The Fire-Chasing Herrscher Who Destroyed the World

Otto Apokalis awoke to a low and tumultuous noise. He walked out of the tent, took the face wash from the attendant, and simply washed his face.

Seeing that no one was paying attention, he covered his face with his hands and breathed softly. A smell like bristles came up, making him frown.

It's useless to let go, this kind of stench only accounts for a very small part of the entire military camp.

Otto looked coldly at the lazy soldiers who got up early. Most of these people were mercenaries composed of rogues from various cities or villages, and they didn't pay any attention to hygiene.

Parts of patched armor were scattered everywhere. Not to mention the wrinkled armor that had been put on in a hurry, it was also covered with gray and burnt yellow stains. There were also black and damp foot wraps hanging to dry at the entrance of the camp tent. There were all kinds of feces from mules and horses. In front of the mixed stench emitted by all these, the bad breath accumulated overnight was nothing.

Of course, there is also the ubiquitous smell of blood, which is the trace left by last night's battle.

"It's so disgusting. I don't know how these soldiers did it? Karen and the others shouldn't be like this, right?"

As he walked to the corner and brushed his teeth, Otto cursed.

Of course he didn't like such filth, but he hid this disgust very well. As the young master of the Apocalis family, he was already incompatible with these sergeants. His previous behavior of finding opportunities to take a bath from time to time along the way even caused these people to label him as "weak and incompetent".

But... to be honest, he was a little speechless - why would these people associate "weakness and incompetence" with "hygiene"?

It's incredible.

Last night, on the corpses of Ming soldiers that were seized, they found several clean changes of underwear, a small bag of tooth powder for brushing teeth, and two toothbrushes made of horsehair...

Well...Otto certainly won't use other people's toothbrushes, but the tooth powder he uses to brush his teeth now is indeed...

According to these people's thinking, the Ming army who is so "clean" should be weak and can be bullied, right?

Obviously, this is not the case, and even Otto still has lingering fears.

Yesterday evening, they were attacked by Ming army cavalry before setting up camp.

A total of more than forty cavalrymen, with their arms and drums silent, appeared like ghosts on the right side of their entire team.

No one could have imagined that the Ming cavalry could actually penetrate fifty miles (about 75 to 80 kilometers) behind the confrontation line between the two sides. No one could have imagined that more than 40 Ming cavalry would dare to attack the enemy. A team of more than 3,000 soldiers launched the attack.

By the time the trumpeter sounded the alarm, more than forty Ming cavalry had already formed two loose horizontal lines and rushed down from the hill on the side.

Coincidentally, because the river was on the left hand side, the only 300 cavalrymen in the Tianming team were placed on the right side of the team. In other words, the Ming army did not take the 300 cavalry seriously from the beginning.

Otto witnessed that battle with his own eyes... that massacre...

When three hundred pistol cavalry were slowly moving forward in a dense column ten rows deep, the Ming cavalry sprinted with an unprecedented attacking posture hundreds of yards away.

"Can these barbaric guys from the east really know how to fight on horseback? With one person and one horse, the horses will be exhausted after charging for several hundred yards, right? Moreover, such a loose formation will also be surrounded by a dense formation. Was it destroyed all at once?"

People in the family thought that Otto did not understand military affairs and had no interest in military affairs, but he actually understood it very well. He had consulted many battlefield veterans and came up with a set of his own opinions on military matters. However, this confidence only lasted until yesterday evening.

When the distance between the two sides reached about a hundred yards, almost at the same time that the Tianming cavalry entered a fast charging posture, the speed of the Ming army's cavalry skyrocketed again. Otto had never seen horses charging in that posture, but he guessed that he and Ming people used Shorter stirrups are relevant.

The war horse galloped, its legs opened and closed rapidly, and its belly almost touched the ground. Otto had a bad premonition at that time, but he did not expect that the disaster would come so quickly——

At a distance of about seventy or eighty yards, the second column of Ming army cavalry held a bow in one hand and the tail of an arrow in the other. In an incredible posture, in just a few breaths, they passed through the gap in the previous column. Three arrows were thrown out, which caused a near-fatal blow to the destiny cavalry that was moving slowly in a dense formation.

The first row of Tianming cavalry almost all fell off their horses in an instant. Even though they were protected by breastplates, the Ming army's shooting skills were extremely superb. Undefended areas such as the neck, face, thighs, and the horses themselves were their targets.

But to be honest, until this moment, Otto still did not think that the destiny cavalry would lose, because as long as they were within twenty yards, the destiny cavalry could use their best pistol semi-circle tactics and attack them with an unprecedented dense rain of bullets. All the Ming army cavalry were beaten into a sieve - this was Otto Apocalis's naive judgment at the time.

