Chapter 392
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
Southern Front ⑧ –Late-Night
Visitors
Translator : PolterGlast
After confirming the situation on the battlefield, we made a
large detour to the north once, and changed direction upon reaching the highway
connecting Big Bridge Fort and Ende, this time we advanced our army straight toward the south. At
this time, I raised the military banner indicating the First Prince's
army (the Royal Guard Army) that Accelerata had
meticulously prepared, and once we reached the highway, we marched openly from
there. Actually, within the dispatched army, starting with commander-class
individuals like Eisen, Fellow, Felm, and Yaulun,
there are many who formerly served as Iron Cavalry in the First Prince's
Royal Guard Army. This time, when organizing the expeditionary force, I had
also made things clear with them.
※
After the dispatch was decided, I convened a closed council,
summoning the commander-class individuals who were former Imperial soldiers and
spoke to
them face-to-face with my own words.
「 This expeditionary force will
operate strictly on a voluntary system. So you are free to decline your
deployment without reservation. The opponents we fight are not only a foreign
invasion force, but there is a possibility that your former master and the
brothers-in-arms you once fought alongside
are also included. Even if you decline, there are opportunities to participate
actively on other battlefields, and I will not hold anything against you
because of it. 」
I told them that, explained the unvarnished situation as
much as possible, and gave consideration so it wouldn't become a burden on
their minds. However, their reaction was completely different. Or rather...
they were infuriated in various meanings.
「 Do not say
such pathetic, insulting things! We are
individuals who had our lives saved and received immense favors we cannot fully
repay! To
us Knights, unyielding 『Righteousness』is exactly
what cannot be replaced by anything, much less our motherland for us right now
is the Demon Territory Dukedom! 」
「 To be honest, we also have feelings toward our former
homeland and former compatriots. However! That is the sentiment as those who
reside in the Empire, as those who took up swords to protect the country! Toward those who damage the homeland we once loved, we wish
to resolutely swing our swords without a single drop of hesitation! 」
「 To our former selves, our master was the Empire itself! We
only served His Highness Glorious because his station as the rightful
heir to the throne! Casually selling out the Empire to a foreign invader
borders on absolute, un-pardonable treason! Our blades shall never permit it! 」
「 Who is trying to protect the Empire, and who is reaching out
a hand to protect the Empire? To us, that is an obvious fact. While we indeed
feel gratitude for saving our former motherland, we wish to work as proud
members of the Demon Territory Knights
Order. Please take us with you! 」
Saying so, everyone volunteered for the expeditionary force,
furiously angry. They were infuriated at the First Prince, who sought his own power and was trying to sell off
the Empire, and shed tears of gratitude toward the Demon Territory Dukedom's policy of trying to save the citizens
residing in the Empire. To them, there are of course feelings toward their
former motherland. But right now, the Empire does not equal the First Prince. Their former lord was in
the position of a rebel, and they showed no hesitation in punishing that. Of
course, I could also see the feeling that their current motherland is the Demon Territory Dukedom, and protecting
it is what's important.
Driven by that profound psychological ignition, not a single
vacancy appeared among the former Imperial soldiers, and everyone besides them
also volunteered with fierce momentum. With such circumstances as well, the
army's camouflage putting those who were former Royal Guard Army at the front
was, so to speak, close to perfect
※
I thought
the enemy army would probably discover us marching openly south on the highway.
Because as we approached Big Bridge,
it was anticipated we would naturally be caught in the besieging army's patrol
network. But they would surely think that the First Prince had participated in the war leading reinforcements for
them. First, we are an army that absolutely shouldn't be here. Second, because
we were deliberately marching openly and slowly as if boasting a majestic
appearance. Furthermore, we were marching while having those who were former
Imperial soldiers sing songs praising the Empire.
This was the
tactic I came up with at that time, but there was actually a historical event
it was based on. It was an anecdote of Yamakawa
Hiroshi, a young chief retainer of the Aizu
domain who left an interesting episode during the Boshin War at the end of the Edo
period. It is said that when he entered Aizu
Wakamatsu Castle, which was completely surrounded by the new government
army, he made a procession of flutes and drums and marched openly while having
them perform the Higan Jishi, a
traditional performing art of Aizu.
He passed in front of the enemy army who were taken aback wondering 『Whose army
(ally) is that? 』, and
without receiving a single artillery shell or losing a single soldier, he holds
the anecdote of successfully entering the castle openly.
People are
all confused by actions outside common sense. As a result, they selfishly make
judgments based on the information within their known scope.
Around the
time dusk approached, we advanced to a point about 5 km from the fort and
halted our march, setting up camp as if strictly lying in wait for the fleeing
enemy soldiers (the Third Prince's
army). At that time, we intentionally feigned the appearance of taking a
leisurely rest from an outsider's perspective, and let the soldiers rest in
shifts. Of course, we laid a vigilance network in the surroundings, and
prepared only an immediate response system just in case, but...
Entering the
night, the top brass of the Turncoat
Kingdom army surrounding Big Bridge
Fort was in confusion. Because there was a report from soldiers sent out on
patrol that the Imperial Army led by the First
Prince had left Ende and was
heading this way.
