Chapter 504 - Chapter 2: The Crown Prince of Engrio
West Liber is a country located almost in the middle of a huge peninsula-like terrain in the western part of the continent. Since most of its land is fertile plains, agriculture has flourished since ancient times and the population is large. The northern and southern parts face the sea, and the eastern and western parts are connected by land to other countries. Among them, the eastern part shares a border with East Liber through a forest zone. East and West Liber, along with South Liber, were originally one country, but as a result of being divided and inherited by three brothers, they have become like rivals who fight each other throughout their long history.
Regarding the relationship of both countries with the White Island, East Liber was more intimate. The multiple countries once called the West Coast nations were originally founded by mercenaries from the northwestern part of East Liber, and partly because of that connection, they frequently sent reinforcements to each other.
Within that Engrio, Crown Prince Richard, leading the nobles who own territories in the eastern region close to Morandine, had landed in the northeastern part of East Liber—which could be called the land of his ancestors—as reinforcements for the East Liber army and established a base.
With the reinforcements from the East Liber army, the military strength easily exceeded ten thousand.
"It's been over half a month already. Exactly how long do you intend to make us wait?"
He had heard that after landing and organizing the troops, they would advance toward West Liber. Instead, they have spent over half a month in the fields designated as a base without the order to advance being issued. Richard, the Crown Prince of Engrio, was irritated by that and raised his voice in spite of himself.
His noble-like appearance makes one think he has naturally inherited the majesty of the royal family. His lightly waved blonde hair is long for a male of this era, extending past his shoulders. He prefers to wear black clothes, and even the silver chain mail, which only the royal family or some great nobles have in Engrio, is painted pitch black.
Resembling his father the King, who is called a bellicose king by the various nations of the White Island, he excels in martial arts, and in his military command leading the nobles of the eastern region of Engrio, he was evaluated as cautious yet decisive. In the previous war, he calmed the nobles who were shaken by the sudden change of heart of Morandine, who was supposed to be an ally, contacted Mortimer, who was fighting the siege of the Sertorian border fortress, and at the same time, by deploying the infantry units from the continent that Mortimer had left behind just in case in northeastern Engrio, he prevented the invasion of the granary region by the Medioland army led by James.
On the surface, Mortimer's swift and decisive retreat, which countered the Medioland army's magic-like mobility, stood out, but the nobles of the eastern region know that in reality, that wouldn't have happened without Richard's movements. Also as a sign of gratitude for protecting most of their territories, they placed trust in Richard's command ability.
That Richard is saying that now is the time to invade. The nobles of the eastern region who were attached as staff thought that must be the case.
"The King of East Liber has built up this much of a containment net. The enemy must be shaken and struggling to respond. That being the case, we should advance rapidly and strike fear into the enemy!"
Richard's blue eyes are directed straight at the staff member attached as a military supervisor from East Liber.
As long as he keeps insisting on waiting for instructions from the home country, the Engrio army cannot move.
"I can't wait any longer! Originally, our army was supposed to be allowed independent action. We're advancing immediately! Understood!"
"B-But..."
The military supervisor from East Liber, who was scolded in a loud voice, still tried to stop Richard's arbitrary action.
"Where is the problem? Isn't it obvious that the opportunity for battle is now?"
He was also pressed by the Engrio nobles who stood completely on Richard's side.
"Theresia-sama, who was supposed to restrain the West Liber Navy, has left the army for plague treatment. At this rate, the supply lines for this land and Engrio, and the escape route in case of emergency, will be threatened by the West Liber Navy."
A tactical attack on West Liber utilizing the transport capacity of the Engrio Navy was the original plan.
"Both are unnecessary."
To the military supervisor, who was tilting his head, Richard said clearly with a thin smile on his face.
"We'll just go around plundering the weak spots of the West Liber army like this. The enemy's main army will be wary of the East Liber main army. Our army will show a maneuver to circle around to their rear."
"Y-You will be surrounded!"
"We won't. We'll pretend to go to the rear and then pull back here."
"Wha, such a thing..."
"It's possible. The enemy thinks our army will attack mainly on the coastline. At the same time, they also think the East Liber main army will invade the inland. We'll advance as if cutting through the middle of them. We'll advance while plundering for provisions at every place we go. My father and the wise King of East Liber will understand my intent and show a posture of invading from both east and west. We just have to pull back while both armies are drawing the enemy's attention."
