September 18th.
The Ottoman main force came up from the south of Iași. This force, consisting of the Ottoman army, Budjak Tatar army, and the Principality of Moldavia army, reached almost forty thousand. Their goal was clear. The recapture of Iași, the capital of the Principality of Moldavia occupied by Poland.
While the Polish main force, with nerves on edge, was constructing a defensive position against this, troops came down from the north a beat late to avoid a surprise attack.
The number of the northern Ottoman army was approximately twenty-two thousand. Since it was heavily outnumbered for an all-out war, Druszkiewicz's Polish vanguard decided to join the main force. It seemed clear that both Poland and the Ottomans intended to settle this war in Iași. A grand pitched battle was unavoidable.
The two armies faced each other fatefully on the plain east of Iași like that.
"Finally, we clash properly. Despicable Ottoman bastards."
Between the winged cavalrymen, Bojan and Radosław clenched their fists. They, who had deviated for a few weeks for the mission, had now returned to the Winged Hussar main force and were forming the formation.
"Follow well."
Jeong-hun, adjusting his helmet, said to them. The Winged Hussars felt a somewhat awkward feeling towards their new unit commander, but it was only for a moment, and soon they obeyed. It only matters if the probability of survival increases whoever commands.
And if it was Jeong-hun, he was perfect as their unit commander. As far as they knew, that crazy Tatar was a crazy monster who piled up merits that others would find hard to achieve in a lifetime as if to show off.
The first large-scale battle they faced. If considering only the scale, the battle of the two armies was similar to or larger than the Battle of Slankamen where thirty thousand Holy Roman Empire troops and fifty thousand Ottoman troops clashed. The enemies were over sixty thousand in total, and Poland was only thirty thousand, half that level.
However, the proportion of the Ottoman elite forces represented by Janissaries or Sipahis among the enemies didn't seem large.
Most Janissaries or Sipahis must have been at Slankamen. The guys over there are riffraff.
Still, one cannot let their guard down. Generally, the most effective way to achieve victory on the battlefield was numerical superiority.
Throughout history, famous generals in disadvantageous situations used to twist their bodies and overcome the momentary urgent phase by annihilating the enemy with numerical superiority.
That meant that even an ordinary general would generally be superior if there was numerical superiority. So if modern gamblers were made to bet on the outcome of this moment right now, perhaps over 70% would bet on the Ottoman victory.
But the human factor was something that could never be ignored enough to set aside all such matters. Just as one 'Crack' player in soccer shows play that overturns all expectations, variables by humans were endless in war, the peak of human interaction.
The martial prowess of a brave general, the stratagem of a strategist, the wit of an ordinary man. It was always the power of such people that broke expectations.
A chillingly cool silence was lingering on the battlefield. This moment, which might be the last battle Jan III commands personally. The Polish army did not doubt that their great leader would lead them to victory.
And Jeong-hun's Winged Hussars did not doubt that this Joseon Tatar would lead them to a moment of glory.
"Move!"
The Winged Hussars on the left went around the left of the main force and moved to a low hill. The Polish army had preempted a good position.
Preempting the place is very important in all battles. The place of the pitched battle was the entrance to Iași, and due to the arrangement of the river, forest, and hills, the direction the enemy main force would come from was limited. The Polish army placed artillery in advance to deal with the enemies coming this way.
The Ottomans had no other way either. The main force had to advance there. They advanced the anvil.
However, they also had to come up with a way. Instead of fighting while advancing the artillery to the front, they decided to put them on the hill on the flank even if taking some risk.
Not only infantry, but artillery is also better on higher ground. If the Ottomans only occupy this place, it was clear they could exercise dominance with a superior range compared to the enemy artillery.
That was the reason why the Winged Hussar's mission was to attack the Ottoman artillery.
"Enemy cavalry!"
But the Ottomans aren't fools either. To block that renowned cavalry of Poland, they also deployed cavalry quickly.
"Why so many!"
The number combining both Tatar and Ottoman cavalry was more than double the Winged Hussars. Even the Winged Hussars were appalled at the sight of them rushing while shaking the earth's axis and raising dust clouds.
