Chapter 44: Revolution Era - Foreword (4)
In the wake of Count Lionel’s men declaring surrender in honor of their lord,
we hastily finished our local recovery efforts and embarked on a forced march,
eventually reaching the southern parts of Alsace.
Yet, the anticipated allied forces were nowhere to be seen, only unwelcome
guests circling around us.
Narrowing my eyes, I glared at the enemy’s cavalry observing us from a
distance.
Dressed in elegantly draped coats with leather caps atop their heads, they
were the infamous Hussars of the Germanian Empire.
They maintained their distance, seemingly monitoring every move of our army
without rashly engaging.
Executing their reconnaissance mission with a precision befitting of true
cavalrymen.
With no way to chase them off, it was unsettling to be under their complete
surveillance.
“Will we be alright, Your Excellency? Our troops are quite exhausted from the
relentless march. If we were to encounter the enemy’s main force...”
“Hmm...”
Upon hearing my adjutant’s question, I pulled out my telescope to gauge the
size of the Hussars observing us and then spoke.
“No. We haven’t encountered any friendly forces thus far, and there seem to be
too many enemy cavalrymen for a mere scouting mission.”
Lowering the telescope, I added, “If our army had completely collapsed, we
would have had to meet the remnants of the defeated troops on the way. And if
they were on the verge of collapse, these Hussars would be preoccupied with a
pursuit mission.”
“Indeed. That suggests a high likelihood of a standoff or ongoing engagement.”
Oh. I didn’t have high expectations for this adjutant assigned by the
revolutionary government, but this fellow might be useful.
“What’s your name?”
“Louis Dezy, Your Excellency.”
A namesake of King Louis.
“What did you do before this?”
Dezy, who appeared to be around my age, let out a wry smile.
“I served in the Royal Guard.”
“...How are you still alive?”
“I ordered my men to surrender without resistance, and a council member I knew
spoke well of me.”
“Ha, lucky fellow, aren’t you?”
Thinking I should make good use of this fortunate friend, Dezy grinned and,
gesturing behind me, opened his mouth.
“It seems so. It looks like Your Excellency’s guess was correct.”
Turning my head, I too smirked upon seeing a group holding a white flag
emerging amidst the Hussars.
“It does seem that way.”
***
Taking Dezy and a few knights with me, we approached, holding a white flag,
meeting the enemy Hussars about midway between our forces.
I was taken aback.
Expecting them to send a suitably high-ranking officer for negotiations, I
realized upon seeing the insignias of the man leading them that this was not
the case, and I bowed in acknowledgment.
“It’s an honor to meet the esteemed Archduke of the Germanian Empire. I am
Duke Pierre de Lafayette, the Southern Commander of the Francia Republic
Revolutionary Army.”
“Archduke Leopold Johann of Habsburg, Supreme Commander of the Germanian
Imperial Army. It’s a pleasure to meet the renowned Duke Lafayette, whose fame
has reached even our empire.”
Archduke Leopold greeted me with evident curiosity.
He was a hero of the empire who had participated in wars that earned the
former Duke the title of ‘Blue Knight’ in his youth and had faced ‘the Great
King’ of Krafte...
“I am hardly comparable to Your Excellency’s illustrious reputation.”
I never expected to face the Duke himself in these negotiations, though I saw
a high possibility for dialogue.
A chill ran down my spine, but the Archduke spoke with ease.
“The Southern Army of your country, led by Count Mirbo, is currently
surrounded by my forces.”
“Is that so? I suspected as much.”
“Your forces have fought Balliantly, which I found quite impressive. Both
sides have shed enough blood, so if you agree to abandon this region and
retreat, I am willing to allow the Southern Army to withdraw.”
The Archduke’s eyes seemed to be testing me, filled with a playful mischief
that suggested he might be toying with the situation.
I swallowed dryly.
With the Hussars blocking the way, the exact state of Damien and the Southern
Army was unknown to me.
Francia, having focused on the use of medium cavalry, had yet to adopt such
organized light cavalry tactics.
Damien’s forces numbered 12,000, while the Archduke commanded 20,000.
Though reinforcements had been received from Lumière, the troops I brought
were merely 3,000.
Both sides had engaged in battle, but our forces were also exhausted from the
forced march from Lionel in the South to here.
Outmatched in reconnaissance, they had a clear view of our situation, whereas
we were left choosing blindly.
If Damien’s forces had already been depleted, a wrong decision here could
spell our end.
Yet, to simply cede this ground would force Ballian’s Northern Army to retreat
to avoid encirclement, rendering all the blood shed thus far worthless and
leaving the capital, Lumière, exposed to the enemy.
After a moment of contemplation, I spoke up.
