Chapter 140
Eastern
Border War ④ - The
Imperial Kingdom Army's Scheme
Translator : PolterGlast
※※※ First Day of the War
"Well, we took a
beating today, but the real battle is yet to come. I've gathered those I can
trust here. First, let's discuss how to conquer the enemy's fortifications."
Margrave Hamish looked
around at the assembled group and spoke first.
"No offense to
those who led the vanguard, but the flaws in our army were clearly visible in
the previous battle. Our cavalry becomes an easy target that way. It's unbearable
to see the elites we've nurtured for years suffer such losses."
Commander Hoffman, in
charge of the Royal Capital Knights' Second Army, spoke with a bitter
expression.
"Indeed. Their
range, far superior to our crossbows, allows them to attack us unilaterally
from a distance. There's no way to resist that."
Commander Schultz, who
commands the Royal Capital Knights' Third Army and leads a crossbow unit
despite being cavalry, also agreed.
"As both
Commanders say, we too suffered a heavy blow from similar tactics before. Until
we deal with that longbow unit, there's nothing we can do."
One of the Viscounts
serving as Deputy Commander under Margrave Hamish followed up.
Besides them, this
meeting was attended by me, Commander Weiss, three other Viscounts under
Margrave Hamish, and four Barons, including Baron Bauer, Alexis's father.
However, they were stuck in their discussion, unable to find concrete
countermeasures, and remained silent.
"Baron Solis, who
used a clever tactic to save many allies today. Do you perhaps have a
plan?"
At the Margrave's
words, I felt all eyes turn to me.
"Thank you for
giving a junior like me an opportunity to speak. As you all fear, honestly
speaking, I believe it's safe to say that there's no chance of winning directly
against the enemy's defensive formation, which skillfully utilizes the terrain.
Well, 'directly,' that is..."
"Oh, then I'd
certainly like to hear about an 'indirect' approach. Please surprise us today
as well."
"Commander
Hoffman, thank you. Before that, I'd like to share with everyone what my scout
reported today. May I call him in?"
"Hahaha! You even
sent a scout in during all that? Interesting. Is that alright with
everyone?"
With Commander
Hoffman's approval and everyone's consent, I invited Raphael in.
"He is one of my
subordinates, and also a Royal Command Mage. He used his magic to infiltrate
deep into the enemy lines and has just returned. Raphael, report on the enemy's
situation."
"Yes, Your
Lordship! By your command, if I may be so presumptuous. The shared information
states that there are 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers hidden in the enemy lines, but
the reality is different. Upon investigating the enemy lines today, the forces
stationed in the fortifications are indeed as reported. Most of them are
archers, deployed across the entire front of the fortifications, forming lines
of 10 or more columns. However, that is merely bait to lure us in. What's
dangerous are those secretly hidden in the forest. In the left forest alone,
there are approximately 3,000. I believe a similar number of longbowmen are
likely hidden on the right side as well."
"Raphael, then
the enemy is likely using the frontal fortifications as bait to draw us in, and
at the opportune moment, longbowmen will emerge from the forests on both flanks
to attack. Is that what you mean?"
"Precisely, Your
Lordship."
"So, if we fall
for the enemy's trap, we risk being lured into their deep formation and
annihilated? When we feel safe because they're out of range, then enemy soldiers
who have passed through the forest and circled around behind us will suddenly
appear from both sides, pinning us in a deep formation with a crossfire of
arrows and annihilating us. Is that the intention you're inferring?"
"What?!"
"No way..."
"Impossible!"
Everyone present was
speechless at my assessment.
"Yes, I believe
that is a reasonable interpretation. Even in today's battle, some of the enemy
advanced from the forest near their fortifications towards the road and shot
arrows. However, the majority advanced through the forest, waiting for an
opportunity, so their intention seems obvious."
"I see, I
understand completely now after hearing your explanation. This time, the number
of our attacking forces was small. So, are you saying we should assume the
enemy hasn't used their full tactic yet...?"
After hearing
Raphael's explanation, Commander Hoffman seemed to grasp the enemy's tactical
intent and realize the terror of this trap.
"Precisely, Your
Lordship. The enemy is likely positioned there precisely to annihilate us.
After achieving that objective, they likely intend to advance their position,
establish new fortifications, and secure the area around the border as their
territory. Beyond the fortifications, there were piles of abatis, likely for
advancing their position further.
Everyone was silent.
But what I wanted to confirm was information about what lay ahead.
"Raphael, I want
to know about the situation inside the forest. As much as you can tell
me."
"Even within the
forest, in the area within 500 m of the enemy's fortifications, we can't let
our guard down. However, they also seem cautious not to reveal their tactical
intent. They're basically operating primarily within 200 m of the
fortifications. But once we begin our advance, they'll stealthily move through
the forest and push beyond 500 m."
"So, if we attack
carelessly, we'll be directly hit by a storm of arrows from 12,000
longbowmen... And if our retreat is cut off and we're attacked from both
flanks, annihilation is inevitable." Commander Schultz clutched his head
as he said this.
"Raphael, for 500
m from the enemy lines, on our side of the forest, there's currently no enemy
patrol line. Can we assume that's correct?"
"Yes, Your
Lordship, that is correct. They might send out scouts, but there are no enemy
troop deployments at present. However, if we show any sign of deploying our
army outside the range of their fortifications, the situation will
change."
"Raphael, well
done. Please continue to maintain vigilance in the forest from now on. Upon
receiving this information, we would like to propose the strategy we've
devised. We believe the key lies in suppressing the enemy forces hidden in the
forest and using a bait to lure them out from their fortifications."
Thus, I explained the
strategy that Commander Weiss and I had formulated. Although there were some
questions and exchanges, we generally gained the participants' understanding.
