite this, the knights in the rear group turned a deaf ear and rushed forward with their horses neighing continuously; they also filled and leveled the foot-wide deep trench in a very short period of time.
However, relying on the short-term buffer provided by this deep ditch, more companies mobilized for support from the rear quickly poured in and filled up; the second team quickly became sparse after suffering heavy casualties in the interlaced thrusts with the opposite flag gun. In the Tao formation, a small group of knights rushed in.
However, the shields of more companies of white soldiers were like walls. The combined force of shoulder to shoulder, chest and back was firmly pressed against the incomplete breakthrough; while blocking the slashes and slashes from the knights on horseback; while passing through the shields In the gap, he stabbed the opponent's thigh and horse's belly with a straight sword and a sword.
However, amid the whining of the mounts and the exclamations of the knights, they were knocked to the ground one by one; but at this time, more agile retinues of cavalry also quickly expanded and extended along the knights who were blocked and lost speed in the middle. The coming two flanks of the front attacked one after another to open more breakthroughs.
They were about to use a counter-outflanking force to attack the flanks and rear of seven or eight companies on the front line in a roundabout way. At this time, a new wave of fresh troops from deep behind also arrived one after another. There was a burst of explosions like densely fried beans, and the cavalry retinue in the gap between the lines fell like rain.
However, several shooting/musketry companies that entered the left and right flanks also began to show off their power. Dozens of steps away, rows of arrays of fireworks flickered. These retinue cavalrymen, who were obviously superior to others in the melee, became the best targets and targets, and they fell off their horses one after another.
And for a brief moment, the approaching musketeers companies all tilted away, turned around and pushed back and fell into silence; another crossbowmen company rushed forward, setting up Italian-style curved shields, crossbows, and standard military crossbows. , and fired one after another at the remaining cavalry.
And these cavalry retinues trapped behind enemy lines, after their formation and impact momentum were disrupted, did not even have enough space to accelerate again; they could only dismount one after another to dodge the rain of arrows, and use their mounts as cover to walk toward the crossbowmen array, hissing. Roaring loudly, he attacked and killed...
But at this time, a new round of drumbeats sounded again; but the crossbowmen behind the big shields retreated as if by conditioned reflex; only rows of bare shields were left. Just when these cavalry retinues fighting on foot rushed forward with all their strength and tried their best to cut open the shield.
Suddenly, a series of roars suddenly sounded in the distance. But the artillery that was hidden on the observation platform began to open the bunker and fire; only a trail of intertwined gray smoke was seen, passing over the heads and shields of the friendly troops at lightning speed, and bombarded the cavalry in the middle.
In the dense and crowded crowd, one after another suddenly exploded, causing fragments of blood and earth to burst out like springs; or after consecutively breaking through and smashing several human bodies, they bounced up in the shape of a snake. The trajectory will knock over and overturn all human bodies and obstacles blocking the way...
Just after this round of approaching artillery fire, the cavalry followers who were forced to dismount and fight on foot collapsed unbearably; more than a thousand people desperately fled towards the two wings on the spot, leaving behind without reservation, Displayed in front of reloaded crossbowmen and gunners.
But on the frontal front in the middle, among the plate armor knights who had been blocked and semi-surrounded, new changes appeared. A series of roars were heard; a fallen knight wearing a horned helmet and covered in blood and scratches suddenly threw his weapon.
Then he was seen lifting the dead mount with his bare hands and suddenly throwing it forward; unexpectedly, he killed a small group of Free Army soldiers who were stabbing with spears. And his actions were like taking the lead in demonstrating. Among these knights covered in plate armor, one after another burst out with extraordinary strength.
They either grabbed the corpses of their mounts and threw them out, or they picked up heavy saddles and fences, or they grabbed spearheads and swept them over while risking their stabs. Almost an entire company of soldiers who were facing them were bombarded. The people who were hit were thrown onto their backs and fled in all directions without any backhand.
"Is this the power of blood passed down by the ancient knights?" Polikar, the joint representative of the Merchant Alliance who was watching the battle from behind, showed a concerned expression and murmured to himself: "Unexpectedly, hiding There are actually so many heritage knights in the Great Crown Territory?"
But he could not imagine how brutal it would be once these knights mixed with the royalist army and launched an attack on Marseille. Relying solely on the self-defense arms of mercenary groups and local citizens who had long-term cooperation in overseas provinces and colonies, Can it withstand the opponent's attack?
What is even more unimaginable is that these royalists, who have always maintained their identity and despised businessmen, but also coveted their net worth and wealth; however, privately, because of poor management and heavy debts, the royalists took this opportunity to let Marseille, where rich merchants gathered, What kind of bloody storm has the city fallen into?
"On behalf of the merchant alliance in Marseille, I am willing to unconditionally pay the military expenses of your men for three months and raise three million pounds of grain for free." Then he turned to Jiang Tian and said: "The only condition is that you must To defeat these, the legacy knights among the royalists.”
"Actually, as long as there are strong fortifications and enough artillery, it can pose a sufficient threat to it." Some members of the Toulon Fortress Observation Group nearby couldn't help but said: "Their only powerful one is It’s just your own body.”
