Revolutionary Period – Introduction (4)
Count Lionel’s men declared surrender out of respect for the Count’s honor, and we set off as soon as the local settlement was over, and after a forced march, we reached the southern part of Alsace.
However, the expected allies were nowhere to be seen, and there were only uninvited guests circling around us.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at the enemy light cavalry observing us from afar.
Those who wear stylish coats with flowing threads and leather hats on their heads. These are the infamous light cavalry hussars of the Germanian Empire.
They are keeping their distance from us and moving as if they are observing our military’s every move.
They do not attack hastily and are carrying out their duties perfectly, as befits light cavalry.
There is no way to kick them out, but their actions are being completely observed.
It’s extremely uncomfortable.
“Are you okay, Your Excellency the Marquis? Our military is quite exhausted from having marched without stopping. If we encounter the enemy’s main force…”
“Hmm…”
After hearing the adjutant’s question, I took out a telescope, measured the size of the hussars observing us, and opened my mouth.
“no. “We haven’t encountered any friendly troops on the way here, and there are too many enemy light cavalry for this to be a simple reconnaissance mission.”
I added as I lowered the telescope.
“If our army had completely collapsed, we would have had to meet the remnants of the defeated troops on the way, and if it had collapsed or was about to collapse, those light cavalry would have been busy with pursuit missions.”
“…surely. “Then there is a high possibility that we are currently in a confrontation or combat.”
oh. I didn’t expect much since he was an adjutant assigned by the revolutionary government, but is this guy useful?
“What’s your name?”
“This is Louis Desget, Excellency.”
He has the same name as King Louis.
“What did you do originally?”
Deje, who seemed to be about the same age as me, smiled bitterly.
“I served in the Royal Guard.”
“…How are you still alive?”
“I did not resist and ordered my subordinates to surrender, and a member of the National Assembly who knew me spoke favorably of me.”
“Haha, you’re a lucky friend, aren’t you?”
As I was thinking about putting this friend in perspective, Desais grinned and opened his mouth, pointing behind me.
“That’s right. “By the way, it seems that His Excellency the Marquis was right.”
I turned my head and grinned as I saw a group of people holding white flags appear among the hussars.
“I think so.”
–
I also went out carrying a white flag with Desai and a few knights and faced the enemy at a point about halfway between the enemy’s hussars and our army.
And I was surprised.
I thought they would send a suitably high-ranking officer to negotiate, but after seeing the rank insignia and emblem of the leader, I quickly realized that wasn’t the case and nodded.
“I meet Your Highness, the renowned Archduke of the Germanian Empire. “This is Marquis Pierre de Lafayette, commander of the southern part of the French Revolutionary Army.”
“This is Leopold Johann, Archduke of Habsburg and Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army of Germania. “It is a pleasure to meet the Marquis de Lafayette, whose reputation extends to the empire.”
Archduke Leopold greeted me with open curiosity.
When he was young, he personally participated in the war in which the previous Marquis earned the title of ‘Blue Knight’, and he was a hero of the empire who stood up to Krafte’s ‘Great King’….
“It would be nothing compared to the title of His Highness the Archduke.”
I thought there was a high possibility of negotiation, but I never thought I would be face to face with the archduke.
Cold sweat ran down my spine, but the Archduke opened his mouth in a relaxed tone.
“Currently, your southern army led by Count Mirbeau is surrounded by my forces.”
“Is that so. “I thought so.”
“You have worked hard enough. It was quite impressive. So, since enough blood has been shed on both sides, if you give up the current area and retreat, I would like to open the way for the Confederate army to retreat.”
The archduke’s eyes as he spoke like that seemed to be testing, or somehow filled with mischievousness, as if he was playing a joke.
I swallowed dry saliva.
With the road blocked by hussars, the exact situation of Damien and the southern army is unknown.
Francia is a country that has focused on using heavy cavalry, so it is not yet able to operate light cavalry in a systematic manner to that degree.
Damien’s army was 12,000 and the Archduke’s army was 20,000.
Although we received reinforcements from Lumiere, the army I brought with us only numbered 3,000.
We may have fought over there too, but we are exhausted from the forced march from Lionel in the south to here.
Since we are behind in reconnaissance, they clearly know our cards, but we don’t, so it’s a choice.
If Damien’s army has already lost its fighting power, if we make the wrong choice here, we are doomed.
However, if this is just given up, Balian’s northern army will have no choice but to retreat to avoid encirclement.
After retreating like that, all the blood shed so far will be reduced to nothing and the capital city of Lumiere will be directly exposed to the enemy.
I thought for a moment and then opened my mouth.
