Chapter 105
What I recalled was the square formation of the Tercio unit.
While there were various reasons for the emergence of the Tercio formation in Spain, such as the leveling up of firepower, I adopted its form because each unit could flexibly respond to situations and easily defend against attacks from multiple directions.
It's also more efficient to move appropriately scattered soldiers according to the situation rather than scattering all the soldiers gathered in the center.
If there was a difference from the real Tercio,
"...Are you saying you'll command at the company level?"
"That's right."
Instead of forming a separate Tercio formation, I would command the soldiers at the company level to move in a form similar to the Tercio.
The process is different, but the result is to move in Tercio-like units.
"Even if you divide the companies broadly, there will be over 50. Frankly, I don't understand what you're saying."
Axel reacted as if it was absurd, but,
"You'll understand when you see it directly."
As Klaus, who approached him, said, this is a tactic that's quite possible if I use the mini-map and tactical map.
---
Although officers from the 5th Corps, including Axel, were skeptical of Viktor's claim that broke common sense,
"...This works?"
"My goodness..."
In a demonstration that drew some soldiers from the 1st and 3rd Infantry Regiments, the soldiers showed that they could perfectly utilize the formation Viktor presented.
Against imaginary enemies, musketeers and pikemen moved organically to respond appropriately.
Moreover, even the 3rd Infantry Regiment soldiers who had never received Viktor's command moved as skillfully as if they had undergone long training, bewildering them.
"Are you saying all troops will move like this?"
"That's right."
"..."
Axel was left speechless at the reaction of the Red Dragon Corps officers who took this for granted, and,
"...What?"
"Did you hear that too?"
"...Yeah."
The 3rd Infantry Regiment soldiers were equally dumbfounded.
Although they felt anxious about being incorporated into the Red Dragon Corps and worried if they could adapt to the suddenly changed organization,
Instead of shouts or whistles that are hard to hear once in battle, Viktor's instructions directly resonating in their minds were like a new world.
As they were elite soldiers who had been in charge of border defense, they could easily follow clear instructions, and,
"Advance!"
"Advance!"
After a few short training sessions, most were raised to a level where they could carry out operations without much trouble.
As a result, the Red Dragon Corps formed six units of about 2,000 men each, consisting of 1,300 musketeers from the 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments and 600-700 infantry from the 3rd Infantry Regiment, supported by cavalry in the rear.
Each unit had musketeers surrounding the 3rd Infantry Regiment infantry formed in a square shape, with additional small numbers of musketeers placed at each corner.
Overall, the units deployed as if standing at the vertices of a hexagon,
"March."
Following Viktor's order, they began to slowly climb the hill while maintaining that formation.
---
"The imperial army is moving!"
"...So they're finally coming."
At the messenger's urgent report, Sancho came out of the tent with a telescope.
"..."
"This is the current enemy formation!"
"Hmm."
As Sancho was observing the imperial army, another messenger approached and handed him a paper depicting the imperial army's formation.
"...Hmm?"
"...What is that?"
While Sancho was perplexed by the deployment he had never seen before, other officers also came out of the tent to observe the imperial army.
"What kind of deployment is this?"
Alfredo's words, uttered with a dry laugh, represented the thoughts of the kingdom's officers.
"They're already few in number, yet they scatter like this."
"You said there was conflict between the 5th Corps and the Red Dragon Corps, could this be the result of that?"
"Just because it happened once doesn't mean it can't happen twice."
It's common sense for infantry facing numerous cavalry to stick together as much as possible to reduce gaps for breakthrough, and especially when using long-range weapons, they tend to concentrate more for focused firepower.
While the Red Dragon Corps' previous movements were sensible tactics that adhered to basic principles, regardless of efficiency,
"...What are they thinking?"
"Isn't it just a simple mistake or loss of control?"
"The formation seems too well-ordered for that. Compare it to the 5th Corps that charged in a few days ago."
"..."
Now they were slowly approaching in an unfamiliar form that completely violated conventional wisdom.
"The enemy corps commander, Viktor, is known for his excellent strategy and tactics, not someone to make sudden mistakes. There must be a reason for deploying like this."
"...I think so too. The enemy's marching speed is slow, so let's gather more information."
