I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 92: Revolutionary Defense War - Prelude (1)

The revolutionary army, having set out from the capital Lumiere, marched towards Alsace-Lorraine, the border region with the Germania Empire.

In the last war, this area served as a base for both the royal and imperial armies, which we attacked, but this time we are defending it against the attacking empire.

After ordering the immediate construction of a defensive line upon arrival, I held a strategy meeting with the main commanders of the revolutionary army.

"How is the evacuation of the residents?"

We will lose the first battle.

Given our absolutely inferior situation, preventing it is difficult, and the loss of this frontline region is naturally a fait accompli.

Therefore, we decided to evacuate the residents of this area.

We will fortify the city for battle, but the presence of residents raises concerns about potential damage, and more importantly, residents remaining after our defeat and retreat will become targets for the enemy's supply requisition.

For the strategy I have established, such a situation must be minimized.

"It is relatively smooth. At first, the residents were reluctant, but most of them agreed when Her Majesty the Queen personally persuaded them..."Berthier, my chief of staff, paused as if choosing his words, before speaking.

"However, there are those who refuse to leave. Should we forcibly relocate them?"

"No, there's no need for that."

Though Eris is still persuading residents in the villages, forcing those stubborn enough to resist her from their hometowns will only result in complaints and grievances.

Receiving the support of the people is our greatest strength at the moment, so rather than making such a blunder...

"Since they chose to stay, they must also be prepared to endure what they will experience."

It may sound cold, but if they remain even after all this, it's not our responsibility if they are harmed in battle or looted by the imperial army.

"Whew, you're cool."

Jerome Morelle whistled and fidgeted, which I appropriately ignored as I pointed at the map.

"My prediction is that the enemy's main force will enter through the Rhineland, towards Lorraine. To come to Alsace, they have to cross the river, but for that, a force of 120,000 is too large."

Louis Desaix then spoke.

"That is a reasonable thought, Marquis. However, Archduke Leopold is a commander who also enjoys using ingenious tactics. Just in case, I think it would be good to have some troops to guard the river. Allocating just a portion of their overflowing forces is enough to pose a threat to us."

"Good point, Commander Desaix. In that sense, Count Milbeau."

"Uh, yes? Me?"

I smiled at the bewildered Damien.

"I'll give you 10,000 from the Southern Army. Head to Alsace and defend the river."

"Wait, how much are the Southern Army's forces that you're telling me to do something with only 10,000? The enemy has 120,000, and how many of them will come..."

"Conversely, they may not come, and there's a river. The rest of the Southern Army's forces must be commanded by General Gaston to support the main front. So I trust you. You're good at enduring in unfavorable situations."

"Wait, again? You want me to face that monstrous Archduke Leopold twice with a small force? Great Marquis Lafayette! I have no doubt that your mercy and insight will not lead me to such a deadly place again!"

"I'm sorry, but you'd better doubt my mercy and insight. There is no change in the order, Count."

"Th-That can't be."

To Damien, in his despair, I smiled and added.

"If you slack off and get breached, I'll have no choice but to ask Countess Aquitaine for a special measure. She'll be happy, I think."

Hearing my words, Damien's face crumpled grotesquely, as if screaming in a void.

"If you don't want to see that, do whatever it takes to defend the river. Understand?"

"Y-Your orders..."

"Good, you can go out in advance."

Damien left the command tent with a half-dazed expression.

He's pathetic, but crisis pushes him to perform, so he'll manage somehow.

What that "somehow" is, is none of my business.

After silence in the command tent, Jerome Morelle cleared his throat and said.

"...Ahem, ahem. Marquis, no, Your Excellency. If my tone has been a bit irritating, I will be careful in the future."

"Good, Morelle. I was just preparing a special order for you."

"Y-Yes?"

Jerome Morelle was openly flustered, and I grinned.

"You're reacting as if I'm going to eat you, but you don't need to be so scared. I'm good to people who get things done."

"I-Is that so..."

Morelle forced a smile, his lips twitching.

