Chapter 195: Grand General-nim, Prepare for the Operations Meeting (5)
“The death toll tallied up to today is around 8,300. The injured are about twice that. We’ve lost a total of about 25,000 combat troops. But the Imperial Army’s losses should be higher, right?”
“That’s correct, Grand General-nim. The estimated figure is around 50,000. The deviation is within 5,000.”
“I hope the Imperial Army doesn’t mistake our tactics for a war of annihilation.”
By simple calculation, the other side has lost 20% of their troops. Should I say it’s a miracle that the front lines are in a stalemate?
The dead alone are equivalent to a whole legion.
Thinking about that, my heart sank. I need to push the front lines and head south before more casualties occur, but there are too many people on the other side.
No matter how much we harass the front lines, as long as the rear is strong, soldiers won’t easily surrender or flee. And no matter how much people hate the ideological education in the army, they naturally express that ideology through their bodies as they live the military life.
A certain scholar said, ‘The ideology of a soldier and the ideology of a citizen can be distinguished by habit and learning.’ It’s extreme, but I think it’s mostly true.
“If we go by the book, we’ll have to slowly occupy the trenches and advance, but there will be more casualties. The will of the defenders is too strong.”
“Several field commanders at the front are also saying the same thing. It seems they’re diligently carrying out propaganda attacks, but there are no soldiers switching sides.”
“The propaganda attacks are just for show anyway. I’ll decline soldiers switching sides due to the enemy’s propaganda. Sispa, a cup of coffee.”
“Yes, Grand General-nim.”
I put out my cigarette and stared intently at the map for a while. Who knows, maybe a good tactic will come to mind? At that moment, the curtain of the tent opened and a person entered.
“Salute! For the future! General Sermaila Hind requests a meeting with Grand General-nim!”
At Aila’s greeting, which contained more jokes mocking formality than formality itself, I said with a grimace,
“Permission granted. Sispa, one more cup of coffee.”
“Yes.”
Let’s not pay attention to the fact that Sispa covered her mouth and chuckled. It’s not good for my mental health.
Aila sat down across from me with a bright smile and rested her elbows on the table, supporting her chin with both hands.
“Is that how you treat the Grand General?”
“Hey, what’s with the formality between us?”
“If you came as a friend, don’t give such a strange greeting. What’s with that ‘For the future!’ slogan?”
“Huh? You didn’t know yet? It’s incredibly popular among the soldiers these days. There are two more besides this one. Haven’t you heard them? ‘For the life’ and ‘For ourselves’. How about it? Cool, right?”
I ended up covering my forehead and lowering my head. Those are the closing words of my declaration of war!
“Sispa, is that true?”
“Yes, Grand General-nim. It’s said that the soldiers, impressed by Grand General-nim’s address, are competing to use them. To remember what they’re fighting for.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought you would know. The coffee is here.”
Sispa smiled brightly and handed me and Aila coffee. I let out a big sigh and shook my head. Well, it’s up to the soldiers what slogan they attach to their salute.
“Let’s say that’s the case. What’s up, Aila?”
“To get a cup of coffee.”
“And?”
“Tsk. You’re going to just break through my tricks now, aren’t you? Hmph. That’s why they say friends are useless once they get a lover.”
“You know it well.”
“Eek! You said that nonchalantly, didn’t you? You did!”
Aila reacted by stamping her feet, seemingly irritated by my reaction. This is also quite amusing in its own way. Maybe because I’ve been suffering from Aila all this time, my immunity and skills have improved.
I said with a truly refreshing smile,
“Yeah. It doesn’t bother me anymore.”
“Tsk. No fun. Now there are only 99 people left to tease. How disappointing.”
Asking who the remaining 99 people are would be a waste of time, right?
“This is the skill of an adult. So, did you really come here with nothing to do?”
“Of course not. Before that, I was very curious about how long you’re going to stay camped here.”
