Chapter 106: Twelfth Episode: Chapter 6 (2/2)
”This operation is codenamed Torrent! The commander board’s orders are as follows, first, infiltrate the Empire’s national borders discreetly by putting away our armor, military flag and any articles that can reveal your identity. Second, once inside enemy territory, eliminate all the people of Titan you run into during your advance, including the villages in the forest along the way. Before you are discovered, surround the outskirts of the target and launch your attack. Third, regardless of the price one has to pay, the operation’s objective should be set as the primary objective. Fourth, after the success of the attack, retreat immediately, regardless of the amount of resources you managed to seize, withdrawing from enemy territory in one piece is the main concern.”
”Are there any more questions?” After reading aloud the orders, Marshal Veron scanned through the audience once more.
”Your distinguished Marshal, how many are there in the people of Titan’s paladin group? What kind of structure is it?” An officer queried.
”The DeKTer’s investigation indicates that the Titan paladin group is only of a division level. Meaning to say that there will be three thousand over paladins waiting for us at our destination! However... The Steinberger Family positioned a huge camp not far from that area and I believe that once the paladin group suffers an attack, they will come forth to provide assistance! So, my plan is to allow the Kingdom’s First and Fourth Infantry Corps to surround the ravine and the Teutonic knights will be the main attacking force. Simultaneously, the Kingdom’s Sixth, Eighth, and eleventh infantry corps will spread out to invade from both sides and subdue the Steinberger ninth assist corps’ military camp.”
The officers at the scene again broke into a heated debate! So it turned out that the unit involved in this time’s secret raid were not only them, but the Kingdom’s sixth, eigth and eleventh infantry corps were also advancing towards the target from an alternative route.
Once the officers all retired from the tent, Marshal Veron called out to Colonel Opal to have a seat.
”Your Highness...”
”Marshal! Call me Colonel, it makes more sense!”
”Yes Colonel! I only wish to say that the commander board’s plan has no flaws, but the battlefield is full of the unexpected and I cannot guarantee every phase of the plan can be executed smoothly. This is also the reason why I am unable to answer His Majesty King of the probability of victory back in the palace.”
”I understand!” The Colonel who was referred to as Highness by the Marshal, nodded, ”But... all the elite cavalry and infantries of the Kingdom have invested into the Torrent, we do not have any other options!”
”Yes, there are no other options!” Marshal Veron nodded slowly, ”Eighteen thousand Teutonic cavalry groups, Forty-five thousand infantry corps. Among these men, just how many will be able to return to their homeland?”
Naturally, the old Marshal did not voice the last thought. As they ventured deeper into enemy territory, the uneasy feeling continued to well up inside. Veron prayed everyday for he trusted his intuition. May this undeclared war not end up as a tragic end for the Kingdom’s elite.
However, there are many things beyond one’s control, just like when it decided to snow!
***************
”Church’s Year 797, 24th day of the 3rd month, my unit finally managed to make it to a haven in the blizzard. Butan Fortress was the last large military camp of the Empire’s seventieth region’s Western section. Early the next morning, we only need to advance another ten kilometers or so in the Northwestern direction and will enter the Steinberger Family’s inherited territory – Haussen Province. Either way, we have already completed two thirds of our whole journey. But gosh, I actually contracted dysentery during this last moment! Damn it, seriously damn it! I will end here! I have totally no idea just how many times I have relieved myself today! Ola! Oh God of Light, the sensation is back again! I need to go relieve myself! I may as well just live in the washroom!”
”Church’s year 797, 25th day of the 3rd month, the wretched snow is still falling, unending! My dysentery has not been treated effectively. Percy, that hopeless doctor, I can tell earlier on that he has only learned poison! But... even if it is poison, at least let me eat something! For the past three days I’ve been consuming fluids, if it isn’t oatmeal, then it is dried vegetable soup. And this is not the most devastating! I noticed that the oatmeal and dried vegetable soup still appeared in its original state among my excretion! Dysentery has messed up my digestive system and is practically driving me crazy!”
Oscar tossed aside his quill pen and hugged the blanket wrapped tightly around him. For His Imperial Highness Prince who was usually indulged in mouth-watering delicacies, half a month of regular cold meals has finally taken its toll on him. No matter what he did, he just could not muster up any strength and only the gruel and bitter medication kept him going.
”Has everyone arrived? Have a seat!” Oscar greeted the high-ranking military officers entering one after another.
”Are you okay?” Murat asked with deep concern.
”Thank you for your concern, I am absolutely not fine! Murat, promise me that before I die, you will clean my body and those excrements. I really don’t want to meet the God o Light with a stomach reeking of watery stools!”