The fact is that while the comrades behind him were throwing arrows, the 1st Ming Army cavalry leveled the weapon they called the "three-eyed blunderbuss" and used the match rope wrapped around their left hand to light the quick-burning fuse inserted in the fire door. .

The length of the fuse and the time to ignite it were obviously very carefully calculated. At the moment when the distance between the two sides was less than forty yards, the fuse burned out. Amidst the clouds of flames and smoke, and the whistling sound of projectiles cutting through the air, The unprecedentedly dense rain of bullets smashed Tianming's cavalry and horses into a sieve.

Some people wanted to run away on the spot, but there were many layers of queues behind them. Even if they turned the horse's head with difficulty, they would only bump into people who didn't know the truth behind them, and instead they would be knocked off their feet.

Naturally, there are brave people who try to raise their pistols to fight back, but the range of this kind of spring wheel pistol is only a dozen yards, and a dozen yards does not even require a breath for the horses sprinting at full speed before they have locked the target. Pulling the trigger and holding the three-eyed blunderbuss like an iron rod, the Ming army cavalry rushed in front of them.

The whine of the war horses merged with the sound of weapons clashing. Faintly, Otto seemed to hear someone firing a gun, but judging from the fact that there was only one corpse left behind by the Ming army, it was obvious that the bullets of the pistol could not penetrate their armor. , even if it is shot through, it will hardly cause fatal injuries.

The really smart ones are those who draw their swords in time, but it doesn't seem to be of much use. The powerful and heavy "iron rod" quickly bent and smashed these "sewing needles", and then irresistibly smashed the head of the destiny cavalry together with the helmet. Occasionally, it swept over the horse's neck and head, causing blood and flesh to spatter, and the war horse fell to death before it even had time to utter a whine.

"Damn it! How do they get their hands free on the horse? Don't they have to use their hands to control the horse?"

Otto clearly remembered that these were the exact words of the fifty-year-old sergeant major who was standing next to him at the time.

This was the result of the ignorance of this sergeant major who was born in Iberia. Otto remembered that when he was a child, he had seen many records in ancient books describing Eastern cavalry's two-handed combat.

Of course, such a wide-ranging style of play would be very dangerous if caught in a melee and caught at close range. However, the Ming army also had a second row of cavalry. They put down their bows at some point and raised their long swords like wild goose feathers to protect them. Standing next to the first row of comrades, all the destiny cavalry who tried to approach for a sneak attack had their sharp blades cut through the gaps in their armors, and after falling off their horses, they gradually blended into the dark soil——

The good and the bad save each other, this is the concept that Otto saw from a training manual left on the corpse of the Mingqiu.

By this time, the benefits of the loose formation of the Ming army cavalry were fully realized. The distance between them was wide enough for the soldiers in the first row to wield the three-eyed blunderbuss on horseback without accidentally injuring their comrades. However, the destiny cavalry was in the intensive group In this situation, shooting forward is almost the only option. Even swinging a one-handed sword may injure a comrade.

What's even more fatal is that the loose formation brings a wider front for the Ming cavalry. The distance they open in a column of twenty cavalry is even twice that of the Tianming Cavalry in a column of thirty cavalry. As soon as they make contact, they will The destiny cavalry, whose number was several times theirs, was surrounded on three sides.

"...Eleven, twelve, thirteen..."

Otto counted clearly that the Destiny Cavalry lost more than half of its troops within the thirteenth second of contact with the Ming Army Cavalry. They could no longer maintain their formation and simply fled backwards.

In fact, not even three minutes have passed since the Ming cavalry was discovered.

The destiny infantry team was formed into a large square formation of 3,000 people, but based on the experience Otto learned from the veterans, that formation would take more than an hour to form.

In just three minutes, not to mention a large square formation of three thousand people, not to mention a company of two to three hundred people, even the smallest unit of twenty or thirty people had no time to assemble. What's more, too many infantrymen were crowded together, and most people didn't even know what was happening. The Ming army cavalry cut the marching column of Tianming infantry in two like a blade.

They fought all the way to the river and drove hundreds of infantrymen who had no time to take off their heavy breastplates into the river and drowned. Then they turned their horses around and clashed in all directions.

Most of Tianming's infantrymen were armed with long spears that were more than three people tall. However, when the formation could not be expanded and everyone was crowded together, it was a luxury to wield the long spear or twist the waist to stab.

As for the arquebusiers, they simply could not complete loading in the crowded queue, let alone find a chance to shoot.

