Chapter 352
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
Southern Front ③ Big Bridge's Hard Struggle
Translator : PolterGlast
Just a short while ago, the entire Big Bridge area had possessed an elegant, idyllic atmosphere—but in
an instant, that ambiance completely vanished. The Sura Principality
soldiers, who emitted anger at Sieghart's provocation, all attacked the
fortress at once. The infantry pushed their way through the water-filled paddy
fields, and the cavalry commenced an invasion towards the fortress in unison
from the highways on the west and east.
Seeing that state, Sieghart issued instructions
calmly.
「It's good that they came as planned.
It seems our preparations for welcoming them won't go to waste. Messenger flags
to each unit! Catapults on the east and west highways, prepare to attack.
Ballistas, respond to your designated targets! Hold back the attacks until the
enemy gets stuck in the deep fields. Draw them in sufficiently before
attacking!」
「Are you absolutely certain about
this? The hostile forces currently launching their assault likely exceed 40,000 men.」
「Yeah, because we won’t be able to annihilate them all in one fell swoop.
They've specially gotten blood to their heads and are coming at us with frontal
attacks. We have to utilize this opportunity to the maximum and make up for the
difference in military force even a little.」
Sieghart answered
his staff officer without showing any signs of agitation even against an
attacking force more than three times their number. Then, looking back, he
spoke to one of his close aides.
「When this attack ends, I think the
enemy army will pull back temporarily and reorganize their army. Accelerata,
I want you to look for that opening and break through the eastern highway with
a small number of subordinates.」
「Understood. The
destination?」
Accelerata
intentionally asked back the contents they had discussed in advance. Because
that in itself was an action they had discussed.
「Notice of the outbreak of war to
Lord Takuhir.」
「Is just a notice of the outbreak of
war fine? I fear it would be appropriate to request reinforcements.」
「Ah, just that is fine. In the first
place, it's just to announce that the sequence we discussed beforehand has gone
awry. Besides...」
Simultaneously with those words, Sieghart looked
around, confirmed something, and suddenly drew his large sword, declaring in a
loud voice that could be heard by the surroundings.
「Convey to the Archduke: 『Why use an O-dachi (Greatsword) just to butcher a chicken?』 I said so.」
「「「「Wh-What!」」」」
At these unexpected words, many people were surprised and
focused on him. In response, Sieghart threw out his chest anew.
「We can win without the Archduke's
assistance. Besides... I suspect that before long, they will have far more
pressing matters of their own to worry about anyway. There is no need for
concern—you need only convey that much.」
Only the final words carried a slightly sorrowful wording,
which a few people, including Accelerata, noticed.
「Enemy army, will reach the planned
interception point shortly!」
Receiving these words, the consciousness of many, including Sieghart,
switched to the battlefield before their eyes.
The vanguard of the cavalry advancing along the east and
west highways had approached to a point 200 m from the fortress, and the
infantry desperately pushing their way through the muddy fields, while panting
for breath, had approached to a point 500 m from the
fortress.
「The infantry are already exhausted.
If they get stuck in the deep fields ahead, commence sweeping fire with all ballistas
on the city walls! I don't mind if the cavalry clings to the walls. Because
they have no path of retreat. We will sweep the highways with catapults!」
What Sieghart had prepared in anticipation of this
day were fixed large crossbows capable of piercing enemies even 200 m away,
ballistas with power surpassing even those, and a group of catapults with a
range of 500 m that could mainly sweep the east and west highways.
While doing so, the cavalry advancing along the highway in a
long column were blocked by a dead-end moat, advanced to the perimeter road,
and began aiming for the city gates located in the north and south.
「Tch! What is this inconvenient
fortress!」
「Hold your
shields up towards the city walls side and don't break formation! Even though it's
a small force, be careful of arrows!」 「Guh, we can't maintain formation in such narrowness!」
Meanwhile, the infantry... At the point they advanced 200 m to
the city walls, their feet began to be caught all at once.
「Wh-what's this? It's deeper here than
I thought!」
「S-Stop!
Ahead is... whoa!」
「M-my leg!
