"What are the casualties?" Kayal asked softly, his gaze fixed on the enemy cavalry formation, his brows furrowed, without turning his head.
"Teacher, casualties are one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five... five hundred and twenty-four seriously wounded, no minor injuries... deaths... one thousand three hundred and eleven." The third disciple, Rayler, looked grim. "Also, Fulin is dead."
Fulin was one of Kayal's disciples, ranking around three hundred, a military talent. Although he had significant issues with the overall strategic view, he possessed a keen sense of direction in small-scale battles. Kayal knew, without even thinking, that Fulin must have discovered the enemy's presence and acutely realized that he absolutely could not let the enemy pierce through their formation, and so he had fought hard... his entire squad probably died, didn't they? Kayal's eyes couldn't help but reveal sadness and sorrow.
"Artoria, come tell me who the enemy is." Kayal gritted his teeth. He had just achieved a glorious victory only to be ambushed by the enemy again. This kind of emotional roller coaster was fortunate for someone with Kayal's extraordinary mental fortitude; any other commander would have long since collapsed.
"It's Leinuo's cavalry!" Looking at the fluttering horse banners of the iron cavalry above, Artoria's expression was somber, her spirits quite low.
Less than a month after King Uther's death, so many people rose in rebellion. One or two could be called an accident, a lord with ambition, but with three or four rebels appearing one after another, one couldn't help but ponder King Uther's mistakes.
His own father being so unpopular was a great blow to Artoria.
"Leinuo, Leinuo, Leinuo..." Kayal murmured the name as if remembering something: "Viscount Chamberlain of Leinuo's territory died two years ago. His son, Hali, succeeded him..."
"Hali!"
Kayal's gaze shot into the enemy formation like lightning: "I'm afraid our enemy can only be this audacious Hali! He doesn't understand the laws of the Knight, nor the honor of the warrior, to actually launch a sneak attack amidst the chaos of war..."
Suddenly, he sighed to the sky: "I was too pedantic! I only thought of the Knight's rules of one battle against one, one formation against one, but he taught me a good lesson. I must thank him!" Although the tuition fee was paid with the flesh and blood of thousands of his subjects and warriors, and in the future, many more would be buried for this lesson.
"Hali Bright! Let's have a decisive battle." The discomfiture no longer showed on Kayal's face. An invigorated Kayal had never before wanted to defeat this enemy so much.
Hali Bright felt great! Absolutely great! Super great!
Who was Kayal?
Camelot's number one young man!
The 'child from another family' always mentioned by the elders!
Perfect! Handsome! Elegant! Dashing! Unparalleled!
At ten, he achieved a title personally conferred by the King, which others could never obtain in a lifetime. At fifteen, his talents were unmatched, his demon-slaying poems sung far and wide, so artistic that he practically dripped culture. Even across the sea, many unmarried literary maidens yearned for an intimate encounter with Kayal, this peerless literary youth.
His Harvest Festival, wine, and Red Leaf Ridge products were even more self-evident, drawing the world's attention.
Red Leaf Ridge was like the bright pearl on the King's head, and even all of Camelot subtly looked to Red Leaf Ridge as its leader.
Everything was the accomplishment of that literary youth Kayal... Kayal this... Kayal that... Hali had had enough!!
Could it be that he, Viscount Hali, young as he was, truly couldn't even compare to that 'Sage' who didn't even have a title and was, in terms of position, merely an idle official?!
So, after the great mountain of King Uther, who had pressed down on him, died, he excitedly led his three hundred knights, like personal retainers, to this place.
He hadn't expected Red Leaf Ridge to already be at war!
He recognized that banner, the banner of that cavalry, the Knight Order called the Madesia Knights, led by Madesia, a big brother figure he had admired since childhood.
But the object of his secret admiration... had lost!
Without reason, without cause, he had lost!
Madesia was deeply embroiled in the enemy formation, and his Knights were repeatedly charging the square formation, yet even a frontal assault couldn't escape the outcome of defeat... He was afraid! Afraid from the bottom of his heart! Afraid to the core! In his fear, he unhesitatingly ordered the Knight Order to attack the weak rear of the square formation.
He won! Turning that arrogant literary youth into a '2-bit' youth, an ordinary youth, he finally let out a huge sigh of relief. Like a proud rooster, he rode his horse, strutting and shaking his head in front of his cavalry formation.
He was proud. He had finally beaten that literary youth, finally beaten the great mountain that had weighed on his heart. He felt incredibly good!
But when he looked at his subordinates, it was like a bucket of cold water poured over him from head to toe. He suddenly felt a bit pathetic, but then came immense anger; "What kind of looks are those! Yes! I'm talking to you! What kind of looks are these?!"
They were merely servants! Merely warriors! How dare they despise him, the noble Viscount, his fragile and proud self-esteem was instantly ignited.
"Viscount, we just feel that your command was a bit inappropriate and not quite suitable for us." The most articulate Knight stepped forward, subtly expressing everyone's dissatisfaction.
To be honest, as a tactic, Hali's arrangement was not wrong. Facing ten times the enemy with three hundred cavalry, picking weak points and taking advantage of openings were acceptable. But for Knights, this was a great humiliation. They were proud, but not brainless. Even they knew that a square formation like that would be a one-way trip!
But what did that matter!
They would rather die on the charge like the Madesia Knights than attack the enemy's logistics personnel from the rear like despicable assassins!
This was a shameful, disgraceful battle. Even if they won, they would only be reviled through the ages, because they had lost their faith as Knights. If they lost, it would be even worse; having lost even with a sneak attack, they would forever be tied to the pillar of shame.
From the moment Hali Bright gave that order, he had already become estranged from his Knights, because Hali was not a Knight; Hali was merely a noble with martial arts! He didn't understand the honor of the Knight, he didn't understand!
So he raged.
"What then! Just charge like this!!" he shouted.
The Knights didn't give him a chance to speak, for they directly took his roar as an order and blew the Knight's charge horn.
With their hooves pounding, they charged steadfastly towards the front of the formation...