Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 51 Battle Formations
Time is of the essence; Louis must improve the territory's combat capabilities as quickly as possible within the next few days.

So he took his white-haired secretary, Sif, to the training ground to check on the soldiers' training progress.

Sif watched the perfectly synchronized battle formation move, her mouth slightly agape.

This was the first time she had ever seen the soldiers of the Red Tide Territory practicing their battle formations, and she was deeply shocked.

The tactics of the Red Tide Territory's soldiers are completely different from the common combat methods in this world.

Most lords' tactics consisted of simply piling up a rabble of soldiers into a wall of flesh, attempting to withstand a cavalry charge with sheer numbers.

But the result is often that the Knights tear apart their formation and defeat them in one blow.

However, the Red Tide Territory is different; they use the "overlapping formation" designed by Louis.

He divided the battle formation into three layers, representing coordinated operations of long-range suppression, close-range interception, and fatal counterattack.

First layer of battle formation: Archers.

The archers stood in the front row, firing in three waves in a continuous volley, similar to a three-stage attack, to maintain the continuity of the arrow rain.

"The target is horses!" the trainer shouted from the training field.

The soldiers drew their bows, and arrows rained down.

*Smack!* — *Smack!* — *Smack!*

The arrows struck the target densely. Although most of them were inaccurate, the sheer number of them meant that no matter how you shot, you were bound to hit the target.

The simulated shooting was not aimed at the knight himself, since such an attack was of limited effectiveness against a knight with fighting spirit.

Their real target was the horse beneath the knight's rear!
Aside from monster horses, ordinary horses typically lack armor and cannot use battle aura.

A precise shot to the horse's legs or belly can disrupt the enemy cavalry's charging formation and greatly weaken the rider's impact.

Second tier of battle formation: Spearmen.

"Maintain formation! Keep moving!"

After the archers completed their first volley, the shield-bearing pikemen quickly stepped forward and formed a dense array of pikemen.

The spears in their hands were four to six meters long, and they were pointed forward in unison.

Their role is to disrupt the enemy cavalry's momentum and weaken their charge when the archers have disrupted it.

They would then step forward, aiming their spears at the horses' bellies, forcing the riders to slow down, or even causing the warhorses to lose control and throw the riders off.

Third layer of battle formation: Swordsmen and Axemen.

Once the cavalry is forced to slow down, it becomes the stage for the swordsmen and axemen.

They conceal themselves behind the spearmen, and once the spear formation successfully halts the enemy, they leap out swiftly, wielding heavy longswords or battle axes.

Objective—Cut off the horse's legs, then chop down the fallen rider!
"cut!"

On the training ground, at the instructor's command, the axemen charged forward swiftly, and the wooden stakes simulating cavalry snapped in two, shattering into pieces.

Even those lower-ranking knights, protected by their battle aura, would find it difficult to leave the battlefield alive if they were engaged in close combat with several well-trained swordsmen and axemen.

Moreover, this battle formation can be used in conjunction with the knights to expand the gains of the battle.

Of course, this tactic was not Louis's original creation, but rather referenced Wu Lin's "layered formation" during his resistance against the Jin dynasty.

In the Battle of Xianren Pass during the Song Dynasty in his previous life, Wu Lin used this tactic to successfully annihilate the Jin army's "Iron Pagoda" heavy cavalry.

"You can kill a battle aura warrior like that?" Sif finally couldn't help but ask.

“Official knights and above won’t be killed so easily, but it’s surprisingly effective against lower-ranking knights,” Louis said with some pride.

This tactic is obviously no match for those high-ranking knights, since those monsters can take on a hundred enemies at once.

However, it is a fatal nemesis for trainee and regular knights.

With just one of these well-trained infantry squads, a battle formation could surround and kill several knights.

However, these soldiers can only serve as support on the battlefield; the real deciding factor in the battle is the knights with battle aura.

"Let's go." Louis interrupted Sif's thoughts and continued walking towards the other side of the training field.

The knights there were also conducting tactical drills. Unlike the infantry battle formations of soldiers, the core of cavalry training was "swarm tactics."

This is Louis's tactical core, modified based on the northern environment.

On the spacious training ground, the knights were divided into several squads, each led by 3 to 5 official knights and 10 to 20 apprentice knights.

They launched continuous attacks on the hypothetical enemy from different directions.

The tactics can be summarized in three stages: harassment, feint attack, and concentrated fire!
A small squad quickly approaches the target, harassing it with pistols or bows, and then immediately withdraws.

Another squad launched an attack from the flank, creating the illusion of a main force charge and forcing the enemy to redeploy their defenses.

The two teams took turns harassing the enemy.

Finally, taking advantage of the enemy's momentary lapse in concentration, a hidden cavalry squad suddenly appeared, launching a concentrated attack on key targets and inflicting maximum casualties in a short period of time.

Throughout the entire process, the knights maintained a high degree of mobility, avoiding direct confrontation with the enemy, instead repeatedly wearing them down and searching for weaknesses.

As soon as the enemy shows signs of fatigue or the commander makes a mistake, the knights will seize the opportunity to concentrate their forces and launch a deadly surprise attack!
On the training ground, warhorses galloped, raising clouds of dust.

The spear pierced the wooden stake, and the arrow hit its target steadily.

After months of training, the knights of the Crimson Tide Territory are now able to execute swarm tactics perfectly.

The veteran riders were skilled and experienced, and although the newcomers made mistakes, they gradually integrated into the system through practice.

Louis nodded in satisfaction.

This tactic can maximize the protection of one's own cavalry while continuously weakening the enemy.

Compared to the foolish tactic of mindlessly charging and being surrounded and annihilated, this tactic of dispersed harassment is the proper way for elite cavalry to fight.

Sif looked at the knights, who were so disciplined and obeyed orders, and was somewhat shaken.

Their actions were precise and flawless; every order was executed swiftly and decisively.

This was completely different from the northern tribal warriors she was familiar with.

In tribes, warriors are more accustomed to charging forward in a swarm, relying on their individual bravery and physical prowess to fight, rather than this kind of combat that emphasizes teamwork and tactics.

If all the knights of the Ironblood Empire were like those of the Crimson Tide Territory, then the northern tribes would be in danger.

Her hands clenched slightly, her emotions a complex mix.

As a former princess of the Cold Moon tribe, she naturally hoped that all the traitors would be killed, especially those who poisoned her father and murdered her mother, brothers, and sisters.

She wished they would die a horrible death.

But if the empire really launches a full-scale attack on the North, then what about the innocent people her father protected...?

"What are you thinking about? Let's go to the alchemy workshop."

Louis's voice interrupted Sif's reverie.

She snapped out of her daze, glanced at Louis, but ultimately said nothing and silently followed.

Louis looked at the increasingly powerful army on the training ground and felt somewhat pleased.

The soldiers have become proficient in using battle formations, and the knights' swarm tactics have also taken shape, making them several times stronger than before when Red Tide took over.

Very good, next up is the Demon Flame Bullet.

If Hilko's team has succeeded in their research, I will be more confident in the upcoming battle.

If it's not finished yet...

Louis gave a soft hum, already having devised a plan in his mind.

Then let Hilko work overtime until it's done, hmph, work him to death.

He pulled on the reins, urging his warhorse forward.

Sif also mounted her horse, and the two of them, along with their knights, rode toward the alchemy workshop.

(End of this chapter)