Chapter 328

“Hurry up and move it!”

The Celtrine army was busy loading all the supplies they had gathered, including grain, onto ships.

It was Max’s order.

He had ordered them to transport everything to Odinel, leaving behind only enough supplies to last them a few days.

But even the soldiers carrying out his order didn’t understand it.

“Why are we taking all the supplies from the territory we just conquered? Don’t we need supplies to defend it?”

“How should I know? Young Master Max must have a plan.”

“Well, I’m sure Young Master Max knows what he’s doing.”

Young Master Max’s plan. Those words were enough to silence any doubts.

At least in the Celtrine army, the phrase “Young Master Max” was synonymous with invincibility.

Because he was the hero of their territory.

An undefeated hero who led them to victory wherever they went.

Max was already their pride, their belief, their faith.

“Hey, you there! Stop chatting and get to work!”

Duncan’s shout startled the soldiers, and they quickly resumed their work.

The Celtrine army swiftly transported the supplies from the territories they had conquered to Odinel, along with the ships they had seized.

* * *

“The enemy has eighty thousand soldiers. And they’re not just any eighty thousand soldiers. What’s your plan?”

Lobel asked, resting his chin on his hand.

It was rare for him to actively seek someone else’s opinion, except for his sister, Regina.

It meant that he acknowledged Max.

Because Max had proven himself.

Both on the snowfield and at Odinel.

“I know. The eastern army is a formidable force. And they’re led by Duke Cavern himself. But,”

Max paused and then said, emphasizing his words, “we have the initiative. And I intend to use it to our advantage.”

“The initiative. You mean we’ve cut off their supply lines?”

“That’s right.”

“But they could always retreat to the Imperial City and resupply.”

“No, they won’t.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“Because Odinel isn’t just a supply depot for the eastern army.”

Max pointed to the map.

His finger traced the locations of Celtrine Castle and Lambert Castle.

Where the Crown Prince’s personal army and the southern army were located.

The other two key battlefields.

“They’ll have enough supplies for now. But it won’t last forever. They’ll need to resupply eventually. And we’ve taken that option away from them.”

If they received supplies directly from the Imperial City, the supply lines would be too long.

Odinel, on the other hand, was strategically located.

The Lime River flowed in all directions from there.

They could transport supplies to the north and south via waterways and then use land routes for the final leg of the journey, significantly reducing the distance and saving time and manpower.

But they had lost Odinel.

“They could resupply the eastern army from the Imperial City, but what about the Crown Prince’s army and the southern army? Can they afford to use those long and vulnerable supply lines, which are also at risk of being raided?”

If they had only lost Odinel, it might have been possible.

But Max had swiftly conquered the surrounding territories and seized all their ships.

It meant that they controlled most of the Lime River’s waterways.

Transporting supplies through long land routes in this situation?

The Celtrine allied forces, who could move freely via waterways, could easily ambush their supply lines and seize their supplies.

“Duke Cavern will realize that. So he’ll definitely come.”

Max declared confidently.

“I see. He has no choice but to come if he wants to restore their supply lines to the north and south. That’s a clear and concise explanation, as expected of you.”

Lobel nodded, a faint smile on his lips.

“So the question is, do we attack first, or do we wait and defend?”

Attack or defend.

Most people would choose to defend if they had the option.

It was simple.

They had forty thousand soldiers, while the enemy had eighty thousand.

They were clearly outnumbered.

Only a very brave person would choose to attack.

Most would choose to fortify their defenses and wait for the enemy to attack.

But,

Max was different.

He had been thinking several steps ahead ever since he had conquered Odinel.

“We’ll attack first.”

He said, his eyes gleaming.

The room buzzed with surprise.

No one had expected him to say that.

“Attack first… The Savior has made a bold decision.”

Gwen muttered, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision.

“No, the Savior has made the right decision.”

Milia said, her faith in Max unwavering.

“But risking everything on a single battle…”

Norman seemed worried.

There were various other reactions.

“Hahaha!”

Lobel’s laughter silenced the room.

“As expected of you, brother-in-law! You’re going to end this with a decisive battle?”

“Of course not.”

Max smiled mysteriously.

Lobel blinked in confusion.

“Huh? Then?”

“The basics of strategy is to utilize your advantages. And our biggest advantage is that we control the Lime River.”

“You’re planning to use ships? But our army…”

Regina spoke for the first time.

“Yes, they’re not good at naval warfare. But they can move and retreat using ships. And I’m not planning a naval battle. There won’t be a naval battle.”

They had secured most of the ships.

The eastern army wouldn’t be able to stop them with their small number of ships.

“…So you’re planning a landing operation?”

Regina asked, seeming to understand.

Max grinned.

“It’s a landing operation, but it won’t be a one-time thing. I’m planning to harass them constantly.”

“You mean guerrilla warfare?”

“Exactly.”

The room buzzed with excitement again.

Guerrilla warfare.

It was a tactic where a small force would harass the enemy’s rear or flanks with surprise attacks and ambushes.

It was an effective tactic.

But it was difficult to employ in a war between two large armies.

Because it was difficult to find the right opportunity.

