Horizon of War Series

Mobile Brigades

Eastern Mansion

Lansius stood at the half-open window of his bedchamber, enjoying the night breeze. Stars dotted the sky, but he wasn't in the mood for stargazing. He sipped kumis from a beautifully crafted wineskin. The mare's milk wine, a gift from the nomads' elder, was smooth yet strong, reddening his face.

The nomads' annual visit and the horse market had just concluded. Aside from a homage of horses that Lansius would use for breeding, they also exchanged more horses, their famous silken-like pashmina cashmere wool, leather, mare's milk wine, cheese, and sheep.

In return, Korelia exchanged grains, textiles, salt, spices, and, surprisingly, an amount of barbed wire. Instead of feeling threatened, the nomads had grown fond of it. Batu even praised it, noting that it would enable many weaker communities to defend their herds and family members from large carnivores that roamed the Great Plains.

Lansius was just glad that the invention was well received.

He exhaled deeply. It had been a busy week, during which his presence was required in various capacities as the host. From nomads to guildsmen, knights, and merchants, Lansius believed he had managed to satisfy most, if not all, although there was no easy way to find out.

One thing was certain: while the effort was time-consuming and tedious, the substantial tax profits made it all seem worthwhile. Still, he yearned for calmness—a time when he could focus on building the city, experimenting with new things, or training his men.

Unconsciously, Lansius gazed at the tall yet narrow wooden tower tipped with a simple bronze antenna on a wooden pole, clinging to the mansion's corner. After their initial contact with someone named Paulos in the Capital, they lost all contact just three days later. It turned out the Capital was under siege, and they feared the worst had happened to him.

The person was clearly talented, able to understand the basics of their color-coded Morse system with ease. It was also a shame that they couldn’t learn more from him, despite being fortunate to have someone in the Capital. They had barely started smoothing out their communication methods when they lost contact.

Now, the antenna lay dormant. The last modification he made was the installation of a simple but robust lever switch, ensuring the copper cable would connect to the ground whenever the antenna was not in use. This precaution was borne out of concern for the upcoming rainy season when the tower could attract lightning. By grounding it deep in the soil, he turned the tower into a functional lightning rod.

Below, he saw guards led by Sterling patrolling the vicinity more frequently, using directed lanterns with reflective plates inside, which were brighter compared to traditional ones. He obtained them from one of Midlandia’s guilds, who were all too happy to sell them. Lansius wanted a better lamp, like a carbide lamp, but he knew it was impossible to obtain calcium carbide, which didn’t occur naturally. So, for now, his options were limited to the elusive and likely expensive gemstone of light, oil lamp, or the usual rushlights and candles.

Sipping his kumis again, he observed Ingrid and Francisca alternating their appearances, likely to bolster security. Ingrid was on duty until the second watch, and then Francisca took over until the first light. Seeing them take safety so seriously without being instructed warmed his heart.

It must be Farkas and Sir Harold's doing. Which means, I'm actually important enough for them to care.

The thought made him proud. Even though he had risen to lordship, Lansius never dared to assume that he was well-loved. After all, ruling was naturally hard with powerful people having different goals and agendas. He was under no illusion that he could make everyone happy.

The thing that differentiated him from other warlords was that he simply didn't have to make many compromises. The hand of fate forced him to face conflicts without any venue for negotiation, and he excelled in the power struggle by winning it through the strength of arms. It was tragic, bloody, and destructive, but on the other hand, it made things much easier.

Of course, simply winning and conquering was just half of the process. If Lansius merely won and ruled, then he would be nothing but another dictator—a man to be toppled whenever he made a mistake.

This was the rationale behind the shogunate. Despite his victories, instead of appointing a new leader, Lansius cooperated with his former adversaries to ensure they could continue ruling. Lacking capable and trustworthy personnel, or even a functional noble house, he depended on them to maintain their power and influence over their domains. Through these former rivals, he maintained a firm grip on the combined military, populace, and resources.

At its heart, the shogunate was an institution designed to centralize power. The sankin-kotai policy of alternate residency, gathering all lords and their families in one unified city and assigning lesser kin to govern their lands, effectively minimized the risks of petty rivalries erupting among bordering domains.

