A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

About two days passed.

Two days ago, Leif had successfully sailed his longship into Southampton City.

Now, he had returned with the city’s reply.

"What did they decide?" Eric asked, stepping forward eagerly.

Leif said nothing, simply handing a letter to Eric.

Eric quickly tore open the envelope and took out the parchment within.

It was written in remarkably precise Latin. This was the first time Eric had seen a Latin text in this era without a single mistake.

’Looks like there’s a very learned man in the city.’

The men around them, especially Belem, crowded toward Eric, all trying to get a look at the letter, even though their Latin was poor.

The letter’s rhetoric and grammar were unusual, not following a typical narrative style. It was also full of advanced, uncommon Latin words, making it quite a strain for anyone without significant expertise to read.

The others stared at it for a long time but still couldn’t make heads or tails of what it said.

"What’s it say?" Belem asked bluntly.

"It says that Baron Sari, Velen, is in for some serious trouble."

Eric rolled up the parchment and tucked it into his robes.

"We have two hundred Knights and three hundred Tenant Cavalry. The enemy has a full seven hundred Knights and around four to five thousand Infantry. We’re at a disadvantage in both quality and quantity.

A frontal assault is a losing battle. Our only hope is..."

"A surprise attack!" Belem supplied.

"Exactly. A surprise attack. Which means we need to find the perfect opportunity."

"They have too many Infantry. We have only a thousand men in total, and the terrain here isn’t narrow. It’ll be difficult to find an opportunity like that," Ansebel objected.

"If we can’t find an opportunity, we’ll create one."

Eric chuckled, then pulled a map from his robes and spread it out on the ground.

"We can find a way to separate their massive Infantry force from their Knights.

Southampton City is a port city, surrounded by rivers to the east, south, and west. Baron Sari, Velen, has no fleet, so he has almost no way to attack from the sea.

Therefore, he can only attack from the north. There are two gates on the north side of Southampton City—one to the west and one to the east, with a considerable distance between them. The western one is the main gate and is also larger.

Baron Velen’s main target for his Catapults is the western gate, and the Infantry camp operating them is positioned directly opposite it.

My idea is to use the smaller eastern gate to draw the Knights’ attention. I’ve already informed the master of the city to have him open that gate. This will lure the enemy Knights into attacking it.

And that will completely separate the enemy Knights from their Infantry."

Knights, who consider themselves so noble, would never actively seek help from the Infantry. Besides, with a gate open, there would be no need for the Infantry to operate the Catapults. Their part would be over.

The average Frank Knight would never refuse a chance to display his martial prowess. Defeating an opponent head-on is an honor unique to Knighthood.

"How can you be sure the Knights will fall for it?" Ansebel asked again.

"You don’t understand the Frank Knights, Ansebel. For a Frank Knight—or indeed, any Knight on the European Continent—facing an enemy head-on in battle is a matter of supreme honor.

They have no reason—and not enough sense—to refuse. Besides, they just attacked that same small eastern gate a few days ago and were repelled by the city’s defenders. For any Knight who considers himself noble, that is a disgrace.

Given the chance, they will certainly try to wash away that shame.

If that gate now opens for them and they do nothing, they would see it as cowardice—a humiliation in itself."

’Eric was often left speechless by this so-called Knightly Spirit, but it wasn’t a bad thing for him.’

’The more of these fools there were, the better his chances of winning the war.’

Eric then pointed to a spot on the map—the Yiqin River, which flowed east of Southampton City. His finger landed right in the middle of it.

"The letter says the gate will be opened at dusk today. Belem, I’m giving you all of the army’s banners.

When Baron Velen’s Knights are drawn to the small eastern gate and begin their attack, you, Belem, will lead one hundred Knights as the vanguard. You’ll be the first to cross the Yiqin River and charge directly at Baron Velen’s Knights.

Leif, you will lead two hundred Tenant Cavalry as the rear detachment. You’ll set out a short while later, cross the Yiqin River, and support Belem’s force.

I will lead one hundred Knights and one hundred Tenant Cavalry as the reserve force. I’ll depart after you, circle around the Yiqin River, and strike Baron Velen’s Knights directly from the west.

The best time to strike, in fact, would be right after the defenders of Southampton City successfully repel one of the enemy Knights’ attacks. When their men are tired and their horses are weary, just as they’re preparing to rest—that’s the ideal moment to attack.

In any case, I will notify you before we move out. Do not act rashly. And under no circumstances are you to attack or disturb the enemy’s Infantry camp."

’Of course, this alone wasn’t quite enough.’

’If the Infantry received orders to aid the Knights, his plan could be ruined.’

’Hopefully, that short old man can pull his weight. I don’t expect all the English to flee, but he needs to at least throw the Infantry camp into disarray so they can’t support Baron Velen’s Knights.’

...

「Not far from the gates of Southampton City.」

Baron Velen’s Knights were positioned to the front and right of the Infantry camp, some distance away from the men operating the Catapults.

This served two main purposes. First, if the Infantry-operated Catapults got lucky and struck a weak point in the wall, causing it to collapse, the Knights would charge the breach.

Second, they were waiting for the Knights within the city to ride out and fight them.

This was the conventional method for deploying troops when besieging castles and cities in this era.

The walls and other defenses of Southampton City were not as sturdy as those of London City. They weren’t made entirely of brick and stone; they contained a fair amount of wooden structures, making them far more vulnerable.

This allowed the Catapults to be more effective.

However, the heavy rain and the rising river tide had, to some extent, strengthened Southampton City’s defenses.

By the city gate, Baron Velen was on edge. He couldn’t stop replaying his conversation with Anselm in Southampton City from the other day.

"Baron... Baron, Baron!"

"Wha—what is it?"

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!