188 – Invasion of Austria (4)
Unless it is an environment where survival is impossible, humans somehow adapt and survive in most places.
If you are familiar with nature such as deserts, jungles, snowy fields, plains, and rivers, as well as armies governed by strict rules and battlefields where many people die, you will survive.
When I first had to kill on the battlefield, I had some difficulties, but now I can kill hundreds of enemies without mercy if necessary.
Even at that age, the only thing I have not been able to adapt to is the pressure I feel when planning strategies on the battlefield as a commander.
Especially as he takes on the role of deputy commander, or rather, actual commander-in-chief, the burden on his shoulders and back is no joke.
“Let’s start with the reconnaissance unit report. “It’s okay to talk about the size of the enemy, their morale, or other minor details. If there’s anything that seems unusual, please tell me.”
With those words, the leader of the reconnaissance unit cautiously opened his mouth.
“The Archduke of Austria personally took part in this war. As I reported last time, the total number of people is 180,000. The morale of the enemy army is very high, perhaps because the Archduke himself is leading his soldiers.”
The scale is about 30,000 more than what was assumed before the start of the expedition, but this is within the margin of error, so there is no need to see it as a big problem.
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However, since the Archduke, the monarch of the Grand Duchy of Austria, has appeared in person, the enemy’s morale will remain high and it will not be easy to deal with them.
However, if the captain appears agitated or nervous, the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers under him fall into endless fear.
“It may take a little bit that the Archduke himself stepped forward, but at this rate, he is within the margin of error, so he will not be able to shake our army’s victory. “Please keep reporting.”
The Crown Prince listened to me and nodded his head in agreement, and the generals and officers participating in the meeting looked somewhat relieved.
“As the Archduke of Austria marched out, the Imperial Guard knights under the Archduke also marched out. In addition, Major Benner, one of our personnel advisors, betrayed and surrendered, so there is a high probability that the exact size and organization of our forces were leaked. Therefore, when it comes to information warfare, it seems that the Reich Empire is at a disadvantage.”
My brother is probably talking happily about this right now along with Matthias, the idiot who betrayed the Reich Empire, and the other four majors.
‘It’s the same whether it’s the Imperial infantry or the Austrian infantry. It is no match for knights. Well, at most the 7th Division just needs to be a little more careful…’
Also, if you think about it with common sense, you would think that there would be no infantry that could take on the knights unless it was Switzerland’s crazy elite mercenary unit.
We should take advantage of this and target the enemy’s loopholes.
“Is there anything else besides that?”
“Yes, Deputy Commander. “After our reconnaissance, we found nothing else.”
“I understand. Then I will hand over the strategy.”
When I said that, all eyes and attention immediately focused on me.
“First of all, there is no need to worry about the fact that our army has fewer troops than the enemy. Because our soldiers are all completely new. In the past, it was difficult to even run 5km with full gear, but now, as a result of training, I can run about 15km with full gear.”
Hearing those words, the generals, who were at least in their 50s, nodded and expressed pride in the fact that the soldiers under their command had become so strong.
The people who were participating in the training, such as colonels and lieutenant colonels in their mid-40s, shook their heads and made expressions of memories they did not want to recall.
What is clear, however, is that all physical strength was drained from the body through guerrilla gymnastics, and training that required high physical strength, such as mock battles or formal training, was repeatedly performed.
Whether soldiers, non-commissioned officers, or officers, their physical strength has increased explosively compared to before, and the longer they fight in actual combat, the more advantageous it will be for our allies.
“The enemy has more soldiers than us, so if we challenge them to a long-term war, they will gladly accept it. And our troops will compete head-on from the beginning.”
In general, when the number of troops is small, short-term decisive battles or surprise battles are often preferred, where the winner is won in a short moment.
This is because in a strategy that lasts for a long time, having more numbers is much more advantageous.
“Honestly, unless you are in the Principality of Switzerland, you probably know that the combat power of the soldiers, especially the infantry, is there, so the Austrians, who have a lot of numbers, will definitely fall for our provocation. That way, we save as much time as possible.”
The fact that our soldiers have much better physical strength than the enemy means that they can fight for a longer period of time without sacrificing health.
So, by the time we are out of breath, the enemy infantry will be on the verge of exhaustion and will not be able to properly counterattack.
At this time, if they squeeze out all their remaining strength and attack all at once, it will be a battle in which the Reich Imperial Army will win unilaterally, regardless of how many enemies there are.
When I mentioned only the infantry, a division commander asked:
“Deputy Commander, then how do you plan to manage the cavalry, including the knights? The Austrian side would have even brought in the Royal Guard knights, so the number of knights in heavy armor would be as many as 20,000, and our troops would be approximately 13,000, including Colonel Kergit’s cavalry archers, so infantry could fight among infantry, or between knights. ..”
Infantry can endure with endurance, but knights cannot endure for long because they fight with impact force due to each other’s numbers and weight.
However, since the main players in the battle are not knights but infantry, countermeasures against this are surprisingly simple.
“Aren’t there two important things when a knight moves? “To shake up the opponent’s formation when the infantry is fighting, or to chase those who run away after winning.”
In the former case, they fight by forming a wedge formation, which is typical of the knights we know, and in the latter case, they break up their formation and fight by blindly pursuing them.
“Yes. “But I asked when and how you plan to run the article, and what are you talking about now?”
“Just as I did when dealing with enemy knights on the Visocian front in Czechia, the infantry forms a long spear phalanx and intercepts the knights. “At this time, many sacrifices will occur, but the soldiers, who are strictly controlled by military law, will fight the knights holding long spears, risking death.”
To add a little bit of exaggeration, it may be hard to understand from a common sense point of view soldiers standing with polearms blocking a piece of metal weighing a little less than a ton.
The training method I introduced was used to train soldiers during the line infantry period, and was extremely effective.
How confident would it have been to be able to walk squarely in line with the enemy without any cover in a battlefield where thousands of enemy bullets were flying?
“Of course, it doesn’t mean there are no solutions. While the enemy knights are charging, archer cavalry will be deployed to kill the enemy’s momentum in various ways. In addition, I plan to use our 10,000 knights like hammers when enemy knights attack.”
“Then, after receiving the charge like last time, do you plan to strike the enemy knight’s flank?”
“It’s a good idea, but my thoughts are different this time. After repelling the enemy knights’ attack, the infantry units on the left and right will semi-surround the enemy and attack the rear with our knights. “It would be best if we could eliminate the enemy knights while blocking all directions.”
Even if they attack the flanks of infantry units deployed on the left or right wing, which is the most standard method, there are countermeasures.
“Otherwise, if you hit the flank of the left or right wing troops, the plan will go awry. In this case, we plan to use the same strategy as the enemy. However, I think the enemy knights will definitely target the 7th Division deployed in the center.”
Hearing those words, the division commanders looked full of doubt, and I sent a signal to His Majesty.
After receiving the signal, the Crown Prince opened his mouth.
“In most cases, when the royal family goes to battle, they settle down in the safest base and hold out, but I will never let you fight alone on the front lines. As commander, I will lead my SS unit and fight in the same place as the 7th Guards Division.”
Well, even if His Majesty says he will fight with the 7th Division, he will not have to go directly to the front line and fight.
Fighting together on the front line rather than at home base will give the soldiers great psychological stability and courage.
In addition, we have prepared a detailed strategy depending on what the enemy will do, so now all I have to do is bury them.