Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Faster than the Enemy (6)
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Colonel Hans van Chant of the Hern Republic brimmed with conviction.
"This local skirmish will end in victory for our side."
No one present doubted his words even slightly.
According to reports from their spies, the 12th Corps was already a disorganized mess, its discipline in utter shambles.
And the 14th Regiment, Colonel Hans's target, was the weakest of the lot.
The sentries on guard duty—excluding the bare minimum soldiers—had long since become a Tang Dynasty army with not even a hint of tension.
"The fate of our republic hangs on the success of this local provocation. Whether we secure complete independence for the republic or crawl back under the empire's oppression—that's what's at stake."
The officers' expressions hardened with resolve.
"Our plan is exceedingly simple. The Imperial Army's 14th Regiment grants Christmas leave to its entire force on Christmas Day."
"Is that true?"
"Well, they'll leave a minimal force behind, they say. No more than a hundred men at most. It's from reliable informants."
Michael Schumacher had deliberately fed military secrets to the Hessen Republic dozens of times—nearly thirty, in fact.
The information he provided was trivial, the kind that wouldn't matter even if discovered...
But when someone tells the truth thirty times in a row—not just three or four—
It's human nature to start believing them by that point.
"We'll cross the Essen River at 2 a.m. on Christmas morning and give the 14th Regiment a taste of hellfire! It's a shame we can't bring artillery... but even a taste of matchlock musket fire will send those bastards running with their tails between their legs."
Just around a hundred men, and a ragtag bunch whose discipline had completely collapsed to boot.
"His Excellency the Dress Uniform of the Hessen Republic, along with all the high-ranking officials, are awaiting our success."
And then Colonel Hans shouted something he really shouldn't have.
"We can do it! Only we can protect the Hessen Republic's independence!"
With those words, the meeting ended.
"Captain Michael Schumacher."
"Yes, sir, Regimental Commander."
"You made them crash and burn spectacularly. Back in my younger days, you'd knock up the bride before the wedding, and then get beaten half to death by your father-in-law for it."
The regimental commander's gaze shifted to the prisoners I'd dragged in.
"Unbelievable. Using the discretion I granted you, you lured the enemy into an attack, trapped them, and even single-handedly arrested the ringleaders plotting a mutiny."
"My apologies, sir."
"That's why a lowly captain like you gets the Golden Eagle Medal. You've driven off another threat to the empire."
"I haven't driven them off yet, sir."
The regimental commander looked at me and shook his head helplessly.
"This war is already as good as over. Those fools will cross the Essen River without a second thought. Then all we have to do is fire our matchlocks at them."
There was no flaw in the regimental commander's words.
Getting the hook into the enemy's mouth was the hard part; once it was set...
They'd be helpless against the ambush and have no choice but to take it.
An army is a collective that must move as one, and achieving that unity requires extensive preparations.
In World War II, there were cases where a single infantry squad ambushed and routed an entire battalion...
'A thoroughly prepared ambush almost always succeeds.'
"But I like that you're not letting your guard down until the end."
"Thank you, sir."
"I'll put you in command of 1st Company, 2nd Battalion. Stand at the vanguard and exterminate the ambushing enemy like pests. And you're his staff officer, right?"
"Yes, sir."
Staff officers had more autonomy than regular officers.
Even if a mere field-grade pipsqueak issued defense orders in the name of a higher unit to a command without its superior present, they'd usually let it slide if the results were good.
"If issues arise at the vanguard or you can expand the engagement, I'll grant you autonomous action authority. And one more thing I'd like to request..."
"Please, sir."
"Crush the enemy's arrogance—no, trample those republic bastards flat. I need to get promoted thanks to my capable subordinate."
"Leave it to me, sir. I'll make sure those republic scum can't even take a piss our way for the next few years."
And soon after, a messenger burst into the regimental commander's office.
"Regimental Commander, sir! Big trouble! Hessen Republic troops are crossing the river!"
The regimental commander gave me a knowing glance.
Time to make them pay properly.
The Hessen Republic bastards were cheering as if they'd already won.
"Kill those stupid Imperial pigs!"
"Long live republic independence!"
They'd crossed the river entirely and entered Imperial territory, so I could understand their excitement a hundred times over.
No sentries at the outposts or on river watch...
Just the smoke from roasting meat rising—it was easy to get the wrong idea.
"Company commander, those fools are crawling right into their own graves without a clue."
"You said it, Lieutenant."
If they knew it was their graveyard, they wouldn't be grinning like idiots on the way in.
Look at those beaming faces.
"Company commander! I see the enemy!"
The bastards who'd come to strip our unit bare screamed at the sight of our fully armed troops.
"Fuck, run!"
"Enemy! It's the enemy!"
"Form up! Form ranks, you mad bastards! There's only a handful of them!"
...And with those words, the thunder of hooves echoed behind me.
The cavalry cutting off their rear, no doubt.
"Fire! Those idiots can't even form a proper line!"
Starting with our company, the entire regiment unleashed cannon and musket fire on them.
Their screams and the splatter of blood rang out beautifully.
They'd come swaggering in, thinking a show of force would break our spirit.
Reality's a bitch, so they must be panicking hard.
"Damn it all!"
"Retreat's blocked! Cavalry in the rear! Cavalry!"
A regiment's cavalry numbered around eighty at most.
They could break through if they really tried...
But with cavalry charging around wielding lances and swords, no way to stop them...
Cavalry without mobility are just idiots, but in open terrain where they can maneuver, they're tanks incarnate.
"Company commander, message from the regimental commander."
"Just to me?"
"It's to all companies under the regiment. Orders to thoroughly crush the enemy."
"Got it."
Here, I decided to use the autonomy the regimental commander had granted me.
"Load all company cannons with grapeshot and fire. Then fix bayonets and charge. Let not a single fleeing bastard escape alive."
Normally, charges like this required direct orders from field-grade officers or higher.
A mere company-grade officer deciding on their own could spell disaster.
Like how a hammer-swinging hero's reckless charge gets his team killed, sudden actions by subunits in war often lead to bad consequences.
Waiting for the charge signal flare would be standard...
"Shoot! Fire, damn it!"
Some idiots were even firing into the air.
"Retreat! Fall back! Retreat!"
The enemy regimental commanders were clueless, just screaming retreat orders.
In a word, they were fucked.
Since the regimental commander wanted to expand the kills against such foes, we'd oblige with a charge first.
"Everyone, grab your lances or axes and charge on my mark! Don't let a single one of those bastards live!"
"Yes, sir!"
And we charged at the enemy.
If they weren't in chaos, we'd have taken casualties too...
But they were already done for.
"Spare me! Please!"
Our company—hell, my entire regiment—massacred them en masse.
We were fighting a local skirmish, but with zero losses on our side.
This qualified as a massacre.
"Company commander, enemy soldiers are fleeing across the river. Pursue?"
According to military doctrine, you don't cross a river in front of the enemy unless you're suicidal.
But this was an exception.
They'd probably scraped together every soldier in Haig City across the Essen River for this attack...
'But they're all dead now.'
The other regiments were cheering victory cries, but the goal of this skirmish was to demonstrate the empire's military might intact.
In other words, show them we could wipe them out anytime we wanted.
"We're crossing the river as is."
Once the crossing was complete, the city across the Essen River came into clear view.
No one attacked us on the way here.
Their garrison was dead, and civilians can't fight regulars.
An obvious outcome.
"Load powder only. No balls."
"Fire!"
We fired toward the city.
Once, twice, three times, four.
That should get the point across.
That our empire could crush them whenever it pleased.
"Let's head back. We've won."