Vol. 5 Chapter 17 - Cavalry Tactics (Before)

Three years have passed since Hercule placed an economic blockade on the Bulgaron Kingdom.
It was steadily causing great damage to the Bulgaron Kingdom.

At first glance, nomads have the image of being isolated people who don’t interact with farmers…
However, in fact, their lifestyle is closely related to that of farmers.
While farmers can maintain their society only within their own world, nomads cannot maintain their society and life without interaction with farmers.

Humans cannot survive on sheep meat or goat milk alone, and to begin with, they don’t have enough food in the first place.
The nomads sell wool, meat, and other items to farmers, and purchase the farmers grains, vegetables, salt, handicrafts, etc.
It is only through such trade activities that the nomadic life is possible.

Therefore, it was fatal for the Bulgaron Kingdom that the Lemuria Empire completely closed its borders and completely stopped trade with the Bulgaron Kingdom.

The Lemuria Empire is the only country around the Bulgaron Kingdom that can conduct proper trade.
By stopping trade with the Lemuria Empire was equivalent to losing the means to obtain daily necessities such as grains, vegetables, and salt.

However…not all clans are in poverty.
For example, the Kotrumia clan had many agricultural towns within its territory, so the damage was minimal

Although the Chrome clan was not as strong as the Kotrumia clan, they still had strong economic power, so they were not cornered badly.

And as for the third-ranked Territel clan…

[Territel Clan Chief, you were saved because you’re wise and choose the best decision.]

[Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. Thank you for your cooperation regarding trade and technical support.]

[Yeah, glad you understand.]

[Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor.]

The Territel clan chief knelt down to Hercule.
This is Nova Lemuria Palace.

The Territel clan chief secretly traveled by sea to the Nova Lemuria Palace and held secret negotiations with Hercule.

In fact, the Territel clan had been in contact with the Lemuria Empire since the time of the previous Emperor Hadrianus III.

The Territel clan was defeated by the Kotrumia clan and the Chrome clan, and they were absorbed into the Bulgaron kingdom…
In fact, they were feeling dissatisfied with the Kotrumia clan’s rule.

Additionally, the territory controlled by the Territel clan is located in the center of the Bulgaron Kingdom to the north, thus in order to trade with the Lemuria Empire by land, they must pass through the territory of the Kotrumia and Chrome clan.
At that time, a considerable amount of taxes was charged.

Therefore, for the Territel clan, smuggling with Lemuria via sea routes was extremely important.
However, there was no huge port within the territory of the Territel clan, and it was only used to make up for the lack of trade by land.

At first, the Territel clan was also targeted by Hercule’s economic blockade.
However, from an early stage, the Territel clan sent messengers to Lemuria, negotiating to see if they could somehow resume the trade.
And the result of three years of negotiations…

The Lemurian Empire lifts the economic blockade against the Territel clan.
As for the condition.

• The Territel clan will refrain from intervening in the war between the Kotrumia clan and the Lemuria Empire as much as possible, and even if they do, the number will be limited to less than 1,000.
• In addition, prisoners of war captured by both sides will be released via sea as soon as possible.

A secret agreement was made.

In addition to this:

• Looking at the situation, the Territel clan submits to the Lemuria Emperor.
• In return, the Lemuria Empire will support the creation of a port within the Territel clan’s territory.

A secret agreement was also made.

After seeing off the Territel clan chief as he returned home satisfied…
Hercule smiled.

[That guy is cunning.]

[Exactly, Your Majesty.]

Todoris, who was next to him, agreed with Hercule’s opinion.
He said that his clan will join forces with the Lemuria Empire if he thinks the Empire is in an advantageous situation, but on the other hand, if he thinks that the Kingdom of Bulgaron is an advantageous side, he will join the Kingdom of Bulgaron.

The Territel clan chose a path that would allow them to maintain some degree of independence no matter how this war turned out.

[But, well, it’s a clan that has a certain amount of power after all. It is true that it has a power that is second only to the alliance of Kotrumia and Chrome clans. Any small and weak clans won’t be able to do that.]

To be able to maintain neutrality, you must have the ability to make both forces think that they cannot be hostile against each others
A neutral person without real ability is just an opportunist.

Therefore…
Many of the weaker clans of the Bulgaron Kingdom were forced to choose between the Lemuria Empire and the Bulgaron Kingdom.

[How many adjustments were you able to make?]

[All the clans are about 10,000 people, but there are about seven of them.]

[That’s enough.]

The fact that we are able to arrange this much in the current situation means…
If the information that the Territel clan is leaning towards Lemuria gets out, the betrayal towards Lemuria will accelerate.

