Ch.597Ludwig’s Plan

As the sun slowly rose on the horizon, I raced through the shadows of dawn, my tattered robe flapping in the wind.

Like a downpour echoing through an empty hall, Cascador’s hooves pounded fiercely against the earth. Mounted on his back, I constantly surveyed my surroundings as we galloped toward the Wall.

Following Ludwig Wilhelm von Landenburg’s instructions, it was time to return after being away from the Wall for two days.

He said they would notice something was amiss and respond within three days? In other words, by this evening, Ka’har forces would begin scouring the plains looking for me.

According to plan.

—-

On my way back to the Wall, I lit a cigarette and reflected on the events of the past few days.

After receiving the operation overview from Ludwig, I crossed the Wall alone per his judgment, disguised as an ordinary scout, and spent my time slaughtering every warrior I encountered.

Last night was particularly fruitful. I managed to eliminate two outposts, hundreds of warriors, and two Champions in one sweep.

They were weak for Champions, perhaps having only recently discovered the power of Karma, but that was by my standards—to ordinary knights, they would have been formidable threats.

At the second outpost, I even left my name behind, so by now Orhan must have received detailed reports. They must be investigating to determine what happened.

Of course, it won’t be easy for them.

They might be certain a sorcerer was involved from the melted earth and pulverized corpses, but since I left no survivors, exactly what happened remains in the realm of speculation.

Whether I acted alone. Whether I did it with other knights and mages. Whether it was truly my doing. Their questions must be multiplying.

Ludwig called it “a minor delaying tactic.”

Since we would be fighting openly in the next phase anyway, it wasn’t particularly significant, but he said it was enough if we could confuse the enemy for even a day or two.

—-

Ludwig’s strategy consisted of a four-phase feint operation with staggered timing.

First, I alone would attack a couple of Ka’har outposts to draw their attention, then return. That was the first phase of the plan.

Originally, other Masters were supposed to join me, but since my power had developed incomparably beyond what it once was, there was no need. My setting fires was several times more effective than having one or two Masters join.

While I might need help against a powerful enemy, I alone was sufficient to annihilate a moderate number of opponents.

Ludwig made the same assessment, which is why I ended up carrying out the first phase alone. Well, it was more convenient for me too. More people would only make stealthy movement more difficult.

In any case, the first phase of the plan was a great success.

Whether the enemies would react according to plan remained to be seen, but eliminating two Champions without taking any damage was an achievement that left Ludwig unable to contain his admiration.

“Well done. Eliminating two Champions—truly encouraging results.”

Indeed, when I met Ludwig after crossing back over the Wall, he even applauded after hearing my report.

“Well, they were disappointingly weak for Champions. How should I put it—like rookies who had just become Champions? That’s what they were like.”

“Their skill level is secondary. What’s more important is that two Champions were stationed at a temporary military outpost, not even a key strategic point.”

Ludwig clicked his tongue softly and continued.

“A meaningless waste of forces. This suggests they have secured so many Champions that they don’t care about such waste. I suspected as much, but thanks to your report, now I can be certain.”

…He has a point. Does this mean the war has created so many Champions that they can afford to waste a couple?

“Isn’t that bad news?”

It wasn’t a welcome development.

While the Empire’s Masters were gradually increasing in number, the Empire’s territory was so vast and surrounded by enemies on all sides that concentrating all of them in the east was practically impossible.

Even I had to leave more than half my forces back in the capital.

Therefore, the maximum number of Masters Landenburg could mobilize was no more than fifteen.

The nine existing Masters including Nigel, plus Leonore Wittelsbach and Jahan who joined under my command, and those the Imperial Knights would provide.

Meanwhile, the enemy apparently had Champions to spare.

“Well, that depends on how you look at it. We’ve learned that we would face defeat in a full-scale battle even with you present, but in other words, this proves our strategy was correct.”

Contrary to my concerns, Ludwig maintained that this was already expected and of no consequence.

