Chapter 78
Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Thurner Tribe Subjugation (7)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Major Marco, is that really true? Did the regiment commander personally take out the enemy deputy commander in Chekobia?”
“Captain Tolkin, do I look like a liar to you?”
“No, but it’s not exactly common for someone of battalion commander rank or higher to lead from the front and kill a high-ranking enemy like a deputy commander, is it? Most of them stay safe in the center of their units.”
That didn’t mean battalion commanders were cowards who only cared about saving their own skins.
Company commanders had to lead from the front to command their units effectively, but once you reached battalion commander level, coordination with larger formations like regiments or divisions took priority.
Front-line rotations were typically handled by companies, so battalion commanders didn’t need to micromanage.
Besides, at that level, it was more important to ensure friendly forces outlasted the enemy than to spot and exploit narrow gaps up close.
Commanding from a safe central position and maintaining a broader view was key.
Guys like me, charging ahead to find and stab at enemy weaknesses at the risk of our lives, were the outliers.
“Anyway, isn’t this meat just delicious? Damn, a sip of booze would make it perfect...”
“Watch your discipline. But I get it. Once we win this war, we’ll grab their cattle and throw a feast.”
“Ha, I’m not sure war’s supposed to be this easy. Normally, after marching, you set up sentries and collapse like the dead, but even grabbing your spear feels exhausting. This is too comfortable—feels wrong.”
For reference, these multi-day rests only happened when both sides arrived around the same time and commanders tacitly agreed that skipping rest would lead to collapse after a few clashes.
Otherwise, you’d hit the fatigued enemy while they rested—it was far more advantageous.
That’s why we let them rest.
As I savored the grilled pork belly, wishing for just one beer in my mind during this leisurely moment...
“Reporting to the regiment commander! Enemy forces spotted approximately twelve hours west of where the 24th Regiment is stationed.”
So the break was ending. Thanks to the barbarians raising all those pigs, cows, and sheep for us, we’d eaten well for days.
With our troops fully recovered in stamina and morale from solid sleep, and having successfully lured them into the muddy terrain where they’d struggle most...
Our forces were in peak physical and mental condition. Theirs would be the opposite.
“Is that based on our marching speed? Or calculated against theirs? What’s their rough condition?”
“They have far more horses than us, so we estimated about one-and-a-half times our speed. They’ve been rushing down nonstop without rest, it seems. Even from afar, the horses and men look exhausted.”
The area was mostly flat plains, low risk of ambushes, so they could’ve rested.
But they kept pushing hard. The tribal chiefs must’ve hit the Thurner tribe hard—burning their homes and wealth, leaving them bankrupt.
If these were settled folk using similar tactics to ours—farmers who fought—we could rest a bit and strike their fatigue.
But right now, better to wait for them to come to us.
Approaching rashly would play into their cavalry archer lures.
“How many in the enemy force?”
“Roughly 2,700.”
“Understood. Dismissed—get some rest.”
Thank goodness they weren’t pure nomad warriors.
Even a lowly nomad soldier, raised on horseback for twenty years minimum, could toy with knights.
If their numbers were higher, hiding behind walls might be our only option.
But these half-farmer, half-nomads were middling compared to true nomads... We had a solid chance.
“Pass the word to all units: The pre-battle victory festival is over. Pack up meals and prepare for the next fight.”
At my words, the officers who’d just been lamenting the lack of booze snapped to attention, dumping meat and food into the prepared pits.
Normally, they’d grumble wasting food after gorging at feasts.
But this was barbarian livestock—no regrets.
“Before we start operations: Second lieutenants, order all troops to rest fully. Wake-up in eight hours from now. Sentries rotate every two hours. Recon limited to the enemy approach direction. Repeat and relay immediately.”
The lieutenants bellowed my orders in unison, then headed out.
Meanwhile, the deputy regiment commander looked puzzled—why rest with enemies approaching?
“Colonel, why let the troops and officers rest now? We should tighten security and prepare.”
“That’s for facing regular armies. Remember: They use cavalry archers to wear down our morale, then exploit isolated units. We can’t waste mental energy on excessive vigilance now.”
They’d stick to that pattern in their feints too.
We were mounted anyway—hard to catch. They’d harass sentries unilaterally, draining enemy stamina and sanity.
Then, if anyone broke formation in frustration, they’d charge in with swords and shred us.
Best defense: Deny them openings until their horses tire.
“Even in this mud, they’ll pepper us with thousands of arrows from beyond reach, toying with us. That grinds down morale, so better rest now and silently bait their main force—draw and counter their archer charges.”
Plus, with archers and infantry riled up (“Why aren’t they excited?!”), the Thurner commander might make a handshake blunder.
Especially in loose tribal hierarchies compared to our Imperial army.
He’d surrendered here because failing to protect his men’s interests up top meant finger-pointing and execution.
The difference between blindly obedient units and disloyal ones showed here.
“Finally, unit assignments: My direct battalion centers. Major Marco’s 1st Battalion left flank, Major Chaplin’s 2nd right flank. Rear: Deputy’s 3rd Battalion. Dennis’s mage battalion splits half to 1st and 2nd. Werner’s knight battalion swings wide on battle start, hits enemy center rear.”
From above, our formation would look like a perfect square.
“They’ll send archers to shower us from all sides. Officers: Control subordinates tightly—no impulsive breaks. One platoon going rogue could doom the regiment.”
Unless a whole company chased blindly, strategy held.
But lone actions led to disaster.
“They’ll target flanks most easily for arrows. Take a few hits deliberately, then unleash mages, crossbows, archers. These half-farmer dolts lack mages; we outnumber them in ranged firepower. One volley melts them.”
Cavalry archers’ strength: mobility. Weakness: armor.
Light chainmail resisted slashes and blunts but not arrows slipping gaps.
Fireballs one-shot knights or infantry alike.
Our mobility lagged, but firepower dominated.
“Rear defense is critical. Archers will hit back after taking losses, when we target their Thurner commander. Deputy: Be ready for their rear cavalry charge—swords out.”
Their scariest move wasn’t distant arrow sniping.
It was harassing to scatter us, then timely sword charges.
Hence mages on flanks; weaker rear firepower must hold.
“Captain Laura—no, direct battalion deputy: Personally check entire battalion, ensure tactical execution. Meeting adjourned. All except on-duty 1st Battalion commander—rest.”