I can't pull it out. Someone pull me up!」 「It's no use, I can't move. It's a trap!」
There was
absolute chaos on the field: some soldiers were sunk up to their knees in the
mud, completely immobilized; others swarmed around trying to rescue them, only
to get trapped themselves and throw the lines into panicked confusion; still
others laid their shields flat across the mire to bear their weight,
desperately paddling through the muck with a single leg. At this point, it was
safe to say that any semblance of coordinated, unified military action had
become utterly impossible for them.
「Now! Entire army, commence volley
fire!」
Simultaneously with that voice, the massively installed
crossbows and ballistas began to rain down arrows with tremendous force, just
like strong bows that could never be drawn by human power.
「Argh... arrows, guah!」 「Unbelievable, what arrow momentum!」 「I-I can't move, s-someone!」 「Retreat, retreat!」
Similarly, on the highways, catapults consecutively fired
stone projectiles the size of human bodies, and when they landed on the highway
500 m away with a tremendous impact, they bounced while engulfing men and
horses, tearing through the rear ranks further.
「D-Deploy to the left and right and
let them pass!」
「We can't!」 「The horses... won't move!」 「R-Retreat! Guwah!」
Under the volley attacks conducted in rapid succession, both
the highways and the deep fields area were filled with the agonizing cries of
the Sura Principality soldiers, and a gruesome scene unfolded.
「Archers, do not panic, finish off
the enemies that have already clung to the walls! Each launcher, continuous
fire! The enemy army can't escape as they wish anyway.」
Exactly as Sieghart said, the east and west highways,
which were already narrow, were blocked by thrown stones and lying men and
horses, becoming a state where they could neither advance nor retreat. Also,
among those who strayed from the highway and chose the muddy fields for
retreat, their mounts' legs were caught, and many of them fell off their
horses.
The absolute most wretched fate befell the heavy cavalry. Though
thrown from their horses into what was only a shallow paddy field, they were
completely unable to even push themselves up due to the viscous, clinging mud.
Desperately trying to lift their heads, the hands they used to support their
weight only sank deeper into the mire. As a result, despite the water depth
being mere inches—barely reaching past the lower half of a man's shin—they
drowned one after another in rapid succession.
「Press the attack! Understand that it
is important to whittle down the enemy's military force even a little right
here and now!」
Receiving Sieghart's instructions, the Empire
soldiers repeated relentless attacks to the point of harshness. In previous
battles, they had advised enemy armies trapped in a dilemma to surrender,
giving them the opportunity to prolong their lives as prisoners of war, but in
this battle, they had no such leeway. Much less, there was intense anger among
the soldiers that their lord, the
Third Prince, had just been insulted. Therefore, their attacks were also
extremely harsh.
※
In this battle, which lasted until sunset, the Sura
Principality army suffered a one-sided defeat despite possessing an
overwhelmingly large army. The number of infantry lost reached 5,000, and the
cavalry suffered a disastrous state of losing 2,000 mounts. They completely
retreated without even needing orders to reach the front lines, temporarily
lifted the encirclement net, placed 5,000 cavalry around for vigilance, and
were assembling the rest of the army to enter reorganization.
And then... looking for that opening, there was a group of a
dozen or so cavalrymen who slipped out secretly from the north city gate under
the cover of night, advancing their horses toward the highway leading east.
「Everyone, listen well. Although they
retreated and lifted the encirclement, the enemy has probably laid a patrol net
beyond the paddy fields. Once we go outside the defense line, scatter and begin
moving individually. After reuniting in Ende, we will head north, but
those chased by the enemy and late for the gathering, join Count Astray's
army!」
Having been briefed on this beforehand by their commander,
they scattered and aimed for Ende. Some headed due north, some took a
route detouring east temporarily, some headed west, and each began moving
dispersedly.
※
At this time, at a position about 10 km southwest of the Big
Bridge Fortress, the main camp and logistics base of the Sura
Principality army were set up, and the soldiers proceeding with the
reorganization of the army were assembled. The generals leading each unit had
also assembled, and in a tent in one corner of it, future operational movements
were being debated.
