Nihonkoku Shoukan. Volume 1. Chapter 2 Part 5

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Author:

みのろう (Minorou)

Translator:

Yukkuri Oniisan!

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Chapter 2

The Kingdom’s Miscalculation

Part 5

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Central calendar Year 1639, Month 4, Day 25. Evening.

Port Maihark was in a great clamor like a madhouse.

Everyone raised their voices in wonder and admiration. The citizens living nearby, the soldiers, and the sailors altogether were gazing at the direction of the sea.

「What a huge thing!」

「Unbelievable, is that really a ship?」

「Is that a mountain floating on the sea?」

There were many shouts and yells.

Bruay was also doubting his own eyes. On the offshore, there were several unbelievably large ships lined up.

Just by measuring with the eye, one of the ships had an implausible estimated length of no less than 250m, which gave off a bizarre presence. There were talks about how when the warship Pima made contact with Japan, it boarded a 250 meter long ship, but he thought that they were just lying to exaggerate their accomplishments. However, the reality was: ‘that ship really existed’. Despite being anchored far away on the offshore, it was still absurdly large in appearance and had no sails.

Eventually, something flew away from that large ship.

He had eyesight good enough that he could see that there were people riding in it, so he understood that it was some kind of vehicle. On the top of the vehicle, there was something like an elongated board spinning around in high speed.

Although he previously had received a message about how he would be picked up by the other party, when Bruay actually saw this other way to fly in the sky that wasn’t a Wyvern, he was at loss for words. As it approached, there was an unfamiliar ringing sound and a loud unnatural flapping sound which put fear into the surrounding people. Eventually, a violent wind began to blow as if it could blow away anything nearby.

When the vehicles had landed in the plaza, the wind and the sounds gradually abated. A door on the vehicle’s side opened, a man appeared from it and started to move with a steady gait towards the gathered crowd.

Bruay stepped forward and the man standing in front of him saluted.

「Good day, I am Tsukasaki of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s Qua-Toyne Principality Deployment Force. For this occasion, we have received an instruction to pick up an observation officer from the Qua-Toyne Principality.」

Bruay replied in a hurry, while also being a bit impressed by Tsukasaki's prompt behavior.

「Nice to meet you, I am Bruay, the operations staff of the Qua-Toyne Principality Navy’s 2nd Fleet. I am grateful for the current reinforcements from Japan.」

「Umm, I believe that you had been informed in advance, but have you finished your preparations for boarding?」

「Yes. I will be in your good hands.」

Bruay held his the luggage and timidly boarded the vehicle ──something that was called a helicopter, 『MCH-101』[i]. There were no decorations inside the aircraft, but the seat was fluffy and comfortable to sit on.

Once again, the helicopter’s engine speed accelerated and there were a strange sensation of floating. Although it was somewhat slower than a wyvern, there were no jerky vertical movements caused by flapping, and the smooth ascend of the helicopter astonished Bruay. This vehicle could fly without almost no shaking and was much more comfortable than a wyvern, moreover it could transport large numbers of people or goods.

「This is…… amazing. Just how this vehicle works is beyond my understanding……」

Fortress City Ejei.

Around the time when the tension with the Louria Kingdom was still high. As a preparation for a full conflict, Qua-Toyne Principality established Fortress City Ejei as a key point to defend the possible invasion route from the border to the Principality’s capital.

Since it was established as the absolute defense perimeter of the Qua-Toyne Principality, it had a high strong wall and mechanisms in every corner of the city to defend against invading enemies even if they breached the walls.

Furthermore, the water spring that gushed forth inside the wall and the huge stockpiles gathered in peacetime, make it impossible to succumb to starvation tactics.

Approximately 30,000 soldiers of the Western Region Division of the Qua-Toyne Army were stationed in this Fortress City. 50 Wyverns, 3000 Cavalry, 7000 Archers and 20,000 Infantry, they were the main force Qua-Toyne Principality.

The General Nou, who command The Western Region Division was confident that this Fortress City Ejei could repulse the incoming Louria's invasion. The walls that reached as high as 25 meters will defend against invasion from every hostile ground forces, and even to deal with attacks from the sky, there were elite Wyverns trained for anti-air combat.

It was a complete impregnable, invulnerable, Iron Wall. No matter how great the army will be, this city won’t fall.

