Chapter 111 – Preparations for the Western Invasion

The Kingdom of Brenark and the Zeltreich Empire fighting together. It was not as though I had never considered that possibility somewhere in the corner of my mind… but to think it would happen at this timing…!

“Vilgard-sama. The information we have currently been able to grasp is exactly as I have just reported.”

One week had passed since the shocking intelligence arrived. Up until today, I had concentrated on gathering information. The reason was that, in the current situation, it was a matter the Northern Empire could not easily interfere with.

Even now, Altark and Lantis were investigating the mountain-crossing routes. Until their report arrived, we could not carelessly move the army.

However, with a full week having passed, a large amount of information had naturally been collected. Right now, we were holding a war council at the Clostova base.

“The Kingdom of Brenark’s knight order numbers fifty thousand and the Empire is sending thirty thousand… and the one commanding them is the Knight Representative, Arloston…” 

To think that these two nations would form a military alliance… no, even if they were going to form one, I never imagined it would be at this timing.

If negotiations were to proceed between the two nations, it should have taken a considerable amount of time. If that were the case, information should have reached us during the negotiations.

However, this time no information reached us at all. Most likely the discussions were concluded at a very early stage. The question is whether it was the Empire or the Kingdom that initiated the negotiations first…

‘Setting aside how quickly they reached an agreement… what kind of deal was made between the Empire and the Kingdom…?’

That is the real issue. Thinking about it normally, the Empire would probably cede part of its territory to the Kingdom in exchange for having military forces lent to them… something along those lines.

However, selling off territory is the very action the knight orders would resist the most. The backlash should be considerable.

Alternatively, it is not impossible that Arloston completely suppressed such dissatisfaction… but in any case, since the Kingdom of Brenark will be shedding blood as well, they must have obtained some benefit from this deployment.

“To invite a foreign power into one’s own country…! For Creyval to personally bring about foreign intervention…!” 

Ondyle’s fists trembled with anger. The other knights were much the same. The only ones who showed little reaction were perhaps the people of the plains.

“My father, Wolk, also sent a letter saying he could not suppress his anger.”

“Wolk-dono’s anger is only natural.”

“Indeed. Has the Empire now fallen into corruption to this extent…”

Inviting the military power of another nation into one’s own country. That is something that will almost certainly leave deep trouble for the future.

Ten years after it split into three, the Empire had maintained a strange balance. Allowing the interference of another nation’s army could be said to be an act that shakes that balance from its very foundation.

“Vilgard-sama. If things continue like this…”

“Yeah. If Seazack is defeated and the western region is liberated… it will become quite troublesome.”

This is not about the Empire regaining its strength. Of course that cannot be ignored either, but more than likely the Kingdom of Brenark will also begin to interfere openly.

“What concerns me is why Brenark decided to move at this time… and what sort of agreement was made between the two nations. But this is not the time to investigate those matters before taking action.”

I want to grasp the background, but right now even that time is precious. We cannot simply hand over the western region to them, and above all, defeating Seazack and liberating the west is my responsibility. That was the promise I made to Elfilia.

“The King. Now that the Knight Representative has left the Imperial Capital, does this not present a chance to attack?”

The one who voiced that opinion was Kud. Before I could answer his question, Karan-san opened his mouth.

“It is not that simple. The army Arloston leads numbers thirty thousand. There is no doubt they are carefully selected elites, but even so, it is only thirty thousand. In other words, the majority have been left behind in the Empire. It is likely done out of caution toward us.”

“I see…”

Karan-san is probably right. However, Kud’s opinion is not bad either. If the Northern Empire were to truly start moving, Arloston might become concerned about his rear and be unable to fully concentrate on the battle in the west.

Perhaps the reason Arloston moved to subjugate Seazack at this timing is because, just like me, he judged that the man could not simply be ignored…

“Excuse me!”

The one who entered the meeting room was a warrior of the Dorga tribe. He held up the letter in his hand.

“A message of urgency from the Diltrack Territory! I have heard it contains a report regarding the mountain-crossing route!”

“…! Let me see it!”

The letter was from Lantis, the lord of the Diltrack Territory. He had been cooperating with the mountain tribes and Altark to investigate points where an army might be able to cross the mountains.

According to the letter, crossing the mountains with cavalry would indeed be difficult. However, if the force were organized mainly around infantry, then with a guide to lead them westward, it would be possible to cross the mountains.

‘It is possible to move an army itself, but things will be quite different from usual…’

After showing the letter to everyone, I sank deeper into thought.

To begin with, making an army cross mountains is not a simple matter. If supply wagons cannot be used, the army’s ability to transport provisions drops drastically. That will significantly reduce the army’s performance.

Furthermore, crossing mountains in heavy equipment is dangerous. If the path is mistaken, there is also the risk of landslides, so securing the route beforehand and having reliable guides are absolutely essential. This is entirely different from a lone traveler crossing the mountains.

Since the amount of food that can be carried is limited, local procurement will also be necessary. If an army attempts a mountain crossing without extreme caution, casualties would naturally occur. It is a dangerous undertaking.

Even if we take the route that Lantis and Altark investigated this time, there will likely be some who fall behind.

Even after passing through the mountains, we will still need to secure water and food. But… even so.

“We will move as well!”

“…………! Vilgard-sama…!”

“We cannot simply hand the western region over to them like this! Garshin! How many infantry in the Northern Empire army can endure a mountain crossing?”

The people of the plains were under my direct command, and the『Northern Empire army』referred to here meant the forces excluding the plains people. Up until now, we had conducted considerable training while keeping coordination with the plains people in mind.

Garshin nodded in response to my question.

