Chapter 172 ·The Spreading War in the Southern Empire (1)

Count Shatin had collapsed.

What sudden nonsense was this?

Count Shatin was receiving support from the nobles of the Southern Empire and the powerful republic of the Apennine Peninsula.

Yet he had fallen?

Shatien was quite taken aback, but quickly collected his wits. Being startled was a matter for later.

“Just how on earth was he defeated? From what I know, the military might led by Count Shatin is no easy feat. On top of that, the number of troops the Emperor could mobilize should've been vastly insufficient.”

“That is correct, Lord Count. They say the Emperor brought seven thousand troops.”

“He lost to seven thousand?”

That was even more astonishing.

Wasn't that nearly half the size? If so, there definitely had to be a reason. And sure enough:

“Yes. He received support of two thousand steppe tribal warriors from the Eastern Elector, led them, and launched a night raid.”

“Ha-ha…”

Listening to the conversation, Mage Agphiel let out a hearty, hollow laugh.

Steppe tribal warriors.

Weren't they monsters who were master riders practically born on horseback? Though lightly armored, they were formidable warriors wielding deadly and powerful bows.

“It seems our young Count will have to fight quite a tough battle?”

“When has there ever been an easy battle, Mage Agphiel.”

“That is true as well. Heh-heh.”

Though he spoke bravely, it was true that he felt inwardly burdened. Shatien let out an inward sigh and looked at the Church's envoy.

“What instructions came down from the Church? I will move in accordance with the Church's policy as much as possible.”

“Oh! Truly a devout Count. His Holiness has decided to raise an army alongside the republic. If Your Excellency could join us, it would be a tremendous help.”

“Understood. If that's the case, Sir, please convey the word to the Church quickly. We will muster the army and head directly to Count Shatin's county first. We will be rallying the routed troops there, so see you soon.”

“Understood, Your Excellency!”

Saying so, the envoy hurriedly left the room. He knew it too. That speed was life itself.

The Emperor's first strike had been that devastating and shocking at the same time.

* * *

Fortunately, mustering the army didn't take much time.

Just in time, the Church's mercenary bands hadn't disbanded after the war ended and were resting in nearby cities, while the mercenaries of the Mercenary Bureau Shatien had prepared remained fully intact.

Thanks to that, Shatien was able to gather a force close to seven thousand in a very short time.

Of course, that didn't mean they could move immediately.

The army was too large to move all at once, and supplies hadn't been properly prepared yet.

The outcome of war always begins with solid preparation.

Therefore, while Shatien gathered intelligence through merchant groups, scouts, and envoys from various noble houses, he advanced the fully organized units toward Count Shatin's territory one by one.

“Snort. Just what on earth did Count Shatin do to lose? Looking at it, the difference seems at least twofold.”

“Tsk, tsk. Didn't you hear? They brought those barbarians along. Besides, is the Emperor soft? Since he was originally a formidable commander, he'd easily crush a force twice his size.”

“Hmph. Still, it's a twofold difference, Centurion Jenga.”

“Centurion? I am a knight now. And strictly speaking, the Deputy Director of the Mercenary Bureau!”

“Oh dear. Putting on airs over a mere knighthood. I am a baron, you know? Ahem.”

“…You little brat! Seriously.”

Miles spoke while putting on airs. After the battle for Mediolanum ended previously, Miles had settled all his merits and received the rank of baron. Of course, it was an honorary title without a fief, but that was still something. While Centurion Jenga—no, Sir Jenga—was merely a quasi-noble knight.

‘Hehehe.’

Miles thought he had done well by sticking closely to the treasure trove that was Shatien.

“Tsk, tsk. Two little mudskippers have quite a lot to say. The battlefield is right before our eyes, yet commanders cannot distinguish right from wrong like this. Do you still need more training?”

Joachim, who had arrived from behind leading the elven knights and a hundred of his disciples(?), clicked his tongue and spoke.

“H-gasp!”

“Kh-khm. Not at all. Snort.”

Miles and Jenga, who had been acting arrogant, hastily covered their mouths and hurriedly turned away.

It was because the memory of Joachim's gruesome training from the past came to mind.

At first, they were glad to hear it was a knight's training method, but they suffered through actions closer to torture under the guise of endless drills. Thanks to that, they broke into fits whenever they saw Joachim.

“Haha. Master, please don't be too harsh on them.”

“Not too harsh? You're too soft yourself. When commanders lose their focus like this, the damage is borne entirely by the troops under them. A commander must always be strict and serious.”

Well, it was true, so he had nothing to say in return. Instead of answering, Shatien nodded and changed the subject.

“How do you think the Emperor is moving right now, Master? Since he crushed the main force led by Count Shatin, it would make sense for him to keep pursuing and annihilate them entirely.”

At that, his master Joachim showed a skeptical reaction.

“The fact that the Emperor launched a night raid is counter-evidence that he lacked the strength to fight head-on. Pursuing them to the bitter end won't be easy. Supplies and materials are lacking, and his troops are at a numerical disadvantage, aren't they?”

