NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30
Eslon Plain.
Located between the territories of Count Celt and Count Santoburg, this plain has historically been a “battlefield” where many knights and soldiers have clashed.
Firstly, it is positioned at the easternmost part of the Eraline Empire, adjacent to our Croilet territory and the western lands of Romania, Celt and Santoburg. A river capable of supplying water for troops flows across this plain.
Particularly, what is most important is that the only obstacles between this land and our Croilet territory are low hills, making it convenient for supply units to march alongside.
However, the actual control of this plain belongs to Counts Celt and Santoburg, which leaves us lacking information about the area.
To resolve this, upon arrival, I immediately ordered elite scouts to be sent out to gather intelligence on the terrain and enemy positions.
Separately, on the first day of arrival, I focused on alleviating the fatigue from the march, setting up camp, and ordered all troops to rest. However, the following day, I embarked on reconnaissance with the soldiers to assess the battlefield terrain myself.
Although this is my first battle and I wouldn’t actively formulate detailed combat plans, it is essential to gather terrain information in case the situation changes drastically and my “leadership” is required.
**
After approximately three days of assessing the terrain, I held the final military meeting.
Inside the massive tent specifically set up for me were knights like Jack Frost, those with territories, Weiss, Helmut, Balt, and several captains.
“Then let’s begin the military meeting. Weiss! Bring forth the map!”
Upon hearing this, Weiss unfolded a map created based on the information gathered up until yesterday on a large desk.
The map indicated the location of our barracks, the Maron River flowing across the plain, and positions where the enemy might strike.
Looking at the map, the first to speak loudly was Heintz.
“According to the report we just received, there are 3,000 enemy infantry and 50 cavalry, including knights. Then, shouldn’t knights fight knights and infantry fight infantry?”
Upon hearing this, Jack, Bierhill, and other knights nodded in agreement.
“That seems to be the most reasonable approach. They have insulted our honor, but we cannot afford to fight in a dishonorable manner like they do.”
“Especially, knights led by Count Celt and Count Santoburg have a reputation for being weak. If they face our strong knights, their formation will crumble like straw.”
“Yes, and of course, nobles should fight nobles while commoners should fight commoners. Though, some of our infantry may be illegitimate… well, I hope that can be understood, right?”
The arguments presented by the knights were all valid and reasonable.
Because, for nobles of this era, even if the ‘opponent’ has insulted their honor, repaying it in a dishonorable manner is not a good choice.
Whether winning or losing, the rumor around neighboring territories would be, “That gentleman doesn’t even know honor,” leading to social ostracism among the noble community.
This could critically impact my interactions and trade with the Free City of Hamburg and surrounding territories.
Considering that, the fighting method suggested by Jack, abandoning “honor,” wasn’t worth choosing.
Additionally, our infantry, having not experienced actual combat yet, realistically lack the ability to fight while forming a shield wall against knights.
If they attempt to do so, they’d be quickly overwhelmed by knights charging from over 500 to 600 kilograms of armor.
“Alright, let’s proceed like that. Infantry will fight infantry, and nobles will fight nobles, minimizing casualties. So… how shall we position the infantry? Commander Balt!”
Upon hearing this, Balt, whom I had temporarily entrusted with the control of the infantry and archers for this war, opened his mouth to respond.
“Yes, I believe our infantry and the enemy infantry will engage on the plain about 200 meters from the Maron River. Here’s how we will position ourselves.”
Then, Balt arranged our infantry right in front of the Maron River.
He placed crossbowmen at the front, followed by spear-wielding soldiers, and at the very back, halberdiers and infantry with two-handed swords.
“Firstly, the enemy will clearly charge us, leveraging their numerical superiority. Therefore, instead of rushing in recklessly and taking enemy archer fire, we’ll position the crossbowmen in front to thin out the ranks of their peasant soldiers. Next, once the distance between us and the enemy closes enough, we will send out the spearmen forward and have the crossbowmen withdraw.”
Although it seems like a rather dull battle strategy, conducting the battle this way will minimize injuries to our soldiers while greatly increasing enemy casualties.
This is because, although it appears that crossbowmen up front will take all the arrows…
In reality, they can only take about 5 seconds to aim and fire, and during the remaining reloading time, they’ll be behind a large shield called a ‘pavise.’
In practice, out of 10 shots fired, 7 will miss, and 8 out of the remaining 3 shots will hit the pavise.
“Continue.”
“Yes, and once we confirm the spear formation is established, I plan to order the crossbowmen to deliver one last concentrated volley before withdrawing to the sides. When the spear formations clash, our trained infantry in armor will sustain fewer losses compared to the unarmored peasants, and the enemy’s formation will soon collapse.”
As Balt made this statement, even the ‘low-ranking knights’, who had been disinterested earlier due to the talk being about “infantry combat” rather than “noble warfare,” began to listen closely to the new strategy.
Perhaps motivated by the attention he was receiving, Balt banged a wooden horse marked with a red spear, representing the enemy, on the opposite side of our own horse and declared.
