episode_0071

I gathered my thoughts.

If we assume that the news of the 50,000 advance troops marching out was itself a ‘bait’, it was not difficult to guess why there were 50,000 people.

Even if it was a fortress rather than a castle, the side that defended it was fundamentally superior to the side that laid siege in battle.

It’s not that we can’t block it, but we can’t overpower it either, so wouldn’t both sides end up engaging in a slow war of attrition?

Jinor must have kept that in mind when he argued, ‘If it is a long-term war, it will be our army that loses.’

In order for the Brans army to secure victory, it was correct to bring at least 70,000 to 80,000 men.

Probably 20,000 to 30,000 people could be gathered from Brans County by squeezing in various places. Because the population was large and the border was wide, the number of soldiers deployed was also large.

At that time, Epinel probably gave up his resistance and returned to the castle. It would have been a much more reasonable decision to join the troops in the castle and hold a sit-in protest.

Right there, something resembling an ‘answer’ was read.

‘Because there were 50,000 people that Epinel would not back down… … Did you get the numbers right?’

If the purpose was to tie up the troops, including me, to this fortress and give them the feeling that it was ‘worth a try’, then the number of 53,000 men was extremely exquisite.

In fact, it was as if it was proven by Epinel passing over.

‘wait for a sec.’

If that advance team is a decoy for us, it probably means that their goal is not this fortress after all.

Otherwise, there would be no reason to send bait to the fortress.

So what is their purpose?

Here again, we have two predictions that are unconditionally correct.

Taking a soldier and retreating is a ‘somewhat close solution’.

The fact that winning a fight depends on the will of heaven – that is, on how our military acts.

If our military chooses ‘something’, we win.

And, taking the soldiers out of the fortress and retreating to Balharat Castle is an action that is ‘somewhat close to the correct answer.’

‘Including taking out soldiers… … Does our military have to do something to win?’

But then, isn’t the sentence a little strange?

What do I have to do to win?

What if I don’t do something, I lose?

‘If you don’t do something, you lose… … A situation where you have to do something to win… … .’

Once again, I began to tally up in my head all the possible actions Brans would take.

The more you eliminate the impossible one by one, the more clearly the truth will shine through.

What would you have done if you were Brans?

How did they behave so that the two predictions led to this result?

One more time… …

* * *

“… … Huh.”

After hearing Farfalle’s explanation, Chell was shocked and couldn’t say anything.

“What do you think?”

“Rather than how… … Should I say it’s too bold… … Is it really possible… … .”

“It is possible. No, rather, this is the only way. In order to deliver a blow to the Aishous army as soon as possible without waiting for 30,000 troops.”

Farfalle spoke in a very serious tone.

“Of course, there is only one moment, right now, when you can use this method. I understand that the risk of failure is never small. However, I think now is the time to make a decision.”

“Umm… … .”

Chell stroked her chin with her hand and was lost in thought.

Farfalle’s suggestion.

Certainly, it was the most irregular yet most efficient method that could be taken in the current situation.

There is only one problem. If we fail, our military will suffer enormous losses.

Already, due to Iren’s betrayal, more than 30,000 soldiers changed from Brans’s army to Aethus’s army in an instant. If all of the current troops were to be lost, then something truly irreversible would happen. It could have been.

Wouldn’t it become a question of whether the southern border will be breached or whether the northern border will be breached?

“… … It seems like such a reckless idea… … No matter how much you think about it, it seems safer to just slowly attack the fortress using direct attacks. Of course, I am concerned about Swen’s ability, but as you said, if he had known how to freely use that ability, wouldn’t he have invaded Lockline Castle a long time ago? In fact, I heard that Swen himself said when he was in our military that it was not an ability that could be used at will at any time.”

“Then, let’s assume a situation where Swen cannot use her abilities as the general said.”

Farfalle placed his hand on the map on the table again and began to explain.

“If we fight for a long time, we will win, but we don’t know how long it will take. There are many generals with outstanding abilities in the Aishous military. Of course, if we continue to take time, we will eventually win, but it is unclear whether the southern countries and the northern Serpina army will remain silent in the meantime. As long as the lord’s will is firm and his will to punish Aishous-kun first – I think the right answer is to sort it out as quickly as possible. And I think the only way to avoid wasting time is the way I just mentioned.”

“But… … Isn’t there a possibility that the teacher’s plan won’t work?”

“Of course there is, but I think the probability is very low.”

“If it’s okay, I’d like to hear the rationale.”

Farfalle nodded and said.

“Epinel Rosencross, the fortress commander currently guarding the fortress, is a combat-oriented general with a bossy personality. She has a tendency to prefer all-out war rather than relying on schemes or schemes. She will likely insist on holding down the fort. Since this is her opinion, which has a very high standing within Aishus County, it will naturally be passed. There is no doubt that this is information obtained as a result of cross-verification by collecting information obtained while in the eastern border area.”

