War Is a Deception (5)
War is a deception.
A surprise attack is, by definition, sneaking up behind someone and striking the back of their head.
Therefore, you must never be discovered until the very moment you strike.
If you are caught, the surprise attack itself becomes impossible.
“Lieutenant Colonel, there are enemy forces 1km ahead.”
On a plain, unless there is heavy fog, it is impossible not to see a force of over 80,000 troops 1km away. Even in the modern era, where air pollution has reduced visibility, you can easily spot a building 1km away in an open field. A military force several times larger than a building certainly shouldn't be invisible.
However, we were currently in a dense forest. The trees right in front of us made it nearly impossible to secure a line of sight. The enemy was likely in the same boat, though.
“Is there any sign that the enemy has noticed us?”
“None, sir.”
“What is your basis for that?”
“If they had noticed us nearby, they would have changed their formation immediately to prepare for a flank attack.”
At this point, we could consider this surprise attack a near-certain success. Once we closed the distance to about 200 meters, they would realize that three divisions of the Imperial Army were targeting their soft underbelly, but it would be far too late for them to prepare.
What could they possibly do other than get skewered like meat on a spit by the Imperial Army’s hot lead bullets?
‘The hammer and anvil are always the truth.’
I think I finally understand why this strategy has been considered useful from the time of Alexander the Great all the way to modern warfare.
“Advance without making as much noise as possible.”
“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel.”
“Inform the Division Commander of this fact as well.”
Right now, they must be excited, thinking they are about to achieve a great victory against five divisions of the Imperial Army. When people get excited, they naturally lose sight of their surroundings.
That’s why, in certain cargo-pushing games, it’s common for a team to kill almost all the enemies, only for one guy to sneak onto the cargo and push it, reversing the outcome of the match. This is just my speculation, of course.
The Republic commander will likely scrape together every last reserve unit and attempt a full-scale attack by the time our three Imperial divisions arrive. They’ll get hit hard just when they think they’ve won it all.
“Lieutenant Monica.”
“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel.”
I address her casually in private, but this is a battlefield. In moments like these, it’s better to use formal titles to signify that we are setting aside personal connections. It’s like how a company chairman and his son call each other “Chairman” and “Employee Kim” while at work.
“As soon as the infantry finishes their volley, break through the center of the enemy lines.”
“...That is too dangerous. Even in the days when infantry carried long spears, breaking through the center was considered the worst tactic, causing only losses for the cavalry...”
The advantage of infantry is that they are cost-effective. If dozens or hundreds of infantrymen armed with long spears group together, they can stop the charge of hundreds of heavy cavalry. In the process, they can kill several knights who are worth ten or fifteen infantrymen each. Needless to say, that’s even more true in this current era, where the matchlock—a weapon where one shot can decide everything—has emerged.
‘Under normal circumstances, a frontal assault is basically asking to be killed.’
But the situation is completely different now.
“The enemy doesn’t even know we are approaching.”
Monica’s eyes widened at those words.
“Breaking through the center of an infantry formation that has prepared its ranks is madness, but there shouldn’t be a problem breaking through the center of infantry that hasn’t even formed up, right?”
“Yes, there is no problem at all.”
After saying that, Monica mimicked striking her chest with her right hand.
“I have very high expectations for Lieutenant Monica. I hope you achieve greater merit than Lieutenant Lina.”
At those words, Lina shot a sharp glare at Monica. If this weren’t a battlefield, the two of them would be clawing at each other by now, like two fighting cats. But because this is a battlefield, they are holding back.
The competitive spirit toward one another will manifest as motivation on the battlefield. Isn’t this a win-win for everyone?
“A soldier develops by competing to achieve merit.”
Jurgen, who was behind me, added a word.
“You might have to run for your life after winning this war, Lieutenant Colonel. To think you don’t know how terrifying a woman’s jealousy and competitive spirit can be... You’re a pitiful man.”
I can’t hear a word he’s saying. It doesn’t sound like anything good, though...
“What did you say, Second Lieutenant Jurgen?”
“I’m just nervous because it’s my first time commanding a platoon in actual combat.”
“To think a guy who has served as a platoon leader’s deputy would say something like a fresh Second Lieutenant. It seems I’ll have to reform your spirit through some enjoyable guerrilla gymnastics once this war is over...”
“...Ah, I suddenly have a firm conviction that I can command my platoon well.”
