Chapter 155: Tactical Victory & Strategic Defeat (2)'
A few days before the battle at Jungfrau, in the Crown Princes camp, the division and 2,000 personal guards led by the Crown Prince marched in a relaxed manner, almost as if they were on a picnic.
Thus, soldiers who had favorable relationships with their company commanders were allowed to walk comfortably, matching their pace, while placing their armor and even their long spears in the company carts.
The battalion commanders and senior officers clicked their tongues at this sight, commenting on how the young ones these days were quick to slack off.
However, they only encountered about 1,000 enemies so far on their journey there, and according to the scouts, there were no enemies within a three-day distance from their current location.
Therefore, the company commanders who relaxed the regulations were not specifically reprimanded.
Corporal Tonz, Ive heard that Swiss women are quite busty. Is that true? What about settling here in this beautiful, clean-aired place after we win the war? Wouldnt it be possible with the money Ive saved until my discharge?
Youre getting too bold, Private. In my time, privates couldnt even talk to corporals like that. Hmph, insolent kid.
Oh, Corporal, I heard you had a fling with Anna, whom I introduced to you last leave. Dont tell me youre already engaged to her.
Honestly, Anna is pretty enough to be coveted by nobles. So, Ive decided to only have eyes for Anna. You go ahead to Switzerland.
Normally, casual chat during a march was strictly prohibited by military law, but then, for the mental health of the soldiers, even the military police and officers turned a blind eye.
In fact, even the officers chatted during the march. However, vigilance was still maintained thoroughly, so no major issues arose.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince marched with young officers whom he was training separately from Lieutenant General Yaeger.
Your Highness, we are nearing Reichenstein Castle, arent we? Haha, this time, your military prowess will truly shine.
Thats right. Although we had the boon of Count Berns collusion, according to the reports from us and the other four divisions, as Your Highness predicted, we only engaged in light skirmishes with less than 1,000 soldiers and faced no significant resistance.
Everything is proceeding as Your Highness predicted. We expect everything to go well in the future, too.
Max, a lieutenant from the Duke Benner family, and other young officers enthusiastically praised the Crown Princes military abilities, and the Crown Prince responded with a modest smile.
There was a reason for such thoughts, as strategic operations in war were always fraught with variables, making them difficult to predict.
This was because the less deviation from the initial plan in strategic operations, the higher the chances of victory.
Even though the most crucial large-scale battle of the war hadnt happened yet, all the assumptions made so far on the way there matched.
Unless something significant happened, the Crown Princes victory was almost assured.
Ah, but the report from the 7th Division isnt in yet. Didnt you learn in the Academy and the Staff College? The war isnt over until the peace treaty is signed.
The content of the speech was quite serious and sounded like a reprimand, but the speaker said it with a smiling face and in a relaxed voice.
It seems we were too excited.
Haha, we havent won yet. Please forgive us.
We made such excited remarks in the hope of Your Highnesss victory.
The young officers faces looked quite at ease, even as they apologized.
And the Crown Prince, busy with assignments and studies from the Staff College, appreciated the young officers who came to him at night and worked through the night with him.
Understood. Anyway, I know you, including Lieutenant Max, have worked hard in establishing this operation. You couldnt even relax until the final plan was out, just spending nights brainstorming together.
The officers were genuinely moved by the Crown Prince acknowledging their hard work.
Of course, we had our share of fun after the plan was set. But it feels a bit lacking compared to the hard work then. So, when I conquer Switzerland, you will all be promoted. Lets have a grand drink with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Drink to your hearts content with beauties in both arms.
A promotion to Lieutenant Colonel before turning 30 was incredibly sweet to the officers.
Because, except for a genius like Lieutenant General Peter Yaeger, which was rare in imperial history, even the best generals, appearing once every 2-3 batches, couldnt achieve the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before 30.
If everything went as the Crown Prince said, it wouldnt be just a dream for them to wear a Generals rank and aspire to be a Marshal in the future.
Then, the Crown Prince spoke in a slightly grumbling tone to further comfort them.
Id like to bring Lieutenant General Yaeger along, too, but he wont touch any woman other than Laura. I was quite amazed to see him resist Charlotte, his personal maid, who flirts so much with him. So, you are the only one who can entertain me.
Being able to enjoy leisure with a person of power since the beginning of human history always meant being favored, and being able to spend time and talk about women with the Crown Prince, the future Emperor, was a great privilege in itself.
So, in this regard, they did not envy Lieutenant General Yaeger at all and could smile happily.
While they were chatting, a lieutenant approached, saluted the Crown Prince, and handed him a letter.
Ah, youve worked hard. So, this is from Lieutenant General Yaeger? Well, take this as a small token of appreciation and return to your original position.
Then, expecting a report of no significant issues, the Crown Prince opened the letter
[Report from Lieutenant General Peter Yaeger, commander of the 7th Division. To cut to the chase, Count Bern is a double agent. Thus, the general outline of our current operation has likely been relayed to the Duke of Switzerland, and this expedition has failed.]
If someone other than Lieutenant General Yaeger had sent such a letter, the Crown Prince might have torn it up in anger.
But considering Lieutenant General Yaeger, whom the Crown Prince had long earmarked as a future Marshal and wouldnt mind giving his most cherished sister, Louise, to, it was unlikely he would talk nonsense.
He continued reading the letter.
[Based on the information he brought, strategically, Count Ticinos maximum force would have been about 3,000 soldiers. However, he was waiting with an evil plot to annihilate our 7th Division with a force exceeding 9,000 soldiers. Realistically, this indicates that Count Bern had passed on all our military information to him before we invaded.]
The Crown Prince, or rather, the 30-year-old young man, Michael von Reich, felt his neck stiffen.
[Therefore, Your Highness, please hasten preparations for retreat as soon as the entire army arrives at Reichenstein. Furthermore, abandon any plans to capture Reichenstein Castle. If we get entangled in its siege, irreversible consequences may ensue.]
Having read the general content, the Crown Prince, forgetting his previous good mood, shouted in anger, his face turning red.
Count Bern, you filthy spawn of Satan! You pretended to abandon Switzerland and work solely for the empire, while plotting against me for years!!! Ugh, damn it!!
But considering that Lieutenant General Peter Yaeger was not someone to spout nonsense over such a critical matter, and after rationally considering all aspects, when pondering the letters content over the situation that seemed too good to be true,
Why? Why? Why has Deus plunged me into this chaos?! To think I was just a monkey dancing in the palms of Count Bern and the Duke of Switzerland!
The officers felt it upon seeing the Crown Princes reaction.
Damn, its the end. Well, we might survive, depending on what we do. But how are we supposed to continue our military careers?
Lieutenant Colonel Max, bring the Deputy Commander immediately. Everyone, disperse and declare an emergency for the whole army. We need to gather all units near Reichenstein!
The relaxed atmosphere shattered instantly, and the Crown Prince wondered why such a tragedy had befallen him and cursed Deus.
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