Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 343 - 36: Imperial Knights, Charge!

The bloody battle beneath the city left Liu Bowu shivering.

Originally, those historical battles briefly mentioned in books turned out to be such terrifying slaughterhouses when witnessed firsthand. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The so-called Great Qin entourage guards seemed to truly overlap with another Great Qin recorded in history books. No matter how fierce the enemy’s assault was, they remained fearless, continuously blocking the enemy.

Preventing the iron armored cavalry from taking a single step beyond the Thunder Pool.

Blood, staining the ground red.

Pulled to the rear by a veteran grabbing his armor’s back, Reno felt his hands nearly collapse from exhaustion. He slumped to the ground and, after a long daze, realized that according to the manual, he should have already retreated.

The veteran filling his gap threw a light javelin, then drew a short sword and rushed into the fray.

"Heavenly Father, bless us."

Reno didn’t even have the strength to cross himself in front, breathing heavily like a bellows, feeling his saliva so thick it seemed it could form threads, desperately wanting to drink some water to moisten his throat.

Marshal Jill watched this scene indifferently, silently calculating his side’s casualties.

Now, over a thousand enemy iron armored cavalry had completely encircled the wagon formation. These dismounted iron armored cavalry, in terms of foot combat capability, were quite similar to the elite infantry of the Count’s Guard.

The blunt iron mace they used dealt terrifying damage to armored infantry.

It often took the lives of several farmer soldiers, with the help of defensive terrain, to trade for the death of an enemy iron armored cavalry.

The entire wagon fort, like a meat grinder, constantly devouring the lives of soldiers on both sides.

Jill didn’t know if they knew they wouldn’t truly perish or if they were in a dream, ignorant of fear, to appear so fearless. In any case, the battle’s progression was far better than he expected.

As over ten iron armored cavalry set chains on the wagon fort, exerting their strength together, they forcibly pulled out a thousand-jun heavy war chariot.

The surrounding iron armored cavalry swung iron maces, wolf fang clubs, warhammers, blades, and guns, immediately launching a fierce attack on the breach.

The defensive pressure on our side suddenly increased significantly.

Jill no longer hesitated and shouted, "Throw the oil jars!"

These jars contained the infamous fierce fire oil, with only a small storage in Qingshui County, all requisitioned when Jeanne held a knife to the warehouse keeper’s throat during an armory inspection.

So-called fierce fire oil, because "it originates at the water’s edge, with sand and spring water mixed together, flowing out in confusion," Shen Kuo also called it "petroleum."

In the wagon fort, soldiers holding ceramic jars suddenly hurled them out.

An iron armored cavalry, unaware of the contents, struck down with a blade, causing pottery shards mixed with black oils to scatter, emitting a stinging stench.

"Ignite it!"

Some iron armored cavalry, having participated in the siege of Tokyo, had a change of expression, shouting for nearby people to quickly dodge aside.

But it was already too late.

A wall of fire swiftly ignited, with dozens of iron armored cavalry set ablaze due to the oil on them, wailing and scattering.

Some experienced iron armored cavalries, who hadn’t been doused too much, immediately endured the burning pain, removed their heavy armor, but even a slight skin brush with the oil caused the flames to burn fiercely like tenacious maggots.

From afar, Jin Wushu clenched his fists in distress.

These iron armored cavalry were his closest troops, his most loyal confidants, and losing even one pained him. Much less, seeing the iron armored cavalry’s casualties exceeded a hundred.

Seemingly recognizing Jin Wushu’s heartache, the Han military advisor quietly advised, "Fourth Prince, fighting these Song people under the city brings us no true benefits. We’ve already punished them harshly, so why not withdraw now?"

Smack—

Thinking he comprehended Jin Wushu’s thoughts, yet unexpectedly received a horsewhip slap, the Han military advisor covered his face in shock.

Jin Wushu first issued a series of commands in Jurchen language, and from among the mounted soldiers, a towering giant rose. Barely shorter than those riding warhorses, he donned full armor and immediately charged toward the wagon fort.

After giving orders, Jin Wushu looked at the Han military advisor with a cold laugh, "Do you know why I hit you?"

The Han military advisor cautiously responded, "The Fourth Prince hit me for a reason, naturally."

"Heh."

Whether pleased with the Han military advisor’s demeanor or mocking his cowardly appearance, Jin Wushu chuckled and said, "The iron armored cavalry are precious, but their invincible morale is even more precious!"

...

As the fiery wall ignited by the oil jars gradually extinguished, the iron armored cavalry, previously thwarted, surged once more toward the gap in the wagon fort.

Among them, there was a giant who appeared at least 2.5 meters tall, no less than Blacksmith Malles. He swung an enormous axe seemingly forged all from iron, leading the charge.

This terrifying giant, donned in a helmet and heavy armor, commanded an unsurpassable presence on the battlefield.

