Episode 152 Krafte War –
After the first line of defense in Alsace, commanded by the captured Confederate commander Damien de Mirbeau, was breached in vain.
We made preparations by urgently moving our troops with the intention of stopping the Krafte army, which was to push into Francia, at Bahua and Franche-Comté, the second line of defense.
Bahua arrived like that.
I sighed, looking at my generals and staff who were all frowning.
“You’re wrong this time too?”
“I apologize, Excellency the Marquis of Lafayette…”
Werther, who had assisted me and Desais in the war against the Germanian Empire, planned excellent strategies and managed the army as chief of staff, was mortified and apologized.
“No, it’s not all your fault.”
After hearing the generals’ opinions, I also thought that the Krafte army would attack right away to take advantage of the surprise attack.
So, in order to somehow restore the morale of the soldiers who had been damaged by Mirbo’s defeat, they accepted Eris’ last resort plan and moved urgently.
However, the 200,000 Krafte army once again broke our expectations that it would advance as soon as it crossed the Rhine River and is sitting in Alsace.
“Haha… To be honest, I thought they would attack right away, but…”
Louis Desais also said with a bitter smile.
If you think rationally, it is completely natural.
Although the enemy succeeded in their surprise attack, they had only just crossed the Rhine River.
No matter how great the Krafte army is, as long as they are human, they cannot help but get tired after a night march followed by a river crossing battle.
In addition, although many of the Alsace residents have been evacuated, the remaining local residents will still be extremely hostile to Krafte’s invaders.
In that situation, if we launched a hasty offensive and failed to win, and the supply route collapsed, a catastrophe would have occurred.
I also decided that there was a good chance of victory if I could somehow win just one battle, even with Eris at the forefront, so I urgently gathered the entire army.
However, they came up with a tactic that we had never even thought of: breaking through Alsace, and even though they actually succeeded in crossing the Rhine River by surprise with almost no damage, they remained silent.
We are systematically understanding the terrain, managing security in the occupied area, solidifying the bridgehead, and establishing supply routes.
Breaking the common sense of securing various attack routes for strategic stability, they rushed all their troops into Alsace like lightning and instead of rushing in using the tactical advantage they had gained, they reorganized their posture.
It’s easy to say, but even after achieving an overwhelming victory with challenging tactics, he doesn’t get carried away by it and is in perfect control of his subordinates who want additional achievements.
“A military that is young enough to use tactics that break existing military common sense, but mature enough not to make strategic mistakes while being caught up in its success… is it?”
The enemy who possesses both flexibility and prudence, which are generally difficult to coexist with, is the Great King.
I laughed, looking at the stiff-faced generals.
“Let’s put aside all the common sense and expectations we had until now.”
When the Great King attacked Alsace with all his troops, I mistakenly assumed that he was confident of unconditional victory and therefore did not make any strategic considerations.
The generals all expected that they would attack right away since they had no regard for defeat. But that wasn’t it.
The Great King accurately judged that even if the offensive against Alsace failed, it would be okay to launch an offensive again, but that if you advance in enemy territory without a proper bridgehead, it is truly gambling territory.
“They had extreme tactical capabilities but the patience to avoid making strategic mistakes.”
I think this is the first time I’ve ever fought while feeling like I was being manipulated by the enemy.
“In the end, it is a war where irregularities and norms coexist. So what can we do here?”
Then Jerome Morel raised his hand.
“Is it my turn?”
“Yes, General Morel. “If they don’t make strategic mistakes, we should try to induce them.”
Let’s see how they will respond to the disruption and supply destruction using Chasseur.
* * *
The Krafte army, which had crossed the Rhine River, was gradually managing the remaining residents in the occupied areas of Alsace and establishing supply routes.
A fierce reconnaissance and check-and-run battle was also taking place between the cavalry of Francia and Krafte.
A vast hilly area where the sound of horses’ hooves and gunshots continue to ring out sporadically.
Jerome Morel was on horseback observing the battlefield from a high hill overlooking the hilly area.
As the horses galloped, the Chasseurs aimed their guns and opened fire –
one of them fell off his horse.
“Tsk. “Have you completely absorbed our style?”
