episode_0023

“… Should we release the prisoners captured in battle?”

The corps commander looked at my suggestion as having difficulty understanding it.

I understand. Returning at least dozens, or possibly hundreds, of prisoners.

This is an opinion that is no different from saying that it restores some of the enemy’s reduced power.

From the perspective of a soldier who must strive for the victory of the empire, this is nonsense.

“Yes, Corps Commander.”

“… A more detailed explanation is needed, Prince Kael.”

Still, like an extra you often see, ‘Go!’ And don’t scold me.

Instead, he shows himself as a commander by asking for a reason for doing so.

I responded with the thought that he was the commander of the elite 12th Legion.

“From the perspective of our imperial army, there is no particular benefit to capturing some prisoners.”

“There is no benefit. Aren’t prisoners proof and trophies of the victory achieved by our imperial army?”

“At least the evidence and loot are things, so you don’t have to eat or pack anything, and you don’t have to be watched to see if they run away.”

If you look at history, there are often cases where massacres of prisoners occur.

Not all actions take place for the same reason.

I am also against killing those who have lost the will to fight and surrendered.

Nevertheless, there are moments when you have no choice but to do such a thing.

‘Prisoners are a burden. Feed and monitor. We need to dedicate resources and personnel.’

If the situation of the person capturing the enemy is good, they can treat the enemy as a prisoner.

But my nose is three feet wide. No, if I were in a situation where I would die from hardship, the words would be different.

The current situation of our 12th Corps is by no means that generous.

I blocked the street when I entered the pavilion, but that’s it.

We must wait for other major forces to take a different route and put pressure on the three-nation alliance.

In addition, due to the hasty advance, the rear supply route could not be completely established.

In other words, supply is not as leisurely as expected.

“… So what you say is. Since he is a prisoner who is doing more harm than good, should he be released?”

“You can’t just kill the prisoners, right?”

“Of course. If they do that, won’t they just get a justification?”

It is true that the empire was angry at the three-nation alliance’s smear and declaration of war.

But apart from that, indiscriminate looting of them was absolutely prohibited.

What does this mean? This means that we will never do anything to change the public opinion.

It conveyed the intention to be careful with the military, which may be overly cautious.

Massacre of prisoners in such a situation? I guarantee you that when the war is over, the hair will fly off as soon as possible.

“Therefore, I formally propose to the corps commander that the prisoners be released.”

“Umm… .”

“Ah. Note that. I am absolutely not suggesting that all prisoners be released.”

“Not everyone released?”

“Corps Commander. Do you know who the commander of the three-nation coalition forces currently entering the pavilion is?”

The corps commander answered my question immediately as if he was asking an obvious question.

“Betel Volkerg is from the Kingdom of Forland.”

“That’s right. I’m from the Kingdom of Forland. It is the Kingdom of Forland, which has the least influence among the three countries.”

After exchanging that much, there was silence for a moment. Then the corps commander tilts his head.

When asked silently if that was the end, I calmly waited for the next words with an affirmative meaning.

“… That, Prince Kael. Perhaps to induce internal division in the opponent. Since the commander of the other side is from Forland, are you saying that you will release only his soldiers?”

“It can be said to be similar.”

In response to my answer, the corps commander let out a deep sigh.

And then, ‘Look. Prince Kael.’ And I start crying.

“Unless the coalition command is stupid, they would have expected that much. Would you accept it obediently even though you clearly know that their actions are intended to cause division?”

“Of course I won’t. yes. Corps commander. ‘Command’ will not tolerate this.”

It seems that the corps commander noticed something as he added an accent to the command word.

He looked at me quietly and thought, ‘No way?’ He muttered and crossed his arms.

“Now that means not the enemy’s command center, but below it. In other words, it sounds like they are targeting soldiers. Is what I said right?”

“Accurate. Corps Commander.”

ruler. From now on, no more low-pitched parts. Let us recall the situation of the soldiers belonging to the Allied Forces of the three countries.

High-ranking people gave me almost no time to rest and rushed me like crazy to get here.

I ran and fought so hard that I vomited blood, but the result was clear defeat.

High-ranking people would have said that they were just going to step aside for a moment and calm the situation.

But that is proof of defeat. If you won, why would you step back?

In that situation, the people who were taken prisoner have returned, but it’s only the Forlanders?

‘What will the soldiers of Burghai and Kaden think when they see that?’

Right now they are fighting over the empire, but not long ago they were bickering with each other.

However, his friends who fought there with him did not return.

