Vol 5 Chapter 3 (1/2)

The next day

Shortly after noon, the Seventh Imperial Army arrived at Rouen city

Although the unit was filled with infantry and little cavalry, they were veterans who served in the eastern frontlines which saw action as intense as the northern frontlines

The Seventh Iuesonne’s private arulars while the others were light infantry, militias conscripted from their territories

Whatever the case was, all of the the General aura they were e

Beilschiment’s camp was located the south of the city The Seventh I them

Seeing this situation, Altina frowned

“What is that supposed to h the north, east and west of the city are empty, they choose to come to the south?”

“Most likely, they want to intimidate us”

Regis could not think of any other reasons

In such situation, they should not be foolish enough to fight ast themselves Even the General of the Seventh Imperial Army knew that

It was likely that this provocation was less… That or the Seventh Imperial Army had their own plans Whatever it was, thefor them noas not to care about this

However, Altina was unable to calm down

“Do you want to protest against this?”

“It’s just a cheap provocation, there’s no need to react to it… If we aren’t careful, weour authority”

“Ahh, not bad That’s the way to go”

“While I don’t know Lieutenant General Barguesonne, I got the feeling he is someone I do not wish to meet”

“Ara, how rare for Regis not to know so”

“About the nobles, while there are biographies about them, they cannot be used as a reference as they usually beautify the work”

“They are just filled with praises and compliments anyway”

“Well… According to all the legendary exploits of the nobles, we should have deci countries three times over But somehoe are still at ith them”

“What a stupid legend”

While they were conversing, a horse the Seventh Imperial Army’s banner came over

He was a er

Soon, the heavy cavalryiment’s camp From his ier but an officer as a noble

Despite being an ally, soldiers fro intent due to the pointless provocation by the Seventh Imperial Army

The Seventh Imperial Army surrounded their unit as if they were the enemy

As if not caring about this, the er dismounted and kneeled

“Pardon uesonne!”

In terht to issue orders due to his rank being higher than Altina Even so, they should first link up as it was basic etiquette

Altina had a terrifying look

Even though Regis did not like to stand out, he walked forwards as it would be troublesome if a problem arise here

“Pray convey the orders”

“A war council will convene soon, please make haste to the Seventh Army’s headquarters”

“As ordered, ill attend immediately”

Regis didn't bother with the lack of preceeding etiquette If he wanted to pursue this, he should do so only in his heart

Regis who lacked self-esteeer was

Do they have to do this as to assert their position? He harboured doubts

Inti No matter what, it was impossible for them to be enemies officially

Regis took out a watch from his chest pocket and confirmed the time

“Then… Please pass down theat fourteen hundred hours”

“Understood!”

The horseiment’s soldiers

And sneered

“I heard that the Beilschiment held the northern border and captured Fort Volks, but to think the regiment is just so normal”

The surrounding was getting agitated to the point they would immediately jumped on him and cut him up

Just before Altina who felt the strongest urge to do just that could react, Regis replied theinterested in it

“Was it General Barguesonne’s order to disparage us?”

“No”

“Then, please pass down the following e to the General It’s better not to send a noisy er”

“?!”

The ered by it

The soldiers around the

If Regis did not say those words, then the army’s morale would be affected

After being called annoying, saying anything er saluted and quickly mounted the horse

Woohoo! The soldiers let out sounds as to ridicule the er

Altina sighed in relief

“Thanks, Regis”

“To think that after teeks of e in a war of words between allies, how appalling”

“If not for you, I would have drawn my sword out”

“As we had to meet the General after this, it would be troublesome if we do not control ourselves a little”

“To think there is another strong eneh Britannia’s army”

She doesn't see to have a headache

“Thanks for your hard work, come in”

General Barguesonne was sitting on a chair larger than anyone else and said so without lowering his head

Fro attitude, one could understand his speech was for the sake of formality

He was an old man hite hair and beard Because of his wrinkles, his scary look was even , and pierced through the Regis who did not train his back muscles