[Well, it’s time to get serious…]

Hercule grinned…
He called for both Nia and Jebe.

 

==============

This is one of the nomadic village settlements belonging to the Chrome clan.

[We’ll be in trouble if we don’t win again this time.]

[That’s true. But it looks like Alicia-sama is here too, so I’m sure she’ll win again. There’s no way Lemuria can defeat Bulgaron. If we can do that, this painful life we have now will end.]

The women of a certain clan in the Bulgaron Kingdom were having such small talk.
The topic was that the Lemuria Empire, which had not moved in the slightest for three years, had once again mobilized a large-scale army.

All the men left the village and headed to the battlefield.
Currently, there are only a few men, women, children, and elderly people in this village.

[Did you hear that? I heard that the Kotrumia clan lives a luxurious life.]

[Even though we’re an alliance, I don’t like the Kotrumia clan.]

The Chrome clan and the Kotrumia clan are on good terms on the surface, but deep down they are not on good terms.
Especially recently, their relationship had deteriorated.

The Chrome clan certainly has economic power compared to other clans, but it is weaker than the Kotrumia clan.
If there is an economic blockade, their life will become somewhat difficult.

[And the grass isn’t growing well this year…]

[We have very little food stockpiled.]

This year, due to the colder weather than usual, the grass was not growing very well.
Also, last winter was extremely cold, and many goats and sheep froze to death.

Thanks to Chrome Clan Chief distributing the grain that he had stored, they managed not to starve, but…
Still, life is hard and they don’t know what will happen next year.

[I think we need to ask our men to do their best.]

[Yes, of course.]

Despite saying such things, the women were worried about their husbands who had been sent off to war.

 

That village has a mixture of tension and an uneasy atmosphere…
It was several hours later that they were suddenly plunged into the depths of fear.

[Th-the Lemurian Empire’s army is approaching!! They’re numbering…about 1,000!]

A boy who was grazing his sheep noticed the approach of the Lemuria Empire.
Hearing this, the few remaining men in the village mounted their horses and headed to repel the Lemuria army.

The approaching Lemuria army was noticed by these people with excellent eyesight…
There were approximately 1,000 cavalrymen.

However, they all dismounted from their horses.
Then, they readied their spears and began forming formations.

[They aren’t cavalry? …Whatever!! Charge!!]

The men readied their bows and charged at the Lemurian army.

 

==========

[Captain, the Bulgaron army is coming. There are about 200 in number!]

[They are trying to challenge me with that number… If there are only 200 men left, I guess there are at most 2,000 or a little more than 2,000 in the village.]

Nia muttered.
Nia is leading a 1,200-strong guerrilla troop battalion given to her by Hercule.
The difference in military strength is six times greater.

[Formation D.]

[[[Yes!!]]]

After receiving Nia’s orders, the Nia battalion began to form a formation as per their training.

Three groups, numbering 450, dismounted and formed a circle with their spears at the ready.
Then, two groups dismounted and readied their bows inside the circle.
Finally, the last remaining three groups prepared to attack while still on horseback.

The members of Nia’s battalion are cavalry, archers, infantry…
They have received all kinds of training.
They are usually cavalrymen who travel on horseback, but they can also become infantry or archers depending on the situation.

Any time, any battlefield…
You can bring in an advantageous military class at the right time.
That was the strength of the Nia’s Battalion.

First, the archers fired a volley at the charging Bulgaron soldiers.
Because Lemuria’s longbow has a longer range than the Bulgaron’s short bow, the Bulgaron soldiers were shot down one after another by arrows.
And even the Bulgaron soldiers who managed to approach were blocked by the wall of spears that formed a circle and were repulsed.

[Cavalry, charge! Follow me!!]

Following Nia’s orders, the spear and bow troops made a hole in the circle.
From there, 450 cavalrymen charged at the Bulgaron soldiers.

[If you resist, I’ll kill you!!]

Nia declared while slashing the Bulgaron soldier.
There are 80 surviving Bulgaron soldiers, all of them taken as prisoners.

[Report the damage.]

[Zero, Captain.]

[Good.]

After receiving the damage report from his deputy, Nia nodded with satisfaction.
With a six times difference in military power, it’s only natural that they win.

Her battalion consists of the soldiers that Nia is proud of, having spent over three years training them.
She would be in trouble if they died in a battle of this magnitude.

[We’ll divide the squad into two. Five groups will follow me and head towards the village. The remaining three groups should come later with the prisoners.]