“Certainly. He will garrison in a nearby fortress and resupply first. Since he won the battle, nobles who were testing the waters will flock beneath the Emperor, swelling his forces further.”

“Of course, that is under standard circumstances.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I heard he received support of steppe tribal warriors from the Eastern Elector?”

Shatien nodded.

“That is correct. I heard it's around three thousand troops.”

“Steppe tribal warriors are natural riders from birth. Especially since most are lightly armored, they are extremely fast and perfect for hit-and-run tactics.”

“Hmm… Don't tell me?”

“Yes. That's right. Considering their habit of loving plunder, even more so.”

Shatien understood what Master Joachim meant.

An indiscriminate scorched-earth campaign utilizing tribal warriors.

It would build immense resentment among the nobles of the relevant fiefs, but from the Emperor's perspective, who cared? Since relations were already fractured, pushing forward more harshly might be better.

Simultaneously, releasing the steppe tribal warriors would weaken the solidarity of the other nobles gathered around Count Shatin.

Because no feudal lord wouldn't turn his army around while his own home burned. To nobles, wasn't their own fief what mattered most?

“So we must pray that the surroundings have collapsed less than thought, and that the Emperor has restored his strength less than anticipated, disciple.”

“It won't be easy. If they run wild as Master predicted, even more nobles will side with the Emperor.”

“You saw it accurately.”

If so, there was no time to stay like this. Even if it meant taking risks, they might have to march the army quickly to join Count Shatin; otherwise, they might end up facing the Imperial Army while leading Count Shatin's entirely disintegrated forces.

It was a bizarre fight where dragging out time became increasingly disadvantageous.

“Advance quickly for now. Contact the Mercantile Association for supplies. We will procure them directly in the Southern Empire.”

“Understood.”

Soon, following the fully organized vanguard, the main force marched north rapidly.

Fortunately, since well-maintained roads led up to the Southern Empire, moving up didn't take very long.

“At this speed, we'll arrive at the region where Count Shatin is staying very soon. There is a fortress belonging to Count Shatin's county nearby, so we can resupply there. Let's rest there for a moment. Heh-heh. Everyone is quite exhausted.”

Being a fortress located at the rearmost line, procuring supplies would be very convenient. Therefore, Mage Agphiel spoke in a confident tone.

He didn't think there would be problems all the way out here.

― Waaaaah!

― Push harder! We can bring it down soon!

And the unthinkable occurred.

The rearmost fortress was being attacked by the Imperial Army.

“……”

“……”

“Didn't you say we could rest comfortably, Mage Agphiel?”

* * *

A fortress located at the southernmost tip of the border connecting the Southern Empire and the Apennine Peninsula. This was a fortress situated at the rearmost line based on the front against the Emperor.

Yet it was suffering a sudden assault like this?

‘Don't tell me we've been pushed back this far?’

Shatien's expression hardened slightly.

Because he felt the war situation might be worse than expected.

However, now wasn't the time to show such signs.

*Clang!*

Drawing his sword immediately, he pointed at the enemy attacking the fortress.

“All troops, advance! It is time to show the Emperor's insolent dogs who the true loyal subjects of the Empire are.”

Judgments could come later. Now was the time to crush the enemy before their eyes.

― U-uh?

― It's the enemy! Dammit. Fall back! Enemy to our rear. Form a square!

Belatedly, the enemy commander noticed the appearance of the army led by Shatien, but it was too late.

Too many troops had already been deployed for the siege. Turning around to respond right now was impossible with the siege in full swing.

*Rumble, rumble, rumble.*

“Kiiiyahooo! Follow me! Let's show those fools what honorable knights are.”

“For death! Honor calls us!”

The elven knights charged like a raging wave, crashing into the bastards. And right behind them, the hundred elite mercenary cavalrymen trained by Master Joachim followed closely.

*Neigh!*

*Aaaargh!*

*Crack, crunch.*

*Snap.*

Packed with immense mass and acceleration, the heavy cavalry trampled the enemies as they were. A heavy cavalry charge was something barely stoppable even when forming an infantry square.

Yet when all they had was mere foot infantry that hadn't even formed a square?

It was an environment far too ideal for heavy cavalry to run wild.

The cavalry charge spearheaded by the elven knights pierced right through their thin formation, turned back around, and repeatedly shattered them to pieces.

― Waaaah!

― It's reinforcements!

Thanks to that, a thunderous cheer erupted from the fortress holding out on defense.

The besieging side's morale began plummeting drastically. Several hastily dropped their weapons to surrender, while others pressed themselves flat against the ground, waiting only for this hell to end.

The quick-witted ones turned around and tried hard to flee, but that wasn't a good judgment either.

Having already clustered tightly near the walls, there wasn't much room to maneuver.

*Crunch, crunch.*

*Crack!*

*Aaaargh!*

Becoming prey to the heavy cavalry as they were, they began getting crushed as if struck by a giant's hammer.

A total catastrophe.

“D-dammit! Retreat! Retreat!”

Thanks to that, sadly, the order to retreat had no choice but to fall from the Imperial Army commander's mouth before an hour had even passed since the battle began.