156 – Tactical Victory & Strategic Defeat (3)
Plain near Lichtenburg Castle.
Swissland Expeditionary Force Command Barracks.
Key commanders of the expeditionary force headquarters, including division commanders, deputy commanders, and the Crown Prince, including myself, were gathered here.
Normally, he would have made a joke before the meeting started to brighten the mood, or at least made fun of me, the youngest of the generals, and said that it was a good time.
Our expeditionary force is now completely trapped in enemy territory and is in a situation where it would not be surprising if we were annihilated at any time.
In a situation like this, if you speak up to brighten the mood, you could end up receiving all kinds of criticism from people who have already accumulated a lot of things, so everyone is keeping their mouths shut.
After such a heavy silence, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince spoke first.
“I failed this expedition. “I would say it was my fault for not expecting that Count Bern was a double agent and letting him come in here.”
To be honest, it is very unfortunate that His Highness the Crown Prince was deceived this time.
That’s right, the count had been leaking information about Switzerland that was valuable to the empire for several years through the imperial military intelligence department, and had promised betrayal.
The fact that they were actually preparing to attack the empire was something that no one could have predicted.
So, even though he was at fault, it is understandable if he tries to escape responsibility by criticizing those in the intelligence department for being the worst.
“I have no words to explain to you. “I’m really sorry and I’m sorry again.”
However, His Royal Highness acknowledged his mistake and bowed his head in front of everyone.
Even in Korea, where there is a culture of public apology, it is considered a huge thing for the president to bow his head, and it was something that could not have happened in the Reich Empire, where the class system and authority clearly existed.
The generals, including myself, immediately got down on one knee and showed respect to prevent the crown prince from being embarrassed, and his majesty personally helped us stand up one by one.
“Then let’s now discuss a full-scale retreat operation. Anyone who has thoughts about a retreat operation can speak freely.”
When no one was willing to come forward, I quietly raised my hand and said,
“In this situation, there is a retreat operation that can most efficiently return the most troops alive.”
When I said this, the eyes and attention of numerous generals were all focused on me.
Indeed, wouldn’t it be best to try our best to save His Highness the Crown Prince and return to the Reich Empire? Isn’t that the limit? In a situation where you are so cornered that you think about it.
If some crazy person suddenly comes out and says there is a plan that can save as many people as possible in the most efficient way, the country would be dying of curiosity.
“I will begin with a full explanation of the operation. First, we must lead a 50,000-strong army into Ticino Canton, which the 7th Division passed through. Then you can live.”
“Why Ticino Canton? “Is there a reason you didn’t consider another route?”
“My guess is that other cantons are currently waiting with veteran mercenaries who have the ability to organize and command the village men into an army. Therefore, if we try to pass through that road, we will incite the men in the village to fight as soldiers. “They will try to tie our feet.”
The Reich Imperial Army, whose movement speed was slowed down by that tactic, was eventually caught up by the Swiss soldiers and had no choice but to be eaten.
The route via Ticino Canton that I mentioned is a little different.
“However, Count Ticino of the Ticino Canton even borrowed soldiers from other cantons to annihilate our 7th Division. More than half of them were either dead or wounded, leaving them less able to resist. Therefore, it will not be possible to deploy many commander-level mercenaries and village resident soldiers who will command adult males in each village to carry out battles such as guerrilla warfare or water-based warfare and delay warfare. Therefore, the number and size of the militia that can be organized to prevent the retreat of the imperial army will inevitably become smaller.”
For your information, although I did not mention it here, I executed all of the captured prisoners regardless of age or rank.
Normally, I wouldn’t have done something like this unless I was crazy, but I can’t drag a prisoner around in a situation where I have to fight to retreat.
But if we release the prisoners to maintain the speed of movement, they will immediately grab spears or swords and grab our ankles.
So, in order to survive, I went further and, as a general of the Reich Imperial Army, I had no choice but to commit this act in order to send at least one more of the 50,000 soldiers home safely.
Probably because of this, it will be difficult for me to go to a good place when I die.
