I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy - Chapter 15

EP.15

The division commander asked with an expression of great interest.

“It’s a good operation. “Can you explain in detail?”

In normal times, I might have been just happy that I had succeeded in getting the division commander’s interest and directly presenting his opinion on the operation.

The reason why I now have the right to speak is the division commander’s intention to make other staff and officers not reluctant to suggest strategies.

And when the division commander’s intention worked and an acting company commander began explaining the strategy, the other high-ranking officers also looked as if they were under a lot of pressure, unlike a few minutes ago.

Obviously, ‘Lieutenant brats like that are given a chance to speak about the operation and don’t immediately reprimand me, so I won’t have to propose a strategy and get a double insult as long as it’s not bullshit.’ That’s what you think.

So, now can be seen as the moment when the game is truly decided.

“All right. Instead, could I use the wooden pole and the wooden words on the strategy map over there?”

“Allowed.”

Then, I placed a wooden horse and set the enemy’s base and our army’s base, pointing to them with my baton and speaking.

“First of all, our troops’ available troops are 5,000 due to accumulated losses. On the other hand, the enemy forces number over 9,000, including the newly joined Black Lion mercenaries. The difference in troops between the two armies is 1.8 times. “The morale of our troops has dropped significantly due to heavy losses in the last battle, but it is expected that the morale of the enemy will skyrocket.”

The division commander, who heard the bombardment of facts that seemed likely to lead to our troops’ defeat, turned red in the face and showed anger, and other officers who sensed the mood asked me, ‘Have you seen that crazy guy?’ I was watching.

I also completely understand their feelings.

Because what I said was just a slight reversal of words, but it could be seen as a recommendation to retreat since the battle was actually lost.

So I quickly said the following to appease the division commander’s anger.

“But if we take full advantage of this situation, we can turn the tide.”

Normally, the lieutenant would have been reprimanded for being arrogant, but since the high-ranking officers here had not been able to say anything until now, the opportunity had passed to me.

Instead of reprimanding me outright, the division commander gave me a sharp look and asked, as if he would not leave me alone unless I came up with a proper plan.

“The duty of an imperial soldier is to win. A talented person who even received the Silver Cross at that age wouldn’t come up with a useless strategy after saying something like this, right? “Please explain in as much detail as possible.”

If you say one wrong word, the good image you have built up as a division commander could be completely destroyed.

I didn’t feel it was dangerous or unsafe.

As the saying goes, a crisis is the best opportunity, and because of this situation, I was given the opportunity to come up with a strategy.

If my strategy is accepted here, I will be able to plan a battle where thousands of people fight against thousands, and I will also be able to play the most important role in it.

In such a situation, things like nervousness, fear, and trembling are trivial things.

“First of all, before explaining the operation, let me take a look at the strategic goals of our forces and enemies. First, the enemy’s strategic goal is to occupy the villages and territory in front of Weinberg Castle, and our army’s goal is to annihilate the Francois Republic Army in front of them and use their momentum to take over the territory in front of Regine Castle.”

“From a strategic point of view, yes. However, if not accompanied by tactics, strategy is nothing more than paper waste. Now let’s discuss tactical-level operations.”

“All right. First of all, the division commander’s division has been formed with the manpower to defend Weinberg Castle in mind, and the enemy knows that. So, in the current situation where there are only 5,000 of our troops left, I think we will retreat and focus on defending Weinberg Castle.”

I mentioned strategic goals and the Weinberg Castle defenders, but there is no need to say that if we are annihilated by the enemy, there will be no troops to defend Weinberg Castle.

Because there’s no one here who doesn’t know that.

But is it because it was properly explained?

The officers who had been looking at me with expressions as if they were wondering what kind of bullshit the lieutenant was going to say suddenly sensed some possibility and looked at me with interest.

“So, if you show that you are trying to leave behind heavy food or military equipment in your haste to prepare for a retreat. The enemies think we are trying to retreat. You would never expect a surprise attack. Because, from a strategic point of view, the standard action would be to retreat into the castle to defend at least Weinberg Castle.”

After speaking to this point, the division commander paused slightly to see if he liked what he said was a surprise attack to turn the tables.

It was very interesting, so he looked at me with eyes filled with anticipation and told me to explain the specific strategy.

