27 – Crown Prince vs Northern Grand Duke – 11
Music is heard everywhere.
Sounds of pain and cries.
It was a completely different look from yesterday when it was advancing majestically.
Many soldiers suffered serious wounds from swords, spears, and arrows.
Even the relatively healthy soldiers had to slow down their march to support the wounded soldiers.
Meanwhile, there was the only intact unit. It was the company that had been ambushed in the forest with Charles.
Gabriel muttered as he looked at the injured people.
“This is terrible. Because if we took one wrong step, we would end up like that too… ”
The other soldiers nodded.
“Sir, thank you very much. In fact, our son was born two months ago, and without the bookkeeper, we would have become fish food in that river.”
That was not wrong. If Charles hadn’t submitted an operation plan, they would most likely be dead.
When Charles nodded, a messenger approached from afar. The messenger, relatively unharmed because he did not participate in the battle, shouted to Charles.
“Charles Jean Rochepole! Charles Jean Rochepole is there!”
“It is me.”
“This is Dian-sama’s order. Please follow me.”
Diane’s orders! Hearing this, Charles was taken aback. I heard that Dian was seriously injured, but did he come to his senses already?
Following the messenger, he found Dian, who was being carried on a stretcher, looking up at Charles while lying down. I was confused when I saw Professor Diane de Balboa, who was always dignified, doing this.
“General.”
People have eyes on him, so he called him general, not professor, and bowed his head. Originally, I had to prostrate myself, but I couldn’t help it because I was on a horse.
“Charles.”
Dian bowed his head and accepted the greeting.
“I heard the situation. The soldiers survived because you secured the retreat.”
“Yes.”
“Good job. If it wasn’t for you, the damage would have been greater. Thanks to you, His Highness, the Crown Prince, has retained a lot of power.”
“I just did what I had to do.”
But Dian shook his head.
“No, you did a lot more than you should. When we all rushed towards the wrong road, only you were figuring out which direction the right road was. It’s just embarrassing as an adult.”
Charles neither affirmed nor denied. It was true, but admitting it in front of everyone would be treating everyone like an idiot. Normally, Dian wouldn’t have said this in front of people, but he seemed to be honest because he was distracted from being sick.
“Charles Jean Rochepole.”
“Yes.”
“From now on, I entrust all command of the Balboa Army to you. You are the leader of Balboa’s army until I can regain my strength and take command. Take good care of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
The moment he heard that, Charles couldn’t help but be astonished. There were several knights under Dian. Even so, Dian skipped all those knights and handed over command to Charles!
Of course, Charles did a good job. It wasn’t such a strange thing, since he saved thousands with only a thousand soldiers. But at the same time, it was also an unconventional greeting. Entrusting command of the entire army to a temporary guide who was a cadet at Arcadia Academy! In peacetime, it would have been unimaginable. And Charles was not the only one who thought so.
“General! That is nonsense! How can you entrust the command of an entire army to such a kid! The war is not over yet! The Northerners will push in more! Do you think this kid can fend off enemies?”
It was the cry of Paul, who worked under Charles.
‘That bastard is starting again… ‘
Even when I first came, I picked it up a lot, and now I’m shouting at the professor.
“Charles is trustworthy. Rather, it was me who was wrong… Ugh.”
The next moment, Dian lost consciousness. The knights were startled and called for Diane, but the doctor looked around for a moment and said that he had only lost his mind. Meanwhile, the knights under Balboa’s army were in a difficult situation. It was because Diane de Balboa had told him to follow Charles just before losing consciousness.
“Heh heh, how should I do this… ”
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No matter how many times he made his mark, he was only a cadet at Arcadia Academy. This would have been the first time he had commanded a real army, and an army of such size. There were many people who felt uncomfortable entrusting the fate of the entire army to such a kid.
Charles took on the job of acting commander-in-chief with such a sense of pressure.
—–
I entered a castle named Tallinn in the rear. When I counted the remaining soldiers two days after entering, it was about 15,000. Considering that there were 35,000 soldiers before the battle started, we could see how great the damage was. More than half of them died or disappeared.
In particular, Diane de Balboa’s army suffered more damage. Dian originally commanded 5,000 of his troops, but this fight left only 3,000 left.