「General of Nou, the gentleman from the Japan Ground Self Defense Force have come.」

「So they come at last…… Let them in!」

He was cooperating because the government told him to cooperate, but he honestly didn’t like the Japanese military who had rudely entered his country. Japan has trespassed Qua-Toyne Principality’s airspace and made contact after showing its force that capable of breaking through the military air defense net. Since this was completely like a pressure diplomacy, this impression displeased him.

Furthermore, when he heard the after-battle report of the Grand Naval Battle of the Rodenius Sea that the large fleet of 4,400 Lourian warships was stopped with only 8 ships, he laughed scornfully that it was too dramatically embellished. There were few people in the Army who took the report at face value, and so they had unreceptive reaction to it, surmising that this was some kind of information manipulation in the report.

Meanwhile, a report said that about 20,000 Louria Kingdom’s soldiers are heading towards Fortress City Ejei. Land battle is, after all, where the number matters. This time, Japan had dispatched Ground Self Defense Force 7th Division[1], which had fewer than 6,000 people, and they were stationed at a Star-shaped base about 5 km to the east of Ejei. With just 6 thousand men, they might be effective if they attack the enemy unguarded, but they couldn’t be expected to give a result that could influence the war situation, so he had a completely negative evaluation of them.

More than anything else, he didn’t pleased with having an army from another country in his country soil. The fact that the government gave permission to use the land itself was very unacceptable to him, it was as if they didn’t trust their own army. He had heard that the population of Japan is 120 million, so just sending 6,000 soldiers, it was as if they were quite unwilling to participate.

In any case, he predicted that since his army would be the one who repulses Louria, the Japan army will have no part to partake.

Then there was a knocking sound from the door of the reception office.

「Please enter.」

Prompted Nou who then stood to greet the SDF personnel.

「Please excuse us.」

After a greeting, three people entered the room.

「I am the Division Commander of Japan Ground Self Defense Force, 7th Division, Oouchida.」

Unlike jeweled and elegant clothes that Nou was wearing, the three of them were wearing clothes with green and brown mottled pattern.

Nou couldn’t believe that this fellow is the general of Japan’s expeditionary force.

「My, my, thank you very much for coming. I am Nou, the General of Qua-Toyne Principality Western Region Division. I am grateful for the reinforcement.」

First of all, he started with a lip service.

「Japan's division commander-dono, the Lourian Army had conquered Gim and will soon head towards Ejei. But as you can see, Ejei is an impregnable fortress city. No matter how large an army is, it will be impossible to conquer this city.」

Nou continued with an overbearing boast.

「Though it is extremely vexing, our country has been invaded by Louria and now we are confronting that country and wagering our country’s fate. We swear by our pride that we will repulse Louria Army. Gentlemen from Japan, please be at ease, I only wish that you could give us rear line support without any need to leave the base you had established.」

What Nou was trying to indirectly say was almost straightforwardly: “Get out of our way”. As his intention to break the pride of the Japanese was visible, his aides sitting nearby was having a cold sweat on whether or not this will be a diplomatic problem.

「We understand. We will provide rear line support from our garrison. However, we have a request……」

「…… What is it?」

「Since we need to report the position of the enemy and the war situation to the Operations Headquarters, can we station about 50 observers on Ejei? Also, so that we are always informed about the movement of Qua-Toyne Principality Army, I would like to ask for permission to request a communication mage to accompany us.」

「Observer Officers? Well, you should have a duty to report the war situation to your home country too. I understand.」

With the minimum necessary information and greetings were exchanged, the meeting ended.

When the Japanese officers left, Nou spoke to his aides.

「Does the Japanese Army have no pride? Or perhaps they are stupid to not know the sarcasm?」

「Certainly, they have been dispatched by their country’s order, but if they are located 5 km away from Ejei, they wouldn’t even be able to give a rear line support. In practice, it was like they are told not to do anything. Perhaps their own country had told them to not be a hindrance for our country.」

「Or perhaps, they are being cowards. With only 6 thousand people, even against Louria Kingdom’s Advance Force, they wouldn’t last 1 hour. At any rate, since they are shielded by Ejei, their base should have no great defense capability either.」

「At any rate, even without borrowing Japan’s help, as long as we have the defense from Ejei’s impregnable wall, we will repulse Lourian soldiers without fail.」

General Nou and his staff only glared at the plains beyond them, without even giving any attention to the JSDF.

CHAPITRE I

Invocation.

