Chapter 10: Difference in Caliber (2)

For four days, we, the Revolutionary Army, had been encamped on the southern plains of River Tiola.

At long last, the unwelcome guests we had been waiting for arrived, giving us a break from our leisure.

[Traitors who have forsaken God and the Royal Family! Grand Duke Alexander has come to punish you all!!]

The bastard at the front turned on Loudspeaker Magic and blabbered on noisily, but ignoring that for now...

My impression upon facing the Suppression Army, which had rushed straight from the Capital, could be summed up in a single sentence.

"Wow, they're all glitz and glamour."

Cavalry clad in ornate breastplates and helmets, painted in pure gold. Spearman and Gunners in colorful uniforms, equipped with weapons clearly crafted by master artisans.

Compared to them, a couple of Division-sized forces were equipped with somewhat plain, but clearly superior quality gear.

Just by glancing, I could tell the enemy's formation.

The commander was Grand Duke Alexander, wasn't he? The Monarch's cousin and Captain of the Royal Guard.

That's definitely the Main Force of the Royal Guard, along with the garrison troops defending the Capital, Lahator.

Those idiots actually brought the Royal Capital’s main fighting force here.

"It's more like a display case of fine art than an army. What kind of armor has jewels embedded in it?"

"The taxes our families paid went into making that crap for the high and mighty, huh?"

"They're pretty artistic in their waste of money."

My subordinates shared similar sentiments, clicking their tongues and criticizing the flashy army.

Half out of envy, the other half to boost morale before the battle.

I deliberately threw out insults I wouldn't normally use, easing the tension that was gripping me.

"Alright, stop chattering and everyone to your positions. Move as instructed."

"Yes!"

As soon as our commanders dispersed, the enemy began to move.

A classic Deployment unfolded, with Artillery positioned in the rear and Cavalry at the front.

The Infantry were divided into three groups: one in a dense formation in the center, and the other two forming battle formations on the left and right flanks, supporting the cavalry from behind.

"Their troops must be exhausted after arriving just now, but they seem awfully eager."

"It's more like confidence. Confidence that they can beat us even when we're tired."

It might be fine against a mob of rioting serfs, but what are they thinking doing this against a regular army like us...?

Well, it's good for me. I don't have to fight a difficult battle.

Against the Suppression Army, I also deployed my formation. With the River Tiola at our backs, the Infantry Battle Formation lined up in a long crescent shape.

The Cavalry was sent to the rear of the left flank, and the Artillery was divided and assigned to Battalion-sized detachments for close-range fire support.

The deployment didn't take long, thanks to the groundwork laid in the morning after scouting the enemy's approach. Just having the soldiers stand up and take their weapons at their designated spots was all it took.

"Advance the entire army 50 paces and halt."

"Yes! Advance 50 paces!"

We pushed the entire formation forward slightly. A provocation, as if to say, "We're confident, come at us."

Grand Duke Alexander gladly accepted, launching an aggressive attack to crush us.

"Cavalry approaching! Heavy Cavalry!"

"With such a wide formation, are they trying a frontal breakthrough? A classic tactic."

The charge of Heavy Cavalry, protected by thick armor, is powerful. Enough to crush bones if faced recklessly.

It's a tactic favored by countries everywhere when engaging in open-field battles.

The Grand Duke even had the Infantry follow behind. A blatant tactic intended to exploit any gaps in our formation and tear us apart.

If we were breached here, our army would be split in two. It would be a natural consequence for disconnected units to be picked off individually.

In the worst case, the Revolutionary Army could collapse from the very beginning of the battle without putting up a decent fight.

'This is something we would never do.'

But you know why classic tactics are called classic?

They're effective when used well, but so obvious that they're easy to counter. In other words, perfect for a counterattack.

Did he really think I'd deploy a tactic without knowing the weaknesses of my formation? Not a chance.

"The front and second lines, lower your weapons and raise the Wooden Stakes. Rear lines, lower your spears and form tight groups by unit!"

Before we resolved to revolt...

Once or twice a year, flashy units would be sent to the Northern Army as reinforcements. Luxurious fellows, fully equipped and trained in orthodox tactics.

What do you think happened when they were deployed?

Before three months had passed, most of them were found dead, frozen corpses. The few survivors were split up and incorporated into other units.

In a place where humans rack their brains 24/7 to kill each other, those who rely on outdated knowledge are bound to fail.

There's no enemy in the world that will wait for you to adapt to reality.

--Crack!!

So, just like now.

"Grit your teeth and hold! Hold until the Royal Guard bastards lose their momentum!!"

"Gunners, fire at will! You're bound to hit something! Now's the perfect chance, while their speed is reduced!!"

The Wooden Stakes we made and buried as soon as we set up camp.

Anti-cavalry weapons, made by crossing and tightly binding wood, with sharpened tips.

I'd predicted the location of the battlefield and placed them accordingly. In fact, the order to advance the entire army 50 paces was partly to retrieve these.

They were useful for blocking cavalry charges back in The Northlands. It was easier to hide them in the snow there.

As each Infantry Battle Formation stood side-by-side and raised the stakes, a wooden wall instantly formed. One decorated with human corpses.

"Good. They're completely stuck."

