novelraw Chapter 166: Krafte War - Defensive Plan
Chapter 166: Krafte War - Defensive Plan
Barua, Eastern Francia.
I had no choice but to question the news brought by a guest who visited late at night.
“What… did you say?”
Did I hear that wrong?
“There is no sign the Krafte Army will turn its forces toward its homeland.”
“Unless they’re mad, that can’t be…”
Their homeland is on the verge of devastation, and they're not sending the army back? Does that make any sense?
They have mobilized 200,000 troops for this war alone.
Considering the population of Krafte, they must have brought almost all the troops with even basic training. Even for Krafte, it seems unlikely they could stop 50,000 troops with just hastily gathered conscripts from their homeland.
I never imagined I would live to doubt Christine's words, but she, with a look of understanding, handed me a report.“This is a report on the transport of supplies to the Krafte Army in Alsace. I don’t know the exact items, but the frequency and quantity have increased significantly.”
I silently reviewed the report Christine had handed me.
Certainly, the transport of supplies increased after the Battle of Barua.
Up to this point, one might think it was to resupply depleted ammunition, but it increased even more after the rebellion in the Northern Allied Kingdom and their homeland.
If they were to turn even part of their army towards their homeland, the supply transport would normally have to decrease. Their troop numbers were reduced due to losses in the last battle, and they would need supplies in their homeland as well.
No, even apart from that, they are procuring an abnormally large amount of supplies.
It is common sense to ensure the army is not short on supplies, but too many supplies can also be poisonous. It could make it difficult to use flexible tactics to protect the supplies.
So why go this far?
No, even more than that.
“How did you find out about this? I heard that most of your infiltration operations into the Krafte Army failed.”
Christine nodded readily and replied.
“That’s right. The infiltration operations into the ‘army’ did fail. But they cannot stop us from planting informants among the border region residents in advance. There is no way to distinguish them from the residents.”
“Hahaha… Even before Alsace was occupied?”
As I let out a dry laugh, Christine answered with caution.
“Yes. We started working on it from the moment Krafte announced the war, in Alsace, Lorraine, and here in Barua. Fortunately, some had worked for us since the war with the Empire, so coordination was not difficult.”
“…”
Their homeland is under attack.
Their forces have been reduced by losses from the last battle.
And yet they are increasing their supply imports and showing no signs of dispatching troops to their homeland?
It’s an action that makes no sense by common standards, but since the opponent is that Great King, I understand his line of thought.
…After inflicting serious damage on the Revolutionary Army with a surprise all-out offensive, he could easily suppress the rest, even if his homeland suffers some damage.
That Great King might think that way.”
To put it more seriously, he might want to put all his strength into his last war, regardless of whether his homeland is devastated.
In that case, the amount of supplies makes sense. He's probably stockpiling in advance before the supply of materials becomes difficult due to his homeland being ravaged.
Perhaps because I was lost in thought with a serious expression, Christine glanced at me cautiously and asked.
“Are you angry, by any chance? I thought it would be a useful move in an emergency and laid the groundwork, but still, this is about controlling the army, and you...”
Christine's words were cut off as I pulled her into a firm embrace.
“No, you saved us, Christine. Thank you.”
If we had been unaware and had only planned to attack when the Krafte Army withdrew its troops to its homeland, we might have been dealt a fatal blow, truly caught off guard.
No, in the first place, this war itself would have been difficult to even establish as a proper war without Christine.
The Great King is that formidable an enemy.
Christine hesitated for a moment, then leaned her head on my shoulder and let out a sigh of relief.
“I’m glad I could be of help.”
Finding Christine a little amusing, I asked in a joking tone.
“It's a matter of course that you would hide your intelligence network in your own country from the army or the National Assembly, but were you worried that I would be angry about that?”
What's the point of her worrying now, the person who has eyes in the army and even in my headquarters?
“Hmm, that's right. Even though it’s you, Pierre. For some reason...”
As Christine said that and averted her gaze, I gently took her cheek, turned her head, and met her eyes.
“Christine, I am not your father.”
“Ah.”
Christine exhaled, as if in a sigh.
This was probably a trauma she had been unconsciously holding on to.
Her strangely wary attitude towards Eris, even though she didn't believe Eris and I saw each other as a man and a woman, was telling.
The contradictory appearance of worrying whether it would be seen as distasteful, even while having a habit of laying groundwork in all necessary places as naturally as breathing, made sense now.
“I am not wary of you for stepping into my domain, nor am I afraid of your talent.”
The memory of her father—whom she had stepped forward to help as a young girl when he was in despair after losing her mother, only to be shunned by him for that very reason, and in the end, even having her assassination attempt condoned—must still be a deep wound for her.
That's why she must have been in constant fear that the same thing might happen with me, and had been wary, comparing herself to the pure-hearted and well-intentioned Eris.
We're only one step away now.
How hard must it have been to do anything for me, as if clinging to me, while at the same time worrying I might dislike her for it.
“I told you. I am already yours. Whatever you do, whatever side of you you show me, I am always on your side.”
Forgetting her usual composure, Christine, who had been staring at me blankly, whispered a question.
“Even if I am a cruel and selfish person?”
“I am yours forever. …You also said you would be mine, so no matter what kind of person you are, I have no intention of letting you go. So, there is no need to worry anymore.”
Christine lowered her head, then wrapped her arms around my neck and embraced me.
The deep night’s kiss tasted of tears.
*
The next day, headquarters.
“Pardon? A defensive battle, you say?”
In response to Damien De Millbeau's incredulous question, I readily nodded.
“They have still not dispatched defensive forces to the Krafte homeland. According to intelligence, they are instead bringing in supplies to prepare for an offensive. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume they are preparing for an all-out offensive.”
