Chapter 344
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
The Beginning of the Upheaval
Translator : PolterGlast
Ende, a city that was once the southernmost city of the Griffonia Empire, received an invasion
from the Sura Principality and suffered devastating damage once. Because
this city was located in a position where the former Empire territory jutted out into the Principality territory like a
peninsula, it was constantly exposed to the threat of invasion from the Principality,
which asserted territorial rights. Therefore, the Third Prince's army, which
recaptured Ende, designated it as a
garrison base for the army corps under its command, securing it as an absolute
defense line. Because of this, Ende,
which had once completely lost its function as a city, prospered again.
Subsequently, it developed further as a logistics base for the new territory
ceded from the Principality to the Empire, and now it was bustling like never
before as one of the preeminent cities in the Empire.
About 4 days south of Ende,
at the constructed Big Bridge Fortress,
the elites led by Sieghart, who managed the Third Prince's army corps as
Chief of the General Staff, had set up their headquarters and were garrisoned
there. The spring of the Kyle Year 515 had ended,
and the season was transitioning to summer, but contrary to the expectations of
many, time was passing exceedingly peacefully in the Empire's new territory.
There was no invasion from neighboring countries, and the
soldiers on standby in the rear were exclusively engaged in agricultural work
other than periodic training. Partly thanks to those results, the paddy fields
surrounding the fortress were brimming with water, the seedlings planted
earlier than usual had taken root strongly, their lush green leaves stretched
out large, and the ears of rice had begun to bear fruit.
「Even so, it is a peaceful sight. The
early-planted grains look like they can be harvested soon. If we can collect
them as our army provisions, it would truly be splendid.」
「Uncle, it's a little too peaceful
amidst the current situation, though.」
The two conversing so had climbed the watchtower to the
south of the fortress and were looking out over the surroundings. Beyond their
gaze, vast paddy fields spread as far as the eye could see, and in the
waterways drawn from the river, water-lifting waterwheels operated everywhere,
filling the paddy fields with water.
「Hahaha, thanks to that, the scenery
of this whole area has changed greatly.」
As Count Astray said, originally a vast marshland
spread throughout this area. The highway passing through there ran through a
place that couldn't even be called a bridge, merely a chaotic arrangement of
logs and pieces of wood, and was considered a difficult point for traffic.
People ridiculed this passageway through the marshland, which couldn't even be
called an unreliable bridge, calling it the 'Surprising Bridge' (Bikkuri
Bridge). This was the place where the Sura Principality's army once laid
out a defensive formation based here, making the Empire Army struggle.
Sieghart
intentionally chose this land, built a fortress, and then ordered his soldiers
to clear the entire area surrounding the fortress as large-scale paddy fields.
「Even so, I wonder how many
understood the Chief of the General Staff's intentions from the beginning? When
I heard that story, I shuddered.」
「No, no, I didn't know about such
things until I heard the story from Principality
soldiers who came from farming families, you see. This entire ordinary scenery
will become a shield that brings disaster to the invading army.」
Yes, the spreading paddy fields were different from normal
ones. Mechanisms were put in place so that as one approached the fortress, it
transformed into deep fields where the mud became deeper. If you enter the water-filled
fields, you sink with a squelch. That depth exceeds knee height near the
fortress, and once you sink deeply, you can no longer even move; it bares its
fangs to entangle the attacking ones. If on horseback, their legs will be
caught and they will fall; heavy infantry will lose their balance and will
likely never stand up again. Even light infantry will be deprived of freedom of
movement.
「That well-maintained highway leading
to the fortress—making it intentionally narrow was a trap to lure them in,
wasn’t it?」
「Yes, those who don't know about the
hidden passages sinking in the mud will meet their end.」
In fact, the Third Prince, when he first visited this
fortress... 『What
an inconvenient fortress for entry and exit. Is something like this useful?』 It is said he complained so.
Moreover, although this fortress has gates to the south and
north, the maintained roads only connect to the east and west sides. The
destination of the highway is at the apex of the city walls jutting out from
the fortress in a triangular shape, and one must detour along a narrow path
along the moat in front of the city walls, going all the way around to reach
the gate. Therefore, this outer perimeter road is normally designated as
one-way traffic. If one breaks this and advances a horse-drawn wagon, its path
will be blocked by a horse-drawn wagon proceeding correctly from the opposite
direction, rendering it completely unable to move.
「Even so, how did you get the idea
for the hidden passages?」
「This is also actually nothing but
imitating the person I fear the most. I came up with this from the story of the
submersible bridges that person built on the river in the land of Kleirat,
which I heard when I visited the Demon Territory Dukedom during the
harvest festival.」
「I see... His Majesty the Archduke of
the Demon Territory Dukedom, huh. I truly
think now that it is wonderful that person became our ally. We should also be
grateful for the Chief of the General Staff's insight in constantly saying 『We should make him an ally』 from the beginning.」
「No, no—I’ve always believed that if
you must fight someone, the best way is to take the easiest path and win with
as little effort as possible. That hasn't changed since long ago.」
「Besides, my life was saved too, and
I was even restored to power. For that, I am truly grateful.」
「Now then, since I had Uncle come
here, I can also enjoy a nap for a bit...」
It was at that time. A report that poured cold water on the
two enjoying a leisurely conversation was brought.
