LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 43: Revolutionary Period - Western Front (3)
Translated by – Mara Sov
༺ Revolutionary Period – Western Front (3) ༻
Alsace Front – Germania Empire Headquarters.
At his Kaiserin’s orders, Grand Duke Leopold had no intention of committing to this fight.
However, should his performance in this fight be too sloppy, some unwanted headaches could arise. Therefore, the Grand Duke intended to simply provoke the enemy and engage him just enough to mock a real conflict.
His dance partner for this state was Count Damien De Millbeau.
An unremarkable man whose only feats were his multiple defeats against Lafayette.
Since this man was chosen to lead the southern army in the Marquis’s absence, he should be an easy target.
Thus, the Grand Duke organized his forces, dispatching light cavalrymen and his hussars to raid the nearby villages to bait the enemy.
But the Count didn’t bite the bait.
He focused on building fortified positions around the high grounds and farms, seemingly unconcerned with the nearby villages being reduced to ashes.
So the Grand Duke was forced to reassess his previous understanding of Count Damien De Millbeau, classifying him as a cautious man despite his youth.
That is why he attempted to bait him by launching an ‘unsuccessful’ assault in one of their fortified positions.
Usually, the enemy would be tempted to pursue his forces in this failed attempt to attack their position.
However, the Count still didn’t take the bait.
Even when some ambitious and perhaps disloyal Lords attacked one of the fortified positions on his own, collapsing it, the enemy simply retreated and focused on reorganizing their scattered defenses.
By this point, even the usually temperate Grand Duke was at his wits end, as he proceeded to set a trap.
He split his army in two and moved them towards the Loranne front.
At the same time, he ordered his hussars to capture some messengers and spread false intel that Raphael Valliant’s army had achieved victory in the Loranne Front and were now pursuing the stragglers.
By securing the roads with his prized cavalry, the hussars, there was little chance his deception would be discovered.
The enemy focused solely on defending their position, ignoring the plight of the villages and foregoing the pursuit of any visible victory or the expansion of their lines.
In their nature, soldiers are fundamentally greedy, thirsty for achievements and glory. So, no matter what the commander plans, his subordinates must be discontent with such a stance.
Now imagine that amidst this boiling pot, news of their allies’ victory arrived, and their enemies now dispatched a large part of their army as reinforcements……
If they had been biding their time, waiting for an opportunity, then there shouldn’t be something more irresistible than this.
Yet, Count Damien De Millbeau continued to do nothing.
The young Count appeared to be blind to the political implications of his actions, nor did he appear to be thirsty for achievements. The man was simply content in strengthening his line.
Grand Duke Leopold couldn’t help but laugh in his command center.
“They still refuse to take the bait? Absurd.”
“Just so, Your Grace.”
The Grand Duke put on a stern face as he clasped his hands while studying the war map.
Although it was an action without his consent, the fact that a disloyal Lord failed to lure the enemy even with his successful attack only increased the pressure on the Grand Duke.
The forces he had sent northwest were also expressing their dissatisfaction since they only wasted their time planning an unsuccessful ambush.
And the most pressing problem was the news that the Lorenne front was being completely dominated by the Revolutionaries.
General Valliant, the commander of the Northern Army was exploiting the disorganized command structure of Lorenne by breaking down the enemy with surprise attacks and hit-and-run tactics.
At this point, even the Grand Duke started to feel a slight head under his boots. The excuse of his enemy being overly cautious was no longer a valid one.
It was an objective fact that, while his allies were getting beaten at the Loranne front, the Grand Duke wasted his time without even engaging in a proper battle.
At last, the Grand Duke slammed his fist on the table and rose from his high seat, a twisted smile forming on his face.
“They have no intention of leaving their position. That much is clear now.”
Following his lead, the other officers of the Germania Empire stood up as the Grand Duke continued.
“If they are so determined to wage a defensive battle, then let us give them what they want.”
“By the Grand Duke’s command!”
The battle-hardened veterans of the Germania Empire glared at the defensive lines of the Count on the map.
“They shall know the extent of our mettle.”
–
Alsace Front – Republican Headquarters.
As the Grand Duke expected, the officials under Damien were far from pleased with their commander.
While everyone begged for a shift in strategy, for a more offensive approach, Damien’s response was always the same.
