Chapter 43: Revolution Era - Foreword (3)
On the Alsace front, with commands coming from the heart of the Germanian Empire, there was a certain tension in the air.
The Empress had made a request, and Duke Leopold had never truly intended to engage in battle wholeheartedly from the start.
However, avoiding conflict entirely would pose its own set of problems, so the plan was to provoke the enemy and engage in a moderate fight at least once.
Their opponent was Count Damien de Mirbo.
In terms of frontline experience, his only notable encounters were a few defeats at the hands of Duke Lafayette, a man with no significant military achievements to his name.
With Duke Lafayette absent and the southern army, traditionally composed of nobles, lacking a suitable military leader, Count Mirbo seemed like an easy target.
Thus, Duke Leopold devised a plan to lure out the Count by splitting his forces, dispatching cavalry and hussars to raid nearby villages and provoke the enemy.
In response, Count Damien de Mirbo did nothing.
Regardless of the raids on nearby villages, the enemy focused on fortifying their positions, securing high ground and farms, and constructing fortified outposts.
Duke Leopold revised his opinion of Count Mirbo, considering him cautious beyond his years.
This time, the Duke attempted to draw the enemy out by launching an offensive on the outskirts of the fortified positions, only to retreat, hoping the enemy, having withstood the raids while maintaining their defenses, would be tempted to pursue what appeared to be a crumbling army.
Yet again, Count Damien de Mirbo did not take the bait.
Amidst the forces under the Duke, there were those of a lord somewhat disloyal to the Empire who, without prior notice, had been ordered to attack and had indeed broken through the fortified positions, yet the enemy, rather than pursuing, focused on reorganizing their scattered defenses.
At this point, Duke Leopold’s determination grew, and he meticulously set a trap.
He split his forces in half, sending them to the northwest, towards the Lorraine front.
Simultaneously, using intercepted enemy dispatches handled by his hussars, he sent false information that Raphael Ballian’s northern army was victorious on the Lorraine front and was currently pursuing the enemy.
The hussars, known as the finest light cavalry on the Central Continent, effectively sealed off any communication between the fronts, and Damien de Mirbo showed no sign of attempting to counter this situation, making it nearly impossible for the ruse to be discovered.
The enemy, understanding their disadvantageous position, turned a blind eye to the pillaging of their villages, forgoing the lure of an apparent victory and expansion of their achievements, focusing solely on defending their strongholds.
Soldiers, by nature, are aggressive and crave recognition for their military achievements. Regardless of the commander’s intentions, it’s inconceivable that his subordinates wouldn’t harbor some discontent.
Amidst this, news of a friendly victory arrives, and the enemy hastily dispatches significant forces as reinforcements?
For an enemy who has been patiently biding their time, waiting for the right moment, such an opportunity would be irresistible.
Yet, Damien de Mirbo remained unmoved even now.
The young Count seemed indifferent to political standing or military glory, content to simply fortify his defensive lines.
In the command tent, Duke Leopold couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.
“How can this not tempt him? How?”
“Indeed, Your Grace.”
With a grave expression, Duke Leopold clasped his hands together as he scrutinized the strategic map.
Even if the lord was disloyal to the Empire, the failure of the bait to attract the enemy turned into pressure on the Duke himself.
Naturally, the forces sent northwest were also discontent, having been sent on a long detour for an ambush, wasting time and expressing their frustration.
The most pressing issue was the report that the friendly forces on the Lorraine front were actually being dominated by the revolutionaries.
Commander Raphael Ballian of the northern army utilized the fragmented command structure and lack of coordination on the Lorraine front as an opportunity, opting for an aggressive offense instead of defense, employing mobility and surprise to isolate and defeat enemy units in succession.
This situation lit a fire under Duke Leopold. It was no longer acceptable to excuse the enemy’s excessive caution.
The harsh reality was that while the friendly forces were being routed on the Lorraine front, the Duke had wasted time without engaging in any significant battles.
Finally, in frustration, the Duke slammed his fist onto the map and rose from his seat, a twisted smile on his lips.
“They have no intention of leaving their fortified positions, that’s clear.”
As he spoke, the officers of the Germanian Empire’s army, who were seated around him, stood up in unison, ready to follow the Duke’s command.
“If they insist on playing a defensive game, let’s give them what they wish for, gentlemen.”
“By Your Grace’s command!”
The veteran warriors of the Germanian Empire, with fierce determination in their eyes, stared at the map, focusing on Mirbo’s positions, and murmured.
“Let’s show them the difference in our resolve.”
