Chapter 271 - Episode 264: The Battle of the East
"Marquis Staufenberg-kakka, the unit that was performing delaying actions has returned. Losses are approximately one hundred and fifty men."
"Good work on the report. One hundred and fifty, hm... well, that is within the acceptable range."
Near the border between the northeastern and southeastern regions of the Kingdom of Lordberg. Having pitched camp on a plain protected by marshes to the east and forests to the west, Marquis Staufenberg gazed toward the south—the direction from which the Betumia Republic Army's eastern invasion force would likely attack.
Unlike the northwest, which had recovered from last year's famine because potatoes had spread early, the northeast was still heavily suffering from the effects of the famine this year. Under such circumstances, it was not easy to unite many nobles and form a single army to stand against the Betumia invasion.
For that reason, while Marquis Bechtolsheim, the leader of the northwestern faction, joined the central army, Marquis Staufenberg, the leader of the northeastern faction, remained in the eastern part of the kingdom as the commander-in-chief of the eastern army.
"And so, the sabotage was completed successfully, I assume?"
"Yes. Every unit retreated while conducting thorough destructive activities. The enemy will now likely find themselves lacking even drinking water."
"Then it is well. As planned, hurry the construction of the defensive positions."
"Yes, sir."
The eastern army possessed neither the massive manpower of the central army nor the vast quantities of Crossbows and Ballistas found in the western army. They also lacked a crazy illusionist like Viscount Arqvist. Therefore, Marquis Staufenberg decided to execute a traditional and effective defensive war.
Its name was the scorched earth policy.
First, Marquis Staufenberg led the seven thousand men of the eastern army under his command and advanced south, crossing the border between the northeast and southeast.
Then, he thoroughly confiscated supplies from the surrounding towns and villages, burned fields and houses, and threw poison into the wells. He even burned the forests that were close to the highways and in ideal positions for gathering firewood. The only reason he could take such a bold scorched earth policy was the justification that the King had entrusted him with full authority over the battle in the east.
Afterward, against the Betumia Republic Army's eastern invasion force, which naturally invaded northward, he allocated a portion of his forces to perform delaying actions while retreating north. Meanwhile, the main body continued its destructive activities, and after retreating to a location that was geographically easy to defend, they established their camp.
With this, the Betumia forces would be forced to confront Marquis Staufenberg's eastern army while remaining in the middle of a zone turned into scorched earth.
No matter how many supply units they placed in the rear, when dealing with an army of tens of thousands, they would rely on local procurement to some extent. Even if food could be managed by thickening the supply lines, water and firewood would not be so simple.
The difference in combat power between them and the enemy was approximately threefold. With this, if they remained dedicated to defense, they could hold out for a reasonably long time. If these defensive positions failed, they would simply retreat while employing the scorched earth policy again and establish a camp at the next planned point. He had thought of three such defensive points in total.
The further they retreated, the longer the enemy's supply lines became, and the more effective the scorched earth policy would be. If the enemy called for reinforcements to settle things in one go, the burden of supply would increase, and the scorched earth policy would again be more effective.
Furthermore, since it seemed Marquis Bittenfeld was still stubbornly holding out, the enemy should not be able to allocate too much of their manpower solely to this side. If things went well, it might even be possible to coordinate with Marquis Bittenfeld and pinch the enemy in a pincer attack.
As for Marquis Staufenberg's personal feelings, it was irritating to hold hands amicably with that snake of an old man in the southeast.
Thus, while thoroughly harassing the Betumia Republic Army in this manner, increasing the number of enemies with aftereffects through attacks with "Angel's Honey" was Marquis Staufenberg's general strategy.
Furthermore, for this battle, the Marquis had prepared one more bold plan.
"Now then... you, what happened with the recruitment of beastman volunteers?"
When Marquis Staufenberg spoke to the subordinate he had entrusted with the preparations for this plan, the lower-ranking noble officer who was called upon turned around and straightened his posture.
"I am proceeding as ordered... but will you truly execute such a plan?"