“That is difficult, Your Highness. Rather, let me make a suggestion. If the Germanian Empire forces stop fighting and withdraw, I will allow your army to retreat without shedding a single drop of blood.”
“Hoo…”
The Archduke smiled as if it was fun.
“Are you confident that you will win against my army, Marquis?”
No, honestly, there is none.
I don’t know how well Mirbo’s army is, and even if it is, my soldiers are exhausted.
If they had been able to do a surprise attack from behind, they would have had a chance of winning, but since they were all discovered in advance because of the damn hussars, if the Archduke attacked, it would be over.
Damn my mouth is dry.
“If Count Mirbeau’s army had already collapsed, His Highness the Archduke would not have come to see me like this. All you have to do is just bring in the army and go on the offensive.”
According to the last messenger Damien sent, he was focusing on defending the base.
We can only hope that he does not act rashly and maintains his full potential.
The Archduke laughed when he heard what I said.
“You’re not wrong. However, judging from the time of arrival, your army seems to have made quite a forced march. Are you confident that you can turn the tide of the war with a small and exhausted army?”
I feel like that damn Archduke is taking away my cards one by one.
“Isn’t that something you have to try to know? I’m rather worried about His Highness the Archduke.
“If my prediction is correct, the Lorraine front will be crying out for help quite desperately by now.”
“I think the Marquis overestimates the capabilities of the Republic Army. “Our army in Lorraine is twice as large as the Northern Republic army, so you are so confident.”
Is that a bluff? Did Balian not perform as well as I expected?
It makes my head hurt to judge based on limited information, but if Balian didn’t perform well here, there is no answer.
“Are you presumptuous, Your Highness? “I don’t think it would be difficult to deal with a three-headed and unmotivated enemy.”
At least I know Balian’s capabilities.
The smile slowly disappeared from the Archduke’s face.
“I think you have too much confidence. “I tried to treat the enemy generously because of his honor in fighting to the best of his ability.”
Did I make a mistake?
My hands are sweating from the pressure of knowing that the lives of the entire Confederate army depend on it.
I opened my mouth, trying to look as calm as possible.
“Are you okay, Your Highness?”
“what?”
Military-wise, we are at an absolute disadvantage anyway. Even if you try to fake it in a situation where you are overwhelmed during reconnaissance, there is no way it will work.
“This is the land of Franzia, Your Highness, Archduke. Even if our army collapses, we will continue to conscript troops and fight to protect our country.”
I looked directly into the Archduke’s cold eyes and continued speaking.
“But is that also true of the Germanian Empire? Even if you sacrifice the entire army of the empire and achieve a painful victory here, I don’t think you will be happy at home.”
The only way out is political. How much loss can the Germanic Empire endure in the war for King Louis?
Yes, if the Archduke attacks, we will be defeated. But his army will never be safe either. Is there any reason for him to endure such damage?
The Archduke glared at me for a long time, as if he was going to pierce me.
After continuing a snowball fight with the veteran, who could not be read, for a long time, the Archduke burst into laughter.
“Phew. “I tried eating some raw, but it wasn’t easy.”
The Archduke touched his chin with his hand and opened his mouth with a mischievous smile.
“I just ask one question. Do you really think it is possible to win against me?”
I admitted it obediently to the Archduke, who asked with pure curiosity.
“No, winning will be difficult. The Southern Army will suffer crushing losses, and the leadership of the Republic Army will be completely transferred to General Raphael Balian’s Northern Army. “But His Majesty’s army will also suffer a serious blow and lose control of this war.”
The Archduke is quietly looking at me.
The thought that the life of the entire Confederate army is at stake with every word keeps getting on my nerves.
In the end, as long as the information is limited, I have no choice but to trust my judgment.
The Archduke already has a high reputation and is a person who would prioritize the empire’s strategy over adding a major line to his reputation.
“As a result, it’s a fight that only ends up hurting us, with both of us shedding blood and only doing good things for others. So, let’s end it in a draw, Your Highness.”
In any case, the war was fought under the pretext of overthrowing the Republic, and the Germanic Empire supported King Louis and participated in the war to keep Francia under their influence in return.
Even if the southern army is destroyed, if the imperial army suffers great damage, it will become difficult to control King Louis, and then in order to control King Louis, he will be faced with the dilemma of having to recruit additional soldiers in the war for the king of another country.
This is purely a gamble.
After hearing what I said, the Grand Duke looked at me with a serious face and opened his mouth.
“You are not just a person who fights. Dangerous.”
“…Do you accept the offer, Your Highness?”
Ask, please ask!