Moreover, with every lord’s family permanently residing in Korelia, the arrangement greatly reduced distrust among the noble houses. It even transformed their rivalry from destructive to constructive, fostering projects like buildings and artworks. By living and building together, this system ensured that each noble house had significant stakes in the shogunate, making them less likely to rebel or revert to their old ways.

In this way, Lansius expected Lowlandia to remain internally stable for the foreseeable future. So far, it had been working well. The populace seemed happy, migrations increased, trade flourished, and despite maintaining a standing army, their cash flow was positive, and they anticipated earning more from the upcoming southern trade.

Not to mention, his other domains were sending positive reports after the winter. The best of all was probably from Sigmund, who reported that South Hill was expecting a bountiful harvest. The winter seeds they had planted last fall seemed to have been blessed; the majority had survived the icy winter, boosting morale among the populace and soon stabilizing food prices in that part of the region.

Slowly, it would affect other regions, helping every Lowlandian community that had long been ravaged by frequent wars. Lansius hoped this trend would continue, enabling them to maintain well-stocked granaries in anticipation of future poor harvests.

He took another sip of kumis, savoring its yogurt-like, slightly tangy, and effervescent kick that tingled on his tongue. Feeling the cold breeze on his face, he exhaled deeply.

Ever since his travels, campaigns, and feasts with the nomads, he had developed a taste for this liquor, which, despite being derived from milk, did not contain lactose.

"What's on your mind, love? I rarely see you drinking alone like this," Audrey asked from behind, prompting Lansius to turn around.

She had just finished preparing for sleep, wearing more comfortable Centurian clothes, a gift from a merchant who was all too eager to gain her favor. Surprisingly, to him, it somewhat resembled a kimono. "Well," he struggled to recall what he was thinking. "Just worrying about the Imperium and the future."

"The Imperium?" Audrey inched closer, a lovely floral scent emanating from her. "But you're not even originally from this part of the world."

Lansius simply nodded, now feeling the full effect of the kumis. Suddenly, everything didn't seem so bad. Even the fall of the Imperium wasn't as worrying anymore. "Still, the fall is a big deal," he murmured, searching for the right words. Gazing at her, he asked, "Why aren't you mourning the fall of the Imperium?"

She tilted her head slightly. "I guess I'm yet to feel it. It still feels surreal... the Imperium is older than even my great ancestors. Nobody thought it would collapse," she replied, taking the wineskin from him and gently guiding him to the bed.

"Also, I prefer not to get sad since I can't even drink to drown the sorrows," she explained as she sat down.

He settled beside her on the bed, and she gently guided his head onto her lap. The close proximity made Lansius smile, especially after realizing he was so near to the baby in her womb. He leaned closer and pressed his ear against her belly, listening to the various sounds within.

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"Do you hear anything?" she asked, amused.

"Maybe I should try calling him," he pondered. "Now, what would be your name, little one?"

"Try to come up with one. Something strong but unique."

Lansius pondered, but nothing suitable came to mind.

"How about someone close to you?" Audrey suggested again.

"I only knew Marc and Tanya, but I doubt naming our child after them would be a good idea..." His tone reflecting the uncertainty surrounding their fate.

Audrey nodded, understanding his hesitation. "How about a name from your homeland?"

"Lancelot? Arthur? William?" he offered a few names.

"Mm, they sound so foreign to me," Audrey remarked thoughtfully. "Perhaps someone important to you? Someone who has sacrificed for you?"

That struck a chord. Lansius instantly recalled a few names. "Max, Theo, and Sir Callahan."

"Callahan is a nice name," Audrey remarked warmly.

Lansius smiled in response. "Well, if the baby likes it, then we can call him that."

"Cecile and Claire will be pleased with that," she said excitedly. Afterward, they gently clutched hands, enjoying the moment in silence.

"Drey," Lansius said after a while, "I'm tired," his words alluding to his responsibilities.

"I know, I see you doing all sorts of things like bees in springtime."

Lansius chuckled weakly, gazing into her gentle eyes. "Any advice for this tired man?"

"How about eating plenty?" she teased, her smile radiant. Somehow, she looked even more beautiful.

"That's so you," he teased back.

She giggled. "I heard you chopped a lot of wood."

"Oh, yeah. Just to get my mind off things."

