Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Battle of Jungfrau Plains (2)
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Reich Empire Army 7th Division command tent.
I'd stepped out to the latrine for a moment and arrived a bit late to the operations meeting. By then, the officers—everyone except me—had already set their beer mugs on the table.
And there they were, raising their mugs high and toasting.
"To the division commander who repelled the Switchland bandits' ambush!"
"A toast to the 7th Division's victory!"
"To our promotions and glory!"
The officers drained their mugs without leaving a drop.
Lieutenant Colonel Anya and the others, with beers making the rounds and the mood heating up, started swapping tall tales even before the meeting got underway, laughing heartily.
"Honestly, when the division commander ordered full kit the moment we entered Switchland, I thought he was going too far."
"We barely held up because it's cooler here. If we'd pulled that in a hot place like the Peronia City-State Alliance, we'd all be dead."
"That's why I was thinking of suggesting we ditch the armor for the march starting tomorrow. But who could've guessed those bandits would hit us right after we'd just finished suiting up this morning?"
I could sympathize with what they were saying.
Truth be told, in a warmer spot like Peronia, I wouldn't dream of pushing the troops like that—soldiers could drop from dehydration or heatstroke.
To keep morale up under such grueling schedules, the division commander had to lead by example and suffer right alongside them.
Seeing everyone kicking back like this made me want to slip back to my own tent and crash.
But the situation was too urgent for that. I shook off the thought, stepped inside, and ordered them to prepare for the meeting.
"I'd love nothing more than to join you in celebrating our little win with a drink. But with those damn bandit dens ahead, I can't spare even a single mug. Sorry about that. When we win and get back, I'll rent out a high-class inn for the whole division—we'll drink there."
In this era, a "high-class inn" naturally meant a place with serving girls and backroom action.
I had no interest in anyone but Laura, so I always slipped home quietly while the men went for round two.
But treating the men to drinks after a victory, clinking mugs together—nothing beat that joy.
"We have two main routes to take. One follows the path between Lindenhof Hill and the towering mountains. The other loops around farther out."
Either way, they'd converge at the Jungfrau Plains.
The Lindenhof route had several villages for resupply, flat terrain perfect for marching.
The detour, while not full mountains, had enough hills to drain the troops' stamina.
From the soldiers' perspective, they'd naturally prefer warm meals and fresh meat from villages along a flat road.
"The route I've chosen is the tough detour."
The officers exchanged glances, as if they'd misheard.
But seeing the nods from those beside them, they realized they'd heard right and stared at me in bewilderment.
"Division Commander, why skip the easy path for something so grueling?"
"It's not impossible, but think of the troops' stamina. They'll collapse midway."
"Didn't the count in our pocket already say the enemy just wants to delay us? Ticinno Canton's max force is around 4,000, and we took out hundreds today. As long as it's not a siege, we've got the edge. Why not take the easier road for the one fight we'll have anyway?"
All very reasonable points.
According to intelligence from Count Bern, who'd been feeding us info for years, Ticinno could muster about 4,000 on their own.
As long as they didn't hole up in a fortress, we could crush them.
And one key duty for any commander in war: deliver troops to the battlefield ready to fight.
By their logic, the easy road was the right call—every time.
"You're right. In most cases, the easy, quick route is the answer."
But that held true for open plains where ambushes were tough.
If we got hit like last time from an unexpected spot, the 7th Division could suffer massive losses or outright defeat. Better to loop around.
"Look at the terrain here. No sheer cliffs or dead-end mountains, but plenty of hills and woods perfect for hiding troops. Those Switchland bandits won't break habit—they'll ambush us with arrows or magic as we pass."
Even if they only had 4,000—or 1,000—guerrilla tactics from hidden forest spots could wear us down.
Constant skirmishes would exhaust the men before we even reached Liechtenstein Castle.
Better safe than sorry with a slight comfort.
"Didn't they teach you at the academy? The enemy isn't stupid—they know the best marching routes. They'll ambush, build field forts, whatever it takes to slow us. So we avoid risky fights by detouring."
They nodded, convinced. But Anya wasn't fully sold.
"Major General, what if Count Ticinno lets us pass to cut our supply line? Won't we starve?"
"Fair point, but we brought three weeks' hardtack and salted meat for that. We can march to Liechtenstein without resupply."
"Understood."
Still, to stack the odds our way, better to bait them into fighting at the Jungfrau Plains where the routes meet than risk cut lines.
"But as Lieutenant Colonel Anastasia said, we can't give them a shot at our supplies. So we'll lure them to the Jungfrau Plains."
The officers looked puzzled, but I grinned.
"Simple. Plant a few spies in Switchland villages, spread a rumor: we've got supplies to last to Jungfrau Plains, so we're taking the rough detour. Whatever plan they have goes up in smoke."
Count Ticinno would rage at his plans unraveling.
Just in case he didn't bite fully, add this twist.
"Also spread that once supplies run out at Jungfrau, we'll have to raid local villages and fields."
The lords under Ticinno Canton would freak—they'd demand a stand at Jungfrau or lose everything to ash.
Jungfrau Plains were famously vast in Ticinno, perfect for our knights and horse archers.
Our infantry might be outmatched, but with Reich knights and northern horse archers?
If Ticinno's force was exactly 4,000 as Count Bern said, it'd be a slaughter—easier than cold porridge.
"Meeting adjourned. Gear up—we're taking the rough road."
I'll live the adage: Haste makes waste.
Take that.