Chapter 260 – End of the War [Battle of Lake Symenotra (2)] *7th Legion Commander Claudia Illustration*
End of the war [Battle of Lake Simenotra (2)]
Arnim, commander of the 5th corps, and Claudia, commander of the 7th corps, focused on the chase by recruiting their troops, and as a result they broke through the Tesseito border at a rapid pace.
There was resistance from the border guards, but the combat power of the two fully reorganized corps instantly trampled them and continued the advance.
But they had to stop their advance at Lake Simenotra. This was because the Teseito army’s garrison was visible on the far side of the lake.
“Corps Commander! This is a report from a scout that the Teseito army is encamped here! It is said that they are receiving supplies here, lighting a bonfire and taking a rest.”
“Then how about launching a surprise attack right now? If we keep pushing before the enemy regains their energy, we will surely win easily!”
Claudia, commander of the 7th Corps, could not help but be troubled by the staff’s insistence on attacking.
‘No matter how much the enemy is being chased by us, we are also exhausted. Although the soldiers may not feel fatigue due to excitement now, there is a high possibility that the aftereffects will come when they actually enter the battle. But the same goes for the enemy… Moreover, the Commander-in-Chief gave us instructions not to overdo it. What should I do in this situation…’
“… First, set up a garrison here! Report the situation to the commander-in-chief and give instructions…”
After much deliberation, the decision she made was to set up her base as usual and then listen to Mayer’s instructions.
A man came running behind her as she set up a position for the soldiers to set up a camp and tried to communicate with Mayer.
“Claudia!! What are you doing? We have to drive those guys away right away! This is not the time to be like this!!”
“Arnim, Corps Commander? No, why are you here… Didn’t you tell me to do it via communication if I had something to say? And why do you keep speaking informally…”
Even though Claudia frowned at her sudden informal speech, Arnim calmly approached her and caught her off guard with her calm expression.
“What do you think? We’ve even shared knives with each other, so don’t you think we can understand informal language?”
“Haa… Really, you… That’s it!! But you want to attack the enemy right away? Are you saying that without knowing what the situation is?”
“Of course! Those Teseito guys are running all the way here while being chased by us, so they’ve lost all their strength!! And aren’t they letting their guard down right now because they’re getting supplies? Are you going to let this golden opportunity go by? Didn’t you want to revive it?”
When Arnim touched his back again, veins appeared on Claudia’s forehead.
“Of course, I also want to achieve merit!! However, our army is also lacking strength!! Moreover, they probably know that we have come! Are you sure they don’t know that?”
“I know it well. But the fight is about momentum!! Now, our army has won a great victory on the Enakan Plain, and its morale is high as it took out the enemy’s suicide assault troop with almost no damage!! If we miss this opportunity, the enemy will We will recover as we continue to receive supplies, and we will be left to face the enemy here!!”
Claudia flinched because Arnim’s words had a point.
“Well, even so, I have to first communicate with the commander-in-chief and get permission…”
“Claudia, think about it carefully. Commander-in-Chief, Minister Mayer, currently thinks of Streve as the main attack. In other words, our role here is to keep the enemy in check.”
“Then shouldn’t we just focus on defensive warfare? If we hold out here, the enemy won’t be able to move easily, and if our main attack drops Streve, we can completely take control of the south of Tesseito. Then, the enemy will naturally join us. We will have to withdraw to block the movement of, and we can take control of the shores of Lake Simenotra without even touching the ground and completely cut off the Holy Kingdom of Johannes and Tesseito, which will have the effect of shortening the front line!!”
As if being promoted to the rank of corps commander at a young age was not for nothing, Claudia perfectly understood Mayer’s tactics and explained to Arnim why he should focus on defense.
“So? Then we haven’t done anything, right? Besides, we were tricked by those guys once!! Aren’t you even angry? We’re being treated like a stupid corps commander who fell for their trick and opened up the withdrawal route!! That’s how I’m being treated. I can’t stand it!!”
“Well, of course I…”
“I understand the tactics you explained! Of course, Minister Mayer’s tactics will be successful even if we just keep the enemy in check. But what if we inflict a serious blow on the enemy here? This would be an opportunity to completely destroy Tesseito! And We will be the number one contributors, you will be able to establish the family in an instant, and I will be able to succeed after inheriting my father’s title!!”
Claudia swallowed her saliva at Arnim’s words.
