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The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 62
As battles broke out simultaneously on eight fronts and a full-scale war began, the upper echelons of each kingdom were thrown into chaos.
In one of the places, the royal palace of Calliper, the king and the highest nobles had all gathered to discuss the current situation.
“To think Svenner would cause such a disaster!”
King Gareth lamented.
“The troops mobilized for the battlefield exceeds 800,000 on both sides combined! To seriously intend to wage a war where blood will flow like rivers. Svenner will receive divine punishment!”
It wasn’t for Calliper, who had successfully invaded Alvard and Madon, to say, but at least Calliper’s wars had some justification.
On the other hand, the reason for Svenner’s invasion was merely ambition for continental conquest.
The other nobles were equally flustered, as they hadn’t expected Svenner to seriously engage in all-out war.
Gilbert Saleon spoke, as if continuing the conversation. “Duke Hellian. What’s the situation with our army? Do you think our forces can defeat the enemy?”
“War is something you only know once you’ve done it. However, General Dunan is undoubtedly the most capable in our army. Who else can we trust if not him?”
“I’m not doubting Dunan’s abilities. It’s just that the notoriety of the opponent, this Klaus Forkner, is so high that I can’t help but worry.”
“Don’t worry. According to incoming intelligence, we’re successfully repelling the enemy cavalry’s attacks.”
At this moment, a count from Saleon’s faction spoke up as if he had been waiting for this chance.
“Wouldn’t the veteran Altior be more reliable than General Dunan? Although he’s retired, given the situation, if we earnestly ask, he might decide to return.”
Duke Hellian inwardly gritted his teeth.
‘These cunning ones…! To make such desperate attempts to regain influence over the military at this point!’
Of course, he didn’t show any of these inner thoughts outwardly.
“The military has already been reorganized under General Dunan’s leadership. Duke Altior’s abilities are undoubtable, but even if he were to return now, it would only cause confusion in the military.”
─That’s right! If we don’t trust General Dunan, who can we trust!
─If he truly intends to return, tell Duke Altior to come and say so himself!”
Hellian’s faction unanimously objected, and it was decided to trust Dunan for now.
However, the news that arrived shortly after left everyone speechless.
A report came in that the Calliper army had been defeated in the battle at the Galarn Mountains, and that Commander-in-Chief Dunan had died.
“Dunan… Is dead?” Duke Hellian muttered blankly. “The casualties. What are our army’s casualties!”
“Nearly 20,000 casualties have been reported. Fortunately, due to a timely retreat, many soldiers were preserved, so the difference in troop numbers with the enemy is almost negligible.”
The Calliper army had 48,000, while the Tunkai army had 52,000. This was due to Tunkai having expended their cavalry in pre-emptive raid operations.
The king turned pale at Dunan’s death. “What are we to do! Wasn’t Dunan the pillar of our army!”
There were other generals, including the second-in-command Delbadova, but Delbadova was little more than an honorary royal general, making it awkward for him to step forward, and the others were less skilled compared to Dunan.
With Dunan dead, deploying these others wouldn’t change anything.
“Do we really need to call in Altior…?”
At this, members of Saleon’s faction brightened, but Duke Hellian didn’t let it slide.
“Your Majesty, please leave this matter to me, as I’m responsible for the military.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“…I will call for the mercenary Wade.”
“Oh! You mean Casper Millias, the prodigy!”
Surprisingly, the king thought Wade’s identity was Casper. The impersonation plot by Saleon’s faction and Duke Hellian’s counter-operation had been effective.
Hellian couldn’t hide his bitterness.
‘I suppose His Majesty is getting old.’
In the past, he would have seen through such a petty scheme.
But King Gareth was now an 83-year-old man. He had already withdrawn from most frontline duties and was focusing solely on educating the crown prince.
That’s why he hadn’t noticed the Casper impersonation plot.
Hellian didn’t want to correct this point.
If the king knew Ars’s true identity, he would likely try to arrange a marriage using the princess or elevate the Baron Elaine family to make them his allies.
