Chapter 171

A week after the military council concluded, we finally faced over 140,000 enemy troops with our own force of approximately 115,000… No, about 110,000 troops.

Combined, the two armies numbered around 250,000. In this battle, our Croilet Marquess’s army would fend off as many losses as possible, merely trying to maintain appearances.

“Baron Walt will lead 6,000 infantry and 500 knights, while Baron Beerman will command 4,000 infantry and 500 knights, keeping a distance of about 500 meters between the left and right flanks. After that, they will assist in supporting their infantry to ensure they do not break. The rest of the army will follow me to defend the main camp and the rear!”

**

After I bellowed my command, shortly after, the soldiers of the central army, left flank, and right flank began to march in unison.

The sound of 80,000 men moving simultaneously stomped like thunder, and the dust kicked up behind them rose like a fog.

If seen in a movie, the visuals they created would appear grand and monumental, like a natural phenomenon.

“Baron Frost, lead 6,000 infantry and 1,000 knights to secure the rear of the main camp and the supply route. You are not to move even if Duke Orleans orders a full-scale attack until I give the command.”

“Yes, understood. However, what should we do if the knights under Count Architel charge us?”

“Of course, if you are holding them off alone, I will come out with my knights to support you. However, it may take a while… So from now on, mobilize the engineers to reinforce the defenses of the main camp. Also, prohibit our soldiers from using matchlocks and cannons at the slightest sign of danger.”

“I will comply with the orders.”

Although I had commanded Baron Frost to defend the rear, reports from the government command suggested that Franche intended to target the forward-left and right forces first, leveraging their numerical advantage.

Furthermore, through cross-referencing that information with what had been collected so far, we reached the conclusion…

[It would be better to crush the relatively weaker armies of Duke Orleans, Count Izza, and Count Ilerias first, rather than fighting face-to-face against the Croilet Marquess’s army. After that, we can encircle and annihilate the outnumbered Croilet Marquess’s forces.]

In summary, if we must fight, we would defeat the weaker ones one-on-one first, and then when facing the strongest, we would do so in overwhelming numbers to raise our chances.

It may seem cowardly, but it is a strategy that can effectively and decisively defeat our army.

“Send a signal to the standard-bearer, instructing the remaining soldiers to advance. We will go assist the rear of the central army.”

As the standard-bearer waved the standard vigorously from side to side to signal the advance of the corps, the military band sounded the trumpets and drums.

The grand sound of trumpets, together with the strict and measured drumming, and the dust swirling in the battlefield created a dusty wind.

Aside from a few small hills, our foot soldiers, who would face the enemy first, were visible over the open expanse.

Proving that their training was inadequate, there were clear signs from a distance that their farming tools and spears were held crookedly.

No matter how rushed the preparation for this expedition was, witnessing such a state in the first battle, even if we win, it would cost us dearly.

A moment later, the sound of trumpets erupted from the central army where Duke Orleans was positioned, and orders from senior commanders could be heard.

“Infantry of the Orleans Legion, all engage the enemy here! Prepare for the phalanx!!”

“Soldiers in the front row of each phalanx, lower your spears completely; the second row, about halfway; the third row, angle the spears slightly! Also, the commanders of each phalanx, pay attention to the left side!!”

“If a gap appears in the enemy phalanx, charge with full force towards that direction!!”

The commands were not flashy or complicated, but they were issued in the most efficient manner to engage the enemy… it made me wonder how much the quality of the commanders overseeing the infantry would compensate for.

The mid-level commanders directly leading the infantry seemed to understand well what roles they needed to fulfill, issuing commands while wielding shorter halberds or swords instead of long spears.

“Hey, front row! You’re holding your spears too low. Why are you holding your spears so weakly? Did you leave all your strength for farming at home?”

“If you don’t want to die, hold your spears at the same angle as the pikemen next to you. Otherwise, those enemy infantry will stab you first! If you want to be buried here, then do it carelessly!”

“Standing in the front does not mean you’ll get hit with more arrows, and standing in the back does not mean you’ll get hit with less. It’s all the same!! So, when the arrows come flying, just close your eyes and hold your spear!!”

The mid-level commanders seemed to know what was necessary when managing their phalanxes formed of units of about 100 soldiers.

Moreover, since they accurately pointed out the parts that ordinary conscripts feared the most and made the most mistakes with, it seemed unlikely we would be easily defeated…

Even sending supports through the gaps in the phalanxes with matchlock troops at the company or battalion level would allow us to hold out for a long time.