“Then in the end… … .”

“That’s right. The loss we will incur in case of failure is painful, but in the end, even if we fight in an all-out war, we don’t have much of a chance of winning since we don’t know exactly what Swen’s abilities are. If there is a risk in both cases, shouldn’t we go for the one with the greater benefit, which we can be sure of?”

“… … .”

“Chell. That’s all I have to say. Even if you don’t follow my opinion, I will assist you with all my heart.”

Although Farfalle held a fairly high position as a state officer, in the end, it was up to General Chell to lead in practical terms.

Chell thought for a while, then nodded and spoke as if he had decided on something.

“… … We are-”

* * *

I cleared my mind.

And, I only included two facts that came out as a result of the prediction just now.

The victory or defeat of the battle depended on our military’s choices.

Here, withdrawing troops is, to some extent, the right thing to do.

These two propositions are absolutely [true]. A brain with 100% intelligence always says the right thing.

In other words, we had to both take out the soldiers and do something to win this battle.

I looked at the map for a long time.

There are quite a few forests scattered around.

Lacline St. these days. And a straight, narrow passage leading to Balharat Castle.

As I slowly looked at the map-

The number of cases was erased one by one.

All the tricks Brans can use against us.

All possible preparation measures for our military to respond to the Brans military.

As I was deleting them all… … Only one ‘possibility’ was making its presence felt strongly in the darkness.

‘… … !’

It was that moment.

As my mind, which had been tangled up in a skein of complicated thoughts, cleared for a moment, I felt like I could understand why a brain with 100% intelligence could make such a prediction.

Something like a revelation from God… … It wrapped around my body intensely.

“… … Surprise.”

I put that word on my tongue without realizing it.

okay.

surprise attack.

The enemy’s goal is not this fortress.

The advance team sent to the fortress is bait.

The enemy’s target is the capital and only fortress of the Aethus Army, whose troops are currently leaving for the battle with the Alefel Army –

‘The enemy is planning to launch a surprise attack on Balharat Castle.’

It was highly likely that the number of soldiers dispatched was not more than 50,000. Spreading false information isn’t that difficult.

Even if it were true, the number of troops that would eventually arrive in front of the fortress would be small. All the rest of the soldiers had to do was march through the forest, take a detour and return to Balharat Castle.

As I thought about it like that, all the fragmented facts that had seemed completely unrelated until just now began to come together.

therefore.

That is, it is said that a brain with 100 intellect [depends on the will of heaven].

That’s right, if we prepare for a surprise attack, we will win. But if we don’t prepare for a surprise attack, we lose.

So, it is said that a brain with an intelligence of 100 is [somewhat close].

If we take the troops out of the fortress, make them retreat, and station them at Balharat Castle, we can at least prevent a surprise attack.

But Brans is no fool either. If they confirm that the soldiers have been increased, they will immediately withdraw their troops without going into battle.

Jinor’s agenda is a half-answer. It was a kind of status quo that safely preserved our army’s forces, but also could not put a dent in Brans’s forces.

If I think about the word ‘somewhat close’ once again, there is no other word that explains the situation as well as this.

Really correct answer.

As predicted by Intelligence 100, the ‘most efficient answer for the Aishous Army’ is to counterattack in preparation for a surprise attack.

Soldiers who fail the surprise attack will instantly fall into a state of confusion. Clearing out soldiers who have fallen out of line will be as easy as eating cake.

A way to inflict a critical blow on Brans’s troops while preserving our troops.

That was ‘preparing for a surprise attack on Balharat Castle.’

‘… … ha.’

I let out a long sigh and leaned back against the back of the chair I was sitting on.

When I noticed, cold sweat was running down my entire body.

It literally felt like walking on thin ice. Trying to figure out what was going on in sentences that I didn’t even understand, but were unconditionally true, was a task that required too much energy.

Nevertheless.

In the end, I succeeded in finding a route that seemed vaguely correct.

‘This is only half the story.’

Yes.

As I found out, it was only half the story.

This was not Lunarien County, which almost always listened to what I said.

Even if what I say is absolutely right, it means nothing if you don’t listen to it in the end.

Besides, isn’t this a cold-blooded Aishous county where even people like Jinor drink a bitter cup just because they don’t have enough time?

‘Still, I have to convince you.’

Even if a new general like me tries to persuade him, he won’t be able to change Epinel’s heart.

So who should I contact first… … In the end, is it Jinor?

Jinor is a state agent. No matter how much Epinel backed away from Jinor’s opinion, the probability that he, as a national strategist, could persuade Epinel was higher than the probability that I could persuade her.

‘I do not have time. ‘Let’s move quickly.’

I got up from my seat and walked towards where Jinor was.