Chapter 97

In the war between barons, a tactic is needed to win a single battle, while in battles involving counts or greater, a strategy is required to end the war.

This is because battles among barons generally end with a single clash, but when it comes to larger scales such as counts, the outcome cannot be determined without multiple large-scale confrontations.

However, the strategy of this era is immensely sloppy compared to that of modern times. To put it in contemporary terms, it focuses solely on campaign tactics, which is a mid-stage strategy of achieving great victories through several small battles.

Of course, a duke studying tactics is much more formidable than those like Schwabin who simply advocate for a comeback in one battle…

Since the purpose of this war is already clear to me, I was able to establish a more efficient operation and plan than that fellow.

Nevertheless, strategy is a process of first winning battles and gathering small victories to carve out an art piece of the enemy’s surrender.

Thus, if I fail to seize the early advantage, the art piece that is my established strategy will fail.

As time passed, the day finally arrived when we agreed to commence the war.

During that period, I established tactics while considering all variables I could imagine, and the soldiers trained with all sorts of exercises I devised to boost their morale.

I meticulously repaired the roads connecting Rothringen and our territory to ensure that all necessary supplies were delivered without error, and I preached periodically through the brides about the reasons this war was initiated.

As a result, according to reports from the commanders, the soldiers of our territory no longer voiced opposition to this war.

Of course, there may still be those with such opinions, but at the very least, it is a truly encouraging achievement that they do not propagate that thought to others.

Because cowardly people will become courageous if they are surrounded by valiant ones.

And at last, I opened the curtain on the war I would fight as a count for the first time, and upon my command, the mobilization of a great army consisting of 25,000 infantry, 4,000 men-at-arms, and 500 knights began.

First, the troops of Brime and Frost set out to raid along the coastline of Rothringen, followed by Balt, who had the largest detour to undertake.

Then, I departed about three days later, passing the road between Frost and Balt.

**

As I left the territory of Count Croilet and entered the domain of Duke Maxburg, the scenery there was distinctly different from our count’s domain.

Perhaps having partially adopted crop rotation methods, all the farmland was planted with crops, but whether they hadn’t properly applied fertilizer, the barley, turnips, wheat, and beans all looked somewhat withered.

Moreover, while the serfs seemed to have better food circumstances compared to those of the Windheim serfs I had previously invaded, they appeared a bit dry compared to my territory’s serfs… yet their faces had a certain oiliness.

Also, perhaps due to rapid improvements in agricultural tools, some of their farming implements were still made of wood or stone.

However, seeing such a sight and noting that they completely transformed their farming methods in just a few years, it was clear that they were still blessed with good leadership.

Observing this scene, my adjutant and captain, Frost, spoke.

“It seems everyone, be it friend or foe, is now mimicking Your Excellency. Those farming tools and agricultural methods over there were surely devised by you, weren’t they?”

Frost clearly was indirectly asking if it didn’t feel frustrating to see others taking Your Excellency’s techniques…

In an era without intellectual property rights, considering that one must unconditionally copy the superior techniques of opponents to survive, I honestly did not feel anger.

No, as someone who learned history, knowing that it took decades for such changes to occur, I even thought that they were responding wisely.

So I responded to Frost in a detached tone.

“Indeed, nowadays, whether they’re Italian, Franche, Elaline or the haughty Romanians, they’re all following me. Even Duke Brussels has gone as far as to send spies claiming he would welcome my army.”

“Is that so…”

“However, that is of no importance. What matters now is piercing the nose of our esteemed Duke Maxburg and dragging him into the battlefield of our choosing. To do that, I will need to employ tactics similar to what I used when I besieged Castle Helzman.”

“Then, will you also plunder food and riches, only to send all the serfs back to Rothringen?”

When we hunted down Count Helzman, merely sending the serfs into the castle was enough to dampen the enemy’s morale and squander their supplies.

And that alone caused tremendous unrest among them.

However, the opponent this time is Duke Maxburg, and it’s not a simple battle where we can besiege and flee like last time.

So I must use an even more brutal and efficient strategy to rattle the enemy.

“Indeed. However, the Duke Maxburg we face this time has already tarnished his honor. It is only fitting to prepare tactics suitable for a noble who has forsaken his honor. Therefore, I plan to infiltrate some of our troops among them to stir up internal strife.”

