Chapter 61：A Calculated Slaughter

For the first time in its history since its inception, the 363rd Gamma Corps has been busy preparing for a battle engagement. However, this wasn't any regular typical battle. Instead, it could be a battle like none other before.

On one side, there was the roughly 45,000 strong Drussian army which composed of virtually every Gamma Corps battalion within the Porrish regions as well as the more elite Omega Corps Battalions and Divisions. Gamma Corps were equiped with standard issue Drussian equipment while Omega Corps also had access to experimental Drussian weaponry.

On the other side, there were approximately 250,000 crusaders of a mixed ethnicity. Their men hailed from basically every Katholic nation excluding Demnark and were apparently equiped with the latest, most advanced weapons developed by foreign countries to the southeast of the Meldean Sea.

As one could tell, the Drussians were outnumbered by the crusaders by more than five times, it wouldn't be wrong to refer to this situation as a true 'David and Goliath' scenario.

Only this time, the 'David' in this scenario was armed with a weapon that was a lot more deadly than a mere sling.

Wilhelm has long lost track of time as he went sleepless night after sleepless night micromanaging the situation from the Gamma Corp's front. Within the confines of his private tent within the Gamma Corp's encampment, Wilhelm once again reviewed the situation on his map.

If the reports that he has been receiving weren't false, then everything should be going according to plan.

Due to the crusaders outnumbering their Drussian counterparts, the Gamma Corps were forced to employ a 'scorched earth' tactic. A stratagem that as its name would suggest involves destroying goods and supplies within a specified region.

Farm crops were burned, wells were poisoned and warehouses were either emptied or destroyed while small villages and towns were forcefully evacuated. The former was done to restrict the crusaders ability's to resupply while the latter was done to eliminate the chance of crusader sympathisers potentially joining the crusade.

Of course, such a task would take an extended amount of time with a lot of oversight required to manage the operations. As such, a lot of planning and foresight was required to enact these tasks in the correct regions in the most efficient way possible.

If one were to predict the wrong course of movements from the enemy, then they may end up scorching the wrong regions or they may allow Drussian assets to fall into the enemy's hands. Even the smallest, most minuscule mistake could cost the Imperium of Drussia victory.

Despite all this, Wilhelm was sure that he had made no mistakes during the entirety of this defensive campaign. Based on the reports from his scouts, the crusaders have indeed crossed into the regions which were scorched beforehand which promptly slowed their march.

Not only were the movements of the crusade slowed down considerably, but deaths due to starvation and sickness and eventually acts of desertion were observed as well. Although these deaths and desertions may not have any major impact on the crusade's military capability, any advantage is still appreciated.

"Still looking at the map?"

Soon, Wilhelm's thoughts were interrupted by a figure who just entered through the tent's doors.

There was only one person within the Gamma Corps who had clearance to enter into the marshal's personal tent without making an appointment beforehand.

He was the first lieutenant of the Gamma Corps... and Wilhelm's younger twin brother; Walther Aldrich Rommel.

In response to Walther's sudden intrusion, Wilhelm turned his gaze upwards away from the map and towards his brother as he spoke.

"You can never be too cautious. Especially when this is a literal life and death scenario."

"Yes I am well aware of that fact. I didn't become the first lieutenant of the Gamma Corps on a fluke."

Although it was true that Walther shared similar talents in the art of warfare with Wilhelm, unlike Wilhelm, Walther also had another inherent problem that made him just a small step lower than Wilhelm.

A problem that Walther was about to highlight with his short speech.

"It's just that... I have these concerns too. We only have 20 Gamma Battalions, that's only 20,000 men against how many crusaders? Not only are we outnumbered but we could possibly be outmatched in equipment too."

Walther sighed before he continued to express his concerns.

"Hell, you read the reports correct? The crusaders are armed with the latest musket models and even cannons. On the other hand, we aren't supplemented with any artillery or heavy weapons to speak off. Do you really expect the men to be able to put up a fight in such situations? I implore you, please reconsider this."

As sad as it may be, Wilhelm knew that despite Walther's talents, he was still a rather... idealistic individual.

Soon Wilhelm answered his brother's question in a solemn tone.

" I am not ordering our men to fight, I am ordering them to die. In the time it takes them to die, the Omega Corps would have already cleaned this mess up."

...

"My lady, we have confirmed that the Gamma Corps have engaged the crusade's vanguard. At this moment, they should be conducting a fighting retreat, only slowly giving ground to the crusaders but never breaking under the pressure."

"Then give the order. Mobilise everyone immediately and inform them to await further orders. The moment I walk out this tent is the moment that everyone is ready to move."

Erika instantly authorised the Omega Corps to move out the moment she received the report from one of her brigadiers. Once the original brigadier who gave her the report left the command tent to complete her orders, Erika turned her gaze towards the other brigadiers in the tent before she spoke up.

