Chapter 105: The Riverbend Composite Force!

One hundred Riverbend infantrymen comprised the entirety of the first and second companies of the Riverbend Militia Regiment. All were thoroughly trained and uniformly equipped. The former, in particular, were battle-hardened veterans whose combat skills and psychological resilience had reached the level of regular infantry. They no longer engaged in labor but served full-time as soldiers, responsible solely for the patrol and daily drills of Riverbend.

Thus, they could no longer be called militia; they were now a formally organized lord’s army.

Every infantryman wore double-layered fur armor, draped with bear-skin cloaks or wolf-skin pauldrons, with thick beast-hide boots and coarse cloth leg bindings. Within the layered fur armor around the chest, abdomen, and back, was embedded a large curved iron plate, roughly hammered into shape. Combined with the fur armor, this was sufficient to withstand most stray arrows, blades, and sword strikes.

After the Wildfolk of the Great Waterfall grew increasingly familiar with the Riverbend domain, they traded vast amounts of stored beast pelts for food supplies. These high-quality wild beast furs were gathered by Uriyan, who sold none of them but instead crafted thick protective gear worn by the Riverbend infantry.

In addition, each Riverbend infantryman carried a one-meter-long iron sword with a thick spine and broad blade, a double-layered wooden round shield one meter in diameter and one inch thick, and three heavy javelins. Some also habitually hung one or two small hand axes or daggers at their waists.

Aside from lacking an iron helmet, the Riverbend infantry’s equipment essentially met the standards of the Empire’s regular infantry.

They no longer equipped slings or crossbows. Several battles had proven that slings and crossbows were not as effective in causing casualties and conflicted with the use of javelins, greatly increasing the infantry’s load. Therefore, except during patrols and guard duty, the Riverbend infantry no longer carried slings or crossbows, focusing instead on throwing javelins and close combat with sword and shield.

Previously, lacking options, they used whatever was available. Now, with upgraded weapons and expanded forces, they could pursue specialization.

The discarded crossbows and slings were distributed to a hundred refugees. Since joining Riverbend, these refugees had undergone regular combat and crossbow training but had yet to experience real battle.

Leo did not expect these refugees to display heroism in battle but hoped they could provide some fire support under infantry cover on the battlefield. Between fights, they could assist in digging trenches and traps and in constructing chevaux-de-frise and walls.

Uriyan shared this view, believing it better to expose them to the harsh realities of war than to allow them to rebel in the logging camps.

In comparison, the goblin crossbowmen led by Fiza were more elite and powerful than the refugee archers. They wore linen tunics, used slings as belts, carried oversized heavy crossbows disproportionate to their bodies, and bore three heavy javelins.

These goblin crossbowmen—whom Fiza called the Goblin Guard—were the cream of the goblin warriors, selected for their prowess.

Goblin metabolism was remarkably strong; they grew as much as they ate. Under Fiza’s regimen of twice-daily wheat and meat feedings, many originally frail goblin miners grew into muscular warriors within two to three months.

Some goblins, who spent their days eating, mining, and fighting, could gain as much as fifteen kilograms of muscle in a month. Even their previously halted growth showed signs of a second spurt.

Although the Goblin Guard remained short in stature, their limbs were extraordinarily strong. They could not only draw the extremely heavy boar crossbows but also throw javelins as competently as the Riverbend infantry.

The one-meter-long crossbows seemed enormous in the hands of goblins averaging only 1.3 meters tall, yet they proved surprisingly effective.

Their short stature prevented them from drawing the longbows of the Wildfolk, or even the shorter hunting bows of Riverbend villagers to full draw. However, they could easily use slightly modified foot-operated crossbows.

Many foot-operated crossbows were broken by the goblins’ brute strength, forcing Fiza to remake them reinforced with wrought iron strips and to increase their draw weight.

The Goblin Guard’s close combat ability was formidable as well. Their forearms, thicker than those of the strongest human men, delivered rising dragon punches capable of shattering human jaws or testicles. This was even more potent when wielding iron weapons.

Unfortunately, despite Fiza’s efforts to organize and train them, the goblins could not maintain formation in battle. Their ranks were loose and disorderly.

Javelins and bolts were thrown haphazardly; whoever grabbed them fired them. They fought not only the enemy but also each other.

Their shooting bore no discipline—rolling on the ground, using hands and feet—anything comfortable.

Fortunately, their firing speed, accuracy, and battlefield agility far surpassed human crossbowmen, compensating for their lack of intelligence and discipline.

The Goblin Guard excelled over the Riverbend infantry in sprinting through rugged mountains and hiding in vast forests. Their senses were far keener than humans’, allowing them to detect dangers early.

Their thick golden fur provided ample warmth; sheltering in a tree hollow could see them through a cold night.

When food was scarce, they could barely survive on tree bark, insect eggs, and insects.

Their battle spirit, however, was too weak; the sight of comrades falling or fierce enemies often caused them to flee or even surrender on the spot. Hence, they only fought behind the main forces, engaging in opportunistic skirmishes.

At Leo’s suggestion, Fiza trained the Goblin Guard as elite wilderness scouts, goblin rangers, emphasizing their strengths and avoiding close combat.

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