episode_0044

The strategy Lucille taught me was a fairly simple one. There was nothing special about it and it was a frequently used operation, to the extent that it was commonly used in Earth’s history.

Therefore, Leona had doubts about this operation.

“Franz Mayer. Of course I will believe in your strategy, but can such a basic strategy really bring us victory?”

“I think there is a high possibility that the operation will succeed.”

Simple operation. However, I was able to guess because I knew the enemy’s situation better than anyone else. This operation cut to the core. He had an accurate understanding of the enemy’s weaknesses.

‘It’s probably Lilia’s performance.’

There is an excellent spy under Lucille. Therefore, he must have accurately identified the enemy’s weaknesses.

“But if you fail…”

“Yes. I will sacrifice my head.”

If you fail, your head will probably be blown off. Of course, it does not mean that they will physically fly away, but it means that their way out will be blocked for the time being. Krusenstein’s method is always the same. Delegate everything to your subordinates and fire them if they fail. If I am the only one who deviates from that rule, it is favoritism and a breakdown in military discipline.

“Your head is flying off, that sounds scary. Even if you fail, I will personally keep you by my side. So don’t worry.”

In other words, even if the Meyer family’s path to advancement was blocked, they would keep me, Franz Meyer, by their side.

Of course, there will be rumors of favoritism, so I have to buy it myself, but I still felt good because I felt like I had earned my master’s trust.

——

A few days have passed since then. All of the siege weapons that had been prepared were completed, and we were ready to attack again.

The place we will attack this time is the main gate. Of course, Bernardis Gray, a monster with 100 strength, was standing at the front door, but that didn’t mean he could give up the front door. This is because the core of the siege was the main gate.

I decided to take the lead in this battle. Externally, I was the planner of this operation, and there was an order from the lord that it would be more efficient for the planner of the operation to carry out the operation.

That idea was absolutely correct. This operation is too much for Clemens, Haakon, and Garcia. It’s not that they lack ability. It’s simply unreasonable in nature.

Compared to other military commanders, I am a coward and timid. And this operation was the one best suited for timid cowards.

I took out the pocket watch from my pocket. The clock showed 5:30 in the morning. And at 6 o’clock, the full-scale battle would begin.

I got up and went out of the tent. Lucille came out first and was looking at the sky.

“It’s still dark.”

“Because it’s early spring. The days are still short. But it will get brighter soon.”

“Yes. It will be bright at 6 o’clock, the start time of the operation.”

“Did you get enough sleep?”

“I didn’t sleep.”

“Is it okay if I don’t sleep? Your body is still weak.”

“I cannot prioritize my own health when I am carrying the lives of countless people.”

“Still, I hope you get enough sleep. Because your health is more important to me than the lives of countless people.”

“…”

Lucille couldn’t raise her head and looked at the floor. The words I spoke without thinking also made me cringe more than I thought, so I couldn’t look directly at Lucille and instead looked at the sky.

The two people each looked at the sky and the ground. I felt fortunate that no one noticed this bizarre scene. Except for Asilia, whose expression was sour in the distance.

I have to talk back somehow. I had to change the subject quickly to get out of this awkward atmosphere. So I decided to say something.

“What do you think of this operation? I think the odds of winning are high, but not 100%. Because the enemy also has a capable strategist.”

The enemy’s tactician named Vincent has an intelligence of about 95. Of course, she is nothing compared to our Lucille, but she is one of the best in the world. Could it be that he finds out about Lucille’s plan? Wouldn’t something be done?

“Don’t worry.”

“Why?”

“Because this operation will be successful.”

“Successful?”

“Oh, no. It meant that there was a high possibility of success.”

She stuttered in embarrassment. Lucille also has a problem with her words. After all, when he says ‘successful’, doesn’t he sound like he’s already been through this battle?

I must have mistakenly said ‘I will succeed’ as ‘I will succeed’. Lucille must have been embarrassed because I sounded so cringe-worthy.

“Well, it will be successful because it is a plan my brother planned. I trust you.”

And then a moment of silence followed.

“I trust you too”

I smiled at Lucille at the answer that came out after silence. Lucille averted her eyes. I felt an uncomfortable feeling for some reason, but I guess it was just my mood.

As I was thinking that, it suddenly became noisy outside. It seemed like the time had come.

‘It’ll be six o’clock in a little while.’

Time is of the essence in this operation. The military must be mobilized at 6 o’clock sharp. Otherwise, the operation may fail.

