Chapter 73: The Töner Tribe Suppression (2)
“Damn, Ludwig! Just as the Staff College predicted after the famine two years ago, he ruthlessly slaughtered neighboring tribes to survive and plundered their food. In the chaos, where barbarians fought and defended against each other, the attackers managed to wipe out the defenders. However, Ludwig, in his aggressive stance, lost many warriors, and while he succeeded in expanding his territory, their fighting power significantly weakened compared to the past.”
Just hearing this might give the impression that Ludwig, the great nomadic chieftain, had weakened in military strength, perhaps suggesting the empire might be safe from now on.
No, that wasn’t the case. From the Reich Empire’s perspective, it wasn’t an ideal situation.
Because if the barbarian tribes were fragmented, even though Ludwig boasted formidable power, if he attacked the empire, the weaker tribes would strike Ludwig’s homeland and territories. He would lose his base and, thus, wouldn’t dare challenge the Reich Empire.
However, if he faced no opposition nearby and succeeded in acquiring vast territories, due to human greed for wanting more after achieving something, he would become an unpredictable ticking time bomb. That was the problem.
“Fortunately, thanks to the Staff College providing the weaker tribes with weapons and minimal food supplies, even though Ludwig’s tribes have unified, they have suffered significant losses. It seems like the number of warriors has reduced by about 20% compared to two years ago.”
Losing 20% of the military force in a single war was almost equivalent to near-total annihilation. He might prefer a quiet life for a few years to recover his strength and gather the power to take over the northern parts of Swedia or the Reich Empire someday.
“Still, he commands a force of 10,000 cavalry and 30,000 infantry. We, on the other hand, have 5,000 knights and 50,000 foot soldiers. While we possess enough strength to fend off or even defeat Ludwig’s tribe in direct combat, we’re desperately lacking the means to completely prevent their raiding parties that intermittently come to replenish their food supplies.”
The defense of the Copenhagen Peninsula and the northern boundary of the Reich Empire involved constructing numerous forts and walls.
However, given the vast expanse, it was impossible to surround the entire border with walls. Thus, if these riders, capable of traveling up to a hundred kilometers in a day, decided to, they could easily breach our defenses and raid the northern empire.
During the Joseon era, in the Byungja Horan, merely 300 cavalrymen broke through all the defenses from Yodong to Ganghwado, trapping King Injo in Namhansanseong.
“If that happens, in the worst case, the empire might be forced to cede its northern territories. No matter how much support we provide to the north in terms of food, weapons, and armor from across the empire, we can’t defend a completely devastated area.”
Upon hearing this, the Division Commander slammed his desk and exclaimed,
“As the head of the Nordenburk noble family, I cannot allow such a damned thing to occur on my watch in the north. This is the current situation. If we continue like this, you will be forced into a disgraceful retirement, and I will be decapitated for failing to defend the frontier. That’s why I’ve called in commanders of battalion level and above to discuss countermeasures, but half of their proposals were nonsense, and the rest were vague.”
The fact that more than 30% of the people arriving here as high-ranking officers were graduates from the Staff College—and yet their plans were being harshly criticized—indicated that the situation was quite serious.
“According to what I heard from the head of the Staff College, the only reason we could suppress Ludwig’s power to this extent was that your plan was effective. I knew you were coming here, so I had high expectations. Tell me your thoughts.”
It might sound like he was giving me a break, but it seemed like he wouldn’t let it go if I didn’t come up with a proper strategy.
Indeed, even if we fiercely fought and completely annihilated the Ludwig tribe, overcoming the empire’s crisis, if the territories that Ludwig occupied became empty, other nomads might come in and establish power.
Or the Swedia guys might see it as an opportunity to expand their territories, and the Reich Empire Army might face situations where the Swedia reaped the benefits.
“Additionally, if we prepare as I suggested, by creating warehouses in appropriate places in the regions our Empire Army has occupied, storing easily preserved and transported meat and hard bread, then the supply problem for maintaining new territories will be somewhat solved.”
In any case, the tactic we were going to adopt this time was scorched earth, so we must kill most of the soldiers who truly resisted.
Those who would give up resistance, along with women and children, would either become slaves or be resettled in the warmer regions of the empire to live as peasants.
Because if left here, one never knows when they might rebel or transform into resistant barbarians like Ludwig.
The majority of settlers coming to this now-empty region, once roamed by nomads, would be the second or third sons or daughters of peasants who lack land to farm.
The north was freezing in late autumn, but the climate in spring and summer was quite favorable, making it ideal land for farming wheat or barley.
Although this proposal should come from the Crown Prince or other competent administrators, since I laid the groundwork, I would also receive an unofficial reward.
Anyway, if the strategy I proposed as the leader of the Northern Army was accepted, the empire would either hit the jackpot or fail miserably based on my suggestion.
“If we can maintain the occupied areas, considering your contribution to leading this expedition successfully, a promotion to General, or even Marshal, might be possible.”
While it was true that among ten generals, only one might become a Marshal, and it might take time, if I had the merit of having killed the troublesome nomads and even occupied their territory, even if I just maintained my position as a general, I could attain the marshal rank the day before my retirement.
With such a tempting offer, the Division Commander recalled his achievements and medals, then nodded and said,
“I haven’t asked the other generals or regiment commanders yet, so I can’t decide right now. But from what I’ve heard so far, your strategy seems to be the best. You’ve come a long way, so rest today. Leave for the 24th Regiment base tomorrow.”
The next day, the Northern Army Corps Commander issued an order to the 24th Regiment.
The Töner tribe, under Ludwig’s command, plundered the area near Flensburg. Our retaliation must be thorough.
“To ensure success in our scorched earth operation, we need to first intimidate Ludwig’s men. By transforming the Tenner’s territory into a desolate wasteland, we can gain the upper hand, deterring them with fear rather than temptation.”
