I'm not a lord

Chapter 197 The End of Earl Black Shirt

There was a light drizzle in the sky.

Just as the third brother, Yang, had quelled the riot at the North Gate, the second brother, Hugh, the fourth brother, Joseph, and Soward had led their troops to the western suburbs of Sanhe City.

The fourth brother has a high command attribute and has been leading troops for a year.

He performed exceptionally well in the battles of Shallow Beach Territory and Green Lake Territory, and also repelled the raids of armed merchant ships from Mikawa City on several occasions in River Marsh County, demonstrating considerable combat experience.

Lynn gave the fourth brother only one main task this time.

That is to eliminate as many of Count Blackwood's three hundred cavalry as possible.

This task may not seem difficult at first glance, but it is actually quite challenging.

The fourth brother had fewer than seven hundred professional soldiers capable of fighting.

It included 150 cavalrymen, with the remainder being infantry and archers.

These soldiers adjusted their schedules three days in advance and were still full of energy despite traveling all night.

With such a small force, they were tasked with intercepting and eliminating three hundred fully armed feudal cavalrymen on the vast plains.

This is almost an impossible task.

The western suburbs of Sanhe City actually cover a very large area.

Before the war began, this region had ten super-large manors, with a total of more than 20,000 serfs and more than 500,000 mu of cultivated land, which was more than seven times that of the original White Bear Territory.

Including public pastures, rivers, lakes, fields, and woodlands, the total area of ​​the western suburbs is roughly equivalent to a square with sides of 20 kilometers.

This is almost the size of the urban area of ​​a large city in later generations.

It was precisely because the western suburbs covered such a vast area that the second son, Hugh, had to work himself to the bone for a whole day just to raid one manor.

Now, if Lao Si's more than 600 soldiers are thrown into the western suburbs, his forces will be scattered like sand into the sea on the vast plains.

If Earl Blackwood is determined to escape, it will be very difficult for the fourth prince to catch him.

The scarcity of troops also brought another problem: they were vulnerable to being attacked from both sides.

If the fourth brother really manages to intercept Count Blackwood, he would likely be ambushed from behind by the church's armed forces during the fierce battle.

In the previous plundering wars, the armed forces controlled by the church had maintained a posture of avoiding battle, holding the four manors in the south while Lynn's cavalry plundered the manors in the north.

Therefore, the church's armed force, which consisted of fifty cavalry squads, remained fully manned.

Lynn knew that the fourth brother's task was difficult, so he granted him the authority to adapt to changing circumstances.

Moreover, Lynn had already led 1,400 soldiers of the general reserve force on their way and would arrive at the western outskirts of Sanhe City that afternoon.

The fourth prince led his troops to an abandoned manor in the northern part of the western suburbs. He first ordered his troops to remain on guard and rest, and then sent out a large number of light cavalry to scout the situation.

Under the earnest guidance of his elder brother Lynn, he now fully understands the importance of intelligence and information in war.

After the cavalry returned with intelligence that there were no enemy traces within a five-kilometer radius, Lao Si ordered the entire army to set off.

What's there to be afraid of from both sides? Just come at me, and I'll annihilate them all!
Moreover, the army in the city is not just for show; the third brother has the most elite troops in the entire Baihe Territory. After sweeping through the city, they can go out to provide support.

It remains to be seen who will attack whom from both sides!
Joseph, the fourth brother, is a man of both roughness and meticulousness, with a more adventurous fighting style, quite different from Yang, the third brother, who prefers a steady and methodical approach.

This was precisely the reason Lynn sent him to lead the troops.

To achieve greater results, you often have to take some risks.

The bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish, right?
Of course, the fourth brother did not forget to leave a squadron behind to cover the rear and monitor the church's four manors.

He himself led six hundred soldiers, maintaining their formation while advancing at full speed toward the west gate of Sanhe City.

Count Blackwood, oblivious to the impending doom, continued to lead his sixty riders in a frantic charge toward the north gate of Mikawa City.

He is now single-mindedly focused on entering the city to quell the rebellion and save his good brother-in-law's life.

Sanhe City was not large, and before long the North Gate could be seen in the distance.

Unlike the West Gate, both gates of the North Gate were raised, and there were many figures on the city wall.

The count rode forward and stopped two hundred meters outside the city gate, raising his voice to ask, "I am the Earl of Black Shirt. Who is guarding the city gate? What exactly is happening inside the city?"

When the third son, Yang, heard that it was the Earl himself, even he, with his calm and composed nature, couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth in his heart.

The biggest fish in Sanhe City is right in front of you!
Compared to Earl Blackwood, neither the mayor nor the bishop is nearly as good.

The third brother suppressed his excitement and gave a wink to the militia team leader beside him.

The young captain was equally restless; he had just defected and was worried about how to make a name for himself and gain the appreciation of Earl Shirakawa.

Success is just coming to us.
“Your Excellency, you’ve come at the perfect time! I am Zygmunt, the militia captain! The city is currently facing a citizen rebellion. I am under orders from Captain Kuno to guard the North Gate. The rebels have now captured the West Gate and the City Hall. Captain Kuno is currently fighting the rebels for control of the armory and the cathedral!”