That would only complicate matters, and above all, it was worrying what Ars might do if he gained that much power.
“But Gilbert. Didn’t you say that Casper Millias would have difficulty coming to the forefront for the time being?”
“Yes, yes… That’s true, but.”
“So how does Regnat intend to call him?”
Gilbert, realizing that Hellian intended to hire the real Wade, was quick to read the situation.
He racked his brains trying to find a way to use this situation, but Duke Hellian put his foot down.
“Gilbert, this is a national crisis. Let’s not try to use him for personal gain on either side. If you try to do something unnecessary this time as well, I have my own ideas.”
It was a warning not to try to use this politically.
Gilbert could only shrink back at this.
“Hnng… I understand. Your Majesty, I too will support Duke Hellian in every way possible in this matter.”
“Is that so! Ah, if Casper comes to the forefront, he can be trusted! Even though he’s still young, he’s the commander who defeated Alvard and conquered Madon.”
With the decision made, Duke Hellian didn’t delay.
He immediately set out for the Galarn Mountains.
***
The atmosphere in the military camp was dejected due to the defeat.
It was as if the world had come to an end.
The death of the commander-in-chief who led the army had such an impact.
Moreover, as Tunkai kept sending wagons of corpses of executed prisoners, the army’s morale was at rock bottom.
There were even officer cadets among them.
Traditionally, according to the Continental Treaty, when officer cadets were captured as prisoners, they were to be released unconditionally, but Klaus Forkner executed them outright as if he couldn’t care less about such conventions.
Causing a wide drop in the morale of the officer cadets.
“Ars!” Bannings approached me with a tired expression, as if he had been looking for me.”You’re alive. Thank goodness.”
Bannings patted my shoulder as if to comfort me, then quickly bowed his head. “…Graham is dead. You know him, right? That guy who used to act up during our time at Julia Academy.”
“I don’t really remember.”
“Well, you might not. You probably hardly ever talked to him. I, I’m… different. I even visited his mansion once…!”
“Calm down and sit down first, Bannings.”
I slowly comforted Bannings.
“Phew! Thanks, Ars.”
“Feeling a bit better?”
“Yeah. Besides, I don’t have time to be like this. Dorofei must be the saddest of all. I’m planning to go see Dorofei now. What about you?”
“I’ll go with you, why not.”
Fortunately, the Tunkai army wasn’t attacking immediately for now.
They had to put out the fire they had started.
If they had attacked us without extinguishing the fire, and if we managed to defend ourselves, they would be in trouble. The flames would chase them from behind.
So Klaus was thoroughly extinguishing the fire, securing the rear, and reorganizing his troops.
That time is going to take 3 days.
Our army needed to establish a new command structure within these 3 days.
So quite naturally,
All eyes of expectation turned to Casper.
While going to meet Dorofei with Bannings, we were able to find Casper.
“Casper, no, Mercenary Wade. It’s time for you to step up.”
“Please. Avenge General Dunan. Avenge Graham and Peter!”
Not only the officer cadets but even the regular officers were pleading with Casper.
Begging him to command the army.
To crush those hateful bastards like he had defeated the genius princess of Beckavia and the great general Julian Craig of Madon.
“I, I…” Casper turned pale and couldn’t say a word.
Finally, when Dorofei appeared with tears all over his face, he started trembling as if he had seen a ghost.
“Father surely gave his life to protect the rear thinking you would take charge of the army. So Casper… please. Command the army.”
“Ugh…”
A sandcastle about to collapse.
Cornered, Casper made the worst choice.
He vanished without a trace before the next morning came.
“Is this for real…”
To think he would desert.
Nevertheless, his fellow officer cadets were engaging in wishful thinking, saying that Casper was preparing to appear as Wade.
‘This is hopeless. It would be better to just retreat.’
At least we still had some troops, so it would be better to lead these troops to the Elon Plains, the front line located to the left, and join the Alvard & Beckavia allied forces.
It meant losing one front, but fortunately, if there was any fortune, this Galarn mountain area was located at the edge of the 8 front lines.
