The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 318
News spread that in the central region, the troops of Juras and Todolam had collided, causing the battlefield to shake violently.
Ars, having completed the reorganization of his troops, marched with all his forces towards the location where Rancia Galeron had deployed his battle formation.
The enemy had detached 30,000 troops to circumvent the central area, significantly weakening their forces.
To compensate for this weakness, they were maintaining a solid battle formation while utilizing a fortress.
Olaf frowned while observing the enemy’s movements.
“It’ll take at least three days to repel them. If the central battle is decided during that time, things will become complicated… What should we do?”
“…”
Ars currently had two possible tactical options:
Either utilize the superiority of troops to somehow repel the opponent before him,
Or detach troops from the Liande army to circumvent the central area.
Although a circumvention might be too late now, it could become a significant variable if the central battle becomes prolonged.
Because it could cut off the enemy’s supply lines and secure their rear.
However, the same applied to the enemy.
The army of Svenner stationed in the northern battlefield could also dispatch troops similarly.
“…Huh.”
Ars slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
“Hm? What is it? Do you have a plan?”
“Yes. Well, this is a strategy that Juras has set against his opponent. For now, let’s confirm whether Juras’ scheme works. Olaf, I’ll leave this place to you.”
Ars quickly organized 20,000 troops and hastened his steps towards the central area.
And as expected, the Svenner army in the north took the same action.
General Zemuto similarly planned to detach 30,000 troops to circumvent the central area.
His intention was to cut off the supply lines and secure Juras’ rear.
The problem was the person in charge of that unit.
“…”
Zemuto was unable to make a decision due to an ominous feeling that gripped his chest.
In the current situation, detaching 30,000 troops would inevitably increase the influence of the Western forces accompanying the army.
Whether sending those troops to the central area or stationing them here.
Zemuto, harboring suspicions about Casper and other Western figures, judged that this situation was likely a trap laid by Juras.
And this was the correct assessment.
Juras’ trap was sophisticated.
If the troops circumventing the central area included Casper and his confidant and spy Pedro, he intended to incite that force and disrupt the command to achieve a great victory in the central battlefield.
Or if Zemuto were to station that group in the north, he planned to cause an internal rebellion aligned with the main unit’s movements to assassinate Zemuto.
A strategic move that would benefit him in either scenario.
Faced with Juras’ vicious scheme, Zemuto takes an extreme measure.
“Arrest all Western officers!”
He imprisoned all Western officers who had committed no crime.
Suddenly imprisoned, Casper screamed in anger.
“W-What are you saying!? How can you call us traitors?”
The second-in-command, Hasikuran, could not hide his awkward expression.
“I’m sorry, but the Commander-in-Chief is certain that there is definitely a high-ranking spy among you.”
“That’s impossible! All the officers here have shared life and death together! Their identities are clear! How could there be a spy?”
“I think the same, but Juras Pamilion is a strategist beyond imagination. The Commander-in-Chief judged this to be the best course of action.”
“This is unacceptable! Don’t you know that by treating us like this, our troops will no longer trust you?”
“…”
Hasikuran closed his eyes tightly. He also believed this judgment by Zemuto was incorrect.
But he was a loyal subordinate. No matter how unreasonable the judgment, he maintained his faith.
“I’ll ensure you can return as quickly as possible. But before that…”
Rough-looking men appear, holding torture instruments.
Casper’s mouth gaped open.
“S-Surely you’re not planning to torture us? Just because of baseless suspicions…!”
“In situations like these, Commander Zemuto’s intuition is never wrong. I’m pained too, but please endure.”
“This cannot be! Then at least release me! I am absolutely not a spy!”
“I’m sorry, but there are no exceptions.”
“No! Aaaargh…!”
Screams echoed through the prison.
Strictly speaking, this was madness. Suspecting a spy in the group and torturing everyone was nonsensical.
However, this seemingly insane act shattered Juras’ scheme.
Because Pedro, the key to the scheme, was now imprisoned and being tortured.
Of course, Pedro did not confess to being a spy, but he was unable to move while being tortured.
Thus, Zemuto neutralized the Western officers’ influence by binding them all, and then gave Hasikuran 30,000 troops to dispatch to the central area.
* * *
In the central region, Juras and Todolam’s armies engaged in reconnaissance battles.
Since it was a battle in an open plains region, it was clear it would be a decisive one-shot fight, so they moved cautiously.
Above all, it was obvious that reinforcements would come from the north and south.
Both sides were killing time by conducting psychological warfare with small cavalry units.
Then, a report came in.
News that Ars was advancing north with 30,000 troops from the south, and Hasikuran was descending south with 30,000 troops from the north.
Upon hearing this, Juras furrowed his brow.
“Is this true?”
“Yes, Zemuto arrested and imprisoned all Western officers just before deployment.”
“…”
Anton’s expression hardened.
“Could he have read our scheme? How is this possible… There was no basis for this!”
Pedro was a spy meticulously cultivated by Juras.
Throughout the years, Juras had been monitoring Western forces, and to prepare for this, he raised two key spies.
