Chapter 46
Chapter 46
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Great Battle of the Branop Plains (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I had arranged the spearmen in a wide rectangular formation and positioned crossbowmen and mages at the corners on both ends of the square formation. The prototype for my battalion's formation was the Tercio.
This formation is often described in papers and such like this.
"As solid and heavy as a moving stone wall, it can even halt the charge of knights."
With the spearmen packed densely, it offered tremendous defensive power by attacking approaching enemy infantry from range and hammering them down.
Scholars, dramas, movies—most depictions portrayed it in this vein, even if the expressions varied.
In actual history, knights never dared to break this formation recklessly, to the point where the "caracole" tactic became popular—riding up to just within or out of long spear range and unleashing volleys from pistols loaded with gunpowder.
"Die, you filthy Chekobian bastards!"
"How weak are you to collapse like this after just this much?"
"The wedges advance! Uraaaah!"
Spearmen, who lacked the sturdy armor that could block swords and arrows nearly 100% like knights wore, could be shattered in an instant depending on the commander's skill.
However, if the enemy started collapsing and we broke formation to chase kills and maximize deaths, our battalion's casualties would mount.
"Company commanders, control your soldiers. Push the enemy wall like you're crushing them to death—slowly press forward and kill them."
A battalion commander like me had to do everything possible to prevent soldiers from rampaging and forfeiting the solid formation's advantages.
As soon as I issued the order to control them, I heard company commanders shouting from a short distance away.
"Battalion commander's orders! 1st Company, reform formation!"
"Match the cadence—one, two! Thrust on one, withdraw on two, just like in training! Sync your movements like a blade!"
"Push too far forward and you'll block Deus ahead. Hate that? Get your head in the game!"
The soldiers who had advanced too far fell back into formation and began slowly pushing forward.
In response, the Chekobian infantry facing us started to regain some leeway.
But they had already lost at least 20% of the battalion to deaths or severe wounds, sidelining them from the fight.
So it was time to give my ever-present adjutant a chance to rack up some merits.
"Lieutenant Laura von Venner, take a platoon from my direct command company right now and support 3rd Company. Do it just like you've observed and learned at my side, and the enemy won't even resist."
Laura looked at me with a face full of wonder and replied.
"Thank you for the opportunity, Major!"
She left my side, turned, drew her sword, and immediately ordered.
"Direct command company, 1st Platoon—follow me to support 3rd Company! Hurry!"
As someone who shone brightly in the original novel, she was sure to rack up major feats here and show everyone her abilities.
And right on cue, a signal rose from the standard-bearer at the vanguard.
Deciphered, it meant the enemy battalion-scale reinforcements in the rear had taken the knights' charge head-on and were now reforming due to casualties.
A typical commander, upon hearing enemy reinforcements were coming, would intensify the assault to annihilate the enemy battalion before them.
But if I were the enemy commander—no, even a regimental commander—I'd deploy knights against us.
Because a knightly charge was a catastrophe that mere infantry could never stop without perfect preparation.
That's how I managed to tie down over 500 reinforcements for the Chekobian battalion in front of us with just about 12 knights.
"Battalion runners—immediately swing wide around our left flank, confirm if enemy knights are approaching, and report back!"
"Yes, sir!"
The runner who acknowledged mounted up and darted out of the battalion swiftly.
Even if this preparation ended up being for nothing and no enemy knights appeared, it was far better than skimping on precautions, thinking "nah, probably not," and getting hammered out of nowhere.
Meanwhile, 3rd Company, reinforced by Lieutenant Laura and her platoon, was advancing faster than the others.
I considered reining them in for a moment, but they toed the line without breaking the battalion's coordination.
Seeing them still excel like that meant 3rd Company's commander was highly competent.
But undeniably, the standout was Lieutenant Laura's platoon supporting them.
"Follow me, Laura von Venner! Strike the enemy's gaps and withdraw in unison! Don't hesitate—stab deep!"
With those words, she led the temporary platoon I'd assigned her, pinpointed the weakest spot in the unit facing 3rd Company.
She took point and focused the platoon there, carving down as many enemy troops as possible.
Each charge felled 4 to 7 enemy soldiers—nightmarish for the foe, beyond words.
Then Lieutenant Laura plunged even deeper into the enemy lines than before, and soon a company commander's standard toppled.
Next came a spear shaft bearing a helmet adorned with decorative plumes.
"Adjutant to Jaeger Battalion, Laura von Venner, has beheaded the Chekobian commander!"
She then returned to 3rd Company and rejoined the fight.
Having taken a company commander's head on day one, she'd at least earn the Iron Cross upon return—even if promotion was a stretch.
With us rampaging like this, the enemy commander was surely about to unleash knights to teach us a lesson.
As I moved to the left flank to brace for the knight charge, the runner I'd just sent came galloping back, proving my instincts right.
"Enemy knights numbering about 50 are approaching 1.5 kilometers from here! Knights, 50 strong, inbound!!"
Our battalion's sky-high morale plummeted in an instant upon the report.
"Peter Jaeger will intercept the knights. So move only on my orders. Do that, and no one dies."
My words, backed by the genius battalion commander image I'd built, restored morale as they trusted my promise of survival.
"Entire battalion—as of now, just keep the Chekobian infantry in check. No deep advances or attacks. Maintain formation. On trumpet and flag signals, pivot left as one and lower spears to brace!"
With that, I shifted from the battalion center to the near left flank with the main body.
I wanted to wheel the entire formation toward the knights' approach.
But ignoring the Chekobian infantry right in front would cost dearly, and friendly infantry nearby left no room to maneuver.
We spent about five—no, seven minutes pretending oblivious while bracing for their arrival.
Then came the thunder of hooves from over 50 mounted knights, accompanied by their battle cries.
"Slaughter every Reich Empire dog!"
"We'll send you to Deus's side!"
"Long live the Chekobian Duke! Long live Chekobia!"
Seeing those iron behemoths charging with lances over three meters long, fear gripped me for a moment.
But even ironclad knights had weaknesses—infantry alone could handle them if exploited swiftly, if not wiped out entirely.
"Mages and crossbowmen—target only their horses when they close! Ignore the knights atop. Even those iron lumps don't armor their mounts that heavily. Aim for the horses' flanks if you can!"
No matter how tank-like knights were, the iron plating covered the man riding—not the horse.
Horses got breastplates up front at best; even heavily armed cavalry mounts wore at most a layer of chain mail.
So horses died to arrows.
The Chekobian knights, aware of our preparations, pressed on regardless—for knightly honor and orders to save their allies.
As they accelerated into wedge formation nearing us.
"Now! Spearmen, face left! Crossbowmen and mages, hit their horses!"
Magic and arrows flew; the knights' mounts, struck dead-on, couldn't withstand and began collapsing.
Those that reached us despite it failed to pierce deep into our spear wall.
I didn't know the exact casualties, but the dead don't return.
"Wedge troops—capitalize on the knights' dismounts and club them down! Kill them all!"
At the order, each unit's wedge troops rushed forward, smashing the knights with mace heads on their flails.
The armored knights endured some blows, but 2-3 hammering at once overwhelmed them, leading to death.
Some tried retreating post-dismount, but mages prioritized them with fireballs and such.
For the knights, it was a hellscape of death.
Soon after mopping up the rest, the order came for our battalion to withdraw.