158 – Battle of Liezen Hill (1)
Six divisions of the Reich Empire were now stationed on Liezen Hill, and the soldiers were looking down with despairing expressions.
At first glance, the number of Swiss infantry seen at the bottom of the hill appears to be around 100,000.
After seeing this terrible scene, the morale of the Reich Empire’s soldiers, and this time even the officers, began to plummet.
Paulo, a sergeant belonging to the Reich Checker Company, muttered with a miserable feeling.
“f*ck it, we’re done. “We’re all going to die here.”
The words Paulo whispered in a very low voice represented the feelings of all the soldiers here.
Even if the soldiers are ignorant people who only have the minimum knowledge necessary to survive in the military, such as reading and writing at the military training center.
Brain hair itself is not a bad thing.
So, facing and fending off over 100,000 soldiers here is a terrible thing, but even if you somehow managed to fend off and survive.
I didn’t know when or how I would be surprised by the Swiss people and soldiers on my way back to the empire.
I knew at least that I would be chased by them and would have to fight at a disadvantage several times.
However, there was something to look forward to among the soldiers who were in despair due to the bleak future. It was a rumor that a high-ranking man who was praised and called the young master of the empire had pledged to stand at the forefront, putting his honor on the line.
“Private Dennis, do you believe that rumor? “You mean the division commander is fighting on the front lines with us?”
At those words, the private looked around him, looked around, and spoke quietly.
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“I don’t know if he’s a battalion commander, but isn’t he someone who rose to major general at the age of 26? There is no way such a noble person would stand in the vanguard for commoners like us.”
“Right? However, the man next to me, Sergeant Randel, was even in tears and said that he had personally heard that Major General Yeager was at the forefront.”
“I heard it too. He said that all soldiers are like his own children. So I hope the rumors are true.”
Then the private spoke in a voice that seemed to be slightly crying.
“Isn’t he the one who cut off that damn Khan’s head anyway? Moreover, he is already considered the next enemy of the empire. So, if such a person takes the risk and stands at the forefront. “I think we too will be able to return alive.”
The sergeant spoke in a self-deprecating voice in response to the hope expressed by the private.
“I hope so. Really…”
As the soldiers were mumbling and looking at the Swiss soldiers crawling like cockroaches below, a trumpet sound rang out.
It is not a profound and heavy sound made when soldiers march out or start a battle, but a cheerful and fast trumpet sound made when generals march.
Hearing that, the soldiers turned their eyes towards the center of the place where the trumpet sound came from, with an incredulous thought, and there there was the one person they had all been waiting for.
“……Director Jaeger?”
“A man as good as a division commander is at the forefront?”
“Are you saying what that idiot Sergeant Landel said is true?”
Then, among the soldiers, they began to find hope that if this was the case, they too might be able to return home alive.
Because if that gentleman hadn’t gone crazy, no matter how high he was, his life would have been precious…
The fact that a person who has repeatedly achieved achievements at a level that is difficult to express even through the exaggerated songs typical of bards fights alongside them in the vanguard.
I came to expect that it must be because there was a plan to overcome this hopeless situation.
So, seeing Major General Peter Yeager, who said that all the soldiers and officers here would not give up on this situation and fight until the end, I felt a warmth in my heart, and tears welled up in my eyes.
Major Yeager spoke to those soldiers with a resolute resolve.
“I will declare here. I will live and die here with all of you. And I am a person fighting to live. Then, in order for me to survive in this dangerous place, wouldn’t I have to save you too?”
Generals who are influenced by the nobles’ unique sense of rank and honor will even mention honor and loyalty here.
When Major General Jaeger looked at the overall atmosphere, the majority of the soldiers here were serfs or commoners who had nothing to do with honor.
He decided to give up any talk of honor in order to appeal to everyone.
“We don’t need honorable battles or honorable warriors. However, I will fight here with all of you and return alive no matter what it takes. So we are not here fighting to die, we are fighting to survive.”
The officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers here all have different things they want to gain from this war, but the one desire to survive is common to all.
Aren’t honors, victories, achievements, and awards meaningful only if you return alive?
Touching the most important essential desire on the battlefield, the need for survival.
My words of encouragement to fight desperately for survival touched everyone’s hearts.
“But if you try to run away because you want to live, or if you hesitate because you are scared, you will definitely die. So, don’t back down from the enemy’s spears and arrows coming at you. Do you want to live? If so, you must be prepared to die. Prepare to die and fight. Then you will return alive.”
After saying that, Peter Yeager stood at the front of the line, just as he had promised his soldiers.
Not long after, a heavy trumpet sound was heard from the Swiss camp.
The full-scale battle has begun.
**
The tactics that I and other division commanders chose in this battle are very simple.
The plan was to camp right on top of the hill and block the attack of the Swiss corps as much as possible, and then take advantage of the opportunity to pull the unit back little by little.
If we say this, we may have to worry about the enemy completely surrounding our army 360 degrees.
The place where we were stationed was made up of cliffs that seemed to have been carved out on both sides except for a flat area about 300 meters across, including the road.
It is a natural fortress that can be defended on a hill about 300 meters high with just 50,000 troops, or even one division.
So, everything will be decided by how long you can hold out here and whether the enemy is caught in an unexpected and powerful blow.
“Those damned bastards dare to entrench themselves in our land! “Kill them all!”
“Catch the crown prince! “Kill Peter Yeager, who massacred the brave soldiers of the Ticino Canton!!”
“You must avenge your compatriots!”
The Swiss idiots were very desperate to avenge the 2,000 or so compatriots who were taken prisoner by the 7th Division and then brutally beheaded.
Also, he seems very excited at the thought of capturing His Highness the Crown Prince alive and demanding a huge ransom and territory from the empire.
Even if the entire process of war turns in their favor, only half of their wishes will be fulfilled.
Because in the imperial army camp, the flag, armor, and various symbols symbolizing His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are shining brightly.
His Royal Highness the real Crown Prince must already be crossing somewhere in the Ticino Canton with about 2,000 knights.
Of course, I plan to return alive from here with at least one more soldier, so their dreams are all going to end up being sh*t dreams anyway.
“Well, then, since they went through a lot of trouble to get here, shouldn’t we treat them generously with logs? Roll the log!”
After giving that order, I, along with the soldiers, brought in logs that had been prepared in advance and could go hundreds of kilometers.
Soon, dozens of logs rolled down from the hill we were on, crushing the Swiss soldiers in line.
“You bastards, don’t be shy and run away, but you will be caught and killed!”
“f*ck, my legs! “Please remove the logs now!”
“Where did these despicable imperial bastards carry out such unjustified tricks!”
And immediately the soldiers began throwing magic and arrows at the bottom of the hill in a predetermined order.
With this alone, the initial momentum of the Swiss army was greatly weakened.
However, they had a desire to capture the crown prince alive and take away the land of the empire, so they did not give up and charged in.
I myself grabbed the crossbow and shot an arrow at the enemy.
“Major Jaeger is personally shooting arrows from the vanguard! “You bastards, I’m telling you to be stronger!”
“Khan Slayer, who cut down the northern barbarian bastard Khan, is with us! But no one would be scared by something like Swiss bandits!”
“Let’s kill every single one! Let’s kill at least one more guy!”
The impact of me stepping forward and leading by example was so great that a strong will to fight spread like wildfire and gradually burned through all the soldiers in charge of defense.
Of course, morale, which had hit rock bottom before the battle began, gradually began to rise…
“Soon the Swiss will come near our fortress! But don’t worry! I, Peter Yeager, will slit at least ten people’s heads here today! So, each of you must kill two enemy soldiers! We will return to the Empire alive!”