Jérôme Morel peered through a telescope at the enemy light cavalry in their fancy cavalry uniforms.
The uniform is similar to that of the hussars of the Germanian Empire, but the Krafte army’s unique black uniform has a skull drawn on the hat.
Krafte’s hussars have been fighting in a similar way, armed with carbines and swords, similar to the French Chasseurs.
At least there was no information that they used the light cavalry in that way, so the story is that they trained it after watching the war between the Germanic Empire and Francia.
“messenger! General, this is an order from His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief!”
“Oh good. “Let’s see what our Excellency the Marquis de Lafayette thinks.”
Jérôme Morel opened the order sent by Pierre and burst into laughter.
“Haha haha…. Did this guy also have a bad mind this time?”
The contents of the order were concise.
I don’t know why the enemy has been conducting reconnaissance for several days, but if it is working effectively and causing losses to the enemy, then continue.
Losses will continue to occur for our allies, but in any case, if it is a 1:1 exchange, Franzia has more troops.
Since they are fighting an expeditionary war with a smaller number of troops, forcing continuous losses will bring them little by little closer to victory.
Jerome Morel took out his telescope again.
“Now, even the Great King can’t do anything other than counter-attack in a guerrilla war like this, or will there be some other response?…”
And at that moment, Jérôme Morel saw the cavalry, wearing white uniforms different from the hussars, charging towards the Chasseurs. witnessed.
He even deflects the bullets fired by the Chasseurs with a magical barrier and then rushes at the panicked people and cuts them down with his sword.
“Are these the fucking cuirassiers?”
Since the Germanian Empire had already taught its cuirassiers to use magic power, it is not surprising that their heavy cavalry, which came out with hussars imitating Chasseurs, used magic power.
However, heavy cavalry was originally recognized as a major force that needed to be conserved and conserved.
Francia also used to send out a small number of cuirassiers when the confrontation between light cavalry became more intense, but I never thought they would deploy them in full force.
I was wondering why they were only accepting reconnaissance battles for a few days, but it turned out that they wouldn’t go out of their way if they didn’t win even in cavalry battles.
“Okay, okay. Counterattack is good. Let’s also send in the cuirassier cavalry. Delivered to the cuirassiers! Organize and deploy to support the Chasseurs as planned!”
“ancient!”
From the beginning, Franzia was the first to respond to the enemy’s cavalry by organizing light cavalry and heavy cavalry into a mixed force, and the organization to prepare for such a situation was already completed.
If nothing else, it is the strongest heavy cavalry unit that was the first to use magic, taught by noble knights who survived in the country of knights.
No matter how great the Krafte army is, it is impossible to imagine that the French Cuirassier cavalry was inferior in combat power.
Jerome Morel moistened his dry lips with his tongue and recited.
“Would you like to engage in heavy cavalry warfare against Franzia? “Let’s see if it gets smashed.”
* * *
Captain Joset Baschet of the French Revolutionary Army’s cuirassiers was on a horse on a hill, looking down at the Chasseurs and enemy hussars moving away while engaged in a gunfight.
The Revolutionary Army’s Cuirassier cavalry caught the enemy off guard and inflicted some damage in the early stages of their deployment, but did not achieve any significant results after that.
The cuirassier cavalry of Krafte’s army did not even wear breastplates (armor that covered the chest), let alone armor that covered the back (armor that covered the back).
At first, I thought they were crazy, but seeing the way they moved in step with the hussars made me understand the enemy’s intentions.
Anyway, bullets can be blocked with a magical barrier, and once the magical barrier is broken, you are equal in front of bullets regardless of whether you wear a chest armor or not.
However, since they cannot gain an advantage in close combat against the French cuirassier cavalry, the strongest in the Central Continent, they abandon their armor and focus only on hit-and-run with the light cavalry, taking advantage of their mobility.
In the eyes of the Franzian cuirassiers, who made it a virtue to charge forward and crush the enemy’s positions with courage, the Krafte cuirassiers were pathetic cowards who were shameful even to be called cuirassiers.
Thanks to this, the cuirassiers, who had to follow and act as sidekicks while the light cavalry ran around and engaged in gunfights, continued to feel frustrated and dissatisfied.
“Damned Krafte bastards….”
