Ch.231Rotation (4)

What am I seeing right now?

Weren’t they supposed to be conscripted troops?

I thought they’d be similar to ordinary conscripts since they were supposedly conscripting commoners to build reservoirs… but looking at their strict discipline and unified movement, they’re clearly not conscripted troops by any measure.

If I were an ordinary nobleman, I would have stood there dumbfounded at the sight.

But I can’t afford to do that.

Because I am the Emperor.

“Look at those Rotharing soldiers who claim to be conscripted farmers! As expected, that evil bastard king was planning to invade the Empire! He assassinated the Late Emperor and tried to swallow up the Empire amid the chaos!”

“WAAAAAAH!!!”

I twist the facts and shout to boost morale.

The nobles, knights, and some standing army soldiers still wear grim expressions, obviously not falling for my ploy, but everyone else roars in anger at the bastard king’s terrible intentions.

The more ignorant they are, the less they realize the reality and fear battle… how truly twisted.

What’s even more dreadful is the negotiation with the kingdom.

“Broken down… completely broken down?”

I quietly speak to the attendant beside me while the soldiers cheer in front.

“I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty. I failed to fully complete the mission you entrusted me with—”

“No, no. What negotiation can be had with that vicious bastard king? Negotiations are for those who can be reasoned with, not for those who won’t listen to reason.”

No, I had sufficient expectations.

I had hoped that the bastard king would be at least somewhat intimidated by our overwhelming number of troops and attempt negotiations.

Of course, I can’t say that out loud as it would seriously damage my dignity.

I must maintain my noble bearing and pretend to be composed. That’s what it means to be a monarch.

‘…It was good that I came to the battlefield.’

To be honest, the Empire’s nobles didn’t mobilize troops solely to avenge the Late Emperor. The potential gains from victory also factor into their reasoning.

With overwhelming justification and an unprecedentedly massive army, anyone would want to join what appears to be a certain victory and claim their share, and the Empire’s nobles are no different.

However, this is not a guaranteed victory.

No, seeing how badly the initial engagement was shattered, we’re likely to lose tactically, strategically, and in every aspect of this war.

If I hadn’t come here, some nobles would have seen the strange turn of events and either deserted or participated half-heartedly in the battle.

No, it’s not just likely—it’s certain. Already there are heaps of them just rolling their eyes while the peasant conscripts are cheering.

“I didn’t expect much anyway. The negotiation was merely a final act of mercy extended to the bastard.”

“But it was the mission Your Majesty entrusted to me. My failure to even begin negotiations is a grave mistake on my part.”

“I don’t blame you. You must have been under great stress visiting enemy territory. Go and rest now.”

What’s even more surprising is that the bastard king didn’t attempt even a hint of negotiation.

Isn’t negotiation typically a process where both sides start with strong demands and gradually adjust their terms to reach an agreement?

But what’s with him? He didn’t even state his demands before expelling our envoy.

‘…Truly, an evil character.’

From never sending an envoy to the Empire since the war began, to not stating any demands to our recent envoy—he doesn’t even try to hide his ambitions against the Empire from the start.

It rained once three days ago, but enough time has passed that Rotharing’s weapons are likely to function normally. Though we outnumber them nearly two to one, the quality difference between our forces is so vast that even if we win, there will undoubtedly be massive casualties.

But… we cannot retreat now.

Since Rotharing’s bastard king expelled our envoy without even stating his demands, all that remains is a massive battle.

…Forcing us into a corner and compelling us to take only one course of action—truly an evil bastard.

“…Sound the charge.”

PWUUUUU—!!

“WAAAAAAAH!!!”

Discipline and equipment quality are certainly major factors in determining victory, but they’re not everything.

I pride myself that the Imperial army’s morale is no less than Rotharing’s. No, it might even be greater.

Above all, if we are fighting against a bastard king who commits sins with righteous anger, surely God will embrace and protect us, so I believe in our victory without a doubt.

……….

“Spread out as much as possible!! Don’t stick with your comrades!!”

