Chapter 81
“Archers, keep firing arrows while retreating! Infantry, hold your spears properly and retreat while keeping them at bay!”
“Damn, it’s chaos back there with those armored pigs ramming in. How can we keep retreating?”
“Commander Janus, there’s nowhere to retreat. What should we do? The other units are facing the same situation!”
Their plan to whittle us down with arrows while retreating was foiled, as I could tell they were unable to move further back.
Missing this opportunity would expose us once again to one-sided arrow attacks.
“Their infantry is nothing but a rabble. Crossbowmen and mages in the 1st Battalion and my direct battalion, attack those barbarians pretending to be infantry! Each crossbowman, fire three shots and then retreat!”
The barbarian infantry, or rather, those hastily conscripted and turned into infantry overnight, began to tremble even more with fear, sensing that a full melee was imminent.
Seeing this, my soldiers grew more spirited, taunting them with mocking tones.
“Die here and become food for the wild beasts you so love! You like that, don’t you?”
“Just like you enslaved our empire’s people, your families will be enslaved in the empire! Don’t worry, and die peacefully!”
“Major General Matthias’s enemies, we won’t let you escape. We’ll tear you all apart nicely.”
After thoroughly taunting them, the reloaded crossbowmen and mages who had completed their incantations launched an assault on the unfortunate barbarian infantry.
The enemy infantry, not properly armored, fell one by one to the magic and each arrow that hit its mark.
With just the initial volley from about 300 mages and crossbowmen, there appeared to be over a hundred casualties or deaths, causing the barbarians to wail and scream incomprehensibly.
“Lieutenant Laura, leave only one company to protect me here, and go with Lieutenant Marco and Lieutenant Dennis to slaughter Chief Töner and his lackeys.”
“But if I take that many troops, there will be too few soldiers left to protect you, Colonel.”
Certainly, had the enemy been fully ready, I would not have dared to employ such tactics.
I couldn’t count the casualties among their archers, but a significant number must have died, so they wouldn’t dare attack my main camp.
But, as Laura said, in war, a moment’s carelessness could cost a commander their life and end the battle.
“I will come to support you from behind the vanguard when needed. So, if I’m attacked, you protect me.”
“Understood, Colonel.”
Laura responded promptly, swiftly drew her sword from her waist, and ran out, commanding,
“Direct Battalion under the Regiment Commander, follow me, Deputy Battalion Commander Laura von Benner! Let’s go punish those evil barbarians!”
After saying that, Laura, a woman, took the lead in the vanguard, as I had taught her.
Hearing her command, the soldiers of my direct battalion followed her with great fervor, grasping their spears.
“1st Company, Deputy Battalion Commander Laura is at the forefront. Surely, none of you men with a pair would dare fall behind, right?”
“2nd Company! Anyone who holds back today will wear a sign for a week saying, ‘I am weaker than a woman.’ Fight with the resolve to die!”
“3rd Company, eliminate the enemy with your utmost effort. Those who fall behind will not be forgiven!”
Seeing this, I understood why, in stories about the Hundred Years’ War between France and England, people often say that Joan of Arc’s unit was so successful because...
“A woman was the commander and at the forefront, prompting French nobles and soldiers, who prized masculine courage, to fight desperately to avoid being deemed weaker than a woman.”
“Keep the Regiment Commander’s flag and symbols here to make them think I’m still present. Leave one platoon here, and the rest will follow me to support the Deputy Regiment Commander. Hurry.”
At his command, the current battle situation and orders were simultaneously communicated to the entire battalion.
The mages and crossbowmen naturally relocated to the rear of the battalion.
“The enemy cavalry is approaching! Their numbers look about twice what they were before! They are all charging towards this place!”
As expected, my prediction was correct.
“Inform the entire regiment. Crossbowmen, reload without turning around; mages, start your incantations; infantrymen, pretend not to notice and keep walking forward. The enemy will attempt a charge targeting our backs. When I give the signal, everyone, turn around at once, form ranks, and crossbowmen and mages, fire with all your might straight ahead.”
As the thundering sound of their horses’ hooves pounded the ground and the shouts of the barbarians filled the air,
“Now is the time! All battalions, turn around! Deputy Regiment Commander, I leave the command to you. Regiment Commander to the front! The Regiment Commander will lead from the front!”
Normally, I wouldn’t want to be at the front as the Regiment Commander, but facing over 200 cavalry with 800 infantry, everyone, including myself, who was commanding the regiment, had to show readiness to die in battle, engulfed by overwhelming fear.
That way, everyone could move according to the plan without panic and with courage.
Thus, borrowing a spear from a soldier next to me, I stood shoulder to shoulder with the spearmen.
The 200 cavalry charged towards us, but countless arrows and spells flew toward those who charged first.
Moreover, the maged and crossbowmen, fearing that their slow hands might lead to rumors of my death, unleashed arrows and spells at a merciless pace.
“Charge, charge! We must break through that damned formation!”
“Aaargh!”
“How can we break through that, you damned Lukru bastard!”
The enemy cavalry dwindled rapidly, like ice melting under the hot sun, due to the barrage of arrows and magic.
By the time the charging cavalry on horses reached me, their numbers had reduced to about 50.
I spoke loudly from the front of the spearmen,
“These guys use swords, not spears or lances! Polearm troops! When they approach among the spearmen, strike at their heads!”
Then, gripping the spear firmly planted in the ground, I stared down at the approaching cavalry, determined not to be pushed back.
Soon, a heavy sensation traveled from the spear shaft to my hand, and the charging cavalryman before me died instantly.
Then, the polearm troops sprang from among the spearmen, smashing the heads of the barbarians indiscriminately, whether they had fallen from their horses or were still mounted—none gentler in death.
All the enemy cavalry, except for the few who managed to retreat, were killed.
An hour later, Lieutenant Laura and the other commanders arrived with the head of the Töner tribe’s chief, signifying our victory and the conclusion of that day’s battle.
Afterward, our regiment spent a month traversing the Töner tribe’s territory, devastating their villages.
We took all the barbarian women, children, and those who surrendered, who had lost their warriors and family heads, as prisoners.
Upon returning, I drafted an operational plan based on the lessons of this war and submitted it to the Corps Commander.
‘The Operation for the Permanent Stabilization and Integration of the North.’
In about eight months, the entire Northern Army, including Ludwig and his forces, would likely take action to conquer the entire peninsula.