Beside him was an aide armed with spear

The Lieutenant General was sois was born

Altina as addressing hiht hand to her chest

“General Barguesonne, I have a question to ask before co under your command”

Regis felt so him

What does she want to say? Regis began to tremble as he could not determine what she mean to say

Those who cais and a few guards ere outside waiting

Jerouys” and did not show hi thetoo

The Seventh Ier than that of Beilschiment

Rather than saying that it was a conference roo at the innermost The senior officers stood at either sides as if they were opening a path in the middle

There were about thirty people

Even for a e number

Altina was staring straight at the General

The soldiers at the sides glared at them

While Regis wanted to stop Altina fro so improper

Altina received their glares and said

“General, I know that you do not acknowledge me, but that’s fine since you support Latreille However, if you view and purposely take action against the Beilschiment as an eneainst the Empire?”

This was spoken verbally anyway and would be off the records

Like a bursting bubble, Regis almost fainted on the spot

While her words were not wrong,

They did not kno the General would react

Before provocating others, Regis would prepare hiainst the opponent first

However, the way Altina did things was bad for Regis’ heart

The General opened his mouth

“You’re ten years too early to talk about the empire with me Just enter the formation”

“ …”

Reluctantly, Altina saluted and stood at the very end of the formation

So he’s not just a soldier… Regis thought

Probably because of his old age, the General did not react towards Altina’s rebellious attitude If that wasn’t the case, it would be iis and Altina to triumph over him

Furthermore, Altina did not receive any reply to her words which basicallypolitics and private affairs into the military’

Even so, he replied to the word ‘empire’ If they were of the sauesonne was confusing theGeneral, which hy she was unable to use the point against him

What a cunning ht

Regis had the i led on by the General

An old strategist came forward and reported the situation

“The High Britannia’s army had occupied Chaineboule’s harbour which was under the Trouin House A force of thirty thousand had landed and the Second I the line was defeated Luckily, General Beaumarchais survived The ene the city and a fortress The last unit istowards the capital As to relief the emperor’s worry, ill crush the vicious enemy”

The officers in the line began shouting things like “That’s right, that’s the way it should be!”

Should I respect the difference in culture between different regi a little uneasy At the very least, he wanted to separate the infor spirit

However, the old strategist stood back into the line before they entered the main topic

“After that, the head battle strategist will explain our plans Second grade Admin Officer Vicente”

“Yes!”

It seeeneral situation was explained, another person stood out

He was a young ad an impression of healthy youth, he looked more like a sickly person

“I’ll be explaining the plans for the upco battle”

“Hm…?”

Be it his nais felt it was familiar

Altina whispered to Regis

“That Vicente, could he be someone you knohen you’re in the military academy?”

“I think it’s him “

It was only that one battle

As the representative for his acadeies debate with Vicente as a cadet for another school

Regis who never lost before within the school experienced his first defeat there

While there were a few rumours, but a loss was a loss

Never did Regis expected to see hiain in here

However, to Regis, there was nothing happier than seeing so alive and healthy

As per Vicente’s instruction, a ht over

The map depicted the current situation in the E at Rouen, including the Beilschiment, was represented by the red pieces

While the enemy which was at the south as represented by blue pieces

“According to scout reports, a ten thousand strong ar towards the capital While the battlefield is different from the eastern frontline, our Seventh I Just like always, nothing can prevent us fro victory!”

The other soldiers let out powerful wail

There was not iment and as explained

However, even against an army of ten thousand, the E their force into three

The basics of as to consider the nu the opponent’s forces However, whatwas there to split their own army?

Regis then remembered a book he read before

In Belgaria, books regarding wars and strategies were nuan flipping through countless number of books

Regis then had a doubt

“Is the enemy really a force of ten thousand?”

