Chapter 173

Years ago, the late Count Ilerias, my father, spoke these words until his passing.

“My son, Ria von Ilerias… You are to become a lord who commands greater respect from my retainers and the serfs of our domain than I ever did.

And never miss an opportunity presented before you. Do not forget… It is because our family’s founder, Lord Brine, seized fortune with his life on the line that our family exists today…”

Following his words, as the head of the Ilerias family, I swiftly aligned myself with His Majesty, the current Emperor, who was then the second prince, when civil war broke out.

As a result, I expanded our territory nearly twofold, no, threefold, and obtained the title of count.

Now, I am leading knights to strike at the enemy’s main camp in order to seize another opportunity.

After riding for about an hour, Count Izza, who was beside me, spoke.

“Count Ilerias, I shall go and strike the enemy’s supply line. Please ensure your safe return.”

“Count Izza, we will burn the command center first and return with meat and drink prepared. So come back unscathed; we have a toast to make.”

“You rascal… Your jokes have increased. Then I shall take my leave! Knights, follow me!!”

A short while later, Count Izza led 1,400 knights, consisting of 800 from his family and 600 assigned by His Excellency, the Duke of Orleans, toward the supply line.

According to the operational plan, we were to split off near the enemy’s command post, so we should be arriving at the main camp soon.

Moments later, the guide riding ahead approached me and said, “In about ten minutes, we will reach the enemy’s main camp. What will you do?”

As expected, if this is near the enemy’s command post… it is time to begin reorganizing the units for the attack.

Thinking this, I immediately raised my arm and signaled the knights following behind to halt.

Thirty seconds after signaling, I gradually slowed my speed, and the other knights also slowed and stopped.

Then everyone began to gaze at me in unison.

“Baron Delphin, I would like you to lead the knights under His Excellency the Duke in the rear. After that, please circle counterclockwise around the hills from behind and strike the enemy’s left side.”

Delphin, who was in command of the Duke’s knights for this attack, asked with a voice mixed with confusion from behind his helmet, “No, Count… Shouldn’t a lance charge maximize the number of knights involved in a single charge to increase the damage? But if you wish to split the forces…”

A lance charge is a tactic that involves sending a large number of knights to charge at once, using the weight of the lances, armor, and horses to crush the enemy.

This is a fact that should be known to anyone with even minimal training as a knight…

“We are executing a surprise attack right now. Moreover, even if the enemy’s overall commander, Marquis Simon, has moved to the front line and they are in disarray, there are at least 6,000 to 10,000 soldiers at their main camp. We may be knights, but we are only about 1,400 strong.”

“Thus, in order to inflict greater damage on them, we must concentrate our strength…”

“That holds true only in general situations. Also, no matter how numerous the enemy forces are, if they are attacked by hundreds of knights at once, they will fall into chaos. Especially if they are attacked simultaneously from both the left and right flanks, that confusion will only grow. Taking advantage of that gap to kill as many of their main camp soldiers as possible and burn their supplies and food will be more effective.”

Even as a baron leading knights as a representative of the commander, it is not easy to voice objections to me, who carries the authority of a count.

Moreover, what I just stated is the model response to the inevitable counterargument that Marquis Croilet would make if he heard I was too slow and should take a surprise attack.

Hence, it was all the more difficult to refute.

“Baron Delphin, hurry and move the knights to the rear. Until Baron Delphin and his knights arrive at the rear, the remaining knights should dismount and rest.”

With over a thousand knights to pass by, it would take a considerable amount of time just for them to move to the rear.

So I too dismounted and began to rest against a tree in as comfortable a position as possible.

If I didn’t rest now, I might find myself lacking strength during the main event of my life.

**

After Baron Delphin’s knights moved into formation at the rear, I led my knights and slowly traversed behind the enemy camp.

I moved as slowly as possible to avoid being noticed, but… there was nothing I could do about the clanging sound that echoed as the iron horse’s shoes hit the ground.

However, the enemy likely didn’t think to monitor a place that was pretty much a plain, other than the low hill, as there was no cover, and we successfully approached close to the enemy without being detected.

