Chapter 52
News of the Brotan Kingdom's expedition soon reached the imperial army's meeting room.
"...The scale is about 40,000 recently conscripted, 20,000 deployed towards the Caen Kingdom, and 10,000 deployed at our border, totaling about 70,000, and they appear to be marching towards Saint-Toire."
Viktor stood in the center of the conference room, reporting on Guillaume's movements confirmed by the mini-map.
"Saint-Toire. Hmm."
After his report ended, Gerhart was lost in thought.
"...It's gone according to the Deputy Commander's plan."
"It would have been strange if this plan failed."
The imperial officers whispered excitedly.
"It was truly a thorough plan."
"Various schemes complemented each other to ensnare the kingdom... Huh. I think it could be called perfect."
The staff were overwhelmed by Viktor's insight, which utilized the political situations of both the enemy country and surrounding countries to corner the Brotan Kingdom, and,
"To push the Brotan Kingdom this far with almost no consumption of people or resources..."
"It's not just his command ability or military strategy that's excellent. At such a young age... It's amazing."
Officers who didn't know much about politics or diplomacy marveled at the tremendous results brought by that plan.
Gerhart, who had been quietly listening to their whispers intending to openly push Viktor,
"The Deputy Commander's plan has succeeded, but it's not all over yet. Although they're hastily gathered forces, a large army of 70,000 is coming, so we must respond. What do you all think?"
Only after waiting for that conversation to subside did he proceed with the meeting.
"Brigade Commander Klaus. Speak."
"Yes. We've succeeded in drawing out their movements with the Deputy Commander's strategy, and even grasped the direction of their attack. Once they've moved their troops, the kingdom army is in a hurry, so if we just solidify the defense of Saint-Toire, the enemy will feel burdened."
Klaus presented a safe opinion, and officers who thought similarly nodded their heads.
"What do others think?"
"I agree with Brigade Commander Klaus's opinion. The walls of Saint-Toire have been repaired, so there's no difficulty in conducting a siege defense."
"I think the same. Even for elite troops, it's difficult to charge at walls defended by the enemy. The kingdom army, with more than half of its soldiers being conscripts, won't be able to attempt an active siege."
The imperial officers mentioned safe options as usual.
"Although the enemy's quality is lower, their numbers are close to twice ours. We need to be cautious."
"A wide plain stretches in front of Saint-Toire, and the enemy, having learned lessons from the Battle of Lake Apitello, won't divide their forces."
As not all the wounded had recovered and troops were needed to manage prisoners, excluding these, the imperial army had about 40,000 troops available.
It's not a small force, but it feels small compared to the enemy, so.
"How about intercepting the enemy at a point where the terrain narrows? If we defend at this point here, it will be difficult for the kingdom army to utilize their advantage in numbers."
"Hmm... It's true that we have an advantage in narrow terrain, but there's no reason to give up the advantage of the walls."
"That's right. Since it's impossible to bypass Saint-Toire Castle, the enemy will have to attempt a siege even if we don't go out to intercept them."
The officers were negative even to the occasional opinion of interception.
Their main opinion was that as long as the enemy's attack points are limited and the terrain is advantageous, the imperial army would be in an extremely favorable situation just by solidifying the defense.
"Hmm..."
As Gerhart always preferred safe strategies, he would normally adopt such officers' opinions and solidify the defense, but…
Already addicted to the sweetness of the fruits Viktor brought, instead of choosing the opinion to defend, Gerhart kept sending expectant glances to Viktor sitting beside him.
"...Of course, that's just my opinion. What do others think?"
The officers who had been presenting their own opinions on defense and interception also noticed Gerhart's appearance and one by one sat down, waiting for Viktor to open his mouth.
"..."
Before long, silence fell over the conference room.
Usually, a sudden silence during a meeting is not a good sign, but the corners of the officers' mouths, including Gerhart's, were slightly smiling.
"...Why are you all like this?"
"Haha. Does the great Deputy Commander Viktor really not know?"
"..."
After thinking deeply for a moment at Gerhart's playful answer,
"...I have a good method."
Viktor uttered the words everyone had been waiting for.
Gerhart nodded as if to say continue.
"We should not defend or intercept, but launch an active offensive against Guillaume's expeditionary force."
Viktor once again argued for attack, not defense.
Gerhart, who checked his face wondering if it might be a joke, could meet his utterly serious gaze.
"...No matter how many times I hear it, I can't get used to it."
The officers, flustered despite mental preparation, strongly sympathized with Gerhart's quip.
"Can you explain the reason?"
"Yes. First, I thought about Guillaume's intention in advancing towards Saint-Toire."
"Intention. ...Are you saying his goal might not be recapturing Saint-Toire?"
"That's right."
Viktor, affirming Gerhart's question, stood up from his seat.
"Guillaume's expedition is a result of political and diplomatic pressure and a symbolic action to restore self-esteem, not because the value of Saint-Toire suddenly increased."
