Chapter 391
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
Southern Front ⑦ –Invasion of
the Empire's New Territory
Translator : PolterGlast
It had been a little
under three weeks since leaving Kusanagi, and we had finally reached a distance
of barely a single day's horseback sprint northwest of the Big Bridge—the
absolute front line where the Imperial legions stood nose-to-nose against the
invading nations.
Naturally, the sheer
distance we had traveled up to here
was nothing short of staggering. Because it was a highly distorted map of this
era, mapping exact distances was an impossibility, but I estimated that we had probably traversed
about 2,000 kilometers. Having arrived
here, we received a proposal from Accelerata and halted our march to gather
information. Beyond this area, there was a possibility of being caught in the
enemy army's patrol network.
「 Although the height of summer has passed,
coming this far, it's quite hot and the climate is completely different. Well……
looking back, we really came a long way, huh. 」
I involuntarily
muttered so while gazing at the land of completely different vegetation and
scenery spreading before my eyes. Until a little while ago, we had deliberately
traveled through desolate, barren land to avoid the enemy army's eyes, but as
we approached the front lines, the scenery had changed at once to be covered in
dense greenery.
「 It is
exactly as Your Highness says.
It's a strange thing to say when I myself participated, but within the recorded
annals of continental warfare, I have never heard of an entire army moving such
a super long-distance at a speed
of this caliber either. 」
The Commander
reacted to my soliloquy. Roughly speaking, if replaced with a map of Japan, it
meant we had run through on horseback from the edge of Hokkaido to the edge of
Kyushu. Based on my historical knowledge from over there (Japan), I had
incorporated Mongol army cavalry tactics into the army as a reference, but I
never thought I myself would imitate something similar to their great
migration.
「 Now
then, Commander—this is a baseline premise before the information is gathered, but there's no
problem with our objective being to first secure entry into the Big Bridge
Fortress, right? 」
「 That
is right, Sire. Since ancient times, there is nothing as futile as a besieged
fortress completely severed from reinforcements. The morale of the defenders
would systematically drop day by day, and their provisions would only decrease.
However…… 」
「However?
」
「 Normally, it would be an impossible story for
us, who are nothing more than ten thousand, to slip through the encirclement
and enter an allied fort surrounded by a large army of tens of thousands,
though. 」
While saying it was
impossible, the Commander was smiling fearlessly. Naturally, because neither of
us actually thought it was impossible.
「 There is also a need to raise our allies'
morale, so shall we, who are not normal, smash through a corner of the
encirclement network and make a grand entrance? 」
Answering his grin,
I also let out a confident smile and laughed. Because I had thoroughly
discussed the tactics with the Commander along the way. What we needed to
confirm was when, and from which direction we would smash the enemy army and
enter. We merely required the finalized information to decide that. And right
now, we were waiting for Accelerata, who would bring that information.
After a while, Accelerata
returned—accompanied by a breathless messenger whom he seemed to have met up
with along the highway trails. Wasting no time, we immediately gathered around
the map table to verify the information
they had brought from the front line.
「 According to the latest information brought by
this person, the combined multi-nation forces currently besieging the Big Bridge Fortress consist
of approximately 5,000 troops under the Sura Principality, and a massive
troops of about 25,000
combatants commanded by the Turncoat Kingdom. 」
「
Against that, our intelligence verifies that Sieghart and the troops
under his command entirely intact, right? 」
「 Yes,
Sire, it seems so! I have heard that throughout the opening defensive
engagements, my lord has masterfully slain 5,000 legionnaires of the Sura
Principality and 5,000 vanguard troops of the Turncoat Kingdom
respectively, while taking absolutely zero casualties. Currently, over 20,000
defenders remain completely intact and fully operational within the walls of
the fortress. It seems the enemy army concluded they could not win through
sheer force, and has now switched to a siege. 」
I see... a
reasonable choice. Because it is already a situation where the Third Prince's
faction cannot expect reinforcements
either. Regardless of how impregnable a fortress truly is, as long as it's
locked down and besieged by a large army, they are permanently paralyzed and won't be able to move; and the surrounding territory will
be effectively controlled by the enemy army. What awaits them is only self-destruction.
「
Excuse me, but in that case, isn't the number of the Sura Principality army too small? 」 the
Commander interjected.
Probably thinking
the same thing as me; he was merely throwing question just for confirmation.
「 Indeed. The
primary forces of the Sura
Principality—commanding a formidable mass of nearly 50,000 troops—has
fanned out across the south side of the New Imperial Territory, and they seem
to be systematically advancing de facto administrative control of the territory. Because of that,
it seems our scouts have yet to be able to contact Grat…… 」
I see... this can be
said to be the biggest issue. The survival of the Third Prince, this is the most important piece, but they believe he
is safe. In the current situation, we too have no choice but to act and move
forward on that premise.
「 By the way, what has become of the other enemy
armies? 」
「
Precisely as Weiss insightfully guessed, there are still many enemies
present. The
10,000-strong of the Eral Knight Kingdom army still seems to be remaining entirely stationary and
glaring at our army west of Ende.
And as for the crucial strategic hub of Ende itself…… the city seems to
have officially fallen, ruthlessly conquered by a 30,000-strong legion
dispatched straight from the Imperial Capital. 」
I see…… the First
Prince has finally bared his fangs. Looking at the situation normally, the Third Prince's faction is already in
checkmate……
「Then as the situation goes, a
besieging army of 30,000 men right before us,
a force of 50,000 waiting in the south, an enemy army of 30,000 in Ende, and an
additional 10,000 to its northwest... In other words, our allies are
surrounded by 120,000 enemies. Even though I anticipated it... it makes me
tremble.」
On the other
hand, the allies whose status is confirmed are a little over 20,000 at the Big Bridge fort, 8,000 holding back Ende, and our 10,000... Now that the Third Prince's whereabouts are unknown, we are only about 40,000 in
total, and the total number of enemies is three times that.