The Winged Hussars formed a formation immediately. They tried to annihilate the enemy light cavalry, whose armament state was much worse, by attempting a shock charge in a dense formation.
"They are fleeing!"
But the Ottoman army avoided the frontal charge. The light cavalry turned at a much faster speed and scattered in all directions. While shooting arrows and provoking the Winged Hussars, they absolutely didn't allow a charge attempt.
"Induce a melee!"
Eventually, the Winged Hussars also gave up charging while maintaining formation. They were enraged and murderous, but it couldn't be helped. Unless the enemies chose an all-out war, there was no way a shock charge would work.
So the subsequent melee would be decided purely by the individual skills of the cavalrymen.
"Die!"
[Bang!]
Jeong-hun, who fired one shot, held the Estoc and mace, stabbing and striking the enemy. It seemed two enemies were attached to one Winged Hussar.
"Watch out for allies!"
"Damn it, these bastards!"
"Group up! Must not scatter!"
But no matter how much the Ottoman cavalry induced a melee, the organization and combat power of the Winged Hussars didn't disappear anywhere. Even in that melee, they fought grouping up in fives or more as promised. In contrast, the enemy cavalry fought in a disorganized manner.
The quality of armaments also differed immensely. The enemies, relatively behind in gunpowder weapons, didn't have many cavalry carbines either. They looked like they were rushing with cold weapons somehow, but the Winged Hussars wore plate armor. It was absurd.
"Retreat—! Retreat—!!"
The Ottoman-Tatar cavalry retreated for now. The Winged Hussars didn't bother chasing those faster than themselves. They returned to the main force again to reorganize.
"Give me a Lance!"
Receiving cavalry Lances with small flags attached from the Retainers, they quenched their thirst once and got on the horses again. There were those who exchanged injured horses too.
"Are you okay?"
[Neigh.]
Jeong-hun, avoiding the eyes of Wariat who snorted and glared at his master, also grabbed a Lance. The Winged Hussars returned again after finishing a few minutes of reorganization. They had to go up the hill again.
In the place where the enemy light cavalry retreated, there were enemy artillery and a small infantry unit protecting that artillery.
Seeing the Winged Hussars coming up again, they hurriedly formed an anti-cavalry square. The Winged Hussar Commander-in-Chief smirked seeing that appearance.
Anti-cavalry? Daring to face us?
"Forward!"
The horses sprinted up the hill with snorts. From trot to canter. From canter to gallop!
The enemies formed a pike square as trained.
"Lower lances!"
But, the Winged Hussars also have a wave of lances. The corners of Jeong-hun and the Winged Hussars' mouths went up, and their eyes shone ferociously. The Winged Hussars riding the wave of death increased speed even more with a shout.
On the cruel spear tips lay the enemy to be annihilated. Their fate is only one.
Destruction.
[Thud-thud-thud-thud!]
Finally, when their warhorses sprinted at full power and started running truly like a gale, the Winged Hussars could see the faces of the enemies.
That expression was worship mixed with fear. Resignation of those witnessing an existence that humans can never help.
In front of them, death was an inevitable existence.
[Bang! Bang-bang!]
Enemy soldiers fired muskets at the Winged Hussars all at once. But the weak gunshots only killed a few unlucky ones among the Winged Hussars, and couldn't stop the huge wave itself already.
Yes, accept it. This will be the punishment of us angels descending upon you.
The Winged Hussars, possessing the alias 'Angels of Death', finally arrived at them with the sound of heavy hooves while fluttering their wings.
—Keuh-heuk
If hit by a heavy horse and cavalryman, even screams are not heard.
The Ottoman infantry died without even being able to groan at the dull and heavy impact. Those hit by horses fell helplessly, and the long angel's cavalry lances pierced the enemies. The lance shafts broke at the too-great impact. But the soldiers pierced the enemy even with broken shafts.
After that, they drew swords. The Winged Hussars stabbed with Estocs from high places and slashed with Sabers. Some struck down with maces, and split heads with axes. Bright red fresh blood and flesh splattered over the flashing plate armor. It was rather close to unilateral slaughter.
"Reorganize!"