***
On the Alsace front, within the fortifications of the Francia Republic’s army.
Contrary to Duke Leopold’s assumptions, it was clear that Commander Damien’s officers were not without complaints.
The commanders almost sang in unison, pushing for an offensive, but Damien’s response was always the same.
- If we hold out here, either the northern army will come, or Duke Lafayette will. Anyway, I’m against it! If you still want to go on the offensive, would you take responsibility if it fails?
- Ah, no....
Despite such suppression, the fact remained that Damien had ignored the pillaging of the villages and passed up what seemed like golden opportunities, leading to mounting dissatisfaction among his subordinates, almost to the breaking point.
So it was, until the forces that were said to have gone to Lorraine for reinforcement reappeared under the command of Duke Leopold, with a full strength of 20,000 troops ready to launch a total offensive.
“See! I was right!”
“My apologies, Count.”
In front of Damien, who was energetically exclaiming, the commanders of the southern army were at a loss for words, merely bowing their heads in response.
“Everyone understands, right? Our objective is defense first, defense second, and defense third! Just hold out and we’ll win this!”
“Yes, Count!”
As the commanders shouted in unison and dispersed to their respective units, Damien suddenly felt a chilling premonition creeping up his neck.
He hadn’t paid it any mind during his first encounter with Pierre de Lafayette.
He dismissed it as a strange sensation the second time around as well.
It wasn’t until the third time that he instinctively felt a sense of doom and retreated, saving his life.
Despite his subordinates’ pleas to go on the offensive, he had felt the same sensation every time, stubbornly insisting on staying put.
“Damn, why do I feel it again now?”
Despite having fortified his position as strongly as possible, and the enemy launching a frontal assault, Damien was disturbed by this alarming sensation. Cursing the absent Pierre and Ballian, he stood up from his seat.
***
The battle had been raging for hours already.
Dozens of the Germanian Empire’s artillery pieces roared into action, their cannons spewing fire as the shells flew with a thunderous noise, striking the revolutionary forces’ positions with devastating impact.
“Ugh!”
“Ahhh!”
Before the relentless onslaught of iron cannonballs, the frail human body stood no chance, crushed and mangled in an instant.
Soldiers were decapitated without even a chance to scream, and the fortifications Damien had painstakingly built were shattered, leaving gaping holes.
Though the revolutionaries returned fire, they were hopelessly outgunned.
Mounted on his horse, Damien watched his positions being battered, swallowing hard before turning his gaze towards the horizon, where a wave of white uniforms approached relentlessly.
Despite the revolutionaries firing desperately from the windows of a fortified farm building, the overwhelming numbers of the Germanian Empire’s troops continued their advance.
“Be careful-”
“Damn, there’s too many!”
The soldiers firing from the windows fell one by one, and finally, the Imperial troops began to savagely beat and push against the farm’s door with the butts of their rifles.
“Hold them back!”
“Push, push!”
The revolutionaries tried to barricade the door with their bodies, but as the Imperial forces surged like a tide, the door to the farm trembled as if it would shatter at any moment.
“Damn, send reinforcements to the 3rd and 4th regiments!”
“Yes! Advance the 3rd and 4th regiments!”
At Damien’s urgent command, infantry regiments were deployed to rescue the farm, with the revolutionaries in blue uniforms forming ranks and advancing towards the enemy near the farm.
On the other side, a regiment adorned in white uniforms and flying the banners of Duke Leopold’s house stood in opposition.
“For the Republic! Aim-”
After closing the distance, the revolutionary forces raised their muskets in unison -
“Fire!”
The muskets erupted together, sending bullets flying.
As the bullets sliced through the air, Germanian Empire soldiers fell, but the troops in white uniforms pressed closer, undeterred.
“Aim-”
The soldiers in white aimed their muskets simultaneously.
“Fire!”
“Urgh!”
“My, my leg-!”
Despite the revolutionary fire, the Germanian Empire’s troops advanced further and unleashed a barrage, and the revolutionary army fell in a heap.
“Do not retreat! Long live the revolution!”
“For freedom!”
Encouraged by the sergeants who raised their swords and shouted, the revolutionaries heightened their fervor. They tore paper from their pouches, poured gunpowder into their muskets, and rammed the bullets down the barrels with their ramrods.
“Aim- Fire!”
The Imperial troops in white, having completed the process first, unleashed another volley of gunfire.
“Argh!”
“Agh!”
The sound of bullets whizzing by reached the ears of the revolutionaries fumbling with their muskets, and blood from a fallen comrade splattered on their faces.
