Chapter 100: Establishing The Francois Invasion Strategy (3)
“War is ultimately a transaction with threats, where you strike the enemy with limited troops and resources and then get what you want. I would like to propose such an operation.”
After saying that, I spread out the map I brought and began explaining.
“In a typical war, we declare war, the enemy raises an army in response, and it ends with a decisive battle to determine the winner. However, in this case, we have the justification, and we also need to exact thorough revenge on Francois.”
Then, following the red line drawn, I traced it with my finger and said,
“We’ll enter the enemy’s territory and repay them in the same way they rendered the Reich Empire’s farmlands, villages, and castles unusable. But we’ll do this on a much larger scale, plundering the eastern core grain-producing areas of the Francois Republic.”
“…Then there’s a possibility that the enemy forces might enter the interior of the Reich Empire.”
Certainly, if our forces and the enemy’s won’t engage directly, when we enter Francois, the enemy could enter the interior of the Reich Empire.
The key was to ensure that the Francois Republic’s army could never enter the Reich Empire’s territory, and the method to achieve this was surprisingly simple.
“The Empire currently maintains a force of 300,000. With Ludwig dead and the major threat in the north gone, we can draw about 50,000 troops from there and position them as a reserve force in the eastern part of the Empire. This way, even if they invade our territory, we can minimize damage and buy time.”
“Impressive. So, while the 50,000 northern troops hold the Francois army, our expeditionary force will retreat and surround them from both sides? If they realize this and try to escape from the northern army, they’ll be caught by our pursuing expeditionary force.”
In this way, by using about 50,000 northern troops as a reserve, we could avoid a large-scale engagement with the enemy. If the expeditionary force persistently plundered, there would be no significant damage to the Empire’s troops, and the eastern part of Francois would be devastated.
“Moreover, when we attack the eastern part of Francois, we have traditionally moved between places like Sargminne Castle and Ballon, which are easy to procure food from. But with the establishment of the supply depots and supply units that I proposed, we can move directly from Hulang Castle to Puatishe. The enemy, taken by surprise by our unexpected route, will take a long time to catch up even if they hurriedly redirect their defense forces.”
“What if we divide our forces into battalions or regiments to thoroughly plunder every village in the widest area possible before Francois and his men arrive?”
“Even if we lose the war, they will suffer tremendous economic and social damage that will take them many years to recover from.”
“If that happens, the disgraced nobles of Francois, already in a terrible state from being expelled, would likely move their troops as quickly as possible to avoid further humiliation, fearing a nationwide peasant uprising.”
The Minister of Military Affairs, Moritz, seemed to imagine Francois’s nobles rushing to prevent the worst-case scenario of a peasant uprising.
He smiled so purely and innocently that one couldn’t help but think he couldn’t be any more genuine.
As a Duke of the Empire and a legend of the Imperial Army for decades, he must have harbored a lot of resentment towards Francois for threatening the Empire.
“Normally, when the enemy invades, we don’t know what might happen, so we’d use scouts to check for ambushes and adjust our speed accordingly. However, the nobles who have been disgraced and have lost their standing can’t march while adhering to such common sense due to their political interests.”
“You’re truly wicked. Let me continue from here. We plan to deploy company or battalion-sized ambush forces intermittently to block the way or launch surprise attacks, reducing their soldiers and maximizing their fatigue, right?”
Upon my slight nod in affirmation, the Minister of Military Affairs smiled and said,
“As I thought. If our troops have advanced that far, soon both armies will meet in a major battle. Do you have a plan for that battle, too?”
I thought that if I couldn’t answer, I would fall into the pit of overtime again, having to report at least five different battle plans considering various scenarios.
So, of course, I had prepared for it.
“While strategies generally move according to plan, as they say at the Academy, tactics and battles often become useless within three minutes of starting. So, I cannot say that I have a definitive plan for the battle since it hasn’t begun yet, but I have made some rough plans considering various scenarios.”
“If only the other officers at the General Staff followed even half as much as you do, I would have no further wishes.”