"As you know, during the last war, lacking proper light cavalry, we were overwhelmed by the Hussars of the Germania Empire."

Thinking about that time still sends chills down my spine.

All messengers were cut off, so I had no information, and I had to negotiate with Archduke Leopold based on gut feeling and predictions, as if saving Damien had been in vain.

Standing idly by as light cavalry aimed to hunt us the moment we fled is an experience I don't want twice.

"But this time is different."

The Chasseurs.

A light cavalry unit developed by standardizing the carbine used by Raphael Valliant to lure Duke Orléans' knights.

Duke Orléans' knights, the weakest Francia knights, were ambushed by light infantry and shot from all sides, so they were caught. This should be effective against light cavalry.

I smiled.

"Morelle. Let's give those proud Hussars a taste of their own medicine."

"Huh. Are you going too, Your Excellency?"

"Then should I just guard the command tent?"

Morelle was terrified, but I'm the type who has to see it with my own eyes to be satisfied.

I need to see for myself how effective the light cavalry we've been raising will be against them, and then make plans for the future.

*

Hussars.

The pride of the Germania Empire, the best light cavalry in the central continent, skilled in scouting, pursuing and annihilating remnants.

As always, they set out ahead as scouts, preceding the main force of the Germania Imperial Army.

"What, a light cavalry unit?"

A young Germania cavalry officer, in a stylish Hussar uniform, narrowed his eyes at the cavalry approaching from afar.

"What should we do, Captain?"

-A Hussar who is still alive after the age of 30 is a coward.

They are men who consider recklessness and fearlessness virtues, hence such sayings are circulated.

"What do you mean what should we do? Those Francia country bumpkins dare to stand against us."

The captain immediately drew his saber; in response, his company also drew their swords and mounted their horses.

"Huh, those guys aren't even running away?"

"At least they have the qualification to call themselves cavalry!"

Unlike the last war, seeing the enemy cavalry charging towards them, the Hussars rushed forward with even greater spirit.

The small, agile horses, typical of light cavalry units, quickly accelerated and closed the distance.

And-

"Huh?"

"Wait, those bastards are using guns-"

The Hussars, charging with swords, were belatedly flustered to see Francia Chasseurs rapidly approach with rifles, but the charge of warhorses at full speed could not be stopped instantly.

Gunshots rang out in unison; with the sound of wind ripping, bullets pierced flesh of humans and warhorses everywhere.

"Gah, you cowards-"

"Aaaagh!"

Instantly, bullets hit several men who fell; some, caught by fallen comrades' horses, rolled on the ground.

"Ugh, ugh..."

While the Hussars, assuming only a saber duel, were flustered, the Chasseurs, with carbines, drew sabers and charged.

"For Francia!"

"Long live the Saint Queen!"

"Damn it, get a hold of yourselves! Fight back!"

The cavalry groups became entangled.

Those colliding head-on tangled together; warhorses continued to run, dragging fallen, sword-hit masters on saddles.

Amidst clashing swords, screams, and cries of injured warhorses, the frantic Hussar captain looked around and cursed.

"Shit, we're all going to die at this rate."

Originally, numbers were similar, but the volley received at full charge, unknowingly, was fatal to the cavalrymen.

"Hah, I am Jerome Morelle! Come on, come at me!"

Meanwhile, a cocky man wearing a stylish Francia cavalry uniform shouted loudly and swung his sword wildly, slaughtering his subordinates.

"Are you fighting with your mouth, ugh!"

A Hussar who rushed at Morelle swung his sword, but Morelle easily deflected his sword with his bluish glowing sword and pierced the flustered Hussar's stomach.

"Mana...!"

Flustered that a strong man who could handle mana was mixed in with a light cavalry reconnaissance unit, the captain inadvertently uttered.

However, his shout drew Morelle's attention immediately.

"Oh, are you the commander? Come here! You're mine!"

"D-Damn it, retreat, retreat for now!"

