Otherworld Nation Founding Chronicles - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

“Alright, let’s start the meeting . How are we going to drive back King De Morgal’s army?”

Julia declares to the assembled clansmen .

These are people who already know and have acknowledged that I will succeed as King .

Julia presides over the meeting as King Rosyth’s health has suddenly turned for the worse .

I brought along Bolus and Tetra .

Although I wanted to bring along Ron and the others as well, I couldn’t due to problems concerning their social status .

“The enemy is 15,000 strong . Let us proceed with the assumption that ours would be 7,500 strong . Does anyone have an opinion?” (Julia)

The clansmen look at a map that is spread before Julia . Upon this map, chess pieces are assembled . (TLN: Actually, Shogi pieces but hey, it’s like chess anyway . )

A clansman takes the king piece of the color representing our Rosyth Kingdom’s side and places it upon Fort Terrier, the fort I had recently completed in the border between the Ars and the De Morgal Kingdom .

“As I thought, don’t you think the best way to go about this is to fight a siege using a small defending force? We can barricade ourselves in the fort enabling us to take on up to three times our own forces . With this, we can force our enemy to withdraw . ” (Clansman)

This is proposed by a clansman from the Ordovices Clan .

The Ordovices are a branch of the Ars clan . They also have marriage ties with the Rosyth Clan .

Their territory borders the Belvedere Kingdom .

Although they never had a war even once with the Belvedere Kingdom, they did nevertheless have several skirmishes making them very experienced with war .

“Certainly, we won’t lose if it’s a siege even with small numbers . However, we also won’t win . Though I do agree that the enemy would not prolong a battle so they will withdraw if it’s to the extent of a skirmish… . However, this time, King De Morgal is determined to head south . I don’t think he will withdraw . ” (Bartolo)

“Then it comes down to a field battle, yes?… . Will we hit them with Lord Bartolo’s echelon formation?”

The one who asks so is a clansman from the Perm Clan .

The Perm Clan also has familial relations with the Ars Clan .

The clan borders the DeBell territory so they would be valuable when the civil war breaks out . I hear that, although their territory is small, their economy is quite strong because of the various rock salt mines that they have .

However, they don’t have much experience in war .

“The echelon formation cannot be used without extensive practice . We were able to manage with my army and King Rosyth’s army…… . however, this time…” (Bartolo)

This time, although we have greater numbers, it’s hard to say that the army could work together smoothly . The echelon formation would probably be difficult to pull off .

“The enemy is a big army numbering over 10,000 . Therefore, their food consumption would be rapid . They will immediately exhaust the rations they would bring . Furthermore, because the enemy needs to bring siege equipment, they won’t be able to bring much materials . In other words, they would have to source the rations from the locality after exhausting what they’ve brought . We will pull them into our territory while employing scorch earth tactics . We will wait until they exhaust their resources and then we will cut their supply lines using hidden soldiers . ” (Tetra)

Tetra gives off quite a tangible strategy . However, that strategy will scorch our interior, huh .

Even though the land had just recovered, they will have to be devastated again, huh .

“With that, wouldn’t the soldiers from the Ars Territory be demoralized?”

Julia points out the plan’s biggest weakness .

With the scorched earth policy, we would have to burn fields and throw poison or dust into the wells .

If one is unlucky that as a result of possibly being in charge of one’s village…… . . then morale will greatly fall .

“Almis, what do you think?”

You’ll push this on to me huh… . Well, I am the supreme commander so I guess it’s only natural .

Hmmm…my opinion, huh .

I think it’s best we go for the field battle but if you consider the difference in number then it’s impossible .

On the other hand, we will be able to fight effectively in a siege but it’s just a strategy for buying time .

We won’t have reinforcements, huh… .

N? Now that I think about it……

“Certainly, the De Morgal Kingdom and the Gillbed Kingdom had signed a cease-fire agreement . However, that agreement doesn’t mention anything about the Fardam Kingdom and Rozel Kingdom, yes?…… . How about we ally ourselves with those two countries?”

If they got attacked in a pincer, even they would have to withdraw, right? With this, we’ll have to go with the siege to buy time .

“King De Morgal left behind quite a number of soldiers so I don’t think they will withdraw from our country even if we attacked them from the front and back . Besides, the Rozel Kingdom and the Fardam Kingdom are at war right now . ”

This ain’t gonna work, huh .

As for the other plans… .

“Honestly, I think cutting off their supply route is a great idea . We could probably win this just by upsetting their weakness in morale . ” (Bartolo)

Bartolo declares .

I also think it’s not a bad idea .

It’s just like that huh . It’s problematic because we have to apply the scorched earth on our territory . Can’t we do it to the enemy’s territory?

N? I see…… . If we do it in the enemy’s territory then it won’t be a problem at all .

“Then how about this way?”

I tell them about my plan .

The clansmen open their eyes wide in surprise .

“That would incur the curs…… . no, If it’s you then we won’t have to worry about that, huh . I think a surprise attack would be enough to succeed . ” (Raymond)

Raymond agrees with my plan .

“I see . As for the next phase, after luring them into pursuit, we will attack them from the front and back in a pincer . Not bad . However, we might get hurt if we do this sloppily . ” (Bartolo)

Bartolo agrees while also saying the plan’s faults .

Well, yeah .

This plan’s greatest barrier is the mobility .

“I think we can do this with the cavalry’s mobility . Although we could also do this with Velites (light infantry)………the De Morgal Kingdom has cavalry . The velites would be helpless against an attack by cavalry dispatched from the center .  If we use cavalry, then we can stir them up completely . ”

The problem is I only have 100 cavalry . If I remember correctly, King Rosyth only has 50 .

That’s too little .

“How many does everyone have?” (Almis)

I ask the clansmen how many cavalry they have .