Among them, Captain Jose Vachet especially hated Krafte.
In Ciudad Iberica.
He cut off the head of his younger brother with his own hands after being dragged away by the king’s minions and returning as a monster.
Even my younger brother’s head, which I brought with me to bury at least in my hometown, turned into powder and disappeared.
Although the Marquis de Lafayette was considerate of him, he was unable to publicize the terrible fate that his younger brother had faced.
Because other countries in the central continent dismissed the tragedy that his younger brother suffered and the atrocities of the demons who trampled on even the bare minimum of dignity as a human being, as nonsense.
He cried out at the ending, as if he were denying the fact that his younger brother even existed in this world.
What’s more, it’s not enough for humans to unite right now to attack the cursed demons of the Abyss Corporation, and humans are shedding blood among themselves because of those damn warmongers.
Baschet gritted his teeth as he felt as if a black fire was burning in his chest.
“Captain Vachet! “There is an enemy cuirassier on the side of the 289th Company!”
As soon as he received the adjutant’s report, Jose Vachet kicked his horse’s saddle and shouted.
“March! “Go forward!”
“ancient!”
As he pressed his body close to the Rottweiler, he felt the heat and muscle dynamism, and the crazy wind that greeted him as he rode down the hill made his flames burn even more fiercely – José Vachet quickly ran down to the side of the enemy who was in the midst of fighting with our Chasseurs. jumped in first.
“Crush those damned Krafte invaders!”
“Oh uh-”
The sword filled with magical power cut off the weak resistance and blew off the enemy’s head.
Bashe swung his sword frantically, feeling the hatred burning even hotter as the blood splattered on his cheek.
By the time his uniform and armor were stained with blood, the trumpet sounded and the Krafte cavalry began to flee.
“Chase! “Don’t let me live!”
“ancient!”
Bache frantically chased after them and was able to get several more of the invaders’ blood on his sword.
It wasn’t until after the assault and the heat of war had passed that I realized it was strange.
The cavalry of Krafte’s army had so far tried to avoid an all-out war with the Frangian cavalry. But this time, it was an all-out war.
Moreover, it is the same cavalry unit. Even if there is a chase, the one who runs away is more desperate, and the pursuer has a limit to how much he can follow, as long as he deals with those who fall behind.
However, strangely enough, the distance that seemed like it could have been further maintained was maintained, as if it had been drawn in – at that moment, a gunshot rang out.
“Ugh!”
While Jose Vachet was frozen in shock, the adjutant who had fallen from his horse was struggling, holding on to him with his hands and spitting out blood bubbles.
“It’s an ambush! Protect yourself!”
Jose Vachet urgently deployed a magical barrier, but many of his men fell from their horses due to the surprise shooting.
And soon-
“Hee hee hee!”
“Ugh?!”
The gunfire that erupted from behind caused the horse to scream and fall down, leaving Baschet pinned under a piece of meat that had been his beloved horse.
“Ugh…!”
As I raised my head, I suddenly saw the enemy’s skirmishers and light infantry coming out from all directions and annihilating all the cavalry that followed him.
Infantry ambush? Even in the territory of Francia?
Only then did Jose Vachet realize the intention of the reconnaissance war that lasted several days.
They were not simply fighting between cavalry units. In the meantime, I had a good understanding of the terrain and chose an appropriate place for an ambush.
In order to draw out the cuirassier cavalry, which had been engaged in a boring confrontation so far.
“Damn it!”
Bashe reached out to grab the sword he had lost while falling from his horse, but Krafte, who came before him, kicked his sword and threw it away.
While the warhorse that was crushing him was taken away and captured, all Baschet could do was put up a futile resistance and get beaten up.
In a place where I was dragged for a long time in a half-fazed state after being beaten.
“You have bad luck to be taken prisoner.”
A leisurely voice was heard that did not suit a battlefield littered with blood and corpses.
Jose Vachet slowly raised his head.
An old man standing with a cane, wearing a military uniform and a hat, was looking down at him.
“Yes, Captain. What’s your name? What unit are you affiliated with? Ah, before anything else.”
Charles II looked down at Jose Vachet with an expectant expression and asked.
“Was Jim’s performance worth watching?”