I wonder if it can be called a clever scheme...
Riding through the enemy is not without precedent in the past. However, on an army scale... the damage to the West Liber towns that are attacked would be quite severe...
The military supervisor felt something terrifying from Richard.
In the end, being pushed by Richard and his staff, the military supervisor also consented to the sortie.
Originally, as Richard said, the discretion lay with Richard, and the military supervisor was merely an advisor. However, East Liber is a major power, and even a Crown Prince couldn't easily ignore its existence. In Richard's case, since his mother was East Liber royalty and he held the right of succession to the East Liber throne, such strong statements were possible.
Scouts have already been sent out to the surroundings.
The scouts are East Liberians, and they have local knowledge precisely because they usually activity around this land. They already fully grasped around where the West Liber army was gathering.
Richard was looking at a map on which roads, towns, and enemy army positions were written, but he pointed at one spot casually.
"First is here. Shall we attack here?"
It's a place with nothing. To be precise, there's a small village, but it's not the kind of place an army of ten thousand would attack.
"There's nothing there."
The military supervisor doesn't understand the intent.
"I suppose not. But, it's here."
"Why such a place?"
"It's simple. Because I want to win the first battle."
Saying so and laughing, he issued the order for the sortie to his staff.
◆◆◆◆
"Excellency! It's a disaster. The Engrio army that came as reinforcements for East Liber has moved!"
In a town fortress located at a distance that would take half a day on foot from the fields Richard had designated as a base, a certain nobleman was in the middle of having lunch. Just then, one of his subordinates rushed in, looking out of breath.
"W-What! Is it true!"
The nobleman called Excellency stood up, and the servants gasped. It has finally begun.
His wife took the hands of their still-young daughter and son and led them to the back.
"It's true. Please prepare for the sortie immediately!"
"Weren't they supposed to not move the army until Theresia returned from the White Island!"
"There was certainly such information, but unfortunately it seems it was wrong."
"Agh! Those fools! So, is the enemy coming here?"
"No, they are heading southwest."
"Southwest?"
"Yes."
The nobleman tilted his head in wonder. To the south, there's a considerable distance to the major towns. There are only small villages dotted around the vast plains.
Originally, it was thought that the main goal of this war would be the capture of several ports in northern West Liber. Those ports are on the opposite shore of the White Island, and the country on that opposite shore is Engrio. It's a close ally of East Liber, and if that army holds a base for landing in northern West Liber... it would be a great loss both militarily and economically.
The Engrio army's immediate target is the northern coastal port towns and not the inland. It was a logic even a child would understand.
Before starting this war, East Liber built up a relationship of alliance that could be called a West Liber containment net. And that is something that pressures the northern part of West Liber. If the northern ports fall into Engrio's hands, the prolongation of the war is unavoidable, and the disadvantage for West Liber, which is being surrounded, is unavoidable. Such a situation had to be avoided at all costs.
As a countermeasure, the West Liber side had been proceeding with the fortification of the port towns, strengthening the fortresses in the southern hinterland so that reinforcements could be sent at any time, and preparing for enemy landings and offensives along the coastline.
The nobleman who received the report during lunch with his family that the Engrio army had set out from its base and headed southwest was also searching for the movements of the Engrio army daily as the master of a fortress strengthened with funds from the royal palace.
The report brought by that scout said they were invading inland, which could only be called disadvantageous for Engrio.
"Why go to such a place?"
"I don't know. However, if they continue as they are, it's thought they will reach the middle between our allies who are prepared for the East Liber main army and the Royal Capital."
"In other words, the division of the vanguard army and the Royal Capital?"
"Probably..."
"Nothing else can be considered. What's the military strength?"
"The Engrio army has five thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry. The East Liber army has four thousand infantry and one thousand cavalry. I'm told the two armies combined are about twelve thousand."
Hmm, the nobleman thought. The enemy is almost their entire army. He has twenty thousand if he gathers them from the surroundings. He should be able to win even in a fair fight.
Will it take a full day for them to finish gathering? However, it won't be too late even if we move after that.
Even if we leave them alone, the enemy will just walk the path of self-destruction. Eventually, they'll be surrounded and wiped out by our allies. That said, if I do nothing, I won't be able to avoid the slur that I was intimidated by an enemy half our size. As a knight, that alone must be avoided.