The officer who asked back turned pale when he was glared at by Marquis Staufenberg.
A lower-ranking noble, who was around the age of the Marquis's father, trembled under the cold gaze of the Marquis, who was still in his thirties.
"Do you have a complaint?"
"N-no, nothing of the sort... it is just that I foolishly think there may be great backlash from the soldiers and officers. Especially the nobles, I suspect they will show strong resistance."
To further increase the enemy's fatigue caused by the scorched earth policy, Marquis Staufenberg planned night raids by organizing units of beastmen.
Many beastmen possess abilities that ordinary humans do not, such as night vision, superior hearing, and proficiency in moving without making a sound. Many are also superior in terms of simple strength, stamina, and running speed. There is no better fit for conducting night raids.
However, in the Kingdom of Lordberg, beastmen are few in absolute number and tend to be persecuted, so their social status is low. On the battlefield, they are either employed as convenient tools like slaves, conscripted as the lowest grade of infantry, or at best, appointed as lower-ranking officers. A major reason was that the majority of nobles held discriminatory feelings toward beastmen and believed that "relying on vulgar beastmen is contrary to one's pride."
This time, Marquis Staufenberg decided to break the common sense of the kingdom and employ a tactic that was in a sense taboo—giving beastmen important roles and utilizing them.
It could be said that this was a plan only he could decide upon, as he had a personality that valued practical benefit and, being young, possessed a more flexible way of thinking compared to other nobles.
Also, since the underlying strategy by Viscount Arqvist was utterly atrocious, he felt there was little difference in employing another unconventional plan at this point.
"The one leading the beastman unit is Baron Minerien. Since a high-ranking noble of a martial house is serving as the captain, there should be no problem."
The Milleon Holy Church Knights led by Baron Minerien were assigned to the eastern army because the County of Senevoa, to which they belonged, was geographically part of the northeastern faction. Due to the doctrines of the Milleon Holy Church, this knighthood also had many beastman knights. The Baron himself was a tiger-man.
Marquis Staufenberg intended to entrust the beastman unit to this Baron Minerien and have them conduct night raids along with the Holy Church Knights. If it became a formal unit led by a high-ranking noble, it would be difficult for other nobles to complain openly.
"In the first place, the stage for choosing plans based on the moods of nobles has long since passed. I couldn't care less about emotional dissatisfaction at this point. If anyone opposes me to my face, I will cut them down for the crime of treason."
With a cold look in his eyes and a flat tone of voice, Marquis Staufenberg spoke bluntly. Exposed to that sharp, blade-like pressure, the officer who had been glared at until a moment ago maintained a tense expression.
"Strictly adhere to what I said first. If they are commoners, appoint them as volunteers as they are; if they are slaves, the Marquis house will buy them at an appropriate price. After victory in the battle, land shall be given to everyone who took part in the night raids, and those of slave status shall be liberated. Proclaim those conditions to the beastman soldiers once more."
"...Understood."
The officer gave the most formal salute possible and exited the headquarters tent as if escaping from the pressure surrounding Marquis Staufenberg.
"Now then... I have made this much preparation. I must ensure I get my money's worth."
The scorched earth policy and the utilization of beastman soldiers. Marquis Staufenberg believed that with these two plans, the quota of damage to be inflicted on the enemy as the eastern army could be sufficiently achieved.
Regarding the fact that he turned the lands of other nobles into scorched earth for the sake of victory, it was ultimately the responsibility of the King, who appointed him as commander-in-chief and declared that he could "use any strategy," so there was no problem.
If anything, he was even planning that after the war, the northeastern faction would responsibly take over the lands that had been scorched, thereby expanding the faction's territory toward the southeast, which had been weakened by this great war.
As for the beastmen who achieved military merit, he could simply give them the newly acquired land. Since scorched land and water sources recover after a few years, there would likely be no complaints.
Fulfilling the responsibilities of a noble and protecting the interests of the faction as its leader. For that purpose, Marquis Staufenberg would face the battle with the northeastern nobles under his umbrella.