Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

100  To the South

Icemit wasn't too far from the capital. It took just three days to get there by horse using the White Merchant Road, which had been specifically reformed during Stahl's reign to make it simpler for wagons carrying iron and other products to travel all over the kingdom. However, reforming and expanding this road had its challenges. The path could only fit four wagons next to each other due to the rough-icy land and dense forests. An expansion was difficult thanks to the expensive cost and the hard environment.

Luther stood at the forefront of the cavalry unit, which had been arranged in a formation known as echelon. In this formation, the cavalry was organized diagonally, with each unit positioned behind each other and to the right or left of the unity in front. If observed from above, this arrangement would appear like the rungs of a ladder, a unique shape that granted great maneuverability and speed.

This formation was a knowledge that Henry had brought from Earth and taught all the people going through the Commanders Training. There was no record of it being used in Stahl or any other neighboring country, thanks to the absence of a highly organized cavalry unit. The echelon formation was greatly utilized by Alexander the Great, principally in his battle against the Persian King Darius III, which enabled him to deliver a massive defeat to the Persian Empire and seize control of the capital, Babylon.

During the Battle of Gaugamela, King Darius, the Persian King, had amassed a strong force consisted of infantry, elite horsemen and even a contingent of 15 Indian War Elephants supported by chariots. In contrast, Alexander brought with him a combination of Macedonian Infantry and various cavalry units, with the most notable one being the Companion Cavalry, a group of highly skilled and well-equipped horsemen led by the Macedonian Emperor himself.

Employing the echelon formation, Alexander managed to deceive the Persian King Darius III. He positioned the elite cavalry on the right side of the battlefield, while his infantry engaged the Persian troops in the center. Accompanied by his Companion Cavalry, Alexander rode towards the right flank, while Parmenion, his trusted general, led the left side of the battle. Alexander's goal was to lure a significant part of the Persian cavalry and troops to the right flank, using himself, creating a gap in the enemy line and enabling a decisive attack at Darius, who was surrounded by his troops in the center.

During the chaotic battle, the Persian cavalry attempted to flank Alexander's right, leading to an intense clash, with the sound of clashing steel and the dying neighs of the horses echoing through the battlefield. The echelon formation allowed Alexander to execute swift and lightning-fast assaults, resulting in the center of the Persian line being shattered after thousands of deaths.

However, the fall of the Persian center was accompanied by a critical decision. Alexander could either offer aid to Parmenion's side, which was in danger of losing its life, or pursue King Darius IIII. The Macedonian king decided to rescue his subjects, allowing Darius to escape on horseback with a small group of his forces. After losing the war, Darius gave speeches and tried to amass another force, while sending letters to his eastern straps to ensure their loyalty, but one of his aides assassinated him.

When he came to know about Darius's murder, Alexander felt sad about the way that such a respected and great enemy had met his end. Because of that, he decided to give him a full burial ceremony at Persepolis, the former ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire. In the following year, Alexander then pursued and killed the one responsible for Darius's assassination.

Luther was leading Stahl's cavalry using this same echelon formation, swiftly moving towards the enemies' position, and rapidly advancing to the south of the kingdom. The rhythmic echo of a thousand horses' hooves crunching through the snow could be heard a mile away, like a colossal and catastrophic wave of snow destroying everything on its wake.

The intense two-year training program had prepared the cavalry to maintain a synchronized formation, ensuring they didn't bunch up too closely, allowing enough space for maneuverability. Luther was on the first row of the cavalry, responsible for meeting the enemy headfirst, while responsible for scouting and securing the path ahead. His presence on the first line boosted the soldiers' morale and ignited their fighting spirit, giving them the vision of victory.

The army marched until they approached a three-way juncture, leaving their marks on the snow-covered White Merchant Road. One route headed south, another to the west, and the third led east, branching off in different directions within the Kingdom, connecting to the one leading to North, towards the capital.

Seeing the three-way bifurcation, Luther raised his hands and slowed down his horse's speed. And as if it was a single entity, the whole troops began to slow down until they came to a stop. Luther's eyes were analyzing the juncture, deliberating on the two options ahead of him. He could either wait at the crossroad or advance down one path. The first option carried the risk of both armies coming to a silent agreement to join forces before dividing the profits between themselves. The last option was to choose a direction and fight against one of the armies on their wake, risking diminishing his forces before finally engaging the other one.

During a conversation with the king regarding this potential scenario, King Henry had told Luther about the importance of considering all the various factors and not to dive towards the enemy without much ponder. There was a need to evaluate aspects such as terrain, resources at hand and the strength of the opposing force and its own force was crucial. Drawing upon all the knowledge he had acquire throughout his life and his understanding of Stahl's terrain, Luther decided the best course of action.

Pausing for a brief moment, Luther carefully considered his decision before nudging his horse to move forward, guiding the troops toward South. He had already determined the route he would take. The Southern direction was the decision with the most effective solution, thanks to the terrain that could allow the cavalry to maximize its potential. Despite the White Merchant Road facilitating the traffic of goods from all over the kingdom, the western part of the road was much more rugged. This rough terrain greatly limited the horses maneuverability and speed, potentially influencing the outcome of the war. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"We're heading South!" -Luther's voice echoed, not bothering to turn his head, as the soldiers were well aware of their mission - "We will encounter our enemies within the next day, so stay alert. Our task is simple! We will launch a lightning-fast strike, leaving them no opportunity for a counterattack. As I've mentioned before, our enemies outnumber us at least fourfold, but fear not! I am here, and the king's support is on our side!"

The war that will shake this part of the North's foundation was about to start….