Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 67 Change of Offense and Defense (3)

Pitched Battle:

When armies from both sides fight concentrated in a specific area without distinction between offense and defense.

As a representative example of a pitched battle, there's Napoleon's Battle of Waterloo.

Reserves. Cavalry. Regular corps. The Battle of Waterloo was truly an excellent pitched battle where all branches within became chess pieces.

In this battle, which is like a naval fleet battle occurring on land, there is one rule that must never be forgotten.

You must never, ever retreat.

From the classical era's Battle of Cannae to the Battle of Isandlwana just 35 years ago.

Regardless of era, in this battle pattern where both sides push their power-versus-power structure to the extreme to face the outcome, you must never show your back.

If I can kill the enemy, it's a distance where the enemy can kill me too.

It's an extreme battle method where both sides accept casualties to kill the other.

On the other hand, whether medium cavalry, artillery, or machine guns, if you show your back you can never kill the enemy.

So, you must absolutely never retreat.

Of course, you can flee right before battle or immediately after it begins.

Naturally since pitched battles occur on open ground, it's difficult to shake off enemy pursuit and massive casualties will occur in the process, but.

Oh, but what if our forces' accumulated casualties pushed back the front line?

The front line isn't just pushed back but broken, and the enemy pushes in through the collapsed formation?

Despite no ambushes or encirclement attacks in a pitched battle, we fell for the enemy's deception, feints, and strengths? Stay tuned for updates on empire

What happens if you retreat in a pitched battle that started like this?

"S-save me! I don't want to die!"

"Die!"

"Just kill them! We can't let fleeing enemies live!"

First, surrender won't be accepted in the middle of the battlefield.

If they're nice, they might accept surrender from those lucky enough to survive until the end of battle.

"Light machine gun reloading complete!"

"Dare to show your back? Let them have it!"

Ratatatatata

Naturally it's difficult to flee even if you run for your life.

Because the enemy is also running while shouting for their feet to kill you.

Finally.

It was Roman's army that had departed Port Arthur first with naval help and occupied the Yalu River downstream Sinuiju area waiting for him.

In front, General Roman enthusiastically welcomes him asking if he walked here to die.

Behind, Commander-in-Chief Dukhovskoy's main force chases to kill while pushing down the front line unstoppably.

"Ah..."

Yamagata somewhat understood why former 1st Army Commander Tamemoto caused a seppuku commotion while trying to capture Port Arthur fortress.

He caused that fuss saying he would commit seppuku because there was no choice but death.

That's exactly how Yamagata felt now.

He wanted to commit seppuku.

"Huh? Aren't those machine gun positions?"

"G-general! Sandbags visible at the Yalu River!"

"Seems the enemy hastily constructed defensive positions!"

Truly.

==

Great victory in Manchuria.

And another victory achieved at the Yalu River through another quick landing operation.

For Britain and America still racking their brains over how to make Russia accept Japan's armistice negotiations, it was news making them completely wash their hands of it, and for Imperial Headquarters, it was successive defeat news arriving without breathing room.

"Lost again!"

"Y-your Majesty!"

"Prime Minister Itō! I entrusted this war only believing in my ministers! Because you all asked just to believe, I placed the nation's fate in your hands!"

"I am ashamed..."

"Tch, tell me truthfully. Can we win like this?"

No matter how much the world changed with the Meiji Restoration, ideologically the Japanese Empire is ruled by the Emperor.

At Emperor Mutsuhito's thundering, Itō had to bow his head and answer.

"...There is no way to win anymore."

At Itō's barely uttered answer, the Emperor continued berating him without rest while the old minister could only keep bowing repeatedly.

Perhaps a general who loses a war can be used again, but a prime minister who starts a war cannot be reused?

[Imperial Headquarters' False Announcements!]

[Did Sons of the Empire Cross a River of No Return?]

[Great Defeat in Manchuria. Continued Retreat.]