Chapter 157: Just who is that person……? (3)
I nodded my head and made a satisfied expression.
“It’s good to hear that things are going well. The most difficult part of an occupation operation is reducing friction with the local residents.”
“Farmers only care about farming, so there are no problems. They only care about whether the wheat grows well and the fruit bears well, regardless of who the ruler is.”
“It’s either desirable or indifferent.”
“We’re grateful as long as they don’t interfere.”
In any case, the surrounding cleanup is mostly finished. We should be able to quietly take control of the area without any problems.
“But can 5,000 troops really move without being noticed like this?”
“Hey, what kind of nonsense is that? We’re not Magnolia Beming, that’s impossible.”
Aila took off her cloak and held her hands over the small campfire she had made. Levidian glared at Aila’s back with a sullen expression, but she just hummed.
My Sword King-nim whined cutely in a sulky voice.
“Risel, Aila is ignoring me!”
“Should I hit her?”
“I’ll tell Father!”
“Go ahead and tell him. And explain it to him properly.”
The ash-gray haired friend, who was squatting in front of the campfire, put in another piece of firewood and coaxed the whining Sword King.
“Unni, think carefully. How did the 5,000 troops move before entering here?”
“They were divided into combat and non-combat personnel, and then the combat personnel were divided into about 30 groups. So what?”
“You know well. In fact, those personnel were scattered to perform independent missions while spread out widely, but it’s actually a way to avoid giving the impression that 5,000 people are moving. Because they attack outposts and other places in a wide area in a synchronized manner, they can take control while simultaneously cutting off the communication network. From the perspective of the central command or larger areas, we are practically moving stealthily.”
“So in the end, it means moving without being noticed?”
“That’s a bit different. The residents here will witness us. And inevitably, rumors will spread. No matter how much we try to control it, we can’t stop people’s mouths. In a week or two, the rumors will flow into one. However, the official reports of the remaining troops will only say that there are no abnormalities. Narvilt will probably think that Orknesia has started black propaganda to unsettle the residents here before the war breaks out. And since a large army is actually approaching, they will ultimately trust their own communication network more than the residents’ rumors. As a result, we become an army that ‘exists but is unseen’.”
“Is that so?”
Levidian turned to me as if asking if it was true, and I nodded.
Aila explained it accurately.
Would authoritarian rulers ever listen to the rumors circulating among the ruled? To the voices of the ruled, which are the foundation of their power, yet always ignored?
The remaining border guards will report ‘No abnormalities during duty!’?
I said in a relaxed tone.
“Perhaps some of the mid-level commanders will come to check on their own discretion. However, that will only increase the number of prisoners we secure. And by the time the situation escalates to the point where the judgment and actions of the mid-level commanders become meaningless, 3,000 of the 5,000 troops will gather in one place first.”
“It’s one.”
“It’s one.”
She was lost in thought for a moment, arms crossed and one hand on her chin. I’ve said all I have to say, haven’t I? She moved her lips for a moment, thinking seriously, and then opened her mouth.
“Psychology…… You’re constantly using people’s psychology.”
“Do you think so?”
“Yes. I can’t help but think so. Just like last year’s Atzuma defense. You’re digging into the loopholes of psychology. Was it intentional?”
“Because war is fought by humans.”
“But sticking to just one method like this means there’s a separate reason, right?”
Levidian threw in a sharp question. It seems like I can’t block, parry, or dodge this attack. I shrugged.
“Well, there is a reason.”
“Hmm, there must be a reason, but wouldn’t others realize it once I’ve figured it out? As you know, I’m a little distant from strategy.”
“Ah, don’t worry about that. Unni has come to that conclusion because she’s experienced Risel enough. Usually, it takes quite a while for people to realize that he’s using his head tremendously. Of course, most of them will be caught off guard before that.”
Aila’s explanation satisfied Levidian. She said with a refreshed expression, as if she had cleared all her doubts.