"Alright, we're pursuing. Instruct the subordinates in the surroundings to gather immediately. Also, notify our allies on the front line. Tell them the Engrio army has moved. The enemy likely intends to head southwest once and then make a large left-hand detour to appear behind our allies. Conversely, if we drive them there and surround them, we can easily wipe them out. Convey it like that."
"Then, will Your Excellency do it alone?"
"I have to strike them at least once and drive them. We have more troops. The more time it takes, the more disadvantageous it becomes for the enemy. If we gather our troops and advance, they'll run away."
"I see. Then, let's do it like that."
"Umu, I'm counting on you."
Until now, there were only skirmishes between small units. We're finally entering a full-scale war.
If it becomes a war of attrition, the one who has the advantage of the land will be favored. Those who have come on an expedition cannot maintain their logistics. Seeing through that, the Engrio army made the first move. It seems the East Liber main army is also likely to move. If we build up our posture before it becomes a large battle, we can fight advantageously.
That Engrio brat, as someone who has inherited the blood of the East Liber royal family, he probably wants to achieve the merit of the first battle, but I won't let him.
If he wins, his name will remain as a hero. The nobleman smiled to himself.
◆◆◆◆
Three days later, after slaughtering two villages and one small town, Richard faced the West Liber army that had pursued him.
The difference in military strength was about double. They weren't an opponent he could win against by clashing head-on.
However, contrary to the West Liber side's expectation that he would flee east in fear of the difference in strength, he reversed and advanced back the way he came, taking a posture to intercept the advancing enemy.
The West Liber army was caught off guard by Richard, who showed an unexpected maneuver. The reinforcements in the surroundings are maneuvering to surround him on Richard's expected route. They can't easily make contact.
However, they are winning in terms of military strength. It's a plain surrounded by forests on both sides, with a single stream flowing through the middle. In a head-on clash, the one with more numbers wins. Thinking so, the West Liber army formed ranks to fight with orthodox methods.
"Have they come?"
"Yes. They have twice our army's numbers."
"You've set up the fences, right?"
"Yes. They should be able to prevent a cavalry charge. I've also made barriers using wagons."
"Then it's fine. The details are as we discussed earlier."
"Understood."
After finishing an exchange that was too simple to be called a briefing with his staff, Richard had the army banner raised high.
On the continent, which has vast plains, it's no exaggeration to say that a cavalry charge decides everything. The various nations of the continent put effort into training cavalry, and the West Liber army was the same. And to make use of their numbers, a cavalry charge was the strategy that exerted the maximum offensive power.
And the battle seemed to proceed according to that standard.
Against the West Liber army's cavalry charge, even the cavalry in Richard's army dismounted and readied bows. The Engrio army, which had experience struggling against the long range of Sertorian archers, had improved their bows and trained and reorganized their archers after the defeat. Normally, they would extend the range further with wind magic, but that's not possible in battles on the continent. However, instead, they had increased the proportion of archers since there were no magic soldiers.
The length of the range was certain, and continuous volleys by many archers are an effective tactic against soldiers wearing chain mail. The attacks from long range and the barriers combining wooden fences and wagons once they got close didn't easily let the enemy cavalry approach, and they knocked down the knights one after another.
The West Liber army, whose cavalry charge didn't go as they hoped, ordered the second wave of infantry to charge. The cavalry, who had received reinforcements, repeatedly tried to destroy the barriers, and in fact, they pried open entry points in several places. Once they get inside the fences, they are fragile. Thinking so, the West Liber army was heartened by the struggle of the front line and sent out the third and fourth waves.
Just then, five hundred cavalry Richard had sent out in advance attacked the enemy's main camp from the rear after making a large detour through the forest.
Seeing the collapse of the main camp, the West Liber army was greatly shaken. And Richard's offensive began.
Overturning the double difference in military strength and capturing the enemy's commander alive, Richard headed to that commander's fortress and began surrender negotiations. He pressed them, saying to hand over money, weapons, and food in exchange for him not attacking.
The fortress side, which had lost most of its military strength and had its commander captured alive, had no choice but to comply with the demands and handed over money, which could be called ransom, and a large amount of weapons and food to Richard.
Having received those, Richard loaded the spoils of war onto wagons and continued his march westward as he was.