-If we hold on enough, either the Northern Army of the Marquis will come and aid us. That’s why I’m still against this proposal! If you want to go on the offensive so much, can you take responsibility for your failure?
-N-No……
This kind of suppression, coupled with the fact that Damien ignored the villages being raided and various opportunities for an offensive strike, made his subordinates’ discontent grow exponentially.
That was until the forces who marched towards the Lorenne front came back and launched a full offensive under Grand Duke Leopold’s orders.
“See! It was a trap! I was right!”
“Sigh-. My apologies, Count.”
The officials could only bow their heads and seek forgiveness in front of a triumphant Damien.
“So now you guys get it, don’t you? Our primary objective here is defense! Our secondary objective is also defense! Just hold this damn line and we will win!”
“By the Count’s command!”
Right after the officials shouted in unison and went toward their respective units, Damien grabbed the scuff of his neck, which continued to tingle ominously.
He didn’t pay much attention to this feeling when he first fought the Marquis.
The second time, he dismissed it as simply a strange chill.
It was only during the end of the Civil War, that he felt something would go horribly wrong and retreated, saving his life.
That’s why, even when his officials begged for him to go on the offensive, he heeded his ‘Tingle’ and stayed put, even resorting to throwing a tantrum to make them listen.
“Tch. Why the hell I’m feeling this crap again.”
Even when the enemy was hammering his fortified positions with a frontal assault, his ‘Tingle’ continued to set alarms in his mind, so as Damien thoroughly cursed both Pierre and Valliant he stood up from his seat.
–
A few hours after the combat had ensued.
Dozens of cannons from the Germania Empire roared, as numerous cannonballs crashed into the revolutionary’s lines.
“Argh…..”
“Uwaagh!”
The frail human body was crushed and torn before the ruthless steel.
As the body parts of the soldiers continued to be blown off, the fortifications Damien built crumbled, and his stronghold shattered.
Even as he tried to return fire, his few cannons were sufficient to do much damage.
Riding atop his horse, Damien swallowed a lump as he watched his defense lines crumbling as the white-uniformed soldiers of the Germania Empire swarmed his horizon.
Despite the revolutionaries desperately firing from atop the windmills or cellars that Damien had fortified, the overwhelming numbers of Germania pressed on them.
“Look out – Gah!”
“Dammit all! There’s too many of them!”
The soldiers firing from the windows fell one by one, as the Imperial troops started to hammer their muskets into the farm doors.
“Hold the line!”
“Push-!!”
The Revolutionaries braced the doors with their bodies, however, the feeble doors were about to break under the Imperial onslaught.
“Shit! Send the 3rd and 4th regiments!”
“Yes sir! 3rd and 4th regiments…Advance!”
At Damien’s command, the infantry regiments rushed to aid the farm position. The blue-uniformed revolutionaries prepared themselves to engage the enemy at the farm’s flank.
Opposite to them, stood the white-uniformed soldiers under the flag of Grand Duke Leopold.
“Vive La Republic! Men! Aim-“
As the distance shortened, the revolutionaries raised their muskets-
“Fire!”
Their weapons spilled fire as a volley of bullets was set loose.
The Imperial troops fell under the hail of bullets, but the white tide continued to march, undeterred.
“Aim-“
The soldiers in white also lifted their weapons and aimed.
“Fire!”
“Ahhh!”
“M-My Leg! My Leeeg-!!”
Under the overwhelming might of the white tide, the revolutionaries began to drop like flies.
“Do not retreat! Vive la révolution!”
“For Freedom!”
The officers raised their swords, shouting at the soldiers, who tore the paper cases from their pouches, poured gunpowder into the muskets, and rammed the bullets down the barrels.
“Aim–Fire!”
But the white tide was faster, as they reloaded their muskets and unleashed another volley of death.
“Kuhak!”
“Ugh!”
One soldier still fumbling with the barrel of his musket heard the cutting sound of lead being fired, as blood splattered on his face, from someone closer to him.
In an instant, the front line collapsed, as the formation now riddled with holes was quickly overwhelmed with terror.
While the morale of the Revolutionary Army may be outstanding, mental fortitude won’t stop a bullet from coming your way.
The simple sight of the white tide shooting, their allies dying, and their enemies already preparing another volley was enough to overwhelm the staunch revolutionaries.
