Chapter 257 - Episode 250: The Days Until Departure ①
After concluding the military council at the Duke of Halsberg's territory, the nobles returned to their respective domains.
Noein also returned to the Arqvist territory, and from then on, he would prepare the military equipment for the decisive battle at the end of winter.
Increasing the production of crossbows, ballistas, and their bolts; confirming and training the forces to be mobilized for the expedition; confirming the forces to be left behind for maintaining public order within the territory and monitoring the western border; and devising tactics while being inferior in numbers. There were many things to consider and prepare for.
"...Even so, I never imagined I would be entrusted as the commander-in-chief of the Kingdom's Western Army," Noein grumbled in the reception room of the Arqvist estate, causing the eldest son of Viscount Frederick Koenitz, who sat opposite him, to give a faint, wry smile. He was visiting the Arqvist territory for discussions regarding the decisive battle at the end of winter.
"It can't be helped. Those of Count rank or higher are placed in the central main force. When that happens, there are inevitably few well-known nobles left in the northwest. It is only natural that Noein-dono, who is famous for repelling Cadne's personal expedition, would be entrusted as the figurehead of the Western Army. It is natural even when considering social standing."
The strategy on the Rhodeberg Kingdom's side was as follows.
First, they would confront the fifty thousand troops of the Betumia Republic Army surrounding the royal lands with a central main force of thirty thousand. Although the royal capital was struggling under siege, it was still holding out, so they would coordinate with the forces within the capital commanded by the King's younger brother, Alexander, to confuse the Betumia Republic Army and use "Angel's Honey" to increase the enemy's wounded as much as possible.
Since the enemy's main force—likely an elite unit—was near the royal capital, and given that the terrain would necessitate a field battle, the Kingdom's forces had no choice but to heavily bias their strength toward this central main force.
Meanwhile, regarding the eastern and western parts of the Kingdom, they would place units of about six to seven thousand each to suppress the Betumia Republic Army's eastern and western invasion forces as they advanced north. In that process, they would also use "Angel's Honey" to leave aftereffects on as many enemies as possible.
The remaining few thousand troops would be dispersed into small groups and sent into the southern part of the Kingdom to further increase enemy casualties through guerrilla warfare, disrupt supply lines, and break the enemy's posture for occupying the south. If possible, they would merge with the remaining forces of the southern nobles, communicate the strategy, and fight in cooperation.
In this way, they would increase the number of those with aftereffects among the enemy and hold out until the leadership of the Betumia Republic decided to cut their losses and retreat.
Moving thirty thousand troops in one place required many capable generals. Therefore, Marquis Bechtolsheim and Count Marcel were organized into the central main force for the recapture of the royal capital. To send a concentrated force to the center, many nobles of Viscount rank were also placed there.
Additionally, Count Shuvalov, who held lands near the border with the south and center, would operate within his own territory to protect that boundary line.
As a result, among the noble houses assigned to the Western Army, the House of Viscount Koenitz had the highest rank and standing, followed by the House of Viscount Arqvist. The rest consisted of medium to small-scale nobles of Baron rank or lower.
And this time, Arnold would command supplies and such in the rear, while Frederick, who was accustomed to war, would handle the fighting on the front lines. Compared to Frederick, who was not yet the formal head of the house, Noein, as the current head, was formally higher in rank.
"...I think I am being overestimated. A miraculous victory like repelling Cadne's personal expedition isn't something that can be done many times."
In the battle against Cadne, he had achieved a great result by repelling an enemy ten times his size with a force of about three hundred, but Noein believed that was simply a case of a strange tactic working out. He felt it was like winning a gamble. If he had messed up even once somewhere, there was a possibility that he would have suffered a crushing defeat instead.
To be expected by those around him to reproduce such a precarious victory multiple times, and even to be made responsible for the victory or defeat of a single battlefield, was nothing but a nuisance to Noein.
Perhaps sensing his brother-in-law's state of mind, Frederick smiled wryly.
"Don't say that. The Kingdom is in this situation, and the Western Army is already disadvantaged in numbers. Everyone has no choice but to seek a miracle... Regarding defensive battles, Noein-dono undoubtedly possesses talent as a tactician. I will assist as a staff officer for the finer details. All knights of the First Legion have studied command as well. Rest assured."
"...I understand. I will rely on you."
When told that by his brother-in-law, who was also a comrade-in-arms, he could not keep complaining about something already decided. Noein answered while nodding as if resigning himself.
"...By the way, it's a relief that the Kingdom of Lancel seems to be behaving," Frederick muttered.