It was difficult to infiltrate the rear or flanks of a large army, and even if they succeeded, they were at risk of being wiped out by the enemy’s superior numbers.

Even now,

If they didn’t control the Lime River, it would be practically impossible to deploy troops behind or on the flanks of the eastern army via land routes.

But the situation had changed.

Because they had conquered Odinel.

That’s why Max had been willing to give up Baydeli to secure Odinel.

“Hahaha, I see. You’re going to use the waterways to launch guerrilla attacks and wear down the enemy?”

Lobel laughed again.

It was a laugh of admiration.

And he wasn’t the only one.

Everyone in the room was impressed.

“The enemy has eighty thousand elite soldiers. Engaging them in a frontal assault would be foolish. We have to use every means possible to wear them down and deplete their strength.”

“It’ll be quite a journey for them to get here.”

Lobel grinned, imagining the enemy’s frustration.

“Of course. We’ll form multiple guerrilla units, not just one. We have to make things as difficult and confusing for them as possible, so they can’t respond effectively.”

It would be difficult for an ordinary army.

But the Celtrine-Erenbert allied forces could do it.

They had the resident unit, and the Erenbert army, in particular, had plenty of soldiers who were skilled in guerrilla warfare.

Everyone was impressed and agreed with Max’s plan.

Regina, as expected, asked the obvious question.

“That’s not all, is it?”

Everyone knew that they couldn’t defeat the enemy with guerrilla warfare alone.

They could only wear them down.

They would eventually need to fight a decisive battle.

“Of course not.”

Max smiled faintly and pointed to the map again.

The route the eastern army would take to reach Odinel.

There were several territories along that route that the Celtrine army had swiftly conquered.

“We’ll keep luring the exhausted and frustrated enemy.”

He moved his finger.

“To Odinel.”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“Here?”

Regina asked, her eyes filled with doubt.

Odinel Castle had been devastated by the catapult bombardment.

It was no longer a defensible location.

If they wanted to defend, they could choose a territory with an intact castle.

But Max was choosing to lure the enemy all the way to Odinel.

“Because they’ll have nowhere else to retreat.”

Everyone realized what he meant.

Max wasn’t just trying to defeat the enemy.

He was planning to annihilate them.

“You’re going to block their retreat?”

“Is that even possible…?”

“Y-Yes, how can we…?”

The room buzzed with excitement.

Regina’s eyes widened as she realized something, and she jumped to her feet.

“You’re going to cross the river?!”

“But Baydeli Fortress is under enemy control…”

“N-No, wait! Their main force is gone! It’s possible! We can retake it!”

“Gasp? Then?”

they realized Max’s true plan.

He said, confirming their suspicions, “The purpose of the guerrilla warfare isn’t just to harass the enemy and wear them down. It’s also to distract them from our true objective: landing on the other side of the river.”

No commander, not even the seasoned veteran Duke Cavern, would have the time or the resources to send scouting parties deep into enemy territory while being constantly harassed by guerrilla attacks.

“You’re a strategist sent from heaven, brother-in-law.”

Lobel also stood up, his face filled with admiration.

Max said to him, “Brother Lobel, while we’re harassing the enemy with guerrilla warfare, please lead the main force of the Erenbert army and land on the other side of the river.”

“You’re saying that the Celtrine army will have a different role?”

“That’s right. The Celtrine army will be the anvil.”

*Thud!*

Max slammed his fist on Odinel on the map.

Hammer and anvil.

The basics of tactics.

Hold the enemy in place with the anvil and strike them with the hammer.

The hammer was the cavalry.

It was the perfect role for the Erenbert army, which had a powerful cavalry force that had roamed the snowfields.

“We’re the hammer.”

Lobel grinned.

“The Celtrine army will lure the enemy to Odinel and hold them there. When the time is right, you’ll conquer Baydeli Fortress and then charge into their rear.”

“Good, very good.”

Lobel nodded repeatedly.

“I’ll be with you.”

Regina said.

Only Max and Lobel understood the weight of her words.

Regina had been with the Erenbert army ever since the war on the snowfield.

She had prioritized her position as the eldest daughter of the Erenbert family, even though she was also Max’s fiancée.

But her words now meant that she was changing her priorities.

She was prioritizing her position as Max Celtrine’s fiancée.

It was a sign that her feelings had changed.

Lobel smiled warmly.

He had initially been wary of Max, but he now acknowledged him as a man worthy of his sister’s hand.

“Yes, that would be best.”

Max also smiled.

“Thank you. You’ll be a great help.”

Their relationship had taken another step forward.

* * *

“How many soldiers are we leaving behind at Baydeli Fortress, Your Excellency?”

The knight commander asked.

“Hmm, three thousand should be enough.”

Duke Cavern replied immediately.

That should be enough to deter any potential uprisings from the western lords who supported the princess.

Three thousand soldiers would be more than enough to crush those insignificant lords, even if they all rebelled.

No one in the room knew what consequences his decision would have.

“Then hurry up and prepare. We don’t have much time. We’ll depart before nightfall.”

They had to retake Odinel before the Crown Prince’s army and the southern army ran out of supplies.

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

The eastern army, seventy-seven thousand strong, hastily finished their preparations and departed from Baydeli Fortress that day.