Time was pressing, and Louis had to rapidly enhance the Red Tide Territory's combat capabilities in the next few days.
To assess progress, he brought his white-haired secretary, Sif, to the training grounds to observe the soldiers' drills.
Sif stood in stunned silence, her mouth slightly agape, as she witnessed the perfectly synchronized training maneuvers.
This was her first time seeing the Red Tide Territory's troops in action—and it shook her to the core.
The military tactics employed here were worlds apart from the crude and conventional methods used throughout the realm.
Most lords simply relied on swarming their enemies with sheer numbers, forming what amounted to a wall of flesh in hopes of withstanding cavalry charges. But more often than not, such formations crumbled immediately once the knights tore through them, triggering total collapse.
But the Red Tide Territory was different. Under Louis's command, they implemented a strategic "Stacking Formation," a refined structure that broke from this world's norms.
This formation was divided into three distinct layers, each serving a coordinated tactical role: long-range suppression, close-quarters interception, and deadly counterattack.
First Layer: Archers
The archers stood in the front row, organized into three firing units. They practiced a continuous volley system, mimicking a triple-stage attack. As one group loosed arrows, another nocked their bows, and the third reloaded—creating a relentless barrage of projectiles.
"Target the horses!" the training officer shouted across the field.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
A rain of arrows flew overhead, striking the targets densely. Though many missed, the sheer number ensured that some would always find their mark.
Interestingly, the targets weren't shaped like knights—their armor and battle qi would render such attacks mostly ineffective. Instead, the soldiers were trained to aim at the horses beneath them.
Ordinary warhorses—unlike magical beasts—wore no armor and could not channel battle qi. A well-placed arrow to a horse's leg or underbelly could cripple its mobility, disrupting the momentum of a cavalry charge and breaking their formation altogether.
Second Layer: Spearmen
"Hold formation! Match your pace!"
As soon as the archers completed their first volleys, the spearmen advanced, forming a dense line behind shields. Each carried a long spear between four and six meters in length, angled forward in deadly unison.
These soldiers played a critical role. Once the enemy cavalry's charge was disrupted, the spearmen would step forward and thrust their spear tips at the weakened horses, forcing the knights to slow down or even fall as their mounts lost balance or were pierced through.
Third Layer: Sword and Axe Soldiers
When the cavalry was forced into disarray, the third layer struck.
Sword and axe wielders, hidden behind the spear line, charged out as soon as the enemy was entangled. They brandished heavy longswords or battle axes and closed in fast.
"Chop!"
At the officer's command, the sword and axe soldiers surged forward. Their weapons crashed into wooden dummies designed to simulate mounted enemies, splitting the stakes with brutal force.
Even lower-ranked knights protected by battle qi would struggle to escape alive if surrounded by such troops. In close quarters, their advantage was neutralized.
This triple-layered formation was particularly devastating when combined with their own knights, allowing infantry and cavalry to coordinate and maximize impact.
Of course, Louis hadn't invented this formation from scratch. He had drawn inspiration from historical records—specifically the legendary martial artist Wu Lin, who used a similar tactic during his resistance against the Jin Dynasty.
In his previous life, during the famous Battle of Xianrenguan in the Song Dynasty, Wu Lin had successfully annihilated the Jin army's feared Iron Pagoda heavy cavalry using this very method.
"Can this really kill battle qi warriors?" Sif finally asked, her tone laced with disbelief.
"Formal Knights and above won't be killed that easily," Louis admitted, "but it's deadly against lower-ranked ones."
Against Apprentice Knights and those newly promoted to Formal Knights, this formation was a fatal trap. A small, disciplined unit could overwhelm and eliminate multiple knights by working in tandem.
Still, Louis knew this infantry-based strategy could only serve as battlefield support. In the end, battles were won or lost by knights wielding battle qi.
"Let's move on," Louis said, interrupting Sif's thoughts as he led her to the other end of the training grounds.
There, the knights were conducting their own drills.
Unlike the soldiers' disciplined formation fighting, the knights practiced a different system: the Swarm Tactic.
Louis had adapted this tactic specifically to suit the harsh and expansive terrain of the Northern region.
On the wide-open drill field, the knights operated in small teams, each composed of three to five Formal Knights and ten to twenty Apprentice Knights. These units trained to launch fluid, multi-phase attacks from various directions.
The tactic could be broken down into three stages: harassment, feint, and concentrated fire.
First, one unit would swiftly approach the simulated enemy, hurling short spears or firing arrows to harass and disorient. They'd immediately retreat before the enemy could retaliate.
Next, another team attacked from a different direction—often the flank—faking a frontal charge. This maneuver forced the enemy to shift formation defensively, revealing gaps elsewhere.
These two teams cycled in and out, alternating harassment attacks to exhaust the enemy mentally and physically.
Finally, when the enemy faltered or made a tactical mistake, a hidden unit would burst forth, focusing all their strength on one vulnerable point to deal a fatal blow.
Throughout the entire drill, the knights maintained high mobility. They never clashed directly in formation battles. Instead, they chipped away at the opponent, probing for weaknesses and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
On the field, warhorses thundered. Dust clouded the air as spears pierced targets and arrows hit bullseyes with precision.
After months of training, the Red Tide Territory's knights had become adept at executing this Swarm Tactic.
The veteran knights moved seamlessly, while the newer recruits still stumbled occasionally. But under strict drills, they were steadily integrating into the formation.
Louis nodded with satisfaction.
Compared to the outdated methods of mindless charges followed by disastrous routs, this flexible, harassing approach was far more suitable for elite cavalry.
It allowed for sustained pressure while minimizing casualties.
Sif stood silently, heart trembling as she observed the knights' flawless movements.
Every action was carried out with precision. Orders were executed instantly. Discipline ran deep through every soldier's veins.
This was nothing like the warriors of the Northern Tribes she once knew.
Among the tribes, warriors favored raw power and blind charges. They depended on individual bravery rather than coordinated tactics.
If all the knights of the Ironblood Empire fought like those in the Red Tide Territory...
Then the Creek Tribe was in danger.
Her hand clenched reflexively.
As the former princess of the Creek Tribe, Sif naturally hoped the traitors who poisoned her father and slaughtered her family would meet their end. She wished every last one of them would perish without burial.
But if the Empire truly launched a sweeping campaign across the Northern lands...
Would her father's innocent people—those he had tried so hard to protect—be caught in the crossfire?
"What are you thinking?" Louis asked casually. "Let's go to the alchemy workshop."
Sif was startled out of her spiraling thoughts. She looked at Louis, then silently nodded and followed him.
Louis turned back to the training grounds, a sense of pride swelling within him.
The soldiers had fully grasped the layered battle formation. The knights had mastered the Swarm Tactic. Their strength had increased tenfold since arriving at the Red Tide Territory.
Very good.
Next on the agenda—the Magic Flame Bomb.
If Silco's research team had finished developing it, then Louis's preparations would be nearly complete for the coming conflicts.
And if not...
Louis's expression darkened slightly. He already had a countermeasure in mind.
He'd simply force Silco to work overtime until the job was done.
Work him to death if necessary.
With that thought, he tugged the reins and galloped forward, Sif following close behind with their knight escorts.
Their destination: the alchemy workshop.
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