“However, rather than waiting for their formation to break, I will dispatch our ‘elite soldiers’ wielding two-handed swords and halberds through the gaps between the formations to completely crush them. After that, Sir Jack Frost’s unit, who has already defeated the enemy knights, can come over and launch a cooperative attack on the infantry.”
Although idealistic, with infantry that has been working together for over a year, such an operation may be feasible to some extent.
And even if we can’t coordinate with the knights, if we can use crossbowmen to break the morale of ‘low-spirited’ conscripted peasants, while utilizing spear and two-handed sword soldiers to dismantle their formations…
It would be impossible for the peasants to handle it—the enemy that was primarily made up of peasants wouldn’t be able to withstand that, and even I can recognize that without any battle experience.
The other knights seemed to share similar thoughts, as they began to approach Balt and pat him on the shoulder, praising him.
“When Lord Excellency appointed you as the ‘noble responsible for infantry,’ I couldn’t understand why… but now I quite understand! It’s a beautiful strategy that showcases chivalry. Although we won’t ambush the enemy, we’ll reduce the sacrifices of our allies. Very well!”
“Indeed, Sir Bierman, if we can perfectly break them head-on as you suggested, we will also regain our honor. No, we may be able to bury the honor of those who have mocked Croilet beneath the ground.”
As Balt received praises for the strategy he conceived, he subtly looked at me, signaling with his eyes for “more rewards for such capable subordinates…”
If he hadn’t sent that signal, I would have wanted to add about two extra gold coins to the original reward, but… I’ll just give him one more.
“Good, let’s proceed like that. Now, when do you think the engagement with the enemy will occur?”
“Tomorrow, before fighting the enemy, we will have a final ‘negotiation’ session to exchange ‘opinions’. If we can’t agree, there will be war the day after tomorrow.”
Having lived in Korea, I wondered why, if a decision to go to war has been made, they would give the enemy time to prepare? Is there a lack of common sense? But…
Here, even after having lectured them for being ‘foolish and unaware of honor,’ they would likely use this as an excuse to punish those who wouldn’t listen…
What kind of nonsense is this?
“Understood. Then everyone, disperse. We will shatter the enemy completely in the battle after tomorrow, and at that time, we shall drink and reflect on this battle.”
**
The next day.
With Ella, who followed me to the battlefield, assisting me, I put on my armor and finally mounted my horse to move towards the Maron River, where I was scheduled to have the last ‘negotiation’ with the enemy.
After about a 20-minute walk from the encampment, I spotted two knights facing us across the river: one wearing a tin can-shaped helmet adorned with red feathers and the other with a teapot-shaped helmet.
Although the helmets made it hard to tell, each held a banner displaying the crests of the Count Celt and Count Santoburg families, so…
Those two must be Count Celt and Count Santoburg.
Confirming this, I called out to them from atop my horse.
“I am SIEL von Croilet, the rightful lord of the Croilet territory that you declared war against! Who are you?!”
Hearing this, the two knights removed their helmets and responded.
“I am Jackson von Celt, the lord of the Celt territory!”
“I am the rightful lord and count of Santoburg, Oil von Santoburg!”
Why do they both have to puff themselves up like that, introducing themselves separately?
Wouldn’t it be easier if one of them said, “I am 000, and next to me is 00, who is 000”?
Is it because chivalry in this world is dominated by such pompousness?
As I pondered this, the man introduced as Count Celt suddenly began to lose control while looking at me.
“The reason I declared war on you today, SIEL von Croilet!! Is because your wicked farming methods were spread to our territory, causing our people to follow them!! As a result, naturally, our crops suffered greatly, leading to famines among the peasants.”
What absurdity is this, blaming me when it was the peasants who poorly borrowed someone else’s techniques and are now suffering consequences?
Their justification for declaring war is practically on the level of witch-hunting.
If they go one step further, they would likely announce, “There’s no evidence, but I drowned someone, and they died, so they must be a witch!”
“So I investigated, and found that you deliberately taught our peasants incorrect farming methods, leading to their failure! Have you ever seen such a villainous act?! I’ve come to conquer you with my ally, Count Santoburg! If you repent and seek forgiveness now, I might show you mercy. What will you do?”
At his words, roars began erupting from the ranks of Count Santoburg and Count Celt.
Meanwhile, our soldiers stood silent, realizing that in this era there is hardly any ‘justification’ for declarations of war from either peasants or nobles, yet still found this utterly outrageous.
Poor Counts, if they were going to declare war, they should have thought it through more…
So I decided to showcase the ‘skill’ I honed in my previous life in Korea: to insult without swearing.
“Mercy? What kind of mercy do you speak of, you counts who know nothing of honor! Who dares to call themselves knights while only knowing how to ride a horse? And just like one can’t steal someone else’s belongings, one cannot steal another’s techniques, and yet you scold me for the failures of those peasants who poorly imitated them! Did your parents teach you such nonsense when you were young? Pathetic!”
Upon hearing this, the faces of the two Counts began to turn red.
They seemed at a loss for words, as if they could hardly comprehend how they had insulted me first while their faces flushed with anger.
Watching them, I declared.
“I give up on persuading you. Only God will judge our rights and wrongs through this war, so let’s meet in battle tomorrow!”