Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Alandler City.

Jeanne was fully armed, holding the treasure sword at her waist, standing shoulder to shoulder with Hans.

"The Commander-in-Chief predicted correctly. This Zain Aladdin really couldn't hold back."

"Their numbers are a bit much."

Hans frowned.

Below the city was a stretch of siege camps.

Zain, after receiving his brother's assistance, took advantage of Losa's absence from Alandler and assembled a force of three thousand, laying siege to Alandler City.

They were now starting to build siege camps.

Two siege towers, an old counterweight catapult, and a siege hammer were being enthusiastically assembled by craftsmen in the siege camp.

The source of the wood was the forest land near Alandler City.

As defenders, they would often fortify and clear out, even set fire to the forests near Alandler City—but Jeanne, for some reason, did not do so.

The scenes in movies where ladders are carried and cities are attacked like ants are rarely seen in real siege battles.

If the attacking side has sufficient siege machines, in a siege battle, the losses may not necessarily be greater than those of the defenders; the exchange ratio can even be equal.

This made Hans anxious, believing that the upcoming battle would be an extremely fierce offensive and defensive struggle.

"The Commander-in-Chief returned Lady Eleanor to Reynard, and he didn't think to bring troops over to repay the Commander's kindness."

"Even if he were willing, the Commander-in-Chief wouldn't gladly accept it."

Jeanne's lips curved slightly: "This is Hebron's battle for prestige; we not only have to win, but win beautifully, winning in a way that convinces those vassals."

Hans was silent for a while, then asked, "So what exactly should we do? Miss Furinjira followed the Commander-in-Chief, and we no longer have the capability for night raids."

"I hadn't planned on conducting night raids again."

Jeanne patted Hans on the shoulder.

Hans was speechless; you too can pat?

"Hans, I'll teach you one thing: as a commander, never assume your enemy is foolish—at least that Tariq is a smart person."

Hans was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand."

A night raid is indeed a universal tactic; even if the enemy knows in advance, it is hard to counter, but hard doesn't mean impossible.

For instance, the Fire Worship has the means of fire control, and setting traps in advance to encircle and trap night-raiding enemies is not entirely unfeasible.

"This battle, we're going to fight head-on."

Jeanne confidently extended one finger: "Just like this, face them head-on, it's only three thousand men, just crush them directly!"

Jeanne was waiting.

Waiting for the moment when the elite among the enemies, such as the Mamluks, dismounted and mingled with those militia chopping wood and building siege machines.

Hans was doubtful: "But the enemy numbers are too many."

Losa's foundation was still thin; it couldn't withstand such hard battles.

"Against many with few, you must learn to herd."

"Sheep-driving wolf-eating, understand?"

Jeanne said such a sentence without context, then immediately ordered "Prepare for the assault!"

And stormed down the city recklessly.

"I've only heard of driving tigers to swallow wolves."

Hans quickly followed.

Jeanne hadn't received any systematic strategic education; she belonged to the type of battlefield master that heaven fed opportunities to.

Strategically, she might not be outstanding, but tactically, among the people Losa had seen, none surpassed her.

This was very rare for many commanders, as the mediocre all knew how to follow textbook knowledge on when to strike.

But truly being on the battlefield, the term "timing" becomes extremely tricky to grasp.

...

The gates of Alandler City slowly opened as the farmer soldiers pushed the capstan.

Jeanne lowered her visor, raised the Holy Spear in her hand, and shouted: "In the name of Hebron, in the name of Losa, in the name of the Heavenly Father, charge!"

Hans quickly realized what "sheep-driving wolf-eating" tactics meant.

The Winged Cavalry and Imperial Knights added up to only about fifty, and most of those Imperial Knights had been promoted by Losa on merits in previous battles.

But these fifty armored cavalry, at this moment, displayed a landslide-like momentum.

From the sky looking down.

Jeanne, clad in silver and white armor, raising the Holy Spear, appeared as a valkyrie.

The Double-headed Eagle Banner fluttered in the wind.

The abruptly appearing Crusader Knights caught Zain, who hadn't expected the enemy to dare a proactive strike, by surprise and joy.

"Great, these brainless Frankish brutes, not even a third of my military strength combined, dare to leave the city walls and attack us proactively!"

Tariq hurriedly said, "Brother-in-law, be wary of deception."