“That would be difficult, Your Excellency. Instead, I have a proposal. If the
Germanian Imperial Army stops fighting and withdraws, I will ensure your
forces can retreat without shedding a single drop of blood.”
“Interesting...”
The Archduke smiled, seemingly amused.
“Do you believe your forces can defeat mine, Duke?”
Honestly, no.
I was unsure of the current state of Mirbo’s forces, and even if they were
intact, my troops were exhausted.
A surprise attack from the rear might have offered a chance of victory, but
with those damned Hussars exposing any move in advance, a direct assault by
the Archduke would mean certain defeat.
Damn, my mouth is parched.
“If Count Mirbo’s forces had already collapsed, Your Excellency wouldn’t
have come to meet me like this. You could have simply pressed your attack with
your army.”
According to the last messenger sent by Damien, he had focused on fortifying
his position.
I could only hope that he hadn’t acted rashly and had preserved his forces.
Hearing my words, the Archduke chuckled lightly.
“Not an incorrect statement. However, judging by the time of arrival, it seems
your forces have been on a forced march, and with their numbers dwindled and
exhausted, do you truly believe you can turn the tide?”
It felt as if the damn Archduke was methodically dismantling my position,
piece by piece.
“Well, isn’t that something we’ll find out? I’m rather concerned for Your
Excellency, though.
If my assumptions are correct, by now, the Lorraine front must be desperately
seeking your assistance.”
“It appears the Duke may be overestimating the capabilities of the Republic’s
army. Our forces in Lorraine are twice the size of the Republic’s northern
army, and yet you’re so confident.”
Is that bluff? Or did Ballian not perform as well as I hoped?
Judging with limited information is headache-inducing, but if Ballian hasn’t
made a significant impact, we’re at a dead end.
“No offense, Your Excellency, but facing an enemy with three heads and no will
to fight doesn’t seem too challenging.”
At least, I am aware of Ballian’s capabilities.
The smile slowly faded from the Archduke’s face.
“Your confidence seems a bit excessive. I was prepared to show generosity in
honor of the valor shown by your forces in battle.”
Did I make a mistake?
The weight of the entire Southern Army’s fate makes my palms sweat.
I tried to appear calm as I spoke.
“Are you sure, Your Excellency?”
“About what?”
Militarily, we are in a dire situation, overwhelmingly outmatched and
outmaneuvered in reconnaissance. Pretending otherwise would be futile.
“This is Francia soil, Your Excellency. Even if our army falls, we will
continuously recruit and fight to protect our homeland.”
I locked eyes with the Archduke’s cold gaze and continued.
“But is the same true for the Germanian Empire? Even if you achieve a victory
here at great cost, sacrificing your forces, it’s unlikely your homeland would
rejoice over such a pyrrhic victory.”
The only viable option is political. In a war for King Louis, how much loss
can the Germanian Empire afford?
Yes, we would be defeated if the Archduke pressed on. But his forces wouldn’t
emerge unscathed either. Does he have a reason to endure such losses?
The Archduke stared at me intensely, as if trying to see through me.
After a prolonged staring contest with the seasoned warrior, whose thoughts
were unreadable, the Archduke burst into a hearty laugh.
“Pffft. Tried to bite off more than you could chew with me, but you’re not as
easy as I thought.”
Stroking his chin, the Archduke, with a mischievous smile, posed a question.
“Just one thing. Do you truly believe you can stand against me and emerge
victorious?”
Responding to the Archduke’s genuine curiosity, I admitted candidly.
“No, victory seems unlikely. The Southern Army would suffer catastrophic
losses, and the command of the Republic’s forces would shift entirely to
General Raphael Ballian in the North. However, Your Excellency’s forces would
also sustain severe damage and lose the initiative in this war.”
The Archduke looked at me quietly.
The thought that the fate of the entire Southern Army hung on every word was
unnervingly persistent.
Given the limited information, I had no choice but to trust my judgment.
The Archduke, already highly esteemed, would prioritize the empire’s strategy
over adding another line to his accolades.
“It would be a battle where we both shed blood only to benefit others, a fight
full of scars. So, let’s call it a draw, Your Excellency.”
This war was initiated on the pretext of overthrowing the Republic, with the
Germanian Empire participating in support of King Louis, hoping to bring
Francia under their sphere of influence in return.
Destroying the Southern Army would be futile if the Imperial forces suffered
significant losses, making it difficult to control King Louis. This would lead
to the dilemma of having to conscript more troops for a war in another
country, just to maintain control over King Louis.
It’s purely a gamble on their part.
After hearing my words, the Archduke stared at me intently with a grave
expression before finally speaking.
“You’re more than just a fighter. Dangerous.”
“...Do you accept the proposal, Your Excellency?”
Please ask, please!