"You know you should slow down a bit," she suggested.

"But I don't have the luxury of time."

"That is exactly why," she said as she massaged his shoulders. "A good knight always takes care of his warhorse and won't let her get restless the night before a battle."

Lansius chuckled, amused that she always used horse analogies. "Then how does the Baroness pacify her restless horse tonight?"

She leaned toward him and kissed him on the cheek. "I used to kiss Horsie to calm her down."

Lansius couldn't help but chuckle. "Someday, we'll have peace in Arvena and then we're going to look for Horsie."

"Really?" she asked, hopeful.

"Of course. I want to bring her to Korelia where she can eat, run, sleep, and even fart freely wherever she wants."

Audrey stifled a giggle, her face lighting up even more. "I also want to visit Bellandia," she said gently. "I want to properly meet your family, especially the little sister you've often talked about."

That night, the two reminisced about their roots and the hardships they had endured, vowing not to forget them, despite having become major powers in a different province.

...

The next morning, Lansius oversaw his troops marching in the new Tercio formation just outside the construction area of the eastern walls. He observed as the main body advanced northward in a compact, disciplined block, looking for signs that his men and the officers had grasped the new formation, which was unlike anything they had seen before.

At its core, the formation bristled with pikemen, supported by men-at-arms and crossbowmen. Surrounding the square-like center, four mobile brigades operated independently, each tasked with protecting the flanks and rear. This arrangement gave the cavalry the freedom to advance without exposing the main army’s flanks.

Not only limited to defensive purposes, these mobile brigades could also serve as harassment troops or launch assaults when opportunities arose. Similarly comprised of pikemen and crossbow wielders, their long pikes could deter cavalry charges, while the crossbowmen delivered punishing strikes from a safe distance.

Although arrows or bolts seldom killed outright, they could be dispensed with ease and from a safe distance. In large quantities, they could draw so much blood that they might break the enemy’s morale before contact, allowing the main army or cavalry to deliver the final blow.

At least that was the idea. However, there were reasons to be confident in this strategy, as they had experienced several victories featuring extensive use of crossbows. This success had bolstered everyone's confidence in the lethality of their crossbowmen.

The four independent brigades were designed to roam freely, drilled to either counter or reinforce the main army as needed, effectively becoming their shield or sword. This strategic flexibility gave the Tercio formidable defensive capabilities compared to traditional long line or square formations.

While Sir Harold normally commanded, today Lansius had appointed Sir Michael as the commander. Sterling acted as his vice and commanded one of the mobile brigades. The staff and he wanted to assess whether the troops could also effectively follow a different leader’s command.

As an observer, Lansius rode his horse slowly alongside Sir Harold, Carla, and a dozen mounted guards as an escort.

A short distance away, the Tercio formation advanced, turned, and resumed without issue. Lansius also observed how the mobile brigades behaved organically. "Good work on the training. They seem to be able to maneuver without hesitation," he praised.

"Thank you, My Lord," Sir Harold replied. "But without a real test, we wouldn’t know if they can function in the heat of battle."

Lansius nodded and then turned to Carla. "Give the signal for the Baroness' light cavalry."

"Light cavalry, My Lord." Carla took a color-coded torch from her bag and lit it, producing a thick black smoke that slowly turned into a reddish color.

"Calub’s color signal is working quite well," Sir Harold commented with fascination.

Soon, from afar, tens of the Baroness' light cavalry charged the Tercio formation, almost halting their advance. However, the mobile brigades effectively and patiently countered them, acting like a shield.

Despite the cavalry being faster and more maneuverable, the four brigades seemed able to protect the main army's flanks, allowing the whole Tercio formation to continue their march, albeit at a slower speed. Now, the Tercio's smaller cavalry had the upper hand and chased after the Baroness' light cavalry.

Satisfied, Lansius turned to Sir Harold, who nodded in agreement. He then turned to Carla, "Send the Dragoons."

"Yes, My Lord." Carla took another torch from her bag, this one producing blue-colored smoke.

Before long, the ground began to shake as hundreds of dragoons took to the field. For this exercise, they used longer strings and blunt-tipped bolts.