Moreover, when most soldiers can't find a sergeant to manage them, they are of little use at this time.

However, the number of the Ming army was too small after all, and the damage caused was extremely limited. Even if the spears of the Tianming infantry were just held still, they were still a threat to the Ming army cavalry, which was gradually losing speed.

Soon, three or four Ming cavalry horses fell dead. Their men were fine, and they quickly climbed on the backs of their comrades' horses and prepared to retreat.

At this time, a group of heavy matchlock gunners cleverly broke out of the crowded queue and set up matchlock gun stands in the field. At the moment, the Ming cavalry was about to withdraw. They ignored the "two spears and fired" regulations and fired a row of inaccurate projectiles in a panic, successfully killing one Ming cavalry and thirteen Tianming infantry.

The Ming army could not take away the bodies of their comrades, so they chose to kill all the heavy arquebusiers who had no one to cover them and had no time to reload while evacuating.

Statistics from the camp that night showed that in the encounter, which lasted less than ten minutes, the Destiny Cavalry had seventy-six killed, twenty-five wounded, and three missing. Fifty-two infantrymen were killed, 13 of whom were accidentally killed, 81 were wounded, and 331 were missing, including about 100 who were drowned.

Fortunately, most of the injured were minor injuries caused by pushing and stampeding, and at least half had sprained ankles. The actual losses were not unacceptable, but morale had obviously suffered a devastating blow, and the vast majority of the hundreds of people who were missing were missing. They all took advantage of the chaos and ran away.

But they will soon regret it. Mingren beheaded to record his merits. It was not easy to clean up the heads in the battle just now, so these broken soldiers running in the wilderness are undoubtedly a good military merit.

Even if they can escape the pursuit of Mingren cavalry, there are few settlements within fifty miles of here. Sooner or later, they will starve to death, or run back, receive ten lashes, and continue to serve.

After paying such a high price, the only result they could confirm was the corpse of a Ming army cavalry.

This is too exaggerated...

However, Otto finally understood why the invincible Crusaders were defeated again and again on the Kipchak grassland, that is, on their own doorstep. There was no exaggeration in the letter Kallen sent him. Without investing in the Valkyrie troops, Tianming's army was no match for Akito who came from afar.

What's more, what if you join the Valkyrie troops? The Ming Empire's army also had a large number of so-called "errants", which sounded similar to street ruffians and ruffians, but like the Valkyrie troops, they used the power of the Stigmata to control the Honkai Impact to fight.

They come from various "sects" in the world, and they don't seem to be as united as the Valkyrie troops from the same group, but this is just an appearance...

According to Kallen, compared to the Valkyrie troops who come from the same group, different countries, and different languages ​​and cultures, although these "rangers" come from different martial arts sects and may have their own grievances, at least they have the same language and the same culture.

I can't tell which side is better organized...

And what's even more terrible is...their number is several times that of the Valkyrie troops...

In short, if this continues, the situation will not be optimistic.

This is why Otto rushed to the front line in a hurry, because he brought something that could determine the outcome of the war.

Of course, whether he wins or loses this battle has nothing to do with Otto Apocalis.

Destiny's Eastern Expedition was essentially to establish authority, divert the Black Death that had just subsided, and suppress the ambitions of European countries that had just been included in Destiny's territory.

But he is not the successor of Bishop Tianming. Once defeated, he doesn't care at all what will happen to Tianming, or even what will happen to the Apokalis family.

He was only worried about Kallen.

The vast Qinchak grassland has now become a huge flesh and blood mill. Although he believes in Kallen's strength as "Destined to be the strongest Valkyrie", the sword has no eyes, and a powerful being like her father Francis will one day turn into ashes. Pile of coke, the Kaslana family members...

Moreover, even if Kallen was unscathed on the battlefield, the problem would still not be solved——

He also foresaw that once defeated, Europe, which had finally been unified under the rule of Destiny, would inevitably become turbulent again. In this case, Destiny would inevitably adopt a more brutal attitude toward civilians to make up for the losses in the Eastern Expedition.

It's not just the civilians who are pitied... When did civilians not deserve to be pitied? Besides, his pity could not improve their situation in the slightest.

Otto would never do unnecessary things. Of course he felt pity for these civilians, but he understood the limitations of his own power. If he really wanted to change the situation of these civilians, he might as well

He was just worried about Kallen... He still remembered what Kallen said when he went out with the army a year ago——

"I heard that for those eastern tyrants, every tile and brick in the palace was made of pure gold! After conquering those eastern kingdoms and the destiny of heaven has captured these things, Otto, you have to persuade the bishop more, and Distribute this money to the poor and helpless people so that they can avoid being displaced!”