I bought only those unsightly things from Forland and came back unharmed?

“Command is the role of the command department. I won’t deny that. But war cannot be fought through command alone. Ultimately, war is fought with people. Therefore, how to control that person will be the decisive factor.”

There is nothing difficult. My memories of my past life are quite clear.

Starting with books, documentaries, and even YouTube algorithms.

How does it encourage division? What is a skilled Buntang?

I can’t see more now, but this memory alone is enough.

“And that’s it, Commander. When a person’s heart is shaken, isn’t it bound to make you shake as well?”

You never know. The soldiers are shaking, so is the command center? Should I just say that and move on?

*

The second offensive of the Allied Forces of the three countries began.

This time too, the main attack was the defense line of the Imperial 12th Corps created along the road.

At the same time as the vigorous pounding, attacks on the highlands on both sides were also carried out.

In order not to give up the side, a minimum number of checks were also necessary.

However, this time too, the allied forces of the three countries ultimately failed to achieve their goal.

Unlike the soldiers’ training status, which varied, the empire appeared uniform.

As a bonus, the command authority was also standardized, unlike the Junggu Nanbangin Union.

“… To push the troops back.”

When the commander’s order was given, the soldiers had to trudge back to their camp.

Then, when I saw my comrades’ empty seats, I couldn’t hide my gloomy expression.

I felt fortunate if I had at least died in battle.

This happened because the commanders described the imperial army as cruel.

Those captured as prisoners are used as slaves and eventually end up as targets for arrows.

Everyone, from new recruits to experienced veterans, believed that.

But continuing from yesterday, today too. The soldiers who had been captured returned to camp.

“What is it? what. Did the empire send it back again?”

“Get out of the way! Are our kids there? Is it there?”

Dozens of people yesterday. And dozens more today.

What they had in common was that they were all from Forland.

As they watched those scenes, a question suddenly arose in the soldiers’ minds.

This is such a strange thing. Why does the Empire only release the Forland soldiers?

If you use them as slaves and then use them as arrow holders, wouldn’t it be a shame to let them go, one by one?

Releasing prisoners means increasing the number of enemies that have been reduced at best.

Why does the Empire act like that, even risking that possibility?

“Listen. Our commander is from Forland.”

“Didn’t that commander make a secret pact with the empire? Forland be spared?”

“Why does the empire only send the Forland things that are worse than our Burghei or those Kaden guys? It’s a bit strange! That doesn’t make sense!”

Curiosity becomes a question. Doubts turn into doubts, and those doubts soon turn into confidence.

An unexpected situation where various parts are combined and overlapped.

Field commanders are not fools. These are the people who are with the soldiers.

There is no way they would not know the situation of their unit, which they lead directly.

“Stop talking nonsense and focus on the battle! These!”

“The Empire is trying to break the bonds of our union! You idiots! Don’t fall for it!”

If Kael had seen that situation in person, he would probably have said this with a smile.

People are truly strange and do not understand the concept of negation.

If you tell them not to do something, it will come to mind more, and if you say no, that fact will only remain stronger.

There is no way that Forland made a secret pact with the empire? Secret medicine? Secret medicine??

There’s no way the commander had something else on his mind? Any other thoughts? Any other thoughts??

Because of those words, an action that remains even more clearly in memory is repeated.

As the soldiers were shaken, people with different ideas naturally came out.

They are none other than assuming the worst and thinking ‘No way?’ These were the types of people who did.

They thought they were awake, but they were masters of excitement that caused division.

‘Our commander is from Forland. And I keep losing. Meanwhile, only Forland is getting its prisoners back. Our soldiers can’t come back!’

‘no wonder. The gaze towards Burghai and Kaden was not very pleasant!’

‘Really, just one chance. Commander. No, what if the entire Kingdom of Forland secretly made contact with the Empire?’

In fact, they were the ones who first challenged the commander’s authority.

Completely forgetting that they were the ones who questioned Forland’s rights.

Some people only revisited the case of ‘internal betrayal’ over and over again.

And although I am not sure, it could be so. That moment when I saw the possibility.

At least in this pavilion area, the three-nation alliance could no longer remain a union.

*

I was sitting on a mountain overlooking the camp of the three countries’ allied forces.

Unless they are fools, they probably know what I’m after.

They will certainly be making every effort to respond to that.

But in the end, as always happens at moments like this. Whoever spreads the spread wins.

You don’t have to make everyone believe you.

Some people who believe that anyway will shake things up to prove that they are not liars.