Chapter 290 - Chapter 283: Counterattack
"Your Majesty, judging by the status of the enemy's preparations for retreat, it appears that even if we attack now, they will be unable to mount a significant counterattack. I believe it is now a favorable opportunity to launch an offensive."
The one who made this proposal at the headquarters of the Lordberg Kingdom's central main army was the Minister of Military Affairs, Count Ragnal Burkhard.
"The enemy forces remaining were approximately forty thousand, were they not? They outnumber us in terms of quantity; is it truly alright to switch to the offensive now?"
"It is exactly as you say; they are superior in numbers. However, many of them are preoccupied with preparations to pull up their camp, and manpower is still being consumed by the care and transport of wounded soldiers paralyzed by 'Angel's Honey.' Their actual combat strength is at most half of that, and even then, it likely consists only of exhausted soldiers with low morale."
Count Burkhard, who also served as a staff officer, explained this to remove Oscar's concerns.
"I see... then, prepare for attack. Call Marquis Bechtolsheim, Count Nordlingen, and the other generals."
Oscar gave the order, and before long, the general officers assembled at the headquarters. The decision to launch an offensive against the enemy was announced from Oscar's lips.
"Listen well, this is not an offensive to annihilate the enemy. This is an offensive to increase enemy casualties, delay their retreat, and exert an influence over the entire enemy army. The fundamental strategy remains unchanged... but the tactics are different. What we are about to perform is an attack. An attack that clearly cuts into the enemy lines, unlike anything we have done until now!"
Oscar raised his voice while looking around at the generals one by one.
"Until now, we have endured to save the country. We exhausted our defenses according to a strategy of not losing. I was the one who ordered that. And from now on, I order you to attack! This is an attack to show the enemy our fighting spirit, to show them that we have the resolve to strike them down! In other words, this is an attack to show our pride!"
Upon hearing the word pride, the eyes of the generals gleamed. A ferocious spirit filled the headquarters.
"First, we shall approach the enemy camp while widening our formation to the left and right, throwing the enemy into confusion with a volley of 'scatter-shot arrows' from the Ballistas at long range. Then, we will carry out cavalry charges from the center, left, and right, completely crushing the enemy's battle lines and their will! Right-wing General, Marquis Bechtolsheim!"
"Yes!"
Having his name called by Oscar, Marquis Bechtolsheim stepped forward and answered.
"Charge from the right wing with one thousand cavalry... will you stand at the head of the charge?"
"No, this time I intend to leave it to Count Edmund Marcel."
Marquis Bechtolsheim answered, and Count Marcel, who had been brought up in conversation, gave a salute to Oscar.
"Ho, you don't want the military achievements for yourself?"
"Your Majesty, it might have been different ten or twenty years ago, but now I am a political noble of sixty. I believe it is the worth of a faction leader to not push oneself forward and instead leave the honor of standing at the head of the battle to those of the military class."
To Oscar, who laughed teasingly, Marquis Bechtolsheim answered with a smirk.
"If that is your judgment, then so be it. Next, Left-wing General, Count Nordlingen!"
"Yes!"
Count Nordlingen, who was called next and stepped forward, faced Oscar with a tight expression that showed no emotion.
"...You have endured well until now. From here on, exercise your true abilities to your heart's content. The left wing will also charge with one thousand cavalry."
"As you wish! I shall certainly instill terror into the enemy!"
While giving a violent salute as if slamming his fist against his chest, Count Nordlingen spoke with an expression like a fierce dog that had been given permission to pounce on its prey.
"The center will carry out a charge simultaneously with the right and left wings using two thousand cavalry. The infantry units and Crossbow units are tasked with guarding the Ballista units and encircling the enemy camp. Be aware that depending on the enemy's movements, there may be a turn for the infantry and crossbowmen... Now, men, begin preparations for battle!"
.....
The central main force of the Kingdom's army, having completed attack preparations, had surrounded the camp where approximately forty thousand of the Betumia Republic's army remained from three sides.
It was an ironic situation where the unit named the Royal Capital Siege Force was now, conversely, besieged by the King's army. Even if the Betumia Republic's army wished to switch to a counterattack, they no longer possessed such mobility because many of the cavalry had already retreated by order of their headquarters.
And, standing at the very front of the lead group on the right side of this encirclement—a cavalry unit of one thousand in total—was Count Edmund Marcel, known as one of the foremost warriors among the noble factions of the northwestern part of the Lordberg Kingdom.
"..."
Count Marcel turned his horse's heels and looked back at the cavalry lined up behind him.