The dragoons advanced slowly, assessing their opponent's weaknesses before launching a rapid approach. Countering them, the Tercio formation assumed a defensive posture, offering bristling walls of pikes. The mobile brigades remained outside and deployed their pikes, each capable of fending off attacks proportional to their size.

Lansius urged his destrier to advance closer to see the action unfold. His entourage followed, flanking him, while the old and reliable bannerman carried his huge blue and bronze banner.

They witnessed the frantic, almost chaotic clash between the dragoons and the Tercio, from which they learned a great deal about the formation's resilience and its real capabilities.

Although the dragoons were not using the new X-bow that Lansius had developed, nor were they equipped like the elite Cranequiners who used smaller cranequins, many were armed with steel-prodded crossbows. This steel construction allowed for a slimmer, lighter design compared to the traditional thick wooden prods. It was also more robust, far less susceptible to cracks or moisture issues, and required less maintenance. The smaller dimensions and streamlined shape were ideal for mounted users, making it easier to handle, aim, and store, and reducing the risk of snagging on other gear while riding.

Despite all these improvements, they still could not gain the upper hand against the new Tercio formation.

"The way they're able to fend off the attack is impressive," Lansius said to Sir Harold, who eagerly nodded, his grin wide.

"Indeed, a simple line formation would have buckled against your Dragoons. They could easily outflank them in open plains like this," the knight replied, proudly.

Lansius, noticing Carla looked similarly enchanted, asked, "What do you think about the new formation?"

"The smaller squares are unpredictable, My Lord. Even the dragoons became cautious around them," she replied.

Lansius nodded. "Indeed, they're smaller but can also take a lot of punishment."

"Just what kind of training have they had?" she said nervously.

Lansius smiled, glancing at Sir Harold, who answered, "The key is to equip them better. For the mobile brigade, we ditched shields in favor of ringmail or brigandine."

"Each of the mobile brigades is essentially heavy infantry," Lansius mused aloud.

Early European pikemen. Lansius thought to himself, before adding, "We need them to be extra tough. If any opponents underestimate them, they'll pay dearly for their mistake."

Carla nodded eagerly, and Lansius' group advanced closer to watch the spectacle from close range.

***

The day had turned to evening when Lansius returned to the Eastern Mansion with his escorts. Upon entering the armory, Margo assisted him with removing his brigandine and changing his clothes. He also took the time to refresh himself with water from a bronze basin before heading to the upper level to wind down.

As he climbed the stairs, the guards readily saluted and opened the door for him and Margo. Lansius then spotted Audrey. "Ah, you're back," she greeted him with a gentle smile, still wearing her kimono.

"That outfit really suits you," Lansius praised with a smile.

Perhaps because she hadn't expected the compliment, Audrey simply blushed.

Lansius approached and leaned toward her, observing the redness on her cheeks. "Are you getting flustered?" he asked with a teasing smile.

She gave him a playful look, one reserved just for him. "Husband, don't ruin the moment with your sarcasm."

"Yeah, I know better than to push my luck," Lansius grinned and kissed her gently on the forehead.

Audrey was clearly happy, but as usual, a smug expression appeared on her face, almost like a defensive mechanism. However, the expression, which Lansius found rather cute, was reserved only for him. Everyone else only received the scary-lady look.

As Lansius took a drink off the table, Audrey said, "You know, the staff won't let me do much outside of the mansion, so I thought, why not wear something comfortable since I'm not going anywhere?"

"I have no issue with the Centurian dress, especially if you're comfortable in it," he remarked as he sat down on the soft couch. "I think you can even use it for archery training."

"Indeed, I just need to tuck the sleeve with a thick sash. That way, the long sleeve becomes manageable," she replied, her voice filled with excitement.

Lansius nodded in understanding. "Just be careful with the training. I don’t want you to get hurt."

"I’ll certainly be careful," she assured him, without a speck of doubt. "Oh, Margo told me that the artisan has finished your order for a large bronze bowl."

"A large bronze bowl...?" Lansius pondered before realizing, "Ah, they've finished the bronze dish!"

"What are you going to do with such a deep bowl? Deep fry a duck?" she wondered.

Lansius laughed as he rose. "Though deep-fried does sound rather tasty, I need it for another purpose," he said, his previously tired eyes now shimmering with hope.

***

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