Chapter 117 : Chapter 117
Chapter 117. A Motley Crew (3)
For a while, the 3rd Corps succeeded in steadily expanding its occupied territory.
As a result, at a certain point, it became difficult to operate centered on Kroxen Castle anymore.
It was now the stage where they had to besiege the next castle and clear the surrounding area.
Thus, Alexis's direct command unit, along with the vanguard battalion, besieged Nanbalt Castle, the closest to Kroxen Castle.
And the main battalion was ordered to occupy the cities near Nanbalt Castle.
“Move out.”
In the meantime, Roden, who had returned to Kroxen Castle, led the main battalion on a campaign.
The Infantry Company, the Archery Company, the Cavalry Company, and the Special Task Force Company followed behind Roden, who was moving at the very front.
This was the first time that the four companies belonging to the main battalion had sortied together.
Until now, the four companies had each carried out their missions separately.
‘It was a method I had no choice but to choose. That way, the problem of organizational strength wouldn’t arise.’
However, as he had discussed with Liviano on his way back from Vinchih, he couldn't just leave this problem alone forever.
So Roden took this opportunity to create a situation where everyone sortied together, thinking of solving this problem.
There was no better way to increase unity than to fight against a common enemy.
The reason he had told Liviano that 'men always get closer by fighting' was also with this in mind.
However, compared to the other three companies, the number of troops that the Special Task Force Company had sortied was very small.
It couldn't be helped.
The Archery Platoon had been dispatched to Vinchih, and the Infantry Platoon had been left behind in Kroxen Castle in case of an emergency.
For that reason, it was practically only the Light Cavalry Platoon that had sortied from the Special Task Force Company.
Anyway, the main battalion moved to occupy the first city under the influence of Nanbalt Castle, Harschu.
And after setting up a camp in front of Harschu, they began a strategy meeting.
Heinrich exchanged glances with Günter and Otto and then stepped forward first.
“I took a quick look earlier, and Harschu, like other cities in the Empire, has quite low walls.”
“Yes. So it seems.”
“So, it would be better to choose a frontal attack rather than a complex battle.”
“A frontal attack?”
“If we have the Archery Company operate the siege weapons and pound the walls while the Infantry Company charges, we should be able to open the gates easily. In this gap, we can push in the Cavalry Company.”
There were no flaws in the plan Heinrich proposed.
It was only natural, as it was the most widely used and most successful method among the ways the Allied Forces had captured cities of the Empire so far.
Certainly, the existing troops of the main battalion had a lot of experience in capturing cities.
This was because every time they attacked Velia Castle and Kroxen Castle, the main battalion had been in charge of capturing the surrounding cities.
They could be considered experts in a sense.
However, there was one thing.
In Roden’s eyes, Heinrich seemed too confident.
It wasn't just Heinrich.
Günter and Otto were also very confident.
Roden was about to point this out, but he swallowed his words and spoke.
“Good. In that case, let's entrust this battle to the Infantry Company Commander, the Archery Company Commander, and the Cavalry Company Commander. The Special Task Force Company will be on standby.”
Thus, the next day.
After finishing lunch, the three companies advanced towards Harschu.
***
The height of the walls surrounding Harschu was about 6 meters.
Considering that the wall height of a typical castle is about 12 meters, and that strategic points have walls built over 20 meters high, it was quite low.
But even so, a wall was a wall.
To get over it, one had to use catapults and ladders.
Even with these, it took a considerable amount of time to capture it, requiring battles that lasted from a few days to a few weeks.
And the average time it had taken for the main battalion to capture a single city so far was about a week.
“But we must launch an all-out offensive and get over the walls in three days.”
Before the start of the battle.
Heinrich spoke, and at his words, Winter and Otto nodded their heads.
“The Infantry Company Commander is right. If we want to have a strong voice in our opinions like yesterday, it will be important to make a strong impression in this battle.”
“Hahaha. Don't worry. If we can't get over Harschu even after three days, I'll have all the soldiers of the Cavalry Company dismount and charge the walls.”
For the three men who wanted to keep Roden in check, making a strong impression this time was a very important matter.
Most importantly, being able to get over Harschu in three days was not simply to show that the Infantry Company, the Archery Company, and the Cavalry Company were well-trained on a daily basis.
It was to show the unity of how well the three companies could move together.
And this unity would surely become an important reason why Roden would not be able to treat the three companies carelessly in the future.
