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Translator: Raizu
Editor: Travis
Chapter 17 – Watching the War
In the late autumn, the army was called up in Lioncoeur.
This is because the neighboring Viscount Bazelard blocked the supply distribution to the Lioncoeur territory.
It would be unbearable if supplies were stopped at this time of year when we were preparing for winter.
During the summer, Lioncoeur continued to protest, but Viscount Bazelard instead demanded compensation from Lioncoeur.
The reason for this was that a group of people who seemed to be from Lioncoeur devastated villages and burned the forests of Viscount Bazelard.
Of course, there is no way that Lioncoeur would accept this claim.
Negotiations dragged on, and eventually it led to armed clashes.
…..Somehow, it all happened because I had too many ideas…..
I felt sorry for the gathering army.
As part of Albert’s “training”, we set fire to villages in the Bazelard territory and used the farmers as targets for bows and stone throwing.
Stealing was also par for the course.
I wouldn’t say all of them, but there is no doubt that they played a part in this war.
And the butler, who was the cause of that, took us along and gleefully flaunted the war spectacles.
[Oh, that’s Dad! Brother is there too!]
Jean pointed to a middle-aged knight who was probably his father and a slightly younger knight who was probably his older brother, leading a small group of about 20 men.
He wore chainmail and an iron helmet.
A calm-looking knight.
I don’t know what to say, but from what I’ve seen, both father and brother are normal people.
[You don’t have much power for Albert’s son.]
When I whispered, Albert agreed with [Umu].
[His mother’s blood was too strong! Shame on the Grote family!]
Albert gritted his teeth reluctantly.
[Jean, I am placing my hopes on you.]
[Okay, I’ll get stronger and strangle my enemies with their intestines like grandpa did!]
Albert and Jean were all excited about a topic I didn’t quite understand.
Rolo and I were at a loss, but I supposed it’s fine since Albert is in a good mood.
However, overall it’s shabby… the knights and squires were really splendid, but there were others who didn’t change from normal clothes.
When I saw the army gathering, I was surprised at how poorly equipped they were.
Only a few people wear metal armor such as chainmail and teardrop-shaped helmets.
The majority of infantry soldiers wear appropriate helmets (?), wear shirts in layers, or wear furs.
Other than helmets, there was even a crude thing like a leather cap (?) with some kind of bone or long stone stuck to it.
Weapons were limited to swords, spears, and wooden shields. There were some who wielded clubs and axes, but they’re in the minority. Some were carrying bows or slings…there was no sense of uniformity in their armaments.
The army consisted mainly of squires led by my father, Rudolph, with a few hundred cavalry and several hundred infantry.
In addition, there were hundreds of knights from all over the territory.
And then there’s the armed convoy… they’re the most numerous, maybe 40% of the total?
A total of about 1,000 people? I honestly am not sure.
Then, Albert made a square with his hands like a camera.
[The army size can be measured like this. Count how many people are in this square, and measure the whole by how many squares there are.]
I listened to Albert. Come to think of it, it might have been the first time I received proper guidance from him.
When I counted the army using his method, it seemed to be around 700 people.
[Roughly 700?]
[That’s what it is… Do you understand now why arithmetic is necessary, Jean?]
It seemed that I was used as a base for Jean’s guidance… Well, okay.
After Rudolph gave some kind of instruction, the army formed a line and started walking slowly.
[Aren’t they too slow?]
[It’s always like this. Especially if you bring infantry and transport.]
To Albert’s words, I gave a half-hearted [Fumu] while continuing to look at the troop.
Even so, it’s a tremendous amount of supplies.
The amount of food eaten by hundreds of humans and horses is overwhelming in number.
That’s when I realized how expensive war is.
Slow. Really slow.
It’s been several hours since we started looking at the troops, but they’re still there.
Actually, the movement speed of the army is extremely slow.
If there is a road, it will be about 15 km in a day, and if there is no road, it will be less than 10 km.
[We will leave tomorrow before noon. If we arrive at Portu at night, the army will arrive the next day.]
I was shocked by Albert’s words.
It’s too slow.]
When I heard about Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s return to China, my impression was only [Hmm], but it was actually a tremendous achievement.
I sighed when I learned about the power of the people of the world and saw the army still in sight.
=============
The army arrived at the fortified city of Portu at the time Albert predicted.
The army was also gathering in Portu, and joined by the forces from the capital, increasing the number to about 1,300.