We could see some makeshift low watchtowers built in a haphazard manner, with soldiers stationed atop diligently watching the surroundings.

Inside, I observed the barracks where soldiers stayed, as well as carts and wagons carrying supplies, weapons, and armor.

Excluding the low watchtower, only wooden stakes had been erected; if we can just break down the doors used by the soldiers and the watchtower, it seemed all the other knights could rush in at once.

“Halt, I will now give the final orders before the charge.”

With that, all the gazes and attention of my retainers focused on me.

“The knights in the first row will go out with maces instead of lances, charging to break down the enemy’s eastern gate. The remaining formations will enter with lances to thoroughly demolish the enemy’s main camp. After entering the enemy’s ranks, make sure to spill oil from the leather pouches attached to the horses as we charge forth. Later, when we retreat, the knights in the rear will set fire.”

“Yes, understood!”

“Also, we won’t have time to take any prisoners during this raid. Therefore, no one is allowed to take any prisoners. Even if the one attempting to surrender is the overall commander, Marquis Simon, you are to kill him rather than try to capture him! Do you understand!!”

When considering the morale and lives of the knights, allowing for prisoners during such a raid might usually be acceptable…

Yet, Marquis Croilet had stated to me when proposing this operation,

“If you capture prisoners during a raid, the army becomes confused, and they can be wiped out by the troops in the main camp taking advantage of that chaos. It is better to kill them all and later use your money to reward the men, even if it means receiving some scorn.”

Given the already lacking funds in the territory, it feels wasteful to have to spend rewards on ransoms for prisoners…

However, if I achieve a great feat and receive a larger territory, I could compensate by distributing that land.

And if we are defeated here, I won’t have the luxury of such concerns.

“All forces, charge!!”

The first row wielded maces, while from the second row onward, we moved toward the enemy’s eastern gate brandishing lances.

At first, I could hear the sounds of the horses’ hooves clanging, the metallic clinks of the knights’ armor beside me, and the heavy breathing of horses and knights…

But gradually, as we neared the enemy ranks, all sounds were drowned out.

And my mind was filled with thoughts only of how to sweep through the enemy’s main camp in the most effective way.

As we charged ahead, we soon seemed to have reached near the enemy camp, with the shouts of enemy soldiers echoing.

“Alert! The enemy is launching a surprise attack!! Everyone, rise!!”

“If you don’t want to die, come over here!! We’ll kill you!!”

With those words, all sorts of trumpets, drums, and even sounds of pots being struck echoed from the enemy’s main camp.

They most likely want to announce the news to everyone with such noise…

But it was too late for that response. Before they could even shoot arrows at us, my knights had already smashed the enemy’s watchtower and secured a route to invade.

Taking advantage of that gap, my knights pierced the confused enemy soldiers, who were unable to gather their armor or weapons, with lances like skewers.

For every lance that passed, at least one, and at most two or three men turned into corpses.

As the enemy’s nobles, commanders, infantry, and serfs fell, they screamed as if they were young girls, whether it was blue or red blood that spilled.

Seeing so many enemies crying out similarly from the opposite side as well, it seems Baron Delphin also succeeded in his surprise attack.

Everything was going better than expected.

Thanks to this, my knights and I reached the center of the enemy’s main camp with little resistance, but I decided to stop the killing.

“No more attacks! All troops, exit as swiftly as possible! Also, the rear should set fire to what they are holding as they leave!!”

After giving the orders, a knight behind me raised a flag to signal our prearranged signal.

And as we hastily exited the enemy camp, we set fire.

Thanks to the oil we spilled, all manner of tents and carts, and even the dead caught fire quickly.

The flames consumed everything in the main camp and seemed to crave more, belching forth thick smoke, and we took that opportunity to escape safely.

How many enemies were killed and how much damage was done, I do not know…

But I did my best, and surely I achieved results beyond my efforts.

I believed that, and led my knights, charging toward the enemy forces engaged with the main army of His Excellency the Duke, determined to make the most of this given opportunity, even if it seemed reckless and I felt exhausted to the point of death.