Chapter 73
Southern Gate Defense Battle ⑤
(Day 3 of War)
The Signal for
Counterattack
Translator : PolterGlast
This time, the
timeline goes back a bit from Chapter 71.
Also, the location
shifts from Teigun to Southern Gate.
The subtitle indicates
the timeline and location, so please refer to that.
~Timeline: Returning
to Southern Gate Fortress on Day 3 of the War, ~
-----
"Everyone, thank
you for responding to this urgent summons.
From this point
forward, we will undertake a reorganization and deployment to launch an offensive
against the enemy army. First, I wish to share my intentions with all of
you."
The lords and key
members of each noble army were gathered together.
"As all of you
are already aware, a portion of the enemy has bypassed the battlefield and
begun advancing into Viscount Kilias's territory and Baron Solis's territory.
But there is no need
to worry. Both lords anticipated this crisis in advance and did not neglect
preparations.
I ask that all of you
gathered here focus on the battle before us. Lord Kilias, the situation!"
"Yes, the
numerically superior enemy army has dispersed its forces. For us, who have been
pressured by their numbers, this can be called an opportunity.
The enemy army lost
3,000 men in the first day of fighting, and excluding their dispersed forces,
the strength currently confronting us is estimated to be approximately
20,000."
"Then, we are
almost evenly matched at 18,000. It seems our turn has finally come." The
Earl, who was participating as a reinforcement this time, responded.
"But we have an
overwhelming disadvantage.
Even if our numbers
are roughly equal, the difference in strength as combat units is too
great."
"Are you saying
you are dissatisfied with our combat capabilities?!"
Another Earl was on
the verge of erupting in anger.
"That is not what
I mean. What the enemy has and we lack.
That is a cohesive
fighting force as a group. That is the difference I am speaking of."
※
Actually, the night
before, Father, my elder brother (Darek), Commander Weiss, and I, the four of
us, presented our opinions to Margrave Hastburg.
Viscount Kilias and
Viscount Gorman were also present.
Comparing the
collective combat strengths of both sides, the situation was critical.
＜First Imperial Prince's Imperial Guard＞
Iron Cavalry: 3,000
riders
Cavalry: 2,000 riders
Infantry: 3,000 men
Archers: 4,000 men
＜Goth Margrave＞
Iron Cavalry: 500
riders
Cavalry: 1,000 riders
Infantry: 2,000 men
Archers: 500 men
Even if we only
consider these two groups, their cavalry and infantry units stand out as
formidable combat units.
Even the Hastburg
Margrave, the largest force on our side, only had 1,200 cavalrymen.
Even the declining
Goth Margrave, after the Southern Gate Annihilation Battle, had 1,500 mobile
forces under his command, including Iron Cavalry.
Even in this
overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation, the inexperienced noble armies would
probably insist on launching an aggressive attack to regain honor for their
disgraceful (late) arrival and to gain military merit.
If that happened, Margrave
Hastburg might be forced into a situation where he would have no choice but to
leave the fortress and confront them.
In response to this,
we proposed a drastic reorganization of the army.
※
"Currently, the
biggest threat is the 3,000 Iron Cavalry and 2,000 cavalry of the Imperial
Guard led by the First Prince. They overwhelm us in numbers, and their power is
immeasurable.
Some of you here have
personally experienced this against the considerably smaller Goth Margrave's
army recently."
Margrave Hastburg
said, surveying the surroundings.
"So, the Margrave
means to sit idly by and endure the enemy by staying holed up in the
fortress?"
The Earl who had just
been angered raised his voice.
"Then, I will
entrust you with an equal number of troops. Is there anyone here who wishes to
confront the First Imperial Prince's Imperial Guard and seek military
honors?"
No one responded to
the Margrave's question.
Not even the Earl who
had just been enraged...
"From now on, we
will carry out a reorganization of our forces!
Through this, we will
unify the chain of command, create an army capable of resisting as a cohesive
unit, and only then will we go on the offensive!"
Everyone fell silent.
＜Organizational Reorganization＞
◯ Archer Corps
The forces of Viscounts
Kilias and Gorman, Barons Solis and Cornell, and the Second Youth Knight Corps
will merge as the Archer Corps.
◯ Noble Allied Army
The remaining
approximately 9,000 noble armies who rushed as reinforcements will be
reorganized into four groups as the Noble Allied Army.
◯ Allied Cavalry Corps
2,000 cavalrymen will
be levied from the Noble Allied Army and merged with the Margrave's 1,200
cavalrymen to form the Allied Cavalry Corps.
