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Vol 04 Chapter 120: Countermeasures

It took two days to reorganize the troops.

Well, considering that we had to unite the complex command system of a coalition army, it didn’t really take too long.

However, it’s also true that we gave the enemy a two-day respite.

「So, what is General Kuryuu doing?」

「According to the reports from the reconnaissance units, he seems to be holed up in a city about a day’s distance from here.」

He’s holed up in a city… It would be problematic if he opts for a siege.

It’s July now. In three months, it will be autumn, and we’ll need to start preparing for winter quarters.

Winter quarters mean setting up a camp in a place where food is relatively plentiful and it’s easier to survive the winter. In this ancient world, military actions during winter are extremely dangerous.

The cold winter climate alone depletes the soldiers’ strength.

Basically, the benefits of military action in winter are lower than the risks it entails, so most armies set up winter quarters.

This is commonly known as the time for a natural truce.

This means that after another three to four months, we’ll be immobilized for another three to four months. For our country, where plebeian landowners make up the bulk of the soldiers, this is a significant blow.

It might be fine for the Rozel Kingdom, which relies heavily on hunting, gathering, and nomadic lifestyles…

「No, that’s unlikely.」

Bartolo, picking up on my muttering, shook his head.

「Why is that?」

「It’s simple. The Rozel Kingdom can’t afford to have an army of thirty thousand idling around here; their borders are too busy for that. Rozel has many enemies—King Gilbed’s Country, King Faldam’s Country, the subjugated Adernians from the northern Adernian Peninsula, the tribes of northeastern Gallia, and the Germanis tribes…」

「I see…」

Being a major power is tough. Having such extensive borders is also a problem.

「So, you’re saying General Kuryuu will aim for a quick decisive battle?」

「Probably.」

So, it’s going to be a pitched battle. We still have fewer total numbers on our side…

We have the advantage in cavalry numbers, so it would be great if we could pull off a surrounding and annihilating strategy. General Kuryuu is skilled at charge and divide tactics.

「The problem is the hairy beasts, right? Don’t we have a picture or something of it?」

「Yes, we do. I had someone skilled draw it. I’ll have it brought here now.」

Bartolo called a messenger soldier and had him bring the picture. It’s quite a well-drawn picture.

I, along with the patricians, Mutzio, Julia, Tetra, Ron, Alexios, and Melia, peered into the picture.

This is…

「A mammoth?」

「An elephant.」

「It’s definitely an elephant.」

My voice overlapped with Alexios and Melia’s.

Alexios asked with a bit of surprise.

「Do you know about elephants, King Rosais?」

「Hm, well, yes. I’ve heard of them. Are they in Pofenia too?」

「Yes. Not as furry, though. In Pofenia there’s a type of elephant called ‘round ears elephant’. They’re used for construction and war.」

Hmm… So there are mammoths here, huh?

If I remember correctly, the name ‘mammoth’ comes from the Tatar language, meaning ‘earth dweller’, right? Then it wouldn’t be appropriate for the Adernians to use it.

「Well, no matter. Let’s call it a long-haired elephant… Alexios, teach us about how to counter elephants and their uses.」

Alexios nodded lightly before beginning his explanation.

「There are two ways to use elephants. One is to charge with them, disrupting the enemy’s formation. Elephants are very large, so to those unaccustomed to them, they can be terrifying. Moreover, they can move at quite a speed with that massive body. Being trampled by one is usually the end of the line. Their hide is thick, so they don’t die easily. Purely in terms of destructive power, they are far more fearsome than a cavalry charge.」

Bartolo received their charge so he understands very well the fearsome nature of the elephants’ charge. What’s the second method?

「The second is to use them as shields. Elephants emit a somewhat peculiar smell… horses dislike this smell. By positioning elephants on the flanks, you can prevent cavalry from executing side attacks. It’s likely that General Kuryuu will use this tactic. He doesn’t seem like someone who would repeat the same strategy over and over.」

「That makes sense…」

General Kuryuu is an exceptionally skilled commander. Initially, he seemed to be just a fierce general who excelled at frontal assaults…

But after seeing the aftermath of the royal capital’s siege, I reconsidered. He is as much a strategist as Bartolo or Alexios.

「However, if horses dislike them, that’s a problem. We can’t flank them, then…」

Mutzio furrowed his brow. The tactic of holding the line with heavy infantry, while cavalry attacks from the flanks and rear, forms the basic strategy of our coalition army.