“Now I feel relieved. I’ve been trying to figure out what you’re doing, but I couldn’t grasp it at a glance.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Yes, it is. Then I’ll go in and rest. Aila, don’t stay up too late and go to bed early.”
“Okay. Good night.”
Aila waved her hand, and Levidian left the barracks with a light gait. The sound of her footsteps faded away. I set up a tripod over the campfire and put a kettle on it.
Aila was still basking in the campfire. It’s not that cold outside even though it’s night, that’s strange.
“Aila.”
“Yes?”
“Levidian…… seems to not know yet.”
“Indeed. She hasn’t grasped what this preparation is for. Well, it doesn’t matter. She’ll find out eventually. It’s not like we’re trying to hide it. And that’s what you want, isn’t it? You want people to realize that you’re using your head?”
Her indifferent tone now seems like a means to convey the truth. Well, I’ve already given up on hiding anything in front of Aila anyway.
I let out a sigh.
“Ha, still accurate. Yes, that’s right. I want people to notice and then desperately use their heads to respond.”
“And when that happens?”
“I’ll already be making my next move. Aila, I’m glad I can still beat you at chess.”
“Hmm. I understand what you’re saying. That’s a metaphorical statement, right? That you’re looking much further ahead than people see.”
“Similar.”
Perhaps I’m thinking too hard about it from the beginning. It’s a habit of looking two or three steps ahead unnecessarily, even for simple things. However, it’s very advantageous when formulating strategies.
Chess is always about responding. There’s nothing as funny as me getting angry because my opponent makes a move.
The opponent has as much opportunity to attack as I do. So even if I think one step ahead of one, it’s not worthless.
I was lost in thought, looking at the map.
What will be my next move?
Personally, quite pleasant days passed, which I expected would feel like military dog training for the soldiers.
The 30 or so separated detachments gradually advanced, capturing prisoners from various places, and I sat in the barracks, inspecting the prisoners with the attitude of an emperor examining tributes.
“You traitorous ringleader! What are you plotting?!”
“Oh, good question. As expected of a Western Army officer. You’ve hit the nail on the head. Actually, I’m plotting this kind of scheme.”
I wonder what the prisoners thought when they saw me honestly answering their question about what I was plotting. And the soldiers who came along as guards as well.
“Got it? Go and tell the people who were caught first.”
I always ended it like this. I did it out of consideration, so that future historians could write about me as a humanitarian field commander.
There has never been a friendly enemy commander in the history of continental warfare who would solve the prisoners’ curiosity, so would this be enough to be recorded in history books? Hahaha!
In this way, from the vicinity of Dakard Barony to right before Hanah, the 5,000 troops, spread across a wide front with a width of 30 to 120 kilometers, marched south under the cloak of night.
First Sword Martin, who came to report the other day, called the five Cheonbyeongjang the Five Owl Siblings. If it had been daytime, he would have called them eagles.
Anyway, just as he said, we caught prisoners one after another like owls hunting mice wandering in the dark, and headed towards the assembly point as if flying up to a branch without anyone knowing.
Two days ago, a report came in that everything was going smoothly.
And now it’s May 4th, 377 of the Imperial Calendar.
Aila looked through the telescope and said confidently.
“Yep! I can’t see it!”
“As expected. We can’t see the battle taking place on the Narvis Plain from here.”
“Unless we fly up into the sky, it would be impossible, wouldn’t it?”
“Aila, can you make me fly?”
“Today is not a day to use magic.”
“Why?”
She folded the telescope, winked, and said cutely and cheerfully.
“Because I’m already under a spell. Today is the first day! To hell with Mother Nature! Ehe!”
“……”
The surrounding air instantly froze. Would you understand if I said that the male soldiers, and even the female soldiers, looked at Aila as if they were looking at a rare creature? To be able to curse the providence of Mother Nature so refreshingly. It’s rather admirable.
Aila, who had manifested a magical effect beyond Lucy’s, looked around and pouted.