Even if we lost the Galarn mountain area, if we could join forces with the neighboring Elon Plains, we could somehow maintain the war situation.
Moreover, it was said that Kaien the strategist was commanding that side, so we could trust and rely on him.
“Sir Ars.” Eo spoke to me. “Given the situation, wouldn’t it be better for you to take command, Sir Ars?”
“Not really.”
Dunan had asked me to take charge of the army, but I had no intention of following that request literally.
It sounds nice to ask me to take charge of the army, but in vulgar terms, he was just asking me to clean up the mess. And there’s not much reward for it.
Moreover, if they had listened to me even a little, this situation wouldn’t have happened in the first place.
I didn’t feel responsible for this defeat. I had given enough candid advice about the operation. I told them it was the enemy’s trap and not to fall for it.
It was Dunan who ignored that.
“Someone from the upper echelons will come soon anyway. They’ll make some decisions, whatever it may be.”
At this point, I had some expectations.
I figured Duke Hellian would come.
***
In the deep of night at the military camp.
Duke Hellian was sitting in my tent, having visited secretly.
Since it was obvious what he wanted to say, I spoke first. “If you had seen the after-action report, you wouldn’t have had the nerve to appear before me.”
“I’ve heard that Dunan didn’t accept your frank advice. However, that’s not Dunan’s responsibility, but mine. I should have prevented Dunan from having too deep a grip on the military. Someone should have been there to keep him in check.”
If General Gaitz had agreed with my opinion, or if other officers had supported my view, the situation could have been different.
But they watched how the wind blew and decided on the operation as Dunan wanted. They were just puppets, in effect.
“Or perhaps I should have made you the commander-in-chief from the beginning instead of Dunan.”
“I’m not so sure about that. If I had been the commander-in-chief from the start, there would have been complaints from various quarters. Unlike the previous war with Madon, this isn’t a national crisis, and above all, the main body of this army is the private soldiers of the nobles. Many would have been displeased with my command. Isn’t that why you didn’t offer it to me in the first place?”
“It was more because the terms of the deal you would demand were burdensome. Either way, it’s clearly my fault.”
“Sigh… So? You didn’t come here just to admit your failure, did you?”
“That’s right, Ars. I want you to take charge of the army.”
“Rather than that, it would be faster to go down to the Elon Plains and join the Alvard army.”
“In that case, diplomatic issues would arise. Putting Beckavia aside, joining with Alvard would be difficult.”
“So you want me to take charge?”
“I’ll give you full authority. I’ll personally talk to the officers to ensure they don’t dare defy you.”
“…”
If that’s the case, it changes things a bit.
One of the reasons I didn’t want to take command as Wade was that I didn’t want to get into power struggles with Dunan’s close associates.
If Duke Hellian resolves that part, it becomes much easier for me to command the army.
“…What’s the compensation?”
If so, it’s worth trying to negotiate.
He answers.”80 million sillan.”
“That’s not attractive. I no longer need to be swayed by money.”
“Then what? Tell me what you want besides money.”
He seemed willing to coolly accept any condition. However, I couldn’t think of anything off the top of my head.
“That’s the problem, I don’t have anything.”
I didn’t need money, nor did I need a territory.
While pondering, something suddenly came to mind.
“In that case, would it be alright if I take some of the prisoners?”
“Prisoners? What do you intend to do?”
“There’s someone I’d like to bring over to my side.”
“I’ll allow it if you capture them yourself. However, I can’t let you have prisoners captured by armies of other kingdoms.”
“That’s fine. And while we’re at it, please provide about 20 million sillan. I’d like to give reward money to the soldiers of my unit who worked hard in the last battle.”
“If it’s something like that, I’ll handle it myself.”
“Come on. Do you think I’m going to embezzle it or something?”
“There’s no law saying you can’t, is there?”
He’s so fussy.
“Then let’s settle on that, and take command right away. Time is of the essence.”
“…Alright.”
The right to prisoners that I received in exchange for taking command.
I intended to use this to clinch the recruitment of Baeolaf.
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