Chapter 37
It was a satisfactory result.
In fact, I still don't understand the principles of my mini-map and tactical map properly either.
I've finished verifying them several times and am just using them diligently because they help me.
According to the descriptions of those who have received my command, they say they hear the content of my instructions through the tactical map in real-time in their heads.
For example, when I move the 1st Company forward on the tactical map, they immediately hear my voice commanding something like "1st Company, move at walking pace towards 12 o'clock!" in their minds.
Considering that there were those who didn't follow my instructions at the military academy, it seems there's no or little coerciveness, so I tried to build rapport with the soldiers taking that into account.
Both during the Northern War and in the recent training, it seems those efforts have clearly paid off, given how well it went.
"Thank you all for following so well."
Of course, the fact that we could perform such a perfect demonstration is largely due to the soldiers who carried out my instructions without the slightest error, so…
After Gerhart left.
As I always have after every battle or training, I approached the subordinates gathered in the temporary tent after training to express my gratitude.
Being able to convey orders without time consumption is an incredible ability, but I just give the orders.
In the end, it's the soldiers who move and fight.
"Without you all, it would have been difficult to achieve such results."
"...Do you really mean that?"
"Of course. Even if I were to lead the 10th Corps soldiers right now, I couldn't produce better results than this."
"Haha..."
"Hmm..."
The officers, including Anna, exchanged glances with strange expressions after hearing my words.
"Why are you like that?"
"Ah. It's nothing. We'll continue to do our best."
"Alexandrov, thank you."
"We'll only believe in you, General!"
"Boris... I'll repay that trust."
Although I'm acting like a great general, they might be thinking something different inside too.
But it's inevitable to feel good when hearing such words.
"Everyone, spend this afternoon freely. Training will resume from tomorrow."
"Understood!"
"Thank you!"
"It's not good to keep you for too long, so I'll be going now."
I turned around, enjoying their reactions of gratitude even for a short break, and,
"Is he saying that because he hasn't experienced it himself?"
"I suppose so. If you experience his command, you can't help but..."
"Anna?"
"Yes, I'm coming right away!"
I left the tent with Anna, who was whispering something to Alexandrov.
---
Once the elite nature of the 1st Provisional Corps was proven, the 10th Corps and 1st Provisional Corps moved without delay to Rochelle, a city on the border with the Brotan Kingdom.
"10th Corps, Gerhart Weissilt."
"1st Provisional Corps, Viktor."
"Pleased to meet you. 8th Corps Commander, Friedrich Gunter."
After joining with the 8th Corps in charge of the Brotan direction, the imperial officers immediately entered a meeting.
"I'll explain the current situation."
Friedrich's adjutant stepped forward first and pointed at the map with his baton.
"Recently, troop movements have been detected at the Brotan Kingdom's border. The Brotan Kingdom, which previously deployed about 60,000 troops on our border, has now deployed about 90,000 troops in Montfieu, Saint-Toire, and Anyac."
"90,000..."
Although Viktor wasn't completely unaware of the situation as the war between the Brotan Kingdom and the empire also occurred in the 'Great War' game, there were too many variables to rely solely on information from the game.
Gerhart mainly conversed with Friedrich or his adjutant, while Viktor sat next to Gerhart, listening quietly and grasping the situation.
If the Northern War was the noble faction's project, the war with the Brotan Kingdom was led by the imperial faction, and it's a war already in progress at the start of the campaign.
Taking advantage of the Brotan Kingdom being distracted by the war with the Caen Kingdom in the rear, the 8th Corps led by Friedrich, an imperial faction general, launched a surprise attack on the Brotan Kingdom.
As a result of various situations and luck overlapping, they succeeded in crossing the Bildorne River at the border and occupied Rochelle in the central part, Triel at the entrance of the northern gorge, and Chenet, a city in the southern plains.
In the game, after this, they push against the Brotan Kingdom by mobilizing spare troops created from quickly annexing the Rus Kingdom, but...
"How many troops are there in each location?"
"It's estimated that there are 35,000 in Saint-Toire, 30,000 in Anyac, and 25,000 in Montfieu. The 8th Corps has 20,000 troops deployed in Rochelle, 10,000 in Triel, and 10,000 in Chenet for defense."
The Northern War in this world dragged on for as long as two years.
Without reinforcements, the 8th Corps stopped their advance after securing a bridgehead, and thanks to this, the Brotan Kingdom was able to secure time to finish the war with the Caen Kingdom.
The current situation was that the Brotan Kingdom, having won the war with the Caen Kingdom, was gathering troops and preparing for a counterattack against the empire.
Although Friedrich's 8th Corps, with about 40,000 troops, is large even within the empire, the Brotan Kingdom deployed 90,000, exceeding the empire's expectations.
"They've pulled troops from the border with the Ildmar Kingdom as well."
"It seems so."
The Ildmar Kingdom below the Brotan Kingdom maintains tension with the Brotan Kingdom in the game and was looking for an opportunity to attack, but now that the Brotan Kingdom hasn't suffered relatively large damage, they chose to move troops to the border with the empire to check the imperial army instead.
Although they're not at a scale to launch a preemptive strike against the empire, as a result, the imperial army also couldn't move troops towards the Ildmar Kingdom direction.
"How far has the repair of the walls progressed?"
"They're gradually taking shape, but they're not yet at a level where siege warfare can be conducted."
The 8th Corps actively used cannons imported from dwarves in siege warfare, and the Brotan Kingdom destroyed fortifications during their retreat in preparation for recapture, so most of the fortifications in the occupied areas have lost their function.
