The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 616: The Skill of the Enemy General

In the headquarters of Leonard’s army, I was waiting for Leo.

The one for whom Leo deliberately slowed his advance, spending his time. His nuisance was confirmed.

Of course, if we did not care about the sacrifices and launched an offensive in a strategy of overwhelming numbers, it would eventually fall.

However, it's different if many imperial soldiers are sacrificed in a strategy to save the kingdom's people.

Sooner, yet with minimal sacrifice.

I'm giving such contradictory orders to the generals.

For that reason, Leo had stopped.

He himself went out on reconnaissance to find any gaps.

And then.

"When the supreme commander himself comes to the front, the soldiers will be upset."

As Leo entered the tent, he began with a wry smile.

In response, I smiled mischievously.

"I thought I'd enjoy seeing you troubled."

"You're so stubborn."

Laughing, Leo sits on the chair across the desk.

On the desk is a map of the local area.

There's no need for unnecessary questions between us.

Leo quickly began to talk about what was needed.

"The enemy general, Dorolm, is a capable man. Once, when we attacked a city, he showed remarkable responses. I wanted to minimize the casualties, so I switched to a siege, but it seems that the three cities are connected by underground passages."

"That's troublesome. Where's the location of the underground passage?"

"We have a good idea where it is. It can probably be destroyed but I would rather not resort to that."

"Because if cornered, they become more stubborn?"

"Yes. They are fighting for their kingdom. They've sworn to protect their crumbling homeland. I don't want to fight such people."

It's impossible for those on the front line to get detailed information.

All that comes to them is what's convenient. And however they might gloss over it, we the empire are an invasion force.

Because of that fact, the other side won't negotiate.

They've decided on all-out resistance.

"The crown prince is thorough. To avoid making them suspicious, there are no fake human soldiers around. There are only humans."

"They're going to make use of everything they can."

"Turning people into monsters behind the scenes...and asking patriots to protect them... it makes me angry. Honestly."

Leo, unusually, doesn't hide his anger.

In fact, it's an act that deserves anger.

However, anger alone won't solve anything.

"What do you plan to do?"

"If we attack, both enemies and allies will shed blood. What's troublesome is not just the defense forces, but also the people of the city are participating in the fighting. In a battle to save them, killing them... I'm not keen on it."

"That's the last resort. The first step is to crush their morale, make them feel they can't win."

Leo nodded to my words.

The battle to protect their homeland.

They are burning for it.

They believe they are fighting to protect what's important, and that the enemy is evil.

They probably think that reinforcements will come eventually, and they surely believe that they will win.

That's why they won't break.

But, to think like that requires power.

They have enough grounds to believe in themselves.

That's enemy general Dorolm.

"Leo, how many plans do you have in mind?"

"I've thought about two, what do you plan to do?"

"I got a bit interested and want to try something. Can I take command?"

"Feel free. The supreme commander is you, my brother. But,"

"Don't spill any blood."

The reason why Leo has stopped specifically is to avoid that.

I can't make that effort meaningless.

"So? What do you plan to do? Al."

"First, a light probe."

■■■

"Right wing, advance fifty steps. The cavalry will circle from the left during that time, there's no need to attack the city. Just circle around and come back."

Having taken command of the Leonardo army, I started the attack on the city.

But, it's just a show of force.

The right wing raises their voices and advances.

In response, the enemy city assumes a defensive posture.

However, they probably realized that the right wing was a diversion.

The personnel in front quickly reduced.

They were preparing for the cavalry in the rear.

Their judgment is quick.

"Indeed, it seems like a tough battle."

"If the supreme commander takes control of the front-line army and doesn't achieve anything, it will affect morale, won't it?"

"I know."

In response to Elna's grumbling, I answer while resting my cheek on my hand.

But, already, it's an empty response.

All that's in my head now is the enemy.

In a situation of many against few, the enemy is trying to overcome this by efficiently positioning their soldiers.

It seems they have more defenders than the other cities, but still, at most a few thousand.

There's a disparity in military power with our tens of thousands.

To compensate for that, they seem to be trying to avoid being reactive.

If so, I'll force them into reactivity.

"Center, siege forces. Move forward until the enemy arrows can just barely reach us. If their arrows come, retreat."

"So eventually they'll realize you don't want to fight, right?"

"Who knows? Pretending not to want to fight when you actually don't, is also a strategy."

