However, the cavalry completely ignored the seasoned bandits who had huddled together with fierce and murderous expressions. Instead, they spurred their horses directly past them to hunt down the lesser thieves who were fleeing in blind panic.
The cavalry's main purpose was to reap the harvest. Meeting the enemy head-on would be far too disadvantageous.
The panicked thieves dove straight into the surrounding fields, scattering across the sparse wheat crops in an attempt to escape through the small river ditches. But in winter, the wheat seedlings were naturally too short to provide cover. Thus, the thieves' escape routes were plainly visible.
