Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: March to Baldúa Plains
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The news of Brotan Kingdom's mobilization quickly reached the Empire's command center as well.
"...Their forces number about 40,000 recently conscripted troops, 20,000 stationed toward Kaen Kingdom, and 10,000 at our border, totaling roughly 70,000. They're marching toward Saint Touar."
Standing in the center of the briefing room, Victor reported Guillaume's movements as confirmed via his minimap.
"Saint Touar, eh. Hm."
As Gerhard pondered following Victor's report...
"...It's going exactly according to the vice commander's plan."
"It would have been weirder if it failed."
The Empire's officers buzzed excitedly.
"It was a truly thorough plan."
"With schemes reinforcing one another to corner the kingdom... Ha. We could call it perfect."
The staff officers were awestruck by Victor's foresight, which had exploited the enemy kingdom and surrounding nations to drive Brotan into a corner.
"To push Brotan Kingdom this hard with barely any loss in men or supplies..."
"He's not just exceptional in command or strategy. At such a young age... Incredible."
Even the officers less versed in politics or diplomacy marveled at the plan's monumental results.
Gerhard, who had been silently listening to their open praise for Victor...
"The vice commander's plan has succeeded, but it's not over yet. Even if they're a hastily assembled force, 70,000 troops are coming. We need to respond. What do you all think?"
He waited until the chatter died down before proceeding with the meeting.
"Brigade Commander Klaus. Speak."
"Yes. We've succeeded in drawing out their movements with the vice commander's strategy and pinpointed their attack direction. The moment they move, the kingdom's army is the one in a hurry. If we just fortify Saint Touar's defenses, the enemy will feel the pressure."
Klaus offered a steady opinion, and the officers who shared his view nodded.
"What do the rest of you think?"
"I agree with Brigade Commander Klaus. Saint Touar's walls are fully repaired—no issues for a siege."
"Same here. Even elite troops would struggle charging fortified walls held by the enemy. With over half conscripts, the kingdom's army won't attempt an aggressive assault."
As usual, the Empire's officers suggested safe options.
"Their quality may be low, but their numbers are nearly double ours. We should stay vigilant."
"Saint Touar opens onto wide plains. Having learned from Lake Apitel, they won't split their forces."
With the wounded not fully recovered and troops needed to manage prisoners, the Empire had about 40,000 combat-ready soldiers.
Not a small force, but it felt outnumbered by comparison.
"How about intercepting them where the terrain narrows? Here, at this point. Even with superior numbers, the kingdom couldn't leverage it effectively."
"Hm... We'd have the advantage in tight terrain, sure, but no need to abandon the walls."
"Exactly. They can't bypass Saint Touar, so even without intercepting, they'll have no choice but a siege."
The officers dismissed even occasional interception proposals.
With the enemy's attack route fixed and terrain in their favor, sticking to defense put the Empire in an overwhelmingly advantageous position—that was their consensus.
"Hm..."
Gerhard, who always favored safe strategies, would normally adopt such views and reinforce the defenses.
But addicted to the sweet fruits Victor's plans bore, Gerhard ignored the defensive suggestions and kept glancing expectantly at Victor beside him.
"...Of course, that's just my view. What do the rest of you think?"
The officers, having voiced defense or interception ideas, noticed Gerhard's demeanor and gradually sat, waiting for Victor to speak.
"..."
Silence soon blanketed the room.
Such sudden quiet during a meeting was rarely a good sign, yet Gerhard and the officers' lips curved in faint smiles.
"...What's with that?"
"Heh heh. Does the great Vice Commander Victor truly not know?"
"..."
After a moment's deep thought at Gerhard's teasing reply, Victor said,
"...I have a good plan."
The words everyone awaited.
Gerhard nodded for him to continue.
"We shouldn't defend or intercept. We need an aggressive offensive against Guillaume's expeditionary force."
Victor advocated attack over defense once more.
Gerhard, half-expecting a joke, met Victor's utterly serious gaze.
"...I still can't get used to it, no matter how many times."
