Episode 99. Revolutionary Defense War – Decoy Unit
Germanian Imperial Army Garrison on the Western Plain of Besançon.
Archduke Leopold, who had come out on horseback from the plain and was examining the French army’s position through a telescope, spoke softly.
“…enemy.”
“It seems so, Your Highness.”
Duke Heinrich, the staff member, also nodded with a wrinkled expression.
The original tactic of the Germanian Empire was to understand the enemy’s movements and respond to them based on the information obtained by the superior light cavalry hussars dominating the battlefield.
Naturally, the imperial army had never imagined a situation where the hussars could not play their role, and they were not happy with the situation where they were constantly being swayed by the enemy without properly understanding the situation of the war.
The total number of enemy troops deployed was 60,000. However, no matter how you look at it, the number of enemy soldiers who arrived on the battlefield appears to be around 40,000.
Archduke Leopold frowned.
As he wanted, the Marquis de Lafayette marched out to pursue and stop him as he attempted to advance south.
The plains west of Besançon, chosen as the battlefield, are the best place to fight while taking full advantage of the empire’s military superiority.
He even succeeded in drawing out his enemies for a decisive battle using the most desired form of rotation.
However, the enemy’s troops are actually small. Is it an ambush? Or a detour?
The opponent is Pierre de Lafayette. It is a cunning enemy that is not easy to overcome.
At first, I was simply curious about the young commander who had distinguished himself.
It was not about the enemy, but was just curiosity about the later leader who would lead the era after him.
But Lafayette defeated him.
So when they met face to face in the Alpine kingdom, the archduke treated him as an equal and honorable enemy.
What about now?
This is an unjust war and they are an invading army. Francia and Lafayette have the right to block the Archduke’s army.
But even so.
The Archduke gritted his teeth as he recalled the sight of his men dying miserably from hunger and dehydration, let alone honor on the battlefield.
The Archduke has a duty to repay the atrocities they committed for his subordinates who died senselessly in a place that was not even a battlefield.
“Your Majesty the Grand Duke! “It’s a messenger!”
Archduke Leopold lowered his telescope and looked away.
How did his enemies respond?
“It is said that about 10,000 to 20,000 Franzian troops are advancing toward the Franche-Comté region!”
Franche-Comté is above their heads.
The author seems to be intent on persistently cutting off their supply lines this time.
Are we going to dedicate enough troops to the escort of the supply line so that we can no longer shake it with light cavalry alone, so we will block the supply line with large troops, including infantry?
“under.”
Archduke Leopold laughed.
And I was indignant.
How dare you use a shallow tactic to avoid another decisive battle?
Does the author treat him with this much disregard for the Imperial Army?
“You’re going to pull us out with a decoy unit?”
The Archduke immediately put the telescope in his arms and turned around.
“Tell the Count of Baden that he doesn’t have to repel them, so just protect the main base. “I will destroy the enemy’s main force in front of you and send reinforcements right away.”
“Oh, I understand!”
Even if there is a minimum number of troops to maintain security in the occupied area, the number of troops that the commander of the defense force, the Count of Baden, can mobilize is 15,000. Among them, there is also an elite unit of its own.
At that level, we can withstand to some extent against an army of 20,000, which is probably a decoy unit.
“Prepare for a general offensive.”
“Your Highness the Old Grand Duke!”
The Archduke’s judgment that the trade route with the Alpine kingdom would be important enough to them to rush out with a much smaller force and try to stop them was correct.
Moreover, the enemy’s hand has already been exposed.
“Even so, it is careless to split up insufficient troops again.”
The Archduke glared at the revolutionary army positioned in the distance.
It appears that the Archduke’s forces and the frontal rotation were burdensome due to insufficient troops, so they attacked the supply line to stop this side, but this time the Marquis de Lafayette made a mistake.
“If we destroy their main unit at once, we can deal with the separate units later.”
If the outnumbered troops are divided, it is enough to destroy them individually.
Archduke Leopold’s 90,000 troops immediately launched an offensive against the 40,000 revolutionary troops who blocked their path.
* * *
The Count of Baden, who had rallied the defenders of the occupied territories of the Germanian Empire to the ground and marched out with an army of 15,000, gritted his teeth and glared at the revolutionary army going on the offensive.
“Mirvo, Mirbo. “That vile bastard…!”
The commander of the enemy unit in front of you now is Damien de Mirbeau.
After all, he is the fundamental culprit who made the Count of Baden take charge of the defense force of the occupied territory without even having a chance to attack, so there is no such thing as bad blood.
“Your Excellency Count Haona. “His Highness Archduke Leopold’s orders are to establish a defensive line and engage in a delaying battle.”
Of course, the staff watching from the side were very worried that Count Baden would lose his temper and go on a rampage seeking revenge.
“Do you think I am a fool?”
In fact, the Count of Baden made a fuss.
“I guess what that guy wants most is for me to go on a rampage for revenge and be defeated! “Do you think I’m stupid enough to do such a rash thing?”
