The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 310
The last war that began with a declaration of war from the opponent.
However, since it was still winter, they were not yet advancing.
Even during winter, work was being done to build fortresses and secure strategic locations in preparation for the full-scale war that would begin in spring.
I was assigned to the southern battlefield of the Balas region and established myself in Platon, where the Fensillon Academy was located, to prepare for the war.
Platon was the area that would determine the victory or defeat of this war.
Simply put, if we defended Platon, we would win; if it was taken, we would lose.
Therefore, we formed our battle line in a fan shape centered around Platon to prepare for the enemy’s attack.
“Ars!”
It was Gaspar, who was on reconnaissance.
“It seems the enemy commander has been positioned in the enemy camp. Their movements are becoming more active.”
“Has the identity of the enemy commander been confirmed?”
“Not yet, but it’s obviously that antique who has a grudge against you.”
“Rancia Galeron….”
Known as a founding hero of Fensillon and a legendary general, but in reality, someone who was used and killed by the emperor.
Although there were historical records about him, they were treated as unofficial accounts.
“It seems I’ve been caught up in an unnecessary revenge. I will increase the number of informants to more clearly observe the enemy’s movements!”
As soon as Rancia arrived at the battlefield, he began to move busily.
Rather than simply engaging in psychological warfare, he organized a separate unit to attack supply roads or raid civilian homes, carrying out disruptive operations.
Initially, it seemed like he would stop, but this was more troublesome than expected.
Perhaps because Rancia was well-versed in the terrain of this region, he was difficult to capture.
Moving like an eel, he stirred up our battle lines.
The only information they had managed to confirm was that the leader of the separate unit was someone named Guderian.
This was the topic of discussion in the gathered strategy meeting.
Sophia, who was in charge of fortress construction and had been repeatedly hindered by the enemy’s separate unit, was irritated.
“Before the full-scale battle, this is a good opportunity to eliminate that Guderian or whatever armed force. Let’s lure them and trap them.”
To this, master Ilya shook her head.
“Master will not fall into any trap. She will break through any ordinary trap with her own strength, and any trap more elaborate will be too conspicuous to miss beforehand.”
Gaspar also agreed.
“His wildness is beyond imagination. It would be better to break him directly in a frontal confrontation.”
Olaf spoke with a worried expression.
“But I hear Guderian is an incredibly skilled person. To capture such a person, shouldn’t we also send out an equally skilled individual?”
By ‘equally skilled’ he meant Mirabel and Anton, and if one more were to be added, my adjutant Cassius Lloyd.
However, Cassius, as the ruler of this Balas region, was not in a position to risk his life recklessly.
Only Mirabel and Anton remained.
“…?”
Mirabel tilted her head when the attention focused on her.
She had brought the twins to this meeting room. She was basking in happiness while gently shaking the twins sleeping in her arms.
Then Ryuna began throwing a tantrum outside, wanting to come in.
She knew there were plenty of snacks on the table in this meeting room.
Mirabel glanced at me and then shrugged, turning her attention back to the twins.
Since this meeting was being conducted in the Central Continent’s language, she didn’t know what we were discussing.
“…I will do it.”
Anton spoke softly.
“Positioning the separate unit’s commander is largely meant to seize the initiative. So I will blunt the enemy’s sharp edge.”
A moment of silence followed.
It was the most reasonable method, but also the most brutal.
From Anton’s perspective, he would be killing his wife’s master.
Besides that, it was dangerous.
Although Anton’s skills were beyond doubt, battles between equally skilled individuals were unpredictable.
Sophia nodded and spoke.
“If you’re going to go, do it decisively. Ash, Gaspar, Elena – the three of you will serve as Anton’s adjutants. If we coordinate an attack, we can eliminate him without difficulty. Or we can capture him alive if needed.”
It seemed like a reasonable suggestion, but master Ilya shook her head.
“If such strong individuals gather like that, Master will notice. Moreover, what he’s after is me. …I will go alone.”
Murmurs filled the meeting room.
Anton frowned.
“Ilya! I can’t let you go alone!”
“I’m sorry, Anton. But this is something I must settle myself. I can’t put you in danger.”
“You’re going to throw your life away!”
“I might, but I can’t run away either. I’m saying again, this is something I must do.”
Anton turned his gaze to me. He wanted me to say something.
I was also against it, but master Ilya’s expression was resolute.
It seemed that even if I tried to stop her, she would go with her mercenaries and confront the enemy.
“Why is this something you must do?”
“I don’t know. But I’m sure master is calling me. I don’t know why he wants to kill me, but somehow I need to resolve this.”
“Huh….”
“Don’t worry too much. I’ve trained by sparring with Mirabel and Anton. More than anything, I know my master best. Ars, please trust me.”
“…No.”
“Ars!”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot send my master into danger. I will take charge of this matter myself. It will be troublesome, but I will organically combine tactical traps to block the enemy’s entry in advance.”
Anton let out a sigh of relief at my decision.
He began to stay close to master Ilya, trying to comfort her and prevent her from having any rash ideas.
* * *
A concluded strategy meeting.
