The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 285
The Bülang army advances like a surging tide.
I decided to establish a complete siege defense system.
I set up fortresses centered around the capital, Alphensard and prepared 100,000 troops in a defensive posture.
Although food could potentially become an issue, I had already evacuated all citizens to the Crossing area, which meant we could hold out for at least two months.
“…Is this really okay?”
Duke Hellian seemed worried. This approach would protect the capital district with the royal palace, but would result in losing all other territories.
“If we continue like this, they will steal all our territories. All the nobles will surrender. The nobles in my faction will be no different.”
“Certainly that will happen. That’s why I’m thinking of completely abolishing the nobility system.”
“Are you planning a restructuring?”
“Yes, after the war. The only ones who can maintain their noble status will be you and some of the ministers currently in the royal palace. And even that status won’t be inheritable. This will put an end to the era of nobility.”
“You mean doing it like Crossing. Is this for future integration with Crossing?”
“That’s correct. To absorb Crossing, we cannot have nobles.”
“What can we do? It’s better to lose the nobility than to have the kingdom collapse. So, this operation isn’t simply about organizing the nobles, right?”
“Of course.”
I pointed to the map and spoke.
“Currently, Bülang’s command system is not unified. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd princes are moving independently.”
“Hmm.”
“Their purpose is to steal territories. So when we siege near the capital like this, they’ll think ‘right’ and try to occupy the surrounding territories.”
“They’re already doing that. The nobles who were governing those areas have inevitably surrendered. As a result, they’ve invaded without bloodshed. Thanks to you evacuating all the citizens, no particular noise has emerged during the process.”
Territories being lost in an instant. Perhaps in a fortnight, the capital will be surrounded.
“Doesn’t this make the situation difficult?”
“If we lose Rainpol as well.”
“Rainpol…? Why your territory?”
“If we lose the Rainpol direction, the connection with Crossing will disappear. As long as that doesn’t happen, it’s fine.”
“Hmm, is this to match the movements of Juras and Kaien?”
“…Yes.”
“Really, I don’t know. What operation are they trying to execute…”
“You’ll understand gradually. More importantly, please rest. There’s nothing more to do now.”
“Whew! Yes. For now, I’ll spend some time leisurely tracking down spies.”
Hellian leaves the office, energy depleted.
Thinking the work was done, Yumir appears holding Ryuna.
Ryuna sits on my lap, plays excitedly, and soon falls asleep.
Since I was also a bit sleepy, I took Ryuna and moved to the sofa to rest for a moment.
* * *
Territories falling helplessly. The enemies have finally begun preparing to surround our capital.
“Reporting! Enemy troops are active in the west, southwest, and south! Their target seems to be our Alphensard!”
“Tell each officer to enter siege defense mode.”
“Yes!”
Soldiers moving busily. Anxiety could be felt from them.
I instructed Anton.
“Keep telling the soldiers that their families are safely staying in Crossing. We must prevent any desertion.”
“I will carry out as you’ve instructed.”
Preparation is complete. Now we enter the waiting operation.
Then suddenly.
Thud! Thud! Cavalry of nearly 100 suddenly charge into Alphensard.
As our troops take an interception posture, thinking they were enemy forces, the other side immediately raises the Crossing flag.
‘From Crossing…?’
I wondered if they had something to convey, but that wasn’t the case.
Because Eonia was leading the front.
“Lord Ars! This is Eonia Mirabel! I am reporting for duty again at this time!”
“Eonia!? How did you arrive so quickly? I thought collecting the Magic Stones would take at least another month.”
“Hehe, there was support from the Eastern Continent.”
“From the Eastern Continent?”
At that moment, an elderly man stepped forward in place of Eonia.
“Received from Ninia.”
“Even Vandallin…! Come into the royal palace for now.”
Erina, Olaf, Meissen, and Dorofei were also with them. The only one not yet arrived was Gaspar.
After moving to the royal palace, Vandallin speaks.
“Lich Ninia had an enormous amount of Magic Stones. Accumulated offerings from heteromorphic races dreaming of physical resurrection.”
“But if you take that, won’t they also be in trouble?”
“Well, we agreed to secure Magic Stones and repay later. Don’t worry.”
“Yes…”
“From now on, I will wander around looking for the mother goddess. You do your job.”
“Please be careful. Just in case…”
“That I might die? Hah, that’s an unnecessary worry.”
Vandallin disappears suddenly. Seeing his appearance, there seemed to be no need to worry.
‘But…’
Even Erina has come. I was worried about potential negative effects on her prenatal care.
Erina already seemed gloomy, seemingly having heard about the war situation.
She was forcing a smile while Ryuna was demanding to play, but her inner struggle was apparent.
I was about to offer some comfort, but Olaf grabbed my shoulder and shook his head.
“It’s best to leave her to accept it on her own now.”
“…That seems right. More importantly, Olaf, what do you think about this current situation?”