The words rose to the top of my lungs, asking why a person who knew so well would lose face by fighting a duel, but the staff member had no choice but to bow his head and apologize.
“I am very sorry, Your Excellency the Count…”
Anyway, I was glad to hear that you followed my orders.
“Hmph, you’re trying to sway the imperial army with nothing more than a decoy unit.”
Count Baden could not erase his anger, but he felt relieved as he glared at the enemy in front of him.
The defenders of the occupied territory, where it was not certain whether a battle would take place, naturally had little artillery, and if the enemy had been the main attack force with a large number of cannons, it would have been a disaster.
However, judging from the exchange of gunfire, they are clearly a decoy unit.
The decoy unit cannot use many cannons, which are heavy and difficult to transport. In that case, if we had to retreat, all of our cannons would be captured.
From the looks of it, it looks like they were accompanied by a small caliber mounted artillery unit that is easy to move.
The revolutionary army’s infantry approached and engaged in a firefight, but his infantry, which had hastily established a defensive line by setting up obstacles, was holding on well.
No, the number of enemy troops was not as large as expected in the first place.
Because of those damn chasseurs, the hussars were unable to properly scout, so the enemy’s estimated strength was in the vague range of 10,000 to 20,000, but looking at the size of the infantry, it seems to be around 10,000 to 15,000 at most.
Did they also withdraw only a small number of troops because they felt that if they dispersed their troops too much, it would be burdensome to deal with Archduke Leopold’s main force?
Count Mirbeau also seemed to think that he needed to somehow sway this side and call for reinforcements from the Archduke, so he pushed forward by sending in all of his reserves and everything else, so this side also put in all of his reserves, but this is enough to defend.
If necessary, we may be able to launch a counterattack and destroy them.
As Count Baden was secretly smiling, imagining something pleasant, an urgent voice from his staff burst out.
“Your Excellency the Count! “It’s the enemy cavalry!”
After hearing his advisor’s words, the Count of Baden immediately raised his telescope to look at the enemy’s flank and was frightened.
A huge number of cavalry, apparently numbering well over a thousand, is running across the hilly ridge.
“What is it?”
A cavalry encounter of that scale is not the size of a simple decoy unit!
“We also send in the cavalry! right now!”
“ancient!”
At the Count of Baden’s urgent cry, a trumpet sounded, and the imperial army’s hussars and cuirassiers began to advance.
The Count of Baden felt cold sweat running down his spine as he watched his infantry engaging in a firefight with the enemy infantry that constantly surged from the defensive line.
I thought it was just hasty because the revolutionary army launched a reckless offensive without any reserves or anything, even though the infantry of the revolutionary army was smaller than expected, but now I see that he was trying to bring out all of his infantry and capture them?
We are engaging in combat without any reserves, and if that number of cavalry invades our flanks, it is as clear as day what a disastrous outcome it will be.
The Count of Baden watched the approaching cavalry from both sides, sweating profusely.
The enemy must deal with Archduke Leopold’s main force.
It is impossible for the main cavalry to have all been deployed here, so they must have been a force that gathered up all of the enemy’s light cavalry that was engaged in destroying supply lines.
In that case, even if they are somewhat outnumbered, the hussars and cuirassiers can compete to some extent. It will have to be that way.
That was the only hope, so the Count of Baden desperately hoped so and watched the cavalry approaching each other with a nervous face.
* * *
The cool breeze that greets you as you run down the ridge.
I felt the dynamic of the galloping warhorse and saw the enemy cavalry approaching quickly.
You must have thought this was a decoy unit. Same goes for common sense.
However, the cavalry that is currently galloping after me includes not only cuirassiers trained in magical powers, but also a hundred gas canisters per unit.
“Ha ha! Start shooting! “Show me how hot it is!”
At Jérôme Morel’s shout, the chasseurs running on both sides aimed their carbines and fired shots in succession, and the enemy cavalrymen who were hit by the gunfire screamed and fell from their horses.
I can clearly see the confusion and astonishment spreading to the imperial cavalrymen who saw me and Gaston riding at the front while my comrades fell.
I immediately raised my sword high and shouted with magical power.
“For Franzia!”
“For Franzia!”
The cavalrymen raised their swords and cried out in unison and began charging at full speed, without worrying about who would go first.
“The Marquis de La Lafayette is here?!”
“Ugh-! “It’s a gas tank!”
“Hwaaaap-!”
Gaston’s great sword, which galloped forward and led the way, cut off three cavalrymen with their war horses at once, and I, who charged after them, cut down the cavalrymen who blocked them with my sword.
“Follow His Excellency the Marquis!”
“Protect General Gaston!”
After that, the cuirassiers rushed in and attacked the panicked enemy cavalry, and the enemy cavalry immediately began to waver.
“Don’t panic! “We are a proud empire-”
The commander, who was trying to control the situation somehow, fell off his horse before he could finish his sentence when the dagger I threw was stuck in his forehead.
The enemy cavalry, in complete chaos, was unable to respond properly and began to collapse from the front.
