Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 611 - 383: First Victory

Richard's confidence certainly did not stem from these ordinary Knights and Soldiers.

They had only over a hundred warhorses, pack animals, and scarce supplies of baggage and equipment, cobbled together from soldiers under more than a dozen minor Lords, all relying on his personal prestige to unite them. Their combat strength was hard to overestimate.

His confidence came from the several dozens of Imperial Guards under his command, who had been specially trained by his Queen in Londenwick and had consumed large amounts of strength-enhancing magic potions, as well as from himself.

"Even if the Lionheart commands sheep, they can still overcome a pack of Evil Wolves."

Richard dismounted, grabbed a handful of damp earth from the ground: "The Delta is crisscrossed with river nets, making it difficult for Cavalry to maneuver. We have few horses, which is both a disadvantage and an advantage. Convey my orders to have each Lord lead his soldiers to stack their supply carts in the periphery, forming a wagon fort. All Knights and Attendants are forbidden to engage in battle without my command."

Fuller frowned and said, "Your Majesty, if you intend to challenge the Saracens in the field, the enemy has a numerical advantage. Wouldn't it be better to rely on our formidable Norman Knights to cut through their formation and tear them apart?"

Richard glanced at him sideways and replied displeased: "Count Fuller, if we really followed your plan, even if we crushed the enemy's main force, how many men would we have left? Do you expect us to take a city with just a few dozen of us?"

He was a Monarch of tough conduct, frequently leading troops personally and charging at the frontline, but that did not mean he was a reckless, mindless brute.

Taking off his glove, he sketched a simple city layout in the dirt: "This is our target, Semanud City. If you were the Commander-in-Chief, how much military force would you need to capture this city?"

Fuller furrowed his brows in thought.

The Gauls were actually not very skilled at besieging large cities, since throughout Europe, aside from the Apennine Peninsula, there were no cities of such magnitude.

What they faced tended to be smaller in scale, with garrisons of often no more than a few hundred men, built atop various treacherous terrains in stone castles. Lengthy sieges or negotiation were the norm, rather than hoping for a sudden strike.

In reality, while castles were small, they required fewer defensive directions, making surprise attacks difficult to execute in such situations.

"We first need skilled carpenters to craft weighted catapults, onager (a type of torsion siege engine), giant crossbow cannons, and large throwing machines. We also need enough apprentices, at least a 300-man woodworking team."

Weighted Catapults were already known to the Europeans at the time, though the technology hadn't fully spread. However, the Crusaders were aware the Eastern Saracens were already using these giant siege weapons capable of smashing city walls.

He paused, then continued:

"I am unfamiliar with how this city is fortified, but if it meets Damietta's standards, its towers equipped with city defense crossbow cannons would pose a significant threat to our siege vehicles and towers. If Semanud City has ten thousand regular troops as garrison and the citizens assist in defense, we would need at least thirty thousand men and three months to half a year to breach this city."

Fuller's response was matter-of-fact, unremarkable.

"You ask for too much."

"And it would take too long."

Richard was clearly dissatisfied with his response: "Fuller, it appears my expectations of you were too high, you're more suited to be my Captain of the Guard."

"That is what I hope for, Your Majesty."

Fuller said calmly.

Many great nobles or noble offspring served in key positions in the King's court, showing a sign of trust and importance while also being a means for the Kingdom to maintain control over the nation.

For someone like Fuller, a Count's Guard Captain, the time he spent on his own estate each year could be counted on one hand.

"Alright, I acknowledge your loyalty."

Richard smiled briefly before quickly straightening his face: "The enemy is numerous, so we must seek the chance to annihilate them in the field. Once we do, the ground will be littered with fleeing soldiers, and we can seize the opportunity to strike, muddying the waters to catch fish."

"But Your Majesty, how can you be certain the enemy will take the initiative to attack?"

Richard sneered: "The Saracens are accustomed to using Cavalry as their main force. Beyond the riverbank, it's all shorelines and marshes, this is the best place I've chosen for them to unleash their strength."

Just as his voice fell, two black shadows once again flitted past the heavy clouds.

In the distance, smoke and dust billowed.

Scouts rushed back hastily, carrying a hawk that had been shot down: "Your Majesty, a large cavalry force of the enemy is approaching, estimated to be at least three thousand strong."

"See, here they come."

Richard brushed off the dirt from his hands and stood up straight: "Well done, Charles."

The Scout gave a shy smile, lifting the hawk he was holding and said: "This silly bird attempted to sneak attack me. Your Majesty, shall we save this for your supper?"

Richard laughed and shook his head: "I also took one down, you keep it yourself. The Saracens' hawks are indeed a great threat to individual Scouts, but unfortunately for them, they encountered my Richard's Imperial Guard." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Send the order, prepare to meet the enemy!"

