Royal Road of the Extra Scribe

23

Beccabia’s army, having lost its focal point, began to crumble rapidly.

“Master, please take care of the officer commanding the troops over there. Eo, lead the cavalry to cut off the enemy’s retreat. They will be isolated once you do that.”

“Got it.”

“Charge!”

The two dashed off with the troops.

Yumir, wondering if there were any orders for him, obediently lowered his tail, but there were none.

I raised the command post and shouted, “The enemy’s commander is dead! Charge at them!”

The enemy was disoriented and retreating.

This was due to the lack of a proper command structure to handle this situation.

Sophia Veron, who was supposed to handle the situation from the rear, was unable to do so because of Anton’s invasion.

After conveying to Anton to retreat appropriately, I started calmly dealing with the troops led by Maxman.

With the number of soldiers killed or captured reaching 20,000, Beccabia suffered irreparable losses.

***

The reason this war is called the Tripartite War is because of Albard, Crossing, and Beccabia. One must examine the founding backgrounds of these three nations.

These three countries shared the Malorun Ducal Family of the Pensilon Empire as their common root.

The brothers of the Malorun family, each establishing their own kingdom after the fall of the Pensilon Empire, were these three nations.

At that time, they jointly chose the lion symbol, which was the symbol of the Malorun Ducal Family, as their national flag. This led to their war being called the Lion War.

These three countries, or more precisely, the independent brothers, did not have a good relationship.

Especially Crossing, which rejected the noble system entirely and established a republic, was nothing short of a public enemy.

Whenever Crossing initiated a war, Albard and Beccabia always allied to oppose them, and it was this coalition that repeatedly thwarted Crossing’s ambitions.

However, this time things were unfolding differently.

“Report! Engagement reported in Carington! Karl Maxman has led his entire force into battle! Our troops have engaged!”

When this news reached the military headquarters of Juras.

Except for Juras, the other officers were wearing expressions of anticipation.

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“Indeed, Maxman wasted no time in launching an attack.”

“Appointing a mercenary as Carington’s commander was a clear mistake by the supreme commander.”

“This time, we might have to retreat early.”

“Our casualties should be minimal.”

On the other hand, Juras was thrilled like a child, saying it had become an interesting situation.

And half a day later.

“Sudden──!!”

A soldier started his report with a face pale with shock.

This report shook the military headquarters.

“General Wade has splendidly defeated the enemy! He has acquired the supply line of enemy commander Karl Maxman and either killed or captured 30,000 enemy troops!”

Wow!! Cheers echoed loudly.

“Wha, what! He took down Maxman!?”

“What about our casualties!? How many have we suffered!”

They inflicted 30,000 casualties, while Al’s army suffered 15,000, including the wounded.

They achieved nearly double the results.

An unbelievable great victory.

“Well, I certainly expected that much.”

Juras smirked.

The officers eyed him fearfully.

Handing over command of 60,000 mercenaries just because he won a mere chess match.

His bold claim had turned out to be true.

“Commander. What do you plan to do now?”

General Kiesler, who was assisting Juras, asked.

“With that level of casualties, the Carlington battlefield is practically over. The enemy will definitely reinforce Carlington from another front. Shouldn’t we hold them off there?”

“Hmm. That does make sense, but…”

Juras hesitated as if waiting for something.

And one hour later.

“Commander! A testimony has arrived from General Wade!”

Al’s request regarding their future movements was included in the testimony.

“Ha, hahahahaha! Hohohoho! Indeed, you plan to do that. Very well!”

Reading the sincerity of this request, Juras was enjoying Al’s capabilities more than expected.

Meanwhile, at the northwest front of the Albad and Beccabia Allied Forces facing Juras.

The atmosphere in this military headquarters, receiving the same report, was grim.

“That brat…!!”

Gylias, who had been hit by Al, was deeply upset.

The figures in the Beccabia camp were in contemplation, unsure of what to do.

The military headquarters was buzzing uncontrollably. That was the situation.

Thud!

When the old man sitting on the throne tapped his cane, the room quieted down as if by magic.

“Calm down. Causing a commotion won’t solve anything.”

The old man gazed at Gylias with sunken eyes.

“Gylias, is this the mercenary with the gray helmet you were talking about?”

“Yes, sir. That brat is definitely the one.”

“When I heard you had defected to the mercenaries, I thought it was a stroke of luck, but it seems he possesses proper skills as well.”

“If we meet next, I am confident I can take him down. Master, please dispatch me to Carington!”

“If it were possible, I would like that, but the cunning fox probably won’t just stand idly by.”

As those words ended, a frightening ding dong ding dong! of a bell signaling the enemy’s advance began to ring.

The cunning fox. An army of 80,000 led by Juras Pamilion was advancing.

“It can’t be helped.”

Thwack! The old man made his decision, striking his staff.

