97 – Maxburg True Education (1)

In a war between barons and barons, tactics are needed to win a single battle, and in battles involving more than a count, a strategy is needed to end the war.

This is because battles fought between barons usually end in a single clash, but if the scale of the count is larger than that of a count, it will not be possible to win without multiple large-scale clashes.

However, the strategy of this era is extremely weak compared to the modern one, and in modern terms, it is likely to focus only on tactics, which are the middle stages of a strategy to win a big victory through several small battles.

Of course, the duke who is studying strategy is much more frightening than those who simply want to win a come-from-behind victory in one battle like Schwein…

Since my purpose for this war was already clear, I was able to establish a more efficient strategy and plan than that guy.

However, strategy is the process of first winning battles and then collecting small victories to carve out the art of the enemy’s submission.

Therefore, if I don’t catch the victory in the beginning, the art of strategy that I made will fail.

Time passed like that, and the day finally came when they agreed to start a war.

In the meantime, I established tactics by assuming all possible variables, and the soldiers strengthened their fighting spirit by receiving all kinds of training I envisioned.

The roads connecting Lothringen and our territory were repaired as much as possible so that they could be supplied with all the supplies they needed, and preached about the cause of this war through the priests.

As a result, according to the reports of the commanders, the soldiers in our territory no longer voice their opposition to this war.

Of course, there may not be people who have such an opinion, but at least not spreading the idea to others is an encouraging enough achievement.

Because even cowards become brave when there are brave guys around them.

And finally, I opened the curtain of the first war after becoming a count, and a large army of 25,000 infantry, 4,000 men at arms, and 500 knights began to march under my command.

First, Braim and Frost’s troops went out first to plunder along the coastline of Lothringen, and then the Balts, which had to make the biggest turn, began their march.

And I, passing the middle road between Frost and the Baltic, waited about 3 days for Frost and set out.

**

After leaving the County of Creutel and entering the Duchy of Maxburg, the scenery there was distinctly different from that of our County.

Crops were planted on all the farmland, probably because the four-row cropping method was introduced, but barley, turnips, wheat, and beans were all a bit flimsy, probably because fertilizers were not applied properly.

And the serfs seem to have improved their food situation compared to the serfs in Windheim I invaded before, but they looked a little skinny compared to the serfs in my territory… There was some oil running down his face.

Also, some of their farming tools were still made of wood or stone, perhaps because they had been rapidly improving their farming tools.

However, considering that he completely changed the way of farming in just a few years, he still looks like an elector even if he rots.

Seeing such a sight, Major Frost, my adjutant and the head of the bodyguard, said:

“Enemies and allies alike, now it seems that everyone imitates Your Excellency. Aren’t the farming tools and farming methods you see over there invented by His Excellency?”

Isn’t Frost obviously resentful that others take away His Excellency’s skills like this? I asked indirectly, but…

To be honest, I don’t get angry when I think that in an era where there are no intellectual property rights, it is a world where you can survive only by unconditionally copying an opponent’s excellent technology.

No, as a person who has learned history, knowing that it took decades for this to change, I even think that those guys handled it wisely.

So I answered Frost in a low voice.

“That’s right, these days, whether it’s Italian, French, Elaine, or proud Romania, everyone is copying me. His Highness, the Duke of Brussels, even sent a spy to accept my army.”

“Is that so… ”

“But that doesn’t matter at all. The important thing now is to pierce the nose of His Highness, the Duke of Maxburg, and bring him out to the battlefield we want. And for him we need to use a tactic similar to what I did when I besieged Castle Helsman.”

“Then, do you intend to send all the serfs to Lothringen after plundering only food and property this time?”

When subjugating Count Helsmann, just sending the serfs into the castle was enough to demoralize the enemy and save food.

And that alone made the enemy extremely agitated.

However, this time the opponent was the Duke of Maxburg, and like the last time, it was not an easy battle to safely escape from the siege.

So you have to shake the enemy by using a more brutal, more effective strategy than that time.

“That’s right. However, the Duke of Maxburg he was going to deal with this time had already lost his honor. Also, for nobles who have abandoned their honor, it is their duty to prepare appropriate tactics. Therefore, I intend to infiltrate some of our forces among them and shake the inside.”