Au commencement, le Seigneur des créatures[4] donna aux hommes et aux femmes, dans cent mille chapitres, les règles à suivre pour leur existence, en ce qui concerne:

Le Dharma ou devoir religieux[5];

L'Artha ou la richesse;

Le Kama ou l'amour.

La durée de la vie humaine, quand elle n'est point abrégée par des accidents, est d'un siècle.

On doit la partager entre le Dharma, l'Artha et le Kama, de telle sorte qu'ils n'empiètent point l'un sur l'autre; l'enfance doit être consacrée à l'étude; la jeunesse et l'âge mûr, à l'Artha et au Kama; la vieillesse, au Dharma qui procure à l'homme la délivrance finale, c'est-à-dire la fin des transmigrations.

[Note 4: Le Seigneur des créatures est une qualification souvent donnée à Siva. Vatsyayana était donc Sivaïste comme tous les brahmes de son temps.]

[Note 5: Pour les Brahmes, le Dharma est le rite religieux, le sacrifice, l'offrande, le culte, l'obéissance à la coutume. Pour les Bouddhistes, c'est la règle morale, le devoir philosophique.]

Le Dharma est l'accomplissement de certains actes, comme les sacrifices qu'on omet parce qu'on n'en aperçoit pas le résultat dans ce monde, et l'abstention de certains autres, comme de manger de la viande, que l'on accomplit parce qu'on en éprouve un bon effet.

L'Artha comprend l'industrie, l'agriculture, le commerce, les relations sociales et de famille; c'est l'économie politique que doivent apprendre les fonctionnaires et les négociants.

Le Kama est la jouissance, au moyen des cinq sens; il est enseigné par le Kama Soutra et la pratique.

Quand le Dharma, l'Artha et le Kama se présentent en concurrence, le Dharma est généralement préféré à l'Artha et l'Artha au Kama. Mais pour le roi, l'Artha occupe le premier rang, parce qu'il assure les moyens de subsistance.

Toute une école, très nombreuse, fait passer l'Artha avant tout, parce que, avant tout, il faut assurer les besoins de la vie.

En pratique, toutes les classes qui vivent de leur travail, et tous les hommes qui convoitent la richesse, suivent le sentiment de cette école.

Les Lokayatikas prétendent qu'il n'y a pas lieu d'observer le Dharma, parce qu'il n'a en vue que la vie future dans laquelle on ignore s'il portera ou non son fruit.

Selon eux, c'est sottise que de remettre en d'autres mains ce que l'on tient. En outre, il vaut mieux avoir un pigeon aujourd'hui qu'un coq de paon demain, et une pièce de cuivre que l'on donne vaut mieux qu'une pièce d'or que l'on promet.»

Réponse à l'objection:

«1° Le livre saint qui prescrit les pratiques du Dharma ne laisse place à aucun doute.

2° Nous voyons par expérience que les sacrifices offerts pour obtenir la destruction de nos ennemis ou la chute de la pluie portent leur fruit.

3° Le soleil, la lune, les étoiles et les autres corps célestes paraissent travailler avec intérêt pour le bien du monde.

4° Le monde ne se maintient que par l'observance des règles concernant les quatre castes et les quatre périodes de la vie.

5° On sème dans l'espérance de récolter.»

On ne doit point sacrifier le Kama à l'Artha parce que le plaisir est aussi nécessaire que la nourriture. Modéré et prudent, il s'associe au Dharma et à l'Artha. Celui qui pratique les trois est heureux dans cette vie et dans la vie future. Tout acte qui se lie à la fois aux trois ou seulement à deux ou même à un seul des trois peut être accompli. Tout acte qui, pour satisfaire l'un des trois, sacrifie les deux autres, doit être évité (par exemple, un homme qui se ruine par la dévotion ou le libertinage est insensé et coupable)[6].

[Note 6: Au temps de Vatsyayana, la philosophie Sankia et le Bouddhisme avaient complètement discrédité, au moins dans les hautes castes, les pratiques du Dharma brahmanique; ce n'était plus guère qu'une superstition populaire. On s'en aperçoit à la pauvreté des arguments que Vatsyayana oppose aux Lokayatikas.