What a childish idea - Otto thought. But precisely because of his naivety, he was particularly attracted to Pekkalian.

For strange creatures like humans, growth is not an absolute compliment, nor is childishness a purely derogatory term.

Most of the time, what adults call "growing up" is nothing more than a carnival of sophisticated egoists who compromise reality.

From this perspective, he, Otto Apokalis, is actually quite mature among his peers.

It is precisely because of this that he is intoxicated by Kallen's childish beauty...

It is precisely because of this that he must...protect this beauty at all costs, even at the cost of his own conscience, even at the cost of the deaths of hundreds of thousands or even more people.

Even though...it goes against her own wishes.

Otto glanced at the gray sky. The waning moon was still hanging high in the sky. To be honest, since he was a child, every time he looked up at the moon, it would give him an inexplicable weird feeling, as if the moon was actually a god. One eye, cloudy and clear, is that He is blinking. He uses such eyes to stare at the world ruthlessly and indifferently.

Therefore, Otto doesn't like the moon very much. He hopes that the sun will appear soon, but judging from the sky, it should be soon.

Unknowingly, it seemed that he had been brushing his teeth for a long time. Otto rinsed his mouth, handed the things to the attendant who had been standing silently by the side, and then walked out of the corner of the tent.

About twenty soldiers walked past him in an unorganized procession. Each of them was carrying a wooden bucket, as if they were preparing to leave the camp and go to the river to fetch water for the cook in the team to make breakfast. But not one of them wore armor, nor did they carry any weapons.

Otto only glanced at it and felt that the leading sergeant of this team was interesting - facing the Akito cavalry like yesterday, infantry of their size would only slow down their escape even if they carried armor and weapons. But knowing this, there are still a few people who are willing to give up these things.

In the past, Otto would have definitely praised the sergeant as a noble and tried to build a relationship in case something unexpected happened. However, since he read the two books found on the corpse of the Ming army cavalry last night, he also had no idea about these. Out of sight.

Shaking his head, Otto Apokalis never did unnecessary things. He would never try to take care of what he couldn't control at the moment.

Otto walked back to the camp, secretly put a small wooden box into his backpack, and walked toward the wounded barracks without saying a word.

However, he had already taken care of the seriously injured patients who needed to be treated last night. Those who couldn't be treated probably wouldn't be alive now. Now he is just going to brush up on his presence.

But he was destined to be disappointed. He walked in the messy military camp for about ten minutes, and for a while he couldn't find the location of the wounded barracks.

It was obviously a road that had been walked last night, but now it had completely changed. The soldiers waiting for breakfast huddled together casually, and some directly formed a circle in the middle of the road to gamble. The tents were all similar in length, and lacked flags to distinguish their directions. Otto couldn't even find the southeast, northwest, or northwest for a while.

However... God seemed to be particularly "pitying" on him. When he was about to return the same way, the earth began to tremble imperceptibly, and a thunderous roar soon spread.

"Enemy attack!"

Make two amulets in advance:

1. Regarding the Ming Army’s cavalry attack at 80 yards and shoot arrows

Discuss the important matters of military affairs: special orders must be given to border generals who have experienced the battle. And after the war, the servants dispersed into various camps. He taught them how to run and fight on the sidelines, and how to move and shoot wheeled swords and spin horses with their heads above their heads. The horse often overtakes and flies away. The only focus is on killing and shooting. Don't worry about stumbling. The shot is still round. The handle is still eighty steps away. Any method that can be used as a decisive impact.

The forwards and servants are trained to attack the target 80 paces away and require the arrow to hit the target. Is it okay for me to shoot the arrow at 80 yards? (1 step is about 1.5 meters, 1 yard is about 0.9 meters)

2. Regarding the speed of the large square array of 3,000 people

From De las guerras de los Estados Baxos (The Lowland Wars) by Carlos Francisco Coloma, published in 1622, someone roughly translated it: Prince Ranucho took a spear and was with the Spanish infantry. Assistants from two regiments came to arrange the first line, and as those who opposed the Spanish infantry were knights or captains, there was great difficulty, and the result was that the matter would have been entangled for more than an hour, if it had not been for the tired Prince Ranucho Threatening to set off with the Italians, it might delay even longer.

The author has served as several city lords, lords of counties, and governors of Mallorca. When he wrote the book, he was already the ambassador to Britain. Is there anything wrong with that?

Finally, part of the inspiration comes from a battle of the Qing army. More than 40 cavalry met with 300 Russian cavalry. Nine people were lost and more than 70 were gained. I am too lazy to find the details.