He urgently dispatched the Carington Union Army of 10,000, which belonged to the alliance of Beccabia, to confront them.

As a result, he had to face the enemy with 70,000 troops, 10,000 less than Juras’s forces, but he was confident he could hold his ground even if Juras himself was the opponent.

He was that kind of person.

Kaien of Saray.

A living legend known as the founding hero of the Albad Kingdom and the grand general of the Pensilon Empire, revered as the master of all strategists.

* * *

The situation of the escalating war.

I was preparing my next move while consolidating reports from other battlefields.

“Juras’s offspring. Even though I only provided fragmentary information, you move as if you’ve read it all.”

I expected such a statement, but it was truly eerie how well he understood. It felt like we were looking at the same scene.

“Alse, what are we going to do now? The enemy’s reinforcements will reach this area in two days.”

“That’s true.”

“Shouldn’t we deal with the enemy before that?”

The Beccabian army, reduced to 35,000, had withdrawn significantly to the rear, securing their positions.

Finally coming to their senses, they took up the best defensive positions and fortified their stance.

They were determined to hold out until the arrival of the 10,000 reinforcements.

“Master, have you heard this saying? Strategy is built upon tactics, tactics crumble under skillful stratagems, and those stratagems are thwarted by inspired tactics.”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“In simple terms, it’s like rock-paper-scissors.”

“What’s this rock-paper-scissors you’re talking about?”

“I guess I have to start from there.”

Tactics, strategy, stratagem.

These three are in a relationship like rock-paper-scissors.

Tactics. In other words, mercenary skills find it hard to surpass the wall of strategy.

The current situation is favorable.

What the Beccabian army is adopting is a strategy.

They are holding their ground, securing good terrain. Whatever happens, they will persevere.

They made a strategic choice.

“The only thing we can do against such opponents right now is one thing.”

Exploiting numerical superiority to break the enemy’s defense with tactical movements.

“Well, by doing that, I’m not saying we won’t win, but we’ll have to endure significant losses. We lost in rock-paper-scissors, after all.”

“Um… that’s true.”

“So, this time, we’ve decided to use a stratagem to dismantle that strategy.”

“What kind of stratagem are you planning to use?”

“hahahaha, it’s a simple strategy. Just watch.”

It would take about two days for the enemy reinforcements to arrive.

The next morning, I gave the soldiers one instruction.

“Today, we shall host a feast! While alcohol will not be served, you are welcome to eat as much meat and food as you like!”

After my first victory, I decided to slaughter the livestock I had procured from a nearby city on the spot to offer to the soldiers.

The soldiers, who had been expecting to pursue the enemy and engage in battle immediately, began to enjoy the feast, questioning what kind of trick this was.

Approaching the soldiers who were preparing the hundreds of livestock, I gave them one more instruction.

“Do not discard the innards, but rather, would you mind putting them in the prepared cart?”

“Innards? Where do you intend to use them…?”

“Well, there are various uses for them. For instance, if you wash and cook them, they are quite tasty, don’t you think?”

“Well, if there’s nothing else to eat, I suppose we could do that.”

“Anyway, please gather them properly.”

“Understood.”

As the soldiers enjoyed the feast, feeling somewhat relieved since the preparations were complete, I decided to pass the time by sending a messenger to deliver a letter along with Karl Maxman’s body.

In the encampment of Beccabia, where the funeral was taking place, Sophia Veron spotted a cart approaching from the enemy camp.

A cart delivered by prisoners of war captured on the enemy side.

“That, that is…!”

Colonel Macallie Kuhn, a disciple of General Maxman, rushed to the cart.

“General!”

On the straw inside the cart lay the body of Maxman, carefully sewn back together by the field surgeon.

‘What on earth is the meaning of this?’

Sophia couldn’t help but doubt the true intentions behind this.

Wasn’t this act of returning Maxman’s body respectfully rather than displaying it an incomprehensible behavior?

Perplexed by this puzzling action, Sophia trembled as she read a letter sent to her.

A letter from Alz addressed to Sophia.

[Sophia Veron. I commend your brilliant strategy.]

The letter began in a tone that was difficult to swallow, filled with stern criticism.

Points such as not leveraging the terrain advantage while on the defensive, pushing forward with Maxman too far, and losing control over the main forces were meticulously highlighted in the serious reprimand.

Though the contents of the letter were serious and constructive, it was predictable how Sophia would perceive it.

The message she received could be summed up in one word.

[Amateurish mocking.]

A poorly disguised ridicule.

She found it hard to contain her anger.

“He will regret that choice…!”

Taking advantage of the reckless handling of the body, Sophia promptly prepared a grand funeral for Maxman.

Through this, she aimed to boost the morale of the soldiers and officers.

Maxman’s body lying in state on the altar.

The soldiers of Beccabia were gearing up for the decisive battle as they gazed upon it.