On voit que le Dharma, I'Artha et le Kama avaient chacun des partisans exclusifs dont les préférences dépendaient de leur situation: quelques-uns choisissaient seulement deux de ces trois termes. Barthriari dit (Amour, stance 53): «Les hommes ont à choisir ici-bas entre deux cultes: celui des belles qui n'aspirent qu'à jeux et plaisirs toujours renouvelés, ou celui qu'on rend dans la forêt à l'Etre absolu.»]

Une partie des cent mille commandements, particulièrement ceux qui se rapportent au Dharma, forment la loi de Svayambha. Ceux relatifs à l'Artha ont été compilés par Brihaspati, et ceux qui concernent le Kama ou l'amour ont été exposés dans mille chapitres par Nandi, de la secte de Mahadéva ou Civa[7].

[Note 7: Vatsyayana, on le voit par les mots en italique, prétend qu'il se borne à reproduire des préceptes édictés par la divinité depuis l'origine des choses et par conséquent obligatoires.]

Les Kama Shastras (codes de l'amour) de Nandi furent successivement abrégés par divers auteurs, puis répartis entre six traités composés par des auteurs différents, dont l'un, Dattaka, écrivit le sien à la requête des femmes publiques de Patalipoutra; c'est le Shastra ou Catéchisme des courtisanes[8].

[Note 8: De même que le Shastra des courtisanes de l'Inde a été écrit à leur requête, le 3e livre de l'Art d'aimer a été composé par Ovide, à la demande des femmes galantes de Rome: «Voici que les jeunes beautés, à leur tour, me prient de leur donner des leçons. Je vais apprendre aux femmes comment elles se feront aimer. L'homme trompe souvent, la femme est bien moins trompeuse. La déesse de Cythère m'a apparu et m'a dit: «Qu'ont donc fait les malheureuses femmes pour être livrées sans défense comme de faibles troupeaux à des hommes bien armés. Deux chants de tes poésies ont rendu ceux-ci habiles aux combats de l'amour. Il faut aussi que tu donnes des leçons à l'autre sexe. Tes belles écolières, comme leurs jeunes amants, inscriront sur leurs trophées: «Ovide fut notre maître.»]

Après avoir lu et médité les écrits de Babhravya et d'autres auteurs anciens, et avoir étudié les motifs des règles qu'ils ont tracées, Vatsyayana, pendant qu'il était étudiant en religion (comme en Europe étudiant en théologie), entièrement livré à la contemplation de la divinité, a composé le Kama-Sutra, résumé des six Shastra susdits, conformément aux préceptes du saint Livre, pour le bien du monde. Cet écrit n'est point destiné uniquement à servir nos désirs charnels. Celui qui possède les principes de la science du Kama et qui, en même temps, observe le Dharma et l'Artha, est sûr de maîtriser ses sens.

APPENDICE AU CHAPITRE I

Si, au lieu d'être simplement un casuiste, Vatsyayana avait eu le génie lyrique, il aurait commencé par un hymne au dieu Kama, tel que celui ci-après (traduction de M. Chezy).

HYMNE A KAMA

Quelle est cette divinité puissante qui, des bocages situés à l'Orient d'Agra, s'élance dans les airs où se répand la lumière la plus pure, tandis que de toute part les tiges languissantes des fleurs, ranimées aux premiers rayons du soleil, s'entrelacent en berceaux, doux asiles de l'harmonie, et que les zéphirs légers leur dérobent, en se jouant, les plus ravissants parfums?

Salut, puissance inconnue!… Car au seul signe de ta tête gracieuse, les vallées et les bois s'empressent de parer leurs seins odorants, et chaque fleur épanouie suspend, en souriant, à ses tresses de musc, les perles éclatantes de la rosée.

Je sens, oui, je sens ton feu divin pénétrer mon coeur, je t'adore et je baise, avec transport, tes autels.

Et pourrais-tu me méconnaître?

Non, fils de Mayâ, non, je connais tes flèches armées de fleurs, la canne redoutable qui compose ton arc, ton étendard où brillent les écailles nacrées, tes armes mystérieuses.

J'ai ressenti toutes tes peines, j'ai savouré tous tes plaisirs.

While in the middle of the flight to the mother ship, he kept admiring the usefulness of the helicopter.

When the helicopter approached the carrier anchored offshore, he was overwhelmed by the size of the mother ship that was incomparable when seen from the faraway shore.

(What’s with this ship size‼ …… Ah, I understand, if the ships are this big, then a large number of personnel could board it, and so when it becomes a melee fight, they could capture the enemy ship one by one through overwhelming numbers. As the number of captured ships increased, the fighting power will also be quickly increased, so this one ship alone would certainly be able to deal with dozens of ships.)