Upon hearing my words, Frost asked with a look of half curiosity and half awe.

“What do you mean?”

“I will send a mix of assassins, criminal elements who enjoy riots, and ambitious opportunists blinded by their aspirations. And the method… you may look forward to it. Bring forth the village head.”

**

Shortly after, my soldiers brought the village head before me.

The moment the head saw me, as if to say he did not wish to die, he immediately fell to his knees and began begging.

“Your Excellency, please spare my life! If you save my life, we will become your loyal serfs. You may take eight-tenths of what we harvest, or even conscript all our men into your army, but please, just spare my life…”

Had I intended to conquer this place, like I did in Count Helzman’s territory, I would have soothed them with gentle words and detailed the ways they could survive.

However, I had no intention to occupy this territory, and to execute my plans, I must act as a cruel sovereign before them.

So I dismounted and lightly slapped the cheek of the kneeling village head to instill fear.

At that, the head, thinking I was contemplating slaughtering them all, continued talking without caring about the blood staining his face.

“How could we humble serfs ever dare to defy Your Excellency… Please, just spare our lives. Then we will offer our absolute loyalty… Your Excellency.”

“How can I know that? Don’t my soldiers desire to plunder and rape?”

At those words, the head seemed frightened, breaking into a sweat, pouring down like rain.

Though I spoke thus, permitting plunder accompanied by rape or massacre is madness in all but extreme circumstances or once victory is assured, and it was not something I planned to do.

Moreover, committing such acts would weigh heavily on my conscience.

However, now is the time to intimidate the village head as much as possible.

So I signaled to one of the other soldiers among my men who had been blinded by ambition and had engaged in reckless actions.

At that, the soldier, looking as though he had won a lottery, licked his lips and said with an ecstatic expression.

“Count, can we really do this?”

“Whether that fellow complies with the next suggestion or not will determine that.”

“Is that so…”

Even though warfare in this era means that ‘plunder, rape, and massacre’ become one and reward extreme pleasure to the victorious side…

As a standing army, we must receive respect from the populace, and such scoundrels are utterly unusable.

I whispered to the village head, who had pressed his forehead to the dirt.

“Alright, how many people remain in your village?”

“About 200… All the able-bodied men have already been conscripted…”

Then, I should attach about 20 soldiers to them and insert them into the castle, and just two of the important assassins and operatives should suffice.

“Do you truly wish to live? Even if that means betraying Duke Maxburg?”

“Is there any other choice?”

“Fine, then I will spare you. But you must betray that Maxburg fellow.”

Realizing hope for survival, the village head’s expression brightened.

Looking at him, I said this.

“From now on, you will disguise yourself as one of the villagers along with the 20 I designate. In exchange for cooperating with my plans, I will provide you with food sufficient for a trip to Rothringen and 300 gold coins. Since it’s about a two-week journey on foot, I will give you enough food for three weeks. Lead the villagers and the elderly and leave immediately.”

Though I had plundered their food, 300 gold coins is an amount that could easily buy back the food they possess.

Perhaps for this reason, the village head, who moments ago wore a face of despair, now beamed with relief and happiness for having gained a large sum of money.

Then, the head swiftly got up from his spot, loaded the elderly onto mules, and began moving towards Rothringen with carts full of provisions.

After all the villagers had disappeared, we continued advancing, persuading the village heads using the same method.

While this slow march took considerable time, there are, of course, reasons for such advancement.

Firstly, to safely infiltrate operatives into Rothringen, which is the capital of the duke’s territory; secondly, to make Duke Maxburg rush to the battlefield we desire by showing that we are raiding while moving.

Especially since it’s impossible for Maxburg’s troops to divide into companies, we, who could maneuver at least four times faster than the enemy by breaking down into smaller units…?

Wouldn’t I be able to perfectly execute the strategy that my nation’s hero, who only sees the light of our country, favored – luring the enemy into advantageous terrain for myself?

Moreover, now that I have adequately created enough chaos to insert operatives into Rothringen, I commanded the soldiers to change their orders.

“All units, from now on, do not send serfs to Rothringen. Do not take their food and wealth, burn everything except the bare minimum instead. And hurry toward the fields around Rothringen!”

The faster we arrive before the enemy, the more time we can invest in preparing and understanding the battlefield before they come.