Chapter 130: The Battle Begins
Matthew saw Adam Smith's seriousness and, as someone who enjoyed nurturing his own talent, he was willing to give this shrewd and capable businessman a chance.
Adam Smith truly exhibited intelligence!
In this world, strength and ability may not represent everything, but they are the foundation of everything.
Adam Smith's talent was not particularly outstanding.
According to normal development, even if he invested a considerable amount of funds and resources, there was only a small chance that he could break through to become a high-tier professional.
However, Matthew was quite clear.
In a few years, when the next wave of magic surges appears, almost everyone will have the talent to become a professional.
The only things that can limit them will be inheritance and resources.
Therefore, Matthew valued the abilities of talent more!
Relying solely on fighting and killing would, at best, only make one a thug!
Most barbarian soldiers, once equipped with enough resources and fine gear, could perform this task well.
Independent talent, however, was what Matthew valued most!
Talent like Steward Ralph, who could methodically handle the entire territory's development and internal affairs.
Or like Angela, who could train soldiers, command battles, defend the territory, and solve military problems.
If Adam Smith could develop a certain level of command ability, he wouldn't need to strategize far and wide.
He only needed to command properly and handle the defense.
The enemies approaching from afar were a suitable test for him.
They had a certain level of discipline, and their coordination was fairly well-practiced.
Although over 1,000 of them attacked dozens of adventurers and didn't manage to capture a single one, which was embarrassing.
Matthew still believed that these murder-hardened thugs had considerable combat power.
"To have gathered such a strong group of bandits? This battle is going to be tough!"
Horal, who was approaching on foot from a distance, shared this thought.
He was supposed to be the spearhead pushing to surround the adventurers.
He should have led the charge, torn apart the adventurers' scattered defenses, and surrounded the dozen or so adventurers, swallowing them whole.
After that, having adventurer captives in hand would give them many more options.
Whether to use psychological tactics to quickly lower the enemy's defensive morale,
Or to inflict torture and intimidation, wearing down their will to fight, either way, it would have provided great convenience for the next battle.
But what happened?
The long wait, the exhaustion from the journey, greatly drained their energy.
Furthermore, they had looked down on these adventurers recruited by the Thorn Chamber of Commerce from the beginning, so they hadn't given their full effort.
But the latter showed an extraordinary level of vigilance.
They used a "Silent Spell" scroll for a surprise attack, and when they approached within about 30 meters, they were detected.
Horal had thought.
These adventurers, after discovering them, would have the same wishful thinking as others, or issue a warning, thereby losing their last chance to escape.
But reality gave him a cold slap in the face.
As soon as the adventurers saw them, they not only turned and ran, but they ran incredibly fast.
Horal even saw with his own eyes.
The leading adventurer didn't hesitate to tear open a magic scroll, summoning a gust of wind that accelerated them, helping a dozen adventurers escape from their death trap!
"You fools, I told you not to underestimate the enemy, and now they've escaped!"
"Now, prepare for an assault!"
"Everyone, rest for 30 minutes and grab your round shields!"
"We only need to block five rounds of arrows at most, and then we can rush forward!"
"Don't tell me you've run out of strength to climb a wooden fence!"
The commander's roar was clearly heard by everyone, and every bandit's face showed anger.
Because they knew the enemy wasn't simple, and people were going to die in the next battle!
Horal stopped his pursuit, quickly took stock of his men, and led them to sit down cross-legged, pulling out dried meat from his pack and slowly chewing it.
The rest time passed quickly.
"They only have a little over 500 professionals, and not a single high-tier professional among them. We will definitely win!"
"Kill everyone who dares to resist, we'll make at least tens of thousands of gold coins on this trip!"
"Building a row of wooden fences, thinking it could stop our Black Bandit Group? What a joke!"
"Everyone, charge with me!"
The loud battle cries rang in every bandit's ears.
A tall and burly high-tier warrior, raising his greatsword, led the charge.
"Kill!!"
"Charge!!"
The bandits, eager to vent their frustration and bloodlust, raised their shields and howled as they followed.
Their vast combat experience, and their absolute trust in their leader's strength and judgment, convinced them that they would win once again!
As the bandits drew closer and closer, the cart pushers standing on the walls felt uneasy and afraid.
After all, they had only received a little over 10 days of training, and apart from the professionals, the others had never even seen blood.
Facing the deafening battle cries of over a thousand bandits, the fact that they hadn't turned and fled was already a result of Adam Smith's earlier rallying cry.
Knowing that morale was about to collapse, Adam Smith decisively ordered:
"Load the crossbows, fire!"
The taut bowstrings ripped through the air with a sharp "bang."
Every bolt, costing more than 10 silver coins and imbued with "hope," flew out with a sharp whizz.
With a piercing shriek, they shot toward the charging bandits.
The 400-meter distance was covered in the blink of an eye!
Seven or eight bandits fell on the spot, the crossbow bolts tearing through their bodies like they were puncturing parchment.
Three bandits were killed instantly.
They were the lucky ones.
Several other bandits had their limbs shattered and lay on the ground, rolling and wailing in agony.
Their wooden round shields had been completely useless!
Touch them and you're crippled, collide with them and you're dead!
The terrifying destructive power of the crossbows was fully unleashed!
Horal's heart trembled mid-charge, unable to bear the sight of his comrades' gruesome fates, he sprinted forward recklessly.
Adam Smith was overjoyed and shouted excitedly:
"Just like that, reload quickly."
"Ready! Fire!"
The bandits, who had advanced about 70 or 80 meters, once again faced a shower of crossbow bolts.
Even though they had deliberately spread out, the dirt path was only so wide for fast movement.
Another five or six bandits fell to the ground, screaming!
Even though the crossbow volleys could only continue for four or five rounds, they had already put immense psychological pressure on the bandits.
Dying without being able to fight back was a stifling, maddening experience for them.
At the same time, watching the bandits charge and fall, the cart pushers, who had been shaken earlier, suddenly felt something different in their hearts:
"So, these fierce bandits are just flesh and blood too!"
Seeing the change in the cart pushers' expressions, Adam Smith, pleased, shouted with renewed vigor:
"Do you hear their screams?"
"They bleed just like us, they get hurt just like us. If you don't want to die, you have to kill them!"
"First row of archers, ready, fire!!!"
The arrows flew out sporadically and unevenly!