“We must stick together. In fact, the reason the Battalion Commander handed over the command yesterday was probably because of our unity. Although it was probably more of a gesture to see how we would fight our own way.”
Thus, the three company commanders burned with fighting spirit even before the start of the battle and finally began the attack on Harschu.
As they had reported to Roden, the Archery Company first operated the catapults they had assembled in advance.
Then, giant boulders strongly pounded the walls.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Certainly, perhaps because the walls were low and the width was narrow, it seemed as if they would collapse soon after being hit by a few boulders.
It was a situation that would be quite disconcerting for the city's defense force.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Thus, the catapults attacked the walls a few more times, and thinking that the time had come, the Infantry Company began its charge.
“Raise your shields!”
“Place the ladders!”
Arrows flew from the top of the walls, but the Infantry Company calmly advanced while covering themselves with their shields.
Then, as soon as they placed the ladders, they quickly climbed the walls.
However, perhaps because it was the first day of the siege, the city's defense force's stamina was also quite good.
The proof was that the ladders were repeatedly pushed away before the soldiers could climb to the top of the walls.
In the end, they did not achieve much in the first day's attack.
However, the three company commanders were not greatly shaken by this fact.
On the contrary, they were satisfied that their coordination was good.
“Tomorrow, we'll have to launch rocks for a longer time to completely break the city's defense force's morale.”
“If we do it well, we might be able to get over the walls in two days. From what I saw, our coordination wasn't bad today.”
“Hahaha. That's a good thing. Then the two companies can rest. Our Cavalry Company will be in charge of preparing the meals and mining the rocks for throwing.”
The atmosphere on the first day was very positive.
However, after a few days, the atmosphere changed completely.
The three companies had failed to capture Harschu even on the third day, the day they had set their minds on.
“……It seems the city's defense force's resistance is stronger than we thought.”
“Even after sending in the elite to climb the ladders, no one has climbed more than halfway up the walls.”
“How about the Cavalry Company really steps forward? We are ready.”
It was when the three of them were lost in thought with serious expressions.
“Things aren't going well, are they?”
Someone's voice was heard, and the gazes of the three men all turned towards that direction.
Naturally, the one standing there was Roden.
Beside him was Chevalier.
“No, no, sir. It's fine. We will definitely capture Harschu tomorrow.”
Heinrich hurriedly opened his mouth, and after looking at the flustered and stiff expressions of Günter and Otto, Roden answered.
“Well, if that's the case. I'll continue to believe in you.”
“Thank you. With that said, may we deploy the Cavalry Company to climb the ladders tomorrow?”
“If the three of you have decided to do so, then you must. I have entrusted you with the command.”
“We will definitely repay your trust tomorrow.”
Roden nodded and then withdrew from the spot.
After watching Roden leave, Heinrich, Günter, and Otto simultaneously let out a sigh.
“Now that we've committed the Cavalry Company to the battle, we must climb the walls.”
“We must. It seems we don't have many chances left.”
“Don't worry. If our Cavalry Company steps forward, the city's defense force will definitely not be able to hold out.”
However, on the next day, and the day after that, the three companies could not get over the walls of Harschu.
“Are you alright?”
“We're fine. Tomorrow, even we company commanders will join the battle and climb the walls.”
“Don't overdo it.”
“Yes. We'll be careful.”
Even though Heinrich, Günter, and Otto all stepped forward to attack Harschu, the result was the same.
“You seem to be having a hard time.”
“……No, sir. It's not hard. Tomorrow, we will definitely plant the Allied Forces' flag on the walls of Harschu.”
“Do your best.”
“Of course.”
In the end, they had been attacking Harschu for over two weeks, but the three company commanders had not succeeded in getting over the walls.
As a result, their impatience could only reach its peak.
“Tomorrow, we must risk our lives. If we fail to capture Harschu by tomorrow, we have no future.”
Heinrich said with a determined face, and Günter and Otto also had similar expressions.
Then, Otto opened his mouth with an expression of genuine incomprehension.
“By the way, do you have any idea what the Battalion Commander is thinking? He asks us if we're alright and that we look like we're having a hard time every day, but he has never once blamed or scolded us, so it's quite unsettling.”
“He's probably planning to blow up at us later.”
“You think so? At first, I thought he was being sarcastic, but he also seemed genuinely worried about us.”
“No way, that can't be. Steel yourselves. If you don't want to regret it later.”
“I understand.”
Thus, the three of them began to prepare for tomorrow's battle as if it were the final showdown.
Without knowing the reason why the capture of Harschu was so difficult.