Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Franco Eastern Expedition (5)
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And then, ten days later.
Just as planned, General Patton and the other units began a rapid march to plunder the eastern regions of the Franco Republic—and as much as possible, even near the capital.
Meanwhile, the 12th Brigade under my command moved with the main force before splitting off upon reaching Hatin, where we started fortifying the surrounding area to the utmost.
On the frontal approach where the enemy would find it easiest to charge, we laid down wooden palisades by shaving logs. In the shallower sections of the river flowing behind us, we built wagon forts using supply carts.
And for the Franco Republic bastards who loved knight charges almost as much as our own commander, we even dug traps in a few spots.
"With preparations like these, when the enemy comes charging in, we should be able to claim victory without much trouble."
Even though our forces numbered only about four-tenths of the enemy's—a glaring weakness.
Having arrived at Hatin first, I, Peter Jaeger, had meticulously calculated every possible scenario and finished setting the traps.
So while our brigade might look dangerously outnumbered on paper, in reality, we'd be fighting in the optimal conditions where victory was inevitable.
As I was about to head out on reconnaissance with a few subordinates to refresh my memory of the local terrain, one soldier approached and reported loudly.
"Report! Ten thousand Franco Republic troops from Chavennes Castle are approaching Hatin! They're about a day's march away from our forces on foot!"
At this good news, following the custom where generals reward messengers or scouts with coin,
I handed a silver coin—enough for a serf family to live on for a whole month—to the soldier who had knelt on one knee before me and bowed his head.
"Assemble all the commanders and officers. We're holding a strategy meeting."
**
When the strategy meeting began, the mood among our brigade's officers wasn't great.
Aside from longtime followers like Laura, the tension was obvious—they were facing enemies more than two and a half times our number.
Curiously, Major Anya among them watched me with eyes sparkling with anticipation for whatever plan I'd unveil.
"Alright, then. As I've explained countless times already, I'll go over unit deployments and our future operations one last time before we clash with the enemy."
With that, I signaled Charlotte to bring the map depicting Hatin's terrain, the enemy's possible approach routes, and our troop placements.
"First off, the Franco Republic will lead with their prized knights charging straight at us, trying to smash through our infantry."
Because that's their surefire winning strategy—the most effective way they've ever wielded knights, more than any nation on this continent.
And right now, in this terrain, it's the most effective tactic they can use to secure victory.
"Meanwhile, we'll deploy as shown on the map: two infantry battalions, one crossbow battalion, and one mage battalion each in the center, left flank, and right flank, waiting for the enemy."
Since I have no idea which of our frontal units they'll target.
In cases like this, it's best to spread our forces as evenly as possible and have adjacent units support wherever the attack concentrates.
When I didn't mention the knights, Lieutenant Colonel Werner asked in a disappointed tone.
"So what role will our knights play? And where do we position Major Kerjit's horse archers?"
"Good question, Lieutenant Colonel Werner. The 200 knights under you as senior battalion commander will hold in reserve behind my central force for now. The horse archers will immediately target the knights' flanks and rear with arrows the moment we spot their charge direction, blunting their momentum."
This way, the Franco knights—who've never faced horse archers—will panic and lose their charge's impetus, or at least be greatly weakened.
In that state, they won't deal significant damage to our infantry protected by palisades and spear walls.
And if they get riled up and chase the horse archers, our crossbowmen and mages can unleash devastating fire on their exposed sides as they move in front of our infantry.
However, the Franco Republic excels at handling knights—they won't get so fixated on horse archers that they ignore the charge and pursue.
They're called the continent's strongest at knight tactics; they know full well that medium cavalry can't catch light horse archers.
"No matter if they hit our left, center, or right, I'll give the signal when the Franco knights come charging. That's when you'll lead your knights in from the side to smash their faltering momentum. Meanwhile, mages and crossbowmen from the opposite direction will hammer the knights too."
A knight's greatest weakness is getting hit on the flank after losing momentum.
If our knights lance-charge from left or right in that situation, they'll just melt away.
And with crossbows and magic on top? Total chaos.
"Once the charge succeeds, don't linger—fall back to the lines, grab fresh lances, and hold in the center ready for the next order until I call for the killing blow. The horse archers will circle the enemy infantry lines shooting arrows while the knights are dazed—do not charge into their ranks."
The Franco infantry have never faced horse archers either, so they'll shed bloody tears getting one-sidedly picked apart.
By the time they regroup and try countering with ranged weapons, Major Anya and the horse archers will be long gone.
How dirty and sneaky—yet utterly effective when we're the ones using it.
"After we blood them with just horse archers and knights, the enemy will realize they can't win like this. Then they'll commit everything for a frontal slugfest."
At that point, even their knights won't breach our defenses, so they'll rely purely on infantry-versus-infantry.
"The infantry on left, right, and center will hold behind the palisades with long spears, covered by crossbowmen and mages from the rear for as long as possible. Once the battle devolves into total melee,
split the knight unit and horse archers in half."
I tapped the map sharply with my baton and continued.
"The horse archers will harass the enemy crossbowmen and mages on their left and right flanks with arrows, then the knights follow up to wipe out their ranged units. After that, both forces cooperate to hit the enemy infantry from behind."
That'll sandwich them: fighting our infantry up front,
while arrows rain from fleeing horse archers and half-ton ironclad behemoths trample everything in the rear.
In simple terms, a sandwich.
"As their infantry numbers dwindle bit by bit, tighten the encirclement inward to fully trap the Franco troops."
At this stage, we've already won by any battlefield standard.
What follows is just a massacre to kill as many as possible—but there's reason to it.
First, to thin out their forces as much as we can before the grand battle on the Crecy Plains.
Second, to shatter enemy morale so badly in the massive war to come that it hits rock bottom.
Imagine the rumors: Franco's 10,000 versus our brigade's 4,000—we massacre them without them lifting a finger.
From the Franco perspective, the Reich Empire army will look like grim reapers.
"Our numbers are fewer, but every circumstance favors us greatly. So fight without fear or hesitation as ordered. Just as I always have, I'll deliver the greatest victory for you all this time too."