‘Wow, definitely… If we destroy the enemy here, our troops’ future actions will be greatly advantageous. Moreover, the number of masters is the same. If Viscount Amin and the Trollmaster that His Majesty has assigned to our legion can deal with just two enemy masters, this is a fight worth fighting. Above all, the enemy’s cavalry power has been greatly reduced. And because of the forest next to the lake, the terrain is very difficult to operate cavalry on. The odds of winning are good!!’
Arnim’s temptation penetrated deep into the heart of Claudia, the daughter of a fallen family.
So in the end, she gave in to Arnim’s temptation and suggested that she let her army rest for just one night and then advance her legion.
Arnim also felt the need to give his soldiers rest, and he judged that it was impossible for the severely damaged Tesseito army to fully recover in one day, so he was satisfied that she agreed to his proposal. With a frown on his face, he returned to his camp.
As the sun rose the next morning, the 5th and 7th Corps began to slowly advance towards the Tesseito Garrison, where bonfire smoke was rising in the distance.
Arnim and Claudia urged the soldiers on as they watched a huge army numbering 15,000 people advance along the road next to the foggy lake.
“Move quickly, quickly! Didn’t the main building give you a good rest yesterday? If you want to reach the enemy’s camp by the afternoon, you have to move quickly!!”
“The place where the smoke is rising over there is where the enemy’s camp is! Wouldn’t it be better for you to wipe them out quickly and rest comfortably rather than face the enemy here?”
Although each had a different style of leading the soldiers, the two men led the soldiers with faces full of confidence because they were soldiers who moved completely like their own limbs through several battles, and the soldiers receiving orders also had trust in their commanders. He gave me a look and quickly walked away.
“It’s the enemy!! I see a group of enemy javelin cavalry ahead!!”
Claudia felt a little suspicious as the enemy’s movements were not visible despite her own movements, but the cavalrymen of Teseito’s army who appeared just in time cleared away her doubts.
“There is no need to chase after them quickly! Raise your shield to thoroughly block the javelin and then press on the enemy!! The pursuit is left to the 5th Corps light infantry!”
Dozens of cavalrymen rushed forward and threw javelins, but the heavy infantry of the 7th Legion led by Claudia lived up to her expectations by simply blocking the javelins.
“Now give the 5th Corps a chase signal…”
As she attempted to send a message to her Arnim, she smiled as she saw the 5th Legion Light Infantry riding up next to her formation to take on her enemy’s cavalry.
‘Really… He’s definitely a frivolous man, but his commanding ability is definitely trustworthy. It moves on its own without any signal.’
Claudia also sent orders to her own legions to follow her 5th legion, and she herself mounted her horse and rode in front of her.
“5th Corps Commander. I don’t know much about commanding troops, but… Isn’t this too hasty? I think it will be difficult for our troops to demonstrate proper combat power on a narrow road where troops can only advance in a straight line…”
Claudia lightly patted her chest to show that she was okay after hearing Viscount Armin’s words of concern for her.
“Don’t worry, Viscount Amin. The enemy’s camp is almost 6 hours away from here. I think even with the footsteps of our imperial army, we will not be able to encounter the enemy until the afternoon. Moreover, the cavalry, which is the enemy’s main weapon, is even more difficult to move. Support”
At Claudia’s explanation, Viscount Amin nodded her head, saying she understood.
She felt a little uncomfortable, but she was the commander of the troops, and she was a knight sent to deal with the enemy master, so she had no authority, and as an unprofessional, it was not her area to interfere. It was because of judgment.
Watching the enemy cavalry, which had expended all its javelins, shake off the pursuit of the light infantry and flee, Claudia increased the speed of his troops’ advance.
“The distance between us and the 5th Corps must not increase!! Increase your speed further!!”
Claudia felt victory as she watched her corps increase its marching speed according to her orders.
‘If things continue like this, we can attack the enemy before he completely finishes supplying us. Of course, the enemy probably knew we were coming, so they sent the cavalry, but it was clearly just a bid to kill time anyway!! But let me tell you that there is no use in buying time like that!!’
Claudia imagined herself raising a splendid family and went to the front of his legion and commanded his troops.
“Hehe!! Look!! You’re so excited that you’re judging the situation so well, aren’t you? Hehe… But I can’t lose either!! Guys! Move faster! Our 5th Corps is fighting against that sloppy 7th Corps. Shouldn’t we fall behind and take the credit!!”
Ar also moved his troops quickly as if he would not be left behind by Claudia.
And that afternoon.
Arnim and Claudia watched with their own eyes as their legion was brutally annihilated, and were put in a position where they hoped that this situation was a nightmare they could not wake from.
*7th Corps Commander Claudia Illustration
