220 – Great Battle of the Osby Plain (5)
In the past, when fighting against the army of the Grand Duchy of Austria, the imperial army’s pikemen retreated a little and then rushed forward, taking advantage of the momentum to attack the enemy’s formation. It was destroyed.
Lieutenant General Peter Yeager, who was acting as commander, did not intend to use the tactics he had used in the past here.
That was because the infantry of the Stockholm Kingdom Army, battered by a one-sided barrage of arrows and magic, was approaching at a faster rate than the limit at which they could maintain their formation.
If we respond by rushing forward in the same way, it would be an act of needlessly reducing the number of Reich Imperial Army soldiers, which are small in number.
“Establish a large cavalry formation! Assume you are fighting against knights, but aim your spear at the enemy’s neck!”
“We will stop their charge, prepare for impact!”
“Every single one must be stopped here. Relax and prepare!”
According to that order, the soldiers of the Reich Empire placed the rear end of their spears on the ground and prepared to bear their weight with their whole bodies, just as they did when dealing with knights.
This is a tactic mainly used when dealing with masses weighing over 600kg, including the horse and the knight on top of it. However, using this method against infantry may seem a bit excessive.
Because it is the most efficient and effective formation to deal with infantry charging with momentum.
“Long live the Kingdom of Stockholm! Long live His Majesty the King!”
“You damn Reich pigs, taste this brother’s hot spear!”
“Cowardly bastards who hid behind the archers until the end!”
The tattered formation of the Stockholm Kingdom infantry that charged in shouting like that was reduced to nothing by the Reich Imperial Army, which thoroughly blocked this charge with an over-the-top method of dealing with cavalry.
They were struck from the front by the Reich Empire’s large cavalry phalanx, and were pierced through places such as their necks, arms, and sides, and they bled to death.
The aftermath of the blocked charge spread to the soldiers running behind it.
As a result, soldiers in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rows who did not directly encounter the large cavalry formation collided with the soldiers who had died in front of them, causing many to be crushed to death.
“Take care of the wounded! “Leave the dead alone!”
“Mom, save me…”
“Cough, cough, f*ck, I can’t die like this…”
The Reich Imperial Army, having achieved victory, pushed forward as if they would not miss this opportunity.
“We must kill at least one more foolish bastard from the Kingdom of Stockholm! If you want to win, push for it!”
“It’s good to be motivated, but I won’t forgive you for going outside the formation! Defend your position!”
“All troops forward, forward. “Don’t hesitate for even a second and stab him to death!”
The Reich Imperial Army’s fierce attack was inflicting considerable losses on the Stockholm Kingdom Army’s infantry, and the Imperial Army’s infantry was hoping that elites specialized in close combat, such as Pyeongon and two-handed swordsmen, would join the battle.
So, the battalion commander, regiment commander, and several division commanders fighting on the field requested permission to deliver a decisive blow.
Lieutenant General Peter Jaeger, who took on the role of commander-in-chief of the Reich Imperial Army, did not accept the request.
“The enemy’s troops are more than twice that of our troops. And right now, we are only at the beginning, and if we send out those who have requested this, the imperial army may be defeated.”
Double-handed swordsmen with two-handed swords, Pyeongonbyeong, and other soldiers specialized in close combat who crawl under long spears and disturb the enemy’s lines boast tremendous power in close combat.
Therefore, the request of the soldiers and officers fighting at the front was to provide support so that they could be deployed in earnest and slaughter the enemy forces in front of them.
‘Although they are powerful, if they are sent out, the battle will degenerate into a melee, and the infantry’s formation will completely collapse. In that situation, if the reserve forces waiting behind the enemy are mobilized and attack, it is the end for our army.’
For that reason, Lieutenant General Jaeger waited.
As the battle became more and more intense, it was thought that the Reich Imperial Army would gradually reach its physical limit as time passed, and the commander of the Stockholm Kingdom Army decided to take a gamble.
At this time, Marshal Władysław, Commander-in-Chief of the Stockholm Kingdom Army, was in a bad mood, as if it were burning.
“These Reich Empire pigs are worse than dogs. “You evil bastard who wouldn’t be enough to rip out your intestines and turn them into imperial sausages!”
After venting his anger like that, the Marshal of the Stockholm Kingdom asked with a frown.
“What is the current situation? Close combat would have begun from the front now.”
“The momentum of the Reich Imperial Army is formidable. “Our soldiers are being pushed back.”