Compared to the third brother, Captain Sigmund is clearly much more impetuous.

But his trembling voice, filled with excitement, became his best disguise.

After listening to the lies that the third son had fabricated for Zygmunt, Count Blackwood couldn't detect any flaws. He only sensed the anxiousness of a soldier longing for reinforcements.

He analyzed the situation from horseback:
The riots were most likely instigated and directed by Count Shirakawa, hence their astonishing scale, which allowed them to quickly occupy the West Gate, which was very close to the poor area, and the City Hall, located in the city center.

The armory and cathedral were closer to the wealthy district in the north of the city, and with the private guards of the wealthy district as reinforcements, they were able to resist the armed civilians.

Count Blackwood knew a little about the situation within the militia; Zygmunt was indeed the captain of the militia, commanding fifty militiamen.

It was just dawn, and the Count looked up at the city wall and could see that the robes of Sigmund and the other militiamen were still relatively clean.

This was naturally ordered by the third brother to be changed temporarily.

As Count Black Shirt pondered, he reached out and stroked the golden deer emblem on the hilt of his sword.

This sword was a gift from his brother-in-law, who said it was made by the best blacksmith in the North and was worth hundreds of Northern gold shields.

Ultimately, the count decided to send fifty cavalrymen into the city as quickly as possible.

He himself remained outside the city, waiting for the arrival of more than two hundred cavalrymen.

The military situation inside the city is urgent, and troops must be sent into the city to provide support as soon as possible.

But the Earl, having been tricked once in the West, was much more cautious this time.

Given the unclear situation within the city, it was impossible for him to enter.

The third brother, hiding behind the battlements, could see that the cavalry outside the city split into two groups. One group was rushing towards the city gate, while the other group, including the count, remained stationary.

He was unaware of what had happened to the Earl in Simon, and was therefore somewhat disappointed.

The biggest fish is too cautious; it won't take the bait.

But the third brother quickly rallied, thinking that taking down fifty cavalrymen was not a bad deal.

As the morning mist dissipated, the fifty riders dispatched by Earl Blackwood gradually emerged from the shadows of the North Gate.

Nothing happened; neither stones fell from above nor arrows were shot down.

The leading cavalrymen breathed a sigh of relief, but their hands remained firmly gripping their lances.

Then they saw flames rising from the city center.

But as the last cavalryman passed through the city gate, the iron gate behind him suddenly slammed down!
The advantage of winch-type city gates lies in this: simply releasing the winch allows the gate to close completely in an instant.

Count Black Shirt, standing outside the city, watched the city gate crash down with a deafening roar, his eyes wide with fury. Could this be a trap?!

Immediately, he felt a mixture of relief and lingering fear. Luckily, he hadn't entered the city!
"Retreat! Retreat!"

Without looking back, Earl Blackwood turned and galloped south with his remaining ten cavalrymen.

In his eyes, Sanhe City was now like a sailboat caught in a whirlpool in the middle of a river, beyond saving.

He completely disregarded both his brother-in-law's instructions and the fifty cavalrymen who had entered the city.

With the situation already like this, he couldn't care less about anything else; saving his life was the most important thing!
The third son ignored the fleeing Earl of Black Shirt; he couldn't do anything about it anyway.

Without any cavalry at hand, how can we pursue fleeing enemy cavalry?
Moreover, he also had to deal with the fifty cavalrymen who had entered the city.

Prior to this, he had ordered his soldiers to build a number of temporary chevaux-de-frise out of wood and spears, which were then placed on both sides of the city's roads.

The deafening crash of the city gate slamming down sounded like the battle horn.

The third brother's hundred soldiers quickly assembled at the end of the two rows of barricades, holding spears, axes, and halberds, and formed a battle formation to meet the enemy.

Behind the barricades, militiamen from within the city appeared, armed with spears and crossbows.

With the city gates closing in, they perfectly surrounded the fifty cavalrymen, effectively trapping them like dumplings.

With perfect timing, favorable location, and popular support, plus a three-fold numerical advantage, the battle was naturally a one-sided affair with no suspense whatsoever.

The first dozen or so cavalrymen attempted to charge forward to break through the encirclement.

However, the elite infantry from Baihe Territory were like the thickest city wall. They showed no fear in the face of the charge and easily defeated the enemy cavalry.

The fall of a dozen or so cavalrymen in the front row did not affect the fighting spirit of the remaining cavalrymen. They stepped over the bodies of their comrades, either continuing to charge forward or dismounting and trying to dismantle the barricades on both sides.

Because they knew that autonomous cities, unlike feudal lords, typically did not accept prisoners of war, much less ransom.

The fierce battle lasted for about 15 minutes.

Thanks to the third brother's thorough preparations, his side suffered only a dozen or so casualties, most of whom were militiamen from within the city.

The enemy's fifty cavalrymen were wiped out, with fewer than ten men captured due to injuries.

Of the fifty warhorses, more than thirty survived, and most were intact.