「 As Takuhir-sama says,
the raw, staggering weight of those numbers is more than enough to make me
tremble with excitement! 」
No, Commander……
you're smiling fearlessly as usual, but I need you to understand that my
trembling isn't some grand, heroic surge of adrenaline; it's more like a
literal shivering wreck fueled by pure dread……But surely, it might not look
like that to those around me. Thanks to a certain king of some country loudly
proclaiming me as an 『Unyielding Wise
General』 who overturns even the most
disadvantageous situations, or an 『Ever-Victorious
General』, I am... Even I am fed up with how
far off the rails other people's image of me is... To the point where I even
want someone to switch places with me.
Well, it can't be
helped. This too is the path we must forge to guarantee the preservation of our
future. When I let out a slow, large breath, Accelerata exchanged a
glance with the messenger he brought.
「 This
is the deployment map of the enemy army. 」
He seemed to be a messenger Sieghart had
dispatched anticipating our arrival, and presented a highly detailed drawing
detailing the latest enemy encampments. According to it, the Sura Principality was
deployed to the west quadrant of the fortress, and the Turncoat Kingdom
blanketed the south and east horizons.
「 Hmm……
an exceptionally distinct layout; they are daringly leaving the north side open? This is to deliberately open a gaping
hole in the encirclement network, strictly to entice the besieged army to execute a frantic
breakout, pursue the backs of the fleeing army across an open plain, and
furthermore execute a devastating pincer strike alongside the army moving down
from Ende. It likely carries that meaning as well. 」
Just as the
Commander unraveled, probably the First Prince had advanced south from Ende
as a starting point and set up camp to spectate like a bystander. He likely
planned to strike down our allies who abandoned the fort and fled into Imperial
territory while getting battered by pursuit, calling them something like 『cowardly
traitors who compromised the sovereign integrity of the New Imperial Territory,
turning their backs to flee before a foreign invader.』. How
villainous... But... right now, this situation, I can use it
Here, I decided on a
new operation.
「 Then
first, I'd like to address a direct query straight to the Chairman of the Kempurna Trading
Company. 」
「 Huh?!
Y—Yes, Sire!! 」
Being abruptly
addressed by his formal title, Accelerata's composure completely
fractured into panicked bewilderment, but there was a reason I deliberately
called him that. Because I wanted to confirm regarding the cargo his caravans had hauled in as the Kempurna
Trading Company prior to this
expedition.
「 We have only used one type so far, but the
Imperial Army banners the company brought included ones from both factions,
right? This time I'd like to use the other one; do you have any objections? 」
「 N—None
whatsoever, Your Highness! 」
「
Commander, how about this? From here on, we'll raise the new banners and move
to the north side of the fort. Afterwards, we'll turn south to meet our friend
and receive the hospitality of a dinner banquet. 」
「 I
think there will be no problems, Sire. It will probably be a somewhat lively
late-night visit, but they will surely warmly welcome us who have traveled a
long way. Shall we go flashy with the signal announcing our visit? 」
「I
think we'll go subdued this time. For the uninvited guests who barged into the
east side, I think we'll rebuke their impoliteness and have them grovel and
apologize. On that occasion, wouldn't it be good to have some sort of souvenir for the guests waiting in the
south and west as well?」
「 Hahaha!
Flawlessly reasoned! I will begin preparations so we can offer a courteous
greeting. Furthermore, when
we enter the fortress, Lord Accelerata and the others, I ask that you
firmly guide us down the flowery path. 」
Accelerata and the messenger, who were listening to the
conversation between the Commander and me, were naturally listening completely
frozen, with a massive cascade of invisible question marks (？？？) floating comically over
their heads. That's fine for now. As long as the talk gets through between just
us.
「 By
the way, Sir Messenger, there's one more point I want to confirm; how are
the provisions in the fort? After all, we are heavy eaters (a large number). It
would be putting the cart before the horse if we become bothersome guests. 」
「
Report, Great Lord! An
amount that a force of 50,000
can easily hold out on for three months is stockpiled! Furthermore, utilizing
the vast paddy fields
fanning out across the expansive plains surrounding the fort, a considerable
harvest of pristine grains (rice)
has completely finished being reaped, so even ignoring our base reserves, I
believe there would be no problem feeding your entire army for easily over half
a year! 」
「 Understood. I am extremely glad we can enjoy
rice meals during our stay. In order to show our deep appreciation and receive the hospitality, we really
have to make sure to bring proper souvenirs.
Commander, we will begin moving immediately from here and enter from the north
side; no problem with that? 」
·
(Wait, no! If you blindly advance straight down
the un-defended northern plain, we will be completely exposed to the enemy's
watchtowers!)
「 Yes,
Sire! Our plan leading
up to entering the castle for the time being has been decided, so there is no
problem. 」
·
(Plan
or whatever?! You literally spent the entire council discussing nothing but
banners and white rice……!!)
「 Then, from here on we depart to meet our friend!
By kicking away the unrefined guests, that is. 」
·
(With ten thousand against an army of thirty
thousand?! There's no way you can pull off such a……!!!)
Well, I felt like I
could faintly heard Accelerata's
voiceless voice besides the Commander's, but I deliberately ignored it.
Now then……from here on is the real deal! First, we'll toy with the thirty-thousand-strong enemy army using our ten-thousand-strong force!
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