“Damn it… Captain Yount, what do you think we should do?”
General Yount, the commander of the 50,000-strong army in the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, responded to those words.
“No matter how much Lieutenant General Yeager flies and crawls, the difference in troops is more than double, so the longer the battle goes on, the more disadvantageous it is for them. Besides, didn’t you just listen? “The size of the Reich Imperial Reserve Corps is not even half that of ours.”
“When they get tired, instead of the main force currently fighting, we can send reserve troops to the front line and destroy the imperial army. As expected, you are amazing. “This is the insight of someone whom the Grand Duke of Warsaw cherishes.”
“This is too much of a compliment. And the important thing is to kill the son of a b*tch named Peter Yeager.”
“For the prosperity of both the Grand Duchy and the Kingdom of Stockholm, Lieutenant General Jaeger must be killed, even if it is not necessary to kill Captain Keitel.”
The two men reached an agreement and gave orders to both the Stockholm Kingdom Army and the Warsaw Grand Duchy Army.
“The reserves will not be sent out yet. So, distribute some grain and water to the reserve soldiers so they can fill their stomachs.”
“Give the knights of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw some sustenance and ration them hay, beans, and barley for the horses to eat. “We will attack the enemy when digestion is roughly complete.”
It is a leisurely tactic that only the military that has the advantage of military superiority can choose, and it will be the optimal operation that they can use.
The generals and staff officers of the Grand Duchy and Kingdom who heard about the operation carried out their duties while being deeply moved by their commander’s outstanding insight.
“Give the barley that the horses will eat with plenty of salt.”
“We must ensure that soldiers can eat quickly. So, boil porridge by adding salted meat to the grain powder. Then ration water.”
“Then, distribute the excess plate armor worn by knights to those who will be at the forefront of the infantry reserve…”
“I don’t have time to do that, so cook some grain porridge right away!”
As the Allied Headquarters of the Kingdom of Stockholm and the Grand Duchy of Warsaw were preparing to deploy reserve forces, the battle on the front line slowly began to heat up.
“You Reich pigs! “I will rip out your intestines and turn them into sausages!”
“Let’s not fight cowardly, hiding behind spears, but fight fair and square with swords!”
“You bastards, you bastards who are worse than dogs! “Aren’t you tired?”
The soldiers of the Reich Empire also fought in response, mixing in all kinds of curses, but as the number was nearly twice as large, they gradually began to lose the tactical advantage they had.
The Stockholm Kingdom Army and the Reich Empire Army are engaged in a fierce offensive and defense battle, but the commanders of both armies felt it at the same time.
‘The opportunity to completely suppress the Reich Imperial Army is now.’
‘If I were Marshal Władysław of the Stockholm Kingdom Army, I would make the most of my battle here.’
Although they were two people on opposite sides, their views were completely identical.
Marshal Władysław spoke while pointing towards the direction of the Reich Imperial Army as the Marshal’s Peak of the Stockholm Kingdom Army.
“We will deploy all reserve forces! Order the knights to take a detour to the left and attack the enemy’s rear! “We must completely shake up the enemy troops!”
After the order was issued, not long after, 20,000 knights of the Kingdom of Stockholm and the knights of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw all marched out, kicking up dust.
The reserve troops, who had eaten well and rested so far and had built up their stamina, also marched majestically, holding spears.
“It’s time to go help the main unit that fought well on our behalf! “Is everyone prepared?”
“In place of our dead comrades, we will make rope out of the entrails of the Reich Empire!”
“Long live the Kingdom of Stockholm! Long live the Grand Duchy of Warsaw!”
20 Minutes later, news reached Lieutenant General Jaeger that the knights and infantry of Warsaw and Stockholm were making major moves to change the situation of the war.
The other officers around Lieutenant General Yeager and even Captain Keitel felt a sense of crisis at the fact that an enemy twice as large was attacking with all their might…
“There is no need to be afraid or panic at all, Captain Keitel. The enemy has stepped on the trap. “What’s so scary about almost twice the number?”
Lieutenant General Yeager gave orders while waving his baton, symbolizing the commander’s authority.
“The division on the far right should install pre-made stakes on the right wing, and each unit should also install stakes at the rear to form a large cavalry square. It will prevent enemy knights from entering without permission. Additionally, concentrate all two-handed swordsmen and elite troops on the front lines of your troops. Soon the knights, archers, and infantry divisions that were in ambush will come out.”