EP.188
Humans can somehow adapt and live in most places, unless it is an environment where survival is impossible.
If you are familiar with nature such as deserts, jungles, snowfields, plains, and rivers, as well as military areas governed by strict rules and battlefields where many people die, you will survive.
When I first had to kill on the battlefield, I had some difficulties, but now I can kill hundreds of enemies without mercy if necessary.
Even at that age, the only thing I have not been able to adapt to is the pressure I feel when planning strategies on the battlefield as a commander.
In particular, since he takes on the role of deputy commander, or actual commander-in-chief, the burden on his shoulders and back is no joke.
“Let’s start with the reconnaissance unit report. “It’s okay to talk about the size of the enemy, their morale, and other minor details. If there’s anything that seems unusual, please tell me.”
At those words, the leader of the reconnaissance unit cautiously opened his mouth.
“The Archduke of Austria personally took part in this war. As I reported last time, the total number of people is 180,000. The morale of the enemy army is very high, perhaps because the Archduke himself is leading the soldiers.”
The scale is about 30,000 more than what was assumed before the start of the expedition, but this is within the margin of error, so there is no need to see it as a big problem.
However, since the Archduke, the monarch of the Grand Duchy of Austria, has appeared in person, the enemy’s morale will remain high and it will not be easy to deal with them.
However, if the captain appears agitated or nervous, the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers under his command fall into endless fear.
“It may take a little bit for the Archduke to step forward in person, but this is within the margin of error, so it won’t be able to shake our army’s victory. “Please keep reporting.”
The crown prince nodded his head in agreement after hearing my words, and the generals and officers participating in the meeting looked somewhat relieved.
“As the Archduke of Austria marched out, the Royal Guard knights under the Archduke also marched out. In addition, there is a high probability that the exact size and organization of our forces were leaked due to the betrayal and surrender of one of our personnel advisors, Major Benner. Therefore, it seems that the Reich Empire is at a disadvantage when it comes to information warfare.”
My brother is probably happily talking about this with Matthias, the idiot who betrayed the Reich Empire, and the other four majors.
‘It’s the same for Imperial infantry and Austrian infantry. It is no match for knights. Well, at best, the 7th Division just needs to be a little more careful…’
Also, if you think about it with common sense, you would think that there would be no infantry that could take on the knights unless it was that crazy elite mercenary unit from Switzerland.
We should use this to exploit the enemy’s loopholes.
“Is there anything else besides that?”
“Yes, Deputy Commander. “Our reconnaissance revealed nothing significant other than these.”
“I understand. Then I will hand over the strategy.”
As soon as I said that, all eyes and attention were on me.
“First of all, there is no need to worry about the fact that our army has fewer troops than the enemy. Because our soldiers are all completely new. In the past, it was difficult to even run 5km with full gear, but now, as a result of training, I can run about 15km with full gear.”
At those words, the generals, who were at least in their 50s, nodded and expressed pride in the fact that the soldiers under their command had become so strong.
Those who participated in the training, such as a lieutenant colonel and younger than his mid-40s, shook their heads and looked like it was a memory they did not want to recall.
However, what is clear is that, through guerrilla gymnastics, all physical strength was drained from the body, and physical strength-consuming training such as mock battles and formal training were repeatedly performed.
Regardless of whether you are a soldier, non-commissioned officer, or officer, your physical strength has increased explosively compared to before, so the longer you fight in actual combat, the more advantageous it will be for your allies.
“The enemy has more soldiers than us, so they will gladly accept it if we wager a long-term war. And our troops will compete head-on from the beginning.”
In general, when the number of troops is small, short-term decisive battles or surprise battles are often preferred, where the winner is won in a short moment.
This is because in a strategy that lasts for a long time, having more numbers is much more advantageous.
“Honestly, unless you are in the Principality of Switzerland, you probably know that the combat power of the soldiers, especially the infantry, is there, so the Austrians, who have a lot of numbers, will definitely fall for our provocation. That way, we take as much time as possible.”
The fact that our soldiers have much better physical strength than the enemy means that they can fight in good condition for a longer period of time.
So, by the time we are out of breath, the enemy infantry will be on the verge of exhaustion and will not be able to properly counterattack.
At this time, if they squeeze out all their remaining strength and attack all at once, it will be a battle in which the Reich Imperial Army will win unilaterally, regardless of how many enemies there are.
When I mentioned only the infantry, a division commander asked:
“Deputy Commander, then how do you plan to manage the cavalry, including the knights? The Austrian side would have brought in the Royal Guard knights, so the number of knights in heavy armor would be as many as 20,000, and our troops would be approximately 13,000, including Colonel Kergit’s cavalry archers, so even if infantry fights with infantry, a fight between knights… ”
Infantry can endure with endurance, but knights cannot endure for long because they fight with impact force due to each other’s numbers and weight.
However, since the protagonists of the battle are not knights but infantry, countermeasures against this are surprisingly simple.
“Aren’t there two important things when a knight moves? “To shake up the opponent’s formation when the infantry is fighting, or to chase those who run away after winning.”
In the former case, they fight by forming a wedge formation, which is typical of the knights we know, and in the latter case, they break up their formation and fight by blindly pursuing them.
“That’s right. “But I asked when and how you plan to run the article, and what are you talking about now?”
“Just as I did when dealing with enemy knights on the Visocian front in Czechia, the infantry forms a pike square to intercept the knights. “At this time, many sacrifices will occur, but the soldiers, who are strictly controlled by military law, will fight the knights holding long spears, risking death.”
To exaggerate a bit, it may be difficult to understand from a common sense point of view soldiers standing with polearms blocking a piece of metal weighing a little less than a ton.
The training method I introduced was used to train soldiers during the line infantry period and was extremely effective.
How confident would it have been to be able to walk squarely in line with the enemy without any cover on a battlefield where thousands of enemy bullets were flying?
“Of course, it doesn’t mean there are no solutions. While the enemy knights are charging, archer cavalry will be deployed to kill the enemy’s momentum in various ways. In addition, I plan to use our 10,000 knights like hammers when enemy knights attack.”
“Then do you plan to attack the enemy knight’s flank after receiving the charge like last time?”
“It’s a good idea, but my thoughts are different this time. After repelling the enemy knights’ attack, the infantry units on the left and right will semi-surround the enemy and attack the rear with our knights. “It would be best if we could eliminate the enemy knights while blocking all directions.”
Even if they attack the flanks of infantry units deployed on the left or right wing, which is the most standard method, there are countermeasures.
“Otherwise, if we hit the flank of a left or right wing unit, the plan will go awry. In this case, we plan to use the same strategy as the enemy. However, I think the enemy knights will definitely target the 7th Division deployed in the center.”
At those words, the division commanders looked questioning and I sent a signal to His Majesty.
The prince received the signal and opened his mouth.
“Originally, when the royal family goes to battle, they usually settle down in the safest base and hold out, but I will never let you fight alone on the front lines. As commander, I will lead my SS unit and fight in the same place as the 7th Guards Division.”
Well, even if His Majesty says he will fight with the 7th Division, he will not have to go directly to the front lines to fight.
Fighting together on the front line rather than at home base will give soldiers great psychological stability and courage.
Besides that, we have prepared a detailed strategy depending on what the enemy will do, so now all I have to do is bury them.
See next episode