"Is everything else in order?"

"But of course."

Satisfied with the brigadiers' answer, Erika glanced around the tent before she continued.

"Then let's move out. We have a battle to win."

As Erika said this, she already made her way out of the tent, and out onto the open fields of the encampment. After Erika checked and ensured that her appearance was pristine, she then got onto her warhorse and joined the marching army.

Like the brigadier said, only the crusade's vanguard which composed of roughly 60,000 men has engaged with the Gamma Corps army which only composed of 20 battalions or 20,000 men. This was due to the large and relatively uncoordinated nature of the crusade.

Out of the entire crusading force, only the forces of the vanguard army were in battle formations while the remaining 200,000 or so crusaders were isolated from the battle, instead they should still be marching in columns to eventually reinforce the vanguard forces.

This would mean that said 200,000 remaining crusaders will be vulnerable to any attack on the rear and flanks. A fact that Erika was more than ready to exploit.

However, the only way for this stratagem to work is if the Gamma Corps could effectively keep the vanguard army preoccupied long enough for the Omega Corps to sow confusion and route the entire crusade while they were still unaware and unprepared.

Based on the reports, the vanguard force should consist of 50,000 'elite' Panish soldiers and 10,000 Porrish soldiers. Within those 60,000 crusaders should be the commanding officers of the crusade, including the leader of the crusade, Princess Stefanie.

Even though the Drussian's were drilled for battle, there was no doubt that the Paniards imitated the Drussians and drilled their own troops too, although Erika still doubted if it could compare to Drussian drilling.

Unlike before, not only do the Drussians have to deal with a disadvantage in numbers but they may no longer have their drilling advantage either even if the Panish drilling was an inferior replica.

On top of this, the Paniards and the Porrish were very likely to fight with a vindictive fervor which would only increase their fighting capacity and capabilities. There was no doubt that the closest reinforcing crusading groups which composed of Ostrians would fight with that same vengeful passion.

The only real advantage that the Drussians had over the crusaders was how the Drussians were well fed and well rested when compared to the starving and tired crusaders. At least, that should be the case if Wilhelm, the Gamma Corp's marshal did his job properly.

In the end, the outcome of this operation lay entirely on how long the Gamma Corps can stave off the crusaders. As long as the Gamma Corps can preoccupy Stefanie and her forces for more than a couple hours, then the Omega Corps can rout her reinforcements without her even knowing.

However, contrary to what one may think, this was not Erika's largest concern. While the fact that the outcome of this battle lay in the hands of the Gamma Corps was still one of Erika's major concerns, it was not her main one.

Her main concern was the fact that Maxwell was completely absent from this entire defensive campaign and instead, he left all the responsibility of handling such an important task to Erika.

At first, she just couldn't comprehend why he would do such a thing. However, with Sicilia's help, Erika was able to get a quick grasp on his intentions. This entire crusade... it simply didn't concern him. It didn't concern Maxwell because he knew that he could trust Erika to handle it flawlessly for him.

It was a sign of trust as well as an act of efficiency. Instead of being forced to deal with the crusade, Maxwell could instead remain in Maximinus and plan out his next course of actions while proving that he trusts Erika while at the same time, giving Erika a chance to prove to Maxwell that he can trust her.

However, the act of leaving everything to Erika also doubled as a test. According to Sicilia, Maxwell is also predicting that in the near future, multiple fronts of conflict are going to open and as such, he would need capable commanders to handle these fronts while he reviews the bigger picture at home.

Of course Erika had to pay Sicilia back for such acts of kindness. Soon enough, after the Omega Corps moved out, Erika quickly found Sicilia.

"So, is it nearly time to part ways?"

As the Omega Corps marched on a faster pace in order to intercept the reinforcements in time, Erika had to focus more of her attention on riding her horse rather than Sicilia when they spoke.

Out of the corner of her eye, Erika caught a smile grow on Sicilia's face as she responded to Erika.

"That is sadly so."

Erika returned the smile to Sicilia as she replied.

"I see. I must admit that these moments with you were more enjoyable than I originally thought they would be."

"What I surprise. I was thinking the same thing. I'm not sure if you're aware of this but Maxwell always said that I needed a 'girl's night out' whatever that's supposed to mean. Now I can see why."

Sicilia chuckled and slightly lifted her shoulders in a joking shrug before she continued.

"Granted this may have been more than just one night but I believe the intent was still there. Anyhow, farewell Erika."

"Wait!"

Just before Sicilia could pull the reins of her horse to change direction, she was instead stopped by Erika's voice.

"That promise you made... You'll keep it right?"

Sicilia remained silent for a moment before she spoke up.

"Of course."