Chapter 13 (1/2)

“From a rough look, perhaps 40,000? It seems drawing out the main force has gone according to plan.”

“We too as per the plan have pretended to have reinforcement forces continuously arriving. All that is left is to root the enemy to the spot it appears.”

Said the Chief Staff Officer, and David nodded.

“We should order the officers and men to make sure to not be negligent… We must also restrict them from forcibly crossing the river. Strengthen the surveillance.”

“As I have been informed. Scouts have been sent to the riverbank, and our lookout preparations are complete.”

“Just as I would expect of you, Chief Staff Officer. You work as fast as ever.”

“I tremblingly accept your praise.”

The Chief Staff Officer respectfully lowered his head.

“It’ll be a long journey from hereon. I will be carefully watching the execution of the plan from this headquarters.”

David headed back, and the staff officers followed after him. The stare-down continued endlessly. Sometimes, horns or drums would sound out, and signs that they were about to attack were repeated over and over. With not even a single arrow fired, the day bade welcome to night.

—-Alucia River, River Crossing Site.

The construction soldiers, waiting until night, lined up small boats until the opposite shore, and built a bridge of wooden boards. As of now, there still were not signs of enemy soldiers. They had not been detected.

After a few hours, several floating bridges were being created. The faces of the construction soldiers showed a little impatience. If they were discovered now, it would be all too simple to send them all underwater. They would be faced with annihilation perhaps. Even so, they safely completed their duty. When the final one was tied down, the construction soldiers went onto land. They would reinforce the bridges until carts could cross them, and they sent a signal to the cavalry of the First Division.

The sky was growing brighter. The sun would rise shortly.

“The establishment of multiple pontoon bridges has been completed. The rest is up to you. We, as soon as the First Division crosses the river, will construct a bridgehead position.”

“Well done completing your duty. Leave the rest to us. We’ll trample them in one fell swoop, just watch us!”

The commander of the cavalry, Major General Alexei encouragingly nodded. The head of the construction soldiers straightened his back and saluted.

“Sir- May the fortunes of war be with you!”

Although the air was pleasantly cool, tensions were rising.

—-The ones to start the battle will be us.

Major General Alexei unsheathed his sword and gave his orders to the soldiers under his command.

“First Division, Advance Cavalry, sortie! Target, Branch Castle Antigua!”

“Ou!”

“Start the advance! Stay in file-!!”

The 10,000 cavalry unit that would be sent ahead started crossing Alucia River via the pontoon bridges. Although several horsemen who had not been trained enough fell into the river, by and large they were favorably successful in crossing. They moved out to Alucia Plains, not being discovered by the enemy. Schera’s cavalry unit crossed last as the rear guard.

“Kind of shaky. I feel like I’m going to vomit.”

“Cannot be helped; it will be for an instant. Please take care to not fall off.”

“It will be a funny story if a Second Lieutenant falls off huh, Second Lieutenant Katarina. Take care now.”

“I will not fall off!”

“You’ll scare the horses so don’t be so loud. Do it again and I will be the one to push you off.”

Reprimanded Schera in a commanding voice, and Katarina’s shoulders drooped. Vander next to her was gently soothing her in a humorous manner, going, “there, there.”

None of Schera’s cavalry unit fell off. They had not raised their new flag incidentally. The adjutants had prevented it, thinking it too indecorum. Though, the cavalry members intended to swap flags once they saw a chance to.

Ascertaining that the First Division has successfully crossed the river, the construction soldiers continuing work and started constructing an encampment at the Alucia River crossing site.

They started setting up to usher in the supply unit. Concurrently, the main force of the Second Division, the mixed Fourth Army Infantry division, started crossing the river. They were a large army of 50,000, and it seemed it would require considerable time to finish crossing.

Major General Alexei, entrusted as the vanguard, readily marched to Alucia Plains.

Mysteriously, not even a single enemy soldier was to be found. Perhaps their entire military force had headed to the Grand Bridge. Or so Alexei thought. The Second Division was still lagging behind them, and currently, they were in a long, column formation. The only thing the advance cavalry unit had to pay attention to were the movements of the enemy’s main force setup at Sulawesi Grand Bridge. In a situation where they were to change direction, the cavalry would have to ambush them. Upon that stalemate would come David’s unit, which was aiming to distract them on their side of the bridge, to assault them from the rear.

“Okay, someone! Go check to see if the enemy’s main force is moving or not from the Grand Bridge!”

“Sir- Please leave it to me!”

“Another rider, go check the condition of the march behind us. Make haste!”

“Understood!”

Two of his guards were sent out for reconnaissance, and for the moment, the First Division halted. Because there was not a bit of enemy resistance, the march had gone on too smoothly. In this interval, they would rest their horses, and all the group members would partake in a meal.

Schera as well greedily consumed the provisions she was carrying.

It was still just past noon at the time. Before capturing Antigua and before night fell, they wanted to sent up a battle formation so that the infantry unit could immediately set up siege.

A single rider rushed up to Alexei, who was sitting on a simple chair and arranging their progress with the adjutants and a map spread out. Without a moment’s delay, he dismounted and loudly reported.

“Major General Alexei! Figures of enemy forces can be seen at Alucia Plains in front of us! It’s the insignia of the Rebel Army’s leader, Altura’s! She’s leading several thousand infantry!”

“What’d you say!? That insurgent girl had nonchalantly come out here!?”

Shouted Alexei, involuntarily standing up. Right in front of his eyes, the road to fame was opened. The was no option but to apprehend her. If he got her head, he would most certainly be promoted. He ought to go. Alexei decided, impatient.

“Your Excellency, this is a chance that will not come again. If we slay her here, everything will be resolved. There might not even be a need for Antigua to fall.”

