Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Hammer and Anvil (7)
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While Major Peter Jaeger was fiercely battling near the enemy headquarters.
Crown Prince Michael von Reich of the Reich Empire was commanding a force of 32,000 men with the aid of his deputy commander, Count Venner.
It might look like he was the sort of unscrupulous boss who delegated everything to his subordinates and just skimmed off the credit, but no one dared to challenge the Crown Prince's decisions.
Even if he was the highest-ranking member of the imperial family and had acquired academy-level knowledge of military strategy and administration from a young age.
Without any direct experience on the front lines or in command, forcing himself to take charge could easily lead to an irreversible mistake.
Moreover, he was clearly excelling at the most crucial role of a supreme commander: selecting the best plan from the many devised by his staff officers—and reaping the rewards from it.
"Report! Colonel Alexei Derencov, commander of the Chekobian 9th Regiment, has been killed by a grenade while attempting to switch to the offensive!"
"The Chekobian 12th Regiment is retreating, unable to withstand our assault!"
"The Chekobian 1st Defensive Division has suffered significant losses and is reorganizing!"
Even commanders who graduated from the academy, built illustrious careers, and attended staff college often suffered defeats or poor outcomes in wars of this scale.
Selecting the right military operation and executing it with minimal losses to drive back the enemy was no small feat—something not every commander could achieve, even if only in terms of plan selection.
That was why, though the war was still raging and no one said it aloud, everyone was beginning to feel certain that the current Crown Prince would one day make an excellent emperor.
"Count Venner, shouldn't we send reinforcements to support Franz Division, which is playing the hammer role on the flank?"
"Your Highness makes a fair point, but in situations like this, no news is good news. Still, it wouldn't hurt to send a messenger to confirm. Lieutenant Philip, go check immediately!"
At those words, the lieutenant named Philip dashed off, leading three knights under his command.
At the same time, Count Venner signaled to the Crown Prince, and Michael promptly pointed his baton straight ahead and declared.
"Urge the troops onward. They must attack more fiercely. Press them relentlessly like a storm. Don't give the enemy a moment to regain their senses!"
Soon after, aides and staff officers expanded those simple orders into more detailed instructions and relayed them.
"All units, increase speed and annihilate the enemy in front of you. Victory is ours."
"The enemy forces are little more than a rabble. Fear not—advance!"
"4th Division is lagging! These are His Highness the Crown Prince's orders—pick up the pace!"
As the Crown Prince and the count watched the scene with quiet satisfaction, convinced of victory.
Four cavalrymen came galloping up to the headquarters on horseback and delivered their report.
"Warrant Officer Timo of the Jaeger Battalion."
No one at headquarters, including Count Venner, was pleased that a mere major like Jaeger—Imperial favorite or not—had sent direct word to the Crown Prince's HQ.
Usually, such breaches of chain of command meant either overreach or the grim news of a battalion wiped out mid-assault. One or the other.
"Report."
"The Jaeger Battalion is currently attempting to break through the enemy's final defensive force right in front of their headquarters."
The staff officers erupted in cheers at the news.
"Damn, we won!"
"Victory's right there! Hell yeah—we're going home soon!"
As long as their main force kept the enemy's remnants pinned down, reaching the defenses right before the enemy HQ meant Chekobia had no more troops to deploy.
It was a sure sign that victory was imminent—which explained why the messenger officer's face remained deadly serious.
"The battalion commander predicts that, given the enemy regimental commander in charge of the final defense isn't fighting desperately, their supreme commander will flee to Bisochia Castle. That's the message."
The Crown Prince hurled his baton at the messenger and snarled.
"Filthy coward! The supreme commander dares to run? Count Venner, do you find Major Jaeger's report credible?"
The count let out a deep sigh and replied.
"No matter how well we've encircled them, 30 to 40 percent of the enemy forces will move to Bisochia Castle under their commander's orders. If he abandons honor to hole up there for a siege, then in the worst case, we might win tactically at Bisochia but fail to achieve our strategic goal of capturing it."
Just then, the division commander of Jaeger's division sent a similar report via messenger, and the Crown Prince issued orders in a rage.
"Deploy the spare cavalry to block the enemy command's escape!"
Having barked the order, the Crown Prince sank back into his chair, calming his pounding heart as he thought.
'I promoted him because he seemed useful, but I never imagined he'd perform like this for me. Major Jaeger, you will be my man no matter what. I'll make sure of it.'
"Battalion Commander Jaeger! Otto Battalion is signaling with flags—they're joining the fight!"
"Burg Battalion is hitting the enemy regiment's right flank without even asking permission!"
"The enemy regiment is losing momentum. We should break through soon."
A barrage of reports came flooding in, chaotic as hell, but to sum it up: this was the situation.
Somehow, we'd used the melee to push hard into a larger enemy force, whittling them down until they were nearly finished.
Then, out of nowhere, two glory-hungry idiots from the flanks came charging in like they wanted a bite of our kill.
Normally, it'd piss me off to no end, but right now, we didn't have time to swat at scavengers crashing someone else's feast.
"Signal both battalions: we're handing off the Chekobian unit we're fighting—they can split the glory however they want. Our battalion pushes through straight to the enemy HQ!"
For a split second, I nearly added, "Just grab the supreme commander's flag they left behind," but if word got out to the troops dying up front that the top brass had bolted, it'd be a massive morale killer.
Better to break that news once the fight was sorted.
I'd already asked Lieutenant Laura for horses as a backup, so once they arrived, we'd mount up and hunt the enemy brass.
Sure, part of me couldn't stomach their supreme commander fleeing without a shred of responsibility now that the tide had turned—but what could you do?
This gutless bastard had probably drowned his conscience in milk as a kid, learned only how to piss off enemies from his parents, and now that his incompetence had left him getting crushed, he chose the coward's way to save his skin.
Analyzing the battle, it wasn't like he was some genius who sensed defeat and bailed strategically.
He'd just run to save his own neck.
And damn if it wasn't the smartest move strategically.
"Chekobian supreme commander, you son of a bitch—hand over your head!"
With that fierce shout, our battalion smashed through the regiment led by the Chekobian colonel and finally reached the enemy headquarters.
The flags symbolizing the Chekobian defensive commander, various unit banners, desks, chairs, weapons—everything lay scattered in disarray.
Officers and soldiers from our battalion stared at it all with hollow expressions.
"Fuck, fuck! Where the hell is the supreme commander?"
"Bastard without even a mother or father—where'd he run off to?"
"No... fuck, this can't be happening."
I'd already anticipated this, so in a calm voice, I issued orders.
"Battalion, attention! The damn supreme commander's fled, but we're the first to seize the enemy HQ. Recover the supreme commander's flag and the division flags, then return to the division commander's position."
Just as I gave the order, Laura arrived on horseback with 30 soldiers.
"Lieutenant Laura von Venner, reporting with 30 horses as ordered."
Any later, and we'd lose precious chase time; any earlier, and the horses would've tangled in the melee, making things worse.
Laura must've scouted the situation and timed it perfectly to bring them here.
"Well done, Lieutenant! Good—now for new orders. Knight Company 12 from the rear, platoon leaders, and any soldiers confident on horseback: step forward now. We're going after the scattered enemy stragglers and that supreme commander's neck."
At the command, 1st Company Commander Marco asked.
"What about the rest?"
"Each platoon will be led by their deputy platoon leader. You take command of the battalion and return to the division commander. After that, use your judgment to follow his orders or rest."
With that, I mounted one of the horses Laura had brought and gave the order.
"We're off to send those cowardly runaways to the next world. Everyone, borrow a one-handed flail or mace from your comrades."