Chapter 39

The Schweider Imperial Army, led by Duke Jihiteberg, numbered about fifty thousand.

...Of which thirty thousand were deployed. The remaining twenty thousand were unable to keep up and should be on their way here now.

Opposing them was the Kionis Federation's Clan Coalition Army, numbering about seven thousand, all cavalry.

"This is bad," I said, advising Colonel Alzeh with the sole desire to return home quickly.

"The mobility and charge power of cavalry are not ordinary, but Kionis cavalry is especially dangerous. With seven thousand, no matter how we fight, we won't come out unscathed."

"I don't know much about Kionis cavalry, but we still have more than four times their numbers. Moreover, we have guns and cannons," Colonel Alzeh replied.

I shook my head.

"Even with four times the numbers, it's not enough against cavalry. Even if we win, we will suffer heavy losses, and all future operations will have to be changed."

As an expeditionary force, we must prioritize sustainability. The smaller the army becomes due to losses, the more it loses its operational capability.

"We should have waited for the reinforcements and then attacked with fifty thousand, but we couldn't. Since the enemy is cavalry, once they pinpoint our position, the initiative shifts to them."

The Kionis army decides when and where to attack, and when to stop. Infantry and artillery cannot keep up with the mobility of cavalry.

"Then do you think we should have retreated and joined up with the reinforcements?"

"That would be difficult. If we retreat to join up with the reinforcements, we will be attacked on the way. In a marching formation, whether it's thirty thousand or fifty thousand, we can't win."

Duke Jihiteberg and his staff had underestimated the enemy's strength.

"The warriors of each clan number at most a few dozen, rarely exceeding a hundred. Therefore, the Second Division's staff calculated how many times they could repel an attack of up to a thousand cavalry."

A horse requires about ten times the food of a human, so seven thousand cavalry consume as much food as seventy thousand infantry. Warhorses are large, well-trained animals for combat.

"Warhorses are scary. Even your beloved horse will trample enemy soldiers in battle."

"They are trained for combat. There are even techniques where horses jump onto fallen enemies and crush them with their full weight."

"That's what seven thousand cavalry can do."

"Troublesome indeed."

But Duke Jihiteberg is not stupid. More accurately, his staff is not.

"We have warhorses prepared. We have the First Division's Guard Cavalry and the Second Division's cavalry, which includes famous Kionis horses."

Colonel Alzeh glanced back.

"Where are they?"

"They are held back on the right flank to avoid being spotted by the enemy..."

I turned around.

...They're not there. Are they somewhere in the rear artillery positions?

I searched with my telescope but couldn't find them.

"They're not here."

Wait, hold on. No, no.

I've seen unbelievable scenes in the military many times, but this is a first.

The units that should be here are not.

And it's a rather important unit.

"We should have about two thousand cavalry to counter the enemy's flanking maneuver."

"They're not here."

At that moment, I remembered the messenger's words.

"The cavalry on patrol didn't return, so we sent a cavalry unit, and they confirmed about seven thousand cavalry near the trading city of Jarakud!"

"Perhaps the two thousand cavalry were sent to Jarakud and haven't returned."

"But they are needed, right?"

"Yes, very much so."

Duke Jihiteberg has no combat experience. His military tactics are only in textbooks and exercises. He doesn't know the wider world beyond the desk.

"Perhaps he judged that two thousand cavalry are meaningless against seven thousand and sent them to capture Jarakud..."

Colonel Alzeh smiled wryly.

"Surely not. Without knowing how many enemies are in the city, to send precious cavalry..."

A moment of silence.

The 'Scythe of Death' brushed against my neck, just then.

"Colonel Alzeh"

"What is it, Lieutenant Chrombertz?"

"Please grant me command of the brigade from here on."

The colonel said quietly.

"That seems best. I hereby appoint you as acting brigade commander and temporarily grant you command."

"Thank you."

The 'Scythe of Death' reacting means we need to do something now or die. I interpret it that way.

"Position the carriages on the right flank to form a wall. It's the best way to block the cavalry charge."

"Will you not form a square?"

"Forming a square eliminates blind spots but reduces firepower. With sixty men, we can't form a proper square."

With only fifteen men per side, the firepower is questionable. We'll be trampled.

"And the field guns will change direction after the first shot."

"Understood, I'll leave it to you."

I immediately gave orders to the artillery squadron.

Hanna, the acting sergeant, was breathing heavily.

"Understood, I'll show the results of our training!"

"Please, the survival of the brigade depends on it."

"Yes, sir!"

Hanna gave orders briskly.

"First to third guns, prepare to fire! Target, three to the right of the center of the enemy front line, two down!"

"First gun, ready!"

"Second gun, ready!"

"Third gun, ready!"

The cavalry, raising dust on the dry plain, were heading this way. Through the telescope, I could see light-armed cavalry with bows. They weren't at full speed yet.

Now is the time to fire.

Colonel Alzeh ordered.

"Guide the enemy to our left flank."

"Yes, sir! First to third guns, fire in sequence!"

The first gun fired, followed by the second and third guns.

The shells landed in front of the cavalry, but didn't hit. Hitting a moving target with a cannon is extremely difficult.

The enemy cavalry's movement didn't change. They were heading straight for us.

Hanna shouted.

"Adjust the aim! Three to the right of the center of the enemy front line, one down! Fourth to fifth guns, fire!"

The shell from the fourth gun flew into the enemy formation. There must have been casualties, but it was obscured by dust.

This is bad, the enemy is clearly targeting our right flank. They intend to flank us.

Of course, with this formation, it's easy to be flanked by cavalry.

The colonel muttered.

"As expected, it's a desk theory."

"If we form a diagonal line without cavalry support, the artillery should be concentrated further back. This battle will be a failure case in the textbooks."

The colonel laughed.

"Then we must survive to report this. We must not repeat such folly."

"You're right."

While watching the enemy cavalry gradually flank us, the colonel asked me.

"So, how do you plan to survive?"

"Using dirty tactics worthy of the Duke of Retrau."

"Pushing the damage onto our allies, then?"

"Yes."

My artillery, following my orders, had already begun their next action. Since the enemy cavalry started to flank, we can no longer get a firing angle.

One gun was moved to the rear for alert, and the remaining four were being prepared for withdrawal by tying them to the horses.

"Our artillery position is protected by carriages on the right flank and rear. Cavalry charges and gunfire can't penetrate. The enemy's target is likely the rear command post, and they won't bother with our artillery position."

Since the 'Scythe of Death' stopped reacting when the carriages formed the wall, I'm not in immediate danger.

"The enemy will attack high-priority and vulnerable targets. We are neither."

"Will it work that smoothly?"

The colonel chuckled, and I smiled back.

"Of course, we won't know until we try. Are you prepared to die in battle?"

"I'm always ready. That's what nobles are for."

What is this man's heart made of...