"Can't hold it?" Seeing the terrifying offensive of the Mongol cowardly Xue army. The Norman Empire, from Emperor Egil to ordinary soldiers, all tensed their nerves. Feel an atmosphere called "despair". It's as if you've had your limbs cut off and stuck in your throat.

There's nothing you can do about it. This is why the Mongol invasion was called a "natural disaster". It is precisely because in the face of natural disasters that human beings are completely powerless, unable to change and cannot be quelled. The most we can do is to forecast in advance and dig up the graves of our dead relatives after the disaster – if there are still people alive by then.

"No, it's not. I'm not so powerless. And the Mongols are not as strong as they think!" Egil tried his best to banish the negative emotions from his mind. And said in such a loud voice: "Soldiers, loyal defenders of the Holy Norman Empire! You know, we have plenty of supplies, we have a strong defense, and we have God's blessing! We will not be defeated!!"

Egil's words gave a little confidence to the knights and generals of the guards who were following him. But for the battlefield, it doesn't help.

After Artoria has unleashed the Death Brutality skill. The Norman Empire's defenses were indeed much more solid. The remaining soldiers gathered as much as they could. Form arrays to deal with enemy hoplites. However, such a loose array, composed of the remnants, was not very strong, and it could not stop the charge of the Mongol iron cavalry at all.

Despite the complex terrain and the narrow defensive line of the field, it was not easy to charge. However, the Mongol heavy cavalry can greatly increase its speed in a very short time. So, the timely field is not suitable, only a short charging distance. But these strong and cowardly Xue troops were still able to unleash an extremely powerful charge, and the poor front of the Norman Empire was scattered in pieces.

And compare it to that. Even if it's because of special skills, fight desperately. But in the face of an absolute gap in absolute strength. The Norman conscripts couldn't even fight back decently.

The heavy armor, and the astonishing physique of the Cowardly soldiers, made them immune to the assassination of the Norman Levy Spear. Even if they fought for their lives, hoping to use the kinetic energy of the cowardly Xue army's charge, it was impossible to die with them - these soldiers with excellent equestrian skills would often make a wonderful dodge in an instant. Avoid the Norman soldiers' spears while charging and counterattack accordingly.

In addition to a powerful impact capacity. These cowardly cavalry also possessed extremely strong flexibility. Their cavalry tactics were similar to those of the Norman knights' charge tactics. After a successful charge, they did not hesitate to turn again. Then charge from the other direction. In this way, thanks to their fearsome riding skills and the agility of their mounts, they were able to turn quickly after sprinting. Ride around such a narrow venue.

This kind of combat power, speaking of which, is much stronger than the knightly troops that the Norman Empire was proud of. However, the Norman knights also had their killer feature, which was the ever-improved Wave Charge. and their heavily honed, full-body plate armor.

It's just that, in numbers, barely reached five thousand Norman knights. But it was not even a fraction of the heavy cavalry of the Mongol Empire. This is also where Egil is very distressed, and because of this, Egil cannot have a head-on confrontation with the Mongol Empire, nor can he take an offensive stance against the Mongol Empire. It can only be fought with a strong defensive line.

The soldiers of the Cowardly Xue Army riding war horses can be called the best heavy cavalry in the world. And the cowardly soldiers of the Xue Army who lost their horses and walked for the time being. Again, it's not easy to deal with. They also have their own tactics. And they're just as good. If it weren't for the difference in position, even, Egil couldn't help but want to applaud them. ...,

Although the loss of their horses prevented them from making a powerful charge like their comrades. But it also makes them more agile and can adapt to more complex terrain. During the battle, they were responsible for hunting down the Norman soldiers who were left alone. Or after the friendly troops on horseback broke up the Norman array, they took advantage of the situation to completely cut out some of the Norman soldiers and then slaughtered them.

Of course, they had a more important mission, which was to attack the Norman crossbowmen who posed the greatest threat to the Cowardly Army.

Norman heavy crossbowman armed with a pulley crossbow, with a sharp weapon in his hand. Can easily kill a highly trained cowardly soldier. Norman militia crossbowmen armed with crossbows were also effective in killing them. It can be said that in this situation, the crossbow has become the most important means of counterattack of the Norman army.

In fact, from the overall, macro level, with the continuous development of metallurgical technology, as well as the professionalization of the army, the armor rate has risen. The Norman Empire's long-range strike force has gradually changed from longbowmen to artillery and crossbows. The power of machinery, and the power of science. It is gradually replacing the ancient manpower. I don't know if this should be said to be progress, or sadness?