The enemy quickly drew near, and although the Crusaders were puzzled by Richard's orders, they said nothing. Among them, the number of Knights was not few, but those with horses were rare. Richard's Imperial Guards, however, after arriving in Damietta, had spent a considerable sum equipping themselves with Arabian horses for battle.

These Guards evidently carried out Richard's orders without a hint of deviation.

From the horizon, through the dust and smoke, emerged black-turbaned, black-robed heretic soldiers. They were mounted either on dromedaries or warhorses, flying a banner depicting a fiercely burning red flame, as if they were visitors from Hell.

For a moment, many Crusader Soldiers, who had previously scoffed at the combat capabilities of the heretics, found themselves feeling a drumbeat of doubt in their hearts.

In Europe, though wars were frequent, they typically involved only a few hundred or a thousand men. Yet the enemy cavalry alone appeared to number at least three thousand!

Especially the armored cavalry in the enemy's central army, each one fully equipped with a Kuman-style mask helmet, face-covering helmet, it really makes one difficult to underestimate such enemies.

"Is this the kind of opponent the Crusaders in the Eastern Expedition are facing?"

"It's really... unexpected."

Some Crusader Soldiers murmured softly.

Their impression of the Eastern Heretics remained in the first Eastern Expedition, the disunited Turkic States, and the Gulam Cavalry with decent combat power, but far inferior to the Crusader Knights.

Richard keenly sensed the morale issue and shouted loudly: "Pious warriors favored by Christ, are you frightened by the heretics who are strong in appearance but weak in reality?"

"Look at me, soldiers!"

He shouted with a resounding voice, the red cloak fluttering in the wind, like the Three Lions Banner standing firm in the camp.

"I am the Lord of Anjou and Maine, the ruler of Normandy and Aquitaine, the King of Kings of all Albion (as Albion once had many small kings), the Eternal Monarch, Pandragon!"

"I am with you."

The Crusaders seemed to faintly see three huge golden lions surrounding a red Demon Dragon, devouring it entirely, and could even hear a majestic lion's roar in their ears.

"Long live His Majesty Richard!"

Richard donned his helmet and shouted: "It will soon be the birthday of the Heavenly Lord. Remember, my brothers, the Heavenly Father is watching over you, and as long as we defeat the Saracen army, vast fertile lands, and lush cattle and sheep await us."

"Trust me, trust the blessings of the Heavenly Lord, I swear we will celebrate the Father's birth in Semanud City!"

The Crusaders' morale soared, waving their weapons, shouting aloud.

"Praise the Heavenly Father, praise the Lionheart!"

The enemy soon began probing the Crusaders.

Hundreds of lightly armored Mamluks rode fast horses and approached the camp, drawing bows and nocking arrows.

Arrows fell like rain.

The Crusaders raised their Shields, and some armored Knights picked up bows and arrows to retaliate, but they were limited in number and had fewer long-range weapons. Against the Saracen riders, they were suppressed, unable to lift their heads.

"Do not panic, Crossbowmen (actually Crossbowmen) and Archers, pair up and retaliate. The enemy's feeble arrows cannot penetrate our camp!"

Richard loudly ordered.

The Crusaders held up their Shields, hearing the crackling sound around them, with only the occasional groan or cry of pain.

As long as the enemy's arrow rain did not disrupt their formation, the Riding Bow posed limited damage to the Crusaders.

Thus, after a volley from both sides, the Saracen riding archers first lost their composure, leaving dozens of bodies and retreating. These lightly armored cavalry were good at harassment but not suitable for assaults.

A melodious horn sounded.

In the Saracen ranks, the summoned infantry from afar, holding Long Spears and bows and arrows, began to encircle the Crusaders' camp.

Richard frowned, sneering: "It seems the enemy's Commander is a greedy, stingy fool, planning to use these unruly mobs to wear down our strength, reducing his elite losses."

"Then let's start a massacre, sending these heretics to Hell!"

With his order, the Imperial Guard Cavalry picked up their Shields and swords, preparing for battle.

"Holy Fire Everlasting, Supreme and Great!"

"Kill all non-believers!"

The Saracen infantry, like a black ocean, launched an attack on the Crusaders, numbering just over a thousand.

The result was evident.

In the Saracen combat sequence, infantry always played the cannon fodder role. The infantry under Governor Mahri, mostly Coptic, had low fighting power and morale and soon fell.

"The enemy is strong."

Governor Mahri looked grim.

However weak his infantry, the numerical advantage was clear, and the enemy's camp was hastily set up, far from an insurmountable barrier. Such a result indicated the extraordinary combat strength of the enemy.

Kemel advised: "Lord Governor, should we dispatch the elites to strike the enemy?"

Mahri hesitated, knowing that the infantry had hardly weakened the enemy's strength. Sending in his elite forces now would only result in heavy losses.

"My lord, there is no room for hesitation."