But with elephants present, this strategy becomes unexecutable.

「If we confront them as is, the elephants will block our flank attacks, and there’s a risk that our elongated formation will be breached.」

「So, we first need to deal with the elephants.」

How exactly do we bring down an elephant?

If I recall correctly, Scipio1 allowed elephants to pass through widely spaced heavy infantry and then used javelins to kill them. There was also a Diadochi who used chains to restrain war elephants during the Diadochi wars2.

But since the enemy might use them not just for charges but as moving barricades… In that case…

「Roswald, our cavalry can handle blast javelins, right?」

「Yes. The horses have been trained not to be startled.」

Good. That settles it. Next…

「What are we going to do about the enemy’s slave troops?」

「I’ll handle that.」

Julia spoke up.

「The enemy uses magic to suppress the slave troops’ fear, right? Then I’ll try to dispel it. It won’t be completely effective, but it should work to some extent.」

「All our magicians against their magician… the world’s oldest grandma.」

Tetra… calling her the oldest grandma is a bit rude, isn’t it? She looks young, after all.

At any rate, we’ve figured out how to handle the slave troops.

「Now we just need to figure out how to reduce General Kuryuu’s bizarre charge power.」

Bartolo mumbled while drinking.

You should really stop drinking during meetings.

「General Kuryuu has several blessings. At least one of them is a physically strengthening type, right?」

「That’s right. I just used [Blessing of Clairvoyance] and [Blessing of Insight] to check. He has the blessings of [Blessing of the Crazed Warrior] and [Blessing of Charm]. It’s troublesome. It even makes his soldiers stronger.」

Hmm, what to do…

「Almus-sama, you’re really strong, aren’t you?」

What’s with that, Lulu? Suddenly praising me.

「Didn’t you kill a bear with a javelin throw once?」

Soyon nodded.

That was back when the refugees had just arrived, right?

Something like that happened…

…

「So you mean I should stop him?」

「I think only my king can stop General Kuryuu…」

Everyone’s gaze focused on me.

I get it. You want me to fight General Kuryuu, right? Since Bartolo will be in command anyway, there’s no problem if I go to the front lines.

I don’t have that much combat experience though… My one-on-one battles were always one-sided.

But it’s probably the same for General Kuryuu. It’s not like there are people with blessings like ours lying around everywhere.

「But I’m not confident I can win against him if it’s just me.」

「Don’t forget about me!」

「I’ll support you too. Don’t worry. I won’t shoot my allies by mistake even in a melee.」

Ron and Gram stood up.

Right. These two are under the influence of my [Blessing of the Emperor], so even if they’re not as strong as me, they’re still powerful.

「I’ll support you too. I’d be in trouble if my best friend died.」

Mutzio smiled wryly.

Right, he’s got a blessing too. He is able to dominate the battlefield by manipulating the wind.

I will face Kuryuu head-on, with Ron supporting me from nearby. Mutzio and Gram will provide archery support from behind…

Yes, this isn’t a bad formation. We can definitely stop him with this.

「Let’s position the elite, centered around the praetorian cohort, at the front line. We’ll engage General Kuryuu and slowly retreat…」

Bartolo enclosed his fist with his other palm.

It goes without saying. He plans to use an encirclement and annihilation strategy.

「Everyone, please start getting ready. Tetra, don’t forget to inspect the blast javelins.」

「Understood, Almus.」

The leaders returned to their respective tents.

We need to finish this war soon or it’ll have long-lasting repercussions. Tomorrow or the day after is likely to be the decisive battle…

「General Kuryuu. You seem to have never lost before, but unfortunately, I have never lost either. I am known as the son of the war god. Losing would have repercussions… I absolutely must win!!」

The decisive battle is near.

TN1: The Scipio Almus referred to here is probably Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (236-183 BC), also known as Scipio the Elder. He was the Roman general who defeated Hannibal in the Second Punic War. At the Battle of Zama (202 BC), Scipio defeated Hannibal’s previously undefeated war elephants by using the formation of his soldiers and several other tricks, throwing Hannibal’s battle plans into disarray and leading to his defeat and the loss of Cartago in the war. The explanation of the battle will take longer than the chapter, so if you are interested you can ask me for more information in the comments or on our discord or just search it on Google.

TN2: The Diadochi Wars were a series of conflicts fought among the successors of Alexander the Great, known as the Diadochi, over control of his vast empire following his death in 323 BC. These wars lasted for about 40 years, spanning from 323 BC to approximately 281 BC.