As he muttered those words, the place fell into silence

The soldiers ailing earlier was now quiet

By the tiis

Oh no…

As Regis was unaware, he accidentally muttered his words a little too loud

Standing beside General Barguesonne, strategist Vicente was staring daggers at him

“Fifth Grade Adis Auric, what did you said? Just speak of what you have thought of Even if it’s an opinion of so at the end of the table, ill still hear it”

Even though Regis had not introduced hiot a scare when he was suddenly called by his rank and name

Then again, it was nothing surprising that he knew about the coi under their command After all, Vicente was the war advisor of the Seventh Imperial Army

While Regis was not used to speaking in front of so many people, it was also his responsibilities to clear the doubts he had, leaving him no other choice

“Although we obtained the infor their force into three… The reason behind it was unclear as it was unconventional Is the ar towards the capital only ten thousand?”

“Ahh, could it be that you do not trust the report by our army?”

“I’”

“If it’s about the other two forces, the Empire’s First I towards one of the them is General Latreille There’s no doubt that he would obtain victory The re the harbour Most likely, they are the reserves”

“Out of thirty thousand, ten thousand of them are reserves?”

“After all, they are occupying an unfa for them to prepare that much as a reserves The enemy commander seems to be quite cautious”

At the side of the large map, the west coast was included with three pieces representing the enemy

Regis could see the ene towards the east like snakes

That was the sa their force, the northern line was the First Imperial Army led by Latreille while the southern line was this Seventh Imperial Army

One piece represent a force of ten thousand Each of the enemy units only had one

In contrast, the Empire’s army had three for the northern line while the southern line had two In addition, there were three for the reserves behind

Even though they were called reserves, they were just units that were too slow to join up There were various reasons for being slow like spending tootheir army or pessimistic units that did not want to suffer losses

No h chance the units that were late would be criticised later If the Beilschiment was held up by the Varden’s army, they would be included in the reserves

Also, while the E the attack, there were only eight pieces

Most likely, twenty thousand was lost as the Second Imperial Army in the as decimated

Regis focused on the large map

“If the ene southwards and the enemy behind moved forward, then the enemy would be concentrated at this Seventh I a force of thirty thousand with twenty-five thousand men”

As both sides included the supply teams, the actual soldiers were not that many

Vicente snorted

“It seeht happen You always said so tih Britannia’s Arn land?”

It seeis

In an instant, the debate flashed in Regis’ brain for a moment

However, this was not the time to reminisce those memories

“Is that really so…? High Britannia army used the steamshi+p to send their supplies and aroods, they could still return here within ten days When the enemy first landed, it was 23th April Now, it’s already 16th May Isn’t it better to consider the better preparation than we expected? For exa military horses?”

Froh Britannia’s harbour, the distance was about 150Li (666km)

A shi+p filled with supplies could travel 30Li (133km) a day

It was even faster for a steamshi+p

Furthermore, one of the trip hen the steamshi+p was empty

Regis felt that it was dangerous to have the thoughts that the enemy only had thirty thousand infantry

Vicente’s attitude was that of a teacher facing a useless student

“It’s obvious that I had already considered the steamshi+p capability, which hy I confir you do not even need to ask”

“Within Belgaria, we do not have any detailed infor the steah some methods?”

“While the steah speed even on windless condition, the central of the shi+p is occupied by the engine and coals As such, a large space is used up, ot”

Even Belgaria had tried building a steamshi+p

The shi+p had soh it could work in windless condition, the space available for cargo was little Furthere amount of coals As such, the liine and coals This hy they deemed it impractical

Even the screw propeller required a hole for propulsion to be opened at the bottoht result in accidents

“Are you not concerned about the Empire…? I heard that recently, the propeller had been ienerate enough speed With such technology available, shouldn’t we consider that the ene this?”

The old propeller was designed with reference tothe water back

While the latest propeller wasthe power difference before and after the fan was turned on, which could be used to propel the shi+p

This idea wasThe propeller that sunk and broke had a higher speed People began to understand that co like those oars, a shorter blades would result in a higher propulsion

This happened a few years back, when they finally understood theories of similar nature

This neas soht this April while he was in the capital It was included as a trivia in the book that as sent to Fort Volks

It was a book with oceans as it the pirate leader In that book, the ene the latest shi+p, which was the steah Britannia

As he would be scolded for saying his source, Regis decided to hide the truth

“Hmph! Perhaps you can reveal your best plan to us!”

