The Demon King Seems to Conquer the World - Chapter 291: The Battle of Tiefland

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Riding on White Sunset I brought along, I surveyed the battlefield from the sky. The formations of both armies looked symmetrical from above.

The enemy forces had the armies of Angelica and the Papal States intricately interwoven. In contrast, our forces were arrayed with a distance between them, separated by a road. It was a stark reflection of the difference in trust between our allies.

Our formation had a gap in the center. At first glance, it seemed like a weakness, but behind it, a large reserve force was deployed, ready to counter any enemy that tried to exploit the hole. Additionally, there were artillery positions in the rear, capable of providing powerful supporting fire. If the enemy tried to break through here, they would suffer heavy casualties.

As expected, the Papal States army was positioned at the center of the enemy formation, clearly aiming for a central breakthrough. Meanwhile, Angelica and Alfred’s forces stood facing each other as if glaring each other down. It was evident that these two would clash one-on-one.

On our side, we were up against the Papal States army and other forces, such as the Flusha Kingdom, which bordered the Tyrellme region, and the land forces of the Euphos Federation, a maritime nation whose navy had been decimated. The enemy confidently spread their wings, as if trying to envelop and overwhelm us. However, our victory was assured. Even though we were outnumbered, the quality of our weapons and tactics was on a different level.

—

Once I descended to the ground, I tethered my White Sunset near the church and climbed up the bell tower. This village, though on higher ground, was only about five meters above the surrounding area. Still, that small elevation made a world of difference, and from the top of the bell tower, I could see the entire battlefield.

Fearing floods, no villages were built in areas that were below the usual flood levels. At the crossroads, there was a large inn with a raised floor. It was probably empty now. Once the battle became chaotic, that area would likely turn into a small urban battlefield. Other areas appeared to be grazing lands. Although these lands flooded occasionally, they weren’t constantly wet like a swamp, so the grass likely grew well. Beyond Angelica’s camp, far in the distance, I could see piles of unthreshed straw, suggesting that area didn’t flood.

If we could turn back the clock by just a week, this place would have been a peaceful, pastoral landscape. But today, it was being trampled by over 100,000 men gathered here to kill. By tomorrow, the ground would be soaked in their blood, and the air would be thick with the smell of gunpowder.

As I immersed myself in the atmosphere of the battlefield, I noticed the enemy army moving. They began marching towards us in an orderly manner. Though their alliance made it difficult for them to march in perfect unison, their formation was largely intact. Seeing 60,000 to 70,000 soldiers moving together as one massive killing machine was an awe-inspiring sight.

We were the defending side, and we did not want to move away from the cover of our artillery. So, we waited for the enemy to come to us. The two armies slowly closed the gap, and the enemy crossed the road that divided us. Some impatient soldiers from Flusha Kingdom fired prematurely, but they were quickly reprimanded, and the firing ceased.

Soon, we were within lethal range, and the battle began. The sharp sounds of gunpowder explosions echoed intermittently, as the music of the battlefield began to play. However, the smoke rising from the gunfire came from an unexpected place. Smoke billowed between Angelica’s camp and the Papal States’ camp. To be more precise, the Papal States were attacking Angelica’s army.

I raised my binoculars and saw that it wasn’t just infantry clashing. A cavalry regiment from the Papal States was also striking at the unprotected rear of Angelica’s forces.

“They’re fighting amongst themselves!” (??)

A voice filled with excitement rang out nearby.

Fighting amongst themselves?

It took me a moment to grasp the meaning of those words. Friendly fire. That was exactly what was happening. There couldn’t be a better description. The Papal States were fighting Angelica’s forces.

“Alfred has betrayed us! He’s attacking us!” (??)

A spotter who had been watching from another direction shouted. Looking over, I saw Alfred’s army firing at us from close range.

We had been anticipating this, of course, and our troops on the flank had been thoroughly trained to pivot quickly to respond to an attack from Alfred’s forces. They were already adapting swiftly to the situation.

What the hell is going on?

In an instant, the battlefield had plunged into chaos. Alfred’s betrayal was within expectations, but I never imagined the Papal States would turn on Angelica. At this rate, Angelica’s army would collapse. They were completely blindsided by the Papal States’ attack on their rear, and to make matters worse, Alfred’s forces were also attacking them. Well, ‘attacking’ might be an overstatement. Alfred’s forces seemed to be only half-heartedly engaging us, likely out of obligation to the Papal States. Their true focus was on assaulting Angelica’s forces.

Angelica’s army wouldn’t last long. There was no way they could withstand such an assault.

Was the whole plan to bring Angelica to the battlefield and crush her completely? But if they tried to take down Angelica, they would expose their flanks and rear to us. Did they really believe that Alfred and the Papal States’ combined forces, fighting two-on-one, could guarantee victory?

To come out victorious in these chaotic situations, you need the ability to process the chaos with quick decision-making and continue to make the right decisions. Did that fat general, Gertrude Evans, truly believe that by creating chaos, he could outmaneuver me?

“Your Excellency Yuri! What should we target for the bombardment?” (??)