"..."
"He must also be aware that the quality of the kingdom army has seriously deteriorated. He will try to avoid battle as much as possible and withdraw his army again once the pressure we applied is relieved."
The officers, who had been blinded by the news that Guillaume had initiated an attack, felt as if cold water had been poured on their heads.
"If we solidify our defense..."
"He's likely to feel our defense attempt itself as a success. After a passive siege attempt, he will shake off the pressure with the logic that 'the imperial army was scared of the kingdom army's strength and hid behind the walls.'"
"...Well."
"The kingdom's nobles will be satisfied thinking they've shown their strength, and Guillaume can establish authority by flaunting our passive attitude."
Viktor continued speaking.
"Couldn't we attack the enemy surrounding us, or pursue the retreating enemy?"
"It's realistically difficult. An enemy exhausted from launching an offensive to take the castle would be easily exposed to a counterattack, but since the kingdom army's purpose isn't recapture, they will maintain distance and take a defensive posture. If that happens, we, who have to go out through the castle gates, will find it hard to seize an opportunity to raid."
"..."
"Moreover, the kingdom army decides the timing of retreat. They will thoroughly prepare for retreat, so recklessly pursuing them is dangerous."
"...I understand."
The officer who had thought they could just prevent the enemy from returning was convinced by Viktor's explanation and sat back down.
"Our goal is to crush the enemy's final resistance and bring down the Brotan Kingdom. For this, we must not let those 70,000 troops escape alive, and,"
Viktor pointed to the map spread out in the conference room.
"For this, we will gather our forces and move to this point."
He pointed his finger at the Baldua Plains, a wide prairie with almost no small hills, located at the point where the Crejon Mountains and Bildorne River end.
"If we openly demand a pitched battle, Guillaume cannot avoid it. If he avoids a fight that seems advantageous, he will be in a more disadvantageous situation than if he hadn't gone on the expedition at all."
"...That's right. Since they have greater numbers and can't avoid it in terms of justification, accepting a pitched battle with the greatest possibility would be his best option too."
Gerhart bowed his head, rubbing his forehead.
"Yes, I understand that if we just defeat them, it's the end for the Brotan Kingdom. Since it's Guillaume's personal rule, the aftermath of that defeat would be tremendous."
"Yes. That's right."
"But, there's the most important thing. The enemy has 70,000, and we have 40,000. Yet you're saying we'll engage in a pitched battle on plains where there's no terrain advantage, no, rather where the enemy might have an advantage."
He lowered his hand from his head and shot a serious look at Viktor.
"Are you confident of victory? Against an enemy nearly twice our size on an open plain?"
As before, Viktor's strategy takes the form of risking tremendous danger in case of defeat for the sake of great gains in case of victory.
Other officers also looked at Viktor with the same doubt as Gerhart, but,
"Only 20,000 who were fighting with the Caen Kingdom can fight properly among the enemy, so the difference in numbers doesn't have much meaning. And, we possess powerful cavalry, while the enemy doesn't have proper means to respond."
Viktor answered with a voice full of confidence.
"Moreover, the enemy is under the command of Guillaume, who hasn't shown much achievement except for one personal campaign, not experienced and capable generals."
"...Hmm."
"For the sake of his authority, he will try to command the troops directly, but the forces he's leading now are mostly conscripts not ready to fight. There's no way Guillaume can properly command those whom even Bevis and Gaston couldn't handle properly."
Viktor's assertion full of confidence moved the hearts of the officers.
"I have no confidence in defeat. The kingdom army will be crushed in our hands."
"...That's right! While the enemy is a ragtag bunch, our imperial army is elite and our morale is sky-high! Moreover, with Deputy Commander Viktor's command, we're not afraid of that kingdom army with just large numbers!"
Friedrich, who had been waiting for an opinion arguing for an offensive, immediately stood up and agreed, and,
"...With the Deputy Commander, it might be possible."
"Certainly..."
"Even at Lake Apitello, come to think of it, the enemy was more than twice our number."
The reaction of officers who had experienced Viktor's command was also positive.
Gerhart, who had wanted this reaction, observed the atmosphere and then,
"...It seems there's no need to ask. Prepare for the expedition! We'll cut off the Brotan Kingdom's lifeline with this opportunity!"
He adopted Viktor's opinion, pretending to give in.
"How's the state of the cavalry?"
"As losses were minimal, about 8,000 cavalry can participate in battle now."
"Good. What about the supply plan?"
"As streams flow in the surrounding area, securing drinking water shouldn't be difficult. Here, here. If we move along this route, it will be difficult for the enemy to cut off our supplies."
They quickly prepared for the expedition, and,
"Let's go! Our target is the Baldua Plains!"
A few days later.
40,000 imperial troops, including 8,000 cavalry, took their final step towards the destruction of the Brotan Kingdom.