「Reporting to the Chief of the
General Staff! There is an anomaly on the north-northwest horizon.」
「What! That is suspicious. Not the
south or west, but north-northwest?」
「Can you tell me the details, to the
extent currently known?」
「As Count Astray said, it is
north-northwest! General Commander, I also do not know the details, but the
far-sighted lookout says so. Just in case, I also confirmed it with a
telescope, but it is probably smoke from a signal fire tower far away...」
「The order is wrong! Normally, it
should be relayed sequentially from the south or west... From north-northwest,
it's impossible!」
Certainly, Count Astray's words are correct. If the
signal fire towers are functioning, information on the invading army should be
relayed from the south or west. The signal fire towers placed in the
north-northwest should naturally receive those and relay them last. As a major
premise, that is assuming the signal fire towers are even functioning... or perhaps...
「Chief of the General Staff, let us
send fast horses to each signal fire tower immediately and question the truth!」
「...Damn it! Did we not make it in
time...」
Sieghart raised
his voice in frustration, then closed his eyes and ruminated on the things he
had felt anxious about up to now.
『I had dealt with everything with a
high probability. But there was also the
irritation that I could not prepare for all anticipated possibilities. The
defense of the north-northwest, which I had no choice but to cut off at the
very end—does this mean that's exactly where we were struck?』
「Chief of the General Staff!」
「Uncle, do you understand what I cut
off as having the lowest probability?」
「Do you mean that country will
participate in the war?」
「Yes, they are in a position to
strike the most effective move against us, but judging from past circumstances,
after the Westlights Demon Territory Dukedom and the Fearalt Principality, they are the country with the lowest probability of
becoming hostile.」
Count Astray understood his nephew's agony well. In
operating limited military forces, it must have been a decision made at the
very edge. In the first place, the Eral Knight Kingdom, located to the
west of Empire territory—north-northwest from here—is not a country of
knights as its name suggests. Rather, it would be no exaggeration to say it is
at the opposite extreme. With only barren land unsuited for farming spreading
out, this country in a harsh environment has no notable industry other than
nomadism. Except for one thing... Right now, this country's industry is
'nomadism and people'; the latter means the entire country makes a business of
mercenaries, dispatching people to neighboring countries. For that reason, they
have never allied with any country and steadfastly maintained neutrality,
dispatching people (mercenaries) for money, but as a country, they have never
taken sides with any country. The Third Prince in question has also formed a
friendship in the form of a mercenary contract since long ago, and there is a
track record of having mercenaries dispatched from the Eral Knight Kingdom
in past battles as well. Much less this time too... based on a contract, 2,000
mercenaries are dispatched to the Third Prince's army.
「That country turning into an enemy,
that is hard to imagine. First, how about sending an envoy to demand an
explanation?」
「Uncle, how did everything begin on
the western front of the Kyle
Kingdom?」
「Th-that is...」
Astray had also
heard the story. That the enemy army crossed the border under the pretext of
reinforcements, and the Frontier Counts who should have confronted them
believed it, leading the enemy in.
Sieghart closed
his eyes again. And then... After a few moments of silence, he opened his eyes
wide and shouted.
「Order to Count Astray!
Immediately lead 8,000 infantry as your subordinate forces and lay out a
formation on the west side of Ende.」
「Yes, immediately!」
「After laying out the formation,
devote yourself solely to defending Ende,
and dedicate yourself exclusively to a defensive stance until there are
separate instructions. Understood? Devote yourself solely to defense, and do
not move under any circumstances whatsoever unless ordered by myself or His
Highness Grat!」
「Understood. I will depart
immediately from here. Excuse me!」
Saying so while kneeling, Count Astray bowed and left
to depart briskly. He is also a veteran warrior who has already experienced
several battles. He understood that time was of the essence.
Seeing off his back, Sieghart turned back to his
close aides waiting around him.
「Dispatch messengers to the Eral
Knight Kingdom immediately! Tell them we are prepared to pay an appropriate
price as well.」
「Yes!」
「The rest of you, dispatch messengers
to various places from here on! First, from
here on we recognize the Eral Knight Kingdom as an enemy army and
commence operations, and this fortress shifts to combat readiness! Second, convey the course of events to His Highness Grat's
main unit deployed in the center! That is sufficient for His Highness. Third, the eastern and southern regional armies must not waver
regardless of what happens; they are to strictly adhere to their duties and the
initial strategy!
Fourth, tell the western regional army to to act according to the
situation, and depending on the war situation, I permit a gradual retreat to
this fortress!」
「「「「Yes!」」」」
Those around him began to move hurriedly, but the expression
of Sieghart who ordered it lacked luster. For him, who up to now had
navigated through even the worst predicaments with a cold smile... The close
aides also harbored a tinge of anxiety, but concentrated their thoughts only on
what they must do now.
From the fortress, messengers spurred their horses in unison
and flew out towards various places.
「I hope they make it in time, but...
A schemer drowning in his own schemes, I wonder if this is what it means... At
this rate, I won't have the face to show Lord Takuhir.」
Sieghart looked up
at the sky far to the north while laughing at himself.
Here, the greatest predicament since the founding of the Griffonia Empire, and an unprecedented upheaval engulfing neighboring countries, began in a form unexpected to many.
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