“Fire on the Flusha Kingdom, as per the original plan.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

The order was immediately relayed to the ground below, and seconds later, the thunder of artillery fire erupted. Even from my position, the deafening roar filled the air as shells arced through the sky and landed in the enemy camp. Corrections from the spotters were relayed, and as the guns were reloaded, they adjusted their aim. A second volley of six shells followed soon after.

The enemy camp is clearly shaken. No, we can win this. There is no doubt about it. This isn’t a battle we were going to lose. If I give the order for a full-scale attack now, we could break through the Flusha Kingdom army without much difficulty. The enemy’s assembled cavalry regiment might be a threat, but with bombing runs to neutralize them, our own cavalry could finish the job.

As for Alfred’s army… they are fighting a two-front battle, just like us. Breaking through wouldn’t be too hard. If I order Dimitri, who is commanding the Hou Household army, he’d execute it flawlessly. Should I give the order? If I do it, we might be able to rout the enemy army in one decisive strike.

“Your Excellency Yuri! We should order an immediate central breakthrough! The Flusha Kingdom army is in disarray!” (??)

One of the staff officers stationed in the bell tower urged me. He was right. Under normal circumstances, I should give the order immediately. It was, without a doubt, the perfect opportunity.

But who created this opportunity?

I had seized many such opportunities in the past. However, all of them had been the result of careful planning on my part. Even when luck played a role, those chances had arisen as part of a larger plan. Never had an opportunity like this simply fallen into my lap. So, is this really just a lucky break?

Even if it is a coincidence, it might be wise to seize this opportunity. Hesitating might be foolish. However, the enemy knows about the existence of the cannons… I don’t think they underestimate us to the point of thinking we can’t handle something like this. And yet, can such a ‘coincidence’ really fall into our lap so perfectly…?

“Wait.” (Yuri)

“But…!” (??)

The moment I uttered the word, the military staff, who was poised to act immediately, wore an expression of frustration, like a subordinate annoyed at the slow decisions of their superior.

“Wait. It’s not too late to assess the situation a little more.” (Yuri)

“But if Angelica’s army collapses, the enemy will focus entirely on us! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” (??)

“I know that.” (Yuri)

Still, I can’t shake the unease. It feels as if making a decision now would be a grave mistake. Could it be that the enemy has devised a plan, targeting this hesitation? No, it’s ridiculous to think they would base their strategy on such uncertain factors. What are they aiming for?

“You, head to Gino Toga and make sure he doesn’t launch an attack on his own.” (Yuri)

“Understood!” (??)

With a reluctant look on his face, the military staff said this and ran down the stairs.

As I pondered for about 30 seconds, something white, like snow, fluttered down from the sky. It rode the wind into the belfry, gently curving downwards before landing on the floor.

What is this? A piece of paper…?

I picked it up and unfolded it.

“Liao Rube leads the

Rube Household army

in rebellion, occupying

Sibyaku.”

It was printed on a sheet small enough to fit in my palm. A shiver ran down my spine, and I leaned over the railing to look at the sky.

Are they scattering these from above? Using eagles? Are they trying to confuse us with this false information? Of course, soldiers in the heat of battle can’t stop to pick up and read the paper. But not all soldiers are currently fighting. In fact, if we look at the overall situation, more soldiers aren’t engaged in battle. If they pick this up and read it, anxiety will spread, making it difficult to maintain combat.

What a troublesome tactic. But how did the enemy acquire eagles? Surely, no one defected. Could they have captured one of our eagle riders and somehow bought eagles within our territory, using stolen printing technology to create and scatter these papers? I don’t know, but I need to give an order. I must deny the rumors, calm the confusion, and boost the soldiers’ morale.

Just as I began formulating a concrete plan, about 30 seconds later, an eagle descended.

The eagle looked utterly exhausted, almost crashing to the ground near the church. Normally, this would be a serious breach of discipline, punishable unless it’s an emergency. From the ground, it placed a message tube into a bucket connected by a pulley system. The bucket, like a well, clattered as it was drawn up to the belfry.

I hurriedly opened the tube.

“Rube Household rebellion. They have attacked Shibyaku and are in the process of occupying it. I failed to foresee this. My deepest apologies.”

The hastily written message was signed by Myaro Gudanvier and bore the Gudanvier Household seal. The seal was smudged, likely stamped in great haste, but the signature was unmistakably Myaro’s.

“…Well played.” (Yuri)

Before I realized it, a smile had crept across my face. That bastard. I never thought he’d have the guts to pull off something so audacious.

“Hey.” (Yuri)

“Your Excellency!” (??)

Perhaps sensing something from my expression, the man, who looked tense, saluted.

“You, take command here.” (Yuri)

“Uh, but…” (??)

“It’s simple. Redirect the artillery focused on the Flusha Kingdom’s army to cover all directions. There’s no longer any need to create a breakthrough. You can handle that, right? Even if you can’t, do it. I don’t have time to find someone else and give new orders.” (Yuri)

“Understood!” (??)

“I’m heading to Dimitri’s location. Don’t mess this up.” (Yuri)

I patted the man on the shoulder and left him with those words before running down the stairs.

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