Using words like ‘reveal’ and ‘best’, Regis knew that exchange in the future would be tough However, Altina’s standing would be lowered if he was to back down here

More i was filled with dangers Thinking that doing so could

“I Suggest that the Seventh Imperial Army marched north As we linked up with the First Iht against the enemy”

The soldiers ere in line were beco rowdy

Vicente smirked

“I see, so you’re trying to get an over-kill victory However, ould happen to the defense of the capital?”

“Thirty thousand froh to do so”

“The reserves? If that’s the case, the final defense line would be close to the capital”

“If we obtain victory, it doesn’t matter where the battle is”

“I see As expected of a co as in You completely do not understand the nature of war!”

“Is that so”

Regis did not deny it

Vicente spoke eloquently

“Belgaria as it is, we need to one sidedly overwhelm our ene shameful that is not even allowed! Moreover, to let the enemy invade that deeply is due to us, the southern line! Are you really not trying to lower the Seventh Ie?!”

The soldiers all agreed with him

Looks like I’e as reasons, there’s no other choice… Regis thought

“I understand If we must have a victory here in the southern line, it’s best that we intercept therounds The area around here have a few suitable hills to set the formation”

Vicente considered it for a moment and nodded his head

“I have thought of that too The ene so will stretch their supply line, which is why they will be looking for a quick battle Even when they are in a disadvantage, they will still attack us directly”

“Isn’t it easier for us if we engage the enerounds? In this case, it’s permissible, no?”

“That’s right, but this army is uns and cannon However! Using our superior numbers, ill not let them have the time to even use the cannons and decihts?!”

“ The right way of doing things”

There was no flaw in his plan, which hy he thought nothing would go wrong… He was just follohat the books said

Precisely because of that, the eneuessed his plan

Since they had thought of the assault, as the reason for them to proceed with ten thousand?

The ansas that the enemy had countermeasures for it

However, what is the reason behind the a suns and cannons, or that they have so to turn the tide of war?

There’s not enough information

Even when Regis sent out scouts, he did not see any decisive action made by the enemy

Even towards allies, he also sent scouts to check their strengths, though not to the extent of the whole empire

Having a wrong infor no information

It was not easy to increase the number of scouts who could produce accurate inforeable, loyal and many other criterias In addition, they would not earn any fame For the stars in the battlefield, it would be the cavalry and infantry that foruard

Seeing that the conversation between Regis and Vicente had ended, General Barguesonne raised one of his hand

The senior officers returned back to their originally posture

The old commander sat on the chair and said

“We will be using war advisor Vicente’s plan”

After that, captains of each units were called and given their roles

They are not going to put the Beilschht while worrying as Altina was called last

“Major General Belgaria, you are situated at the very back Just sit back and have a look ar is”

“Understood”

Altina saluted

The soldiers around the

To thearia was not only strong, but also had numerous soldiers Even if the eneuns and cannons, it was hard for theine they would lose

Since they determined that they would win, the way they looked at how the fore

Most likely, the Seventh Imperial Army’s officers had already viewed the ene board Outsiders were to stand far ahile they devoured the ene to theiment

To Regis, the ene board…

Altina faced the soldiers who had stood in line

“We don’t have any intention to intervene though, However, it’s fine if you asked for help when you are losing, on’t be just sitting there doing nothing”

“Hmph, there’s no need for it, Arrow-sparrow Princess, you can return to the north empty-handed!”

The one as scorning her was the er from earlier

Apparently, he was a battalion commander

It have been awhile since I last heard the outdated nickname of Altina

That reminds me, have brother-in-law entered the E of the original sword quickly If that’s the case, he should have left the city this

While pondering about useless things, Regis raised his hand

“I think that the ene the number of scouts”