The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 37
The Calliper Kingdom might fall. At those words from Juras, master frowned.
“Why? Calliper is the one who won the battle.”
Anton and Eo also seemed to agree with master’s words.
To this, Juras snickered. “That’s why I’m saying you all still have a long way to go. In war, you always have to look at what’s beneath the surface.”
“I wish you’d explain before saying such things.”
“I could explain, but that wouldn’t be fun. Ars, if you would.”
All eyes turned to me.
I decided to explain just the key points.”Master, Alvard didn’t need to charge in first.”
Alvard’s total forces were 50,000. On the other hand, Calliper had 70,000, excluding the rear units.
“Therefore, it would have been strategically correct for Alvard to just give up a certain area and position themselves in an easily defensible region.”
“But they didn’t do that?”
“Yes, Alvard unnecessarily formed a small ambush unit of 5,000 and launched a surprise attack on Calliper’s 30,000 troops. To be precise, the troops of the Saleon faction located in the south.”
The result was Calliper’s victory. The ambush location was so obvious that it was discovered in advance.
“For Alvard, even 5,000 troops are precious in this situation. The fact that they used them as a throwaway in such an obvious ambush operation means something else.”
“You’re saying it’s a lure strategy.”
“Without a doubt.”
The 30,000 troops of the Saleon faction who defeated this ambush unit were in high spirits and began to advance rapidly into Alvard’s territory.
It was to secure a position further forward than the original stronghold. They thought it was possible since they had inflicted damage on the enemy forces.
“But Calliper’s officers aren’t fools either. They would have thoroughly examined the possibility of a lure operation. They would have at least checked for any additional ambush forces.”
“They would have. That’s why they boldly pursued. In reality, Alvard probably doesn’t have any additional ambush forces set up. They only had 50,000 to begin with. After using 5,000 as a throwaway, Alvard doesn’t have the capacity to form a separate main force. Calliper’s strategists knew this too. That’s why they followed in with peace of mind.”
“Then there is no problem?”
“I’ll return the words you just said, Master. Alvard’s officers aren’t fools either.”
“…!”
“The fact that they used 5,000 as a throwaway for a lure tactic means there must be a main force capable of devouring the lured enemy. A force that can avoid detection by the enemy’s scouts.”
“But didn’t you just say that Calliper’s officers would have checked?”
“Yes, they would have thoroughly searched inside Alvard’s territory. And there was no problem. That’s precisely why it’s a problem.”
“…!?”
“An ambush force that doesn’t exist in Alvard’s territory. That means something else. A new main force that will devour the lured prey. It means it’s an army that came from another kingdom’s territory. Geographically speaking, it would have been drawn from the south.”
The kingdoms located in the south are the superpower Bulang Alliance and the medium-sized Madon Kingdom.
Juras, sensing it was time, continued the explanation. “Considering various factors, Bulang doesn’t have much to gain from this. It must be Madon.”
“Madon…”
This was precisely the reason why Calliper might fall.
Madon, whom Alvard had secretly brought in.
They were deliberately aiming for Calliper’s blind spot.
* * *
The Calliper forces marching from the south were in high spirits.
While the northern Hellian faction’s army was tied up by the 30,000 troops led by Kaien, the southern army was sounding victory bells as they defeated ambush units.
‘I can do it. I can do it too!’
Casper Millias, who was nominally the commander-in-chief of this unit, was filled with elation.
He too could do it like Wade. He could crush Alvard.
It was perfect. It was he who discovered and defeated the enemy’s ambush forces, and it was he who instructed the Saleon faction’s strategists to thoroughly scout, worrying about the tactics of luring.
After reconnoitering the surroundings like that, he chased after the enemy forces that were retreating.
‘If we drive a wedge in the south, the situation in the north will also tilt. I’m leading this war to victory!’
Inside the military camp, voices praising him were already being heard.
“Hmph, not bad. I suppose he does have the skills worthy of being called a prodigy.”
Gilbert Saleon, the de facto head of the Saleon ducal family who was accompanying the unit, highly evaluated Casper who was leading the military without difficulty. Next to him, George Millias was flattering him.
“Even after abandoning the name Wade, my son’s reputation will continue. He will become a pillar of the Calliper military in the future.”
“Hmm, no matter what, he won’t be able to gain a reputation like Wade’s, but it’s fine. Very good.”
To Gilbert, who craved influence over the military, Casper was the perfect chess piece. Even if he’s nothing more than a puppet right now, he definitely has potential. He could be of great help if raised as a general in the future.
“Did you say his current affiliation is Julia Academy?”
“Yes. The transfer procedures of the academy are complicated…”
“I’ll take care of that. Have him move to Grancel immediately. Then I’ll ask my father to guide him.”
“You mean Lord Altior! Nothing could be better! Isn’t Duke Altior Saleon known as Calliper’s greatest general!”
“Haha! That’s enough forced flattery.” Gilbert laughs heartily, seemingly in a good mood. George seized this opportunity to broach a subject.
“Then how about proceeding with that matter as well?”
“What matter?”
“The marriage talks between my son and Miss Erina.”
“Hmm…”
“There’s no better choice for the unity of both families.”
“I’d like to do that too, but I wonder what my father will think… Well, alright. If he successfully leads this war, I’ll consider it positively.”
“You’ve thought well.”
George clenches his fist.
With this, he can stand at the forefront even within the Saleon faction.
“By the way, George…” Gilbert asks, narrowing his eyes.
“Do you really know nothing about Wade’s identity?”