Before the battle, the third brother had given orders to the soldiers to focus on people and avoid killing horses.

His pre-battle arrangements had effectively restricted the speed and space of the enemy cavalry, eliminating the need to shoot the horse before the rider, thus securing a valuable spoil for Lynn.

By this time, Leon had already arrived at the North Gate with a squadron of soldiers. Most of the city's high-ranking officials had been imprisoned, and only sporadic resistance remained within the city.

Less than an hour after the third brother entered the city, the entire city had fallen into Lynn's hands.

Even the Golden Deer flag on the city hall has been removed and replaced with the White Bear flag, which symbolizes the Shirakawa Territory.

"You continue cleaning up the battlefield and keep an eye on the north gate!"

The third brother then ordered Leon to clean up the battlefield.

He then led his infantrymen who could ride horses, mounted them, and rode Earl Blackwood's horse to pursue and kill Earl Blackwood.

At the same time, Count Blackwood had just met up with more than two hundred cavalrymen who had followed him outside the northwest corner of the city wall.

After the troops were united, the Earl felt somewhat relieved.

Since the supplies, provisions, and spare warhorses were still in the temporary military camp, he had to lead the cavalry back to the camp outside the west gate first.

But his nightmare had only just begun.

Upon arriving at the north side of the military camp, he was surprised to find that the Golden Deer Flag hanging in the center of the camp had been replaced by the White Bear Flag, and there were figures moving around inside the camp.

Clearly, this military camp has also fallen into enemy hands.

The army camp was occupied by one hundred soldiers under the command of the third brother. They first entered the west gate and joined forces with Kunnuo, the militia commander.

Upon seeing the cavalry mobilizing in large numbers from the city walls, they swiftly left the city, seized the camp, and captured nearly three hundred warhorses and a large quantity of provisions and supplies.

The oats that Lynn had previously sold to the city council were back in his hands, with an additional huge amount of interest that was many times greater.

Count Black Shirt gazed at the military camp that had fallen into enemy hands, and a mouthful of blood welled up inside him, nearly causing him to fall off his horse.

Fortunately, his squire was quick-witted and reached out to support the count, shouting in his ear, "Your Excellency, you mustn't fall! Now is the time for you to make a decision!"

"Head west, back to Golden Deer Fortress!"

Count Black Shirt suppressed his surging blood and qi, gritted his teeth, and issued the order.

The cavalry had no choice but to turn back again and continue their retreat to the west.

After such a strenuous run, their warhorses, which hadn't even had breakfast yet, were already panting heavily.

The cavalrymen also abandoned all their baggage, provisions, and precious spare horses, and whether they could safely retreat to Golden Deer Fortress was truly an unknown.

The morale of the entire army plummeted as a result, and many cavalrymen even considered deserting.

A force of over two hundred people is too large; it might be easier to escape back to Golden Deer Castle if they dispersed and retreated separately.

Count Black Shirt also noticed the low morale, so he slowed his horse and addressed the enemy to bolster their spirits:
"Gentlemen, there is no need to worry. Lynn's forces are very limited. I think most of his troops are in Sanhe City, and it is impossible for him to send troops out to intercept us!"

At the same time, he secretly thought to himself: If I were Lynn, I would definitely set up an army in the western suburbs of Three Rivers City. Not too many, just a hundred or so cavalrymen would be enough to cause us heavy losses.

Soon, Lynn fulfilled his 'wish'.

The scouts ahead reported that an army of no less than five hundred men had appeared ahead, including a large number of cavalry. Judging from their attire, they did not appear to be armed forces under the Church.

Meanwhile, the scout cavalry in the rear also reported that an army of more than two hundred men, including several dozen cavalrymen, was following behind, most likely the army of Earl Lynn of White River.

In fact, they don't even need the intelligence provided by scouts.

Thanks to the flat terrain of the western suburbs, Count Blackwood could see the large army gradually approaching ahead with the naked eye, and when he turned around, he could also see the menacing pursuers.

Cavalry are indeed fast, but this is mainly in short-distance battlefield charges.

If the pursuit extends to a distance of tens of kilometers, the overall speed of infantry will not be slower than that of cavalry.

In other words, even if they managed to break through the enemy's encirclement, Count Blackwood's cavalry would still be caught up.

With wolves in front and tigers behind, the morale of the entire unit instantly plummeted.

Knights kept approaching Count Black Shirt, asking in bewilderment, "Your Excellency, what should we do now?"

But even Count Black Shirt was at a loss!
He was indeed experienced in combat, but he did not possess the extraordinary talent to turn a deadly situation around.

His biggest regret now is that he didn't abandon the city and run away from it in the first place.

He wished he could travel back to himself half an hour earlier and then slap himself twice.

But since things had come to this, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and move forward.

Because if they try to escape in a scattered manner, they will only be defeated one by one by the enemy.

If they could unite more than two hundred cavalrymen into a single drill, there might still be a chance of escape.

Count Black Shirt drew his longsword: "Gentlemen, charging forward might still offer a chance for survival! Follow me!"

(End of this chapter)