Chapter 71 : Temporary Preparations (1)

Chapter 71: Temporary Preparations (1)

"In what way can you find out?"

"These ancient Imperial-era armaments are very popular among the nobles. They claim to be the successors of the Ancient Empire and are frantic about collecting them. Well... the actual successor of the Ancient Empire, no, the Latin Empire, which is the Ancient Empire itself still exists, but. Huhu."

Branch Manager Marhen let out a cynical laugh, as if amused.

"Anyway, with this Dwarven shield from the Ancient Empire era, we can quickly establish connections with high-ranking nobles. What do you say? Are you willing to give it a try?"

If he could gain both a connection and information by using just a shield, what was there to lose? Shatien was not even bothered by the idea of losing the Dwarven shield since he had planned to sell it anyway.

Furthermore, information about Baron Ludwig's whereabouts was important enough to determine the outcome of this war.

"Very well. I will do it for you."

"Then I will prepare a separate fee for your trouble, Branch Manager Marhen."

At Shatien's words, Branch Manager Marhen said, fluttering her hands.

"Oh. No. We are the ones making the connection, after all. It is good for us too."

"Oh... If you insist."

Shatien was not one to decline such an offer. He readily accepted the gesture.

"Heh heh. Then, you will sell the remaining armors well for me, won't you, Branch Manager Marhen?"

"Oh dear. You are incorrigible."

Branch Manager Marhen found it strange why he was so obsessed with money. Now that he was a knight, she thought he might be less greedy, but he was a truly peculiar person.

"Ahem. There is actually a reason for everything."

Shatien cleared his throat, sensing Branch Manager Marhen's thoughts.

"I plan to rebuild the unit this time. I want to add more armor."

"Oh... Well, then that makes perfect sense. Hoho."

"And I need more weapons."

"Weapons?"

Branch Manager Marhen tilted her head. She wondered if there were any specific weapons he would need to request.

But Shatien needed to explain clearly, as it was a weapon that could not be generally acquired.

"A spear three times the height of a man. I would like to have about 100 to 200 of them made."

"A spear that long? Are you planning to fight with cavalry? Even mounted knights wouldn't carry such long spears."

"That is exactly why!"

Branch Manager Marhen was surprisingly sharp in some respects.

"It needs to be longer than the knights' lances, so we can stop them before we are struck."

"Ah?"

"The shaft must be made of a material that is as light as possible and won't break easily."

It might be difficult even to carry and march with such long pikes. However, Branch Manager Marhen did not press the matter.

For her, selling them for money was all that mattered. Besides, she felt that Shatien would somehow find a way.

"Very well. That shouldn't be too difficult. How much time can you give me?"

"I need to use them in the very next battle, so every day is urgent."

"Right away? The length of the shaft is different from existing spears, so it takes a long time to make. Wood takes a long time to dry."

"Ah...?"

That was a detail he had overlooked.

Wood needed to be properly dried and oiled to increase its durability and make it suitable for use.

It was naturally expected that the wood used for most spears would be suited for relatively short spears, so there was no immediate stock of wood for long pikes.

"Is there no way to work around it?"

At Shatien's question, Branch Manager Marhen fell into thought.

'What should I do...?'

She wanted to maintain a good relationship with Shatien if possible. No, not just a good relationship, but one where she was moderately indebted to him.

Look at him now.

Hadn't he already gained tremendous prestige as Count Bellua's champion? Branch Manager Marhen was starting to feel that Shatien could soon become quite an influential noble.

Therefore, the best approach was to ensure he owed her a "favor" whenever such an opportunity arose.

'Ah-!'

Then, a memory flashed through Branch Manager Marhen's mind.

"Hoho. Can we use the existing spearheads?"

"Yes, as long as the length is sufficient, it is fine."

"Good! Fortunately, we have dried ash wood for making galley ship oars at the branch. We can utilize some of that."

"Are you sure that's alright?"

At Shatien's question, Branch Manager Marhen merely winked.

"Why wouldn't it be especially between us? Hnng. It is a chance to help Sir Shatien... you know?"

"Ahahaha... Of course. Thank you."

"Good. Then don't worry and wait. I will have them made quickly."

And before long, just as Branch Manager Marhen had promised, a large number of carts entered Count Bellua's army camp.

Inside the carts were five-meter-long pikes, unlike any seen before.

-Swish.

Shatien lifted one pike over his head and moved it around.

-Whoooosh.

The shaft made an intimidating sound as it cut through the air, but it did not break.

"They are made from very strong, high-quality ash wood. You will like them. Hoho."

"They are truly magnificent, Branch Manager Marhen."

Shatien's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he looked at the pikes.

'I need to make them as familiar with the pikes as possible.'

The Black Raven Mercenary Company was adept at using shield walls as a base, so they were good at forming ranks.

Since pikes were a defensive weapon where formation was crucial, they would clearly become accustomed to them quickly.

'Especially if they only master the anti-cavalry stance.'

What kind of high-level skill was that?

It was simply a matter of repeating a simple stance.

However, if pikemen were secured, the next important thing was the halberdiers. Since pikemen were vulnerable to melee infantry, it was essential to operate them alongside halberdiers and other heavy infantry to provide shock power.