“Huh? O-Of course not. Didn’t I tell you? Using Wade’s name was a coincidence. It was just the Hellian faction’s nobles talking nonsense.”
Surprisingly, George hadn’t been spreading rumors about Ars. He was afraid of future consequences.
First, he didn’t want to further upset Duke Hellian.
If the Saleon faction, upon learning Wade’s identity, were to approach Ars and become clingy, Duke Hellian would be furious to the tips of his hair.
He, a traitor, would become the direct target of that anger.
‘Moreover, that Ars Elaine… He said he joined hands with Juras Pamilion.’
Whether that was a bluff or the truth, he couldn’t know, but at least when he felt it then, it didn’t seem like a simple bluff.
If Ars really had a strong connection with Crossing, that power couldn’t be ignored.
After all, the Crossing Republic, with Bulang in the south and Svenner in the west, was known as Crossing in the east and was considered a superpower.
“Hmm. I see.”
Casper was also listening to the content of their conversation.
‘I and Miss Erina…!’
For him, she was the marriage partner he had been hoping for.
He secretly harbored feelings for Erina. Although they belonged to different factions and had different positions, which prevented him from speaking to her, he always watched her from afar.
When she conversed with Elaine, an outcast from the Hellian faction, he hoped that he too might be able to talk with her.
The situation aligned perfectly when Marquis Millias joined the Saleon faction.
“Alright, I will definitely lead this war to victory…!” Casper steeled his resolve.
***
There was a cold gaze looking down on him.
On a gentle mountainside located behind the Calliper military camp.
That man was there.
“What’s this? I heard Wade was commanding, but it’s nothing special. To leave the rear so poorly defended. I guess that’s just Calliper’s bluff.”
He was like a beast. It wasn’t a simple description; he could truly be called a beast without exaggeration.
A pure-blooded beastman with no human blood mixed in. He was a wolf beastman covered entirely in fur.
“Stupid fools. They neglected rear reconnaissance after finding nothing in the initial scouting.”
The Calliper army, not anticipating intervention from other kingdoms, had deployed most of their reconnaissance forces to the front after the initial scouting.
This allowed them to secretly capture the rear.
He inhaled deeply with a ‘Hmmph!’ and staggered as if intoxicated.
“Hya. The scent of a night when blood will flow is always exciting.”
“Captain. We’ve received word from Alvard. They say all preparations are complete.”
“And Craig?”
“General Craig has also arrived at the rear. He broke through the gap in reconnaissance created by our unit. The enemy still shows no signs of noticing.”
“Good, let’s do this, boys. The hunt begins!”
Rumble! The 3,000 guerrilla troops of Madon rushed down the mountain to launch a surprise attack on the Calliper camp.
Ding ding ding ding! An emergency alarm sounded in the Calliper camp. They never expected their rear to be captured along the path they had traveled, and above all, it was now dark as the sun had set.
“D-Don’t panic! Stay calm!”
It was a hollow cry from the Calliper officers.
The chaos brought on by the field battle did not subside easily.
In contrast, the Madon soldiers, who had thoroughly prepared for the field battle and launched their attack, were effectively dispatching Calliper soldiers while confirming each other’s markers.
“We must immediately concentrate our forces to the rear to contain the chaos!”
When the strategist of the Saleon faction advised this, the flustered Casper hurriedly tried to concentrate forces to the rear to deal with Madon’s troops.
But at that moment.
“Huaah!”
Crunch! Alvard’s 3,000 troops charged in from the front. The one leading them was Gillias Melbourn.
“Crush them thoroughly!”
Gillias tore apart the Calliper formation, leading with his right-hand man, the Fierce Horn.
The Calliper camp was visibly shaken.
Eventually, Gilbert Saleon couldn’t hold back and stepped forward himself, shouting. “Concentrate your strength! The enemy’s forces are small-scale anyway! If we gather our strength and strike back…!”
But his lips trembled at the sight of troops approaching from the rear.
Madon’s First General and Grand General, Julian Craig, had struck the confused Calliper army with 20,000 troops.
“W-Where did such a large army come from!”
Only then did Gilbert realize Madon’s involvement.
‘We’ve fallen into a trap…!’
It was strange that Madon had gathered an army of this scale without being detected by intelligence. At least some preparation time would have been needed.
In other words, the agreement between Alvard and Madon wasn’t made overnight.
‘They already knew the situation would turn out like this! Kaien, the strategist…!’
Kaien, the Grand General of Alvard. After the Three Lions War ended, he predicted that Calliper, which had preserved its forces, would invade, and he had made his move first.
To turn the tables on Calliper when they attacked.
“Uraaah!”
Crunch! Fierce Horn and Gillias finally reached where the headquarters was.
With chaos in both front and rear, there was no way for the leaders to escape. Moreover, in a field battle, accidents were likely to occur during an escape attempt.
“Surrender! We surrender! We demand treatment as prisoners of war!” Gilbert immediately put his hands behind his head and knelt down. George did the same.
Casper, at least, raised his weapon with trembling hands, but ping! He lost his grip on his sword due to the halberd wielded by Gillias.
Gillias stepped on Casper’s chest, pinning him to the ground, and removed his helmet.
“Hiiik──!” Casper wet himself in fear.
After confirming his face, Gillias gritted his teeth. “Tch, it was a fake after all.”
Deciding there was no further business, he kicked Casper’s jaw with a thud!
Casper immediately lost consciousness, inwardly screaming that this must all be a dream.
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