171 – Eastern Franchi Expedition (6)

A week after the military meeting, we finally reached 100,000… No, about 115,000 troops faced more than 140,000 enemy soldiers.

Combined, the two armies number about 250,000. In this battle, we, the Marquis of Creutel, will minimize damage as much as possible, and will be very condescending.

“Baron Balt will lead 6,000 infantry and 500 knights, and Baron Biermann will lead 4,000 infantry and 500 knights, and keep them 500 meters away from the left and right wing, respectively. After that, as a reserve, assist their infantry to keep them from collapsing. The rest of the army follows me and protects the main base and rear!”

**

Shortly after I sounded the call, the soldiers of the central army, left wing, and right wing began to advance slowly in step.

As 80,000 people moved in unison, the sound of their feet stomping was like thunder, and the dust that flew behind them rose like mist.

If you look at the movie, the look they create would have looked big and magnificent like a natural phenomenon.

“Baron Frost, you lead 6,000 infantry and 1,000 knights to secure the main base and supply routes in the rear. And unless my order is given, you must not move even if the Duke of Orléans’ order for a general attack is given.”

“Yes, I understand. Then, what should we do if the knights under Count Akitel attack?”

“Of course, if you guys are blocking it alone, I will lead the knights and come out to support. However, it will be a bit late… So from now on, mobilize the sapper unit to strengthen the defense of the main base. Also, it is forbidden to use grenades and cannons because it is dangerous for soldiers.”

“I will follow your orders.”

Although Baron Frost had been ordered to guard the rear, a report came from the government command that in this battle, Franchi would take advantage of the fact that they had more troops and aim for the left, right, and center forces from the front.

Also, the conclusion we drew through cross-validation with that information and the information obtained so far is…

[It is far better to defeat the weaker armies of the Duke of Orléans, Isra, and Ilias first than to fight head-on with the army of the Marquis of Creutel. Then, mobilize overwhelming numbers to encircle and annihilate the Marquis of Creutel, who lacks numbers.]

In summary, if you’re going to fight, fight the weakest one to one and defeat them, and then fight the strongest child with a one-to-one ratio to get the odds.

It looks cowardly, but it is the most effective and sure way to defeat our army.

“Send a signal to the flag bearer holding the corps flag to order the remaining men to advance. We are going to assist the rear of the central army.”

To announce the advance of the corps, the flag of the corps waved left and right, and the military band blew trumpets and beat drums.

The majestic trumpets, the stern and restrained drumming, and the dusty dusty wind blowing over the battlefield.

With the exception of a few small hills, the serf foot soldiers who would face the enemy before us could see out across the open view.

As if to prove that the training was not going well, it was seen that the farming implements and spears were lifted crookedly, even from a distance.

No matter how hurriedly the preparations for this expedition were made, seeing how they showed this kind of flair in the first battle, they would die a lot even if they won.

After a while, the trumpet sounded in the central army where the Duke of Orléans was located, and the orders of the superior commanders were heard.

“All the foot soldiers of the Orléans Legion fight against the enemy here! Prepare dustproof!!”

“Soldiers in the first row of each square have their spears fully lowered, the second row halfway, and the third row slightly tilted their spears!! Also, commanders of each square, pay attention to the left side!!”

“If there is a hole in the enemy square, charge towards it with all your might!!”

It’s not flashy or complex, but judging from the fact that he gave the order to fight the enemy most efficiently… How much do you intend to overcome with the quality of the commanders who command the infantry?

Even the lower-middle-level commanders who directly commanded the infantry gave orders, wielding short halberds or swords instead of long spears, as if they knew what role they had to play.

“Row 1 over there! I lowered the window too low. Also, why did you hold the spear so weakly! Did you sell all the energy you used to farm?”

“If you don’t want to die, hold your long spear at the same angle as the spearmen next to you. Otherwise the enemy foot soldiers will stab you to death! If you want to dig up and bury the bones here, listen roughly!”

“Standing at the front doesn’t mean you get hit more by arrows, and standing at the back doesn’t mean you get hit less by arrows. They are all the same!! So, when the arrows fly, just close your eyes and hold the spear!!”

Like the high-ranking commanders, the middle and low-level commanders seem to be well aware of what is required when managing a square of 100 people in charge.

No, in addition to that, seeing as the general conscripts are clearly pointing out what they are most afraid of and make a lot of mistakes in, they won’t be easily defeated…

It would survive for a long time even if company-to-battalion level matchlocks were sent through the square to provide support fire.