After what felt like an eternity in my anxious wait, the Archduke chuckled and
responded.
“Let’s do just that this time. As of now, we’ll cease hostilities, and our
forces will withdraw. You should also order Count Mirbo to stop the
engagement.”
Suppressing a sigh of relief that threatened to escape, I offered a slight
smile.
“Most willingly.”
“Hmm, our conversation was brief, but quite intriguing. I do hope to meet you
on a battlefield where we can truly test our mettle, Duke.”
To think he found it ‘interesting’. What a dreadful thought.
To sweat it out once and then hope for another round?
“I would prefer if such an occasion didn’t arise....”
At my response, Archduke Leopold chuckled and turned his horse around.
***
Alsace Front, Republic’s Southern Army Encampment.
After the Germanian Imperial Army retreated in an orderly fashion under
Archduke Leopold’s command, we headed towards the fortified position Damien
had established.
The disarrayed defenses and soldiers carrying the dead and wounded everywhere
bore silent testimony to the fierce battle that had taken place here.
“Duke.”
“You may go. Please take care, Saint.”
“Yes.”
Eris immediately broke off from the formation to attend to the wounded, with
Sir Beaumont naturally following her.
“Welcome, Duke Lafayette!”
Upon our arrival at the entrance, Damien de Mirbo came running out, spitting
words with fervor as he spoke.
“I had no doubt that Your Excellency would come, but to arrive so swiftly is
truly remarkable! The safety of our forces is entirely thanks to Your
Excellency’s efforts!”
I nodded slightly to Gaston, who, as always, was stoic yet polite, standing
behind Damien, before I commended Damien.
“Against the master of deception and tactics, Archduke Leopold, you fought
with prudence without rash actions, preserving our strength. Your efforts,
Count Damien de Mirbo, played a crucial role.”
Had he been lured into a premature offensive by Leopold, we might have faced a
dire outcome, so his performance indeed exceeded expectations.
Damien, seemingly moved, blinked back tears and nodded fervently.
“It is truly an honor to have my efforts recognized by you, Duke! I swear my
loyalty, my unwavering loyalty—”
That aside.
“But there’s something.”
“Yes?”
I subtly approached Damien and whispered.
“I’m curious why the Southern Army faced Archduke Leopold alone, without any
support from the Northern Army.”
Damien hiccupped in response.
Was it that Ballian intended to leave the Southern Army to fend for
themselves? Probably. After all, we are competitors, so it’s not unusual.
It’s rather fortunate that we collaborate on essential matters, but the real
issue lies with the Southern Army, who blindly followed Ballian’s orders
without a second thought.
I never told them to empty their brains and follow Ballian’s commands to the
letter.
Even entrusting command to Christine, who barely knows how to wield a sword
properly, wouldn’t have led to such a foolish predicament.
“Surely, Count Mirbo didn’t just mindlessly follow whatever the
mercenary-turned-general commanded. We’ll delve into this matter more
thoroughly later.”
Pale-faced, Damien followed silently behind me.
This man... he wouldn’t have nearly sacrificed my people just because he was
sweet-talked into it, would he?
As we entered the stronghold, the soldiers cheered enthusiastically, waving
their flags.
“Long live Duke Lafayette!”
Had I arrived even slightly later, these men might have already suffered grave
losses.
“Thank you for coming!”
Had the conversation with the Archduke taken a wrong turn, the battle would
have continued, risking the lives of not only those who had been holding out
with difficulty but also those who had marched from the South to here.
While waving back at them, I finally allowed myself the sigh of relief I had
held back in front of the Archduke.
The ones cheering before me now had decided to stand with us, even if it meant
abandoning their long-held lands, along with their soldiers.
Those following me had almost been branded as rebels and faced subjugation but
eventually conceded bit by bit to join us.
I slowly lifted my gaze to the flags fluttering in the soldiers’ hands,
engraving the sight of their smiling faces, relieved and joyful at having
survived, in my memory.
After my return, I’ve been through numerous battles, all of them Francia blood
spilled on Francia soil.
We fought merely to defend against looting and to build a foundation.
Opposing a king who prolonged a civil war to fatten the purses of his
followers, we fought to survive.
Due to differing beliefs, I had to cross swords with former allies.
I battled my fellow Francians, who were merely on different sides, to realize
the future I envisioned.
After such a long journey, for the first time, I’ve managed to protect people
against a foreign threat, united in a common cause with these individuals.
I’ve finally fulfilled the promise not to lead them into battle just to
enhance my own glory.
Look, Blue Knight. My father, the man who claimed to be the greatest knight.
Isn’t the hope and future harbored by those who have survived far more
valuable than the honor built upon the sacrifice of countless lives, soaked in
blood?
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