“Yes, sir. If we assemble only the most elite, we can immediately organize twenty thousand. If we lower the standard by one rank, we can gather a considerably larger number, but…”

“That will not be necessary. I want to fill the ranks with those who have a high chance of making it across the mountains.”

This battle will likely be different from our previous ones in every sense.

They are an elite force originally prepared with the Empire in mind… but this time I will have them use those twenty thousand here.

“The western region will be handled with those twenty thousand!”

“Wha…!”

“Are you not taking us, the people of the plains, with you!?”

That kind of reaction was only natural. However, this time I cannot take everyone.

“At present, for the Northern Empire to reach the west, we must cross the mountain range in the western part of Diltrack Territory. The elevation is high, and horses raised on the plains will not all be able to cross it.”

“But…”

“If this becomes a battle after crossing the mountains, the people of the plains will not be able to fully display their strength. You are the core of the Northern Empire’s military power. I have no intention of wasting even a single life, including your horses.”

However, that does not mean I will take none of them along.

“Garshin, Lombard, Kud, and Rabas will accompany us as commanders. We will join up with Almark in Diltrack, and the twenty-thousand-strong force will be commanded by the five of us, including myself.”

“…………! Yes, understood!”

“We will surely live up to the King’s expectations!”

I wrote a letter to Lantis, instructing him to prepare for the army to cross the mountains. I also added that I wanted him to prepare some horses capable of making the crossing.

“Also, Ondyle, while I am absent, I would like you to take command of the Northern Empire army.”

Ondyle is my uncle, and he has more than enough achievements to be entrusted with command of the army. At present, it would be fair to say he has the ability to command a large army second only to me.

If Grandfather Wolk were here, I would have left it to him…but Grandfather has his own responsibility of keeping watch over the north.

“Understood. However, from the way you phrase it, it seems you intend to give a specific military order rather than simply have me keep watch over the Empire’s movements?”

It was a subtle nuance, but Ondyle seemed to have caught it clearly.

Indeed, if I merely wanted him to defend things while I was absent, I would not have deliberately told him to take command.

“It relates to what Kud mentioned earlier. I think it would not be a bad idea for the Northern Empire to show some movement.”

“I see… to make it appear as though we are striking at their rear while the Knight Representative is absent.”

“Yeah. Specifically, I want you to advance slightly south from Katzbarie.”

At present, there are four points where large armies can pass and where we border the Empire.

From the east, they are the Alcarol Territory, the Katzbarie Territory, this Clostova Territory here, and the Kamrack Territory located to the east of Diltrack.

All of these have established defensive structures by building forts or secondary castles in the south and stationing troops there. At the same time, the Empire has also built forts and stationed troops at these four locations.

Naturally so. If any one of these were to fall completely into the hands of either side… it would allow large armies to move back and forth with ease.

Whether attacking or defending, these four points absolutely cannot be ignored.

Among them, the three excluding Alcarol are particularly important. The one closest to the Imperial Capital is Clostova here. The Empire likely already knows that I have established my base here.

If we were to advance south from this land, the supporting attacks would come from Kamrack to the west and Katzbarie to the east. Up to this point, the Empire naturally understands this as well.

But what would happen if, at this timing, Katzbarie were to show signs of movement?

The Empire would likely think,『Could it be that Katzbarie has begun advancing south, and once they establish a bridgehead, the main force from Clostova will also launch its principal assault…?』

If the southern advance from Katzbarie succeeds, then the army serving as the main attacking force could advance south from Clostova. By coordinating with each other, they should be able to occupy Imperial territory.

If this goes well, it would then become easier to advance south from Kamrack as well. After all, they would be able to coordinate with the army that had already advanced south from Clostova.

In this case, it is important not to send out troops from Clostova, which the enemy believes to be the true main force. There is also another reason why Katzbarie was chosen.

“Alcarol, Clostova, and Kamrack all have Imperial forts and defensive positions built immediately to their south… but only at Katzbarie are the forts of both sides positioned far apart.”

“That is because of Lake Kubie.”

That’s right. To the south of Katzbarie stretches a vast lake running vertically… Lake Kubie.

Looking at it with the lake as the center, the Northern Empire’s defensive base is built to the north, while the Empire’s defensive base is constructed to the south.

In other places, advancing south would immediately lead to a clash with the Imperial army… but only here, because of the lake, it is possible to advance troops into Imperial territory without directly crossing weapons with them.

That said, we would not be able to push in very deeply. However, even under the current circumstances, the Northern Empire’s army invading even a little should be enough to cause considerable unrest among the Imperial forces.

In that way, we would spread unease by striking at Arloston’s rear and place restrictions on his actions in the western region. That is precisely the objective of the southern advance.

If the shaken Arloston were to withdraw his army, that would be ideal… but well, that is something we will only know after trying.

“The people of the plains will be ordered to defend Clostova. Ondyle, begin moving at about the time we should have finished crossing the mountains.”

“Understood. …Depending on the situation, should we seize the fort at Lake Kubie while we are at it?”

“If possible… that will be enough. We must prepare for the day that will eventually come, but this is not the time to push ourselves too hard.”

“Yes, sir.”

That said, if we could secure Lake Kubie… it would work greatly to the Northern Empire’s advantage. After all, it would mean securing a massive water source located right beside an important strategic point.

The Northern Empire would also be able to use Lake Kubie as a supply base, making it easier to send armies to various parts of Imperial territory. There is no doubt that the range of our strategies would expand all at once.

Well, the other side also understands the risks of us securing Lake Kubie, so it will not be that easy.

“Then begin preparations immediately. With this expedition, we will liberate the western region with our own hands!”

“OOOOOOH!”