'I need to specialize the Centurias as soon as the mercenary company is replenished.'

Shatien planned to train one Centuria as pikemen and the other as halberdiers and heavy infantry.

'I should ask Branch Manager Marhen to get me halberds too.'

The image of a halberd vaguely came to mind. It was a very heavy, formidable weapon that combined the advantages of a spear and an axe.

* * *

The truce, which they thought would end quickly, turned into a prolonged standoff, lasting longer than expected. Both camps merely observed each other, making no significant moves.

'This is good.'

He had to actively utilize this golden time. Shatien intended to train the pikemen.

"How do we use a spear this long?"

"Do we just grab it with our hands and lift it up?"

"Exactly. If we just go in, we'll be in big trouble if we try to slash the spear, won't we?"

The mercenaries who encountered the pikes for the first time were full of questions. However, Shatien merely chuckled at their questions.

When pikes first appeared, everyone thought the same way as the mercenaries now.

Ultimately, the knights and infantry who dismissed the pikes all paid a heavy price.

"Take a pike and stand in one rank."

Shatien divided the Centuria in half and had them aim the pikes at each other. Of course, they were not real pikes but practice sticks without blades attached.

"Now, attack each other."

"Understood."

"Charge, forward!!!!"

-Waaahhh!

-Ta-da-dak Tak Tak!

The mercenaries who met clashed and repeated the thrusting motion. As the fighting continued, astonishment crept into the mercenaries' eyes.

'Shit... can we really get through this?'

'Forget getting through, if I just go in, I'll be skewered.'

'If I try to grab it with my hands, I'll be stabbed by the spear behind it. Oh my.'

If real sharp blades were attached instead of sticks, a foolhardy charge would lead to a bloodbath. Especially since the person trying to penetrate the pikes had to hold their weapon with one hand, but the person thrusting the pike used two hands, the difference in strength was clear.

"Stop! Stop! That's enough."

Shatien hastily calmed the overheated atmosphere. If blood started to spill, things could quickly become uncontrollable.

As the unit members seemed to calm down slightly, Shatien gave the next instruction.

"Stand in four ranks and aim your pikes at each other. I will correct the stance for each one."

At that, the unit members stood in four ranks and aimed their pikes at each other. The first rank aimed their pikes low, pointing upward as if to thrust, the second rank rested their pikes on the shoulders of the first rank, aiming, and the third rank held their pikes over the second.

It was truly a hedgehog formation itself.

Anyone seeing this might call it the Hedgehog Phalanx.

"In that state, slowly advance and attack each other."

"Unit, advance forward!"

-Step step step step.

The unit members approached each other again. Both sides swallowed hard as they watched the advancing pike shafts.

-Ta-da-da-da-dak Tak! Dak!

Dozens of sticks clashed and shook up and down. As they pressed inward, the wooden sticks continued to push through.

"......!!!"

"Th-This is!"

"I can't breathe!"

"How are we supposed to grab this with our hands and drop it? Which lunatic suggested that?"

It was literally a moving fortress made of pikes. No one could easily penetrate it.

-Aaargh!

-Hey you guys, surrender!

-Ta-da-dak Tak Tak.

Dozens of sticks moved back and forth, hitting each other. As soon as someone tried to enter, the sticks severely lashed them from ankle to head. Even if blocked by a shield, the spear tip would clearly penetrate through any gap.

"Stop! Stop!!"

When the training ended, the unit members' expressions brightened. They understood why Shatien had made them do this seemingly useless exercise.

"This can even stop the knights' lance charge, can't it?"

"Just the knights? We could probably crush any ordinary infantry unit with this, seriously."

The unit members, with excited expressions, offered their respective reviews of the formation. Then, Miles, who had been training with them, suddenly asked.

"Shatien. What is the name of this formation?"

At that, Shatien flinched for a moment. This was a tactical system that could change the tide of war on the continent, but... it did not have a name yet.

"Hmm. It doesn't have a name yet."

"Not yet? Hmmm."

Miles pondered for a moment and then spoke.

"Well, what is so difficult about it? Since it is a square formation, we can call it a Square. Ahahaha. And since our Centurion created it, should we call it the Shatien Square?"

"Hahahaha. That is a very good name!"

"Right? You guys. You have an eye for it. Hehehe."

Why would he name it something like that? Shatien could only sigh.

'I don't know anymore, sigh.'

He might as well agree than argue. Thinking so, Shatien considered the next step.

It was the operation of halberdiers. However, since the halberd was a new weapon, there was no troop classification yet, and the doctrine on how to organize it was incomplete.

But this problem was surprisingly easily solved.

"Ohhh! Shatien! This is crazy. What is this?"

"Kee-gee-gik! Kee Kee!"

Miles laughed with his pet monkey while holding a halberd.

-Whoooosh!

-Whoooosh!

"A thrust this time?!"

-Slice!

It was a clean strike with no wasted movements.

'Wow... Even that doofus has hidden talent?'

Shatien was impressed.

Slicing, thrusting, chopping, and hooking.

Every stance that could be shown with a halberd was perfect. Continuous attacks were a bit problematic, but handling a weapon he was using for the first time to that extent indicated talent.