Chapter 458 - Episode 441: Back Against the Wall
The Betumia Republic Army's invasion force into the Kingdom of Rhodeberg. Its main body, divided into units of several thousand each, was advancing north without incident.
Their destination was the royal capital, Lichthagen. Just before it, immediately upon entering the royal territory, a gathering point for the various units had been established, and a force of forty thousand had already completed its assembly.
It had been approximately two weeks to reach this point. Even compared to the planned operation for a surprise attack on the royal capital, the pace of the march was fast.
Donald listened to this report inside the command tent at the gathering point. Leaving the rear command at Osterreich to the vice-commander, Donald, as the commander, personally led the most critical operation: the invasion of the royal capital.
"The remaining units will soon finish gathering. At this rate, it seems we can begin the offensive on the royal capital before the enemy even has time to properly prepare a counterattack... Excellency Patterson?"
A young and capable adjutant spoke to him with a puzzled look, but Donald, his face remaining grim, answered after a short pause.
"...It's too smooth."
Donald felt a powerful sense of incongruity.
On this highway leading from Osterreich to the royal capital, Lichthagen. For a wide, well-maintained road that provided the shortest distance to the capital, the defenses were far too thin. According to the units leading the march, there had been enemy resistance only twice. Even then, it was said to be by units of barely a hundred men.
One could think that most of the enemy forces on the highway had fled in the face of an invading army too large to oppose. However, if that were the case, the fact that the hundred-man units they encountered twice fought bravely until they were annihilated left a lingering sense of incongruity.
Furthermore, it bothered him that the residents of the villages and small towns around the highway had all fled. Considering Betumia's methods of occupational rule last time, it was understandable that the people would flee, and an evacuation plan for the re-invasion had likely been created, but for them to become such perfect empty shells...
There was nothing definitive, but he could not shake the accumulation of small incongruities. This hazy feeling had remained unresolved for some time—when, at that moment, an urgent report flew in.
"Report! A report from the Eastern Defense Force via the 'Far-Talk' communication network!"
An officer who burst into the command tent while shouting saluted in front of Donald.
"Reporting! The Eastern Defense Force has confirmed a large-scale enemy unit advancing from the southeastern part of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg! Their number is approximately fifteen thousand! Additionally, the earth dragons that encountered the enemy before the Eastern Defense Force were defeated, and the summoning mages have gone missing! It appears the Arqvist Grand Duchy Army is among the enemy's Eastern Army!"
"What!? How could such a large army appear in such a short amount of time!"
"Wasn't the Arqvist Grand Duchy Army with the enemy's Western Army!?"
"To think the earth dragons were already taken out... do they know how much effort it took to transport those..."
Hearing the officer's report, the generals in the command center began to stir. Donald was not surprised. Rather, he was convinced that this was the true nature of his incongruity.
"Report! Urgent report!"
Another officer burst in. He saluted Donald and opened his mouth.
"A report from the Western Defense Force via the 'Far-Talk' communication network! A large-scale enemy unit advancing from the southwestern part of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg has been confirmed! Their number is thought to exceed twenty thousand! The banner of the Lancel royal family has also been confirmed!"
"N-no way..."
"What is with this scale... it's only been two weeks since landing...?"
"Why is the Kingdom of Lancel appearing! Even if the Kingdom of Rhodeberg confirmed our landing and then requested reinforcements from the Kingdom of Lancel, there's no way they could make it in time considering unit formation and assembly!"
The commotion inside the tent grew even louder.
"...I see. So that's how it is."
Amidst the clamor of the command center, Donald muttered alone. He grasped the situation.
The enemy's counterattack was too perfect. Most likely, the enemy had known about this re-invasion long before they had even landed. They had not performed a surprise landing. They had blundered into this land where the enemy was waiting, and had carelessly ventured deep into a road to the royal capital that the enemy had intentionally left open.
And now, counterattacks had begun simultaneously from both flanks. In the front where they were advancing, toward the royal capital, a large enemy force was surely waiting as well. Surrounded from three sides, a hellish battle was about to begin.
"Surely you aren't suggesting we slacken the momentum of the offensive?"
The one who interrupted Donald's thoughts was Representative Dickens, who was accompanying them as a government overseer under the title of political advisor.
