Episode 153 Krafte War – Legacy
Bahua Revolutionary Army Garrison.
I looked at Eris sitting across from me and opened my mouth.
“It looks like the bond sales and the money raised are amazing, Her Majesty.”
“thank god.”
Eris took a sip of tea and added.
“Honestly, I was a little worried. “I wonder what I’ll do if there isn’t much response.”
I answered with a bitter smile.
“The problem is that you underestimate the influence you have.”
While Eris had nothing to do on the battlefield, he wrote and published an article appealing to the public to buy bonds and make donations to fight the national crisis.
Even so, the Frangians have strong pride in the National Assembly achieved through revolution.
However, the Queen of Saints herself, who came to the forefront and performed miracles to protect the revolutionary army, appealed for help to protect the people and parliament from the threat of Krafte.
It seems that people’s participation is so passionate that if they don’t participate, their patriotism will be questioned.
“…Aren’t you angry at the Central Party?”
I smiled bitterly after hearing Eris’ question.
“Thanks to you, I had a bit of a hard time.”
It was the Revolutionary Party that published Eris’ appeal and contributed it to the newspaper. Not the Central Party.
Of course, starting with the leader of the Central Party, Count Anjou, the Central Party was overturned…
I thought Eris was watching me as she rolled her eyes, so I said with a bitter smile.
“But your choice is right, Eris. “Because you are not a queen established by the Central Party, but a queen elected by the people.”
The moment the Queen’s appeal was announced not by the aristocrats of the Central Party, but by the Revolutionary Party, which was more radical than anyone else and opposed the Queen’s enthronement, the perception that this war was to protect the revolution and the National Assembly would have been clearly imprinted on the people.
“You are doing well. So don’t pay attention to me. “My patron is already a queen who has graduated and is serving the people.”
Eris smiled and answered.
“Yes, thank you, Marquis de Lafayette. “I’m glad to hear you say I’m doing well.”
Then she took another sip of tea, and before she knew it, she had the face of a queen and opened her mouth.
“But the Commander-in-Chief’s performance has been a little poor recently.”
“…I apologize, Your Majesty.”
Who would have imagined this?
I never thought I would be ambushed not somewhere else, but in my own territory, which had been occupied by the enemy for less than a month.
The honor of the Franzian cuirassiers, who had never known defeat and were renowned as the strongest heavy cavalry in the Central Continent, fell to the ground.
As a cavalry commander, I never thought Jerome Morel, who boasted an undefeated record so far, especially in reconnaissance battles, would get a shot.
A bitter taste fills my mouth as I remember Morel, who was leisurely working, running up to me in shock and apologizing to me.
“The same mistake will never be made again.”
Eris also answered with a stern expression.
“You should do that. In just one week, I’ve already lost twice. … I don’t even want to count the number of soldiers who sacrificed their lives like that.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Now I think I know exactly what the Great King of Krafte intended.
The author absolutely prefers to destroy from the front what the other person is confident about.
Alsace attack?
It was certainly a blow that caught our guard off guard, but losing Alsace did not mean that our defense line collapsed.
Strictly speaking, the core region of Alsace-Lorraine, which is the front line, is Lorraine, and so we were concerned that the Krafte army that had crossed Alsace would make a surprise advance, even if it was unreasonable.
Because if only Alsace is taken away, nothing big will happen.
However, although the Great King had no intention of taking the gamble of attacking right away, he insisted on attacking Alsace first.
If I think about it now, that wasn’t a blow that caught us off guard, but rather the revolutionary army’s ‘defense master’ crushed the confident ‘Mirbosun’ from the front.
Even in the reconnaissance battle with the Chasseurs, there was no need to respond from the front.
They also trained the hussars into shooting light cavalry, but in the end, in the exchange, the one who loses is the expeditionary force, which has fewer troops.
However, since reconnaissance warfare was an area in which the revolutionary army was confident, they responded and deployed heavy cavalry first, deliberately drawing out our heavy cavalry, which was proud of being the strongest in the central continent, and ambushing it.