“So, if you want to survive, you must pass through the Ticino Canton road that the 7th Division passed through.”
Everyone here nodded in agreement and I immediately began explaining the next operation.
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“This is the escape route. Now, I will tell you about the most important escape order and tactics for defending the rear. “As soon as this meeting is over, I want His Highness the Crown Prince to escape with 2,000 knights.”
The crown prince seemed about to get angry for a moment after hearing my words, but he soon calmed down and asked:
“I understand. “But is there anything you would like me to do for you later?”
Here, taking care of His Majesty’s pride will help maintain friendly relations in the future.
“As soon as His Royal Highness enters the Reich Empire. He ordered the mobilization of the 14th, 16th and 25th Divisions, calling them all to the vicinity of the border between Switzerland and the Reich Empire. And he wants you to wait at the border until all the other divisions return.”
“I understand. “Let’s do that.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
After that conversation, I traced the path we had taken in Ticino Canton with my baton.
“After His Majesty the Crown Prince leaves, we will also slowly withdraw via Ticino Canton. At the same time, we will set up camp in a good location to fight against the enemy, attract the enemy, and defeat them in the first round. “With this, I plan to tie up the enemies for a while.”
Currently, the Duke of Switzerland is trying to catch us off guard until the end by dispersing his troops using a route known only to those living in the area.
So, it is true that it is difficult to confirm the exact number of troops by sending out scouts, but if there is one thing that is certain…
If the duke wasn’t crazy, he would have prepared a much larger number of troops than us.
“After tying things up like that, I plan to have one of the six divisions escape. At this time, we plan to provide horses to all soldiers in the escaping division so they can move a little faster. And the horses used are spare horses used by knight units and mules and horses that pull carts.”
First of all, in principle, all knights are provided with three or more horses by the empire by adding two horses in reserve to each horse they ride.
So, if the knights generously provide spare horses, they can carry up to 10,000 soldiers.
If you gather all the horses that pull all kinds of carts, you can send about half of the soldiers on horses.
Furthermore, among the infantry, if you are a non-commissioned officer or higher, the average soldier can honestly only handle a horse by making it walk when placed on the saddle.
Anyway, horses and people have different walking speeds and levels of endurance, so if you ride them on a horse that pulls a load, the speed of movement will be much faster.
“We will continue to engage in this way, tying up the troops, and considering the situation, retreating one division or two or three divisions at the same time. “At the end, only one division will remain to secure the retreat until the end, and we plan to slowly leave the Principality of Switzerland.”
It is a tactic that seems impossible, but our tactical goal is not victory, but a tactic that gives other retreating divisions time to escape.
We are retreating while carrying out guerrilla warfare while gradually reducing the size of our army.
“And I would like our 7th Division to take charge of the rearguard, which must play the most important role in this battle. Is it okay if we do that?”
With those words, the crown prince asked the other generals for agreement with his eyes, and when everyone nodded, he placed his hand on my shoulder and said,
“Director Jaeger, make sure to come back alive. Shouldn’t you be able to hold your child only if you return alive?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And if you haven’t decided on a name for your child yet. “If I return alive, I will personally choose the child’s name.”
You may think that choosing a name is a big deal, but in the empire, names are usually given to children of vassals.
As long as the subject who becomes the parent does not hit him in the back, it is the same as an oath to protect him until the end at any time.
In other words, even if I die here, my child will receive the protection of the crown prince who has the highest probability of becoming the next emperor, so there is no need to worry about the future of the child.
So this time, the fear and tension that I might really die came over my body, and I felt like my eyes were watering because I was grateful for the crown prince’s consideration.
In times like this, showing off your bravado until the end will help maintain everyone’s morale, and even if you die, you can remain in good shape.
“I thought I couldn’t die before I held the child Laura gave birth to. Now, I am even more curious about what name His Highness the Crown Prince will choose for me, so I don’t think I can die even if he tells me to. So, I will definitely return alive.”
And on this night, the Crown Prince, accompanied by his second-in-command and 2,000 knights, including the Royal Guard, headed towards the Empire via the Tishno Canton.