Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Deception, and the Thirty-Six Stratagems' Tactical Withdrawal (4)
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“If I had my way, I'd love to keep chatting with you, the man who saved my life. But the situation isn't exactly ideal right now. We'll save the rest of the small talk for dinner at the Jaeger family estate.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Then, allow me to devise a strategy for how we should handle this situation.”
“I'm counting on you, Major General Jaeger.”
To sum up the current situation: The Duke of Switchland had essentially taken one count hostage and spent two or three years plotting to capture His Highness the Crown Prince, but that plan had failed.
Moreover, in the process, they had run into this variable named Major General Peter Jaeger. Even after completely isolating our 50,000 expeditionary force in Switchland, they had failed to annihilate us.
No—even the expeditionary force, myself included, had held out on the Richten Hills until the end, successfully killing nearly twice as many of the enemy as our own numbers.
“Before that, Your Highness, allow me to ask: Has our Switchland expeditionary force lost this war? Or have we won a victory?”
Strictly speaking, since we had failed to achieve the strategic objective of capturing Liechtenstein Fortress and the three cantons, it was fair to call it a defeat.
However, if we looked only at the battles themselves, we had killed far more of their soldiers and hadn't yielded a single inch of imperial territory.
In terms of combat, we could declare victory.
“We didn't achieve our strategic goals, but thanks to your dedication and that of the soldiers, we managed a razor-thin victory. How could we call that a defeat?”
“Yes, we haven't lost. Even if we gained no territory from the expedition, we've shown the Duke of Switchland the full might of the Reich Empire.”
“Exactly. After suffering massive losses, they chased after you and our expeditionary force for revenge. But they couldn't claim a single step of imperial soil—that's the limit of their impotent flailing.”
From an outside perspective, His Highness and I exchanging these words might look like sour grapes.
No, honestly, it was a bit of an excuse along the lines of, “We lost, but we fought well, so that's enough.”
But there was only one reason I was laying this groundwork.
“This war isn't over yet. To be more precise, we haven't won or lost. However, we've stripped the Switchland bastards of even the slightest chance of victory. In other words, we can make them pay even more for the soldiers of ours they killed.”
Anyone else saying this might have sounded ridiculous, since all that was left for His Highness's remaining expeditionary force was to make the enemy withdraw.
But His Highness watched me with eyes brimming with curiosity, wondering what stratagem I would propose.
“First of all, in this war, the Duke of Switchland failed to achieve either of the two conditions necessary for victory, while losing a massive number of troops. Naturally, this fact will spread across the entire Europan continent, tarnishing his reputation and that of Switchland's mercenaries.”
The two conditions the Duke of Switchland needed to win the war were simple.
Capture His Highness the Crown Prince alive and annihilate the Reich Empire's 50,000 expeditionary troops.
If he succeeded in capturing His Highness, the duke could have demanded a duchy in ransom.
If he settled for annihilating the 50,000 expeditionary troops instead—“chicken in place of pheasant”—he could have claimed one or two counties from His Imperial Majesty the Emperor to save face.
But he had cornered our expeditionary force in the worst possible position and achieved nothing. Public opinion in Europa toward Switchland would shift.
A nation and mercenaries once renowned for war, now driven to utter defeat even after backing their enemy into a corner.
“Moreover, this war was a meticulously planned battle that the Duke of Switchland had prepared over years, staking the life of an entire count. So he won't want to retreat without any gains. The moment he admits defeat, his position will hit rock bottom.”
The duke's current predicament was like a stock investor who had scraped together every last penny—soul included—for one big gamble, only to take a massive loss.
If he cut his losses here, he could minimize the damage and go home. But if he refused to admit the loss...
Like bearing additional daily losses as stock prices plummeted, the duke would only suffer more with each passing day.
However, the reality before him was so pathetic that it would take time for him to stop denying it and face facts.
Well, even if he did face reality properly, it was already too late.
“Even if the duke is wiser than I think and has already prepared to retreat upon arriving here, he can't pull back and flee right now. If his troops march home without recovering from the fatigue of running from the Richten Hills to Dolphino Castle where we are now, the Switchland soldiers—exhausted from the march—will drop dead on the way back.”
“As you say, Major General Jaeger, even the troops of the 7th Division who rode horses via the Ticino Canton from the Richten Hills are too worn out to fight. How much more for the Switchland soldiers who ran the whole distance on foot? They probably couldn't even manage a proper battle right now.”
“Yes, exactly. They're utterly spent. But they'll know their situation well enough, so we'll need a deception.”
His Highness watched me eagerly, waiting for the stratagem from my lips, but it wasn't anything brilliant.
Just a trump card that would prove more effective than expected in this situation.
“As the commander of the Switchland expeditionary force, demand reparations, bellowing that the Reich Empire has won and they must pay up. Threaten all-out war if they refuse. Contrary to their claims, this will make the Duke of Switchland and his nobles assume we have no intention of fighting right now—and let their guard down.”
“Wouldn't pretending to want peace be better for striking them from behind?”
“That might work in normal times, but right now, we've failed to seize enemy territory on our expedition and lost no small number of troops. If we suddenly propose peaceful negotiations in that situation, the enemy will suspect we're hiding some ulterior motive.”
Both the Duke of Switchland and His Highness the Crown Prince were in positions where admitting defeat was nearly impossible.
Because anyone in a ruler's seat who admits they lost risks crumbling their entire power base.
So it was more natural to bark like a mad dog, insisting, “I didn't lose!”
Even if it looked utterly pathetic, it was human.
Ah, that guy's already accepted defeat deep down and has no intention of fighting now. He's just spouting nonsense to save face.
They'd think that and relax on their own.
“Then, once they've let their guard down, mobilize every soldier in the castle fit for immediate combat and launch a night raid. Block their retreat with cavalry and push with infantry, and you'll surely defeat the army led by the Duke of Switchland.”
His Highness nodded, intrigued by my proposal, and asked,
“Understood. So, are you planning to join the sortie?”
“I'm in no shape to fight on the battlefield right now. Even if I were unharmed, it wouldn't be good for Your Highness if I shone again here. All the credit for this surprise operation must go to you.”
His Highness's face lit up with emotion at my words, and he replied in a voice thick with tears.
“Listen, Major General Jaeger...”
“However, the false information that I'm participating will strike terror into the Switchland infantry. So, dress the most skilled young officer in swordsmanship with my armor and uniform to impersonate Major General Peter Jaeger. No—until the war ends, spread rumors that I've personally joined the fray.”
“Right, as you've often said: To properly deceive the enemy, you must deceive your own side too. Understood. Now, get some rest.”
With that, His Highness gently clasped my hands in his warm grip and withdrew.
“Now, this should ensure that even though His Highness the Crown Prince has suffered a defeat, he won't take a devastating blow in the battle for the throne. My part is done for now.”