161 – Richen Hill Battle (4)
Swissland Expeditionary Force Command Barracks.
The six division commanders, including myself, were thinking about how to retreat the soldiers in the future to minimize the loss of troops and finish the battle quickly and safely, feeling that there was a long way to go and that the future was bleak.
Frustration as if a stone has been placed on my chest, a huge sense of responsibility pressing down on my shoulders, and mental fatigue as if I can’t breathe well.
This is the first time in my life that I have experienced the pressure of all these feelings coming at the same time.
“It’s really not easy.”
As I muttered that, the other division commanders also nodded their heads in agreement.
But now outside, I was in the vanguard and played a big role for a day against the large Swiss army of nearly 100,000 people, which worked.
Everyone, including soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers, was cheering loudly as if they had just opened a bottle of champagne.
“So, when I was fighting in the first camp, I saw Chief Jaeger holding his sword and swinging it wide to the side, killing three Swiss bandits at the same time.”
“No matter how talented you are, even if you killed that person, isn’t that a bit wrong, boss?”
“It’s because the lieutenant couldn’t see it in person. Especially when he goes down the hill and attacks the enemy, he holds a mace in one hand and swings it. “The murderous force radiating out was so great that I got goosebumps watching it.”
However, due to the current situation, the soldiers were not allowed to drink alcohol, but to relieve mental and physical fatigue and boost morale.
They are doing this because I gave instructions to the regimental commanders of each division to allow them to talk freely until bedtime, except for those who stand guard.
If I talk about my achievements like that, I can prevent fear from forming in my heart and my morale will increase.
So the atmosphere inside and outside the command barracks was bound to be completely different.
As I was thinking about the escape strategy, Director Falken came up to me, patted my shoulder and said,
“I served as an officer for 40 years. During that time, I met many genius commanders, and among them was His Excellency Otto Moritz. But Your Excellency couldn’t have done this much at your age.”
“Well, among all the generals I know, there is no one other than Captain Patton who stood at the forefront and took risks. So honestly, when the first group retreated, I even thought about going there myself and dragging you away. How dare he even pull off a counterattack in that situation. “A true genius is on a different level.”
“If we safely retreat this time and return to the empire, how about meeting my granddaughter? Of course, since you have a loyal wife, you can take her as your concubine.”
Even if the rank of major general is that of a knight, the status is recognized as equal to that of a baron until the person retires and dies.
So, if you want to take your family’s granddaughter as a concubine, she should at least belong to the duke’s family.
Does this person already think so highly of me?
Other generals also say, without using direct words, that you are the next enemy.
Right now we are in an extreme crisis, but it feels good to be the one receiving such unpretentious praise.
“Thank you, directors. “I just did my best.”
With those words, we took a moment to relieve our mental fatigue and exchanged compliments for each other.
Then, when a somewhat friendly atmosphere was created.
“I want to continue to exchange good words and maintain this good atmosphere. Since this is the situation, let’s quickly get to the point. So far, we have passed the two biggest hurdles in this battle of retreat.”
First, His Royal Highness was able to escape safely through the Ticino Canton along with about 2,000 knights.
The second is that he succeeded in igniting the will to fight among 50,000 soldiers whose morale was at an all-time low due to being in an extreme situation.
“But the food and supplies we have are limited. Also, unless the Duke of Switzerland is a fool, he will block our way back to the Reich Empire via the Ticino Canton, even if it means replacing all the soldiers he can mobilize.”
Because now, the Duke is truly a man who has gathered his soul and mobilized his soldiers to kill His Highness the Crown Prince and the entire Reich Imperial Army.
However, the imperial army crawled into Switzerland, a natural fortress, without knowing anything. If you save a few soldiers and a few pennies, but lose the imperial army, everything you invested so far will be in vain.
We will definitely block the Ticino Canton.
If conditions are not favorable, we may consider mobilizing women who are not often mobilized as soldiers on the battlefield.
“So, we need to get the army out as quickly as possible and as many soldiers as possible through Ticino Canton without being detected by these guys. At the same time, we must block all opportunities to gather soldiers near the road we pass through in Tishno Canton.”
“It’s just as you said. “What are you thinking?”
“The answer is simple. Switzerland has rugged terrain and few plains. As in the Reich Empire, it was impossible to build a village away from a major road where people could travel. And the surrounding villages where the enemy usually passes play a role in supporting the soldiers.”
At those words, the other division commanders looked tense on their faces, as if they had guessed what I was going to say.
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I guess they thought I was suggesting that it was a good idea to slaughter all the men, children, women, and even the elderly who could fight in the village.
If you do something like that, not only will His Majesty the Crown Prince’s reputation needlessly drop, but you will also be doing something foolish that will only boost the morale of the Swiss soldiers pursuing us.
