Chapter 47: The Great Battle Of Branov Plains (4)
In modern warfare, letting down your guard even a little could mean a surprise attack or missile strike at any moment.
So, drinking alcohol on the battlefield was only possible when total victory had been secured, and a truce was confirmed, or when one had retreated to a distant rear base.
However, in this era, not only weren’t there any missiles, but there were no digital devices utilizing computers or artificial weapons capable of mass destruction.
And there were no regulations on drinking. Rather, there was a consensus that one should drink alcohol when there was no water.
My immediate superior, the Regiment Commander, bestowed two 200-liter drum cans of beer to our battalion members, and there was a drinking party within the unit.
Normally, I should be leading such a banquet, beginning with the toast, but since I had numerous responsibilities as a battalion commander, I instructed the officers and soldiers to only drink to the extent that they wouldn’t stagger in tomorrow’s battle and excused myself.
“For the great Reich Empire and His Highness the Crown Prince, cheers!”
“Long live the Regiment Commander who bestowed us beer!”
“For the continuous victories of Lieutenant Yaeger and the early discharge of the soldiers of the 1st Company!”
As a result, each company had a relaxed and carefree atmosphere, which probably contributed more to the rise in the soldiers’ morale.
Thinking so, I was walking towards my tent when I noticed Laura, who seemed to be another deserter from the banquet, following me.
“I know you achieved the most today, excluding me, the Battalion Commander, in our unit, but you should rest, Lieutenant.”
Indeed, today, our battalion crushed the enemy’s battalion and successfully repelled the knights who were chasing us.
But that was the collective achievement of the Yaeger Battalion, thus becoming the collective military merit shared by all the members of the battalion.
However, Lieutenant Laura, who was under my command, led a platoon, killed the enemy company commander, and earned her individual merit.
So, I acknowledged it and suggested she rest, assuming she would be exhausted after the first battle.
“I’d rather assist you, Sir. Also, all those left at the banquet are men, and it’s somewhat uncomfortable for me.”
“Yes, indeed. Such banquets with alcohol involved could lead to inappropriate jokes, which can be uncomfortable.”
But there would be no one bold enough to harass Lieutenant Laura von Benner in our battalion. Her father was Count Benner, and causing trouble for her would mean declaring war on the Count and his house.
So she would never suffer from direct sexual harassment or violence.
“The prostitute Maronia, who that damn civilian merchant brought, has huge breasts! What do you think? Shall we try touching them today?”
Such a joke could be unpleasant even to hear from the side.
“Also… since we went to the battlefield, it has been difficult to have a conversation like this. But today, everyone is busy drinking…”
“Yes, everyone is busy with the banquet. Today, like the first day you were appointed, I have enough time to explain why the tactics I wrote worked. After finishing the battalion combat report and the strategy meeting with the Regiment Commander, I’ll explain everything calmly.”
Usually, Laura would have been happier than anyone to receive new tactics and teachings, but now her voice seemed more regretful than happy.
“I’ll be looking forward to it, Sir.”
I left her and went to where the Regiment Commander was, and because of her lower rank, Laura couldn’t follow me, so she returned to the battalion tent instead.
Based on her drooped figure, it was clear she wanted praise from me, her respected superior, for her first achievement.
I never had anyone to praise me when I was a student platoon commander because I was alone, but sparing praise for a subordinate who achieved for the first time as a superior made me feel regretful.
I should meet her again after the strategy meeting with the Regiment Commander and praise her a lot.
She would surely be happy.
Having arranged such thoughts, I arrived at the Regiment Commander’s tent.
“This is Peter Yaeger, Battalion Commander of the Yaeger Battalion. May I come in to see the Regiment Commander?”
“Loyalty! The Regiment Commander is waiting inside. Please come in!”
Led by the guard, I went inside, and a very familiar and welcoming figure greeted me.
“As of now, I am Hans Weber, the Colonel who assumed command of the 8th Regiment to which you belong.”
Six years had passed since I died absurdly in Korea, and I had forgotten most of my other memories except for my parents’ names and military knowledge.
Even in such a situation, under the face of the Regiment Commander, I felt the illusion as if the subtitle, ‘But it actually happened,’ appeared.
This was because he was the interviewer when I took the academy entrance exam, granting me, who was an orphan with terrible written grades, an excellent interview score, and allowing me to pass. He also supervised me when I was selected as the student platoon leader, and reviewed our unit’s training methods. He was my benefactor.
We’ve had a somewhat deep relationship even before I was promoted.
“Well, I’ve seen you twice during the interview and the student platoon leader selection, so I don’t think introductions are necessary.”
Hearing that, I saluted him.
“Loyalty! I am Peter Yaeger, the Battalion Commander of the Yaeger Battalion.”
“Well, you really have climbed up the ranks quickly. When I was your age, I just became a captain, and it was rumored that I was the fastest among our batch. Becoming a lieutenant at 21 is like something out of a novel.”
“All the progress I have made was possible because you recognized and evaluated me during the interview, for which I am always thankful. I am truly thankful!”
Hearing this, Colonel Hans in front of me smiled.
“I’m thankful for your words. Actually, when you were making great strides in Raintlant, I was able to be promoted quickly to Colonel due to the insight I had in recognizing the potential of an orphan from a commoner background during the interview. So, having someone like you under my command, my expectations are high.”
“Thank you!”
“Let’s put the pleasantries aside. I called you because the Brigade Commander wanted your opinion on a strategy he received from His Highness. He wanted to call you, the Battalion Commander, directly, but he found it inappropriate, so he asked me to convey your opinion.”
Colonel Hans then handed me a document.
[The Chekovia Kingdom, to counter our Reich Empire’s invasion, intends to send 20,000 troops here after concluding their war with the Grand Duchy of Luxenia. In the worst case, 20,000 reinforcements are expected to arrive within a month.]
Defeating Chekovia’s army, which was about 25% larger than ours, was not easy, but if 20,000 additional reinforcements came, the enemy’s advantage would be much stronger, and the Reich Empire’s army would be trapped in an unavoidable crisis.
Because people usually say, ‘Wars are not just about numbers.’ But in most wars, having more soldiers tends to be advantageous.
So, before the enemy reinforcements arrive, we should conclude the battle in the Bisochea region as quickly as possible.
If this information was intentionally leaked by the enemy, it implied that they wanted us to rush our offensive.
Showing me this implied that some units, including our regiment, might be mobilized to intercept them.
“Is His Highness taking this intelligence seriously? It seems he wants our regiment, which belongs to a brigade, to prepare to intercept the arrival of their 20,000 reinforcements. Am I correct?”
“As you said, to intercept 20,000 troops, a brigade must be sent. If this intelligence is correct, we need to establish defensive positions about five days away from here. That’s the only way we can protect our allies from an enemy more than twice our number.”
Establishing proper defensive positions would take more than a month, during which the Brigade Commander would have to sit idly.
Nobody wants to face an unfavorable battle of blocking 20,000 enemy soldiers with just 8,000 of us, but if 20,000 reinforcements were really going to arrive, how could we obtain such information?
If it were me, I would have hidden the possibility of the arrival of 20,000 reinforcements and used it to strike the enemy unexpectedly.
So, I based my answer on a seemingly obvious fact.
“I assess that this intelligence is fake, intentionally leaked by the enemy.”
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