Using his own knowledge and logic, he was trying to make sense of the helicopter destroyer.

Helicopter Destroyer 『Izumo』

Total length - 248 m

Standard displacement - 19,500 tons

Construction cost - 114 billion yen[ii]

It was the largest destroyer^[sic] of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force that could handle the arrival and departure of five helicopters at the same time.[iii]

Bruay alighted on the ship deck that was wide enough for a cavalry battle.

(The floor is hard…… This is…… made from iron? How could it float in the sea? What kind of magic is this? A ship should be constructed from wood……)

With the incomprehensible fact of an iron ship floating in the sea as the beginning, Bruay’s confusion kept increasing.

As he was told by Tsukasaski, he entered the ship’s interior.

(…… The inside…… is bright. Did they burn something? No, light magic? Is this a Magic Ship?)

After being guided into the ship interior that was so wide that it felt like an illusion, Bruay arrived at the bridge and met with the captain.

This time, Bruay saluted without any delay.

「I am Bruay, the navy operations staff representative of the Qua-Toyne Principality. We are grateful for the reinforcements.」

「Nice to meet you, I am this ship’s captain, Yamamoto. This might be sudden, but we have already located the position of the armed insurgent ships. It’s about 500 kilometers west from this location. Their speed is very slow, about 5 knots[iv], but they are heading towards our direction. So we planned to leave tomorrow morning and issue a warning to the armed insurgents to turn back. If they don’t abide, then after we fire a warning shot, we will eliminate them entirely. So please relax yourself inside the ship until tomorrow.」

「Eliminate them entirely...... Eliminate, entirely?」

How absurd. There were only 50 Qua-Tonean ships and 8 Japanese ships. Only 58 vessels couldn’t possibly confront 4,400 vessels.

「Ah, no. Of course if the enemy turns back, or begins to surrender or escape, then we will refrain from attacking.」

「That's not what I meant…… Certainly our country’s fleet has prepared 50 ships. Will we perform this operation with only 58 ships? This might be rude to ask, but have you been informed of the enemies’ number?」

Bruay was concerned that Japan hadn’t been informed of the enemy’s size.

「We have been informed of the number of the armed insurgent ships. We have already informed the staff that there will be no need for escorts from the Qua-Toyne Navy, so we will ensure Bruay-dono’s safety. Please be at ease while performing your duties.」

Bruay was surprised again. The Japanese intended to challenge a huge fleet of 4,400 ships by themselves without cooperating with the Qua-Toyne Navy.

✦✧✦✧✦

Bruay’s diary of that day

I boarded the Japanese ship safely as the Qua-Toyne Principality’s citizen.

The flight until the ship was extremely comfortable, the interior of the metal ship with a size beyond the norm also had a fixed temperature. In addition, it is bright even at night. Although I should be in the middle of the sea, the swaying of the waves are inexistent. Everything is out of common sense and so, I am very astonished.

In my meeting with the captain, when he told me that they will challenge Lourian’s 4,400 warships with just 8 ships, I at first thought that they were suicidal. But after I observed this ship’s interior, its size, and then its metal construction, then I understood that fire arrows or ballista wouldn’t be able to damage it for sure.

On the other hand, the ship's deck is so high, so the arrows fired from that higher altitude will surely hit the enemy ships. There are no fixed-installed weapons like a ballista, but it is highly probable that the weapons are portable and will be deployed when they enter battle preparations. Although for a moment, I was in despair that there were only 8 ships, there is a possibility that enemy’s attacks won’t be effective against this ship. Japan seems to possess absolute confidence in the battle.

To be this nervous as an observer officer, this is the first time I’ve felt this way ever since I had been born.

Tout-puissant Kâmâ, ou, si tu le préfères, éclatant Smara, Ananya majestueux!

Quel que soit le siège de la gloire, sous tel nom que l'on t'invoque, les mers, la terre et l'air proclament ta puissance; tous t'apportent leur tribut, tous reconnaissent en toi le roi de l'Univers.

Ta jeune compagne, la Volupté, sourit à ton côté. Elle est à peine voilée de sa robe éclatante.

A sa suite, douze jeunes filles, à la taille charmante, élancée, s'avancent avec grâce; leurs doigts délicats se promènent avec légèreté sur des cordes d'or, et leurs bras arrondis s'entrelacent dans une danse voluptueuse.