Afterwards, everyone started doing their own work or engaging in small talk.
Ryuna, who had been controlled by Yumir’s entrance, finally entered the conference room.
Ryuna looked at the snacks on the table with wide eyes.
Because no one had touched them, the snacks were piled up abundantly on each table.
Ryuna was as excited as if she had seen gold. She was about to eat the snacks right away, but Yumir gently lifted her up.
“No. We’re going to have dinner soon.”
Ryuna made a sad face. At that moment, the twins sleeping in Mirabel’s arms slowly opened their eyes.
They seemed hungry and were about to cry.
Mirabel naturally picked up a snack and started feeding them.
Ryuna looked lost as she watched her younger siblings eating the snacks deliciously.
Then, as if she suddenly thought of something, she turned her gaze to me.
“Daddy!”
As she struggled to come to me, Yumir had no choice but to let her go.
Ryuna ran to me and climbed onto my lap.
Then she looked up at me with expectant eyes.
“Young master, dinner time is soon.”
Yumir had subtly tried to stop her, but there’s no father who can beat his daughter.
“I’ll give you a few.”
“Haaa… Please give me only two. No more than that.”
“Understood.”
As soon as the permission was granted, Ryuna immediately pointed to the largest cookie.
“That one!”
“That’s a three-piece one, so it’s not allowed.”
“Eeeh…!”
“Let’s eat this first. It’s your favorite honey cookie.”
As it was a tiny cookie the size of a fingernail, Ryuna hesitated for a while, but when brought to her mouth, she couldn’t resist the temptation and bit the cookie with a ‘Yum!’.
“Now only one is left.”
I tried to give her another fingernail-sized cookie, but this time she firmly closed her mouth.
It was a display of her will to eat the last one as a large cookie.
While Ryuna was holding out…
“Ars, news has come from another battlefield.”
It was Dorofei, who was taking care of internal affairs.
Dorofei, in charge of military supplies management and information processing, brought news about the central and northern battlefields.
“The commander deployed in the central front seems to be Calvern.”
“Unexpectedly, I thought the general Zemuto would be positioned in the center…”
“I thought so too, but it seems he thought it was inevitable to block Juras.”
Juras, with an overwhelming presence. Zemuto, the general of Svenner and known as the evil brain, believed that no one but himself could stop Juras.
Therefore, he positioned Calvern and the second general Hasikuran in the central area to face Kaien, while he went to the north to confront Juras.
“The composition is unique.”
“That’s right.”
This war, divided into northern, central, and southern fronts, had extremely important interconnections.
“In that sense, he might have positioned Calvern in the center. How should I put it… He’s somewhat soft.”
“I’m currently tracking how the enemy’s spy network is established. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s completed.”
“Thank you.”
“Whew! It’s getting busy now that the war has started.”
“It hasn’t even properly started yet. Take it easy for now.”
“That sounds good.”
Dorofei seemed to lack energy due to heavy work and started eating cookies next to me.
Ryuna, like finding a new prey, grabbed Dorofei’s sleeve near his elbow.
“Hm? What?”
“I want to eat too!”
“You want me to feed you? How are you so fond of eating? Here.”
Ryuna immediately ate what was given.
She seemed to think this didn’t count towards the last one since it wasn’t given by me…
“That’s it, Ryuna.”
Yumir caught her as if she had been waiting.
“Daddy hasn’t given me anything yet!”
“Such tricks won’t work.”
“Waaah! Daddy…!”
Ryuna was dragged out crying.
The report came just 10 minutes after Ryuna was taken away.
“Your Majesty!”
A spy rushed in and prostrated himself.
He turned pale and shouted.
“The enemy is advancing with 20,000 troops! It seems their target is our core base, Platon!”
A sudden attack from the opponent.
This was beyond our expectations.
* * *
The reason winter warfare is brutal is because of the weather.
While few soldiers die from extreme heat, soldiers dying from cold is commonplace.
No matter how thick the clothing, there’s an inherent limitation.
Heating was absolutely necessary, but in this world without electricity, heating could only rely on firewood.
Heating might be easy inside buildings, but it’s not the same outdoors.
Moreover, with 20,000 troops, the amount of firewood needed is beyond imagination.
That’s why long-term warfare is impossible in winter.
There are other reasons like difficulties in marching, but weather impact is the greatest.
The current temperature feels around minus 6 degrees. In such a situation, the enemy is trying to wage war by mobilizing 20,000 troops.
I immediately returned to the southern front and had to deal with this.
“What’s the enemy’s movement?”
“They’re advancing rapidly towards their target.”
“They know it would be troublesome if they get their legs caught, hmm.”
Sophia frowned and spoke.
“They’re doing something foolish. Give me troops. I’ll capture and kill those who have entered our territory recklessly.”
“It doesn’t seem like it’ll be that simple.”
“What do you mean?”
“If the strategy looks this obvious, there’s usually something fishy behind it. There’s a high probability of a diversion tactic.”
Drawing attention and gaining an advantage elsewhere.
‘That’s why they used a separate unit.’
I seemed to understand where the opponent was aiming.
Sophia also widened her eyes and nodded at my explanation.
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