“Tsk. What’s with everyone? I just said I wasn’t feeling well today.”
“Just say that from the beginning.”
“Then they’ll ask why, and if they ask why, it’s only natural to answer.”
“Let’s forget about that ‘natural’ thing.”
I kindly suggested a change of thought. And I snatched the telescope and looked ahead.
Most of Hanah’s garrison had already crossed the river and set up camp long ago. Even that camp was already empty. They all got on boats in the morning and went down the river.
It seems they haven’t noticed us yet. Come to think of it, except for a few young officers, the rest were quite cooperative in our takeover of the communication network. I even doubted if there was a specialized surrender training course in the Western Army’s training program. What a wonderful discipline.
“As expected, Risel.”
“War is fought by humans. If you know the people, you can predict to some extent.”
I shrugged and made an indifferent expression. It’s actually not a big deal.
According to the information Baron Dakard gave me, the person who is the mayor and military commander of Hanah is relatively belligerent. In my memory, he was definitely that kind of person.
He would have decided to participate in the war taking place on the Narvis Plain using the naval forces, rather than defending Hanah, where enemies were unlikely to invade.
He probably thought he would land his troops via the river and catch the Kingdom army off guard. Basically, Hanah’s garrison consists of infantry who are systematically trained in naval warfare.
The problem is the commander’s temperament.
A commander is someone who would pledge loyalty to the Narvilt Duke to the death, is excessively greedy compared to their loyalty, not very bright compared to their greed, and doesn’t listen to others compared to their intelligence.
In other words, he’s an ‘ordinary fool.’
The Western Army, and furthermore, the Narvilt Duke, wouldn’t have cared who they put in charge as long as the quality of the troops could be maintained, and they surely wouldn’t have wanted to give even a hint that there’s a big secret there.
Therefore, they must have devised a plan to divert attention by placing an insignificant ruler. A ruler who wouldn’t care even if they didn’t know there was a secret.
“The attack force is literally gone, leaving only the defense force and residents. Desirable. I came expecting this, but my condolences to the citizens of Hanah for having a foolish leader.”
“The plan has changed a bit from the original, but it’s only a difference of whether we take the castle first or later. But are you sure? The remaining people inside the walls are more than ten times the number of the attack force?”
“Ah, it doesn’t matter. They’re all just civilians. Unorganized civilians don’t count as combat units. Of course, it would be a bit troublesome if there was someone like Levidian among the civilians.”
“Risel’s right. It’s highly likely they’ve organized a self-defense force, but it would be at the level of a neighborhood watch. Is there really a master at Unni’s level there?”
Levidian chuckled at Aila’s words.
Currently, I’m on the backside of a bulging knoll at the border between the forest and the plains. The flatland stretching straight towards the castle walls, as with all castles, provided an unobstructed view for the defenders.
I used the telescope to examine the general defense situation.
It looks like a fairly stable defense system has been established, but the vigilance seems lax compared to the facilities. Is it because they’re in a place where the enemy is unlikely to appear?
Well, with the natural wall of the river, it’s natural for the man-made walls to become lazy.
Above all, the morale of the army is directly linked to the commander’s usual attitude. The upper water must be clear for the lower water to be clear.
“General, it’s 12 o’clock sharp.”
“Good. Wait for 10 minutes. Then raise the signal.”
The Grayman Chief moved back, and I gripped the hilt of my sword. Did the separated detachments gather well? Based on the information I gathered from the evening before last, it seemed like they did.
Facing my first siege command, I can’t hide my anxiety. I’m human, and my subordinates are human too. Everyone makes mistakes, right?
And Artshever might have seen through my thoughts. Maybe inside that gate, Bios Ectoria is standing there, mocking me.
The world doesn’t always go as I expect, does it?
This world might be ready to laugh at my failure!
Ah, damn it. I’m anxious! I’m anxious!
“Risel, calm down.”
“Sigh, I understand.”
Levidian, noticing my agitation, took my hand.
I let out a big sigh.
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