In place of the levied
cavalry, 2,000 infantrymen from the Margrave's army will be placed under the
command of each Noble Allied Army.
◯ Rearguard Unit
Viscount Hiyorimi's
army and the armies of the three Barons, Kreutz, Bolt, and Herald, will be
responsible for defending the fortress after the entire army has sortied and will
also serve as a reserve force for our allies' rearguard.
The First Youth Knight
Corps will also be added to the fortress defense unit.
＜Forces After Reorganization＞
Allied Cavalry Corps:
3,200 riders
Archer Corps: 3,100
men
Noble Allied Army:
2,300 men X 2, 2,200 men X 2
Rearguard Unit: 2,400
men
When this plan was
announced, many of the Noble Allied Army, whose cavalry would be levied, wore
displeased expressions.
"Furthermore, the
military honors achieved by the cavalry under my command will be counted as the
military honors of their respective noble families, and the military honors
achieved by the infantry dispatched in their place will be counted as those of
the deployed Noble Allied Army."
With this, the Noble
Allied Army would gain the most advantageous part of military honors.
"Also, in the
distribution of rewards for military merit at the time of victory, half of the
rewards obtained by the supreme commander will be distributed to all nobles
according to the proportion of their forces deployed in this campaign, and the
remaining half will be divided according to the number of cavalry participating
in the Allied Cavalry Corps."
"Oh!"
Many nobles
involuntarily exclaimed.
Furthermore, this
would also make the rewards highly lucrative.
In the previous
Southern Gate Annihilation Battle, Margrave Hastburg was granted 20,000 gold
coins by the King as a reward for his command.
If they could repel
the invading army this time, the reward would be incomparable.
This resulted in their
willingness to push for the proposal.
Hearing this, I became
quite flustered. From last night's proposal...
"To lure them, a
considerable amount of bait is needed," I had said.
But the Margrave had
only smiled and replied, "Leave it to me."
If converted using the
previous example, the Margrave would normally receive 20,000 gold coins, but
this time, it would only be 5,000.
And the Earl-class
nobles would automatically receive 1,500 to 2,000 gold coins even without
military achievements.
Is this really
okay...?
I thought so, but the
Margrave also couldn't afford to lose face.
The Margrave's resolve
for this battle was once again conveyed.
"Tomorrow, at
sunrise, we will depart from the fortress, set up camp on the Southern Gate
Plains, and meet the enemy army."
"Aye!"
The nobles' morale was
incredibly high due to the immediate prospect of rewards (gold coins).
The next day's
deployment was also decided smoothly, without any objections.
＜Left Wing＞ ＜Center＞ ＜Right Wing＞
Rider Rider Rider Rider Rider Rider
Rider Rider
④④④①①①① ===Defense Wall=== ②②②②③③③
④④ ①① =BowBowBowBowBowBowBowBow= ②② ③③
＜Left Wing＞
①④ Noble Allied Army
First Army, Fourth Army
4,500 men
＜Right Wing＞
②③ Noble Allied Army
Second Army, Third Army
4,500 men
＜Center＞
Vanguard: Allied
Cavalry Corps 3,200 riders
Rearguard: Archer
Corps 3,100 men
Each Noble Allied Army
was commanded by one of the four Earls, with Viscounts and Barons under their
command assigned to them.
Within these, each
Earl took the lead in reorganizing their units, forming their own groups.
The Allied Cavalry
Corps was to be directly commanded by Margrave Hastburg, and the Archer Corps
was to be commanded by Viscount Kilias.
"Furthermore,
regarding the Archer Corps, Baron Solis, who has superior experience in
managing such forces, will take command."
Hmm... is that really
okay?
Putting aside Viscount
Kilias and Baron Cornell, what about Viscount Gorman?
Huh? Viscount Gorman
is also nodding in satisfaction...
"Then, let all
units begin preparations! Ensure thorough coordination within each unit
beforehand!"
With the Margrave's
words, the war council disbanded.
The Archer Corps, at
Viscount Kilias's call, continued detailed discussions late into the night,
covering deployment, strategy, and communication methods.
From my side, I
explained the deployment of wind mages, communication methods for attack
strategies, and coordination with the cavalry (Commander Weiss).
Incidentally,
Commander Weiss and a part of the mercenary corps, along with my elder brother
Darek (and Kran and his direct cavalry subordinates), were assigned to the
Allied Cavalry Corps.
It was no exaggeration
to say that the success of the archer corps in the next battle depended on
them.
-----
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