Chapter 111: To the Eastern Front (3) (1/2)
Chapter 111: To the Eastern Front (3)
After joining the Eastern Front, Milton stabilized the lines of defense at once
Horn Castle and Carnot Castle: to these two strongholds at the very forefront of this battlefield, Milton assigned additional troops and solidified the defense in such a er attack as rashly
The frontline had recently begun exhibiting signs of weakness as their reserve corps began to run dry, but the Eastern Front was a fundamentally sturdy defensive curtain The castles of Horn and Carnot acted as a steadfast front, while they were reinforced from behind by the equally steadfast keeps of Andeed so that if any of thenored and the border was crossed, the invaders’ supply line would not be maintainable
Yet the same applied for the Kobrook Republic
The Kobrook Republic’s defensive line consisted of three castles and five sed in a triangular formation while the five minor forts fornoring these eight gateways, their supply line would be cut off and they would be methodically exterminated
It would only be possible to push the lines if at least two of these eight checkpoints were felled
“According to our intelligence, the enena handed Milton and Viscount Sabian a chart listing the enemy’s composition
Litinque Castle – 20,000
Bells Castle – 10,000
Hornie Castle – 10,000
Fortress Lientz – 3,000
Fortress Belluno – 3,000
Fortress Brunico – 2,000
Fortress Merano – 2,000
Fortress Bolchano – 3,000
‘Is that a total force of 53,000? That’sthat all the strength of the Republics wasinto the North, the Kobrook Republic had left a considerable force standing
Viscount Sabian frowned as he surveyed the ed the forts in quite a troublesome manner”
“They have indeed Were you able to tell at first glance?”
“Yes The forts have been positioned so that, lest we attack one, reinforcements fro one stronghold would be insufficient to act as a starting point for launching a wider offensive”
“Correct A rather deliberate design”
The Kobrook Republic’s defensive line had been precisely constructed to exude this effect
First, to attack the threethe holds to attack the castles directly would leave one open to harassment from the rear by the forts’ forces
However, the five forts were painstakingly designed to make such endeavors incredibly painful
First was the distance – their positions were not decided arbitrarily, but constructed so that they could easily act as backup to one another If one fort came under attack, at least two other forts could send reinforcements at breakneck speed
“With sufficient deliberation we could capture a fort, but the greater issue is what comes afterwards These keeps are…”
“I assume they have been intentionally constructed so that defense is difficult Along those lines, the forts’ walls would be low and not quite sturdy enough to rely on Most importantly, they would be constructed to be too sna estruck
“Did you possess this information beforehand?”
“I did not, but such could be naturally deduced fro to the reference na, the five minor forts did not house a considerable force All of them had forces of only 2000 to 3000 men stationed at them
And the reason was sih to housestrongholds with such low defensive capabilities even if they were to be seized Rather, it would becoainst the reinforce forts and the rear castles Would that be correct?”
“That is precisely so To those bastards, these five minor forts are not focal points that must be protected – in fact, they play the part of bait to force a war of attrition Should defending them become difficult, they surrender the forts with no qualms, only to attack them later with an offensive that our h the Kobrook Republic did not possess geographical advantages such as the Grey Mountains, they nevertheless boasted an idom In fact, the Kobrook Republic had steadfastly protected this border for more than a century
Furthermore, the Kobrook Republic retained a military force that best capitalized on their concrete defense; and that was their navy
If the Hildess Republic’s pride were their mountaineers, the Kobrook Republic’s was their navy
Their overall wartiy was to maintain a steadfast defense at their borders, while their fleets harassed the Strabus Kingdo their East coast It was because they were simply that confident in the sturdiness of their defense that they could focus their investth
The one who conceived the current defensive curtain around Kobrook lands was the late Generalissienius of a strategist Revered as a hero in the Kobrook Republic, the defensive lines along their borders were the fruits of his lifelong labor
Even though over a century had passed since his death, the Strabus Kingdoh this frontier
Marquis Bologna asked Viscount Sabian with a voice bri with expectation
“Good man, I suppose you are the one who proposed an offensive on the Eastern Front Then I assu down this nuisance of a defense?”
Viscount Sabian slightly sive credit where it is due, I believe the Kobrook Republic’s lines are a masterpiece”
“Do you na frowned in disappointment, but Viscount Sabian continued
“That is not so The current condition of the Kobrook Republic’s defense is not quite the same as usual They possess a fatal weakness at present”
“A weakness? Go on”
Viscount Sabian explained as he surveyed the map
“The enemy’s prime error is…”
Viscount Sabian calmly described the critical flaw in the Republic’s defensive lines and the strategy for exploiting this weakness in an orderly manner
The proposed operation was elaborate, bold – and h probability of success
When his explanation concluded, Marquis Bologna and his coape
‘Randol Sabian…’