Sur leurs cous élégants, elles disposent des perles plus brillantes que les pleurs de l'aurore.

Ton étendard de pourpre, ondoyant devant elles, fait étinceler dans la voûte azurée des cieux des astres nouveaux[9].

[Note 9: Allusion aux écailles brillantes du poisson qui couronne l'étendard de l'amour indien.]

Dieu aux flèches fleuries, à l'arc plein de douceur, délices de la terre et des cieux! Ton compagnon inséparable, nommé Vasanta chez les Dieux, aimable printemps sur la terre, étend sous tes pieds délicats un doux et tendre tapis de verdure, élève sur ta tête enfantine des arceaux impénétrables aux feux brûlants du midi. C'est lui qui, pour te rafraîchir, fait descendre des nuages une rosée de parfums, qui remplit de flèches nouvelles ton carquois rendu plus redoutable, présent bien cher d'un ami plus cher encore.

A son ordre, doux et caressant, mille oiseaux amoureux, par le charme ravissant de leurs tendres modulations, arrachent à ses liens la fleur encore captive.

Sa main amicale courbe avec adresse la canne savoureuse, y dispose, pour corde, une guirlande d'abeilles dont le miel parfumé est si doux, mais dont l'aiguillon, hélas! cause de si vives douleurs.

C'est encore lui qui arme la pointe acérée de tes traits qui jamais ne reposent et blessent par tous les sens le coeur et y portent le délire de cinq fleurs:

Le Tchampaca pénétrant, semblable à l'or parfumé;

Le chaud Amra rempli d'une ambroisie céleste;

Le desséchant Késsara au feuillage argenté;

Le brûlant Kétaça qui jette le trouble dans les sens;

L'éclatant Bilva qui verse dans les veines une ardeur dévorante.

Quel mortel, Dieu puissant, pourrait résister à ton pouvoir, lorsque Krischna lui-même est ton esclave? Krischna qui, sans cesse enivré de délices dans les plaines fortunées du Malhoura, fait résonner sous ses doigts divins la flûte pastorale, et aux accords mélodieux d'une céleste harmonie, forme avec le choeur des Gopis éprises de ses charmes, des danses voluptueuses à la douce clarté de Lunus, le mystérieux flambeau des nuits.

O toi, Dieu charmant! dont la naissance a précédé la création et dont la jeunesse est éternelle! Que le chant de ton brahmane asservi à tes lois puisse, à jamais, retentir sur les bords sacrés du Gange! Et à l'heure où ton oiseau favori, déployant ses ailes d'émeraude, te fait franchir l'espace dans son vol rapide; lorsqu'au milieu de la nuit silencieuse, les rayons tremblants de Ma (la lune) glissent sur la retraite mystérieuse des amants favorisés ou malheureux, que la plus douce influence soit le partage de ton chantre dévoué, et que, sans le consumer, ton feu divin échauffe voluptueusement son coeur!

Il est intéressant de rapprocher de cette invocation celle de Lucrèce à

Vénus.

INVOCATION

  Douce et sainte Vénus, mère de nos Romains,

  Suprême volupté des Dieux et des humains

  Qui, sous la voûte immense où dorment les étoiles,

  Peuples les champs féconds, l'onde où courent les voiles,

  Par toi tout vit, respire, éclos sous ton amour

  Et monte, heureux de naître, aux rivages du jour.

  Aussi, devant tes pas, le vent fuit; les nuages,

  A ta divine approche, emportent les orages;

  Pour toi, la terre épand ses parfums et ses fleurs;

  Le ciel s'épanouit et se fond en lumière.

  Car sitôt qu'il revêt sa splendeur printanière,

  Et que, par les hivers, le zéphir arrêté

  Reprend enfin sa course et sa fécondité,

  Les oiseaux, les premiers frappés par ta puissance,

  O charmante Déesse, annoncent ta présence;

  Le lourd troupeau bondit dans les prés renaissants,

  Et, plein de toi, se jette à travers les torrents:

  Sensibles à tes feux, séduites par tes grâces

  Ainsi des animaux les innombrables races,

  Dans le transport errant des amoureux ébats,

  Où tu veux les mener s'élancent sur tes pas.