I lifted my coffee cup and gestured towards the map. Aila glanced at the map and waved her hand dismissively.
“Eh, I know this.”
“If you know, can you help me with my worries?”
“Hmm. The main point of your worry is that the opponent has formed a deep defense line instead of retreating. You had no intention of annihilating them from the beginning. So, I can’t even guess the intentions of that bast…… ahem, the enemy’s strategist. Besides, they don’t even show up on the battlefield, what kind of strategist is that?”
Perhaps because of Sispa, Aila referred to Artshever a bit more respectfully. It would be troublesome if it became known that a high-ranking officer of our army is acquainted with the enemy’s key figure.
It was confirmed that Artshever was not in the Imperial Army camp located a few kilometers south. How should I interpret the fact that he called me out but didn’t show up himself?
“The numerical difference has already doubled, but the other side shows no signs of retreating. Rather, it seems they’re going to come up. They must be aware that we can mobilize troops as much as we want. They probably realized that I have no intention of engaging in a war of annihilation and decided to hold out. In the meantime, they’ll be planning schemes to turn the tide of war.”
“What are the preparations for that?”
“I’ve taken measures for most non-magical means.”
The first issue, the supply materials, had already been accumulated in enormous quantities near Impelord during the winter. Artshever said he wouldn’t interfere with the gathering of troops, but he never said he wouldn’t interfere with the transportation of supplies.
Other than that, there are methods like poisoning the wells, using spies for behind-the-scenes work, night raids, or directly attacking the homeland, which I’ve already taken care of.
They won’t do something like attacking the homeland, specifically, like what Referndi did to Baekslan in the winter, turning it into a mess. Artshever would be looking forward to a showdown with me, and he wouldn’t make that showdown ‘boring.’
However, I wonder what kind of ‘interesting’ things he’s planning, just by putting forward Baius Extoria.
Aila nodded and took a sip of her coffee.
“Hmm hmm. Indeed, the experience you’ve accumulated while going through the capital and becoming a general can be used effectively when you become the Grand General. This older sister is happy.”
“Who’s the older sister? Anyway, the classic method of surrounding them, cutting off supplies, and forcing a surrender won’t work either. We don’t have enough personnel for a siege. We can easily reach the Imperial Capital by going along the river, but unless we organize a fleet, we won’t even be able to carry the minimum personnel required to attack the capital. And the river is a bit narrow for a fleet to move. It’s a relief that the drinking water supply is being properly managed.”
“You could poison the river and cut off their water supply. Water can be a surprisingly good weapon.”
“Even if it’s war, poisoning the water used for agriculture would make public sentiment plummet. Running into a militia determined to fight desperately in the front yard of the Imperial Capital is not what I want. And you also know what’s going to happen.”
“Hmph. That’s right.”
Aila shrugged with her usual chuckle.
The Battle of the Pelasia Plain is not as simple as I thought.
Of course, from the Imperial Army’s perspective, they just need to risk their lives to stop the enemy and advance north if necessary, but we need to achieve victory against the Imperial Army with minimal losses to maintain our justification.
I know that the worries brought about by the difference in positions are different, but it’s really tricky when it actually happens.
While I was thinking about it for a while, Aila, who had finished a cup of coffee in sips, looked at me and tilted her head.
“But you seem a little displeased?”
“Hmm, well. I feel a growing emptiness in my chest. I react nonchalantly to everything.”
“You’re meeting with Unni every day, right?”
“It’s not that kind of emptiness.”
Does she see me as a wolf spending lonely nights alone? Of course, since we’re in the middle of a war, I’m not wasting any unnecessary energy, but that’s not what my emptiness is about.
There haven’t been any major problems since the war started, since I’ve been commanding, and up until now. Then, shouldn’t I feel a sense of accomplishment or at least a sense of reward? Even though there are casualties.
“Arisein Uck Herduke, 22 years old, the commander of the Herduke Kingdom Army who became the Grand General, is suffering from an emptiness of unknown cause. The future of whether he can successfully carry out the upcoming war is drawing attention.”