“This situation? Well, if Juras and Kaien didn’t die meaninglessly, there must be something. You chose a sit-in protest thinking about that.”
“That’s correct.”
“But would they not be aware of that? They seem to be fully on guard.”
“Yes. The ‘Bülang Army’ will be on guard.”
“…?”
Olaf tilts his head, seemingly not understanding. I handed him a pile of documents.
“Please handle these tasks. When needed, you can consult with Duke Hellian.”
“Ugh. Are you doing this right after I arrive?”
“You’ve been on vacation on the Island of beastman for two years. Now you need to start working. I’ll attach Meissen as your assistant, so take care of that as well.”
“Ugh, I’ll try my best.”
Olaf heads to his office with his shoulders drooping.
I went to Dorofei.
Dorofei, who returned to his homeland after two years, was making a bitter expression while observing the situation.
“Oh, Ars!”
“Are you feeling a bit okay?”
“Yes, I heard all our territory’s people have evacuated.”
“Your mother and siblings have also taken refuge. While other nobles have surrendered to Bülang, they still believed in me until the end.”
“That’s truly fortunate. Otherwise, our family would have been embarrassed for turning against you.”
“Yes, so don’t worry about your family.”
“…I’m more worried about Lynette.”
“As for her….”
I had nothing more to say. Dorofei seemed unaware, but I knew the news.
Her father, Viscount Lynette Feland, had been opposing my preparation to abolish the nobility system and had been attached to Bülang for several months.
In this war, he betrayed as if he had been waiting, playing a supporting role.
And in the process, he apparently sent his daughter Lynette as a concubine to Bülang’s second prince.
“Dorofei, listen carefully.”
When I told her the story, Dorofei gave a bitter smile.
“Can’t be helped. It’s my fault for suddenly disappearing.”
“Why would that be your fault? Because of me, you had no choice….”
“Ars, I don’t regret going to that world at all. Rather, I think I had good experiences because I went there. So, don’t worry unnecessarily. I’ll handle my own affairs.”
“…Okay.”
Lastly, there was Eo.
She was making a vacant expression while looking at Liande’s royal guard.
“The level of the royal guard protecting Ars is too low! We must train them anew!”
“Haha, you’re speaking as if you’ve become the guard captain?”
“W-well… When the kingdom is established, you promised to make me the guard captain….”
“What about Lucretia?”
“She’s the royal guard captain of the Ellan Kingdom!”
“There’s Ash and Gunther too. Anton can do it as well?”
When I provoke her slightly, Eo bites her lips.
In the past, she would have been flustered and insisted on her opinion, but now she just starts throwing a tantrum.
“No! I will do it! Absolutely!”
“Yes, who else but you would do it.”
While chatting with Eo, a messenger arrived.
The enemy troops had begun to advance in earnest to surround the capital.
That meant the operation of Juras and Kaien was about to begin.
* * *
The Bülang Army was clearly aware of the existence of Juras and Kaien.
They were prepared for their potential sudden appearance, with countermeasures for the flanks and the homeland.
However, this was only true for the Bülang Army.
The Western Army was not paying much attention to them.
The West, having sent Casper Millias ahead and organized an army of 60,000, was just about to cross into Bülang’s territory.
As it was the border between Svenner and Bülang, they were not on guard at all.
Therefore, they were bound to fall into great confusion from a sudden ambush.
“Enemy infiltration! The enemy’s ambush troops are surrounding us!”
“What…!?”
Hanneman Noiers, who was commanding the troops, widened his eyes in shock.
“How can there be an ambush troops in this place! Whose army is this!”
“The enemy’s flags are from Crossing and Alvard! Both kingdoms armies!”
“No, surely….”
He had heard that Juras and Kaien had suddenly disappeared.
But he didn’t pay much attention. He thought it had nothing to do with them.
So he never even dreamed that their army would appear from the opposite side of the continent.
And their army’s scale was over 100,000.
“Impossible…! 100,000 troops have been ambushed across the continent, and we didn’t notice at all!?”
This was Juras’s specialty in information warfare.
Juras mobilized all the special forces’ intelligence capabilities, passing through Alvard and Balas to enter Bülang’s territory.
In the process, he eliminated scout obstacles and spread false information through his planted spies to divert attention.
“That….”
What shocked Hanneman more was that even their Western movement had been read.
The fact that they were ambushing here meant they had known about their troop deployment at least two weeks in advance.
“Retreat! Retreat! Quickly inform this fact….”
But they had already advanced too deeply.
Kaien surrounded the Western Army with impeccable command. Meanwhile, Juras broke through with divine-like military prowess and stood before Hanneman.
“Ah, ah…!”
The two who had faced each other in the past Becavia War.
Juras sneered.
“It’s that low-ranking soldier from back then. I wished Tetora Anistri would have been here.”
Hanneman’s expression was dyed with despair.
Juras chuckled and knocked him unconscious, taking him prisoner.
Then he began the operation to completely destroy Bülang.
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