Since the right-wing army was composed of forces from the northwestern part of the Kingdom, the cavalry unit centered on the nobles of the northwest and their children and retainers. There were many faces Count Marcel knew, including direct subordinates he had raised within his own territorial army.
"...We are the tip of the spear that will pierce the enemies of the Kingdom."
Count Marcel spoke toward the cavalry, who showed expressions mixed with tension and excitement before the charge.
"The despicable Betumia Republic's army trampled our homeland. They trampled the lands of our comrades who support the Kingdom as nobles and took their lives. Can this be forgiven? No, it cannot possibly be forgiven!"
As Count Marcel raised his voice, the cavalry tightened their expressions as if agreeing with his words.
In reality, there were many frictions between the northern nobles and southern nobles, but facing a common enemy in the form of invaders, it did not change the fact that nobles of other factions were comrades.
"We are the tip of the spear! We are the tip of the spear that will crush the ambitions of the invaders! Steel yourselves! Burn your hatred! Pierce through the ugly Betumia forces, the lines of a fragile, weak army!"
Shouting this, Count Marcel drew his sword and held it high.
"For the glory of the Kingdom!"
"""For the glory of the Kingdom!"""
The resolve of the cavalry, who drew their swords following the Count, echoed across the plains as a roar.
On the opposite side, General Count Nordlingen, who personally led the left-wing army's cavalry unit, was also raising his voice.
"Listen! This is a charge to show our pride! There can be no victory without pride! We shall hammer the pride of the Kingdom's nobles, the pride of warriors, into the enemy along with pain! We are the swords that protect the pride of the Kingdom! Each and every one of you is a sword of the Kingdom!"
Holding his sword aloft, Count Nordlingen gazed at the enemy lines.
"To a proud victory!"
"""To a proud victory!"""
The left-wing army cavalry unit, consisting of nobles and retainers from the northeastern part of the Kingdom, followed the Count's command.
Shortly thereafter, the attack order from Oscar was given, and a total of four thousand cavalry assaulted the Betumia Republic's army's Royal Capital Siege Force from three sides. Although it was a hit-and-run surprise attack, it dealt a definite blow.
That became the beginning of a one-sided pursuit for the Kingdom, and a hellish retreat for the Republic.
.....
"Excellency Staufenberg, the enemy's final unit has begun its retreat."
"I see, then let us also begin our advance."
At Marquis Staufenberg's command, the main body of the Lordberg Kingdom's Eastern Army began its march. They pursued without losing sight of the retreating enemy, yet they did not go so far as to launch a full-scale offensive. It was a pursuit while maintaining such an exquisite distance.
The remaining strength of the Eastern Army was approximately five thousand five hundred. Considering they had fought a war of attrition lasting over a month in a numerically disadvantaged situation, it could be said that the losses were small.
As a major factor, the situation in the southeastern part of the Kingdom could be cited, where several high-ranking noble territories, including Marquis Bittenfeld's territory, held out until the end of winter.
The Betumia Republic's army's eastern invasion force, which had begun its march toward the northeast while still having to maintain the encirclement of the surviving noble territories, encountered the Kingdom's Eastern Army and struggled due to scorched-earth tactics and night raids by beastman units. To compensate for the attrition of manpower, they were forced to pull soldiers from the encirclement units in the rear.
As a result, their combat power became thinly and widely dispersed, and the Betumia Republic's army reached a state where they could achieve no results at either the front or the rear.
Amidst this, even the Pallas Empire on the border showed unsettling movements, and the Betumia Republic's army, feeling a sense of crisis, decided on a temporary retreat. However, that would not be an easy march for them. Marquis Staufenberg had no intention of letting it be an easy march.
"Communication with Marquis Bittenfeld has been maintained since then, yes?"
"Yes. Because the enemy's encirclement network has thinned, it is now easy for supplies and messengers to enter and leave the capital of Marquis Bittenfeld's territory. He says that he is also arranging things without problem."
"Then it is fine... Hmph, to think I would actually end up fighting hand-in-hand with that snake of an old man."
While recalling the face of Marquis Bittenfeld, the leader of a hostile faction with whom he shared a deep-rooted conflict, Marquis Staufenberg wore an ironic smile.
The Betumia eastern invasion force was originally a large army of nearly twenty thousand. Once they retreated, the column would naturally become thin and long.
The plan was for the remaining forces of Marquis Bittenfeld's territory to attack its flank, and once the enemy's retreat was stalled, Marquis Staufenberg and the Eastern Army would attack the enemy's rear, further increasing the number of enemy wounded. Such an operation was about to be carried out jointly by the two faction leaders.
Following the fleeing Betumia forces, the soldiers of the Lordberg Kingdom's Eastern Army advanced south.