Ranks 1 and 2 were impaled on the stakes, ranks 3 and 4 had their throats pierced by spears thrust from behind. The rear ranks, colliding and stumbling due to the carnage in front, were a bonus.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Gunners emerged from the Battle Formations or poked their muzzles through the gaps to snipe.

Elite cavalry, trained at great expense, were slaughtered by conscripts worth a tenth of their value.

"Is the Artillery still far off?"

"Almost ready!"

"Then don't send them forward yet, make them wait a little longer. I'll give the signal."

The Suppression Army Infantry rushed forward to rescue the cavalry dying like insects. They fired their guns as they advanced, and field guns bombarded from the rear.

It seems they intend to engage in a power struggle to save their allies and destroy the Wooden Stakes.

I ordered them to hold.

Until the enemy got closer.

The distance gradually closed.

500 paces, 400 paces, 300 paces, 200 paces.

Then, at 100 paces...

"Commence firing!!"

The cannons, distributed a few to each unit, revealed themselves between the Battle Formations and fired Grape Shot in unison.

"Aaaaagh!!"

"My, my leg! The bleeding won't stop, aaaaagh!!"

"Everyone fall back! If we advance like this, we'll all be torn to shreds!!"

A magnificent volley from hundreds of cannons. That single strike dealt a critical blow.

Grape Shot is a type of canister shot.

Hundreds of small iron balls fired at once, boasting supreme anti-personnel power.

It has several drawbacks, such as sacrificing range... but it's incredibly useful when used well.

In an era without machine guns or grenade launchers, it's one of the few precious close-range firepower projection weapons.

"I wonder if a few thousand died at once?"

"At least one regiment must have been wiped out. It's been a while since I've seen a direct hit like that."

The enemy, falling into a trap the Northern Army would never have fallen for, paid the price with their lives.

With this, the enemy would have lost control of all units except the Artillery. There's no way discipline or morale could remain in a unit directly hit by Grape Shot.

Even if the Infantry still held their formation, they were effectively broken. Given time, they might regain control, but... there's no reason to wait for that.

"Inform our Calvary on the left flank. It's time to encircle the enemy."

Our Calvary, waiting in perfect condition, set out against the foolishly stalled enemy.

To freely ravage their exposed and vulnerable flanks and rear.

From the left flank to the right flank.

They advanced relentlessly, trampling the Suppression Army like insects.

* * * * *

"I-Impossible."

Grand Duke Alexander couldn't believe the sight before his eyes.

How could this be? They were the army of the Royal Family, blessed by the Goddess, and those were just a bunch of insignificant rebels.

How could they be so unilaterally crushed and shattered?

'I was defeated without a chance to react. I didn't even have a chance to try and respond.'

It was so different from what he had read in books. Different from any battle he had ever witnessed.

From beginning to end, everything flowed smoothly like water, and he was swept away without being able to interfere.

'Was it a mistake to send the cavalry in from the start? No, that wasn't bad.'

Starting the battle with a cavalry charge was a common, but decent move. It was blocked, but that was also common.

However, the response of the rebels calling themselves the Revolutionary Army was too strange.

They stopped the cavalry with those bizarre structures and shot them dead with guns, so the cavalry couldn't even decide to retreat and ended up stuck.

"I should have withdrawn the infantry. I should have saved the infantry, even if it meant abandoning the cavalry!"

He urged the infantry forward to buy time for a retreat, but even they met a gruesome fate. An Artillery barrage of Grape Shot, who could have predicted that?

Because the enemy's formation was wide, the Grand Duke's army also had to spread out, and that only maximized the losses.

There wasn't a single unit that escaped the attack; everyone was hit evenly.

And now, half-collapsed, they faced a concerted cavalry charge, being swept away like dominoes.

The flow of this battle, being unilaterally beaten and led to ruin, was horrifying, but what truly shocked the Grand Duke was something else.

"To handle such a large force so organically...? Is that even physically possible?"

The enemy's coordination between units was seamless and natural. There was no delay in the execution of orders.

Others would fire, then receive the order to charge after a pause, but they charged immediately after firing. Without giving the opponent a chance to react.

Is that even possible? How long do they have to cooperate and synchronize to move tens of thousands of men as one?

No, that's not enough. At least dozens of times through the jaws of death together.

Without understanding each other's intentions without words and being able to entrust their lives to each other, such a performance would be impossible.

"What... what was I even trying to fight?"

Only then did the Grand Duke realize.

They were monsters. True veterans of war, trained far beyond his cherished Royal Guard.

From the beginning, it was a fight with absolutely no chance of victory in a head-on confrontation. He should have just holed up as General Albrecht suggested.

"Ah."

While sighing, the Revolutionary Army's cavalry reached his headquarters.

A Calvaryman's blade flashing towards his neck was the last thing the Grand Duke saw.

* * * * *

.....The battle ended before afternoon arrived.

The Suppression Army, which had attempted a reckless attack for a quick victory, was critically damaged and collapsed after being counterattacked.

Furthermore, the Grand Duke and the Suppression Army's leadership were annihilated by the Revolutionary Army's flanking attack, which took advantage of the opening.

The casualties were around 2,000 for the Revolutionary Army.

In contrast, the Suppression Army's casualties exceeded 8,000.

It was a decisive victory for the Revolutionary Army, led by Major General Carolus.