「We certainly fought a poor battle
today. Even though we were warned about the enemy's projectile weapons
beforehand.」
「Yeah, because the existence of those
deep fields was also beyond our assumptions.」
「No, more than anything, it's that.
Even though we went through the trouble of lowering the enemy's morale,
everything was ruined by that voice.」
「Is that the scheme of the Empire's fox... Because he was in the
north previously. We never confronted him.」
「So, what’s our next move? If we rely
purely on brute force from here on out, our casualties are going to be no joke.
Even though we took down their commander, they’re resisting like crazy—it’s
completely throwing off our plans, and we risk getting outmaneuvered by those guys
(Turncoat and Eral) who came out of nowhere to stab us in the
flank.」
「That's right... this land was
originally our territory. There is no reason for them to meddle!」
It was at that time. From outside the tent where the
generals were holding a war council, a voice deliberately lowering its volume
and speaking dispassionately echoed.
「Excuse me. A messenger from the Empire has arrived.」
「Hmm... I see, Very well, let him through here.」
When one general answered so, the other one next to him
cursed while frowning.
「Tch, now of all times? Well, he came
at just the right time. Shall we condemn the Empire through him regarding today's matter?」
「Well... depending on the flow of the
conversation, I suppose.」
While such a conversation was taking place, the messenger
arrived guided by a guiding soldier. The messenger entered the tent, bowed, and
knelt towards them.
「Today you treated us to an excessive
feast. Convey this earnestly to Lord Harry as well.」 (Today's
matter is your fault. Because we intend to hold Duke Harry responsible
as well.)
「Understood. However, this matter is
likely not solely our fault. We also did not assume that fox would tell a huge
lie and recover their morale in that place. Besides, we never thought he would
have added a sound Mage to his command...」
「I see, sound magic... It surpasses
what we heard. So, since you took the trouble to slip out of the fortress and
come here, you must have some souvenir? Like the souvenir from last time.」
Yes, he was a spy who had infiltrated Sieghart's
close aides. The Sura Principality army had been able to pile up
victories until yesterday due to the information he brought. That they did not
even glance at the fortress, which had become so thin it lacked even defending
military force, but redirected the army that advanced from the center, using
the Empire Army's defeat-in-detail tactic against them, is also, so to
speak, the result of the souvenir he brought. Because of that, in today's
battle, they intended to convey the fact that they struck down the Third Prince
(Grat), the commanding general of the Empire
Army, break the defenders' morale, and put an end to the battle. If they did
so, they thought they could eliminate the two countries that had not yet raised
any war results, and in addition to acquiring the lost territories, even press
for the cession of new Empire
territory. However, in today's battle, those calculations went greatly awry.
「Yes, we have about three souvenirs.
As the first piece of information, reinforcements from the north will not come.
Because we have taken measures so that does not happen.」
「And what is your proof of that?」
「'Reinforcements are unnecessary'—I
saw with my own eyes the figure of that fox declaring so to the messenger he
sent north. I myself, in order to convey that, slipped in as one of the
messengers and came here.」
「I see, the fox got carried away by a
small victory, is that what it means?」
「Yes, it is exactly as you say. And
as for the second point... Shortly, 10,000 enemy soldiers from the east, and a
30,000-strong Turncoat Kingdom army pursuing them will arrive.」
「Are you telling us to catch that
10,000 in a pincer attack with those guys?」
「No, that is not the case either. The
third point is a proposal based on this. The army from the east... I think you
should lift the encirclement and push them into that fortress...」
「Fool! Then the fortress's defensive
power will increase all the more!」
「I think that is fine... First of
all, if you catch them in a pincer attack, a part of the war results will
belong to the Turncoat Kingdom. I believe that would not be in
accordance with everyone's intentions.」
「Certainly. Sharing war results with
those turncoats is a disgusting story.」
「Secondly, if the enemy successfully
enters the castle, what will those guys with zero war results do? If they do
not show war results comparable to everyone's, they will lose face. Therefore,
they will voluntarily stand in a deadly place and desperately attack the
fortress with their entire army.」
「Probably. To push through their
assertions, they need corresponding war results. However, the only opportunity
left for that is to fell that fortress.」
「It is as you perceptively observed.