The Winged Hussars retreated again after killing the enemy to some extent. The shock had to continue.
"Follow me! Don't give them time to reload!"
Jeong-hun's Banner tightened the reins faster than anyone else and charged again. This time the Estoc replaced the Lance.
"Kill!"
Jeong-hun stabbed, stabbed, and stabbed again. When the sword stuck deep inside the enemy's body bent, he boldly let go and swung the Saber and mace.
It is not an era where individual martial prowess is useless yet. At this moment right now, Jeong-hun was no different from a living disaster to the surrounding Ottoman troops. Although there would be differences in degree, others were the same. Radosław and Bojan were in a state covered in blood to the point where their faces were hard to recognize. That much blood wouldn't be theirs.
Unilateral massacre. The Winged Hussars completely smashed the infantry on the hill and finally lifted their ominous eyes to look at the enemy artillery.
"Da...Damn it!"
The Ottoman commander leading the artillery felt his pants becoming wet. If they finish the melee and charge, the artillery can absolutely not resist.
—Puuuuu
But at that moment, the Ottoman cavalry was seen again.
"Enemies are coming!"
The Winged Hussars who were drunk on the excitement of battle came to their senses. Those dismounted got on the horses again. The Winged Hussars, shaking off the weak attacks of enemy infantry, began to reassemble again centering on Jeong-hun.
The Ottoman cavalry aimed for that gap. The Winged Hussars snorted. Even if we have no lances, a shock charge by light cavalry? Daring to face us?
But at that moment, only Jeong-hun's expression hardened stiffly.
"Pick up the fallen spears!"
He shouted to the Winged Hussars. In the battlefield full of screams, ordinary people's shouts are not even heard. But Jeong-hun's Winged Hussars could hear the Joseon Tatar's unique intonation hitting their ears well. Was that the mystery of the Orient?
"Quickly!"
At Jeong-hun's shouting, the Winged Hussars hurriedly picked up spears. Their hollowed-out Lances had mostly broken long ago. Instead, they roughly picked up at least the spears held by Ottoman spearmen. The number was hard to see as many.
"Pass the spears to the front line!"
Jeong-hun also received a spear. And shouted to the Winged Hussar Commander-in-Chief.
"We will stand at the lead!"
The Commander-in-Chief nodded. It seemed the Joseon Tatar saw something.
"They are galloping!"
Horses need time to speed up to full power. The Winged Hussars also have to form a formation and increase speed now. But the Ottomans were fast. At that moment, the Ottoman-Tatar cavalry showed strange behavior.
They split left and right as if splitting an apple in half. And set up a small cavalry unit at their rear as the vanguard. Therefore, now not only Jeong-hun but the Winged Hussars could also see.
Ordinary light cavalry charges are not threatening. They can be blocked sufficiently. But they are—
"Sipahi!"
Ottoman heavy cavalry was in the middle of them.
❋ ❋ ❋
At that moment, Jeong-hun noticed that the enemy cavalry commander was quite excellent. The Winged Hussars were already exhausted from literally grinding up the enemy infantry once, and couldn't return to the main force to be resupplied with cavalry lances.
On the other hand, whether intended or not, the enemies gave up one defeat to induce carelessness and attempted a charge at the best moment. At this moment, the Winged Hussars couldn't help but feel a great sense of crisis.
But there is no need to fear. If there were many Sipahis from the beginning, why didn't they use them in the first cavalry decisive battle? Since the number was small, they must have made it their trump card too.
Jeong-hun, baring his teeth and laughing, shouted before the morale of surrounding colleagues broke.
"The enemy number is small, so we can take it sufficiently! Believe!"
All Winged Hussars gritted their teeth.
[Thud!]
Cavalry collided with each other. Winged Hussars and Sipahis collided. It was a collision of huge waves. There were those who died on the spot while piercing each other with their spears. Those who collided horse to horse fell, and as soon as they fell, there were those trampled to death like rats by other horses' hooves.
Those who survived fired pistols at each other's chests.
[Bang!]
"Ugh!"