”Hey my friend, you should not be so negative! You should persevere in the battle against this illness!”
Oscar glared at Torry, he knew that the young man was making a sarcastic remark, but His Imperial Highness Prince did not have the energy to bother much about it anymore.
”Hold your tongue a little, lad!” Snowstorm gave Torry a light thump on his head.
Lieutenant General Endorph of the Steinberger Family came forwards, ”Your Highness, I apologize for interrupting your rest, but you have to make a decision, for there are two routes spread out before us.”
The Lieutenant General spread out a map that showed the Steinberger’s territories. He could actually recall every single detail of the map clearly without having to refer to it.
”Look, we are here, close to the center zone of the provincial boundary. For the first road, we can continue northwards and follow the Botan River’s riverbed to arrive at the edge of the Northern forest. After entering the forest, we will go along the warpath opened up by my family to reach Blackwood Fortress. For the second road, we can cross over the Botan River. It isn’t difficult as the Botan River’s ice layer is still very thick. This way, we will need to replenish our supplies at the defending region of the family’s ninth military camp. After that, we will venture into the forest through Saijo Mountain nearby.”
Oscar scanned the map, but the tiny words on it made him feel dizzy.
”What place is Mountain?” Oscar leaned back against the chair. He was deeply intrigued by the name.
”Over here!” The Lieutenant General pointed out a naturally formed gap at the edge of the forest, ”Actually... Saijo Mountain is only a small highland, but the soldiers who are guarding the defensive line will usually leave the forest here when they change shifts to return to their inland homes. They say that once they see this little hill, it’s like meeting their wives and daughters and so, the name Saijo Mountain, meaning wife and daughter, was founded.
”Is there a big difference to travel on either of the roads?” Despite Oscar’s stomach twisting in pain, he still persevered for he was responsible to lead this unit.
”A tremendous difference!” Lieutenant General Endorph nodded vehemently, ”Going upstream along Botan River, we will arrive at Blackwood Fortress a week earlier, but in between we will not receive replenishments, because the military camp at Botan River’s river domain does not possess the ability to cater to such an enormous procession as ours. If we take the Saijo Mountain road, it will be a different story. We can receive ample rest at the ninth military camp and then enter the forest from the direction of Saijo Mountain. Needless to say, the duration will be half a month longer than that of the Botan River route.”
Oscar dug his elbow deeply against his lower abdomen. That wretched aching and constricting sensation coming from his anus was difficult to overcome!
”Murat... You... You have a look?”
One could tell that His Imperial Highness Prince was exerting all his energy in battling against his illness and Murat even suspected that the youngster was not fully conscious.
”Your Highness, I think according to the current situation of the procession, we should choose the most dependable marching route. Reorganizing and replenishing our supplies at the Steinberger Family’s ninth military camp is necessary. Otherwise, we will lose more soldiers on a route with no possibility of replenishments! Weighing the two options, even if we’re delayed by half a month, we should still take into consideration our own well-being.”
Lieutenant Endorph nodded in agreement; frostbite and dysentery were already too common among the procession! Moreover, marching along the glacier indeed has its dangers. The weight of the tractors and cannons were evident and if the ice could not withstand them then this trip will have been a waste! And if he were unlucky, the punishment from the family would befall him!
”Then... Like this, advance towards the ninth military camp and enter the forest from the direction of Saijo Mountain. Go ahead with preparations! I... I have to go... Go...”
Seeing His Highness’ face drain of color, the high-ranking military officers hurriedly left the tent in succession; they dared not occupy any more of the prince’s time.
***************
”How do you feel?” After Oscar stirred from his sleep, Percy’s face came into focus before his eyes.
”Ola!” Oscar moved his muscles subconsciously, ”Weird, I feel much better!”
”Hehe! I treated you with a medication of special effect!” Percy beamed delightedly.
”What is it?” Oscar peered at his doctor, guarded. ”Is it Dolantin?”
The Poison Doctor scratched his head. ”The medications brought by the Red Tigers have all been depleted and I am only left with Dolantin! Tell me, is there any other choice?”
Oscar heaved a sigh, when being faced with such unbearable pain, it seemed that he could only resort to Dolantin, but will it solve his appetite problem? His Imperial Highness already went a week without tasting meat and this was the most unbearable as compared to his body progressively wasting away.
”Okay, okay!” The prince flipped over and came down from the camp bed, then proceeded to kick open the entrance of the tent.
”Messenger.”
”Reporting, Your Highness!” Wellington Steinberger immediately came forwards.
Oscar scowled at the snowfield’s vast expanse of whiteness, ”Inform the unit to set out immediately, we need to leave this wretched place!”