“Uh, is that… really true? There was nothing of the sort in the Chasseurs’ reports. To be honest, we were preparing for an offensive, and now you’re suddenly telling us to switch gears and prepare for defense. It's a bit too sudden…”
As Louis Desaix spoke with an awkward smile, I replied.
“The source of the information is Countess Aquitaine.”
“Ah.”
“Oh.”
No one contradicted me.
Everyone fell silent without even questioning how such information was obtained.
Whether it was because of the presence Christine had shown so far, or because I would not tolerate any suspicion of the information she brought, the effect was the same.
In a situation like this, it was extremely effective for quelling confusion and getting things in order.
“In light of that, we will scrap the existing attack plan and draft a defensive one.”
“Whew, is that for real… They're preparing for an all-out offensive here when their homeland is about to be devastated. This war with Krafte is overturning all conventional wisdom.”
“As a king, his judgment is questionable, but as a general, it's brilliant. If we had been unaware and had just been leisurely preparing for an attack, only to be met by their all-out offensive, everyone here knows what a terrible result that would have been, right?”
Even Jerome Morelle, who had been speaking flippantly, hardened his expression at my words.
Eris had been so overworked that she temporarily lost her sight, even after using crystals that would have bankrupted Francia’s treasury. We too had fought by throwing everything we had, and only then was a barely even fight possible.
If we were to clash with such people again without being properly prepared, defeat would be as clear as day.
“But what do you intend to do? To be honest, I don't think a field battle would turn out much different from the last one. The shock of seeing the Krafte Army’s unique tactics for the first time will be less, but apart from that, they are monstrously strong in and of themselves.”
“A valid point, Berthier. That is why we are abandoning the field battle.”
“Pardon? Then…”
As Alexandre Berthier looked slightly bewildered, I added.
“We will meet the enemy here in Barua. We will evacuate all the residents and draw the enemy into a street battle.”
“Oh, since our cavalry losses are great, are you suggesting we go for a brawl? Hah.”
“Yes. Exactly as you think, Morelle. Their artillery strength has suffered severe losses in the last battle, while their cavalry strength has been maintained more fully than ours.”
In an urban warfare scenario, even the Krafte Army, which boasts of its elite status, will have its capabilities limited.
From the perspective of the Krafte Army, which also lost a lot of artillery in the last battle, if a large city like Barua is fortified they will have a hard time breaking through.
“That’s certainly true. Please put me in the vanguard this time!”
Nicolas Nere was, as always, exceedingly brave. I replied with a bitter smile.
“Ah. I’ll consider it, General Nere.”
Urban warfare is, by its nature, a battlefield where the intervention of tactics is minimized. Since momentum is key, it would be fine to entrust the vanguard to him.
“But, Your Excellency the Marquis,”
“What is it, Commander Desaix?”
“Will it be alright? Barua is quite a large city. Evacuating all the residents is one thing, but engaging in urban warfare would cause the city immense damage.”
“True. The political burden will be considerable, but it’s not so much that my neck will be on the line.”
Had I made such a suggestion during the last battle, I would have had to seriously worry about my neck.
After being defeated in succession at Alsace and in the cavalry battle, if the Commander-in-Chief had made such a suggestion before even trying to fight properly, the National Assembly would naturally have been in an uproar.
“We have already achieved victory against that Great King of Krafte. There will be opposition from the National Assembly, but if I can stop them at the cost of some popularity, it's a small price to pay.”
If we were to fight a second round with that Krafte Army, it is doubtful how severe our losses would be, or if we could even win at all.
That Great King is betting everything on tactics, completely disregarding strategy. We, too, must sacrifice something to stop him.
“Hmm, that is certainly true, but I am a little concerned. If they were to abandon the attack after you’ve gone to such lengths, your political enemies might attack you, Marquis.”
“This is the first I’ve known you to be so worried about me.”
Louis Desaix looked quite aggrieved.
“We’ve been through all sorts of thick and thin together until now, you're being too harsh. Besides, even without that, Marquis is essential to the Revolutionary Army.”
Oh, Louis Desaix. This fellow is moving me.
“Th-that's right! Who else but His Excellency, Marquis Lafayette, could stand against that Great King! I, Damien De Millbeau, believe His Excellency the Marquis is the only true—”
“Alright, alright.”
If it hadn't been for that clueless fool, the feeling of being moved might have lasted a little longer.
I let out a light sigh, looked at the generals, and opened my mouth.
“There’s no need to worry about that. The Great King will surely come.”
“Pardon? You assert it so simply.”
“To launch an all-out offensive while one's homeland is being devastated may be a brilliant move for a general to catch the enemy off guard, but it is by no means an act befitting a king. No matter how much of a great king he is, opposition is bound to arise.”
This is not a war to protect the nation, but one that uses the nation as a disposable piece for the sake of war?
It’s a mad act that denies the very essence of an army. What else is that but a nation literally owned by the army?
“If we prepare for urban warfare and he withdraws his attack, the Great King’s choice will become a huge political burden.”
Barua is on the way to the capital, Lumiere, which is a city that must be broken through.
But to cancel the attack at the last minute because it seems difficult to conquer and then send reinforcements to his homeland?
Will that improve public opinion in a homeland that is already being invaded under the Great King’s neglect?
“The only way to make up for that is to break through us head-on and achieve a clear victory. Therefore, the Great King will surely come. All of you, don’t worry about my political standing and prepare thoroughly for the defensive battle.”
In the end, the matter of political standing is also a fight over who has more nerve, something that doesn't matter if the opponent collapses first.
And if it's the Great King I know.
He's the kind of man who would charge head-on, saying he would spectacularly break through a heavily fortified city.