One was Cassius Lloyd, infiltrated into Bülang.
And the second was this Pedro.
Juras never allowed Pedro to come near Crossing, ensuring his identity would never be exposed.
He was raised in the territory of Svenner, practically enemy territory, by deploying special forces.
After completing Pedro’s training, while measuring the timing of his deployment, Casper, who was being exiled while impersonating Ars, was a very good target.
Juras ordered Pedro to rescue Casper and dedicate himself to the West.
Thus, Pedro infiltrated the West as Casper’s savior and friend.
As Casper rose in ranks, Pedro would also deeply infiltrate alongside him.
Therefore, it would be difficult for others to suspect Pedro. Pedro had not done anything suspicious as a spy.
In fact, Tetora Anistri trusted Pedro, who worked diligently and steadily, even more deeply than Casper.
“…Hmm, quite impressive.”
Juras slightly raised the corners of his mouth.
“Zemuto… Does this mean the reputation of a Ten Hero is not easily earned?”
“Juras, if this continues, we will necessarily have to fight.”
“That’s how it will be. And Ars will probably arrive later than the opponent. I will block the enemy’s escape route while advancing northward, judging that my strategy will succeed.”
If this happens, Juras’ army will be attacked from above and below until Ars’ support arrives.
However, if he withdraws the troops from this area, the opponent will establish themselves and gather strength, then attack the western front.
“…Let’s hold out.”
Now was not the time to give the opponent an opportunity. If the opponent could take the initiative and gain visible advantages, the front could collapse like dominos.
So now, waiting for Ars to arrive while holding out was the best strategy.
Juras was confident he could endure.
But at that moment, someone hesitantly spoke up.
“Um….”
It was Aggert, who had joined Crossing’s camp with Anton.
“What if Ars predicts the strategy will fail and has already prepared the next move?”
“…”
“Oh, no, just… I thought maybe Ars would do something non-combat related to help. Ars likes to minimize combat damage and win.”
Silence flowed through the conference tent.
Aggert scratched the back of his head.
“I’m sorry. Please just disregard what I said.”
Anton sighed, saying he couldn’t stop Aggert, but Juras’ reaction was different.
Something seemed to click for him, and he quickly spread out the map.
“Could it be…?”
Juras’ fingers trembled as if chills ran down his spine, and soon he burst into laughter.
“Hahahahaha!”
Then he issued a retreat order to his troops.
* * *
As expected, the 30,000 troops led by Hasikuran were the first to reach the target area.
They brought a large number of supply wagons, alleviating supply concerns.
Todolam looked at this and smiled satisfactorily.
“Zemuto, was it? A member of the Ten Heroes seems quite capable.”
“Be careful with your words. General Zemuto is your superior.”
“Hmph, I’m a guest. Let’s move past such personal matters. Do you know the direction we’re heading?”
“Yes, we’ll move westward, destroy the enemy’s fortress, and secure the rear.”
The Calvern army would then rush in like a flood, and the central western front would collapse.
Once the western front collapses, the front would be pushed near the metropolis Platon, allowing them to also gain the southern and northern fronts.
“In which direction did Juras Pamilion’s army retreat?”
“They headed west. They seem to want to somehow set up a defense and block us.”
“We have no time to delay. It’s best to break through before the southern army arrives.”
“Understood.”
They gathered their troops and prepared to move to the western front.
The western route was well-maintained with multiple roads, making it nearly impossible to block their march.
However, Svenner’s army immediately encountered an unexpected situation upon beginning their advance.
Both Todolam and Hasikuran were stunned.
“…What is that? This wasn’t in the intelligence reports?”
Wooden barriers blocking the road. Simple fortresses were also built on other alternative routes.
Juras’ troops were blocking the paths, tightly guarding these fortresses.
Hasikuran was shocked.
“This is impossible! The most recent intelligence reports had no information about these facilities!”
“That means they were built just a few days ago….”
Todolam suddenly recalled Ars’ recent actions.
“Ha, hahaha! Was it so? Was it like this…!”
Ars’ strategy of instantly dispersing troops.
Svenner’s intelligence personnel were fully mobilized to track Ars’ whereabouts.
They wanted to determine which front the hidden troops were targeting.
As a result, the inner front’s surveillance became lax.
Some of the troops Ars had scattered had entered this central area and built temporary fortresses, avoiding spy detection.
“I thought it was just a simple deception to mock Rancia. But there was such a scheme….”
“What…!? Does this mean Ars Elaine had foreseen the entire battle situation!?”
“Who knows. It could simply be a backup plan. Anyway, we’ve definitely been caught off guard.”
This would delay their progress.
In that case, Ars would surely tighten the noose from behind.
Being in enemy territory, isolation would be fatal.
“We have no choice. We must break out even if it means taking losses.”
“Ugh…!”
“We’ll execute a forced march and retreat!”
Todolam coolly acknowledged this battlefield defeat.
Internally praising Ars, he began a forced march. Pursued by Ars and Juras, they broke through the southwestern front, suffering casualties of about 6,000 troops.
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