“Who are you talking to?”
“Just…… because I’m bored. So, that’s why you always have a blank expression?”
“That’s right. Thanks to that, I can’t come up with any good ideas.”
Aila rested her chin on one hand and tapped the table with the other, then shrugged. She seems to know well the difference between worries she should interfere with and those she shouldn’t. She changed the subject.
“How can I help you? First, how about the simplest method, assassinating the enemy commander?”
The topic suddenly changed, but the words that flowed from my mouth were as smooth as flowing water.
“It’s tempting, but rejected. It’s not that I don’t trust your or Levidian’s skills, but the rumors would spread in a bad way. Rumors that a member of the Herduke Royal Family has a close relationship with an assassin. It’ll be a headache later when I rule. There are many hasty fools in the world who judge based solely on rumors. Most importantly, it would give the resistance forces that will emerge after the war a justification. ‘Those who use assassins are evil! We who oppose them are justice! We will fight to the end in the name of justice!’ And the populace, who generally believe that opposing evil is justice, is easily deceived. Opposing evil doesn’t automatically make you just.”
“Well, evil that opposes evil for profit is more terrifying. In the end, it’s a situation where you can’t do this or that. You’re worried while fighting battles. But you know that the current situation is flowing into a war of attrition, right?”
“Of course, your highness.”
Aila nodded. The current situation has become a battle of endurance to see who gets tired first. It would be quite troublesome if this solidifies as it is.
First of all, it consumes too much time and lives. Since we have more personnel, the rate of consumption of materials is tremendous, so we need to settle this as quickly as possible.
We need to occupy the Imperial Capital and conclude the war within this year to make post-war recovery and governance easier.
So, my friend with ashen hair. Won’t you share the wisdom you’ve gained by seeing with your golden eyes?
Aila, who had finished a cup of hot coffee in sips, put down the cup.
“But it seems like you’re trying to take too much at once? You want to maintain public sentiment, keep your reputation among the soldiers, and achieve victory, all at the same time.”
“I know that much. That’s why I’m worried. And they have Baius Extoria on their side. We can’t take them lightly.”
“Indeed. I heard Al-ssi is waiting for a chance. Then try this. Since we’re going into a war of attrition anyway, let’s have a real war of attrition.”
Aila’s basket of wisdom opened. I quickly showed interest before it closed.
“How?”
“We have more personnel, right? Twice as many by simple calculation. This means we have about twice as much time to rest compared to the enemy. Let’s use that to wage a biological war of attrition.”
“Biological war of attrition?”
I tilted my head. Aila’s wisdom is quite useful, but it takes some time and effort to understand. Moreover, her wisdom is not free.
My friend filled her golden eyes with mischief.
“Riddle. What happens when people move a lot?”
“They get tired.”
“What should you do to relieve fatigue?”
“Rest.”
“Do people die from fatigue?”
“Unless they’re incredibly tired, they won’t die.”
“Last question. How much more rest can the Herduke Kingdom Army get compared to the Imperial Army?”
“About twice as much……! Ah!”
At that moment, I realized what Aila was talking about. At the same time, I felt pathetic.
Ah, damn it! How could I not think of this! I was only focused on reducing the number of casualties!
Aila smiled brightly. From her mouth, relentless words, the price for wisdom, poured out.
“Now you understand? Ibi-unni said so. She said you’ve been thinking too seriously lately. Use your head a little. Why are you acting differently than before? Are you already old? You should have thought of this before I said anything.”
“Ugh, I’m speechless.”
Aila lightly tapped the table. She stood up and said with a bright smile, just as she did when she entered.
“I’ll call all the officers. Grand General-nim, prepare for the strategy meeting.”
“Hmm. Please do, General Hind.”
She saluted with a smile, and I returned the salute. And we laughed loudly. It was a truly pleasant moment after a long time.
This is why people should have good friends. Hahaha!
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