While I was brainstorming how to support the central army, a messenger approached and spoke.

“His Excellency Duke Orleans has requested gradual support to be sent as the vanguard of the central army engages in conflict.”

“Understood, I will send a company of matchlock infantry to break the enemy’s momentum. Thereafter, any further support will be determined at my discretion unless there are exceptional circumstances.”

“Yes, understood.”

After delivering the Duke’s orders to me, the messenger mounted his horse and rode off to another location.

“Colonel Frost, immediately have all the soldiers under your matchlock regiment mounted and head to the central army’s vanguard. Assess the situation and fire 2-3 times from the gaps between our phalanxes where you think support is needed. Also, when reloading, make sure to hide behind our spear phalanx. Under no circumstances engage in close combat… No, just make sure to ride away immediately if the enemy approaches within 30 meters.”

“I will comply with the orders.”

“After repeating this until the enemy begins to weaken or you have exhausted one magazine, lead your soldiers back to the central army immediately. I reiterate: there is no need to take unnecessary risks to break the enemy’s formation through massed fire. This is an order.”

Upon my command, Colonel Frost looked puzzled.

It was understandable; after all, using firearms even slightly aggressively could facilitate a quicker and more efficient breakthrough against the enemy’s central army…

However, excessively forcing our own soldiers to endure heavy losses to spare our ally’s troops would lead to substantial losses in the long run.

Moreover, I had not mentioned any of these plans to the vassals below ‘Baron’ at all, so naturally, they must think we should aid our allies even at a potential cost.

Thus, instead of reprimanding the hesitant Colonel Frost, I simply urged him in a calm voice.

“It’s an order; execute it promptly. I have my reasons.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. The matchlock regiment will act according to your orders, moving through the gaps between our phalanxes to provide supporting fire! However, due to Your Excellency’s strict orders not to overextend in attacks, let’s not get overly zealous in achieving results!”

With those words, Colonel Frost led his matchlock regiment as fast as possible to support Duke Orleans’s troops.

Ten minutes later, gray smoke began to rise from various points among the fiercely engaged infantry phalanxes of Duke Orleans, accompanied by small explosions.

Before long, commanders within the rear ranks of Duke Orleans’s army began issuing orders in strained voices.

“Michel! Follow the vanguard!! Our turn is coming soon! Just a little more fighting and this battle will be over!! We are the main forces!”

“If we win this time, there will be plenty of rewards for you too! Will you go back empty-handed and get beaten by your wives, or will you return with rich rewards after claiming the enemy’s heads?”

“What’s so scary about those who only get a few jabs? Charge!!!”

Unless they were an entirely inexperienced group of conscripts made up of peasants, they likely would not believe such hopeful nonsense.

Even though our fire had downed dozens or hundreds among the enemy’s phalanx, it was merely a scratch against the tens of thousands of their forces.

Experienced soldiers could discern the enemy’s collapse by the reactions shown on the battlefield, even from a distance in the rear and could assess the current state of the enemy army.

However, those dominated by the fear of war needed some semblance of false hope at times.

Otherwise, morale would plummet quickly, and they might flee or desert from the battlefield on their own.

Also, it seemed that the time had finally come for the knights to lance at each other’s vulnerabilities to break the infantry phalanxes…

“Your Excellency! The reconnaissance team has reported that cavalry is approaching from about 40 minutes away at a moderate pace! The enemy cavalry charging estimates at around 2,000.”

When you speak of a tiger, it comes; their thoughts brought them right to us…

Normally, I would meticulously prepare to pierce through the charging knights from horseback with gunfire, but…

There was no need for that now; we simply needed to engage without revealing our intentions too much.

“Form a rectangular formation based on the main camp! We do not know from which direction Count Architel’s knights might ambush us, so we must be vigilant! However, the soldiers at the front and center will move with me to halt the enemy’s charge towards Duke Orleans’s infantry! We must hurry to the left flank of the central army!!”

“Yes, understood!!”

And with that, I led 800 matchlock infantry and 1,200 pikemen to rapidly form a diagonal flank at the far left corner of the central army.

As I hastily set up the flank, the enemy knights began to reshape into a wedge formation and pick up speed.

To respond, I gave commands to my soldiers.

“Spearmen must stand half a step in front of the matchlock infantry! Matchlock infantry, place your weapons among the spears in front of you, and once the command is given, fire at once!!”