Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World-Chapter 679: Engaging the Enemy

TL: Rui88

When they were about several hundred meters apart, both sides stopped in unison.

Everyone needed to reform their lines. Not only was the human army in disarray, but the orc army was as well.

The air was filled with the curses of officers of all ranks and the cracking of whips, a chaotic mess.

After nearly another hour, the humans and orcs had finally formed up properly, facing each other from a distance.

At this point, Catherine and the others could see the orc army’s formation clearly.

They had formed their first line with light cavalry, divided into left, center, and right formations.

The orc light cavalry were mostly clad in thin leather armor or no armor at all. Their weapons were long sabers or swords, but everyone carried a shortbow.

Behind the three formations were catapults and ballistae, and further back were armored cavalry, likely serving as a reserve force.

The orc formation was roughly in the shape of a “T.”

Many, such as Catherine and Duke Osman Aranbru, had experience serving at Watcher’s Fortress.

They did not underestimate the orcs’ predominantly light cavalry formation but observed it carefully with cautious eyes.

These fearsome riders, who came and went like the wind, were extremely flexible in battle and could turn into a sharp blade piercing the enemy at any moment.

As for the Aldan generals who were seeing an orc army for the first time, they were somewhat dismissive of the orc light cavalry.

In their eyes, those light cavalry could only be considered mounted troops. How could they possibly contend with Aldan knights who were armed with lances and clad in armor?

The difference between the two was like that between an egg and a stone. The consequence of them meeting would be the egg being smashed to pieces by the stone.

The heavy cavalry in the rear posed some threat, but from the orcs’ deployment, it seemed their commander did not intend to use the heavy cavalry as the main force in the battle.

Based on past experience, once the tide of battle between two armies began to turn in one’s favor, it would continue to do so. Could sending in the heavy cavalry at that point still turn things around?

At this moment, the orcs, having completed their formation, began to shout and curse loudly, constantly spewing out half-baked Aldan profanities.

The orcs’ voices were very loud, and all sorts of unpleasant and indecent words were clearly heard by the Aldan army.

The knights and officers of all ranks could still bear it, but the soldiers in the lower ranks felt a chill in their hearts as they listened and unceremoniously cursed back. ṙã𐌽O͍ΒÊṩ

For a time, the area between the two armies was filled with flying insults and foul language.

The catapults and ballistae on both sides were the first to engage, but with their numbers and accuracy, they could only inflict sporadic casualties on each other. Both armies endured it.

“Your Highness!”

A rapid clatter of hooves sounded as Montret Tavares rode up to Catherine.

This lord’s attire was dazzling. He wore a suit of exquisitely crafted, gilded silver-white plate armor, adorned with intricate patterns that were dizzying to behold. It was perfectly tailored to his size, clearly custom-made, making its young master appear even more heroic.

The lord bowed to Catherine from his horse.

“Please allow me to lead the attack! We can use the infantry to lure the orc cavalry into attacking and pin them down, then the cavalry on both wings can strike simultaneously, crushing them like a pair of pincers!”

At the recommendation of the various lords of the Blackstone Plains, Montret had been assigned the duty of commanding the central infantry.

Just now, a heavy crossbow bolt had flown past him, nearly grazing his body and embedding itself in the grass behind him. This had provoked Montret, which was why he made such a suggestion.

But Catherine shook her head and refused his request.

“The enemy light cavalry’s mobility is far superior to ours; the infantry cannot tie them down! We should not take the initiative to attack, but rather wait and see, looking for an opportunity to defeat them while on the defensive!”

“Your Highness! With all due respect, I cannot agree!” Montret was a little anxious. “All the military classics I have studied since childhood emphasize seizing the initiative in battle. How can you hand over the opportunity to make the first move to others? Especially when we outnumber them!”

The generals around the princess were slightly annoyed.

Duke Aranbru spoke up, chiding him:

“Montret, obey the order! You have no idea how terrifying those plains riders are. Let me tell you, they practically grew up on horseback. The bond between a rider and his mount is as strong as if they were one!”

“Yes, Your Highness, and Your Grace!”

Montret, looking dejected, rode back to the infantry phalanx to continue his command duties.

In the orc army’s command position, the commander Kalem frowned slightly. He stroked his chin and said, “It seems this Princess Catherine has quite good composure!”

With that, he waved his hand and summoned a messenger. “Have our men launch the attack!”

Wooo—wooo—!

The dull, long sound of conch shells echoed over the battlefield.

“Yah!”

The orc cavalry in the central army began to urge their mounts on. The horses galloped forward, carrying their masters towards the human army.

“They’re coming!”

From top to bottom, the Aldan army saw the enemy’s movement and the dust they kicked up.

The sight of a large number of cavalry charging together was magnificent. The dust even obscured the sky above the cavalry.

Montret stared straight ahead, unconsciously swallowing.

On the Aldan side, with a clattering sound, the archers in the front nocked their arrows and pointed them diagonally towards the sky in unison.

“Loose!”

With a loud roar from the commander, countless arrows shot into the sky with a whooshing sound.

After following a parabolic trajectory, the arrows turned into a deadly rain, pouring down on the heads of the charging orc cavalry.

Sharp arrowheads pierced flesh, knocking orc cavalrymen from their horses.

But this did not slow their attack. A large number of cavalry still surged forward like a burst dam.

After four volleys, the archers had to retreat into the infantry phalanx for cover.

At Montret’s command, the spearmen immediately planted the butts of their spears on the ground, the sharp spearheads pointing diagonally forward. The infantry phalanx instantly became like a hedgehog.

However, after reaching a certain distance, the orc cavalry stopped their forward charge. Instead, they turned their horses and, at the same time, took out their shortbows, drawing and firing at the Aldan infantry.

The orcs’ archery was very accurate, even on horseback, and their targets were in a dense formation.

Arrows pierced through the gaps between the long spears, and men constantly cried out as they were hit.

The Aldan archers, protected in the center of the infantry, were ordered to return fire. The sky above the battlefield was filled with arrows flying back and forth between the two sides, the whooshing sound incessant.

The orc light cavalry were like waves, rushing up the beach at high speed, then retreating just as quickly.

But soon they would rush up again, repeating this cycle over and over.