After saying that, Jurgen immediately left my side. I realized that for a friend lacking confidence, guerrilla gymnastics exercise number eight is the perfect way to instill it.
After that, as we continued to march, a plain appeared instead of the forest.
“Just as I expected.”
The Republic army was firing a volley at the Imperial Army, having mobilized even their reserves in the rear. In other words, they didn’t even know we had arrived on their flank, and they couldn’t even respond to our surprise attack because they had already committed their reserves. In a word, they were finished.
‘Their main base is going to be completely wiped out.’
Of course, since it’s not our main base, it has nothing to do with me.
“Lieutenant Colonel! The drum signal to hurry our pace is ringing out from the division!”
“Good! We’re increasing our speed too! Pick up the pace!”
From here on out, it’s a battle of speed. It’s important to give them as little time as possible to prepare and to land a critical hit. Our regiment also exited the forest as quickly as possible to deal a fatal blow to the enemy.
If they have eyes, they should be able to see us any second now...?
“...Damn it! Damn it! It’s the enemy! The Imperial Army has appeared!!”
A Republic soldier screamed. With his cry, the other soldiers fell into a panic.
“It’s the Imperial Army! The Imperial Army is here!”
“Turn around if you don’t want to die! Turn around!”
“It’s all over!”
That is the nature of a military organization. Everyone handles a foreseen crisis well. Officers pretend nothing is wrong while efficiently pushing soldiers into the jaws of death, and they win by fighting that way. But when they encounter an unexpected situation, everyone is prone to going into shock and freezing up. That is the state of the enemy right now.
“Lieutenant Colonel! The enemy’s formation is crumbling significantly!”
“I am aware!”
“All troops of the regiment, run!”
The accuracy of a musket isn’t exactly great. If you fire from 50 meters away, the accuracy is roughly 3%. However, even if you get just 10 meters closer, the accuracy increases dramatically. To satirize this phenomenon, a joke even emerged: that French and British officers would yield the opportunity to fire first to each other, like men obsessed with “ladies first” on the battlefield.
“Distance to the enemy, 30 meters!”
Even though we had closed the distance to 30 meters, they couldn’t even properly aim their muzzles at us. The officers didn’t know what to do either... Well, what can you do? If you can’t handle it, you die. In a fight where you kill or be killed, that’s only natural.
Even in this situation, the Republic officers began to struggle desperately to survive.
“The enemy is coming! Everyone, form up! Form up, you lowly wretches!”
It was useless to struggle. They should have either accepted death or deserted in the face of the enemy.
“Fire!”
Our regiment and the three divisions of the Imperial Army fired their muskets in unison at the flank of the Republic army. Usually, even if the first, second, and third ranks all fire, it only causes minor damage to the enemy lines. But because we were firing openly from 30 meters away, Republic soldiers fell in numbers too high to count.
I don’t know who the Republic commander is, but if they were a hypotension patient, their low blood pressure would be cured by now. They’d die of hypertension instead, though.
“The enemy isn’t even responding to our fire! Reload!”
The enemy’s formation had long since been ruined. We could break through as we were, but even if the formation was a mess, firing bullets at the enemy was safer for our side than hand-to-hand combat... and it was more effective at reducing the enemy’s strength.
“Fire after reloading!”
We fired lead bullets at the enemy once more. The dirt floor was stained red with the blood of the enemy. The rats, eagles, and crows would be holding a party here today.
Lina approached my side and suggested, “The order to initiate hand-to-hand combat will be given soon.”
“Are you planning to stand in the vanguard again, Lieutenant Lina?”
“...I cannot lose to Lieutenant Monica, even if I die.”
The look in Lina’s eyes as she stared at me was similar to that of a tiger or lion looking at a rabbit. It must just be my imagination. It was simply a desire to achieve merit as a soldier. Jurgen, who knows much more about romance than I do, would say the same thing.
“Prioritize inflicting the greatest possible damage on the enemy over an individual officer’s merit. Even if the order to initiate hand-to-hand combat is given, our regiment will send the cavalry out first, so keep that in mind.”
“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel.”
Lina stepped back, looking frustrated. At the same time, the flag to initiate hand-to-hand combat was raised. As if she had been waiting for this moment, Monica grabbed her cavalry lance and charged into the enemy lines.
“Long live Lichten! Long live the Empire!”