Chapter 128

No matter what kind of game you create, whether you draw a picture or prepare for an exam, it is essential to have thorough preparation to succeed when a specific opportunity arises.

When making a game, a good development team and story writer are required, and for drawing, good tools and an environment, along with the skills you have built up until now, are necessary.

Only when these are prepared in advance can you create a good game or beautiful artwork.

Just like in war, even in small-scale battles, good results cannot be achieved without thorough groundwork.

Therefore, to win the war against Architel, I have prepared everything necessary to drain their strength.

Now, what I need to do is to utilize all the elements I have prepared so far to produce the best possible results.

Before I announced the operation, the nobles under my command began to raise their voices and argue with each other.

“Sub-Noble Laurent, are you saying you can only provide 10,000 gold coins for the budget to march to Architel? Is that even a statement?”

“If we don’t use that guy’s main suppliers, 10,000 will be enough, Your Excellency.”

“Baron Frost, no matter what, shouldn’t you provide my 1st Infantry Regiment with plate armor?”

“The men-at-arms are more urgent; those guys are on horseback, so their legs are exposed. That’s why there are more injuries…”

Resources are limited, and the holes for money and resources to flow out are endless.

Thus, it is a natural phenomenon for everyone around the world to fight over their own share. However, arguing over the support for gold and armor in front of me seems a bit inappropriate.

So, to mediate their dispute, I got out of my chair and spoke up.

“First, as Sub-Noble Laurent mentioned, the budget for this march will be set at 10,000 gold coins. Additionally, I will supply 1,000 newly made plate armors to the 1st Infantry Regiment. However, the iron greaves for Baron Frost’s men-at-arms will be provided later. What do you think?”

“Our 1st Infantry Regiment agrees.”

“Those guys already have half armor anyway… so greaves alone will suffice.”

“It’s unfortunate, but the soldiers will likely agree. I think 10,000 will be sufficient.”

After calming the noblemen’s quarrel, I pointed to the map hanging near my seat, which depicted the southern region of the Croilet Count and the Architel Duke’s domain.

“As you all know, the Architel Duke declared war on us first, and the expected battlefield is the Waine Plains in the northern part of the Architel Duke’s domain.”

“The Waine Plains… there are no villages nearby, making it difficult to receive supplies. I don’t understand why they designated such a place.”

At those words, I smiled wryly and replied.

“The Architel Duke is renowned for commanding knights, being considered the best by Franche. And since the Waine Plains are wide open, it is a good place to maneuver knights. Therefore, even if supplies are somewhat lacking, they will want to fight in a location that maximizes the knights’ offensive capabilities.”

If that’s the case, fighting on the enemy’s desired ground would be doing them a favor, right?

You might think we should do our best to lure them into an unfavorable position, but…

Even though war is an act of wearing down and annihilating the opponent’s forces, just as a game cannot begin without mutual consent, war can only start in a location agreed upon by both sides.

Unless I possess the power or ability to intentionally draw the enemy into an overwhelmingly disadvantageous position and press the game start button, it’s better to avoid attempting such tactics.

“Then let me first explain the plan I established. We will spread rumors while moving down from Croilet to the Waine Plains of Architel that dissent is arising. The content will be that Irina has been treating Ella, who gave birth to her son first, as if she were a maid, leading to dissenting factions against Irina and those still supporting her as the legitimate wife.”

In reality, there are many cases where noble households experience jealousy over a concubine giving birth to a son before the legitimate wife.

Moreover, it’s common to retaliate in this manner to completely eliminate the political position of the concubine…

It is not rare for the husband, fed up with this, to distance himself from the legitimate wife, which of course could lead to the emergence of political factions.

“However, Siel, you’re only 26, right? Who would believe that factions are already forming over succession rights?”

At that remark, I chuckled and responded.

“Anyone who has common sense wouldn’t believe it. But if such rumors continue to spread, the Duke will surely think this: ‘Seeing the rumors of factions dividing from Siel von Croilet, there must be some discord among the vassals.’ And if that happens, even if the degree of consideration may vary, they will begin to establish strategies assuming our discord.”

“The Architel Duke is indeed a wise individual, but if he bases strategies on that premise… then Frost, who is nearby and from a different faction, might just be expected to intervene in an approximate manner, leading us into a trap.”

“Yes, being caught off guard by an unexpected strong bond could result in significant damage, as the enemy would miss the timing to strike and withdraw.”

Everyone seemed to agree with this, nodding in acknowledgement.

“Indeed, just the spreading of such rumors would likely lead them to misunderstand our unity is weak.”

“Even if they don’t take the bait of the succession issue… I believe they will trust the information that our unity has weakened.”

Then I looked at them, a sly smile on my face, and said, “Also, in this war, our army will not march on foot within the Croilet Count. All troops will travel by Bargenburg at the fastest speed to the village closest to the Waine Plains.”

Seemingly struggling to grasp the concept that differed from their expected march, they were left speechless.

“And we will take a rest in that village to recover our stamina, then enter the battlefield at the agreed upon time.”

“Your Excellency, Baron Frost thinks that if you’ll go that way, it seems unnecessary to mobilize thousands of carts to move the troops all at once. Especially if we take so many carts… they will just become burdens during battle, right? And the horses would need hay and grains…”

To pull one cart carrying 30 soldiers, two horses are needed, so if I bring 20,000 troops, I would need 1,200 horses alone.

Moreover, the two horses would need at least supplies equivalent to two people or more of grains or hay, which means we need carts to transport that as well, greatly increasing our resource consumption.

Additionally, carts cannot be used in battle, becoming mere obstructions.

“Exactly. So once we arrive at the village, we will use those carts to supply various food and weapons. After that, we plan to move to the battlefield on foot. That way, we won’t be a hindrance in battle. Furthermore, there are two significant reasons for having the soldiers ride in the carts during the march.”

“Two reasons?”

“The first is to deliberately inform the enemy of our rapid marching speed midway, to prevent them from occupying a good position and fortifying it first. The second is to pretend we are giving all soldiers a break in the village while sending reconnaissance teams ahead to secure more information and advantageous locations.”

This is possible because, in this era, if there is an agreed battlefield and time upon declaration of war, there is a culture of meeting and fighting at the promised time and place.

When we fought Maxburg, we only agreed on the time, not the place, which allowed for such chaotic tactics.

In any case, if we promised to meet someone at 10, the opposing side would also think they should prepare to arrive at that time.

However, if I suddenly start leaking information midway, saying, “The war will start at the promised time, but the fortification of the battlefield will begin two weeks early,” wouldn’t that change the dynamic?

The opponent would surely exert themselves to catch up and follow me in an effort to counteract the time I spend preparing on the battlefield.

Of course, while they rest, their fatigue will ease, but during the rapid march, many desertions will occur.

Moreover, the enemy will likely let their guard down, believing that because we’ve rapidly marched, our knowledge of the terrain will be lacking compared to theirs.

We might create a decisive opportunity to defeat the enemy during that gap.

As I explained this to some extent, everyone nodded in understanding.

Then I looked at them and said, “We also have a trump card. Let’s go take a look.”