Before Wellington could reply, Oscar’s face turned a sickly color!
”Ola! Hold it! Hold it! The sensation is coming again! I need... I need to find a place to relieve...”
***************
”Church’s year 797, 28th day of the 3rd month, my Red Tigers, Tatalus’ infantry division, Lieutenant Endorph’s independent brigade, and that bug Torry’s artillery team, finally arrived at the ninth military camp of the Steinberger Family. To be honest, I was a little surprised. According to the location demonstrated on the map, deep in the rear of the ninth military camp’s border, the area does not have any profound military strategic value, but the Steinberger still allocated three infantry groups and six independent cavalry brigades at this military camp! The commander of the camp invited me into the pillbox at the heart of this military base and it was really difficult for me to believe that I was surrounded by fifty thousand soldiers of the family!”
The key point of the military barrack’s center pillbox was a small dome arch tower. Oscar was stretched out on his stomach, admiring the night view of the military camp from an arrow slit.
Rows of wooden houses surrounded the pillbox in neat rows. Each courtyard had guards on night duty, patrolling back and forth. Despite it being deep into the night, Oscar still saw the spacious drill ground lit by a bonfire and the infantries were still drilling their formations. The shouts of the slogans sounded ear-piercing and the inharmonious sounds broke the tranquility of the military camp.
”Your Distinguished Lieutenant General!” Oscar nudged Endorph who was beside him, ”Not that I’m suspicious, but... The atmosphere here is indeed different from the other military camps. Don’t say that it’s just an illusion for I’ve seen the military camps along the way and they do not appear like this! Just look at the weapons of the soldiers, the establishment of this military camp and also look the sentry posts and isolation pits decorating the left of the military camp! All of these indicate that this is not an ordinary place. Are they guarding against something... Or protecting something?”
Endorph raised his eyebrows, he was a little over-sensitive to the prince’s observation. However... This issue absolutely could not be discussed without permission.
”Your Highness, I am also unclear. I only know that since the Steinbergers moved into Haussen province, the ninth military camp has always been like this!”
Oscar shrugged. A problem suddenly struck him.
”That’s right! Why would... The Empire’s military and the Secret Service Department use the first batch of Fortress cannons to equip the Steinbergers? I thought... They would use these huge beauties to arm Valencia Fortress that is under construction.”
Endorph smiled proudly. ”The first reason is because the family strove hard and fought for it and the second reason is Blackwood Fortress and the whole Western border’s dangerous state.”
”The people of Deiss?” The warlike nationality instantly popped into Oscar’s mind.
”That’s right!” Endorph nodded, ”Not knowing why, the people of Deiss suddenly increased their soldiers within the borders. Over the past six months, the border guards opposite us have reached an extent of thirty division. You know? This number can allow the people of Deiss to do as they please at the Empire’s gates! So, the military arranged for the first batch of cannons to be allocated to Blackwood Fortress, the Northwestern strategic gateway. If the Deiss wants to invade the inland, then they must first seize the entrance at the Northwestern part of Blackwood.”
Oscar did not have a clear understanding of Blackwood’s state, so he did not make any hasty comments and remained silent.
Lieutenant General Endorph suddenly burst into laughter and Oscar gaped at him.
”Your Highness, do you know why we did not encounter too many troubles throughout the journey?”
”Why?”
”It’s all thanks to your status as the Imperial Envoy!” Endorph exclaimed with sincerity. ”Previously, if the family went to the Sukhoi’s territory to handle certain matters, they would always be pestered by the external two giants. Take this time for instance, we are transporting cannons that powers from all places have their eyes fixed on. If it were before, Karl Arnold and Jebron will definitely plan a sabotage in secret, even going to the extent of disguising themselves as bandits to rob it! But since you’re here, both these families dare not even make a move!”
After hearing this, Oscar could not help but collapse into laughter as well, ”I here I was thinking just what you were talking about. So it’s the Karl Arnolds and Jebrons, but... Would they use such lowly methods?”
”Of course! What do you take them for? They are two old bloodthirsty wolves! If the opportunity arises, they will throw away everything and pounce on it to take a bite out of you!”
Oscar nodded, ”Okay, okay! May I continue to bring luck to our procession!”
Endorph whipped around in astonishment, ”Your highness, you’re leaving? Won’t you stay to chat a little more?”
Oscar waved his hand in exasperation, ”I need to find a toilet fast! My stomach hurts!
Translator Note:
Rielese: People from Riel Kingdom
DeKTer: Short for Deiss Kapitum ont Terraburo
Saijo Mountain: Translated to the Japanese name from the Raw text, 妻女山. It is the Onyomi reading of the Kanji words.