Even officers mentally prepared were flustered, strongly relating to Gerhard's quip.
"Can you explain the reasoning?"
"Yes. First, consider why Guillaume is marching on Saint Touar."
"Why? ...Are you saying his goal might not be retaking it?"
"Exactly."
Affirming Gerhard's question, Victor stood.
"Guillaume's mobilization is the result of political and diplomatic pressure—a symbolic act to restore pride. Not because Saint Touar's value suddenly rose."
"..."
"He knows his army's quality has plummeted. He'll avoid battle as much as possible and withdraw once our pressure eases."
The officers, blinded by the news of the attack, felt like cold water had doused their heads.
"If we fortify our defenses..."
"He'll see that as victory. After a half-hearted siege, he'll claim 'The Empire cowers behind walls, terrified of the kingdom's might' to shake off the pressure."
"...Heh."
"The kingdom's nobles will be satisfied they've shown their strength, and Guillaume can boast of our passivity to bolster his authority."
Victor pressed on.
"Why not attack encircled foes or pursue retreating ones?"
"Not feasible. Exhausted troops sieging a castle are vulnerable to counterattack, but the kingdom isn't aiming to retake it—they'll keep distance and stay defensive. We'd have to sortie through the gates, making ambushes hard."
"..."
"Plus, they decide the retreat timing. With thorough preparations, pursuing rashly is dangerous."
"...Understood."
The officer who thought trapping them was simple nodded at Victor's explanation and sat.
"Our goal is to crush their final resistance and topple Brotan Kingdom. We can't let those 70,000 escape."
Victor pointed to the map on the table.
"To that end, we'll concentrate our forces and move here."
He indicated the expansive Baldúa Plains, where the Crezon Mountains and Vildorneu River ended—vast grassland with scarcely a hill.
"If we openly demand battle, Guillaume can't evade. Fleeing a seemingly favorable fight would put him in a worse spot than not mobilizing at all."
"...True. They outnumber us, and he can't dodge the pretext. Accepting the pitched battle might be his best option."
Gerhard rubbed his temple and bowed his head.
"I get it—defeating them ends Brotan. As his personal campaign, the fallout from defeat will be huge."
"Yes."
"But the key issue: They have 70,000; we have 40,000. And you want a pitched battle on open plains where terrain favors neither—or actually them?"
He lowered his hand, staring seriously at Victor.
"Are you confident of victory? Against nearly double on flat ground?"
Victor's strategies always risked catastrophe for massive gains, as before.
The other officers shared Gerhard's doubts, eyeing Victor.
"Only the 20,000 from Kaen battles can fight properly—the numbers mean little. Plus, we have a powerful cavalry; they lack counters."
Victor replied with confident tone.
"Moreover, they're under Guillaume, a commander with no major successes beyond one personal outing—hardly seasoned or capable."
"...Hm."
"For prestige, he'll lead personally, but most troops are unprepared conscripts. If he couldn't handle men like Bevis and Gaston properly, he won't manage them."
Victor's conviction swayed the officers.
"I'm certain we won't lose. The kingdom's army will shatter in our hands."
"...Right! Their rabble contrasts our elite Empire forces with sky-high morale! Under Vice Commander Victor, their numbers are no threat!"
Friedrich, awaiting the offensive push, stood immediately in support.
"...With the vice commander, it might work."
"Indeed..."
"At Lake Apitel, they outnumbered us over twofold too."
Officers with Victor's command experience reacted positively.
Satisfied with the response, Gerhard gauged the mood then...
"...No need to ask. Prepare to march! We'll cut Brotan's lifeline here!"
Pretending reluctance, he adopted Victor's plan.
"Cavalry status?"
"Minimal losses—about 8,000 ready for combat."
"Good. Supply plans?"
"Rivers nearby ensure water. This route here—they can't easily cut supplies."
They swiftly prepared the march.
"Forward! To Baldúa Plains!"
Days later.
The Empire's 40,000—cavalry 8,000 strong—included, took their final steps toward Brotan Kingdom's doom.