I immediately got on my horse and crossed through the soldiers. Asilia escorted me by my side, and Lucille followed behind me.

“All troops!”

He shouted to the soldiers who had been waiting in advance.

“Go forward!”

If it were Leona, she might have rushed out at the forefront, telling her to follow me. But it was impossible for me, who had no charisma or ambition.

That’s why I decided to do what I could.

—–

A full-scale battle began. Franz Mayer quickly advanced his entire army and continued a firefight between the castle walls using muskets and shield soldiers.

The sound of gunpowder exploding could be heard from all directions, and the arrows fired by enemy archers from the castle wall with only their heads sticking out split the sky.

Just like two weeks ago, Bernardis continued shooting his bow. Every time he fired his bow, several people flew away.

It was understandable that their morale would drop after seeing this, but Krusenstein’s army never retreated. This was partly because Krusenstein’s army was well trained, but also because it had recorded victories in most battles so far, so it was largely because of the confidence that it would win this time as well.

Although Kruzenstein’s army suffered heavy damage, Letless’s archers also decreased. Since there was a wall between them, the exchange rate was not very good, but Krusenstein was ahead in terms of training and weapons. Krusenstein was better trained than the soldiers of the Letlis family and also had a new weapon called a musket, so he was not pushed back much even though the castle wall was in between.

But it wasn’t without problems. The problem was time. Krusenstein had a little over two months left, and if he could not drop the enemy’s castle within that time, this expedition was tantamount to failure.

‘I finish today.’

Franz Mayer made a promise. I will definitely end this battle today and erase the Letlis family from the map.

Meanwhile, Bernardis felt puzzled.

Bernardis’ leadership ability is 84. Although it is not S-class, it is equivalent to A-class.

Bernardis also had a keen eye for military leadership. That’s why I couldn’t understand what Mayer was doing.

‘Why are they only engaged in a firefight and not moving the siege weapons? If you don’t move the siege weapons, the enemies will also accumulate damage.’

Mayer probably also knew that fact, but he made no attempt to break through.

‘Were you scared when you saw me in the last fight?’

It was a very possible story. However, it is a little strange to say that I was scared. They didn’t push in, but they continued to engage in a firefight.

‘If not… Is this some kind of new operation?’

Bernardis pondered, but the answer did not come easily. That’s because he had only experienced small-scale battles so far and had never experienced large-scale battles like this, so he didn’t even know what kind of operations existed.

The firefight continued pointlessly and the number of soldiers on both sides decreased. Bernardis looked puzzled as the musketeers did not go beyond a certain line and continued firing his arrow. It’s already been 20 minutes.

“Ber, Bernardis! The northern wall… They say the northern wall is under attack!”

“What, what? But isn’t the enemy here?”

“I don’t know! It looks like there are many enemies on the northern wall too! The number seems to be at least 20,000..!”

“… !”

Only then was Bernardis able to understand. What are the enemy’s tricks?

“The main gate is a decoy, the northern wall is real!”

They pretend to attack from the south, but actually attack from the northern wall. Seongdonggyeokseo. That was the enemy’s operation.

“Leave 5,000 soldiers at the main gate and all the rest head north! North is real! The front door is bait!”

Bernardis shouted. Bernardis led more than half of the soldiers and headed to the northern wall. At that moment, a knight of the Mayer family approached Franz Mayer and spoke.

“The soldiers on the walls have become thinner.”

The soldiers became thinner. That means Bernardis led the soldiers at the main gate and headed toward the northern wall.

Now that that was done, there was only one thing for us to do.

“Siege weapons, advance! Full army! Charge and invade the castle!”

Mayer shouted, and the knights under his command delivered orders to the officers, and the officers delivered orders to the soldiers.

Bernardis must have thought. The main gate of the castle is a decoy and the northern wall is the real thing.

But neither was bait. This operation was a diversionary operation pretending to be an assault on Seongdong.

Attack the North Gate with 25,000 soldiers. When enemy soldiers flock to the north gate, attack the main gate with 10,000 soldiers. Because Bernardis only had one body, it was impossible to block both sides.

Of course, there is also an excellent military officer at the North Gate named Walter von Letlis. However, no matter how capable Walter was, it was difficult for him to last long against an enemy several times his size.

A simple operation based on a basic idea

‘simple is best. Sometimes simple things work.’

And this is that time.