In short, these soldiers armed with crossbows with amazing lethality are the henchmen of the cowardly Xue army. They were gathered and placed in several groups on the second line. Rarely seen on the battlefield, the Norman professional infantry, guarded by the professional infantry, condescended, aiming at the cowardly soldiers on the higher city walls, watchtowers, and the wreckage of the barracks. to stop the onslaught of this horrific and terrifying cavalry.

Because of the bunkers around them, as well as the terrain. There was also the frontal battlefield, the stubborn resistance of the Norman conscripts. Therefore, the heavy cavalry of the Cowardly Xue Army could not effectively kill them. And this task naturally fell on the head of the cowardly Xue army's foot troops. Holding their shields aloft, they crawled over the crumbling obstacles at breakneck speed. Endured the Norman army's crossbows, bows, and axes. Rush forward and fight the Norman infantry in a group.

The Mongol cowards armed with heavy maces, round shields, and double-layered heavy scale armor, and Norman infantry armed with battle axes, iris-shaped shields, and wearing three-quarter plate armor. The equipment of both sides can be said to be half a pound and eight taels. In terms of combat effectiveness, the professional infantry was superior to the professional cavalry who temporarily fought on foot, but the Norman army was the winner. However, with the addition of Genghis Khan's powerful Mongol military gods, the cowardly Xue army was able to win back another city. This battle can be described as a chess opponent. The two sides are inseparable. And Egil, for the first time, saw that an infantry army could face off against the Norman infantry head-on without being defeated!

However, although the strength is almost the same, in terms of numbers, it is the cowardly Xue army that has a complete advantage. As soon as the Mongolian front-line commander Chi Lao Wen saw that the situation on the front line had fallen into a stalemate, he ordered a second group, a total of 15,000 cowardly Xue troops, to come forward to support. This group of fresh troops rode war horses and quickly crossed the Norman artillery and crossbow blockade. A small number of cowardly Xue troops launched an attack on the fortress that had just been smashed into ruins by the return artillery and had not been attacked before, while more people rushed towards the scorching battlefield.

"Damn it, bastard!" Egil felt his chest tighten, and he almost vomited blood. The opposing army's troops were all neatly arranged in a phalanx, so it was easy to figure out how many troops there were—50,000! The super-powerful army that the Mongol Empire was proud of, Genghis Khan's Praetorian Guard, and the total number of these powerful cowardly soldiers was 50,000! And now, the other side only dispatched 25,000 troops, that is, half of the number, and already occupied an absolute and overwhelming advantage...,

In such a situation, how could it not make Egil vomit blood in a depressed state - if the two sides really fought hard, I am afraid that these 50,000 cowardly Xue troops alone would be enough to clean up the hundreds of thousands of regular troops under Egil's command! As soon as he thought of this, Egil felt a sweetness in his throat, and a mouthful of blood surged up to his throat. It turned out to be really depressed and vomited blood.

"Never spit it out. Egil said this to himself, and tried to push the muscles in his neck. Forcibly swallowed the blood back.

And Egil's action, albeit small. But it was still noticed by some people around me. Sonya, who had been paying attention to Egil, and Artoria, who was standing next to Egil at the right angle, both noticed that something was wrong with him. The difference was that Sonia lowered her head without saying a word, her fists clenched, and she seemed to be angry, but in the end she didn't say anything. Artoria, on the other hand, moved a little closer and whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear:

"What's wrong? Not feeling well?"

"How could it be. Egil smiled reluctantly.

"Is it because of the war situation? Don't worry, anyway, the outer defense line was established to give up. Even if you throw it away, it's nothing. "It's rare for Artoria to say something that doesn't match her personality at all. Moved Egil a little.

However, the effect of comfort was not achieved at all. The perimeter defense line was built to be abandoned, and Egil naturally knew this. What he feared was not the fall of a single front, or even a layer of defense, or even several layers of defense. What he feared was the terrifying strength of the Mongols...... Able to crush everything, both in strength and numbers, all remarkable armies.

Egil originally thought that with the current economic strength of the Norman Empire, he would only need to be given another five years, or even a shorter time. He would be able to raise an army that was stronger than the Mongols. When the time comes, the offensive and defensive postures will be reversed. However, it seems naïve now......