The revolutionary army, which had already been defeated twice in a field they trusted, was naturally intimidated, but the Krafte army did not advance immediately to take advantage of the shock.
That damn great king is really enjoying war like a game of chess.
“Now, I won’t engage in any more make-believe strategies.”
I admit it.
It’s a shame, but we can’t gain the upper hand against that great king in terms of tactics.
“By squeezing out all the energy that Francia can muster…”
Archduke Leopold said. You can’t win against that great king by preparing for the next hand or something.
“I will try to lead an equal battle at least once.”
And Christine asked just once.
Just once. It doesn’t have to be a victory.
If only we could achieve a draw that would create the perception that the Krafte army is not invincible.
“If we do that, we can win this war.”
Even the seemingly invincible Krafte has its limits.
Their standing army, which appears to be nothing more than a war machine, is not something that can be immediately replenished once it is expended.
Since their population and national power are only half of Francia’s, if we can somehow inflict major losses on their standing army and lead to a war of attrition, victory will be ours.
The moment I thought that, I heard a knock and a voice.
“Her Majesty the Queen, Your Excellency the Marquis de Lafayette. “This is Louis Desget.”
“Come on in.”
Deje, who came in with Eris’s permission and saluted, looked unusually confused.
“What’s going on?”
“That…”
Deje scratched the back of his head and opened his mouth.
“The High King of Krafte has invited Her Majesty the Queen and Her Excellency the Marquis de Lafayette for tea.”
We both had no choice but to answer vaguely.
“…what?”
“yes?
* * *
Midway between the occupied area of Krafte and the revolutionary defense line.
Charles II, whom I had not seen in a long time, sat at a temporarily installed table and waved leisurely.
“Welcome. Marquis de Lafayette, Queen of Francia. “I’m glad you accepted this old man’s invitation.”
I thought that the person sitting next to the king was a guard, but seeing that he was wearing a lieutenant general rank insignia, it was not true.
There is a scribe who was probably brought in to record the conversation…
Behind him, a Krafte soldier wearing a captain rank insignia stands next to a man wearing a revolutionary army uniform.
Revolutionary army?
It’s a familiar face.
The subordinate who cut down his younger brother who had turned into a drone in Iberica.
What was your name?
…was it Bashe?
Jose Vachet.
Judging from his disfigured face, he seems to have put up quite a bit of resistance. Perhaps he was captured in the last battle?
Captain Vachet caught my gaze and lowered his head with an expression of regret.
“I’m glad you invited me, King of Krafte.”
Eris answered with a veil, but contrary to her words, her voice was full of coldness.
The Great King didn’t seem to mind at all and offered Eris and me a seat.
“Do you enjoy your coffee?”
“no.”
The Great King widened his eyes at Eris’s resolute answer and then burst into laughter.
“That’s a shame. Then I’ll treat you to some tea. The Marquis de Lafayette
would like my special coffee-” “I would like the same as your Majesty the Queen.”
The Great King gulped his appetite and gestured reluctantly.
Then the Vice Admiral personally poured tea for Eris and me.
“Prince Heinrich. “Jim’s nephew.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty Queen Esiliste Liliane de Francia, Your Excellency Pierre de Lafayette Marquis. “This is Heinrich von Krafte.”
“…nice to meet you.”
“It is an honour. “I have heard of your reputation.”
Is this the commander of the Confederate army? I heard you have quite a bit of military talent as well.
While I was thinking that, the Great King casually dropped a bombshell.
“He is Jim’s successor.”
Eris and I both froze.
I knew that the great king had no children, but to announce in this way a successor who was only rumored and not even announced in Krafte Korea.
No, but what is the point of letting us, an enemy country, know that?
As I looked at him with a puzzled look, the Great King leisurely drank his special coffee and then opened his mouth.
“Yes, Marquis de Lafayette. “Your revolutionary army…”
The King glanced at Captain Jose Vachet standing behind us and said,
“The zealous Captain Vachet made a very strong claim.”
He asked with a grin.