After cutting down the terrified enemy cavalry, I immediately shouted out my magic.
“Morel! Lead the chasseurs and chase the enemy cavalry! Interfere with the enemy’s regrouping, but chase them away and come back! “Your main mission is to destroy the fleeing enemy infantry!”
“Hwiyu~ Yeip!”
“cell! Assemble the cuirassiers! “Charge into the flanks of the enemy infantry and destroy them!”
“As instructed by His Excellency the Marquis!”
I smiled as I watched the cavalry moving in perfect order under the command of Morel and Gaston.
This is the strength of the front-line command directly undertaken by the commander.
I can move my troops as I want, at the moment I want most.
Beyond the cuirassier cavalry gathered in assault formation, I could see the defenseless flank of the imperial army’s line infantry, which was already shaken by the sight of our cavalry completely disorganized and running away.
I grinned at the sight and gave the command.
“Treat it.”
* * *
As I was taking a breather after completely shattering the enemy unit and causing them to flee, Damien came running towards me with a fuss and praised me.
“It is an amazing victory, Your Excellency the Marquis! It was truly an amazing tactic to annihilate the enemies in one fell swoop! Haha, Count Baden must have realized the true power of the revolutionary army!”
I answered with a grin.
“Thank you, Count Mirbeau. You also led the infantry and fought well. “If you hadn’t launched the offensive properly and pulled out all of the enemy’s infantry, it wouldn’t have worked.”
“As expected, you recognize my hard work! “It is an honor, Your Excellency the Marquis!”
The operation was disguised as a decoy unit commanded by Damien, but Gaston and I brought out the entire main cavalry unit and made a surprise attack.
He brought in just 20,000 and succeeded in crushing 15,000 enemies in a single second.
Now that I think about it, isn’t the Count of Baden the friend who was lured and taken prisoner by Damien last time?
That thing is a real hardship. No luck.
“This is a messenger, Your Excellency the Marquis!”
“Oh that’s appropriate.”
Is this a messenger from the main unit?
“It is as expected by His Excellency the Marquis! Archduke Leopold pursued for a while and then stopped, and the day before, 30,000 troops led by Duke Gunhild set out in this direction!”
“Haha good.”
I burst out laughing softly.
It was a bit of a gamble, but it paid off.
Archduke Leopold may have judged Damien’s unit to be a decoy unit and attempted to attack the main unit first, which had already split up its insufficient forces while the defenders of the occupied territory were dealing with it, and destroy them individually.
However, the decoy unit was not here, but the main unit.
The main force entrusted to Desais and Werther was prepared to flee at any time, let alone set up a defensive position from the beginning.
Naturally, the main force would have continued to retreat and been pushed helplessly to the south.
However, instead of continuing to pursue the retreating main force, Archduke Leopold made a quick decision, stopped at an appropriate line, separated reinforcements, and dispatched them in this direction.
They must have realized that continuing to chase, occupy the south, and cut off the Alpine Kingdom’s supply routes would be meaningless if the supply lines in the rear collapsed and a long-term war could not be fought.
If the enemy commander had been incompetent and had continued to advance south, the result would have been the isolated annihilation of the large army with its supply lines completely cut off, but they would have plundered and burned the southern region they had occupied.
Then, even if we won the war, I would have been criticized for allowing the South to be devastated without even fighting properly.
However, Archduke Leopold is an example of a commander who is cautious and cares for his subordinates. Therefore, rather than recklessly expanding the occupied territory, priority was given to protecting the supply lines.
It’s literally exactly what I expected.
The enemy commander’s prudent and wise decisions to avoid defeat in war and save his subordinates actually give me the best result I want.
I smiled wryly at the irony and instructed Damien.
“Now let’s switch roles, Count Mirbeau. I will head south immediately with all the cavalry, so you must avoid Duke Gunhild and harass the enemy-occupied areas to make sure he is captured.”
From now on, the 10,000-strong army led by Damien will act as a decoy force, as they originally expected.
Damien’s mouth trembled.
Why? The defense force of the enemy-occupied territory was completely shattered. If you feed him this much, he should eat the rest on his own.
“Oh, I understand. Your Excellency the Marquis.”
In the end, under my silent pressure, Damien responded with a salute.
I am moving straight to the south with 10,000 cavalry, including most of the Chasseurs who have been engaged in reconnaissance and destruction of supply routes, and the elite cavalry I brought with me.
While Duke Gunhild’s troops advance north to protect the supply route, we, a force consisting only of cavalry, quickly move south and join the main force.
Since the light cavalry has a complete advantage in the reconnaissance battle, it is possible to go down while avoiding the enemy moving north.
In a war that started with 120,000 imperial troops and 60,000 revolutionary troops, it was difficult to narrow the power gap to this point, but with an army of 60,000 and 50,000 elite soldiers, it is now worth trying.
In the end, war is not determined by how many troops you have, but by how you deploy them to the battlefield where they are most needed.
“It is finally time to settle the matter with Archduke Leopold.”
