Chapter 275
The Northern Front ⑤ — The Agincourt Pincer Attack
Translator : PolterGlast
Around the time Takuhir and his forces had destroyed
the Fearalt Principality's border gate at
the western border, driven the enemy army from the Western Front, and achieved
a complete victory, Darek and his forces had not yet commenced
battles.
The unit he led consisted of 4,000 Frontier Knights,
1,000 Margrave Hastburg cavalry, and 5,000 Royal Capital Knights—a
formation composed entirely of cavalry, and despite their fast marching
speed...
Along the way, they were also joined by Christoph and
Aura, and 1,000 Longbowmen led by them, all mounted.
Therefore, their combat power had increased even further
than initially planned.
There were some circumstances as to why Darek had not
yet engaged the enemy. Darek, who had taken a route greatly detouring
around Agincourt where friend and foe confronted each other, held a war
council while marching, taking the opportunity of Christoph and the
others joining.
"Christoph, are you saying that even though we
are the most elite 10,000 mounts in the Kyle Kingdom, we should dare not
to conduct a frontal attack and adopt a roundabout tactic?"
"Yes. As Lord Darek says, daring to speak
contrary to your true intentions, the Holy Imperial Kingdom's Dublin
Tactics show their true value in defense. Even with 10,000 mounts, if we attack
head-on, we will likely lose. Though, mentioning this now to you, Lord Darek,
who is already making a wide detour to come out at their rear.. is a bit
late."
At Christoph's serious words, unchanged from before, Darek
unintentionally smiled wryly.
Among the soldiers he led, there were many generals who
thought they should join Count Model as quickly as possible and repel
the Holy Imperial Kingdom Army with overwhelming numbers. Also
considering the circumstance of being a mixed army with the Royal Capital
Knights, such an exchange was deliberately created to ensure unified action
ahead...
"Some of you may not know, but attacking an enemy army
adopting Dublin Tactics from the front will only needlessly increase
casualties. The fate of cavalry lured into a defense-in-depth formation is merely
to reproduce the annihilation battle in the forest of Burg. Of course,
we would be the ones annihilated. Therefore, we consider cutting off their
retreat from the rear, their weakness, and conducting an encirclement
annihilation battle, or attacking from the flank, to be most appropriate."
"That is how it is. Generals, you
may think it a roundabout tactic, but I will have you follow this basic policy.
They have experienced battle with the Istoria Imperial Kingdom. And the
terror of that tactic as well."
Based on these circumstances, they avoided the main highway
heading north from the Royal Capital and greatly detoured the
battlefield. And, although not made public, there was also a request from his
younger brother Takuhir via Christoph.
Darek and the
others detoured the battlefield, advanced north to near the Marquis Cocyust
territory, secretly changed direction from there, and advanced south toward Agincourt,
closing the distance.
By this time, Archbishop Castro, confronting the army
led by Minister of Military Affairs Model, began to get impatient with the
lack of movement in the war situation. Although he sent out scouts in all
directions as much as possible, their reports were not favorable.
"Serpens, according to what you said...
shouldn't there be movement in the West and South by now?"
"Yes, as you say. In the West, Lord Azal, and in
the South, His Highness personally is arranging the conquest. Soon the West and
South battle lines will collapse, and Kingdom soldiers routing in disorder from
various places will flee toward the Royal Capital. If that happens, the
army we are currently confronting will also retreat toward the Royal Capital.
We, the 10,000 who conquered the Eastern border..."
"Reporting!
An urgent report from the home country for Archbishop Castro!"
Serpens's words
were interrupted by a voice announcing the arrival of an express messenger.
"What is it? A report worthy of interrupting our
meeting?"
At this point, Castro still had the leeway to answer
generously. However...
"Urgent report from the home country via the Uros
Kingdom! In the battle on our Western border, our allies were defeated and
suffered damage close to total annihilation. His Holiness the Pope says, return
the expeditionary force immediately and attend to the defense of the Holy
Imperial Kingdom! That is what he said..."
"Wh-Wh-What did you say! Do you mean we lost the battle
that was proceeding so advantageously? What on earth was the diversionary unit doing!"
Castro turned bright red and shouted in rage.