Until Dian came to his senses, Charles had to operate an army of 3,000.
‘3,000 is a big number when you say it’s big, but it’s a small number when you say it’s small.’
A number too large to ignore and too small to change the situation. Charles should use these 3,000 to make the most of his performance.
‘If this is the best way to manage 3,000… ‘
That was to receive independent command. Even if he moved under the crown prince, it would be difficult to set up a proper ball. It was because the crown prince was an incompetent strategist. In order to build the ball, none other than I have to move the army myself. Charles thought so.
And the next day, the prince summoned his generals.
Diane de Balboa was supposed to attend, but because Diane was unconscious, Charles, the deputy, attended instead.
As Charles sat down in the council table, the other nobles started whispering.
The moment a noble tried to talk to Charles, the prince entered.
The impression I got as soon as I saw the crown prince was that he was quite similar to Princess Leonia. Although Leonia was far ahead in terms of ability, there were similarities between the crown prince and Leonia in terms of appearance.
In other words, the prince was incredibly handsome. Isn’t it natural that Princess Leonia is a great beauty?
When the prince appeared, the orchestra played instruments. Those who were sitting in the conference room rose from their seats and prostrated themselves to the crown prince. Charles was the same.
Then, the prince sat down and opened his mouth.
“Everyone is welcome. But there is a face I have never seen before.”
The prince looked at Charles and Charles replied.
“I participated instead of Diane de Balboa. I have been entrusted with command until Master Balboa wakes up.”
“You seem to be a temporary tactician who secured an escape route.”
“Yes.”
started whispering around. Rumors seem to have secured a way out.
But the prince didn’t say anything more. He neither praised Charles for his merits nor praised his insight. It was probably because Charles was from a local fallen nobleman. The prince used to judge people based on their background, not on their abilities. It was completely different from Princess Leonia.
“Well, then let’s start the military doctor.”
Thus, the real military doctor began.
“Liam, report the situation.”
“Yes. It is said that only Chronorgun 1 crossed the Crotea Peninsula and reached Says Castle. Upon hearing the news of the defeat of his allies, Baron Albon, the lord of Seizu Castle, immediately went over to the enemy. Thanks to this, Says Castle has now fallen into the hands of the enemy, and Crotea Castle, which is in front of Says Castle, is in an isolated state.”
It’s complicated when you hear it like this, but if you explain the situation, it’s roughly like this.
On the far right of the map was the castle of Crotea, on the left of it was Sayes Castle, and on the left of it was Tallinn Castle.
Crotea Castle guards the corner of the Crotea Peninsula, and Tallinn Castle guards the entrance to the mainland of the Empire. Then what about Seizu Castle? It serves as a bridgehead connecting the Crotea Peninsula and Tallinn Castle.
It was the northern part of the empire that was building a defensive posture by linking each other like this, but Seizu Castle, the most central of these, fell into the hands of the enemy.
It felt like this when I drew it on a map.
—————mountain—————-
———-Seizu Castle————
Tallinn Castle—–Sea—–Crotea
In other words, the bridgehead connecting Tallinn Castle and Crotea Castle was cut off and Crotea Castle was isolated.
“Only 1 Kronor army is guarding Says Castle, and the remaining 3,000 are besieging Crotea Castle. Sir Juan guarding Crotea Castle is requesting reinforcements. But as you know, Seizu Castle is in front of Crotea Castle, and Seizu Castle is the lord of Seizu Castle… ”
“You betrayed the enemy.”
“Yes. All in all, the bridgehead connecting the center betrayed them. At this rate, the front and rear of the allies will be divided, and Crotea Castle will fall into the hands of the enemy.”
And Crotea Castle was the domain of Diane de Balboa. When Dian realizes that his last name has been passed on, he will be deeply saddened when he comes to his senses.
“Does anyone among them have a way to recover Seizu Castle and protect Crotea Castle?”
But no one raised their hand. That would also be true, the full strength of our army is 15,000. Even those soldiers were demoralized by a great defeat. How would you beat the northerners?
but only one.
“I have a trick.”
Only Charles Jean Rochepol quietly raised his hand.