Chapter 101: Putting Plans In Motion

Under the cover of darkness, Fontaine artillerymen worked quietly to set up their cannons. Each man stressed, for even the smallest noise or shed of light could jeopardise their entire plan and put them in danger. Teamwork and non-verbal communication were extremely difficult to do with no light but regardless of the conditions the artillerymen slowly managed to set up their cannons before the sun rose.

When the light of the sun began to flicker upon the plains of Kreighelm, the Luxenberg army remained composed when seeing the setup cannons of the Fontaine army. Their morale and resolve did not waver. 

Victor was impressed that they had managed to set their cannons up during the night. It was a difficult task to do, so the fact they had managed to pull it off warranted some praise, even if they were adversaries.

"It seems this battle will become even more interesting," Victor remarked with a slight grin on his face, for he had a hidden card, that would prove to be vital if the Luxenberg army could hold out for at least the day.

For the first few hours of the morning, both armies remained at a standstill, it was almost like a game of chicken, seeing who would be the first to make a move. Neither side wanted to make the first move because of the fact they could get countered immediately. This sort of time-wasting was ideal for Victor's plan.

Eventually, it had reached midday and Grand Duke Fontaine had grown sick of the staring contest. "Artillerymen prepare to fire!" shouted the Grand Duke. Seeing the enemy begin their preparations for the assault, the Luxenberg men followed suit and started getting themselves ready for the exchange of cannon fire about to ensue.

All cannons on either side were primed and loaded, their crews were ready to unleash the beastly roars of their guns. With the artillery ready, Grand Duke Fontaine ordered them to fire upon the enemy frontlines, targeting the infantry positions.

With a booming bellow, all of Fontaine's artillery fired in unison. Cannonballs began to smash into the Luxenberg infantry positions. Some were lucky to find cover in the trenches while others were held at the mercy of Fontaine cannons. Bodies, earth and fortifications were blown away due to the vicious barrage of cannonballs.

The Luxenberg army was not one to take such a barrage uncontested. Shortly after the first barrage from the Fontaine artillery, the Luxenberg cannons on the hill began to retaliate, focusing on the enemy artillery.

It was a taste of their own medicine, 100 cannons bombarded the Fontaine cannons and their crew, making it hard for them to load and return fire. The exchange of cannon fire was brutal, lives were erased in an instant and massive craters followed in the wake of the beastly cannons' roar.

Wanting to apply pressure on the Luxenberg defensive line, Grand Duke Fontaine ordered 120,000 infantrymen to split into two groups and assault each position. In a short span of time, the two groups of 60,000 men began to march across the battlefield. Confident in their superior numbers and persistent cannon fire, the infantry showed no fear of crossing the battlefield.

With muskets brandished and hardened resolves, the infantrymen approached in multiple line formations. If they had opted for a square or column formation, the Luxenberg cannons would have easy pickings, especially if they were all tightly compact.

Entering the firing range of all Luxenberg cannons, the Fontaine infantry, who were confident, now realised the horror of what they had gotten into. The Luxenberg 12-pound cannons began to tear into the enemy ranks, taking out hundreds of infantrymen. These artillery crews bore the experience of multiple battles. Their efficiency was excellent and as a result, they could reload quicker, and be more precise in their targeting.

Even as their ranks were beginning to dissolve, the Fontaine infantry persisted on. Soon enough, the Fontaine infantry was becoming in range of the Luxenberg infantry. The prepared defenders swiftly launched a few devastating volleys into the enemy ranks, some of the frontline Fontaine infantrymen were beginning to look like Swiss cheese, with the amount of musket ball holes on their bodies.

In spite of the overwhelming hail of projectiles coming their way, the Fontaine infantry did not waver, they advanced forward, whilst returning fire. Before long, melee combat was beginning to spread along the Luxenberg's first layer of defence. Vicious exchanges of steel led to the loss of many lives, especially on the Fontaine side.

They had not been in a proper battle before, their only experience was the crushing victory against Duke Vasselle, and that was when they outnumbered him at least fivefold. Now they were facing a battle-hardened force that they outnumbered 2 to 1. 

They could not compare to the accurate and powerful stabs and slashes of the Luxenberg infantry, their bayonets danced in the air before lodging themselves into the abdomens of Fontaine soldiers. With each thrust or slash an enemy attacker dropped, the numerical advantage they had was now lost, as more and more of their comrades fell.

Grand Duke Fontaine, who was spectating through a spyglass, was alarmed at the rate at which his men were falling. Out of 120,000 men he had sent in the first wave, he already lost a quarter of them, when in comparison the Luxenberg infantry had only lost 8,000 men.

Simeon faltered for a moment, indecisive about his next action. Should he send in more troops as well as cavalry, or should he pull back and regroup? His advisors could only watch as their men began to flounder and perish. The might of the Luxenberg war machine was more formidable than they had anticipated, what was worse was that was only a third of Victor's army.

Frustrated at how poorly his men were performing, Simeon decided to bite the proverbial bullet and pull back his men. "All forces pull back! Sound the retreat!" Simeon yelled with frustration. 

As soon as the order was given, trumpets rang throughout the battlefield. There was no organised retreat. Only the scurring attempts to make it back to the camp alive. Soldiers fled with no regard for their officer's orders or comrades

With the enemy pulling back, Victor had succeeded in what he intended to do.