324 – Battle of Brito Plain (2)
Britto Plain, Benatar Principality allied camp.
Unless the morale of the Reich Empire or the Duchy of Francois is at an all-time low, soldiers go into battle with the determination to win even though they are trembling with fear.
This army, composed of a mixture of mercenaries and militia, showed a very heterogeneous appearance.
It’s not that morale is low, but rather than wanting to win the war, everyone had a bored look on their faces, as if they were office workers on their way to work or would say ‘When will work end today?’
The stories that came out of their mouths did not go far beyond that level.
“Squad leader Russky, after today’s battle, why don’t you go to the woman’s house run by Dunkins? “There was a hot prostitute there.”
“If you spend money like that from the first day of the war, what are you going to do to survive for a while until you find a job, platoon commander?”
“I don’t have a family like you, so I can live a quiet life. I’m going to retire in exactly 10 years, and then I’m going to marry a girl from a poor serf family. He said he had saved up some money to buy a house and land. “Do you think I have double mercenaries for no reason?”
As if to show that humans are creatures of adaptation, seeing the mercenaries going into battle so calmly made them look as if they were going into guard duty.
In fact, they had already experienced several major battles, as many as a dozen, so they had become somewhat insensitive to the fear that I might die during the battle.
The militia watching the scene from behind had different reactions.
“Those bastards said that the cost of hiring a new recruit for one month is equivalent to four months of our salary, so it looks like they will definitely get what they paid for. “Just thinking about the arrows coming at us makes our knees weak and trembling.”
“No matter how mercenary you are, it’s a battle, and you’re thinking of finding a prostitute after it’s over. “Oh, that lowly one.”
“I wish they would pay our taxes properly instead of being mean-spirited.”
The officers of the Venetian Union, who saw the conflicting appearances between the mercenaries and the militia, sighed and complained inwardly.
‘The mercenaries are brave and have a lot of combat experience, so they are trustworthy and skilled warriors, but their attitude toward going to war is poor. The militia seem to have a high will to fight, but I don’t know if they have anything they can use in battle.’
I pressed those complaints deep into my throat and gave the order.
“Charge forward! Send the vanguard unit forward and crush the vanguard of the Reich Empire unit!”
“It may be said that the Reich Imperial Army is strong, but we win in numbers! “Break Peter Yeager’s nose!”
“Duke Veneta will give a very large reward to the mercenaries who have contributed!”
On the outside, it seemed like they were hoping that the mercenaries they hired would achieve victory and achieve merit, but the reality was different.
Because there were many mercenaries who would run away if they were paid in advance, it was common for them to be paid all at once after the war.
If the person who is supposed to receive the money dies, there is no need to pay because the person to receive the money has disappeared from this world.
So, from the principality’s point of view, if they win the battle and all the mercenaries die, they will secure money and gain victory, so they gave orders to send out mercenaries as the vanguard and attack actively.
Although the Venetian Alliance treated mercenaries harshly, they always paid the promised money, even if the city was on the verge of bankruptcy and forced money to be extorted from the citizens.
Otherwise, mercenaries who did not receive money would loot and burn the villages and castles of the principality after the war, claiming to receive the money directly.
Meanwhile, the captains of the mercenary corps at the forefront gave instructions to each unit to reduce sacrifices as much as possible while following the orders of the Veneta commanders.
“Black brothers, take up your long spears and form a square! The opponent is a legion led by Peter Jaeger, the envoy of the Reich Empire. “If you look down on the Milanese brats you’ve dealt with so far, you’ll all die!”
“We have more numbers, but we must not let down our guard. “They think we are at a greater disadvantage and are making us nervous!”
“If we just follow training, we will win! Do as you are trained!”
The training they talked about was nothing more than teaching them how to hold and swing a spear or weapon, roughly forming a formation, and how to march.
With the added skill gained through countless combat experiences, they were strong enough to be called veterans on the battlefield.