The Imperial army’s response to firearms is simple. Except for hand cannons, all weapons attack in an area, so spreading out can reduce casualties.

Of course, this means that when battle lines clash, the less dense Imperial forces will be pushed back significantly, but that’s better than having the army vaporize before the battle lines even meet.

Moreover, they won’t remain spread out until the end—they’ll regroup as Rotharing forces approach, so the Imperial army’s chosen strategy is entirely correct.

BOOM—!

“AAAAGH!!”

“Don’t stop!! Keep running!!”

In practice, the Imperial plan is working. When Rotharing’s forces fire explosive shells, only about 10 men die or get injured.

If they had maintained their battle lines and marched according to traditional strategy, nearly 50 would have died or been injured, so this is a noticeably encouraging result.

Moreover, since those dying soldiers are just ignorant serfs rather than important elite troops, making Rotharing waste their precious gunpowder weapons on such low-ranking soldiers can be considered inflicting damage on the enemy.

NEEEIGH—!

“W-wait—GURRRK…”

However, because they’re so widely spread out with no formation, they can’t effectively resist Rotharing’s cavalry charge. With so many empty spaces, cavalry movement is extremely free, and the inexperienced conscripts at the front can’t even begin to counter them.

Rotharing’s cavalry simply charge forward through the Imperial forces, claim their military achievements, turn their horses around, and leisurely return to their main force.

Countless Imperial conscripts roll on the ground, but no one pays them any attention.

Not because the Imperial forces are cruel.

If they shed tears for fallen comrades, they and other comrades would be in danger. Their only job is to run forward like madmen.

“This is the safe zone from here!”

“Formation, form up!”

Finally, the Imperial forces approaching Rotharing troops hurriedly cluster together and begin to form battle lines.

From this distance, bombs would harm not only Imperial troops but also Rotharing forces, so as the Imperial forces predicted, Rotharing troops stop using the explosive shells they’ve been using extensively.

However, even without using them, poorly armed peasant conscripts pose little threat.

FWISH—

“Huk…!”

Conscripts hurriedly forming up fall to waiting archers. Those who ran forward like madmen have no means to defend against arrows.

Conscripts who rush forward during the pause in arrow fire also can’t advance further against Rotharing’s waiting formation.

The Imperial conscripts fulfill their conscription purpose simply by dying while wasting Rotharing’s weapons.

“For the Late Emperor!”

“For His Imperial Majesty!! For the Empire!!”

“Defeat the bastard king!!”

After countless conscript sacrifices, the Imperial main force finally reaches a distance where they can close with Rotharing forces in about a minute.

Knights, heavy cavalry, cavalry, elite troops, and numerous Imperial forces charge at Rotharing troops. Everyone cheers loudly, their spirits high as if they’ve already won the battle just by getting close to Rotharing forces.

However, battles aren’t won by feelings alone.

Rotharing’s weapons, which they deemed too precious to waste on mere peasant troops, now unleash their full firepower.

RATATATA—!

“AAAAARGH!!!”

Armor that easily blocked arrows and swords cannot withstand Rotharing’s hand cannons. Solid iron armor tears like paper, and between the tears, red flesh and blood spill out.

The Imperial vanguard that charged so gallantly—the true vanguard, not just meat shields—suffers near-annihilation with more than half of the first rank destroyed.

“Keep charging!! The time needed to reload—”

RATATATA—!

“—KUHUK!”

It’s not just the first rank.

The Imperial forces, knowing that hand cannons need time to reload, fearlessly keep moving their legs rapidly, but the rear ranks that follow suffer massive casualties from subsequent hand cannon volleys.

What the shocked Imperial nobles see are Rotharing hand cannon infantry arranged in three ranks. Instead of reducing their field of fire, they have the three ranks alternate between reloading and firing—a formation extremely effective against the conventional military doctrine of this era that requires troops to bunch together to fight.

Of course, no matter how effective, the number of hand cannons is not enough to completely stop the Imperial charge.

Like the peasant conscripts before them, the Imperial main force sacrifices many lives to get close, and finally engages Rotharing forces with swords and spears.