Blows from others seemed ineffective against him, but the giant axe in his hand, whenever swung, killed or crushed anyone in its path.

In an instant, a brave Varangian Guard was struck in the chest by the giant’s axe. Even clad in heavy armor, the crisp sound of bones breaking could be heard, and he immediately collapsed, vomiting blood and dying.

Next, a veteran trying to block him was struck by the giant’s axe, splitting shield, person, and armor all in one blow.

Such terrifying divine power immediately elicited cheers from the iron armored cavalry.

Seeing the giant man was about to wreak havoc among the barricades.

Marshal Jill finally drew the sword from his waist. As he raised the sword high, a faint golden holy radiance descended from the heavens, blessing each exhausted warrior.

In an instant, they felt their dried-up physical strength restored.

Concurrently, he gave a whistle to summon his steed, picked up his lance, and charged toward the giant man.

As the steed galloped wildly, his aura continued to accumulate, growing stronger with the charge.

Marshal Jill looked small and far less imposing than the giant man of the Jin Kingdom, but when he charged close to the giant, his overwhelming momentum surpassed the giant’s.

It must be noted that Marshal Jill was equivalent to a five-star attendant, level-matched with Jeanne, holding a Lord template, yet his combat strength was in no way inferior to Hans’s warrior template.

Bam——

The lance struck the giant man’s chest, cracking into countless fragments before piercing his armor.

However, within the disintegrating lance was a golden lance condensed with holy radiance, which pierced through the giant man, vanishing behind him.

Boom!

The giant pushed like a collapsing mountain, kneeling onto the ground.

Marshal Jill drew his sword, aiming at the giant’s exposed neck, and sliced down.

The surrounding Iron Pagodas showed a look of terror on their faces.

"Batulu is dead!"

"This Song man uses demon techniques!"

"No, he is not a Song man at all; I have never seen such a person before!"

...

Inside the city.

Jeanne, holding her helmet with her golden hair flowing, suddenly smiled: "The enemy’s morale is shaken, now is the perfect time for us to attack!"

Losa asked with some intrigue: "What exactly happened?"

Jeanne had no intention of answering, instead shouted: "General Losa, your mission is to lead a hundred Imperial Knights directly to the place where Jin Wushu’s central forces are located."

After speaking, she added softly: "Once close to Jin Wushu, use ’Half-Dragon Transformation’ and open the path with Dragon Breath."

Losa was slightly taken aback: "Am I to act like a suicide truck then?"

"What is that?"

"In any case, you’re not planning to let me come back alive, are you?"

Jeanne showed an apologetic smile: "Sorry, sir, this tactic can only be used in this battle record."

Losa rolled his eyes: "Nonsense!"

Not only him, but the hundred Imperial Knights accompanying him were also sacrificial pawns, tasked with delivering Losa close to Jin Wushu, as near as possible.

"What about you?"

Jeanne donned her iron helmet, chuckling lightly: "I will crush those so-called ’Iron Pagodas’. They are the enemy’s elite force; eliminate them, and we’ll have won half the battle."

Losa nodded, looking at the shiny silver-white armored Imperial Knights behind him, many familiar faces among them.

After all, every Imperial Knight was personally appointed by him.

Take Mueller, who should currently be sleeping at the tax office in Eira Port.

This elderly Saracen chief was now clutching his lance with full of zeal, leaving Losa to doubt whether this old man would fall off the horse halfway into the charge.

Losa raised the armored lance in his hand, shouting: "Imperial Knights, follow me into battle!"

The side gate of Qingshui County creaked open.

With Losa leading the charge wearing a golden mask, over a hundred Imperial Knights clad in full body plate armor embossed with various badges sprinted out.

Following swiftly were over six hundred cavalry led by Jeanne, forming a massive wedge formation with the Winged Cavalry as the vanguard once outside the city.

From above, the six hundred knights appeared like a great swan spreading its wings, the formation extending from the inside out by levels with Winged Cavalry, Armored Archers, Monastic Knights, Monastic Knight’s Squires, and the newly formed scout cavalry units.

Such a commotion could not escape the Jin Kingdom’s scouts surrounding Qingshui County.

Jin Wushu, despite underestimating the Song army, was aware that the enemy could ambush half of his thousand-troop units, so he had scouts spread around Qingshui County before the battle began.

Upon receiving the report, Jin Wushu showed a trace of ruthlessness: "These foolish Song people, don’t I know you have a large cavalry force? Do you really think apart from the Iron Pagodas, I have no one else to deploy!"

Humans and horses leave traces when they move.

The hoof marks left by a large cavalry force couldn’t escape Jin Wushu’s eyes.

He raised his hand, shouting: "Dispatch Hulunage Meng’an and his thousand-troop unit to counter them, make sure to intercept their cavalry trying to flank the Iron Pagodas, the rest of the Meng’an, await the opportunity!"