The captain shouted to the few remaining Hussars and kicked the horse's butt to avoid Morelle.

However-

"What, why."

The captain and the Hussars, who turned their backs and tried to escape in a hurry, let out a dazed sound of despair when they saw another light cavalry unit charging from the front.

Before a full-scale engagement, the role of the light cavalry is reconnaissance.

It is common sense to split them into company units and spread them out loosely, so how could another light cavalry unit be so close?

Before they could properly realize what was happening, the light cavalrymen charging from the front aimed their carbines.

"Ugh!"

"Aaaagh!"

Gunshots rang out, and nearly half of those who remained fell off their horses.

"Such, goddamn..."

The captain stared at the charging men with bloodshot eyes and then noticed a man in the lead wearing a high-ranking officer's splendid uniform.

The captain made a quick judgment. If Morelle and the light cavalry were chasing from behind anyway.

"Hussars! See that guy pretending to be a commander? Follow me! Let's take a companion with us!"

"Jawohl!"[1]

Even in a desperate situation, the Hussars, who were brave, followed the captain and charged.

However, as the captain approached, he recognized the man in that splendid uniform and could not hide his astonishment.

"Impressive. Charging in this situation."

The overly famous crest and the black rose brooch on his chest.

"L-Lafayette?"

Before he could compose himself, the Marquis's sword flashed with a blue light, as if it were made of light.

The sword that the captain swung with all his might was split in two by the Marquis's sword.

The captain slowly turned his head, looked at the Marquis slaughtering his subordinates and passing by, and muttered in vain.

"Shit, why is such a guy in the reconnaissance unit..."

He could not finish his words and fell off his horse, spewing blood.

*

The camp of the main force of the Germania Imperial Army.

Frowning, Archduke Leopold listened to Duke Heinrich's report.

"20% of the Hussars were defeated. In a reconnaissance battle? By the enemy light cavalry?"

"I am sorry, Your Highness the Archduke. We misjudged the enemy's light cavalry forces, and the new tactic was effective, and inter-unit communication has been slow."

"Hmm..."

Archduke Leopold rubbed his throbbing forehead with his hand.

Hussars, responsible for scouting missions, are divided into company units and scattered over a wide area to perform reconnaissance.

Thus, if a battle breaks out on one flank, it's natural that other units won't receive the information immediately.

Even so, this is as if.

"...The Francia guys, it seems they didn't raise the light cavalry to operate as a reconnaissance unit?"

"Yes, with inconvenient carbines, close formations hindering efficient reconnaissance, and high-level mana-commanding officers in each unit..."

Duke Heinrich swallowed dryly and answered.

"Their light cavalry seems designed not for reconnaissance, but for hunting ours."

"Ha. Was the name of their light cavalry Chasseurs a cheval? Meaning pursuit cavalry, or hunting cavalry. Appropriately named.

The Archduke smiled bitterly.

Ordering carbines now would take too long for supply and training. In this war, the Imperial Army's light cavalry advantage would be nullified.

"...Change the Hussars' reconnaissance organization to battalion units, and tell them to absolutely avoid engagement with the enemy light cavalry."

"I will do so, Your Highness the Archduke."

Archduke Leopold looked down at the operational map with a serious face.

In the last war, he commanded scouting and reconnaissance with the Hussars and fought comfortably. But in the very next war, they deployed an organization precisely targeting that?

"Their potential is truly astonishing."

When Francia sacrificed their knights and devastated their land in the civil war, the empire mocked them.

But they inflicted a bitter defeat on the empire, who, believing them helpless without knights, were caught off guard. They overcame the civil war's damage and have already caught up.

The Archduke felt a premonition close to certainty.

Now, this is the last battlefield where the Germania Empire can overwhelm them.

"Since reconnaissance is unreliable, not relying on tricks, we will completely destroy them with a thorough all-out war, even if it means sacrifices."

The Archduke muttered, looking at the defensive line that Lafayette had built, spanning Alsace and Lorraine.

"...We must destroy them here now. For the Empire, we must."