It is thought that prisoners can be exterminated when there is no choice, but massacring complete civilians is also a big ethical problem.
“Please burn all villages and food on the way to retreat. However, please do not burn the grain in the field as it cannot be eaten even if it is harvested yet. And this is the most important.”
“Tell me.”
“Give a huge amount of money to the villagers who plundered them. “That’s enough money to even restore the burned village and food.”
When I said this, the division commanders all looked at me with dumbfounded expressions.
“Of course, when plundering an enemy village, it is common and natural not to compensate for any property. However, a house in the village that can be used as a lodging or base when enemy soldiers are chasing us. What if you gave villagers a huge amount of money in exchange for burning their edible food? “This is what our enemies will think.”
And I put my right index finger in front of my mouth and said.
“It is said that the villagers on the way to the Reich Empire via the Tishno Canton have betrayed Switzerland. Then, the Duke of Switzerland will not be able to recklessly mobilize the villagers who could be used as military resources while pursuing us.”
The Duke is now in a situation where he has to dispatch his soldiers to the Tishno Canton very urgently.
Obviously, they will try to procure food locally from the village, and soldiers who are lacking will try to delay the war by mobilizing men from the local village.
However, since we are breaking both of these premises, even if we try to carry out a guerrilla operation, the scale will be very small.
“And this operation must be carried out now. First of all, I hope that Major General Zeppelin’s 12th Division, which is the most heavily depleted of its troops because it fought with me today, retreats and moves according to my strategy.”
“I understand. The important thing is that we have to move quickly. Baggage should be kept to a minimum. “If there is anything you would like me to leave behind, please let me know.”
“Please leave food that can be stored for a long time, such as strong alcohol, biscuits, beef jerky, cheese, and grain flour, as well as arrows and armor. Instead, when the 12th Division retreats, I will give a horse to each of the division troops, including the pack horses, so I ask you to move as quickly as possible and lay waste to the village.”
At those words, Director Zeppelin nodded his head in agreement, and I asked one more favor to protect the pride of this person who had no choice but to retreat first.
“When you arrive, please send an urgent dispatch and gather as many soldiers as possible around the border. The life or death of me and the entire 7th Division depends on it.”
“Okay, let’s do it.”
“Every minute and every second is too urgent, Director Zeppelin.”
The director patted my shoulder and said.
“I really envy you. I’m serious. An ordinary guy like me would even think about going on defense here and blocking the enemy. I wouldn’t have thought of such an efficient retreat. Even though I have the courage to fight at the forefront, I don’t have the strength to do so. I really envy you for having it all. So please do me a favor. Please make sure to come back alive. “I will give you the best treatment on the honor of Baron Zeppelin.”
Then he ran out of the barracks and the eyes of the other division commanders turned to me.
“The remaining divisions, including our 7th Division, will cut down the enemy’s forces as much as possible here. And as long as my physical condition is not seriously affected, I will encourage the soldiers at the forefront tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. I look forward to.”
With those words, the division commanders each moved to their respective divisions.
After I returned to the division and completed general inspection and maintenance.
I took Charlotte with me and headed to where the wounded soldiers were.
Honestly, even now, I am so exhausted that I am confident that I will fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow, but I have become the mental support of the 50,000 soldiers here.
Because I had to give a bandage to at least one person and say a word of comfort.
The place where the wounded soldiers were lying was full of the groans of dying soldiers and the smell of blood spilled from the injured soldiers, and I could see medics moving about in a hurry.
I found one of the soldiers who looked like he was about to die and quietly approached him and said,
“What is your name?”
“Lindell… This is Lindel. “Please save me, warden.”
“I’m sorry. All I can do is apologize and listen to your will. “Is there anything you want to say?”
At those words, a soldier named Lindel spoke out of breath, just before he died.
“Before I joined the military, I had a wife who got into an accident and got pregnant. “If I die, living will become difficult…”
The soldier said only that and died.
I took out a piece of paper and wrote down his unit, rank, name, and what I had just heard.
I also had more similar conversations with several dying soldiers and plan to do more in the future.
“Charlotte, what on earth are you doing! Take him to the barracks right now and let him rest! “You’re really going to die if you keep doing this!”
“Lieutenant Colonel Kergit, but the master said it must be done…”
“If the major general dies, all the soldiers here will die anyway. So, I need to take you to the dorm right away.”
I was almost dragged by Anya to my barracks, and as expected, I fell asleep as soon as my head touched the field bed.
I just thought about it as I fell asleep.
‘I’m going to have to keep pushing myself anyway, so starting tomorrow I’ll have to increase my food intake to about 1.5 Times the usual amount. Add a lot of salt…’