They should have thoroughly beaten the army led by Margrave Hamish with
an attack early in the war, arranged things so they wouldn't lose, and moved
north with the Mages.
But the bad news did not end there. One of his subordinate
generals rushed in, his face pale.
"R-Report, sir! According to information received
through merchants, the Imperial Army has also suffered a major defeat on the
Southern Front. The Left Wing Army led by the First Prince was defeated by the
army led by the Demon Territory Count and annihilated. It seems this
information is being broadcast throughout the Kingdom via merchants from the Demon Territory Count's domain!"
"Wh-..."
Castro couldn't
utter any words other than a short sound close to a groan. The shock was that
great.
That detestable Demon Territory Count defeated the
Imperial Army? The accursed brat who inflicted the most damage on our army in
the previous year's battle... Beheading him and venting his spleen was one of the things Castro most wanted to achieve
in this expedition...
"That brat... puppet of a devil who fears not even God!"
He could only look up to the heavens and curse with anger.
Yes, in this three-country invasion, Takuhir was the
one to whom personal hostility was directed greatly.
First Prince of the Griffonia Empire, Leaders of the
advance party of the Fearalt Principality rebel army, And Archbishop Castro
of the Istoria Imperial Kingdom.
Having altered history and stood at the forefront to protect
the Kyle Kingdom, he simultaneously became the existence most hated by
other countries.
"Your Grace, the Archbishop... given the situation, we
have no choice. Perhaps we should retreat to the border for now and assess the
situation. For the time being, we should leave the enemy to the Western Front
and watch how things unfold..."
Serpens himself,
who advised this, found the contents of the report hard to believe himself. But
they did not yet know that the Fearalt Principality Army, which was
fighting together on the Western Front, had also been defeated.
" R-Right.
Then, we shall retreat while luring the enemy, ensuring they do not realize our
intent. Fortunately, we also have fortifications built sequentially as we
advanced. After retreating to the end, leave the Uros Kingdom soldiers
and that traitor as the rear guard,
and let us retreat."
Thus, the Northern Front, which had been in a stalemate for
a long time, suddenly began to move.
At the defense line built in Agincourt, there were
those watching this movement of the Istoria Imperial Kingdom Army
carefully.
"Those scoundrels... it seems the information has
finally reached them. Despite the information intentionally leaked by the Minister
of Military Affairs using merchants, their movement was slow, so I was getting
impatient."
"Count Clay, it's no wonder. In recent years,
the Holy Imperial Kingdom side has had no transactions through merchants
of this country. Therefore, there are no merchants trying to curry favor with
them. The Uros Kingdom is the same."
Yes, knowing that Viscount Solis (Darek) had
arrived as reinforcements and was moving to choke their rear, the Minister of
Military Affairs dared to leak information to stir up the battlefield.
"Then, we pretend to take the bait and advance while
being cautious; is that acceptable?"
"Indeed. But take care never to enter the range of the
enemy's longbows. With Her Highness and your daughter achieving such feats in
the west, if we were to achieve nothing here, we would have no face left. "
Count Model and Count Clay smiled wryly at
each other, then began to advance their army matching the retreating Holy
Imperial Kingdom, preparing a pursuit posture. Maintaining a formation to be able to pincer attack at any time when Darek
launched a surprise attack.
And besides them, there was another person here waiting
impatiently for the Holy Imperial Kingdom Army's movement.
"Report! The Holy
Imperial Kingdom Army has begun to move! They
appear to be retreating in order toward the northern border!"
"I see, good work! So the time has finally come for us
to take the stage. We will blunt the retreating enemy's vanguard, break their
will to fight, and then commence a battle of encirclement and annihilation. But
you have a specific request from my brother to fulfill, do you not? I grant you
permission to execute it independently when you see the opportunity. I will
inform the generals."
"Lord Darek, thank you."
Behind Christoph, who prostrated himself and bowed
deeply, was Aura, similarly prostrating herself and shedding tears.
"All forces! Upon the scout's signal, we will
annihilate the enemy army that has invaded our country! Are you ready?!"
"Yes, sir!"
Thus, the curtain of the battle called the Agincourt Pincer Attack was raised.
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