When I heard that, I thought that if any other officer at the General Staff made even a minor mistake tomorrow, the Minister, with his four or five stars, would personally express regret to the others, and I prayed inwardly that not a single staff officer would make a mistake tomorrow.
The downward reprimand starting from a battalion commander was terrifying enough, let alone one starting from the Minister of Military Affairs with the dignity of six stars.
It couldn’t be anything less than dreadful.
“It is an honor. We plan to quickly locate enemy troops using our ambush units stationed everywhere. Once the distance between us and the enemy reduces, we’ll recall the raiding units deployed far away to join the main force, recover their strength, and then prepare for battle.”
“Very good.”
“Furthermore, we’re considering fortifying our troops using supply wagons or terrain, taking advantage of the enemy’s need to attack us quickly for a swift victory. Shall I mention more plans we have prepared?”
This was half a bluff.
Because, although I really did prepare a lot more than this, any further content involved too many variables to consider, making it riddled with unpredictable issues.
Ad hoc responses were necessary, but given that the opponent was a famous General known as the protector of the empire, the chances of success were slim.
Fortunately, our Minister of Military Affairs nodded with a satisfied expression and said,
“Further planning is something all the staff officers should ponder together. There are too many variables. But you’ve done well to have planned this far.”
“I only thought based on what I learned at the Empire’s Academy.”
After my modest reply, the Minister of Military Affairs slightly grinned and said,
“You’re just competent. If I ordered any other staff officer to come up with such a plan alone in a month and a half, no one could do it. Indeed, you are such a genius who broke convention to be promoted to Major General at such a young age.”
“It is an honor, Your Excellency.”
“Speaking of which, I have some good news for you.”
Since I’d already received enough benefits like promotions and titles, it didn’t seem like he was giving me something directly.
I wondered what kind of good news it was.
“His Majesty the Emperor has formally accepted the warriors of the surrendering barbarian tribe into the Imperial Army, and their families have dispersed throughout the Empire to work in positions similar to their previous status. In other words, a part of the northern tribe has officially become citizens of the Empire.”
How exactly was that news helpful to me?
Well, surely, the more northern people fully naturalized and lived in the Empire, the more beneficial it would be…
Ah, all the northerners naturalizing in the Empire now shudder with disgust at the mere mention of ‘Khan.’
They must have a very good impression of me, the one who killed that evil Khan?
If those people dispersed as a group…
“And the younger sons and daughters of serfs, who couldn’t marry because they couldn’t find land to cultivate within the Empire, have also gone north.”
“Is that so? His Majesty the Emperor must be pleased.”
“He’s not being honest. He could show a more honest reaction, like a young boy of barely 25 blushing at the sight of a beauty.”
It was something that could be understood without being said.
Indeed, this meant my reputation, which had been known among nobles and in major cities, would now spread across various parts of the Reich Empire.
It meant I would automatically gain the reputation that was important for nobles.
This was certainly very good news.
“The surrendered chieftains, in exchange for giving up their lands in the north, received vacant lands suitable for them, along with knightly titles, and became official nobles of the Empire. Additionally, a woman named Anastasia Kerzhit, who surrendered through you, received the greatest reward and treatment among them.”
When I made an inwardly moved expression and was about to thank him for informing me, the Minister of Military Affairs got up from his desk, came over to me, and whispered quietly,
“Don’t be too pleased. Look at the reality. You’re too flawless and perfect. Now, there will be a lot of scoundrels trying to slander someone like Peter Yaeger to the Crown Prince.”
“……”
“As if you were my own son, I advise you to show some ambition and clearly demonstrate your loyalty. Otherwise, those who envy you will bite and tear at you for not having any weaknesses. Instead, create a reasonable weakness; it will be easier to respond if they focus only there.”
As I nodded and was about to leave, the Minister of Military Affairs said with a smile,
“What you just saw was a maid assigned by His Majesty the Emperor to make my life more comfortable. Now that you’ve been promoted to Major General, you’ll have one assigned to you as well.”
Considering the context of what had been said so far, his message was clear.
‘Be careful in your conduct, as there will be many more eyes on you now.’
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