Chapter 54: The Hammer & Anvil (7)
Around the time when Lieutenant Peter Yaeger was fiercely fighting near the enemy base, Michael von Reich, the Crown Prince of the Reich Empire, was leading an army of 32,000 men, assisted by his deputy commander, Count Benner.
To some, he might have seemed like a malicious leader who left all the work to his subordinates and only reaped the benefits, but no one went against the Prince’s decision.
Because no matter how high-ranking the Prince was amongst the royalty and had acquired military and administrative knowledge comparable to academy students since he was young, the possibility of making irreversible mistakes was high if he tried to command without any experience in direct participation or leadership on the field.
Choosing the best strategy among many of the ones devised by numerous aides, he had rightly executed the most important role of a supreme commander, so the resulting success was evident.
“Report! Sir, upon switching tactics and launching a counterattack, the Chekovian 9th Regiment Commander, Colonel Alexei Derenkoff, was killed by a explosives!”
“The Chekovian 12th Regiment is retreating, unable to withstand our assault!”
“The Chekovian 1st Division of the Defense Army has entered reorganization due to substantial damages!”
Commanders, even those who studied at the academy, had built honorable careers, and graduated from staff colleges, would often face defeat or unfavorable outcomes in wars of this scale.
Choosing and executing the right military operation with relatively little damage was not something any commander could do, even if it was only about selecting the operation.
Thus, everyone started to believe that the current Prince would someday become an excellent Emperor, although the war was still ongoing.
“Count Benner, shouldn’t we send troops to support the Francois Division, who is acting as the hammer on the flank?”
“Your Highness has a point, but no news is good news at times like this. However, sending a messenger to check would be wise. Lieutenant Philip, go check immediately!”
At that, a Lieutenant named Philip led three knights under his command and quickly ran out.
Simultaneously, Count Benner signaled the Prince, and Michael immediately pointed his command baton forward and said,
“Rush the soldiers. We must attack more fiercely. Keep pressing them like a relentless storm. They must be kept disoriented!”
Subsequently, lieutenants and aides conveyed more detailed versions of the simple orders.
“All forces, increase speed and annihilate the visible enemy forces. Victory is ours.”
“The enemy troops are a disorganized mess. Do not be scared. Move forward.”
“The 4th Division is lagging! It’s the Crown Prince’s order. Speed up!”
When the Prince and the Count were secretly pleased and certain of victory while watching this scene, four cavalrymen rode quickly to the headquarters and reported.
“I am Lieutenant Timo from the Yaeger Battalion.”
At the headquarters, where Count Benner was also present, it wasn’t good that a mere Lieutenant like Yaeger had contacted the headquarters directly, where the Crown Prince was stationed.
Because, in such cases, it usually meant that he had bypassed the reporting system or was delivering unfortunate news of annihilation during an assault, one of the two.
“Report.”
So, it would be better to inform them once the fight had somewhat settled down.
I’d already asked Lieutenant Laura to be on standby. Once she arrived, we could hunt down the fleeing enemy dignitaries.
Of course, I wasn’t willing to accept the reality of a supreme commander running away, abandoning his responsibility as the situation turned against him, but what could I do?
He was a coward who only knew how to irritate his parents, and because he lacked the skills to lead his army, he now chose this strategy to save his life.
Analyzing the situation, it seemed the supreme commander didn’t run because he sensed defeat due to his competence, but rather, he just fled to save his own life.
However, this seemed to have been the best strategic choice.
“You, Chekovian Supreme Commander, hand over your damn head!”
After shouting fiercely, we broke through the regiment led by a Chekovian colonel and finally entered the enemy headquarters.
The flag symbolizing the supreme commander of the Chekovian defense forces, various battalion flags, desks, chairs, weapons, etc., were scattered everywhere.
Our officers and soldiers looked at them with empty expressions.
“Damn, damn! Why isn’t that Supreme Commander bastard here?”
“Where the hell did that bastard, who doesn’t have parents, run off to?”
“No... Damn, this can’t be.”
I had already anticipated this possibility, so I calmly commanded.
“Attention, Yaeger Battalion! Although the damned Supreme Commander has escaped, we are the first to capture the enemy headquarters. Collect the Supreme Commander’s flag and every division’s flag, and return to where the Division Commander is.”
Right then, Laura appeared, riding with thirty soldiers.
“Lieutenant Laura von Benner, I brought thirty horses as ordered.”
Considering that bringing them any later would reduce the time to pursue the enemy, causing loss, and bringing them too early would have mixed the horses into the melee, causing chaos, Laura probably brought the horses here at the perfect time after observing the situation around her.
“Well done, Lieutenant! Good. I will now give you a new order. Twelve knights who had been resting behind, along with sergeants and soldiers who are confident in riding, come forth now. We are going to get the heads of the enemy stragglers and the Supreme Commander bastard.”
Upon my command, Marco, the commander of the 1st Company, asked,
“What about the rest?”
“Each platoon will be commanded by a vice-platoon leader as a representative, and our battalion will return to where the Division Commander is under your command. After that, rest or follow the Division Commander’s orders as you see fit.”
After that, I mounted a horse brought by Laura and commanded.
“Let’s rid the world of all these cowardly runaways. Everyone, borrow a one-handed combat ax or a mace from a comrade nearby.”