“The greatest achievement will be yours, Major General Alexei!”

“I know! Signal the cavalrymen. We will immediately start the attack!”

“Sir-!”

“Altura’s head will be taken by our hands!! We will have any reward we desire!!”

Under the vigorously hotblooded Alexei’s order, the First Division cavalry wholeheartedly rushed towards Altura’s unit.

Almost as they had expected that, the Liberation Army started retreating like escaping rabbits without meeting them.

A slow platoon was crushed by the hands of the cavalry. The cavalry unit’s momentum was fierce, with bait right under their eyes.

Alexei had not noticed, but the First Division and the Second Division were already separated by a considerable distance. The Second Division, as they were a mix of units, had a disturbed chain of command, and it was difficult to just march. There were many deserters, and morale was low.

Since the rear guard did not need to participate in fighting, Schera’s cavalry unit poised at a middle area. After all, it would be completely preposterous, not even worthy as joke, for Altura’s head to be taken by a little girl. Deeming that now was the only opportunity they would get, Schera’s cavalry soldiers were switching flags. Catching the wind, the flag of a white crow on a black background triumphantly fluttered over them.

The area was dyed by the setting sun. It would soon become the perilous nighttime.

“……Will we not be pursuing them? Major Schera.”

“We can’t go against an order so. Let’s just resign ourselves and loiter around here. We just can’t be negligent on lookout for a surprise attack.”

She signaled to the cavalrymen near her, designating them as the lookouts.

“However, if you take her head in Rebel Army territory, anyone and everyone will recognize you!”

“I have no interest in eating food laced with poison. In those times, it would be proper to let someone else eat it.”

Dismounted, Schera took out a walnut that she had placed in her bag. She crouched and broke the shell with her large scythe. The nut was also shattered, so she started putting the fragments in her mouth.

Vander, whispered into Katarina’s ear such that his superior officer wouldn’t hear.

“When Major’s doing that, she’s like a small animal.”

“You shut up!”

From a distance, the rider dispatched by Alexei earlier as a scout returned with an urgent expression. The main force at Sulawesi Grand Bridge was probably headed their way.

“W, where has Major General Alexei gone to!?”

“His Excellency has gone further westward pursuing the enemy leader. What’s the matter? Calm down and tell me what you’ve seen.”

When Schera stood up and enquired, she received a surprising turn of events.

“The main force at Sulawesi Grand Bridge was fake. Certainly, they are numerous, but half of them are demilitarized civilians. The main force of the Rebel Army is somewhere else!”

“Quickly report to His Excellency Alexei.”

“You don’t have to tell me I know! You guys too hurry up and link up!”

He spurred on his horse and chased after the main unit of Alexei’s. Seeing him go off, Schera crossed her arms.

“Hmm, what shall we do I wonder.”

“……The main force is not at the Grand Bridge, which means that they put emphasis on defending Antigua? No, that has no strategic value. ……Don’t tell me we’re surrounded?”

Vander spread out the map he had and checked. Katarina followed suit, and stated her opinion.

“……Major. I believe we are in quite a dangerous position. Earlier, that force of Altura’s has an extremely high possibility of being bait I think.”

“I see.”

“If we move carelessly, there is the danger that we will be hit by an ambush. Immediately, the scouts—-”

Another rider came running. His face was also extremely agitated.

“Where did His Excellency Major General Alexei go!!? I have urgent news!!”

“His Excellency has marched forward to pursue enemy forces! What is happening!?”

“Our river crossing site is being attacked! They are completed besieged-!!”

“—-No, no way.”

—-Antigua Branch Castle was the bottom of a bag. Alucia crossing site was the entrance to the bag.

The Kingdom’s Army, of their own volition, had entered this giant “bag,” this hell. The fact that the forces of David’s unit at Sulawesi Grand Bridge was a ruse had been completely seen through. As a plan, it wasn’t bad, but with the secret out, the plan had no substance.

This plan was ill-suited in the first place for the Kingdom’s Army with its numerous colluders and deserters. Furthermore, because of the mixed units that had been recently reorganized, no one was suspicious, even though spies had infiltrated them. Their information had gone completely to the other side.

The cavalry of the First Division were pulled in by Altura. The Second Division ventured to cross the river, and just as they were crossing, ambushers attacked the platoon bridges, and they were destroyed. Along with the Third Division, the supply train, they were divided. Completely surrounded, with Alucia River at their backs and the Liberation Army that had lay concealed at their front, they ate a devastating offensive. The infantry of the Second Division, trying to flee, increasingly became corpses. There were also people who were pushed into the river and drowned. As they were wearing armor, they could not sufficiently swim in places where the water was deep.

The encampment that should have become the beachhead was currently like a picture from hell.

“What should we do? Vander, Katarina, say your opinions.”

“S, sir. Our troops are merely 1,000. There is no meaning in us going to reinforce the crossing site. I believe we ought to merge with Major General Alexei, who I fear is about to be ambushed. Currently, with the Third Division unable to merge with us, the capture of Antigua will fail. If we do not think about withdrawing…”

Katarina stated her opinion, and Vander his.

“Further, there is also the possibility of us being destroyed. We cannot think about how to deal with the cavalry that was baited.”

“Major Schera. Either way, there is no time. Your decision.”

“Alright, we—-”

“Major! Enemy cavalry unit approaching-! Their numbers are about 1,000!”

A horseman in the middle of lookout discovered a cloud of dust of enemy cavalry. Schera jumped onto her horse and raised her large scythe.

“We intercept them!! Follow me! Kill them, leave not one of the Rebel Army lot alive!-!!”*

“Ou-!!”