"Indeed. Not having to worry too much about the defense of the Bezel Great Forest Road is a huge advantage for our territory. That allows us to mobilize the main force of the territorial army for the fight against Betumia."
A short while after the Rhodeberg Kingdom entered the war with Betumia, Baron Barthelemy arrived as usual as a messenger for Queen Henrietta of the Kingdom of Lancel.
According to him, the Kingdom of Lancel would absolutely not take this opportunity to attack the Rhodeberg Kingdom. On the contrary, they were prepared to provide food and other supplies, although in limited quantities. A personal letter from the Queen swearing to this had also been sent to Oscar.
"Well, even if they invaded the Rhodeberg Kingdom here, there would be nothing but loss for the Kingdom of Lancel. They aren't stupid enough to strangle themselves."
"Hahaha, no doubt about that."
Although the Betumia Republic Army had not invaded the Kingdom of Lancel, it was said they had blocked the southwestern border and were in a standoff with the Lancel Kingdom Army.
If the Kingdom of Lancel attacked the Rhodeberg Kingdom now, and because of that, the Rhodeberg Kingdom lost the war against Betumia, the invasion of the Kingdom of Lancel would begin next. There was no meaning for Queen Henrietta and the others, who had only just seized actual power and wanted to stabilize the interior, to commit such a folly.
"If I were to be greedy, I'd want them to launch attacks on Betumia at the southwestern border to keep them in check."
"True... but since they've settled into a stalemate, they probably can't move carelessly in a situation where they don't know how much of a counterattack they'd receive. They, too."
While there was a guarantee that the Kingdom of Lancel would not interfere, they could not expect them as reinforcements for the time being.
"True... there's no point in wishing for what we don't have. We have no choice but to fight with the forces we have on hand."
The Kingdom's Western Army, which Noein would command this time, was expected to gather approximately six thousand troops.
The largest portion of these was a total of six hundred, combining the territorial army and conscripts from the Viscount Koenitz territory. Other mid-tier nobles contributed several hundred each, and lower-tier nobles contributed from several dozen down to about ten people, reaching a total of six thousand.
From the Arqvist territory, they planned to mobilize a total of about two hundred and fifty people, including one hundred and twenty regular soldiers of the territorial army, one hundred Reserve Corps, twenty golem users of the Claymore, and the retainers of the martial houses. Additionally, they would bring twenty ballistas and about five hundred crossbows.
For the Western Army as a whole, it was expected that forty ballistas and about one hundred personnel to operate them, one thousand five hundred crossbowmen, seven hundred archers, three thousand four hundred infantry, and three hundred cavalry would gather. The cavalry was few, but this was inevitable given that it was a force where small and medium nobles gathered and the proportion of conscripts was high.
"In any case, we must absolutely avoid a field battle."
"I agree. The numerical disadvantage would be clearly felt, and our Claymore would lose its advantages the more the battlefield expands."
The general strategy had been discussed and decided at the Duke of Halsberg's territory, but once the battle began, each army would act flexibly on their respective battlefields. Noein had invited Frederick to discuss those tactical aspects.
"I want to clash with the enemy in a place where they cannot spread out sideways, like when I repelled Cadne's personal expedition."
"In that case, this area of the Valerian Highway, which connects the Marquis Gardwin territory and the Marquis Bechtolsheim territory, would be good. Since the areas on both sides of the highway are hilly regions covered in forests, we can narrow the width of the front where we clash with the enemy. Since the enemy will likely use the well-maintained wide highway if they invade, it's just right for intercepting them."
"That's good. How much depth does the area with this kind of terrain have?"
"It's easily five hundred meters. We could even retreat slightly to lure the enemy in."
"In that case, it seems we could also utilize the hills on the flanks. If we hide troops there, we might be able to hit the enemy's flank."
They discussed based on Frederick's knowledge from his time in the Kingdom's army while spreading out a reasonably accurate map of the Kingdom's west, which the House of Viscount Koenitz possessed as a critical secret.
"Positionally, is this... around the south of Viscount Barassen's territory?"
"To be precise, around the southeast. Viscount Barassen's territory should still be safe, so the Viscount will likely support supplies and such from the rear."
"That would be helpful, but... I've had a conflict with Viscount Barassen, albeit indirectly."
"Ah, when you clashed over the faction boundaries after the great war in the southwest. Well, it should be fine this time. If we lose, the next place to be invaded is Viscount Barassen's territory. He'll cast aside past grudges and cooperate with all his might."
"...That's true."
The discussion continued for a while after that.