As I was thinking of how to support the Central Army in my head, a messenger approached me and said,

“His Highness, Duke of Orléans, has asked us to send reinforcements as the vanguard of the central army has begun to clash.”

“Okay, let’s send a company of matchlocks to dampen the enemy’s spirit. And tell them that I will judge and send future support at my own discretion, unless there are special circumstances.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The messenger gave me the duke’s orders, and immediately mounted my horse and headed elsewhere.

“Colonel Frost, immediately mount all the men from your matchlock regiment on horseback and go to the vanguard of the Central Army. Then judge voluntarily and shoot 2-3 times in the gap between the friendly squares where you think support is needed. Also, when reloading, hide behind the spearmen’s square. Never rush into close combat… No, just get on your horse and run away as soon as the enemy approaches within 30 meters.”

“I will follow your orders.”

“If the enemy’s momentum weakens or runs out of magazines over and over again like that, immediately lead the soldiers of the regiment and return to the central army. Again, there’s no need to rush to break the enemy line with a volley. This is an order.”

At my command, Colonel Frost put on a puzzled expression.

That’s also unlikely, because if you use a gun and overdo it, you can break through the enemy’s central army faster and more efficiently…

It is because forcing too much damage on the allies to save the soldiers of the allies is a big loss in the long run.

And since I have yet to mention all of these plans to any of my vassals below the ‘baron’ level, they will of course feel compelled to help the allies.

So I didn’t scold the hesitant Colonel Frost, I just urged in a calm voice.

“It’s an order, hurry up and carry it out. I have an idea.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Under my command, the Rifle Regiment, in units of each company, moves between our squares and fires support! However, His Excellency has a strict order not to overdo it, so don’t be too eager for your exploits!”

With that said, Colonel Frost led his regiment of musketeers and set out to reinforce the Duke of Orléans’ army as quickly as possible.

Ten minutes later, gray smoke rose from everywhere between the infantry squares of the Duke of Orléans, who were engaged in fierce fighting, and small explosions were heard.

And soon after, the commanders belonging to the army of the Duke of Orléans in the rear began to give orders in a screeching voice.

“Michelle’s hundred! Catch up with the vanguard!! It’s our turn soon! If we fight a little more, this battle will be over!! We are the protagonists!”

“If you win this time, you guys will get a lot of rewards too! Will you return empty-handed and be beaten by your wife, or will you slit the enemy’s throat and return with a rich reward!!”

“What’s so scary about guys who pierce holes so quickly after only stabbing them a few times? charge!!!”

Unless you were a group of conscripts made up of completely inexperienced serfs, you wouldn’t believe such hopeful bullshit.

Because, thanks to our shooting, dozens or hundreds of people must have died in the enemy’s square, but it’s only about killing a small part of the tens of thousands of enemy soldiers.

A soldier with experience would know no matter how far back he is, by looking at the enemy’s current state and reaction when the enemy collapses on the battlefield.

However, those who are ruled by the fear of war sometimes need to be given that kind of false hope.

Otherwise, their morale would quickly drop and they would desert or run away on their own from the battlefield.

again slowly… The time has come for knights to stab each other’s weak flanks and backs in order to break the infantry square…

“Your Excellency Marquis! A scouting party says that knights are coming from here, about 40 minutes on horseback! The number of enemy knights charging is estimated to be approximately 2,000.”

They say tigers come when I say it, but they come when they think about them…

Normally, I would make every effort to completely pierce the knights who charged while proudly on horseback, but…

We don’t have to do that now, so we’ll just fight enough to avoid looking like we’ve got another plot behind us.

“Based on the base camp, make a square square! We must be vigilant, as we do not know from which direction the knights of Count Akitel may attack us! However, the soldiers in the front and center move with me to block the enemy charge towards the infantry of His Highness, Duke of Orléans! Hurry to the left wing of the central army!!”

“Yes, I understand!!”

Then I led 800 arquebusiers and 1200 pikemen and built a diagonal line on the left corner of the central army as quickly as possible.

Around the time the horizontal march was roughly drawn, the enemy knights changed their formation in a wedge shape and began to increase their speed.

To counter it, I gave orders to my soldiers.

“Soldiers with long spears stand half a step ahead of those with matchlocks! Soldiers holding matchlocks place their guns between the pikemen in front and fire at once on command!”