Chapter 88: Northern Conquest War (6)
When I returned to our unit at the far left of the left-wing, the two battalions I had left behind were engaged in combat with the enemy infantry.
The Deputy Regional Commander, who was leading them greeted me with a bright smile even as he directed the battle upon my return.
“Haha, Regiment Commander. You’ve truly worked hard.”
Usually, upon hearing such words, a superior would assure their subordinate that they had the tougher ordeal, offering encouragement.
However, after leading a group equivalent to less than one regiment with the divisional colors awarded by the Commander-in-Chief and charging blindly to crush the enemy forces, I did not feel the slightest inclination to say, even out of politeness, that he had had a harder time.
But the Deputy Regiment Commander, who had managed to maintain the front lines with two battalions until I returned, must have also faced immense challenges.
“So, indeed, you’ve had quite the struggle yourself.”
Upon hearing this, the Deputy Regiment Commander seemed to guess how exhausted I was as the Regiment Commander and, with a bright voice, said,
“Nonetheless, thanks to the Regiment Commander, the battle has become much smoother. Thanks to your excellent tactical judgment, we’ve managed to successfully defeat roughly two enemy battalions. Had the Regiment Commander failed, the enemy’s momentum would still be strong, and we might have been annihilated. Hahaha.”
These flattering remarks, made with a touch of humor because we were in the middle of a war and had a firm grip on victory, held a truth.
Indeed, had I failed in my charge, two battalions would not have been sufficient to hold a front line that a full regiment was expected to handle.
That was because facing an enemy force the size of a regiment at once, with your own soldiers under command numbering about half that, puts you at a numerical disadvantage.
Of course, even if I had been wounded and hadn’t charged but held this position, considering that the enemy’s front-line infantry were elite troops, shifting the flow of the infantry battle in our favor would have taken quite some time.
“By the way, how much damage have the two battalions sustained so far?”
“Since our numbers are smaller, two companies have suffered significant losses. We’ve had to send them back to the main force along with the wounded, and I presume there will be casualties among the other units as well.”
In games, when an ally soldier dies, you see the number of soldiers decrease in digits. However, that’s not possible in reality.
On the battlefield, only reports of significant damage or the inability to continue fighting make their way up the chain, so one has to judge the situation based on rough information.
What I’m currently thinking is that the Deputy Regiment Commander has indeed held the line well, but both battalions must have lost a considerable number of soldiers.
Otherwise, it would be unlikely for as many as two companies, not just one, to retreat together with their units.
“First, the soldiers I took with me to the enemy lines had few casualties because we were able to pierce through the enemy’s weak spot. So, let’s have them switch out with the two battalions under your command right away. That will give you a chance to rest as well.”
“Then I shall retreat with those men to the rear of the regiment.”
After saying that, the Deputy Regiment Commander went to oversee the withdrawal of the two battalions to the rear while I moved to the front of the regiment to observe our current fighting and to issue appropriate commands.
“Slaughter those barbarians! Kill them all!”
“You wouldn’t be much if you were ground to dust on the cobblestones, you barbaric savages!”
“Our polearms will give you a taste. You barbaric bastards! We’ll show you how it’s done properly!”
My subordinates provided violent re-education to the uncivilized pests with proclamations.
“Shit, aren’t these the same bastards who charged like madmen just now?”
“Damn it, shut your mouth! You don’t see the decurion with a sword right next to you?”
“Argh! Die! Die!”
The barbarians, witnessing their comrades revert to their ‘proper form,’ shivered in fear of us.
Although they had not yet deserted in the face of the enemy, their evident dread made it challenging for them to fight properly.
Also, without an extraordinary turn of events, there was no way to change the tide in our favor in the current situation where we were winning.
As I roughly assessed the situation, Laura from the Infantry Battalion—the one commanding beside me—approached and asked,
“Colonel, I can’t help but be reminded of the fight in Bisochea. When we had almost won, didn’t the commander of the Chekovia Grand Duchy’s army flee on horseback? Is there a chance that bastard Ludwig might attempt to flee, like that Nikolai guy?”
Hearing this, I shook my head.
That was because Ludwig’s situation differed completely from Nikolai’s.
First, Nikolai had a fortress to protect him if he fled, but Ludwig would have nothing of the sort even if he returned to his abode. Besides being bound by a very loose suzerainty called a tribal state, if Ludwig lost this battle, the subordinate chiefs who had been granted land and tribesmen by him would all cut ties with him.
And following the cultural sentiment of the barbarian tribes, which was to kill their chief and surrender for survival when outnumbered, it was possible that Ludwig and his family would be killed before surrendering to save themselves.
Knowing this well, instead of running away, he would strive to find any possibility to win the battle and fight to the death.
“First, he can’t escape like Nikolai. If he did, he and his family would meet a miserable end. So, surely he’s thinking of one last move that could turn the tide…”
Just as I said this, a possible strategy for him flashed through my mind.
“Yes, those damned semi-agricultural, semi-nomadic bastards would resort to the most effective tactic they’ve always used.”
At that, Laura nodded in agreement and said with a look of understanding.
“Indeed, he is, after all, the commander of a grand army of 60,000. He will try to fight to the end. So, do you think he will use his archer cavalry to concentrate fire and look for an opening before personally leading the charge at the forefront?”
“That’s right, what else? And since the infantry battle has stabilized, we can’t keep our knights idle, can we?”
Truth be told, the knights had already fulfilled their role in this war by defeating the barbaric infantry before I led the infantry to charge.
But since we were caught up in this tough war, it would be better to provide them with another opportunity to excel and gain more glory.
Moreover, now that I had read the enemy’s tactics, I couldn’t miss the chance to earn greater merit by taking charge of this left wing.
“Lieutenant Laura, lead the knights under your command, about twenty of them, to the commander and ask for permission to proceed.”
“Understood, Colonel. What should I specifically request?”
“Find out which unit from the Imperial Army, other than the vanguard, took the heaviest losses, and tell them we want to go and assist that side, anticipating the enemy’s last major attack.”
As I spoke, Laura brought out a pen from somewhere and began jotting down everything I said.
“Additionally, inquire if I’m permitted to command any knight units found adrift without leaders due to losses from enemy archer cavalry and have them join our reinforcements.”
If our commander had been someone other than Count Benner, the knights, disoriented from losing their leaders, might not have warmly received the suggestion from a mere Colonel to pick them up and assist our heavily damaged allies.
Even though the Imperial Army operated under a meritocratic system, moving troops affiliated with other units in such a manner could be seen as an affront to higher-ups like brigades or division commanders.
Under normal circumstances, someone from the headquarters with a rank of general or higher would delegate authority for such troop movements…
But since I had been granted the authority to make field decisions, which was a step higher, and with Count Benner, who was somewhat forceful, it became possible to assume control over the leaderless knight units.
“Yes, Colonel.”
With that, Laura quickly gathered about twenty knights and headed to where Count Benner, the commander, was.
About 40 minutes later, she returned, holding a letter with a reply and a scroll that seemed to be the orders.
“Following the Colonel’s recommendation, the commander has authorized independent action for two knight companies from the 24th Regiment and has given permission to command volunteers from knight units retreating due to the loss of leaders.”
Hearing this, I felt elated that the situation was unfolding as planned and asked,
“Good, then where is the currently weakest position in the Imperial Army that has suffered the heaviest losses?”
“It’s reported to be near the 12th Division on the right wing. The 7th Regiment there suffered significant damage and has retreated.”
“Then I’ll transfer command back to the Deputy Regiment Commander here, and we will lead the knights while gathering any retreating knights on our way to the right flank.”
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