The gazes of everyone in the command center turned toward Representative Dickens. Not a single one was a gaze of goodwill. Politicians who come to interfere in a battlefield are never liked.
"This is a battle upon which the fate of the Wealthy Party of the Betumia Parliament, and all of you connected to the Wealthy Party, hangs. Even if we are surrounded by an unexpected enemy counterattack, we have no choice but to advance and achieve our objective. If we were to turn back, only ruin awaits us."
Representative Dickens had once been a cowardly politician, but now, as a cunning politician, his influence within the Wealthy Party had increased. After the previous invasion, during a period when riots by the commoner class were incessant within the country, he had been seriously injured in an attack by the people. He lost two fingers and one eye, and since then, he had come to exude a certain kind of intimidation.
For this re-invasion as well, Representative Dickens had volunteered to accompany them as a political advisor.
"...I am aware of that."
Donald could not argue. What Representative Dickens was saying was correct.
This was an invasion desired by the citizens of the Betumia Republic. It was an invasion decided by the Wealthy Party government, which had guided public opinion and, unable to stop the runaway nature of that opinion, had no choice but to decide upon it to prolong their own lives. If they did not make it a success, there was no future for the Wealthy Party, and no future for the military men connected to the Wealthy Party.
"..."
At that, a thought occurred to Donald. Military men connected to the Wealthy Party. Among the military upper echelon, many generals and officers with deep ties to the Wealthy Party had been mobilized for this re-invasion. Precisely because it was a battle that would decide their futures, they were eager to make it a success at any cost.
On the other hand, many who remained in the home country were non-factional or had relations with the Nationalist Party—shadowy military men who were not on the path to promotion. And surrounding Donald and his comrades were the forces of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, who had been waiting for the invasion force.
He could roughly imagine where the connections lay.
"Commander Excellency."
"What will you do?"
To the generals who asked with bewildered expressions, Donald thought for a moment and then spoke.
"We continue the advance and cause the royal capital to fall as planned... First, we wait for the arrival of the remaining units. And one more thing. The personnel of the transport convoy that brought supplies from Osterreich are not to be sent back; have them join this main force immediately."
"B-but... if we increase the soldiers, the consumption of supplies will increase accordingly. Furthermore, if we incorporate the transport convoy as combat power, the next supply will not be made, so the period of possible operation will be one week at most."
"I don't care. Right now, I want as many soldiers as possible. We just have to settle this in one week... convey this urgently."
Saying so, Donald chased the messenger officer out of the tent.
If the Republic Army executives remaining in the home country were traitors, he didn't believe that leaking information of the re-invasion to the Kingdom of Rhodeberg and making them lose here was the only part of the plan. They were likely thinking of teaming up with the Nationalist Party to trigger a coup d'état.
If that were the case, he didn't know how long supplies from the home country would continue to arrive as scheduled. If a coup occurred and the home country fell into chaos, supplies would inevitably be delayed.
Moreover, there was this situation. The long, stretched-out land supply lines would certainly be struck by the forces of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg. Even if he sent the transport personnel back to Osterreich, they likely wouldn't be able to bring supply materials properly from now on. If so, it was better to add them as combat power here and now.
Only one path remained for them. The coup d'état triggered by the traitors within the military and the Nationalist Party in the home country must fail, and they must make this re-invasion a success through a short-term decisive battle, protecting their power through a crushing victory and the downfall of the Nationalist Party. That was the only way.
He knew it would be considerably difficult, involving luck, but even so, that was all they had. They could not turn back now. Not from this battle, nor from their way of life.
"Report! A report from Osterreich! Commander Excellency!"
At that moment, a new officer burst in and shouted, barely managing a salute.
"The transport fleet carrying supply materials from the home country was attacked by an enemy fleet flying the banner of the Rhodeberg royal family! Many ships were sunk, and only one transport ship and one escort warship reached the port of Osterreich!"
At that shocking news, the inside of the tent fell silent instead. Setting aside the land, being attacked at sea had not been anticipated from the start.
"...Gentlemen. Let us hasten the advance."
Donald said in a heavy tone.
The situation was more severe than he had thought, and time was limited. Since the only path was forward, they had no choice but to advance quickly.