xymnovel Chapter 175 Encounter at Dabry Plain
Chapter 175 Encounter at Dabry Plain
Chapter 175 The Battle of Dabulai Plain (Part Two)
Two thousand Turkic light cavalry against a mixed force of 1,100 infantrymen, in a relatively open area between rivers and hills?
Can we win?
Lyon's mind raced at an unprecedented pace.
His gaze swept rapidly across the surroundings—the Sangarios River behind him, the Fruguia Hills to his right, and the relatively flat but slightly undulating riverbank highlands beneath his feet.
"I have a way!" A sharp glint flashed in Leon's eyes. He abruptly pulled out the map Henry had "borrowed" the night before, his finger quickly pointing to their current location. "We're not leaving! Right here, with our backs to the river and our right side against the hilly slope, let's form a battle formation!"
He looked at Henry, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Henry, you command the formation. I need a circular formation, with all the supply wagons surrounding the core! Quickly!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Henry turned and shouted sternly, "All troops, listen up! Bohemian phalanx, turn to the riverbank highlands and establish a defensive line! Danish warriors, protect the chariots and move them toward the center! Crossbowmen, prepare for battle! Catalans, all those who can move, go and help push the chariots!"
In the time that followed, the army demonstrated its high efficiency after being integrated by Henry, and their potential was pushed to the limit under the threat of death.
All twenty-odd carts loaded with grain, arrows, and spare weapons were quickly driven to a small hill on a slightly higher level of flat land on the riverbank.
The vehicles were linked end to end, forming an irregular circle with a diameter of about fifty paces.
The shafts were secured with ropes and makeshift wooden wedges, and stones and cut shrubs were placed under the wheels to prevent slippage.
The eastern side of the circular formation was adjacent to the starting slope of the hill. Although the slope was gentle, it was enough to make it difficult for cavalry to launch a powerful charge.
The west and north sides face the river, while the south side faces open ground.
Following Lyon's instructions, Henry directed the Danish knights and some of the Bohemian soldiers to drag the large amount of branches that were originally intended for firewood off the wagon.
The soldiers frantically hacked at the branches with battle axes and daggers, sharpening one end to create simple but deadly barricades.
These sharpened wooden stakes were densely and obliquely driven into the ground five to ten paces around the supply wagon, with their tips pointing outwards, forming a jagged barrier.
Five hundred crossbowmen were evenly distributed behind each spoked wagon or in the gaps between the wagons.
They quickly set up firing positions on the vehicle deck or using their personal supports, nocked crossbow bolts, and placed bundles of armor-piercing spiked arrows within easy reach.
Each crossbowman was accompanied by a Bohemian soldier carrying a large iron-shaped shield and a battle axe.
Their mission was clear: to use shields to protect crossbowmen from stray arrows and to engage in close combat when the enemy broke through the obstacles.
One hundred Danish axe-wielding warriors and about one hundred and seventy Catalan skirmishers who were still able to fight were positioned in the innermost circle of the formation.
The Danes stroked their menacing long-handled battle axes, while the Catalans examined their javelins and butcher knives.
They are the fire brigade and the final counter-attack force, positioned to quickly support any section of the circular formation that might be breached.
Just as the circular formation was about to close, Lyon made a decision that surprised even Henry.
He pointed to the southeast corner of the circular formation, which faced away from the river, and ordered, "Leave a gap here. Increase the distance between these two chariots so that three horses can ride abreast."
"Your Highness? This is too dangerous!" exclaimed the Bohemian decimator in charge of this section.
"Do as I say!" Leon said firmly.
Then he summoned a group of relatively agile Catalan lightly wounded soldiers. "You, use any containers you can find—helmets, water bags, pots, anything—to fetch water from the river immediately! Pour it outside this breach, from here to the riverbank, this entire area!"
He drew a fan shape with his hand.
Although the Catalans were puzzled, they carried out the orders without hesitation.
They rushed to the riverbank, frantically fetched water, and then splashed it onto the dry ground about fifteen paces long and ten paces wide in front of the gap.
After repeatedly splashing the liquid, dozens of their feet stomped and stirred it frantically.
Soon, the once hard ground turned into a sticky, slippery muddy area under the river and trampling.
Under the summer sun, the newly turned mud is a dark color, contrasting with the surrounding dry land, but if someone were to drive at high speed from a distance, they might not immediately perceive its danger.
"Cast the remaining branches haphazardly along the inner edge of this muddy area to provide some cover," Lyon commanded finally. "Then, behind this gap, inside the wagon, ambush two squads of Danish axemanships and two squads of Catalan javelin throwers. Attack only on my command!"
Henry instantly understood Lyon's intention, gasped, and then revealed an almost fanatical expression of admiration: "Your Highness—you are about to turn the Turks' most skilled horsemanship and flanking maneuvers into their burial ground!"
This gap, like an enticing entrance, seems to point to the unprotected riverbank behind the circular formation.
Eager to exploit their mobility advantage and find weaknesses, the Turkic cavalry would likely attempt to break through this gap, or at least launch arrows from outside the gap into their ranks along the riverbank.
Once they step into or approach this meticulously prepared muddy area, their speed drops drastically and their horses' hooves become stuck, a deadly storm awaits them from the chariot formation, consisting of Danish throwing axes and Catalan javelins.
As the last barricade of the circular formation was driven into the ground and a thin layer of soil was sprinkled on the surface of the muddy area for camouflage, smoke and dust appeared on the northeastern horizon before the flags.
First, a moving band of yellowish-brown dust appeared, followed by a surging wave emerging from the dust.
The Turkic cavalry surged forward like a pack of wolves. Most of them wore light leather armor or studded cotton armor, round-topped helmets or simple cotton hats, carried composite bows on their backs, and scimitars at their waists. A few elites were also equipped with light lances. The horses they rode were typical steppe steeds, short and strong.
They did not immediately launch an attack, but began to slow down about five hundred paces away from the circular formation, spreading outwards like a tide, eventually forming a loose and huge semicircle that subtly blocked all the way out between Lyon's wagon formation and the river and hills.
The sound of hooves gradually subsided, replaced by a suffocating silence, with only the snorting of horses and the slight clinking of armor.
At the heart of this Turkic cavalry force, a remarkably young leader was surrounded by a constellation of stars.
He wore exquisite scale armor decorated with silver thread, covered by a dark brown brocade battle robe, and a pointed helmet with a neck guard and feather ornaments. He carefully observed the conspicuous Latin army on the high ground on the distant riverbank.
He was none other than Kekhosru Kilij, the youngest son of Sultan Kilij Arslan II of Rum.