Chapter 31
"Flowery language aside, get straight to the point. What’s the current situation? Our remaining strength and the enemy’s size?”
Etiquette is a luxury for a soldier on the battlefield.
After instructing the Colonel and lower ranks to begin setting up camp, I immediately sought out information.
To understand if any minor changes had occurred on the Front Line during the few weeks we were unable to receive communication while traveling.
“Have you read the reports sent to Central Region?”
“Yes.”
“Nothing much has changed. We lost a few battalions, about 3,000 more soldiers died. On the other hand, the Imperial bastards got 3,000 reinforcements.”
Lieutenant General Mauer sat in his chair, arranging pieces on a map like a chessboard.
Cannons, Cavalry units, Infantry units, Mage units, and so on. The overall layout could be roughly represented like this:
□□□□
□□ □□
+++++++ ○○○○○○ ++++++++
○○○ ○○○
●● ●
+++++ ●●●● +++++
■■ ++++++++++ ■■
■■■
Here, the top represents the enemy, and the bottom represents us. ○ represents Cavalry, + represents Infantry, □ represents Artillery and Mage units.
Considering the terrain and altitude, it would be more complex, but it’s difficult to depict that on a flat surface, so I’ll omit it.
To briefly explain this layout… we were at a clear and definite disadvantage across the board.
“There isn't a single advantageous point.”
“I apologize. I tried my best, but…”
“It’s alright. I wasn’t trying to reprimand you. You’ve done well enough, Mauer.”
Central Region, Left Wing, and Right Wing.
Our forces were being pushed back in all three sectors that constituted the Front Line.
The Imperial Army was pressing our soldiers from all sides as they held their ground, relying on the terrain.
It was only thanks to the minimal difference in artillery firepower and Mauer's competent command that we were holding on; otherwise, the Front Line might have already been breached.
‘Now, I have to turn this situation around.’
How could I reverse the war's tide with the roughly 20,000 troops I brought?
Disperse the troops here and there?
This is a gamble.
Even with the addition of 20,000, the Northern Army's total strength is still below that of the Imperial Army. The problem of being outnumbered overall remains unresolved.
Then, should I keep them in the rear as reserves?
This is simply the worst option. It’s suicide.
We’re already in a precarious situation because we lack manpower, so what’s the point of conserving troops? Are we going to deploy them only after the Front Line is breached and everything collapses?
History has long proven the correct answer in these situations.
It’s focus and concentration.
“Brigadier General Ellan.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Grant the marching soldiers two days of rest, including today. They’ve toiled for weeks on foot, so they'll be in no condition to carry out immediate duties.”
“Understood.”
Didn't Napoleon also say that he always won with superior numbers against inferior ones?
I intended to utilize the same principle.
Even if we are outnumbered overall, it’s not difficult to achieve local superiority at certain points on the Battlefield.
Rather, it’s a tactic that can be employed anywhere. As long as the operation is planned correctly.
“There were many hills around the Right Wing, weren’t there? Then it would be difficult for a Regiment or larger unit to move at once.”
“It’s closer to rolling terrain than hills. The surface is covered with frozen streams and lakes.”
“It amounts to the same thing; movement is difficult.”
The Right Wing is out of the question due to the terrain.
The Central Region is out of the question unless the Left and Right Wings are subdued.
Then the remaining answer is the Left Wing.
“Alright. Then we’ll concentrate the Reinforcements on the Left Wing. Who's currently commanding that side?”
“Brigadier General Harschwalt. The one Your Excellency recruited last time.”
“Ah, him? Inform him that I’ll be taking command from now on. Incorporate his unit under my command.”
“Wouldn’t mixing troops with different branches and organization create confusion?”
“It’s a hundred times better than having two heads in one Army. And I’ve handled mixed units several times when I was Deputy Commander of the Northern Army. Don't worry.”
The enemy's Right Wing is estimated to be around 20,000. On the other hand, our Left Wing has a mere 12,000.
But if we send all 20,000 from the Central Army? That makes it a total of 32,000. A whopping 60% more than the enemy.
Furthermore, detailed information about the newly arrived troops likely hasn't leaked yet.
If we hurry, we can aim for not only numerical superiority but also the element of surprise.
“The operation will commence the day after tomorrow at 0800. Until then, everyone is to reorganize and relay instructions to their subordinate units. That is all.”
Two days for rest. Another day to move into battle positions.
And so, the main engagement took place three days later.
* * * * *
“General! The Kingdom's Army is moving!”
“What?”
Three days later, in the morning.
The General in charge of the Imperial Army’s Right Wing was taken aback by the sudden news.
“Why are the Kingdom’s troops suddenly moving? Weren't they always holed up in their Trenches because they were outnumbered?”
“That’s what I’m saying. There's nothing advantageous for them in open Battle.”
Few battles emphasize scale as much as field battles between armies that have been stationed in the same area for an extended period.
The inherent difficulties in utilizing prepared defenses, the terrain, troop morale, supply status, and so on... In battle, both sides are roughly aware of these factors.
It’s like playing poker with all cards face up. Victory is determined by who has more cards – in other words, more troops.
From this perspective, the Imperial Army had a staggering two Divisions. The Kingdom's Army had barely one, with two or three Battalions attached.