"Then, we shall
take on this decoy role. Everyone, no objections, right?"
The Margrave looked at
his subordinates and spoke.
"The Margrave's
forces alone won't be enough bait. We shall join in. Let's make a spectacular
blunder, then."
Commander Hoffman also
chuckled.
"We shall commit
half of our crossbowmen, and the other half... shall we pretend to lose in a
shooting contest and expose our incompetence?"
Commander Schultz, his
expression completely transformed from earlier, made the offer with a bright
face.
"Then, we shall
spend tomorrow preparing for this operation, and we shall also inform the
entire army. It will be troublesome, but... we will proceed with preparations
like procuring materials starting now."
With the Margrave's
words, the private war council concluded. Afterward, each began preparations
for tomorrow.
※
The next day, early in
the morning, the main nobles leading the armies were gathered. There, a
Viscount from under Margrave Hamish's command explained the procedure for
conquering the fortifications. Of course, he concealed crucial parts or spoke
vaguely...
"Wait! We have
some objections to this operation plan. Without resorting to such circuitous
tactics, couldn't we simply push the Wind Mages to the front of the cavalry,
like during yesterday's retreat, and use them as a defensive shield to block
the arrows hindering our advance? Wouldn't that suffice?"
"!"
Expose the Mages to
the most dangerous front? To be a shield for their reckless charge? If they did
that, they would be hit by a storm of arrows from the front and flanks, which
even the Wind Mage shield couldn't fully defend against. Do they not understand
such a simple fact? I felt my eyebrows twitch upwards. Then I glared at the
Viscount from the eastern region who had joined as a reinforcement.
"Precisely! This
is an excellent idea! If the sacrifice of one or two Wind Mages can save
hundreds of cavalry, then the Mages would surely be fulfilling their true
purpose!"
A man followed him, echoing
his words.
"In the first
place, if this tactic had been used in yesterday's battle, we wouldn't have
suffered unnecessary casualties, would we? What do you think about that
responsibility, Margrave?"
"They withheld
their fighting power and caused unnecessary casualties. Go on, consider which
is more important in a conquest. A mere Mage or our army!"
The nobles who had
volunteered for the vanguard yesterday spoke one after another. Their selfish
words continued after this, and honestly, I was so enraged that my mind went
blank, and I don't remember them well. And then, finally, I felt something snap
inside me.
"So noisy... You
fools, shut up!"
"...Brat! Such
insolent remarks are intolerable!"
"Don't make me
repeat myself! Shut up!"
I trembled with rage,
glaring at them with murderous intent emanating from my entire body. The stress
from having been played for fools by the Restorationist Faction, including
them, since late last year, had exploded. And although they might not have been
directly involved, they were also members of the Restorationist Faction.
"I speak with all
due disrespect! First of all, it was you, gentlemen, who desired the vanguard,
despite the Margrave already devising a strategy! Furthermore, wasn't it the
Mages who saved you during your reckless charge, amidst the pouring rain of
arrows?! Are you ungrateful, shameless fools who would now expose those Mages,
who saved your very lives, as shields in front of the enemy?!"
They fell silent.
Margrave Hamish did not stop me. Instead, he and Commander Hoffman watched me
with interest. Commander Schultz folded his arms and closed his eyes.
And my anger still did
not subside.
"To you, who
called me insolent! The Mages you wish to use as shields are Royal Command
Mages, soldiers directly under His Majesty, just like the Royal Capital
Knights! You would wear down His Majesty's soldiers as your own shields for
victory. Can you say that before His Majesty?! Consider carefully who is being
insolent!"
"..."
I've done it...
Despite being told not
to needlessly make enemies... but some things are simply unforgivable.
Just as I was thinking
that, a man staggered to his feet. He had sustained injuries in yesterday's
battle and should have been bedridden, but he had insisted on participating in
this war council.
"Baron Solis,
allow me to apologize on their behalf for their disrespect. And please, I ask
that you forgive them. Yesterday, we lost precious soldiers due to our own
reckless actions. Some among them lost family members. Please, forgive their
outburst, which was born of intense grief and bitter regret."
He was the Count who,
just yesterday, had personally volunteered to lead the vanguard. He had fallen
on the battlefield, having sustained countless arrow wounds, and it was my unit
that rescued him, his life saved by Marianne's treatment. And his words brought
me back to my senses.
"No, I am the one
who spoke out of line. I deeply apologize for losing my composure and being
disrespectful to all of you. I showed you something unsightly, and I apologize
sincerely."
"No, actually, I
should have died yesterday. Even if I was rescued, if your subordinates, the
excellent Holy Mages, hadn't been there, I think my life would have only been
prolonged by a few days. After being saved, I thought, 'I've been given a new
life, and an opportunity to be a little more humble.' In this war, I intend to
once again follow the Margrave's instructions and work to my fullest. To those
who led the vanguard with me, I understand your regrets. But that
responsibility is mine to bear. If you don't show proper respect to the Baron
and the Mages, who are the benefactors of our soldiers, you will lose something
important as nobles, no, even as human beings."
I was greatly
surprised and also looked at this Count in a new light. For a person of high
nobility, deeply entrenched in the upper echelons of society, to speak such
words to someone of lower status was remarkable. I was probably not the only
one surprised. His words seemed to instantly ease the tense atmosphere.
"We have both
spoken our minds. That is good. Now, let us unite and drive out the enemy, and
reclaim the Kingdom's territory!"
"Yes!"
With Margrave Hamish's
words, the matter was finally settled peacefully.
Thus, the Eastern
Border War of Kyle Kingdom would proceed with a unity and cohesion greater than
initially expected.
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