The total? 50 .

In other words, the Rosyth Kingdom has 200 cavalry in total .

As expected, that’s too little .

In the first place, horse riding is a special skill so you couldn’t gather people with that skill in large numbers . Therefore, cavalry couldn’t become the main force in war .

Although you could also use them for messaging and scouting, this world has falcons which can do those jobs better .

What the horse can do in several hours, the falcon can do immediately .

The value of horses, therefore, are lower .

“At the very least, we’ll want 200 more . We can’t rest easy otherwise . ”

The Ordovices clansman says so .

“Then, what do you say about hiring Alva people?”

Julia proposes .

Who are those Alva people?

“Eh…… . Alva people are……Aren’t they barbarians?”

The Perm clansman makes a sour face .

“We don’t want to get involved with those kind of people, yes?”

The Ordovices clansman, too, make a disagreeable face .

I said who the hell are those Alva people?

Somebody please explain!

“The Alva people are a flat-faced clan who spread out to Germanis, Gaul, and the Adernia peninsula a very long time ago… . 500 years, if I recall correctly . They live across the mountains to the east of the Rosyth Kingdom . Right now, they have completely assimilated with Adernians . ” (Tetra)

According to Tetra:

Apparently, those flat-faced clan came and invaded the Adernia Peninsula with their horses and subjugated approximately the whole area 500 years ago . They made an empire that covered Germanis, Gaul, and the Adernia Peninsula .

However, after their great king died, the flat-faced clan broke up into several competing clans and families .

At the same time, taking advantage of the revolting Adernians, the expanding Cretians and Povenians drove them out .

After that, the flat-faced tribe also couldn’t maintain their control over Germanis and Gaul so they ended up retreating to the east .

Apparently, they were the ones who brought horse-riding to the west .

However, not all of them joined the retreat . A part of them detached from the main force and settled around the Alva mountain range to the east of the Rosyth Kingdom .

They assimilated with the Adernians and became known as the Alva people .

“The Alva area is a dry region in the middle of the Adernia Peninsula that receives very little rain . Originally, livestock farming was popular in the area . That’s why the flat-faced tribe seemed to have an easy time assimilating . ” (Tetra)

I see . It’s to the east of a mountain range so it rains very little, huh .

Although this world doesn’t seem to be particularly aware of the existence of westerlies so I can’t confirm but let’s just assume that it exists .

Moist air comes from the west and causes rains .

However, the Alva mountain range cuts off that wind so the rains won’t come .

Something like that?

Well, climate is a combination of a lot of factors so I can’t say for sure .

“But why do you call them flat-faced people?” (Almis)

Is it because they have flat noses or something?

“Well, that’s one reason . However, the primary reason is that they had a custom of tying down their noses from a very young age to flatten it . ” (Tetra)

So they’re really flat, huh… . .

Well, it couldn’t be helped if you called them savages .

“But aren’t they assimilated to the Adernians already? Then we should be able to communicate in Adernian . I don’t see any problems?” (Almis)

“Yes, yes . They apparently stopped doing their custom of flattening their noses . It seems their numbers have dwindled too . There are around a thousand people left in the Alva area . They’ve assimilated into bona-fide Adernians . Certainly, they speak with an accent and their lifestyle is different too . But I think that won’t be much of a problem . ” (Julia)

Julia and I agree to hiring the Alva people .

“We have established a commercial relationship with the Alva trading wool and the like . We are also quite distant to the Alva mountain range so we don’t have a history of war . If we approached them with a friendly disposition then I don’t think there would be a problem . ” (Bartolo)

“I agree, we have nothing to fear if we have Alvan cavalry . They’re also probably troubled about the De Morgal Kingdom’s southward policy . I think the plan’s fine . ” (Tetra)

Tetra and Bartolo also gives their support .

“Yes……Certainly, Alvan Cavalry can be relied upon… . . however, we don’t have official diplomatic relations with them… . ”

“They are nomads . Their concept of a nation is different to ours . We don’t know where to find their leader . ”

“We also have the problem of finding out with whom do we need to negotiate . ”

Raymond, Ordovices, and Perm object citing those difficulties .

I see . We need a bridge for negotiations, huh .

I think I know…… . just the right person .

“There’s this Cretian merchant called Ains . When I got some horses from him before, he said that he procured some of them from the Adernia Peninsula . There’s a possibility he got them from the Alva people . ” (Almis)

“Certainly, if it’s him then he probably knows the Alvans . Shall I call for him?”

With this, the meeting comes to a close .

“The Alva people? Yes, I know them . ” (Ains)

A week later, we call for Ains and hold another meeting .

This time, King Rosyth is in attendance .

By the way, we also have to hide the matter regarding my succession as king .

“The area is divided into three countries . The Equus Clan, the Aries Clan, and the Lupus Clan . The Aries clan is weak and under the control of the Lupus Clan . The remaining two are the two major powers . ”

Oh? There are two major powers, huh?

That makes things easier .

We’d have to negotiate anyway no matter how many tribes there is, after all .

“With whom can we probably negotiate mercenaries?”

“That would be the Equus clan . The Lupus clan doesn’t want contact with the outside world after all . On the other hand, the Equus clan is proactive . A part of the clan seems to practice agriculture too . ”

Even if you say it doesn’t rain often, there’s still the river . That should be sufficient for agriculture .

It’s only natural to have better productivity with agriculture than with nomadism . However, while it’s only natural to convert to agriculture, it’s normal to fear and fail to suddenly change your way of life .

The Equus clan probably has quite the progressive mind set .

“Can you act as the intermediary on our behalf?”

Ains-san grins and bows .

“That would be a very easy task . … . . By all means, leave it to me . ”
Just like this, it’s decided that we will send an envoy to the Alva area .

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