“And this is the strategy I came up with to make the surprise attack successful. First, our Reich 8th Division is preparing for a hasty retreat today or the next day. With the barracks erected and only light preserved food, we were able to travel to Weinberg Castle. At the same time, we must spread a rumor within the division that if the Black Lion mercenaries and the François Republic attack us all at once, we will be annihilated, so that the soldiers and lower-ranking officers think that we are really retreating.”

There may be spies for the Francois Republic Army among the officers here at the rank of captain or higher, but the likelihood of that happening is very low.

That’s because all nobles who graduated from the academy have families and wives and children to protect, and if they betray the empire, their wives and children will be executed and their vassals will be abandoned on the streets.

When I attended the academy, the education I received every day emphasized that nobles should guarantee the lives of their vassals and be honorable.

Not only is it not easy to break away from those instilled values, but in the novel, the general of the Francois Republic also mentions that there were no spies among the high-ranking officers who participated in this battle.

“Then, spies in our division who are in communication with the enemy will relay the information to the enemy that ‘the Reich Army is preparing to retreat.’ If you aim for that moment and pretend that your troops are retreating as quickly as possible, the enemy will not think that your troops will make a surprise attack.”

No matter how high a person may be leading a division, most of his judgments are based on common sense.

However, there are always a lot of variables in a battlefield, so spies are used to collect information.

If what the spy said matches his common sense, he will definitely think that our troops are retreating.

“I guess so.”

“In that situation, our troops will continue to wait, pretending to prepare for a retreat, and my company will take advantage of that opportunity and turn to the right of the enemy camp late in the day to attack the enemy all at once. Then, the enemy troops who are attacked completely unexpectedly will be greatly embarrassed, and at that time, the entire company will jump into the enemy camp, risking their lives, and send a signal by wiping them all out.”

I said I would fight at the risk of death, but if my predictions are correct, there will not be that much of a sacrifice among the company members.

Because if you are suddenly ambushed by over 100 troops while sleeping comfortably, the enemy division will be thrown into extreme confusion.

Until they come to their senses, we will look like a battalion or regiment in their eyes.

It would take quite some time to gather enough troops to attack us.

In the meantime, we’ll only be dealing with people who are half-asleep, unarmed, and in a poor state, so as long as we have the strength to fight, we’ll be able to go on a rampage with ease.

And as long as the division commander moves his soldiers at the right time, the aggro will be focused in that direction, so he will be able to leave the enemy camp without difficulty.

“When you receive the signal, the division commander will mobilize the knights belonging to the division to attack the left side of the enemy camp, and if you follow them and mobilize the infantry to attack all at once, the enemy will be defeated without even a single hand.”

What if, after being ambushed and barely able to come to my senses and prepare to attack our company, I get stabbed in the back again…?

The enemy division commander and other commanders will panic and suffer great damage, thinking they are surrounded.

“This is the end of the operation I have prepared.”

At first, when I said something reminiscent of defeat, his expression was full of anger, but when I actually listened to it, I realized that the division commander really liked my strategy.

With a slight smile, he tapped my shoulder and asked the other officers.

“Lieutenant Yeager, who was just a student platoon leader until a month ago, is like this. The future of the empire is bright. “Okay, do you have any other opinions?”

At those words, several high-ranking officers suggested all kinds of strategies to score points with the division commander.

Rather than being liked by the division commander, the pros and cons were divided and a proper agreement could not be reached.

During the prolonged meeting, when the division commander finally showed signs of displeasure, the battalion commander of our battalion stood up and spoke.

“Of all the operations that have occurred so far, I think Lieutenant Jaeger’s operation is the most realistic. Therefore, I, Heine von Blanchia, support Lieutenant Jaeger’s operation.”

Soon after, Major Franche, who had received support and avoided the risk of annihilation of his battalion thanks to the operation I led, also stood up and supported the claim.

“When we coolly analyze the current situation, there is no way to overcome this inferiority except for the surprise operation suggested by the lieutenant.”

And the rest of the officers also felt uncomfortable that the lieutenant’s opinion was passed, but there was no operation that had the potential to reverse the situation except for my opinion.

“Okay then, let’s prepare for the strategy planned by Lieutenant Yeager as of the current time. Then, all officers should return to their respective units and prepare to retreat.”

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