No matter how you looked at it, the Empire had the upper hand. Even if the opposing commander was a heaven-sent genius, overcoming such a disparity would be a difficult feat.
“Have they all gone mad from eating something bad?”
“They might be under pressure from higher-ups to do something since the standoff has been going on for so long…”
“No. It could simply be a change in command. It's common for newly appointed Officers to act foolishly to make a name for themselves.”
Their knowledge and reasoning couldn’t fathom the cause. They could only vaguely guess that something had happened within the Kingdom's Army.
Normally, they would have hypothesized about reinforcements, but the circumstances prevented them from doing so.
“They must have even pulled the reserves to hold the Eastern Front (Western Front from the Kingdom's perspective). There’s no way the Kingdom has the capacity to send Reinforcements here.”
“That’s right. Didn't they deploy something like 150,000 men to that front?”
“After that debacle, it would be near impossible for them to worry about other fronts while trying to recover.”
The disaster brought about by Lieutenant General Liebert’s reckless pursuit of glory. To recover from a crushing defeat that cost nearly 100,000 soldiers, they would have had to pull every available soldier from the rear.
They must have hastily conscripted new recruits and scraped together reserves. They’d have inducted anyone and everyone, regardless of their quality. So, for the time being, the Kingdom's Army wouldn't have the capacity to deploy additional troops.
That's what the Imperial Army thought.
Frankly, it wasn't wrong.
Carolus had to resort to extorting Private Soldiers from the Nobility to handle the aftermath.
However, what they didn't anticipate was that the Kingdom had pulled their entire Central Army.
“Anyway, it’s good for us. How many of the enemy have appeared?”
“About 8,000.”
“Then there can’t be many in ambush. Issue the order to deploy. Go out and sweep them away in one fell swoop, then return.”
Overjoyed at the chance to finally earn some decent merits, the General ordered the entire right wing of the Imperial Army to deploy.
Unaware of the dangers lurking on the Battlefield.
* * * * *
“Kuh huh, those fools actually came out of the fortress! What a bunch of imbeciles!”
On the broad plain nestled between hills, the two armies faced each other.
8,000 versus 20,000. With a nearly threefold difference, the length and depth of their Battle Formations differed significantly.
The Kingdom's Army could only arrange their soldiers in a few [thin lines], while the Imperial Army formed several thick, square formations.
It seemed like the battle would be decided the moment they clashed.
“General, isn’t something strange? I don’t see any soldiers carrying spears in the Kingdom's Army…”
“Oh really? Maybe they ran out of pikes.”
The adjutant had noticed something Suspicious, but the General dismissed it lightly. The glory he was about to grasp was shimmering before his eyes.
He couldn’t be bothered with such trivial unease.
“Victory will be a piece of cake against such foes. March Forward!! Annihilate those Kingdom dogs!”
The order to advance was given with gusto. The entire right wing of the Imperial Army stepped forward in unison.
Utilizing their numerical advantage, they gradually closed the distance, encircling the enemy like a crescent moon.
1,000 paces.
800 paces.
600 paces.
400 paces.
200 paces.
Now, only fifty more steps and the Gunners would begin their exchange of fire.
They would continue firing until the distance between the two sides became zero, at which point it would transition into a melee between the formations.
A fierce bloodbath of clashing spears and swords would decide the victor. That was the standard of war in this era.
But just as the Imperial Army was feeling complacent…
--Rat-tat-tat-tat!!
“T-The enemy is firing a volley!!”
The Kingdom's Army, lined up shoulder to shoulder, began firing their Muskets in unison.
The first rank knelt, the second stood, and the third rested their Muskets on the shoulders of those in front.
Countless flames and lead balls erupted not from a single section, but from the entirety of their Deployment.
“T-Those lunatics! Did they really equip their entire army with Muskets?!”
Only then did the Imperial Army realize.
That the [thin lines] of their Deployment weren't due to a lack of troops. Rather, it was a tactic to maximize their firepower.
“General! Our Soldiers are being slaughtered! Even the non-commissioned officers and junior Officers giving orders! We need a countermeasure immediately!”
“A-Advance! Somehow, close the distance and force a melee! We have a much greater advantage in close combat!”
Gunners were strong, but they were at a disadvantage in close-quarters combat with cold steel. Even if they had to take losses, if they could close the distance, they would have a chance.
With that judgment, even as they were battered by the hail of bullets, the Imperial Army stubbornly pressed forward.
But the moment their blades clashed...
--Clang!
“You bastards. Did you think we'd come with just Guns and no preparation? Huh?”
“They… they attached swords to their Guns?!”
They realized it once more.
The existence of a new invention: the bayonet.
The idea of attaching a sword to the end of the barrel to replace a melee weapon.
Simple, but surprisingly, a concept that hadn’t even been conceived in this world.
While admittedly less convenient than an actual spear or sword, its effectiveness was beyond words.
Far from pushing back the Kingdom's Army as expected, the Imperial Army was caught, unable to advance or retreat.
And in that gap…
“General! An unidentified unit has appeared from the flank!!”
The hidden Kingdom's Army, aiming for the Imperial Army’s weak point, revealed themselves.