「Casualty report.」
Seeing the soldiers disappear into the forest after the Elves I asked my adjutant to describe the casualties.
「Yes, we have no deaths and 20 injured.」
「How many have been injured in total?」
「252 people. Around 5% of our total forces.」
「I see. We haven’t even reached our destination and things are like this…」
「Even so, after we pulled out the shields our injuries have dropped by a lot.」
That’s when I realized something wrong.
「Why…are we still having injuries after protecting the perimeter with great shields?」
「That’s because they skillfully aim for those soldiers behind the shieldbearer.」
「Why are our injuries decreasing if they have the ability to do that?」
「Isn’t it because they have differences in skill with the bow?」
No, that’s not it. They wanted us to believe the shields were effective. That’s why they purposefully hit the shields sometimes.
Wait…not I think I understand. The number of casualties was too high and it blinded me to their true aim. Starvation tactics. Slow us down, prevent us from informing the supply base, and let us die of starvation.
I’m sure they were overjoyed to let our soldiers slow themselves down carrying those great shields.
How horrible they are.
「Collect the shields back from the soldiers.」
「We can’t do that sir! Even now they struggle with each other to be a shieldbearer!」
「….I see.」
Normally these shields wouldn’t be useful and no one would want to carry them. But, now the soldiers with shields weren’t being shot with arrows. This gave birth to faith in them.
In truth, they were simply not aiming at the shieldbearers. In fact even when arrows hit the shields, it was to give off the impression that they had saved the bearer’s life. They would then spread that information.
If at this point we were to try and retrieve the ‘life-saving’ shield then they would struggle with all their might.
These were archers who could accurately pierce your shoulder or thigh. If they felt like it, they may even be able to hit those hiding behind a shield.
「Adjutant…what do you think we should do? They attack from so far away and if we approach they disappear. If we send in an ambush team into the forest, they are discovered and ambushed instead. Even if we wanted to attack them in their sleep, we can’t find their base of operations since they move around so much. Even sending out a large hunt into the mountains for two days we weren’t able to catch a glance of them.」
Range, ability, and scouting. They had the absolute advantage in those three areas so there was no way for us to catch them. We were completely suppressed.
「I do not know.」
「I thought not. But think a bit more. There is a correct answer.」
My serious adjutant thought deeply for a bit, but responded that he still did not know.
「I’ll tell you then. It is to fight in a situation where they cannot escape. For example if we invade their village they will have nowhere to go.」
「Then we should hurry and get to their village and attack!」
「It’s far….」
I covered my eyes with my hand.
……their village felt endlessly distant…and we hadn’t reached the supply area to be able to turn around.
The troops sent to drive them away came back with some injured.
I no longer felt angry since this happened every time. The forest, with its poor line of sight and difficult movement was their home field. If we carelessly entered this would be the result.
「Baron Lurvish! Two wagons from the rear!」
「The supplies have arrived!」
I unconsciously exclaimed.
We had only three days worth of food even if we scrimped.
If the supplies didn’t come by tomorrow we might have to kill and eat our horses since they would be out of feed as well.
What’s worse was they were warhorses. Specially raised as our partners for many years. Even so, it was better than starving to death.
「No, that’s not it. They’re probably merchants.」
I swallowed my spit and hesitated for a moment….
「Let’s trade. Buy everything edible. If they refuse then attack and steal.」
I said.
This was the Empire. We had the duty to uphold law and order. But if we didn’t do this…we’d be wiped out.
「Casualty report.」
Seeing the soldiers disappear into the forest after the Elves I asked my adjutant to describe the casualties.
「Yes, we have no deaths and 20 injured.」
「How many have been injured in total?」
「252 people. Around 5% of our total forces.」
「I see. We haven’t even reached our destination and things are like this…」
「Even so, after we pulled out the shields our injuries have dropped by a lot.」
That’s when I realized something wrong.
「Why…are we still having injuries after protecting the perimeter with great shields?」
「That’s because they skillfully aim for those soldiers behind the shieldbearer.」
「Why are our injuries decreasing if they have the ability to do that?」
「Isn’t it because they have differences in skill with the bow?」
No, that’s not it. They wanted us to believe the shields were effective. That’s why they purposefully hit the shields sometimes.
Wait…not I think I understand. The number of casualties was too high and it blinded me to their true aim. Starvation tactics. Slow us down, prevent us from informing the supply base, and let us die of starvation.
I’m sure they were overjoyed to let our soldiers slow themselves down carrying those great shields.
How horrible they are.
「Collect the shields back from the soldiers.」
「We can’t do that sir! Even now they struggle with each other to be a shieldbearer!」
「….I see.」
Normally these shields wouldn’t be useful and no one would want to carry them. But, now the soldiers with shields weren’t being shot with arrows. This gave birth to faith in them.
In truth, they were simply not aiming at the shieldbearers. In fact even when arrows hit the shields, it was to give off the impression that they had saved the bearer’s life. They would then spread that information.
If at this point we were to try and retrieve the ‘life-saving’ shield then they would struggle with all their might.
These were archers who could accurately pierce your shoulder or thigh. If they felt like it, they may even be able to hit those hiding behind a shield.
「Adjutant…what do you think we should do? They attack from so far away and if we approach they disappear. If we send in an ambush team into the forest, they are discovered and ambushed instead. Even if we wanted to attack them in their sleep, we can’t find their base of operations since they move around so much. Even sending out a large hunt into the mountains for two days we weren’t able to catch a glance of them.」
Range, ability, and scouting. They had the absolute advantage in those three areas so there was no way for us to catch them. We were completely suppressed.
「I do not know.」
「I thought not. But think a bit more. There is a correct answer.」
My serious adjutant thought deeply for a bit, but responded that he still did not know.
「I’ll tell you then. It is to fight in a situation where they cannot escape. For example if we invade their village they will have nowhere to go.」
「Then we should hurry and get to their village and attack!」
「It’s far….」
I covered my eyes with my hand.
……their village felt endlessly distant…and we hadn’t reached the supply area to be able to turn around.
The troops sent to drive them away came back with some injured.
I no longer felt angry since this happened every time. The forest, with its poor line of sight and difficult movement was their home field. If we carelessly entered this would be the result.
「Baron Lurvish! Two wagons from the rear!」
「The supplies have arrived!」
I unconsciously exclaimed.
We had only three days worth of food even if we scrimped.
If the supplies didn’t come by tomorrow we might have to kill and eat our horses since they would be out of feed as well.
What’s worse was they were warhorses. Specially raised as our partners for many years. Even so, it was better than starving to death.
「No, that’s not it. They’re probably merchants.」
I swallowed my spit and hesitated for a moment….
「Let’s trade. Buy everything edible. If they refuse then attack and steal.」
I said.
This was the Empire. We had the duty to uphold law and order. But if we didn’t do this…we’d be wiped out.