…..I see, can we save supplies by doing this… but then wouldn’t it be better to accumulate supplies in Portu and rush from the capital in a light state?
I’m puzzled, but my thoughts are nothing more than desk theories.
Reality doesn’t always go according to what you think.
Led by Albert, we observed the situation from a slightly elevated spot away from the army.
The next day, the army encountered Viscount Bazelard’s army in an open space.
The Bazelard army consisted of about 900 strong.
[They were able to meet the enemy quite well.]
[No, the date and time has been decided in advance. It’s a loss for both sides if it drags on.]
War in this era is apparently similar to sports.
There are various arrangements.
Both armies took positions, but it’s surprisingly sloppy.
I thought it would be more of a “formation” like crane wings or fish scales, but each knight gathered his forces and somehow just lined up.
The soldiers were so excited that they slammed their shields and shouted in a strange way, and some of them even got naked and started making mysterious gestures.
[Oh, my father has come out.]
A person who appeared to be Rudolph emerged from among the army.
He seemed to be exchanging words with the enemy’s representative.
[It’s a verbal battle. Make your own legitimacy known and blame your opponent. If you do it well, your allies’ morale will rise.]
[Oh, they pull back.]
The representatives of both camps returned to their respective side, then both armies began to move forward while shooting with bows and slinging stones.
A nimble person stepped out in front of the formation and slinged stones at the enemy.
It didn’t seem like they care much about the formation.
The distance had closed.
The soldiers rushed forward while raising their voices in dismay.
They clashed while throwing spears, and a ferocious melee began.
It’s like a scene from a colossal movie.
[Ah, they got the naked guy!]
Rolo raised his voice in frustration.
It seemed that the soldier who had been showing off his junk while naked was killed.
As we watched the soldiers fight their way with joy and sorrow, the cavalry led by Rudolph moved, turned to the right and flanked.
In the blink of an eye, Rudolph and the others broke through the enemy’s camp, the enemy disintegrated, and they rushed to flee.
[That’s an anvil. Rudolph is good at it.]
[Anvil?]
I listened back to Albert’s words.
[Umu, the infantry catches the enemy and the cavalry strikes. The infantry is the anvil and the cavalry is the hammer.]
I see, they seem to compare it to the movement of forging metal.
While one side is attracting the enemy, the other side flanks and attacks.
It’s a simple but powerful tactic.
Rudolph stopped the pursuit at some point and headed for a nearby village.
[They’re stopping the pursuit already? Is it to watch out for an ambush?]
[No, I guess they thought this was good enough… because if you overdo it, other lords will come out. After looting appropriately, the rest is diplomacy.]
I thought that it would go on into a siege, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
This is different from the strategy games I knew.
In the first place, even if you occupy someone else’s land like a game, it will take years to make a profit, and if you take it for no reason, the surroundings will be noisy.
It’s natural to be vigilant if your neighbor is a thief.
You need a just cause to take someone else’s land.
Attacking the castle would cause a lot of damage, and there is no reason to attack this time.
The origin of this war was Viscount Bazelard’s suspension of logistics.
It’s not a war to scramble for land.
For Lioncoeur, all that was needed was to defeat Viscount Bazelard and restore the logistics, so they had achieved their goal by fighting to determine their superiority.
There is little point in fighting desperately with Viscount Bazelard.
The peace negotiations should begin soon.
[It depends on the amount of compensation, but if it’s a skirmish, it’s something like this.]
…..compensations huh… From the point of view of Viscount Bazelard, even though he was provoked by the Lioncoeur side to loot and stop the logistics, he was attacked instead and had to pay compensation… just like a yakuza. Isn’t it…
I was heartbroken by the unreasonableness, but it seems that war is generally like this.
We live in an era where power speaks for itself.
[Okay, let’s go home. The nearby villages have already been evacuated, and there shouldn’t be much left.]
Albert left those words behind and turned around.
I thought war viewing was in bad taste, but I gained a lot by actually seeing the scene.
==========
On the way home, I asked Albert about various things.
[Come to think of it, why was he naked?]
[To show courage.]
I muttered, [Ah, courage].
I don’t think there’s any point in it if you end up dying.
[I want to be like that too.]
[Jumping straight at the forefront.]
But apparently, Jean and Rolo admired these naked men.
…..I don’t want to go to a fight naked, okay?
Which team are you on? I mentally shouted a tsukkomi.
I vowed to ban nakedness from my subordinates.
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