The enemy recognized the cavalry as a feint, and the number of soldiers at the front increased.

They prepared their arrows and awaited the arrival of the siege forces.

However, the siege forces stop just before the range of the enemy arrows.

In response, the enemy city did not release any arrows.

It was proof that they understood the range perfectly, and they seemed to know that their resources were limited.

How interesting.

"Advance fifty steps on the left wing. After pausing once, move forward ten steps."

Following the right wing and the center, the left wing also steps forward.

The troops are approaching the position from where they can attack at any time.

But, the enemy is competent.

They saw through the left wing's feint and barely moved.

It would be too uncreative to just keep advancing the left wing as is.

An image of me, the enemy general, has already formed in the enemy's mind.

An opponent who will play some strange hand.

That's why, the moment the left wing, which had stopped once, moved slightly forward,

A slight flaw appeared in the enemy's movements, which had been perfect until now.

That was probably because they were considering whether it was a feint or the real deal.

During that time.

That appeared in the speed of their troop movement.

It's not a significant amount of time.

But I will not miss the slight flaw that has occurred.

"Sixth Imperial Guard Cavalry, full charge!! Attack from the right city wall! A feint is enough! Second Imperial Guard Cavalry! Approach the left city wall with cavalry!! Do not attack! Block the enemy's arrows with defensive magic! If it looks like damage will be done, retreat! The judgment is up to you!"

I give rapid instructions.

The Sixth Imperial Guard Cavalry, a peregrine falcon unit, soars into the sky at once, showing an attitude of charging while turning from the right side of the city wall.

Meanwhile, the Second Imperial Guard Cavalry led by Theodore approaches from the left side on horseback.

Against the cavalry, which does not stop at a distance where the arrows do not reach like the siege forces, the enemy can't help but shoot arrows, but Theodore's forces block the arrows with defensive magic.

An intermittent offensive. Moreover, it is an offensive that uses the Imperial Guard Cavalry.

The quality is different from the previous units.

The enemy's movements gradually slow down.

It is an offensive that makes full use of our advantage.

They must be having a hard time.

But we still have a lot of tricks up our sleeve.

"Finn! Threaten their rear!"

"Yes!"

Finn rises into the sky on a white flying dragon.

Seeing that, the enemy is alarmed.

The white dragon knight of the Empire.

Even the people of the kingdom know about them.

They are such a presence that they can change the tide of battle single-handedly.

Attention naturally turns to him.

Finn passes over the enemy and turns around.

He charges at the enemy's rear in one fell swoop.

Of course, it's a feint.

But the charge was so real.

And the caution towards Finn.

Therefore, the enemy allocated personnel to the rear.

They thought Finn was the real deal.

At that moment, I spoke to Leo.

"Right wing retreat. Leo, stun them."

"You're really mean, you know."

Leo, with a bitter smile, mounted a black griffin and gave orders to the central army.

Of course, all the soldiers have been told that they won't be going on the offensive today. They're just to provoke the enemy.

So, all of Leo's commands are bluffs.

Even so,

"Brave soldiers of the Empire! I, the eighth Imperial Prince, Leonard Lakes Adler, command you! Chargeee!"

At the moment when they allocated personnel to the rear.

With the order of the heroic Prince Leo, known for his bravery, the central army advanced.

Just that made screams leak out from the enemy city.

Now that they have allocated personnel to the back, they have to fend off the front with fewer numbers.

The enemy moves in a fluster, but due to being jerked around left and right, they're slow.

Their morale is clearly dropping.

It would probably be possible to push them back at this point.

But I won't do that.

Just before the enemy's arrows could reach, Leo turned his army to the right.

The right wing had already retreated, and Leo's army smoothly passed in front of the enemy.

Another swing and a miss.

They probably thought it was hopeless.

A sense of relief spreads among the enemy.

A release from the state of tension.

I aimed for that moment, and called out to Elna.

"Elna, let's go meet the enemy general."

"I know you won't stop..."

"Hey, what are you saying...?"

Vin, who had been listening to my words nearby, asked with a face that doubted my sanity.

To such Vin, I took Elna's arm and said.

"I leave the rest to you."

"What!?"

Vin's voice quickly became distant.

Led by Elna, I arrived at the front wall of the relieved enemy.

And then...

"I am Arnold Lakes Adler, the supreme commander of the Allied Forces. I came to see General Dorolm. Can I see him?"

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