Chapter 346
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
The Imperial Encirclement Net
Translator : PolterGlast
The fortress built in a location called the linchpin of the
Empire's new territory, despite being rushed construction, could easily
accommodate a military force exceeding 30,000, and the watchtower set atop the
southern city wall was built exceptionally high to allow viewing further
distances. Sieghart, having climbed to that watchtower alone, gazed
bitterly at the horizon stretching out to the south.. He had correctly
predicted almost everything: the enemy's invasion routes, the approximate troop
strength allocated to each path, and every other variable. Except for one
single exception... Because of that, he looked on with mixed emotions even at the
network of signal fire towers, which—exactly as originally
planned—were sending up signal smoke from various points, functioning perfectly
to relay messages. The signal fire towers set up at
regular intervals relayed reports announcing the invasion one after another,
and as the sky from south to west became covered in smoke, Sieghart,
unable to take specific action, merely stared emptily.
「Lord Chief of the General Staff,
signal fires are rising simultaneously from all directions!」
Announcing so, an adjutant hurriedly ran up to the
watchtower where Sieghart was.
「Yeah, I can see that. Lured by the Eral
Knight Kingdom, they too must have finally gotten off their heavy rears.
Well, originally they were all just folks who couldn't wait to attack, you
know. In that sense, 'heavy rears' isn't appropriate... hahaha.」
「Chief of the General Staff! This is
no laughing matter. We diverted soldiers who normally should have been sent out
from the fortress to intercept, to the defense of Ende. Therefore, each
army corps cannot take their initially planned operational movements!」
Yes, at this point, the defeat-in-detail tactic Sieghart
had devised was already an empty theory.
「From the east, a 30,000-strong Turncoat
Kingdom army is surging; from the south-southwest, southwest, and west, the
Sura Principality army is invading dispersedly with 20,000 each,
totaling 60,000; and from the northwest is the Eral Knight Kingdom with
10,000. We are surrounded by an enemy army almost double our size. If our
supply lines are cut off here by the army advancing from the Imperial Capital
(the ally's enemy)...」
Sieghart understood
exactly why his adjutant’s face had gone pale with alarm. At this point, the
military force the Third Prince and he had succeeded in scraping together from
all over the Empire was roughly 60,000. They had placed 10,000 on the south
front, 10,000 on the east front, and 10,000 on the west front at the forefront
of the highways anticipated to be the main invasion routes, with a strategy to
parry the offensive while sequentially retreating if attacked once. The Third
Prince's 20,000 cavalry on standby inside would then monitor the situation and
move rapidly to reinforce either the southern or
western fronts. This would destroy the Sura Principality army in a state where
they had the advantage in numbers with a total of 30,000. Even
if they couldn't annihilate them, inflicting heavy damage and then redirecting
to other directions was the core
strategy. For that purpose, Sieghart himself also bore the role of
leading 8,000 from this fortress as a diversion, running across the battlefield
and filling empty holes.
But that strategy too... could be said to be already
collapsing.
「Count Astray's army, which
went out to defend the northwest, is glaring at the enemy army and in a
deadlock, but we cannot move due to the defense here! Coming to this, how about
withdrawing the entire army to this fortress for now?」
「Hahaha, I know we are in an
overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation. But that's it.」
「It's far beyond disadvantageous!
Even if someone like me doesn't say it, you should understand, Chief of the
General Staff. That we are in danger of an encirclement annihilation...」
「Right. But since ancient times, a
siege is premised on reinforcements coming. Can we really expect
reinforcements?」
「That is... how about requesting
reinforcements from the Archduke even now?」
「I think that person is busy on their
end too. After all, their opponent is that Old Fox
(Harry). The Old Fox is likely... just stalling for time in the north. I have a
feeling he doesn't actually care about the outcome of the battle itself. I
feel like his objective is simply to prevent the Archduke from intervening in
the Empire's internal conflict.」
「Such a thing...」
「I think the Old Raccoon, who fought
the Archduke and suffered a painful experience, understands it to his bones.
That he can never win against an army led by that person.」
「Then what of us?」
「They've already taken the
initiative. Since the opponent has become the side moving the situation, we
have no choice but to lose flashily in the opening battles, I suppose.」
「The opening battles... you say?」
「Fufufu, I know. But it's still too
early to judge that we will lose and give up, I just want to say that. For now,
could you send messengers to each unit and tell them to escape to this fortress
without pushing themselves if the war situation is disadvantageous?」
Saying so to somehow calm the panicking close aide, Sieghart
was alone in his office staring at a map.
「Lord Grat is not an idiot
either. He should be whittling down the enemy military force while retreating.
Even like this... we won't lose. But as expected, we'll lack the final decisive
move. I don't want to have too convenient expectations, but I wonder what he
will do...」
The eyes of Sieghart, who muttered so, were directed
at the neighboring countries on the border far to the north from here.