After a long period of nervousness had passed, the Archduke smiled and answered.
“Let’s do it this time. As of now, the fighting will be halted and our troops will withdraw. “Please also issue an order to Count Mirbeau to stop fighting.”
I suppressed a sigh of relief that was about to burst out and smiled.
“Gladly.”
“Hmm, it was a short but quite interesting conversation. Then, next time, I hope to see you on the battlefield where I can fight to my heart’s content, Marquis.”
What a terrible thing to say that it was interesting.
I’ve never been tired of it. Let’s meet again?
“I hope something like that doesn’t happen as much as possible, but…”
After hearing my answer, Archduke Leopold laughed and turned his head.
–
Garrison of the Southern Army of the Alsace Front.
After the Germanian Imperial Army retreated in an orderly manner under the orders of Archduke Leopold, we headed to the position that Damien had fortified.
The defense line was in disarray and the soldiers carrying dead and wounded here and there showed traces of the fierce battle that had taken place here.
“Marquis.”
“You may go. “Please, saint.”
“yes.”
Eris immediately broke away from the ranks and headed towards where the wounded soldiers were, and Lord Beaumont naturally followed her.
“Welcome, His Excellency the Marquis de Lafayette!”
As soon as we arrived at the entrance, Damien de Mirbeau came running out in a huff and started talking enthusiastically, spit flying from his mouth.
“Of course, I had no doubt that His Excellency the Marquis would definitely come, but I am truly amazed that he came so quickly! “It is entirely thanks to His Excellency the Marquis that our army is safe!”
Behind Damien, I nodded slightly to Gaston, who looked blunt but polite as always, and then praised Damien.
“It is thanks to your performance in fighting against Archduke Leopold, a master of deception and tactics, without making a rash move and preserving your fighting power. Count Damien de Mirbeau.”
It is true that he fought better than expected, as if he had been lured by Archduke Leopold and tried to launch an offensive hastily, he would have lost even a single bone.
Damien nodded passionately with tears in his eyes, as if he was moved.
“I am truly honored that you recognize my hard work, Your Excellency the Marquis! “I will continue to be loyal, absolute loyalty-”
That’s it.
“By the way.”
“yes?”
I quietly approached Damien and whispered.
“I’m a bit curious as to why the Southern Army fought Archduke Leopold alone without receiving any support from the Northern Army.”
Damien hiccuped.
Balian wanted to leave it to the southern army? Probably so. To begin with, we are competitors, so there is nothing strange about it.
On the contrary, it is fortunate that they are at least cooperating in essential matters, but the problem lies with the southern army, which thoughtlessly followed what Balian asked.
I told you to respect Balian as much as possible, but I don’t remember telling you to empty your mind and follow all of Balian’s orders.
Even if he had left the command to Christine, who didn’t know how to use a sword properly, he wouldn’t have been caught like this.
“I don’t think Count Mirbeau will mindlessly follow what a former mercenary general tells him to do, so let’s listen carefully later.”
Damien turned pale and followed me without saying a word.
This human. It’s not like I almost killed all my people because I was lured by the right amount of candy.
As we entered the camp, the soldiers enthusiastically waved their flags and cheered us.
“Long live His Excellency the Marquis de Lafayette!”
Even if I had arrived a little late, they would have already suffered serious damage.
“Thank you for coming!”
Even if I had made a mistake in the conversation with the Archduke, the battle would have continued as is, and not only those who were struggling but also those who had marched here from the south could have been sacrificed.
I waved back at them and breathed a sigh of relief that I couldn’t breathe in front of the Archduke just a moment ago.
Those who are cheering in front of me now are those and their soldiers who decided to join us even if it means giving up their long-standing territory.
Those who are following me now are those who were almost accused of being rebels and subjugated, but eventually gave in little by little and decided to follow us.
I slowly raised my gaze and looked at the flags waving in the hands of the soldiers.
I saw people smiling with relief and joy at having survived.
After returning, he went through several battles.
It was a battlefield where all Frangians shed blood.
They simply fought to defend against plunder and build a base.
He fought to survive against the king who continued the civil war to enrich his followers.
Because of their different beliefs, they had to cross swords with their former allies.
In order to achieve the future I envision, I have fought against the Franians, who simply have different positions.
It was only after returning that long way that for the first time, we came together with them to protect our people against foreign forces.
I have now fulfilled my promise not to lead them into battle to enhance my honor.
Behold the Blue Knight. My father, the man who called himself the greatest knight.
Isn’t the hope and future of those who survived much more valuable than the honor built up with the blood of countless people sacrificed?
?
