Chapter 19
(Kyle Calendar
Year 502: Age 9)
Bloodstained
Earth ④: Triumphant
Return
Translator : PolterGlast
"What in the
world is happening! Why has it come to this?!"
Goth Margrave roared,
utterly agitated.
The small detachment
on the enemy's far right, which was about to be left behind on the front lines,
should have been trampled without resistance by his proud 2,000-strong Iron
Cavalry.
However, the Iron
Cavalry, the ones meant to do the trampling, had been instantly routed, and
only a few riders were fleeing towards him. The unimaginable situation
unfolding before his eyes froze his thoughts, and he panicked.
"Don't miss this
chance! Push them back at once!"
"Now's the time!
Push back those fools standing there dumbfounded!"
"The enemy's
threat is already gone! Next, we will switch to the offensive! Semi-encircle
the enemy!"
In the Hastburg
Margrave's camp, at the same time, battle cries rang out from the three
commanders leading their respective armies.
The Gorman Viscountcy
army, which had been on the defensive, faced the danger of being half-encircled
due to the rout of their allies, the Hiyorimi Viscountcy army.
The soldiers directly
under the Hastburg Margrave, who had been glaring at the enemy army and unable
to move to reinforce the right wing.
The Kilius Viscountcy
army on the left wing, which had been eyeing the enemy and wary of the Iron
Cavalry's movements, unable to move.
Each of them saw their
chance and suddenly switched to the offensive.
※Deployment Diagram
Hon Hon Hon ↖
↗↗↗↗ Hon Hon Iron
Ki Ki Right Right
Right ↖So So Ko
Ki Ki Right Right
Ki Ki Center Center
Center Left Left Left Left↖↖
Man Man Man Center
Center Left Left Left↖Go Go Go
Bo Bo ↗↑↑↑↖ Bo Bo Left Left Hi Hi Go
Bo Bo Bo Bo Bo Bo Bo
Bo Left ↘ ↘
Bo Bo Bo
＜Defensive Side＞
Bo：Hastburg Margrave Army（3,000）
Ki：Kilius Viscountcy Army （1,100）
Go：Gorman Viscountcy Army （Slightly under 800)
Hi：Hiyorimi Viscountcy Army （Slightly under 400）
So：Solis Barony Army （400）
Ko：Cornell Barony Army （200）
Man：Kreutz, Bold, Herald Barony Armies（600）
＜Invading Army＞
Hon：Goth Margrave Main Camp （1,000）
Center：Goth Margrave Central Army（1,000）
Left：Goth Margrave Left Wing Army（2,000）
Right：Goth Margrave Right Wing Army（1,000）
Iron：Goth Iron Cavalry （200 riders）
"R-r-retreat!
Retreat to the border while protecting the main camp and into our
territory!"
Goth Margrave,
flustered by the changes on the battlefield, began to retreat hastily.
The Iron Cavalry had
been routed, and the protruding left wing of the invading army was now isolated
due to the counterattack and was gradually becoming purely defensive.
At the same time, the
Kilius Viscountcy army on the enemy's left flank had begun to move, making a
move to semi-encircle Goth Margrave's army.
The left wing army of
Goth Margrave's forces, which had protruded and been left behind by the changes
on the battlefield, was being cut down one after another.
The Kilius Viscountcy
army charged into the long, extended battle line of Goth Margrave's hastily
retreating army, accurately striking down the confused enemy troops.
As their allies'
battle lines collapsed, Goth Margrave's forces began to rout towards the
border.
The trend of the
battle had already been decided, and the fighting was shifting to a pursuit.
"The Solis and
Cornell Barony armies are not to pursue. Secure the rear and ensure the
gains!"
A messenger from the
Hastburg Margrave, who had shifted to pursuit, conveyed the instructions.
"Commander Weiss,
what do you think this means?"
"We have already
achieved more than enough military merit. It probably means that the task of
mopping up the remaining enemies is sufficient."
"Understood. I
pray for the continued good fortune of each unit."
Having replied thus,
the Solis Baron regrouped the allies who had begun to move into pursuit.
Then, together with
the Cornell Barony army, they left their hill position, redeployed along the
road leading to the border, secured the battlefield, and seized the supplies
and warhorses abandoned by Goth Margrave's army.
※
The pursuing army led
by the Hastburg Margrave chased the routed Goth Margrave's army to the border
and raised a song of victory.
