Chapter 140
Chapter 140
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Operation to Conquer Switchland (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Roughly half a year later, I was appointed commander of the 7th Division alongside officers I'd been running with since the old days, like Anastasia, Werner, and Marco.
I'd have loved to bring Laura too—my capable subordinate and commander—but dragging a pregnant woman off to war was something I just couldn't stomach.
All I could do was beg her to stay home and give birth to a healthy, beautiful baby.
As we parted, she wished me a safe return and warned me to watch out for women who prowled after Major General Peter Jaeger like stray cats, no matter where I went.
For her sake, and with her pregnancy in mind, I steeled myself never to lay a hand on prostitutes or any Switchland women.
And now, our Switchland Expeditionary Force had swiftly pushed south with 50,000 troops, arriving at Constance—the frontline city where the Reich Empire shared a border with the Switchland Principality.
Junior officers and enlisted men got some rest, but the generals like me, along with field-grade commanders, headed straight to the castle's grand conference hall for a military briefing.
The other five division commanders, eyeing Peter Jaeger warily, kept a slight distance and muttered among themselves.
"Conquering the Switchland Principality... It's the first time since the great Emperor Rudolf IV led exactly 50,000 troops inside 200 years ago and met defeat."
"Still, His Highness the Crown Prince is leading this conquest personally. If we want promotion to lieutenant general, we have to win this one."
"Even Lieutenant General Stefan last time gobbled up all the achievements spoon-fed by Major General Jaeger, but he didn't get promoted just because he was the army commander. Snag third-class merit, and we'll promote. Honestly, my retirement's next year..."
With about 35 years until my own retirement, I could live without fretting over rank limits, but the other major generals...
It was a shame they had no choice but to scramble against the clock of age—right around then, His Highness the Crown Prince and Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Vizleben entered and spoke.
"Everyone, take your seats. Now, let's discuss the grand strategy in earnest."
The rest of us officers took our places, and afterward, a major who shadowed His Highness like my brother-in-law pinned a map to the bulletin board.
"First, the cantons we need to target: Bern, Basel, Baden, Ticino, Lucerne, Obwalden. That's six. The Switchland Expeditionary Force will split into six armies. Each division takes roughly half a canton in Basel, Baden, and Ticino, converging on Liechtenstein in Obwalden."
Basel, Baden, and Ticino were small in area compared to Switchland's other cantons, but in this unforgiving duchy of nothing but mountains, they boasted relatively broad plains.
Their populations rivaled cantons several times larger, and they sat at a key crossroads linking the Empire, Peronia, and the Ostrica Principality.
A fair number of mercenaries made them their bases, too.
"Moreover, per intelligence from Count Alain von Bern of Bern Canton—who's in league with us and reports to the deputy commander—the counts of Basel, Baden, and Ticino have orders from the Switchland Prince to delay us appropriately, then fall back and link up near Liechtenstein."
That order from the Switchland Prince was brutally pragmatic and rational.
Switchland had dispatched massive mercenary forces to two fronts, leaving them critically short on properly trained fighters.
In their harsh terrain, every single life weighed heavy, so they had to minimize needless sacrifices.
They'd buy time until reinforcements from other cantons arrived—or until some recalled expeditionary mercenaries regrouped. No other tactic made sense.
I'd already heard as much from my father-in-law, and word had trickled to the other division commanders and generals too—no one seemed shocked.
But field-grade officers couldn't know this without raiding Imperial Intelligence classified files. They all froze, glancing around in stunned silence.
"No wonder I suspected something when they wanted us marching back into this hellhole..."
"Never dreamed a canton count would turn traitor."
"Is Deus really on our side, willing us to conquer these Switchland bastards who live off dry bread and cheese?"
The deputy commander watched them swap opinions, letting their respect for His Highness swell, until the field-grades quieted on their own.
In my view, His Highness aimed to craft the entire plan from start to finish—a battle to prove his chops as emperor.
Hearing that a count from this duchy, infamous for ironclad internal unity, had betrayed them to join His Highness? I'd react the same.
Hell, when Commander Venner broke the news to me, I was so thrilled I rushed home, buried my face in my pillow, and whooped in victory.
"With that said, we'll now announce the regions each division is assigned. First, Major General Zeppelin's 12th Division and Major General Andex's 14th will take Baden Canton. Major General Belf's 4th and Major General Konrad's 18th will handle Basel Canton. Finally, Major General Jaeger's 7th and Major General Falken's 19th will conquer Ticino Canton. The deputy commander and His Highness will lead 2,000 Imperial Guards alongside Zeppelin's division."
As the youngest major general here—and the fastest riser—I'd figured they'd peg me for the toughest terrain as the most capable.
Bad omens never miss, though. Ticino Canton's Count Ticino was renowned even among Switchland's militarily adept counts for his bold, daring tactics.
In short, a real pain in the ass to face.
My 7th Division would face fiercer resistance than the others.
"Finally, all units will rendezvous near Liechtenstein Castle on May 26th—two months and a fortnight from now."
Tougher schedule than expected, but doable with effort.
The enemy only had one play: tangle us up in a single clash to slow our feet.
"Yes, sir."
"Understood."
"The 14th Division will sweep those Switchland hicks clean in one go!"
His Highness nodded, pleased with the response, but the deputy commander tsked, seemingly unimpressed, and pressed on.
"I don't doubt your abilities or competence. But these roads are treacherous, and madmen who ambush even by village live here. No one forgets how the Reich Empire lost the Battle of Garten 200 years ago."
The Battle of Garten: In short, 200 years back, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor led his men through the narrow paths of the Switchland Garten Mountains.
Some idiot general fell for scout lies and enemy spies, reporting the main enemy force a full week's march away on foot. He sent word to drop our guard.
Result? The unguarded Imperial Army marching that narrow path got ambushed by Switchland mercenaries and militia hidden in the woods beside the trail.
The road was so tight, knights couldn't even dismount properly, let alone form a phalanx.
Switchland militia—3,000 strong—struck amid the chaos of tangled infantry, knights, and horses. His Majesty lost 10,000 men and retreated.
In other words: Don't slack on recon if you don't want to get jumped in the mountains and die.
"This place is nothing like Francois, our Empire, Chekovia, or Ostrica. Every man in these villages is tougher than a regular trained soldier. One officer steps in, and they organize a militia on the spot. Stay sharp and keep your guard ironclad."
With that, the deputy commander wrapped his warnings and handed the floor to His Highness.
His Highness drew his sword, pointed it at the ceiling ahead, and grinned.
"My proud generals and officers—fill this savage land with the Empire's glory!"