Since our goal was to defeat them one by one, the overall inferiority of our forces wasn’t a critical issue. Whether he said this to encourage me or truly believed it, I wasn’t sure… but his composed expression was somewhat reassuring.

—-

After my conversation with Ludwig, I enjoyed a brief rest with Lena before the next phase of the plan began. Though “rest” merely consisted of a bath, a short sleep, and dinner.

Leonore, Jahan, and Nigel, who had been waiting for my return, also joined us for dinner, enjoying the feast while exchanging various stories.

Lena expressed some dissatisfaction at having to remain inside the Wall, but she too understood how absurd it would be to bring a healing priest to the middle of a battlefield.

So, admirably, she didn’t insist on coming with me this time.

And then.

After everyone finished dinner, in the late evening—somewhere between dusk and night—I crossed the Wall leading five Masters and about two hundred cavalry.

This marked the beginning of the real feint operation.

—-

Two hundred cavalry galloped across the nighttime plains. With the thunderous sound of hooves moving as one mass. The earth trembled and spat out migratory birds. Flocks filling the night sky—quite a spectacular sight.

‘So far, so good.’

I had discarded the robe I’d worn to conceal my identity and was now riding with them in my usual winter armor. In my mind, I recalled Ludwig’s instructions.

– Your role is to hold the enemy’s main force’s attention along with the detachment.

In short, I was to be appetizing bait.

There was no need to clash with the enemy’s main force; I was to simply burn visible villages and outposts while advancing toward Ordos, then retreat to the Wall when their main force approached.

– They won’t follow all the way to the Wall. Since this is such an obvious lure, from their perspective, they’ll have to be wary of ambushes or counterattacks. They’ll pursue for a while, then give up and withdraw. When they abandon the chase and turn back, repeat the same actions.

He meant for me to circle between the Wall and Ordos, keeping the enemy’s main force occupied.

– The worst-case scenario is if Orhan personally intervenes… in that case, I’m counting on you. You’re skilled at reading auras. If you sense Orhan’s presence, retreat to the Wall with all your might. Absolutely do not think of fighting.

Ludwig emphasized several times not to fight Orhan.

Unless Orhan pursued alone, he would surely lead part of the main force in pursuit… and facing them head-on would mean instant annihilation for our detachment of just two hundred.

So I was to flee at full speed the moment I sensed Orhan’s presence.

Aishan-Gioro Hersella was somewhat dissatisfied with the instruction to turn tail in the face of her enemy, but even she understood that facing Orhan’s main force with just our detachment would be suicidal.

– What if Orhan chases us all the way to the Wall?

– While your attack has been made known and they’ll be issuing mobilization orders across the region, it will still take considerable time for all their forces to gather. If I were Orhan, I wouldn’t attempt to attack the Wall with an unprepared army.

Ludwig was confident that Orhan wouldn’t attempt a reckless pursuit. While a mere warrior might act rashly, someone in the position of Kagan would have to move according to broader strategic considerations.

– Until our main force’s movements are discovered, he too won’t act rashly. If he attacks the Wall with a small force and gets surrounded by all of Landenburg’s troops, even with Unyielding Flesh, he would eventually be defeated in a war of attrition. So don’t worry for now.

A bluff disguised as bait.

In reality, we weren’t planning an ambush after luring them in—our detachment and main force were targeting different locations in a feint strategy, so there were no forces to stop Orhan… but as long as we weren’t discovered, that was fine.

And if we were discovered?

Then things would get complicated. It would mean I and five Masters, along with the defensive forces excluding the main army, would have to hold off Orhan.

Unbeknownst to Orhan, Landenburg’s main force had already moved far south from here long ago. Six Masters, one Hero, and over several thousand cavalry, all of them.

All that remained here were infantry.

While our detachment—that is, we—drew the attention of the enemy’s main force in Ordos, Landenburg’s main force would sweep through the southern plains, picking off scattered enemy forces one by one.

At least, that’s what I knew.