The Winged Hussar commander clutched his chest where pain exploded. Another Winged Hussar next to him grabbed him trying to fall off, but couldn't put him back on the horse wearing heavy armor.
"Damn it, damn iiiit!"
The Winged Hussar who watched the commander's death wandered for a while, and soon discovered an ally a head taller than others in the distance. The Winged Hussar approached that giant, persistently breaking through the path with a Saber.
The giant was crazy. Originally his armament was a mace and Saber. But it was not certain whose head the mace was stuck in now, and the Saber blade was completely damaged. But it didn't matter. The Joseon Tatar fought barbarically. The Ottoman bastards' weapons became his weapons. The blade slaughtered the Ottomans, and he grabbed the dodged spear and pierced their heads.
"He died? Who is the next ranking commander?"
"I don't know!"
"Understood!"
Jeong-hun, who heard of the commander's death, shouted.
"Left! Break through the left!"
The Ottoman army desperately continued the melee. This time they never fought lightly either. Seeing that the enemy was heavily armed with blunt weapons to effectively strike friendly plate armor, it became clear that the defeat earlier was a terrible operation intended tactically.
Nevertheless, the Winged Hussars groaned and escaped that mess. The Joseon monster who identified the enemy's weakest flank rallied the Winged Hussars and drove there like a storm, eventually piercing the formation.
Is that really the same human being? Sipahis, Akinjis, and Tatar light cavalry all looked at him with terrified faces. Still, as the Ottoman commander shouted, they formed the formation again.
"Re-charge again! Kill all Winged Hussar bastards here!"
Originally, the time that produces the biggest casualties in battle is when retreating. They intended not to allow the Winged Hussars to retreat obediently.
But Jeong-hun was looking at another place at that moment.
He saw.
Jeong-hun, who looked once at where the King was, did not choose retreat. He immediately called other Banner commanders.
"Form the formation as wide as possible!"
It was an unusual instruction. At the words to virtually give up impact force, other commanders tried to question. But Jeong-hun's instruction continued.
"Stefan! Take the left wing! Zbigniew, the right wing! You become the vanguard! Turn direction just before engaging and pass by! Like we did during training!"
"...Understood."
"Bojan, Radosław! We have to pierce the enemies through the center. See you alive!"
"Yeah, see you alive."
They reorganized again, putting trust towards each other in their eyes and spitting out blood-mixed saliva. Since he has some thought, he must be intending to do this shit right now. Then, there is no choice but to trust their leader.
The Winged Hussars and the Ottoman cavalry collided again.
This time the aspect was different. The Ottomans, having no reason to hide Sipahis, placed heavy cavalry at the front and light cavalry at the remaining rear to maximize impact force this time. They also didn't have spears in their hands now, but since both didn't have them anyway, it was equal.
But in the meantime, the Winged Hussars showed strange behavior. Spreading widely without bunching up.
"Intending to allow impact and surround? Stupid behavior."
The Ottoman commander smirked slightly. He intuited victory at this moment right now.
—[Thud!]
And when the two units collided with each other, his expectation seemed to become reality. He didn't expect the enemy's both wings to change direction and run away without even fighting. However, it felt like at least the main force could be annihilated certainly. Some light cavalry followed towards the left and right wings, but the cavalry main force still overwhelmed the enemies numerically.
Therefore naturally...
Aaaack! Save me! Fuuuck!
"...What?"
The monster at the lead didn't stop. The monster, and the horse the monster rode, seemed crazy. Shining eyes, thunderous roar. That alien stabbing with a tightly gripped spear and just going straight forward boasted martial prowess that would only appear in legends.
The center was brutally pierced. With this, the enemy main force and enemy left and right wings all escape alive. This... couldn't be tolerated. They would reorganize again and charge once more. This time they would also split left and right wings...!
But, the Ottoman commander had to stop thinking at that moment. In the place where the Winged Hussars advanced, there was a unit already aiming guns at them.
Polish Dragoons.
Jan III, who was closely watching the cavalry's battle situation, had given the order long ago.
The Dragoons grinned and looked at the Ottomans. Their guns were also ready to welcome the Ottoman cavalry that lost impact force.
"Fire!"
(End of Chapter)
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