※
「 What on earth does that arrogant
bastard think he is playing at?! To choose this exact time
to nonchalantly stroll onto our active battlefield at this late stage! 」
「 It has already been twenty days since we surrounded this
place. He likely couldn't wait any longer and came out, right? 」
「 But according to the initial agreement this is our
territory, there is no reason for them to interfere! Besides, unlike those
barbarians (the Sura Principality
army), we haven't raised a single thing that can be called a war result! 」
「 That's right. Let us send an interrogating messenger
straight to the Imperial encampment even tomorrow morning. We will likely need
to tell him something like, 'Wait silently exactly as per the agreement'. 」
After such an exchange was passed around among the top brass
of the Turncoat Kingdom, they went to sleep with unpleasant feelings.
Precisely because even they were well
aware regarding the severe political internal affairs of the Empire. That is
exactly why it can be said they had an assumption regarding an army that
appeared at an impossible timing and in an impossible place normally.
And late at
night... In the darkness, an army with gags in their horses' mouths was
secretly creeping up to the rear of the Turncoat
Kingdom army deployed on the east side. The scouts placed on their path of
advance had been secretly silenced by those creeping up clad in darkness (Raphael and others) who went ahead.
Once they
crept up to the outer edge illuminated by the grandly burning bonfires, they
simultaneously unleashed arrows before mounting their horses. Ten thousand
arrows accelerated by Wind Mages
assaulted the forces deployed on the east side of Big Bridge Fort.
「 E-Enemy attack!!! The Sura Principality army has attacked us!!!」
「 It's betrayal!!! Those bastards intend to monopolize the war
results!!! 」
「 They're attacking from the west!!!
South!!! Flee to
the south!!! 」
Amidst the
screams raised by the soldiers who had fallen into massive confusion, voices
intentionally conveying the situation accurately erupted in various places.
Although, if one listened calmly, those voices were coming from the direction
of the attacking enemy army, but the fleeing soldiers had no leeway to confirm
that. Among those hurriedly fleeing from the late-night surprise attack, there
were even those who abandoned their weapons and armor to flee, causing so much
confusion that it truly turned into a crucible of chaos, a terrible state.
※
「 They're splendidly confused and
their lines have dissolved into absolute disarray. Entire cavalry, we charge in
from here now! Commander Weiss, I leave the vanguard to you! 」
「 Leave it to me! Charge!!! 」
After this exchange, Weiss,
leading the tip of the arrow formation, commenced the charge. Together with a
female knight with fluttering jet-black hair, surrounded and solidified by
robust elites.
「 Ughーー?! 」 「
Abeee?! 」
「 Guhak?! 」
Ahead of
where they pushed forward, the portion of soldiers who had come out to
intercept holding swords also ungracefully clung to the earth while letting out
indescribable screams. After that as well, every time they advanced forward, as
if apologizing for something, soldiers appearing unable to endure some weight
fell to their knees, put both hands on the earth, and collapsed one after
another.
While
cleaving through the fleeing soldiers, the military rank forming the arrow
shape tore through the enemy camp at Weiss's
instruction. Their path of advance was mysteriously illuminated brightly
despite it being late at night, and those attempting to block their way were
deprived of their vision by the dazzling light, standing still helplessly and
joining the ranks of the war dead.
On the
battlefield this day, when transitioning to the mopping-up operation, the
passwords 『Yama』 and 『Kawa』 were exchanged in various places in the darkness, and
the enemy soldiers who did not know the meaning were struck down one after
another. Furthermore, this is said to have been established as a password not
so much because Takuhir repurposed
the anecdote of the Ako Ronin raid,
but rather to show respect to Yamakawa
Hiroshi, whom he imitated the historical event of upon marching.
※
The confusion
of those deployed on the east side of Big
Bridge successively spilled over to the entire army, and also spilled over
to those deployed on the south side.
「 What is the meaning of this! What on earth is happening!! 」
「 Are there no reports from the east yet! 」
While the
confusion expanded, there was no one among the top brass gathered at the main
camp in the south who could answer the questions. However, it was feared that
if things continued like this, the confusion would even reach the army deployed
in the south, and in the worst case, lead to the collapse of the entire army.
In the midst of that, one of the soldiers tumbled into the camp curtain along
with a scream.
「 Reporting!
The Sura Principality Army
has betrayed us! Starting with General Kilge who was deployed on the east side, the top
brass is annihilated! The enemy army is further expanding the battle line, and
our army cannot hold out! 」
「 Wh—Whaaaaaat?! Even Kilge…… 」
「 That can't be…… 」
「 Those barbarians, do they intend to monopolize the war
results! 」
「 Your Excellency! We must
immediately prepare for interception! 」unable to bear watching the confused and stunned generals, a
subordinate raised his voice.
「 Fools! Even if we set up a formation against our routing
allies, we'll just get caught! Damn those barbarians... Can we afford not to
strike back with an arrow! 」
As one
general directed his gaze boiling with anger toward the west, yet another
general continued.
「 Issue an immediate instructions to
the entire army! We will advance west while detouring the outer edge of the
enemy fort! Circle around further to the rear of the enemy attacking the east,
and strike the backs of those cowards! 」
「 Concurrently, have a courier run to the east! Tell them to somehow maintain
the battle line and hold out until we pincer attack! 」
Their orders were executed immediately. The fifteen thousand men of the Turncoat Kingdom army deployed on the south side suddenly assaulted the five thousand men of the Sura Principality army setting up camp on the adjacent west side. And then... a fierce internecine struggle between allied forces began, and the bloodstained, gruesome night wore on.
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