chapter 126
126 – Defense of Johannesburg – 2
That morning, a diplomat came from Emilia’s camp.
The name is Usami Arka. It seemed like he was Emilia’s agent.
Usami Arka was an old man with white hair and wrinkles, and it seemed amazing to Charles that he was still standing on the battlefield at that age.
“The frontier shaman meets the Duke of Rochepol.”
“You don’t have to be humble. Count Arca.”
Because the Arca family was a historic noble family in the north, there was no need to bow down, but being the commander-in-chief of a large army seemed to be a burden to him.
“No. “The Duke of Rochepol is making a name for himself as a strategist who succeeded in dividing the world into three, so how can I treat him easily?”
“Then I will allow it. Take it easy. Count Arca.”
“If you say so… “
Soon, a full-fledged conversation between Usami Arca and Charles Jean Rochepol began.
“What Emilia wants is not actually war.”
“Then what?”
“The northern 50% of Binevian territory. If you acknowledge that ownership, I will acknowledge that Her Majesty Leonia owns the southern part.”
Really, there are no gangsters. I was shocked, but I asked while hiding my feelings as best as I could.
“Don’t you think that story is a little strange?”
“Where do you mean?”
“It was our Taspilia army that defeated the Binevian army. But how could it be that Grand Duke Chronor wanted to share the rice we made? “That’s not equality.”
Usami Arka took a cup of his tea and smiled slightly.
“It’s not that I don’t understand what you’re saying, but I need to look at the current situation. If our Chronor army gives up full ownership of Binevia, the Taspilia army will lead an overwhelming force in the future. My guess is that it will be around 40,000 to 50,000. “This is a large army that even the Arcadian Empire could not lead in the past.”
If it were the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it would be led by a small lord on the border of 50,000 won. Here, it is a large army that is difficult for even the world’s most powerful force to lead.
“That’s right?”
“If that happens, even Her Majesty Emilia von Kronor, the God of War, will not be able to withstand the overwhelming number of troops and the amount of supplies coming from the difference in territory. “From our perspective, it is the same as predetermined death.”
That is correct. If the friendly forces completely occupy Vinebbia, the situation becomes unanswerable from the enemy’s point of view. The already severe territorial differences will become even more severe. In addition, the friendly army is a new-style army and the opponent is an old-style army, so it would be difficult to overcome this huge difference in numbers.
“But will anything change if we take over northern Binevia?”
“It is…” “It is difficult to reveal this to the Duke of Rochepol due to military confidentiality, but I would like to tell you that there is a picture we are drawing from our perspective as well.”
“Are you planning to join hands with Swadia?”
Arka looked surprised at my prodding words.
“Swadia is currently under siege by the three countries of Illya, Silonia, and Taspilia, and is unable to do anything. In this situation, Swadia will desperately need an alliance, and since the northern part of Binevia borders the northern part of Swadia, it will be easy to form an allied force, so we will join hands with Swadia to oppose our forces. “Isn’t that what you think?”
“Hmm… “It would be difficult for me to give an answer.”
If not, I would have said no. It’s like indirectly acknowledging it.
“An alliance between Swadia and Kronor is something we do not want. “It will be a threat to the survival of our troops.”
“Then there must be only one answer.”
“Yes. We have no intention of giving up northern Binevia, and the Grand Duchy of Kronor has no intention of giving up northern Binevia. Then all that remains is a war over northern Binevia.”
“His Royal Highness Archduke Emilia is a military deity. On the other hand, I understand that this is the Duke of Rochepol’s first time leading a large army and fighting. Do you think you have a chance of winning?”
“You only have to look to see how much talent is contained in the box called me. But let me tell you one thing, even if our team loses, they have their backs. As much as we lose, our troops will be replenished and there will be no end to our supplies. Could Her Highness, Archduke Emilia, say the same thing?”
“… The Duke of Rochepol is quite confident. Well, I look forward to seeing you on the battlefield.”
And just like that, their negotiations came to an end. Even before bargaining. It was natural. This was because our army wanted the entire Vinebian region intact and had no intention of giving up even a single pyeong of land.
“Wait a minute, Count Arca. “There is one last important matter left.”
When Usami Arka tried to sit down with a disapproving expression, Charles stopped her.
“It’s not long, so there’s no need to sit down again.”
“What is it?”
“Please convey this to Her Highness, Archduke Emilia von Cronor. “Get holy magic from the priests.”
“Holy magic? “Your Majesty, are you perfectly healthy?”
“Even healthy people can receive divine magic. You might even receive a blessing for good luck. “There will be no harm in taking it, so please tell them to give it a try.”
“… “I have no idea what the intention is, but I’ll tell you anyway.”
This time, Usami Arka really went out, and the negotiations fell apart.
All that was left was really war.
—–
Field fortification.
Building a position in a field area to strengthen the defense of terrain features.
This was an action that numerous armies had performed since the Roman era, but not everyone could do it.
This is because competent engineers were needed to build field fortifications, and competent engineers could only be outstanding professional soldiers.
In that respect, our army had many outstanding professional soldiers and also many engineers. As such, they were able to create a temporary fortress made of wood on a hill where there was nothing.
Although the temporary fortress created in this way was not a real castle, it was more troublesome than the real castle. This was because the opponent was standing upright where he had to maneuver.
Emilia was sobbing as she saw the temporary fortress standing ahead.
It was truly a castle built in an exquisite location. That castle could neither be ignored nor attacked.
“Should we ignore it and pass by…? “
If that happened, it was obvious that the supply corps that followed would be robbed.
“Or will I destroy it?”
It will definitely be a more disadvantageous fight than the fight on the plains.
“The enemy has a new weapon. There is no doubt about the strength of the new weapon.”
The enemies easily defeated Binevia and the Grand Duchy of Kazan using new weapons. Emilia also had spies sent to her central region, and as such, she knew well how strong the new weapon was.
In addition, it is said that the new weapon shows greater power in siege or defensive battles than in general rotation. It will definitely be strong in this structure.
I couldn’t come up with an answer myself. So Emilia, as always, offered her prayers to her goddess of war.
And when she offered her prayers, the goddess lowered her voice as always.
[This will be an opportunity, not a crisis.]
The goddess only gave revelation like that. Emilia, as always, believed in the revelations of the Goddess. That’s why Emilia decided to take down her enemy’s stronghold by force.
—–
The next day, a bombardment using her magic began at Emilia’s camp.
Bombing using magic had less firepower than cannons, but that did not mean it had no advantages.
Because the wizard was mixed among the soldiers, it was difficult to know exactly where he was and thus difficult to intercept.
Our troops tried to intercept with cannons, but interception was not easy because it was difficult to determine the exact location of the enemy wizard.
Because of this, the temporary fortress built by our troops was destroyed and started to catch fire.
The soldiers quickly brought in water and began to remove as much of the fire as possible.
However, since it was basically a fortress made of wood, its defense power could not be as high as that of stone, and some parts of the fortress were bound to be breached.
“All forces charge!”
And then the enemies began to penetrate into the breached part of the fortress. Our musketeers aimed at the walls of the destroyed fortress. It was to shoot if the enemy came in.
And when the enemies started coming in through the ruined walls of the fortress.
-Kwakwakwaang!!!
Hundreds of muskets fired at the same time, and many enemies fell due to the volley of fire.
However, when the leading soldiers fell, the enemy took advantage of the opportunity to reload their muskets and began charging. And at the forefront…
“Emilia is in the lead!”
“Follow Emilia!”
There was Emilia von Kronor, the strongest person in the world.