Chapter 872 A Self Reflective Analysis
?872 A Self Reflective Analysis
Chapter 872
"Send the reinforcements into the center and break through! We will be able to destroy the enemy if the flanks can hold on just a bit long!"
Breaking out of his usual stoicism, Hemicus loudly shouted so to Alexander, his face ruddy and excited.
The man still believed they could win.
"......."
And turning to look at the current state of the battlefield, Alexander could indeed see the two legions in the second echelons putting up quite a fight, not letting Perseus through.
They appeared solid for the time being and if Alexander engaged his 2,000 reserves in the center, there indeed was the possibility that he would be able to break Perseus's middle since it seemed to be on its last legs.
And for a few moments, Alexander did truly consider it- to throw the result in this one last roll of the dice and try to win it once and for all.
But then he stopped!
For thinking like this was not him!
Alexander by his nature was a prudent man, and these types of risky, sucidical play did not suit him.
How many times was it that he had thought the center was about to break and yet the phalangites had held?
What if they held even after the additional 2,000?
After all, what was so different about facing 32,000 men when you were already fighting against 30,000?
And that would be the risk reward equation here?
If Alexander won, he would indeed be able to end this year long campaign right here and now.
However, although that might sound very lucrative, was it truly, absolutely necessary to finish Perseus right now? nove(l)bi(n.)com
What would happen if Perseus were really to win here?
Unless it was by a devastatingly large margin, nothing much really.
At best the man would then be able to negotiate a better peace treaty for himself.
Which although not ideal for Alexander was far better than the alternative of what would happen if he lost.
No ruler would be able to find such a suicidal group to fight for him.
But the Swiss mercenaries would do exactly that, the crazy bastards.
They would be willing to impale their own first few echelons with the enemy's pikes, turning the entire front into shredded paper, just to do the same to the enemy.
Of course, usually, such a thing did not happen.
For though those mercenaries might have been willing to commit this type of mass suicide just to kill their enemies and earn their paycheck, most of the time, their opponents were not.
So when a Swiss mercenary charged, typically the other side ran, because they knew these men would not stop even if they lowered their pikes.
But in the rare case it did, where the other side was also just as well trained, and perhaps not quite right in the head, the mercenaries did indeed follow through on their threat, for their reputation and livelihood would be on the line, and the result would be a massacre of both the enemy and themselves.
All these examples went to show that if an enemy did not break and stood his ground, it was very, very hard to win, even for a transmigration with 3,000 years of advanced knowledge.
After all, the people of 3,000 years ago were not dumb, just less knowledgeable.
And reminding himself of that, Alexander could only chalk up this defeat to the other side having fought better.
Although he was not entirely blameless for their defeat, the result certainly had more to do with Perseus fighting tooth and nail rather than deficiencies in Alexander's planning and execution.
Thus turning to Hemicus, Alexander ordered, "Split the reserves into two and have them ride towards the flanks."
"You take the left and I will go right! They will act as rear guards while I blow the trumpet signaling the retreat."
"......" To this the usual taciturn Hemicus did not say anything in protest.
But he also did not accept the order with a quick military salute.
Instead, he only stood there with a sullen face, saying to himself regarding Alexander, 'If you had not wasted so much time talking endlessly, but charged into the reserves, we could have won already!'
And Alexander seemed to have detected such a thought, as putting a light smile, he turned to look at his bodyguard captain and let him in on some classified information,
" If we retreat, we will be able to fight another here. But if we lose, not only will it invigorate Perseus, it will also make my other enemies around Zanzan have thoughts."
"Camius has already informed me that many rats and cockroaches are scuttling around the various noble houses of Zanzan, trying to rally an army against me."
"My success in Tibias must have surely gotten many feathers riled up. The fact that Amenheraft's right hand man Manuk was here is a clear testament to that."
"No one has acted yet because they are fearful of my army. But if I were to lose it....." Alexander shook his head as he trailed off, not wanting to think of the consequences.
But then quickly picked up his head and ended the segment on a cheerier note,
"Don't feel sad, my friend. In one year we have managed to conquer more lands from Tibias than multiple generations of Adhanian kings had managed to do over a thousand years."
"Hahaha! What is this but only a minor setback?"