“Did ‘drones’ really exist?”
I had a hard time suppressing the twitching of my mouth.
The Kingdom of Krafte would also have denied the drones as a myth, right?
“I saw it with my own eyes and fought it. “They were creatures of terrible demons who sucked out all the magic from humans and turned them into puppets.”
The great king answered.
“My subjects say this is a tall tale you made up to avoid war with us.”
“For them, having some foreign citizens become puppets of the devil was nothing compared to the sweet fruit they gained from making a deal with the devil, Your Majesty.”
King Charles seemed to be examining the faces of Eris and I and answered calmly.
“Okay, I guess it’s true.”
“What would you do if it were true, Your Majesty? “Will you stop this futile, bloody war and join us against those demons?”
“Hahahaha….”
The Great King laughed and then asked.
“Do you have the means to attack the Abyss Corporation?”
Before I could react, the King quickly added,
“Is there a navy strong enough to destroy the ‘Ras’ fleet and invade their homeland? What is the capacity to maintain the supply of an army that has entered the island where the sun never rises?”
“It wouldn’t be possible for Franzia alone. But we are seeking cooperation with the Eastern Empire for him. It may take some time to prepare, but unless there is a war with Krafte, the possibility is-”
“After Jim dies, maybe we will have a chance to confront the demons.”
While I was speechless, the Great King smiled and added:
“So it’s not a big deal to Jim. “What is important to Jim is the battlefield he will enjoy while he lives.”
“The one called the Great King acts as the vanguard of the devils, so that title is shameful – Eup! Ouch! “Wooow!”
Baschet, who was screaming in rage from behind, cried out when the captain holding him put a gag on his mouth.
When the Great King saw the scene and shrugged his shoulders, Eris slammed her fist on the table with a loud bang.
“Just again. Did you call us to talk about this because it was ‘interesting’? “Your Majesty.”
Charles II touched his chin with his hand and answered.
“No, no. Jim has been longing for a spectacular stage to decorate his final performance. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like the fact that Jim and the Kingdom of Krafte are treated like puppets of demons.”
What are you going to do?
As I narrowed my eyes, Charles II opened his mouth.
“Heinrich.”
“Your Majesty.”
When Prince Heinrich immediately bowed, the Great King made a subtle gesture to the secretary.
I wondered if he had been brought in to record the conversation, but the scribe who was just watching picked up a pen.
“This is the order of Charles II, Great King of the Kingdom of Krafte and Margrave of the Empire. If the Kingdom of Revolutionary Franzia wins the war against the Kingdom of Krafte, the next king of Krafte will guarantee that the Kingdom of Revolutionary Francia will participate as an ally in the event of a war with the Abyss Corporation within the next 30 years.”
Looking at Prince Heinrich’s confusion, it seemed like it wasn’t even something that had been discussed in advance, but the Great King, who recorded the absurd information, added with a twist of the corner of his mouth.
“I have no biological children, so the next king can only succeed to my throne if he agrees to these conditions.”
Even the scribe paused, and the Great King spoke in a vaguely relaxed tone.
“Please properly record why you are doing this.”
As the scribe wrote down with slightly trembling hands, Charles II turned his gaze to Prince Henry, and Prince Henry bowed before him and answered.
“…I accept Your Majesty’s will.”
When Charles II made a gesture, Captain Krafte, who was standing behind him, removed Jose Vachet’s gag and restraints and pushed him toward us.
Only then did the Great King turn his attention to me and Eris and open his mouth.
“If we are defeated by even a single human kingdom, the idea of confronting those mighty demons will be nothing more than an empty delusion of those who do not even understand the subject.”
Smiling with a face filled with utmost joy.
“Queen Esiliste, Marquis de Lafayette. Jim had high expectations for you and gave you two years. So don’t disappoint Jim. “Show me everything you have built up.”
The great king declared.
“Break Jim and prove that you are worthy to lead this continent and face those demons! Then the Kingdom of Krafte will also willingly stand against the demons under your banner, and that is the legacy that Jim will leave for you!”