"Yes."
Sancho and some officers who knew Viktor's command ability and the Red Dragon Corps' combat power advocated caution, remaining vigilant and waiting for additional reports.
"Each unit has pikemen surrounded by musketeers. The scale is estimated to be about 2,000 men each."
"..."
After hearing the subsequent report, Sancho fell into deep thought.
"...I understand the intention, but."
The tactic of placing shooters on the outskirts and then alternating with close-combat infantry when the enemy approaches has existed since ancient times, and deploying troops in a near-circular formation to respond to attacks from various directions is also a common response.
However,
"I can't understand why they're dividing their forces to this extent."
Splitting the troops into smaller units against numerous cavalry and scattering those split soldiers at intervals of almost 200m was not the response he had expected.
If it were an ordinary officer, he would have considered it a mistake and an opportunity, but,
"Couldn't we easily disrupt the enemy by just inserting cavalry into these gaps?"
"That's right. It seems possible to concentrate our forces on one of their units and defeat them one by one. But, would the enemy not know this?"
"They might be relying on their cavalry. Although few in number, isn't the strength of the imperial cavalry famous?"
"...That's true, but."
As Sancho had already assumed Viktor to be a superior commander to himself,
"It could be a trap. All units could be bait."
"...?"
"If we try to concentrate our attack in one direction, that unit would retreat and hide among their allies. Then, if the surrounding units strike our flanks?"
"Are you saying it's a deployment for luring us?"
"Hmm. Or maybe they're hoping we'll penetrate those seemingly vulnerable gaps."
He pondered the best move while trying to predict Viktor's intentions, and then,
"...What should we do? The enemy keeps approaching."
He snapped back to reality at the words of an officer standing nearby.
Although their marching speed was slow, the imperial army was still climbing the hill even as he pondered.
This meant there wasn't time to collect and modify the pouches he had already distributed.
Sancho wanted to retreat with his forces, analyze the imperial army's unusual formation, and devise a new strategy, but,
"..."
It didn't seem likely that those who had expressed dissatisfaction for not advancing would readily accept a retreat, and he knew that giving up advantageous high ground and retreating wasn't good in itself.
"Although the enemy's musketeers are at the front, when we approach, their pikemen will likely step forward. If we try to penetrate their gaps, each unit will likely defend by narrowing their intervals."
"..."
"Although the form is different, it doesn't seem to deviate greatly from the existing circular formation tactics. We should deal with it like a typical circular formation, but we must absolutely not lose track of the enemy's movements."
"Then...!"
"We'll maintain the strategy of surrounding the enemy with the help of cavalry, but we'll determine the scale of encirclement according to the enemy's movements. If our cavalry can block the enemy well as they try to narrow their intervals, we'll prioritize defeating isolated enemy units one by one."
He decided to respond by slightly modifying the strategy he had devised to counter a circular formation.
"Don't worry! It will be an even easier opponent than a circular formation!"
"That's right! There's no enemy as easy as scattered troops!"
As Sancho, who had only been passive until now, declared engagement, the officers who had been longing for a thrilling victory raised their voices excitedly.
"If you bring the guns the enemy uses, I'll pay a price depending on their condition."
"A price... Huff."
"...This, we'll properly make a fortune."
"Thank you for your hard work."
Sancho approached the mercenary leaders who had shown relatively weak reactions and instilled enthusiasm by placing a huge bounty on the guns used by the imperial army.
"Then, we'll begin the operation!"
At Sancho's order, 20,000 infantry in thick, long lines advanced, and,
-Thud thud thud thud thud thud.
8,000 light cavalry in charge of raids and disruption in the rear and flanks split to the left and right of the infantry and charged towards the enemy.
"Hehe..."
"It would be nice if we could get a few of those siege cannons too. We need to recapture Adense, don't we?"
"Well, just recapturing? If we annihilate them, who will defend the empty Mannzheim?"
"Haha! That's right!"
The officers remaining in the rear exchanged conversations full of confidence, but,
"..."
"Are you worried? They'll do well. The kingdom's army is strong."
"...Yes, that's right."
Sancho felt a bad premonition as he watched their overflowing confidence.