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In addition, the mercenaries who had been telling dirty jokes just now suddenly changed and became so serious that it was hard to believe that they were some kind of mercenary unit after their captains explained who they should be on guard for and why.
On the other hand, if one were to be specific, the condition of the soldiers of the Reich Empire seemed to be a mixture of half militia and half mercenary force.
They were trained by Captain Peter Yeager’s endless grind, the whip of training, and the carrot of huge rewards and promotion benefits, but they had quite skilled fighting skills.
Because they had not engaged in combat for five years, the soldiers were highly trained and well-equipped, but they were all hesitant and scared due to lack of experience.
“……Sergeant, is the battle about to begin?”
“Don’t talk to me. Even during a mock battle, if you tremble because you are afraid of being hit with a mock weapon, you will be beaten with a club, but on the battlefield, you will be beheaded. Do you want to have your head cut off and hung on a pole?”
“No.”
“If you do as the higher-ups tell you, you can return alive, but if you are caught shaking because you are scared, you will be killed first by your allies, not the enemies.”
The sergeant who said this had never fought in an actual battle before, so he was afraid of arrows flying at any moment and the enemy’s phalanx crowded together like tree branches.
Officers and non-commissioned officers with actual combat experience noticed such signs and loudly criticized or encouraged their unit members.
“Do you think you’re the only ones who are scared? “Idiots like that idiot who can’t even follow the rules are trembling because they’re afraid of dying just like you.”
“If you are a man, you should use your skills properly this time and think about changing things. Why are you making such a fuss like a b*tch? Just pick up the spear and do as instructed! And fight bravely and change your character! “Those arrogant 7th Division bastards started out as idiot recruits just like you!”
“Bow your head and walk only looking at the feet of the guy in front of you! “I just get scared when I look at the enemy in front of me!”
As those with experience in war began to establish discipline, the soldiers’ muttering stopped and they became quiet.
When both armies became quiet and confirmed that each other was within the effective range of arrows and magic, Captain Campio, commander of the Duke of Veneta’s allied forces, gave the order first.
“The mercenaries standing at the forefront are not even our citizens anyway! It doesn’t matter if everyone dies, so just launch an onslaught! Since our opponent is Peter Yeager, that monster, we have no chance of winning if we use strategy or strategy! “Order the crossbowmen and wizards belonging to the militia and mercenary units to provide fire support and provide covering fire, but since some friendly fire is acceptable, tell them to just pour it out!”
He is not a citizen that he must protect, but he is a mercenary who will help reduce expenses by having at least one more person die as long as he wins the war.
Captain Campio was able to boldly issue a bold attack order that would have been difficult to give to a militia.
According to the order, the mercenary unit at the vanguard advanced at high speed, and a huge amount of arrows and magic flew from behind.
Along the way, some people were unfortunate enough to be killed when their attack missed, but since they were not aiming, the mercenaries had to give up any thoughts of protesting and focused on forming a formation and charging.
On the other hand, Peter Yeager smiled at the enemy’s movement, which moved as expected.
“The enemy is approaching. He raises the 1st, 3rd, and 4th flags and sends the signal to the entire army. Increase attack power by additionally reinforcing the 13th and 15th divisions to the frontier units of the friendly central army. “Make sure our archers are equipped so they can go out at any time.”
When the flag bearers in charge of the signalman waved their flags loudly, the 13th and 15th divisions came together near the central army’s vanguard unit.
The soldiers stationed at the vanguard further heightened tension.
Because the sudden increase in troops means that there was a forecast that the most intense battle would take place in this place where they had to fight.
“It seems we have the honor of being selected as the main attack force! “Fight without sparing your life!”
“For the glory of the Reich Empire! “We must win at all costs!”
“Don’t panic and just act as ordered. Then you can live. Everyone ready for battle!”
As soon as the last command was given, arrows and magic began to rain down like crazy.