※
Around the same time, the mobile unit led by the Third
Prince (Grat), which had set up camp in the center of the three advanced
Empire armies and planned to conduct defeat-in-detail at his free
discretion, was also in the midst of confusion.
「Urgent report from the southern
front! 『We
are retreating while parrying the enemy army.』 We confirmed signal smoke announcing that.」
「Alright! After they retreat to the
predetermined location, we will launch a counterattack! We too must prepare to
move immediately.」
「Report from the western army! 『We are smoothly retreating.』」
「Tch, the west... There's nothing we
can do about it now. Because we are heading south, the west will have to launch
counterattacks while retreating, and pull all the way back to Big Bridge
at once.」
Yes, if the main unit led by him carelessly moves west, they
might make contact with the enemy unit advancing from the center. It was
strictly a premise depending on the situation, but originally, the southern
army and the main unit would merge and defeat the 20,000 enemies who invaded
from the southernmost point with a superiority of 30,000, and the enemy army
invading from the center would be caught at the Big Bridge fortress to
buy time. During that time, the main unit that merged with the southern army
would redirect west, merge with their allies and defeat them in detail, and
finally attack the rear of the enemy army from the center. After that, they
would redirect and strike the enemy army that the eastern army was parrying to
buy time. That was the outline of their defeat-in-detail tactic.
However, that strategy had already collapsed due to
dispatching military force north-northwest from Big Bridge.
「Your Highness, under this situation,
is it alright for us to rush south?」
「If the western army changes its
plan, retreats and enters Big Bridge, that guy's military force will be 12,000...
Even against 40,000 enemies, he will fight an even match or better. What we can
do first is to reduce the enemy's numbers with as few sacrifices as possible.」
「And... regarding the course of
action for the mercenary unit, what shall we do? Is it alright to let them
accompany us like this?」
「I do not mind. The creed of the
mercenaries of Eral is that once a contract is concluded, it takes
priority over anything else. If they betray us here, it will hinder their
future business. Because no one would hire mercenaries who they don't know when
they will betray. They will work as much as possible on the front lines.」
「Certainly...」
「Even in the unlikely event, if I
keep them close at hand, I can deal with them at any time. Besides...」
Before he could finish those words, a close attendant who
had changed color barged in.
「Excuse me! An urgent report has come
in from the eastern army.」
「What happened! Was there some
movement?」
「Yes, it is said that the eastern
side has retreated to the second point, is holding back the Turncoat Kingdom
army, and is still retreating. They are saying, 『The enemy army is 30,000, their movements are unexpectedly
fast and we are in a hard fight, therefore we request reinforcements.』」
「The second point, you say! They've
already intruded that far?」
Out of surprise, Grat could only be speechless.
However... leaving the battlefield here and heading for reinforcements is
nothing but the most foolish choice. Crushing his heart, Grat had no
choice but to issue a ruthless command.
「Tell them I have no surplus military
force, and that they are permitted to retreat immediately to Big Bridge
while striving to maintain current military strength. If possible, while
keeping the enemy army drawn in.」
「Yes!」
「Listen well, convey this earnestly.
Do not try to force a holding action, prioritize only retreating. Do not die
needlessly. Keep your lives for the final decisive battle, could you convey
that to them?」
The expression of the Third Prince who conveyed so lacked
luster somewhat. Because a certain doubt also floated in his heart.
『Things are happening in such rapid
succession that I can’t keep up. They
are aligning their coordination splendidly.
However... with such a vast domain between them, how are they coordinating?』
Normally, in this world without means of communication,
aligning the pace of armies advancing dispersedly across a vast domain was an
extremely difficult task. That is precisely why the advantage of interior
lines, Sieghart's basic tactic of defeat-in-detail, is viable.
Actually, this too was due to the letters Duke Harry
sent to the Sura Principality and the Turncoat Kingdom.
『Regarding the matter for which you
requested assistance, negotiations for post-war compensation with the Eral
Knight Kingdom have been concluded, and we will commence operations on the
designated date. Therefore, the deadline for your
answer will be up to that date, and we cannot respond to negotiations
thereafter. Furthermore, we will allow discussions regarding the
previously presented post-war compensation for the countries that invade by
that date.』
The letter, like an ultimatum thrust unilaterally, not only
prompted the decisions of each country that was trying to raise conditions, but
the two countries, which were originally potential enemy nations to each other,
panicked greatly. And it was merely because they raced to commence invasion in
order to obtain compensation.
「From here on, the entire army rushes
south! We will detour the highway from the left side and strike the enemy's
flank. Depart!」
He harbored many elements of anxiety, but even so, he would
reliably do what could be done. Keeping that thought hidden in his chest, the
Third Prince rushed his army south. Behind that action was nothing other than
his absolute trust in Sieghart, who protected the linchpin location.
From here on, they too will welcome the moment of destiny.
※ Due to the circumstances so far, the map has South at the
top. Please excuse any ugliness.
〈South〉
〈North〉
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