The Turncoat Kingdom will probably desire to stand in the vanguard. Rather
than resisting, you should let them have their moment of glory, under the
condition that you provide absolutely no assistance to them.」
「Hahaha, pitting
enemy against enemy, is that what you mean?」
「Precisely. However, as you all well
know, that fortress is incredibly robust. Furthermore, I highly doubt that 'fox' will tamely hand over his own head just because things
are going according to their plan. As a
result, both armies will find themselves heavily depleted.」
「And, what are you telling us to do
during that time?」
「Nothing... Eventually our master
will close the lid on the encirclement net. Then, even if you do nothing, the
fortress will eventually fall.」
「Are you saying a siege by starvation?」
「Exactly. You will commit entirely to
being mere onlookers. Then, the moment both sides have exhausted each other,
you leave behind only the minimum number of troops required to keep the
fortress surrounded, and use the rest of your entire army to proceed with the
effective control of your former territories. Once you have pinned those bastards
inside that fortress, nothing will remain before you but a vast expanse of land
where no one can stand in your way..」
「I see. So, taking all of this
together, this is what you call your third souvenir?」
「Yes. Once that is achieved, no
one—no matter who they are—will possess the power to overturn a fait accompli. Has
this souvenir proven to be to your liking?」
「We can take this as the will of the Empire (Harry), can we?」
「Yes, it is one of the basic
strategies our lord assumed.」
「Very well, shall we dare to open the
east side of the patrol net and create a path for them?」
「Forgive me for speaking out. I
believe the hole should be left open on the north side. Then they will try to
enter the fortress from the north.」
「The north? What strange things...」
「Can an army of 10,000 really slip
through the patrol net and secretly enter the castle from the highway on the
east side? Right before entering that narrow highway, their feet will surely
stop. If they are attacked from the rear at that time, they wouldn't stand a
chance.」
Saying that much, the messenger laughed coldly.
「Then what should they do? The answer
is obvious. They have no choice but to take a means where they can enter the
castle all at once. Using the hidden passage they are concealing...」
「So that's what it means. Then we
just need to hide scouts on the north side, and deploy patrol units in a
position where they cannot be seen, right?」
「But then we would be watching the
enemy fatten up right before our eyes. Wouldn't it be fine to open the east,
let them pass, and slaughter them all at once when they are stuck in the
narrowness of the highway?」
One of the generals, perhaps still unconvinced by the
messenger's proposal, voiced an objection.
「That would certainly be fine as well.
However, if you do that, you will lose sight of a vital objective. You
must confirm the existence of the secret passage to prepare for the days to
come. And furthermore... a siege by starvation is far more effective when there
are more mouths consuming the rations.」
「Hahaha, it seems the messenger has a
talent for military strategy surpassing yours.」
Ridiculed so, the general who voiced the objection had no
choice but to fall silent.
「Now then, with this, the
calculations for what's ahead are complete. The rest is just waiting for the
bait to arrive, I suppose? And what does the messenger plan to do from here on
out?」
「I will pretend to be caught in
everyone's patrol net and be late for the gathering place, and as one of the
predetermined operations, I will join Astray's army and continue my
activities.」
「I see, then the future movements of
the Eral Knight Kingdom and the Empire
Army are also in the palm of our hands? We will consider it as Lord Harry's
contribution in the post-war negotiations.」
「Understood. You have my deepest
gratitude.」
Saying so, no one noticed that the corners of the mouth of
the man who looked down had risen eerily.
※
Two days after this night, the eastern army of the Empire Army deployed in the eastern direction merged with them. It
is generally said that it was a splendid castle entry, slipping through the gap
where the patrol net happened to be open. They were welcomed with a storm of
cheers by their allied forces holed up in the fortress. And slightly later, the
30,000-strong Turncoat Kingdom army appeared before their eyes as fresh
troops, and a fierce attack by them began.
The allies holed up in the fortress numbered only 22,000, and their hard fight fighting isolated and unassisted, surrounded by an enemy army four times their number, would continue for a while from here on out.
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