“Hells! What are they? The Grand Duke’s honor guard or something?”
Damien De Millbeau clicked his tongue as he watched the enemy decimate his troops while they waved the banner of the Grand Duke.
‘The southern army is a veteran among veterans…….My ass it is!’
“That fucking swindler…Valliant!”
Damien cursed, but the bad news wasn’t over yet.
“Count! The enemy cavalry is advancing!”
“Argh! Tell Sir Gaston to handle it!”
“Yes, sir!”
He knew Sir Gaston’s skills all too well, so Damien trusted him to lead the Heavy cavalry.
But would that be enough?
The Knights were once the pride of Francia, but they had almost been extinct during the Civil War. However, Germania was also known to have just as many Knights as Francia had.
Damien kept holding the reins of his horse as his neck had gone stiff from his continued ‘Tingle’.
It was a shame to abandon the fortifications, but in hindsight, it may have been better to retreat now and save some of his troops.
“Messenger coming through!”
“What! Why are you back?!”
Damien’s face soured as he realized this messenger was the one he sent an hour ago requesting reinforcements, and not a messenger from the Northern Army.
“My Lord, I’m sorry, but the hussars have us trapped here. There’s simply no way out.”
“Heh…hehehehe….HaHaHaHa…..HAHAHAHAHA…..”
The front lines were already beyond hope, and the enemy cavalry had already encircled them, just waiting for the right moment to rip the retreating army apart.
Damien’s face was pale, as he looked towards the terrifying flag of Grand Duke Leopold fluttering among the blood and steel.
“I don’t care anymore! Be it Valliant or the Marquis, if someone doesn’t come to our aid now, we’re all doomed!”
–
The blue-uniformed revolutionaries sent as reinforcements to the farm were shattered into pieces and scattered to the wind.
Against the Grand Duke’s personal regiment, composed of war heroes, even Pierre’s own carefully raised army was nothing more than cannon fodder.
Through his telescope, the Grand Duke could see that all the Revolutionaries on the farm either surrendered or were dead, as the flag of Germania stood proudly in the region. Turning his gaze aside, he observed the heavy cavalry of both sides clashing.
His eyes narrowed as he observed the battle.
“……The Knights of Francia should have been nearly annihilated in their Civil War.”
“That is correct, Your Grace.”
“Then who are they?”
Hearing the Grand Duke’s question, the chief of staff also took out a telescope and surveyed the battle.
The difference in the size of the forces tilted towards their side, but the revolutionaries’ heavy cavalry was holding on.
No, it almost looked like the Empire’s heavy cavalry, though double their numbers, was being pushed back.
Because Pierre’s troops had some rudimentary knowledge about mana, they couldn’t contend with a true Knight, but this gave them a good advantage over the Empire’s mana-less heavy cavalry.
But the Knights should have been able to overpower them……
The Grand Duke squinted his eyes through the telescope to observe a single Knight at the vanguard, battling off numerous Imperial Knights.
“……This brings back some rather unpleasant memories.”
The overwhelming fear he experienced on the battlefield decades ago as a mere Knight, witnessing the Blue Knight’s might……It was clear that this young man hadn’t reached such a monstrous level.
However, the very existence of such a person triggered a primal and deep-rooted fear in the Empire’s troops.
The Grand Duke slowly removed the telescope from his eyes.
Although the enemy heavy cavalry didn’t collapse as he had hoped, the tide of battle was already in his grasp.
The enemy made excellent fortifications and made good use of the terrain.
They fought with caution, and even Damien, a man unfamiliar with the military doctrine involving firearms, had acquitted himself well enough.
But no strategy could hold against an enemy superior in both numbers and quality.
Of course, the Empire’s losses here weren’t zero, but they could easily capture the Southern army, and it would be worth it since-
“Your Grace!”
The Grand Duke’s thoughts were interrupted by an urgent shout.
“What is it?”
“Enemy forces are approaching us from the south!”
“What did you say?”
“They carry the banner of Lafayette, My Lord!”
TL Note: Well this is awkward I just spent the whole weekend working on some IRL Stuff, so these chapters came out a little late. The chapters for this week will also cum on the late side as well, like Thue or Friday!’
Sowwyyyyy u won’t get mwad at mwe right?????????????????????????
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