After hearing my words, Frost asked me with an expression of half curiosity and half awe.

“How do you mean?”

“We’re going to mix and match some assassins, some riot-loving criminals, and some chance-seeking career-blinds. And how… It’s good to look forward to it. Call the village chief.”

**

And after a while, my soldiers brought the village chief representing the village.

As soon as the village chief saw me, he knelt down and began to pray, as if he did not want to die.

“Your Excellency, please save my life! If you spare our lives, we will become your loyal serfs. You may take 80% of what we have gathered, or you may make all of our men into His Excellency’s soldiers, so please spare us our lives… ”

If I had the intention of occupying this place, I would have reassured them in a kind tone, as I had done in Count Helsmann, and then told them how to live.

However, I have no intention of occupying this territory, and I must play a cruel lord against them in order to carry out my plans.

So I got off my horse and slashed the kneeling village chief on the cheek to scare him.

Then, the village chief seemed to think that I was going to kill them all, and he continued to speak, not paying attention to the fact that his face was bleeding.

“How dare we lowly serfs rebel against you… Just please save my life. Then I will give you absolute allegiance… dismissal.”

“How can I know that? And don’t you want my soldiers to plunder you and rape your women?”

The village chief must have been frightened by those words, and now he began to break out in a cold sweat like rain.

Of course, I said this, but I don’t think it’s crazy to allow plunder accompanied by rape or slaughter unless it’s an extreme situation or a situation where victory is confirmed.

Besides, if you commit such a thing, your conscience will prick you no matter what.

However, now is the time to threaten the village head as much as possible.

So I signaled to one of the other soldiers in front of me who, blinded by ambition, had taken a dangerous action.

Then the soldier licked his lips with his tongue and said with an ecstatic expression as if he had won the lottery.

“Your Excellency Count, can we do it for real this time?”

“It will depend on whether or not that guy agrees to the next offer.”

“Is that so… ”

No matter how much war in this era is ‘looting, rape, and massacre’, it gives extreme pleasure to the winning side…

As a standing army, you should be respected by the people, but you can’t use guys like that.

I whispered in the ear of the headman who pressed his forehead to the dirt floor.

“Okay, how many people are left in your village?”

“About 200 people… All those who can be used as soldiers have already been conscripted… ”

If that’s the case, I’d attach about 20 soldiers to them and put them in the castle, and only need one or two really important assassins and operatives.

“Do you really want to live? Even by betraying the Duke of Maxburg?”

“Is there any?”

“Okay, then let me save you. Betray Maxburg instead.”

The village chief’s face brightened at the thought that he could see the hope of survival.

I looked at the guy and said:

“From now on, you should disguise yourself as villagers like the 20 people I designated. In return, I’ll give you food and 300 gold coins to get you to Lothringen in exchange for your cooperation. Food is about 2 weeks on foot, so I will give you 3 weeks worth of food. Lead the villagers and the elderly and leave immediately.”

Although the food was taken away, 300 gold coins were enough to buy the food they had.

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Maybe that’s why the village chief, who had been preparing a table to die for just a moment ago, had a happy expression because of the relief that he had survived and the fact that he had obtained a lot of money.

Then, the village chief quickly got up from his seat, put the old and weak on mules, and started moving to Lotringen with carts full of food.

And after all the villagers had disappeared, we continued to advance, persuading the village chiefs in the same way.

Thanks to that advance, the speed slowed down a lot, but of course there was a reason for advancing like this.

The first is to safely infiltrate the operatives to devastate Lothringen, the capital of the duchy, and the second is to make the Duke of Maxburg hurry up to the battlefield we want after seeing us plundering.

In particular, it is Maxburg, where it is impossible to divide the unit into companies, if you divide it into companies and take advantage of the advantage of being able to move at least 4 times faster than the opponent… ?

I can perfectly implement the operation to draw the enemy to my advantage, which the hero who can only see the light of our country most often used.

He also ordered the soldiers to change their guidelines, since this was enough to force an agent into Lothringen to cause confusion.

“All troops, from now on, serfs will not be sent to Lothringen. And do not take their food and property, and burn all but the bare minimum. And hurry to the plains near Lothringen!”

If you go as fast as possible before the enemy arrives, you can spend more time preparing, understanding, and constructing the battlefield before the enemy arrives.