To retreat to a point advantageous for defense, they would have to go back across the Bildorne River again, but this isn't a matter that can be easily decided.
"Retreat... would be difficult."
"That's right. The Bildorne River is wide and has strong currents, making it difficult to cross if the Brotan Kingdom is prepared."
It's not that there were no losses during the occupation process, and the successful crossing was a result of various coincidences and Friedrich's bold judgment.
The problem is that if they go back once, there's a high possibility that such an opportunity will never come again.
"Triel is one of the two routes that can lead to the Brotan Kingdom's capital, and Rochelle is blocking the path that leads to the Bildorne River without passing through Triel. Chenet is also a strategic point that must be held to prevent enemies from infiltrating the rear of Triel and Rochelle along the river."
"Hmm... It would be difficult to give up."
"That's right."
"Then, does that mean we have no choice but to engage in field battle?"
"..."
When Gerhart mentioned field battle, silence fell over the meeting room.
Not all of the Brotan Kingdom's troops are elite soldiers, but if all the troops from the three points move, that number is 90,000.
On the other hand, the troops the empire can utilize are 55,000 even including reinforcements.
Although it's a defensive situation, without the help of walls, even in defense, they can only receive some geographical advantage.
Especially in field battles where the absolute number of troops inevitably plays a big role, the imperial officers didn't have much confidence in defeating the Brotan Kingdom in a field battle.
Although there are cases where a small number defeated a large number in field battles, victories in situations with nearly double the troop difference like now are rare enough to be recorded in history books and tactical manuals.
"What's the movement of the kingdom's army?"
"They are gathering supplies and preparing to march. As the scale of the troops is large, the supply consumption will be fast, so our 8th Corps staff expects them to move in the near future."
"I see."
Although the adjutant said that the Brotan Kingdom army was still preparing to march, Viktor, who could roughly grasp the movements of the Brotan Kingdom army by greatly expanding the range of the mini-map, had a slightly different thought.
Although still far away, Viktor could see that the densely gathered red dots had already left their garrison and were moving at a slow pace.
He quietly pondered strategies, waiting for the right opportunity.
A moment later.
-Bang!
"This morning, the kingdom's troops stationed in Montfieu began their march!"
"Oh."
"The scale is..."
A messenger who rushed in as if to break down the door delivered news that the kingdom's troops in Montfieu were moving, and,
"35,000 troops from Saint-Toire have departed towards Chenet!"
"..."
Almost simultaneously, the troops from Saint-Toire also,
"Corps Commander! About 30,000 troops from the Anyac direction are approaching Triel!"
Information that the troops from Anyac had also launched an attack was thrown into the meeting room.
"...We need to pull back the troops in Triel. It's difficult to defend against 30,000 troops from the current position."
"Hmm... Since Rochelle's walls have been repaired the most, it seems the 10th Corps could support Chenet or Triel direction."
"Defeating them separately... seems difficult. Our control is still weak and the surrounding terrain is rough, making it difficult for scouts to operate properly."
"That's right. We've only occupied strongholds, this area is still Brotan Kingdom territory."
Friedrich and Gerhart calmly pondered countermeasures, but didn't present any special strategies.
"We need to send reinforcements to Chenet. Chenet is wide open, 10,000 troops can't defend it."
"No. We can reclaim Chenet later, but Triel has a narrow entrance making it difficult to recapture once lost. We should send the 10th Corps to Triel!"
"If we lose Rochelle, we'll have to give up all occupied territories across the Bildorne River, so even if we lose both Triel and Chenet, we must hold Rochelle. I think the 10th Corps and 1st Provisional Corps should thoroughly defend Rochelle, and the troops from Triel and Chenet should retreat and join in Rochelle."
Even though some brave officers raised their voices, no pointed solution was in sight.
"We should retreat across the Bildorne River even now. It's a shame to give up occupied territories, but it's better than losing troops and giving up occupation flags."
"...Well."
Some staff members and generals, intimidated by the difference in troop numbers, even argued for pulling the troops back across the river altogether.
Viktor watched for a while as they blurted out their thoughts randomly, then turned his gaze to Gerhart, who was frowning.
"...Do you have a good idea?"
"Yes."
"..."
After confirming the will in Viktor's eyes, Gerhart pondered for a moment, then nodded to him with trust and expectation, and,
"We should retreat first, then wait for reinforcements..."
-Thud!
"Huh!"
"...What is it?"
"Corps Commander Viktor?"
As soon as he received Gerhart's approval, Viktor stood up from his seat and strongly hit the table with his fist to gather attention.
The air in the meeting room settled heavily.
As Viktor, who had been silent throughout the meeting, suddenly came on strongly, those gathered in the meeting room momentarily stopped speaking and looked at him.
"I have a good method, so I'd like everyone to listen."
Viktor slowly walked to the center of the meeting room where the map was hung.
"Corps Commander Viktor, you..."
"Let's hear him out first."
"Corps Commander Gerhart... Alright."
Friedrich felt Viktor's behavior was rude and tried to stop him, but when Gerhart, who could be seen as a symbol of the imperial army, restrained him, he quietly sat in his seat and waited for Viktor's words.
Viktor scanned the now quiet audience with his eyes, and with a confident expression, received the baton from Friedrich's adjutant.
"We should choose attack, not defense."
"...Huh."
"Hmm."
At Viktor's words directly contradicting Friedrich's previous statement, Friedrich and Gerhart simultaneously let out sighs containing their respective impressions.