"What deception? It's just a few dozen Crusader Cavalry. Have the soldiers prepare the Demon-Blocking Golden Arrows. Even if there's an evil witch among them, I will make sure they don't return!"

Zane urged Tariq to lead the troops into battle, a wave of glee surging through his heart.

It seemed that choosing a time when Losa was absent was indeed an extremely wise decision!

Without the genius general Losa, these Franks were nothing much!

...

The situation on the battlefield changed in an instant.

The waving Double-headed Eagle Banner, and those armored iron cavalry like mobile fortresses, galloped across the land, kicking up dust that filled the sky.

The farmer soldiers conscripted into battle immediately lost their composure.

They were not the farmer soldiers under Losa, who had undergone simple queue training, eating well and drinking well every day, with Imperial Knights teaching them martial arts.

These Saracen farmer soldiers, one by one, were sallow and emaciated, not to mention armor, often only having a long spear and a makeshift shield made of wooden planks.

Even so, many did not hold them in their hands.

They held axes and hammers, chopping wood, and building camps and siege weapons.

Facing Jeanne's cavalry charge, they scattered like a flock of sheep, totally devoid of any will to resist.

"Release arrows, release arrows!"

The Saracen Light Infantry commander shouted without any regard for the farmer soldiers trampled under the hooves of the Crusader Knights.

But with armor that was extremely fine, and with the dual blessings of Hans and Jeanne, the Crusader Knights paid no heed to the arrow rain from the Saracen archers.

They resolutely continued driving away the fleeing farmer soldiers.

"Stay close to my banner!"

"Don't fall behind!"

Jeanne shouted, leading the team in a turn.

The Winged Cavalry and Imperial Knights not only surpassed the majority of the era's knights in their elite status, but more importantly, their organization was extremely high.

They wouldn't rashly charge in like the scattered Crusader Knights, ignoring commands.

Hans watched as the fleeing farmer soldiers directly scattered a squad of Saracen infantry clad in scale armor, wielding sword and shield, with a flash of realization in his heart.

"So this is the Sheep-Driving Wolf-Eating."

Jeanne continually led the team to charge back and forth in the enemy camp, like a skillful shepherd, driving the flock according to her will.

Tariq, facing the difficult situation before him, was in a panic and sweating profusely, constantly urging his Mamluks not to worry about obstructing friendly forces, trying to get close and tangle with the Crusader Cavalry.

"Faster, move faster, all of you get out of the way, don't block the way!"

Tariq gritted his teeth; as long as his Mamluks entangled the enemy, the subsequent infantry reinforcements would flood in and overwhelm these troublesome foes.

But how could Jeanne not understand the rationale Tariq knew?

The Winged Cavalry and Imperial Knights under her command, as if seeing through all of Tariq's intentions, galloped freely in the enemy camp like slippery fish.

The flames ignited the piled-up timber and supplies.

The frightened birds of burden were driven mad, frantically fleeing in all directions in the camp.

The number of enemy casualties due to mutual trampling far exceeded those slain by the lances and longswords of Jeanne and her cavalry.

Eventually.

The Crusader Knights retreated.

They arrogantly left the camp in disarray, returning to the city almost unscathed.

Zane watched this scene, feeling as if his heart was bleeding, and wished to echo the immortal words of Octavian by banging his head against a wall—Valus, give me back my legion!

Tariq was gloomily dealing with the aftermath, looking at the scene of wailing and devastation, his heart turning cold.

But even more unexpectedly for Zane, Jeanne did not intend to let them off just like that.

The Winged Cavalry and Imperial Knights who had returned to the city, quickly replaced their horses, served by the farmer soldiers.

"Rest on the spot, remember to drink salt water in small sips as per military regulations."

Seemingly tireless, Jeanne walked among the sweating knights.

"Time is limited, we cannot pass up those heretics already scared out of their wits."

She shouted with a full voice, patting her knights on the shoulders:

"Master Losa and I never doubted we could win. Merely repelling the enemy's attack is not worthy of our pride.

We must defeat the enemy soundly, terrify them, causing the name of the Winged Cavalry and Imperial Knights to echo throughout Levant!"

Whether among the Winged Cavalry, the Imperial Knights, or the farmer soldiers yet to be systematically transformed, they all felt Jeanne's immense charisma.

Her confidence was as if she was a born commander, naturally inciting a fervent desire to fight to the death for her.