Goth Margrave's forces
suffered a crushing defeat, losing over half of the more than 7,000 men who had
participated in the battle, and the elite Iron Cavalry was annihilated,
suffering 90% casualties.
Thus, the Solis Barony
army, which in Takuhir's known [previous history] should have lost 40% of its
forces, ended the battle with an almost perfect victory and without significant
losses.
"Even so, the
magnificent fighting of my esteemed brother-in-law in this battle has truly
impressed me."
Baron Cornell, who had
also been excluded from the pursuit and had finished redeploying along the
road, visited the Solis Baron's tent.
The Cornell baronial
family specialized in earth magic, and due to its characteristics, they often
played roles such as constructing fortifications and had not been blessed with
glorious military achievements on the battlefield.
They often played a
steady, behind-the-scenes role, and they were thrilled by the performance of
the Solis Barony army they had witnessed this time.
"No, no, this
time it was all thanks to Commander Weiss, who devised the plan in advance and
advised on the appropriate instructions at the appropriate time."
When the Solis Baron
praised Commander Weiss,
"No, no, the
reason this operation was possible was because the excellent earth mages
constructed the fortifications, trenches, and traps to prevent the cavalry
charge exactly as we intended.
We also received the
assistance of the archers. We believe that this victory was only possible
thanks to the Cornell Barony army."
Commander Weiss
respectfully thanked Baron Cornell.
"I agree. I
intend to strongly report this to the Margrave of Hastburg."
Father also agreed.
"Thank you. Those
words alone are sufficient. Our soldiers, who have never been blessed with
military merit on the battlefield, will also be rewarded."
The young Baron
Cornell replied happily.
"Even so, those
bows and their method of use are astonishing."
When Baron Cornell's
talk turned to the Estol Bow, the Solis Baron's expression became solemn...
"Regarding the
bows and shooting methods, I would like to request that you keep it strictly
confidential. We are keeping it secret even within our own territory.
In fact, if we had
been deployed alongside others, we had even considered refraining from using
them."
"You have my
word. However, please allow me to consult with you about weapons in the
future."
...It seemed that
Baron Cornell also desired the Estol Bow.
After mopping up the
remaining enemies on the border, the Hastburg Margrave returned with the entire
army.
Thus, the battle later
known as the [Southern Gate Annihilation Battle] concluded with a great victory.
The Hastburg Margrave
issued a notification to temporarily return the army to the Southern Gate
Fortress to treat the wounded, evaluate the military merits of this battle, and
celebrate the victory.
Furthermore, the Solis
and Cornell Barony armies, which had suffered almost no damage, were ordered to
repair the battlefield and roads before returning in triumph to the Southern
Gate Fortress.
The post-battle
arrangements might seem like a thankless task, but the order included a
supplement stating that abandoned weapons and warhorses would be collected and
given priority in distribution.
Other supplies would
be gathered and entrusted to Hastburg before being redistributed to each army.
Also, the bodies of
the abandoned enemy soldiers, if not properly buried, would cause epidemics and
attract monsters, so the maintenance of the roads was carried out immediately,
and the dead were respectfully buried.
A mound was erected
and flowers were laid along the side of the road passing through the Southern
Gate Plains.
After all the
post-processing was completed and Father and the others returned to the
Southern Gate Fortress, the following evaluation of military merit was
announced.
First Merit: Solis
Baron
Annihilated 2,000 Goth
Iron Cavalry, leading to this victory.
Second Merit: Cornell
Baron
Greatly contributed to
the annihilation of the Iron Cavalry through skillful fortification
construction.
Third Merit: Kilius
Viscount
Decisively secured
this victory through a well-timed offensive.
Several days later,
information arrived in the town of Est via a fast horse.
"Reporting from
the battlefield:
A great victory for
the Hastburg Margrave army! The enemy has been routed! The Goth Margrave Iron
Cavalry has been annihilated by the Solis Barony army!
The eldest son, Dalek,
although his first battle, was active and greatly contributed to the victory!
All the officers and soldiers of the baronial army are safe and sound, except
for the wounded!
The Solis Baron has
been awarded the honor of first merit, and the baronial army will reportedly
return to the royal capital in triumph, and after the distribution of rewards,
will return to their territory!
This is our great
victory!"
When this news reached
the town of Est, not only the baronial family but also the citizens rejoiced.
In particular, the
families, lovers, and relatives of the soldiers who had served in the war were
relieved and celebrated everywhere.
For this occasion
alone, sake and food were distributed throughout the territory, and all the
towns and villages in the barony became a scene of festivities.
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