Ivan Tvorimirich was an old General who had followed the Grand Prince for a very long time, having been tested and baptized by many battles. If not for his advanced age, the command of the Southwest Rus army should have been in his hands, not the Grand Prince's two sons. If he had been allowed to command earlier, they would certainly not have fallen into such a predicament.
Even if military power was handed over to him at this point, it would be of no avail in changing the current situation.
After a series of reconnaissance and probes, Ivan concluded that they had been completely surrounded by Nomads. After several futile breakout attempts, Ivan, after careful consideration, had no choice but to lead the army to a hillside to hold their ground. This was the best option at the moment, and this was the tragic battlefield everyone had seen before.
He planted sharpened wooden stakes all over the hill, establishing strong fortifications, intending to hold out for a longer period under the siege of the Nomad army until the main force of the Grand Prince arrived.
Generally speaking, this choice was undoubtedly correct; Nomads often do not launch a direct assault against strong fortifications, but this time was different.
The Polovtsy surged like waves, completely disregarding the sharp wooden stakes in front of them. Many horsemen crashed and died on them, but the enemy still advanced, one after another, carving a bloody path through the stake-filled hillside.
The dense abatis fortifications were thus destroyed, with a desperate battle fought at every layer. Arrows could always be seen flying in the sky, and bodies covered the ground between the abatis. Ivan and the two Princes fought on the front lines against the enemy multiple times, but this still could not stop the Polovtsy's advance. They pushed all the way to the very top of the hill, where the most intense fighting took place.
The brutal war of attrition lasted an entire day. When the sun set, the curtain of war finally fell. The battlefield was covered with the bodies of both sides. The Rus army was completely annihilated, and the Polovtsy also suffered greatly; their losses were not much better than the Rus.
As for the Rus Generals, both Princes were killed in the chaotic battle, their heads then cut off and hung on spears. Ivan and a small group of people were unfortunately captured. They thus followed the main force of the Polovtsy. The Polovtsy subjected them to all kinds of torture, hoping to extract useful information, but they did not know much to begin with. It could be said that the Steppe Wolves gained nothing.
Along with Ivan, there were also many Rus slaves, mostly captured in the Pei City area. They lived inhumane lives, doing all the hard and exhausting labor in the military camp, and it was unknown how many people died from exhaustion every day.
Through conversations with these people, Ivan learned that Pei City was still holding firm under the Polovtsy's siege, and the Nomads had not yet been able to plant their banners on its walls. However, many fortress towns near Pei City had been breached. These were important components of the fortress system centered around Pei City, but the purpose of these fortresses was originally to delay time as much as possible, so their fall was part of the plan.
Ivan saw that the slaves' environment was harsh and supervision was lax, so he seized the opportunity to incite a slave rebellion in the camp. He then took the chance to steal a horse and escape, after which he was rescued by the Grand Prince's troops.
"You mean the main force of the Polovtsy is nearby?"
The Grand Prince grasped the key information in the words. He had only run for a few hours before encountering the Rus, which surely indicated that the main force of the Nomads was active nearby.
"Yes, Grand Prince, they are definitely in this vicinity."
The General coughed several times, then gave a definite answer. He then subconsciously began to explain everything he had seen in the Nomad camp and the information he knew.
"They also suffered considerable losses in the battle that besieged us, at least a thousand casualties. I saw many wounded in the Polovtsy camp, and the problems caused by the rebellion when I escaped must also be significant."
"Is that so? I understand, Ivan. You just rest now. I will handle the war."
Yaroslav gave a look to his Bodyguard Unit and then turned to leave. The long-prepared doctor approached to continue examining the General, whose eyes showed gratitude and guilt. He understood that the Grand Prince's statement essentially meant he would not be held accountable for his mistakes, which was certainly a relief, but guilt still lingered in his heart.
The Grand Prince left the tent, with even more pressing work awaiting him. The main force of the Polovtsy was right before them, and it was time to put the soldiers into battle readiness. His two uncles also left, as they needed to organize their respective armies. Prince Rostislav did the same, leaving only the General to rest under the doctor's care.
When the news that the Nomad army was nearby spread, the entire army immediately became agitated. Soldiers put on their armor, took up their weapons, and were ready at all times to confront any potential enemy.
And news about the enemy's main force quickly arrived. The scouting Black Hat Army had discovered the main force and camp of the Polovtsy, which undoubtedly heightened the tension.
They also brought back the number of the Nomad army—at least ten thousand or more—it could be said they were evenly matched.
After the Black Hat Army scouted the Nomad army's position, more Polovtsy also appeared near the Rus army to observe, but with no intention of attacking, merely gathering various information.
However, fortunately, the Polovtsy had no intention of launching a major offensive. They even sent envoys to agree on a battlefield and time with the Rus, to prepare for a decisive battle early tomorrow morning. This also pleased the Grand Prince; since the Nomads wanted a decisive battle, then a decisive battle it would be. It would be a headache if these fellows ran around everywhere.
Moreover, there was no option to retreat at this point. Retreating in front of the Nomad army? How could they possibly outrun them? It would be pure suicide.
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To prevent a possible night attack by the Polovtsy, the camp's defenses were very well-prepared. The edges of the camp were densely covered with sharp wooden stakes, which had been pulled from the death-filled hillside and were now being reused here.
The night before battle always made people nervous. Many soldiers did not even sleep, as their lives would be decided tomorrow, so what energy did they have for sleep?
Some Christians sought out the accompanying priests for possible last prayers and to confess their sins. More people, however, were busy sharpening their weapons and maintaining their armor, and the blacksmith's side was always crowded with people.
Some also sought one last pleasure, finding the accompanying camp followers for a night of revelry, heedless of whether this would have any adverse effects on the battle tomorrow.
Prince Rostislav also only slept for a short while, after all, this was the first major battle he would experience since coming to this world. As for the warfare in Estonia, it was more like a sweep, how could it be compared to this true battle?
And Prince Rostislav, stepping out of his tent, saw his Captain of the Guard sitting by the campfire. Out of a desire to pass the time, Prince Rostislav walked over.