"There is no need to rush this matter. You can wait and see." However, Jiang Tian said in an unmoved voice: "My subordinates are not so fragile, and they are not so easily defeated." However, the front In the battlefield, hundreds of knights who inspired the bloodline inheritance are still advancing furiously.
Under their on-foot assault, more than half of the seven or eight companies originally enclosed in the front had been penetrated or collapsed. Then in front of the third line of defense, they fell into a slightly smaller trap/trench again; but this time they hardly caused much damage.
With their mutual help and cover, even the knights who fell into it quickly climbed out or were pulled out by their companions; but this time, the spears and the company of white soldiers blocking them were the semaphores and flags from the rear. Under the command of drums and trumpets, they all retreated and regrouped.
In an instant, sparks flew from their armor and there was a knocking sound; but they were once again attacked by a company of loaded muskets; this time they were not unscathed. As large and small dents suddenly appeared on the gorgeous plate armor, these knights were beaten back again and again.
Others suddenly fell to the ground silently, or were overwhelmed by corpses and obstacles on the battlefield and never stood up again. Then, another loaded artillery was aimed at them and started shooting; although it only hit the feet of the knight next to them, knocking him over.
But it also caused these knights who were in the frenzy of attacking to wake up half-way; they actually started to gather together again, waving their weapons to deflect random arrows, or holding up the heraldic shields of the cavalry to cover the gaps between their heads and faces. , slowly retreated away.
In the city of Avignon, the doors opened again and a large group of infantrymen wearing brown armor, half-mail mail and nose helmets came out. Under the leadership of the sergeant in the team, they followed the formation of lances and halberds in front, swords and shields on both sides. Moving forward; obviously coming to meet these remaining knights.
However, Jiang Tian just smiled and said: "Since you have come here, do you still want to escape so easily?" Then he gave a new round of orders, followed by the sound of flags and drums and trumpets. It quickly spread and turned into billowing smoke of troops mobilizing in the rear camp.
However, several companies of light cavalry who were ready to attack rushed out from both ends of the fortifications under the city; waving sabers or maces, they pounced in uneven formations on those who had just rushed out of the city. enemy infantry coming. At the same time, the retreating knights also encountered trouble.
A group of sergeants wearing patchwork armor, iron breast protectors, and round-rimmed helmets had approached them at some point. A match rope and a jar were suddenly thrown at them with all their strength. On the spot, some knights with quick eyesight and quick hands slashed him open with knives, but there was only some liquid and powder.
Immediately, it was sprayed everywhere, but some of them hit their stomachs, or rolled down at their feet and were kicked around; the next moment, among these knights, one after another burst into bursts of fire. And the smoke and clouds knocked them down and flipped them apart...
The sparks that flew out immediately ignited the burning materials on their bodies; in an instant, they turned into a large burning flame. Facing the burning flames, no matter how thick the armor is, it cannot protect them from suffering. And some people had to scramble to get free.
As they screamed and screamed, they desperately took off their helmets and opened their breastplates, revealing the lock curtains and cowhide bushings inside; these knights, who were originally worth ten, were no longer so difficult to deal with. He was soon caught in the thrown noose and knocked down by the long iron hook.
In the end, he was completely submerged in the Free Army soldiers from all directions. The royalist infantrymen in the city who came to respond also encountered big trouble. Under the fire of the archer company that had reached the front line at some point, and under the constant interference and containment of the light cavalry company, they retreated steadily.
At the same time, whether it was the representatives of the Marseille Business Alliance or the members of the observation group of the Toulon Fortress Guards, they had just recovered from this series of ups and downs. Suddenly, it was discovered that under the blue background of Jinyang, Jiang Tian, the commander of the army, had disappeared.
However, whether it was the officers, staff, civilian staff who were close auxiliaries, or the expressionless sergeants of the guard company, they all seemed indifferent to this, or they had long been accustomed to it. Later, they knew the reason.
Because, in the sudden loud cheers from the front camp, one man and one horse rushed straight towards the city gate which was being hastily closed. The bewildered defenders on the top of the city missed the arrows they fired. The man rushed directly to the heavy city gate that could barely be closed.
Following a dull clang, the sound of bolts began to rattle inside; the man on horseback suddenly stretched out his hand to pin the crack in the door. Then, I saw the iron hoop city gate with the texture of the ancient lily dynasty, suddenly shaking violently, and cracks spreading like spider webs appeared.
The next moment, it fell apart in pieces, revealing a group of stunned defenders inside who were holding the door bolt in their arms. Then, they were knocked down and flattened by a large piece of city gate fragments thrown towards them, screaming in panic; then, Jiang Tian took the thick door bolt in his hand...
And just behind him, countless shouting Free Army soldiers were like torrents and turbid waves overflowing the wilderness, risking the arrows shot randomly from the city top and being bombarded by hastily lit cannons; in the blink of an eye, They poured into the city gate and rushed into the city like a torrent.
At this moment, the members of the Toulon Fortress battlefield observation group who were watching the battle from a high place in the rear, and Policar, who was the joint representative of the Marseille Merchant Alliance, could not help but look at each other with admiration, and looked at each other in shock, and were speechless for a long time. At the very least, the calculations and plans they had made, and the long-planned negotiation conditions, all pale in comparison to absolute power.