As the front row of soldiers collapsed in an instant, leaving gaps in the line, terror spread rapidly.
The revolutionary spirit was high, but no amount of morale could change the fact that a bullet meant death.
The enemy, firing later yet reloading faster to shoot again, displayed a formidable presence that overwhelmed the revolutionaries.
“Damn it. Are those Duke Leopold’s elite guards or something?”
Damien cursed under his breath, watching the enemy regiment, flying Duke Leopold’s banners, decimating his forces.
‘The southern army’s best of the best can go to hell!’
“Ballian, that charlatan...!”
Damien gritted his teeth, but the bad news kept coming.
“Count! The enemy’s heavy cavalry is advancing!”
“Damn it! Tell Sir Gaston to deal with them!”
“Yes!”
Damien was well aware of Gaston’s prowess, having experienced it firsthand in his battles with Lafayette. Leading the heavy cavalry, Gaston was expected to put up a good fight.
But would that be enough?
The pride of the Francia Kingdom, its knights, had mostly perished during the civil war, yet the Germanian Empire was renowned for possessing knights second only to those of Francia.
Damien’s hands trembled on the reins, his nape prickling with unease.
It pained him to consider abandoning the fortified positions, but perhaps it was better to retreat and save what forces he could?
“Messenger!”
“Oh! What, why are you back?”
Damien’s initial relief at the messenger's arrival turned to frustration when he realized it wasn’t a messenger from the northern army but the one he had sent hours earlier to call for reinforcements.
“My apologies, Count. The enemy’s hussars have us surrounded on all sides. There’s no way to break through.”
“Heh, heh heh, heh heh heh....”
On the front, they were being overwhelmingly outmatched in strength, and the enemy’s light cavalry had already encircled them, waiting to tear apart his retreating forces.
With a pale face, Damien saw, far across the battlefield, the terrifying banner of Duke Leopold fluttering in the distance.
“Damn it all! Whether it’s Ballian or Duke Lafayette, if they don’t come to our aid right this moment, we’re all going to die here!”
***
The revolutionary forces in blue uniforms, deployed to save the farm, were decimated, scattering and fleeing in all directions.
In front of the Duke’s Regiment, composed of veterans who had long served Duke Leopold, even the troops Pierre had painstakingly raised amounted to no more than ordinary foot soldiers.
Through his telescope, the Duke witnessed the last of the revolutionary forces at the farm either dying or surrendering, and the Germanian Empire’s flag being raised over the farm. He then turned to observe the clash of heavy cavalry on both sides.
The Duke slightly furrowed his brow at the sight of the battlefield through his telescope.
“...The knights of Francia should have been almost wiped out in the civil war.”
“That’s correct, Your Grace.”
“Then what are those?”
The staff officer, having heard the Duke’s remark, also peered through his telescope at the battlefield, but only silence followed.
Despite the disparity in the size of their forces, the revolutionaries’ heavy cavalry did not falter in numbers. In fact, it appeared as though the Empire’s heavy cavalry, nearly twice the number, was being pushed back.
The men trained under Pierre to wield mana, even if just rudimentarily, were no match for knights but held a significant advantage over the Empire’s heavy cavalry who lacked such skills.
However, the knights were expected to dominate...
The Duke squinted as he watched through his telescope a single knight at the forefront, displaying fierce bravery and overwhelming the Empire’s knights.
“...It brings back unpleasant memories.”
The overwhelming fear experienced on the battlefield decades ago as a knight, witnessing the prowess of that blue knight. To the Duke, who had seen it firsthand, this figure did not quite reach that level.
Yet, the mere presence of such a person stirred the fear ingrained in the Empire’s troops by the knights of Francia throughout history.
The Duke slowly lowered the telescope from his eyes.
Although the heavy cavalry had not managed to collapse the enemy’s cavalry as the Duke had hoped, the tide of battle had already turned.
The enemy had meticulously constructed fortified positions and made good use of the terrain.
They fought with utmost caution, and considering his unfamiliarity with the doctrines of firearms, Damien had put up a commendable fight.
However, in a situation where they were overwhelmingly outmatched in both the quantity and quality of troops, there was no viable solution.
The losses on the Empire’s side were not insignificant, but if they could definitively secure the southern army here, it would be well worth it-
“Your Grace, the Duke!”
The Duke’s thoughts were interrupted by an urgent cry.
“What’s the matter?”
“Enemy forces are approaching from the south!”
“What did you say?”
“It’s the banner of Duke Lafayette!”
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