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Withdrawal of Highland forces from the City-States of Jowston
The Conquest of Matilda (マチルダ攻略戦, Machiruda Kōryaku-sen), also known as the Battle of Rockaxe (ロックアックス攻防戦, Rokkuakkusu Kōbō-sen) was a major battle and campaign of the Dunan Unification War. It was fought between the New Alliance Army and the Highland Royal Army and their Matilda Knights allies.
Overview
During the defeat of the New Alliance Army in the Battle to Retake Muse City, the Highland Army exploited the situation by invading and annexing the Matilda Knightdom. This battle pitted the 25,000 soldiers of the New Alliance Army against the 55,000 strong Highland Army, its numbers swelled by the addition of the Matilda Knights now under its command.
With the Highland Army holding the advantage, Shu attempted to decrease the Highland advantage by ordering General Kiba to attack eastern Muse Principality while the majority of the New Alliance Army would march on Rockaxe. This would turn the battlefield numbers into roughly 20,000 versus 30,000 soldiers.
Though the Highland Army would correctly ascertain the gambit, they had no choice but to send Leon Silverberg to fight Kiba as east Muse's position so close to Highland meant that it could not be allowed to be retaken, however unlikely the threat was.
The initial battle in Matilda would see the New Alliance forces nearly overwhelmed but the timely intercession of reinforcements (actually two units of New Alliance logistics in disguise) would see the Highland Army withdraw. This would give the New Alliance Army the opportunity to slip former Matilda Knights into Rockaxe Castle.
The New Alliance would then reignite the battle, allowing its agents to infiltrate the castle, and would end with the burning of the Highland flag atop Rockaxe Castle. With the Matilda Knight's morale and willingness to fight plummeting, King Jowy would order a Highland withdrawal, allowing the New Alliance Army to declare victory in the battle.
Trivia
Although a good lawyer could probably argue otherwise, Shu's tactics during the battle likely do not violate the Geneva Conventions laws on perfidy and distinction. While using civilians in combat is unlawful, it is likely that logistical support members of the New Alliance Army are considered enlisted as part of the army and so would not violate the code.
As the Highland Army withdraws based on its own assumptions and the disguised units do not claim a protected status (the opposite, in fact, they claim to be combat ready soldiers and thus eligible for attack), it is likely no law was broken.
References
- Genso Suikoden Encyclopaedia (ISBN 4-575-16297-3), page 321