  Enfin, au fond des mers, sur les rudes montagnes,

  Dans les fleuves fougueux, dans les jeunes campagnes,

  Dans les nids des oiseaux et leurs asiles verts,

  Soumis à ton pouvoir, tous les êtres divers,

  Le coeur blessé d'amour, frissonnants de caresses,

  Brûlent de propager leur race et leurs espèces.

L'invocation qui nous paraît avoir le plus de charme est celle de l'Art d'aimer d'Ovide.

Romains, s'il est quelqu'un parmi vous à qui l'art d'aimer soit inconnu, qu'il lise mes vers, qu'il s'instruise et qu'il aime! N'est-ce pas l'art qui fait voguer les vaisseaux rapides à l'aide de la voile et de la rame? qui guide dans la course les chars légers? L'art doit aussi gouverner l'amour.

Loin d'ici, bandelettes légères, ornement de la pudeur et vous longues robes qui descendez jusqu'aux pieds! Je chanterai les ruses et les larcins innocents d'un amour qui ne craint rien, et mes vers n'offriront rien de répréhensible.

L'auteur de la Callipèdie, poème latin du moyen âge, s'est inspiré d'Ovide dans l'invocation qui suit:

O vous, Grâces, modèles divins, et toi, Vénus, mère des amours et de tout ce qui nous charme, toi que Pâris, sur le mont Ida, a justement proclamée la plus belle, inspirez moi des chants dignes des sanctuaires d'Idalie, afin que ma muse ne dépare point un si beau sujet et apprenne à tout le genre humain un art sans prix.

✦✧✦✧✦

5 km East From Fortress City Ejei. JGSDF Qua-Toyne Principality Relief Force Headquarters

Lieutenant General Oouchida Kazuki, the Division Commander of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force’s 7th Division, and his staff officers were talking about the meeting in Ejei that was held earlier.

「Nou-dono is so adamant to assign us to rear line support. It seems that he wanted to minimize our casualties in the frontline.」

「I am really grateful that he was that concerned about us. If we are talking about rear line supports from our HQ, then it will be mainly composed of attacks from the artillery regiments’ guns, correct? If it becomes a melee battle, then there is a possibility that it will strike friendly army so we must be really careful when using it.」

「Before it became a melee battle, we need to weaken the enemy as much as possible with fire support. However, if we don’t warn Louria Kingdom’s army, the damage inflicted on them would be no different than a massacre. At the very least, I want to issue a warning prior to the attack.」

「Should we issue a warning using a heli?」

「Yes, but as long as the enemy isn’t accompanied by hostile Dragon Knights. It will be an intolerable disaster if a heli was downed by a wyvern.」

「Then, let’s call for some air support in the sky.」

Despite some misunderstandings, they steadily continue their preparation for the threats that will soon appear.

✦✧✦✧✦

Central Calendar Year 1639, Month 7, Day 22. Fortress City Ejei

About 20,000 soldiers from the Advance Force of the Louria Kingdom’s Eastern Lords Division marched until 5 kilometers west from Fortress City Ejei, without encountering any enemy forces. In the order, they must advance until reaching a location 2 kilometers away from the city. But because of a bad hunch he had, Jean-Philia avoided making camp too deep into the enemy’s territory.

They will stay at this location for a week and perform reconnaissance in force.

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Japan is being Yandere.

Also Qua-Toyne. Japan have a different meaning of rear line support. You may mean guarding the logistic, but Japan understand it as: to rain hell and brimstone upon your enemies.

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[1] The The 7th Division (第7師団 Dai-Nana Shidan) is one of nine active divisions of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The division is the only armored division of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. They have 3 Tank regiments equipped with Type 90 MBT, 1 Mechanized Infantry Regiment with Type 89IFV and Type73 APC, 1 Artillery Regiment with Type 99 155mm SPT, 1 Anti-Aircraft Regiment with Type 81 SAM and Type 88 SAA, 1 Combat Engineer Battalion, 1 Signal Battalion, 1 Recon Company with Type 87 ARV, 1 Aviation Squadron with UH-1J and OH-6D, and 1 Logistic Support Regiment.

In all, the armored division had about 6,500 men, 230 tanks, about 350 Type 89 and Type 73 armored personnel carriers, 40 self-propelled howitzers, 48 mortars (81-mm and larger), 12 106-mm recoilless weapons, 40 35- and 40-mm self-propelled air defense systems, along with other armament and support systems, making it the most well-armed Japanese division