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“…Therefore, the Imperial forces currently mobilized are already well over 400,000. Adding in the reinforcements from various regions, it could reach 500,000.”

“….”

“….”

500,000. Those words left the command of Dedorant speechless.

Just the Imperial First Army they’ve mobilized alone exceeds 200,000.

Although two of their legions collapsed in the recent battle, they are still a powerful military force.

And now, that number is well over double?

I start to feel uneasy, as if the ‘Yoke of Seton’ might truly be reenacted.

Ah, when I mention Seton, I mean one of the great generals of the Empire from the past.

A figure who achieved remarkable feats in the western conquests of the Empire, during which the kingdom that would become Dedorant suffered a decisive defeat at his hands.

Thanks to that, the Empire expanded its western territories and established the current borders.

“Of course, more than half of the 500,000 troops are those who were conscripted after the draft, so their combat effectiveness isn’t that high. Still, their main force is the First Army, and they have lost to us, Dedorant.”

Right. That’s right. To be exact, they only have a record of previous defeats.

They are currently recovering and reorganizing just like us.

Moreover, there’s a strategist among them who has thrown their operations into disarray.

“It seems no separate support from the Empire has reached us on the Dedorant side. We’ve only identified that the Eastern Allied Forces associated with the three kingdoms to the east are moving in.”

“The heavy infantry of Nobogord are storming the borders of Atria. In response, Your Highness the Prince has personally dispatched the elite forces to secure the remaining areas.”

“And regarding Benito…”

Just as the report was about to continue, the tent door burst open and Prince Georg entered.

At his sudden appearance, everyone in attendance quickly stood to attention.

“Your Highness!”

“Don’t mind me, carry on.”

His face was smeared with fatigue.

I had the urge to ask what was wrong, but understanding the situation took priority, so I turned my attention back to the report.

“From Benito, the Imperial 4th Legion and Southern Kingdom forces have arrived. Additionally, it seems that 50,000 Imperial troops have moved in as well, but we are still trying to ascertain what kind of forces they are and their intentions for heading to Benito rather than targeting us, Dedorant, or Atria.”

Prince Georg subtly raised his hand to halt the meeting.

He stood beside the reporter and addressed the commanders looking at him.

“Just now, we confirmed that the Second Princess of the Empire has appeared on the front lines toward Benito.”

“Your Highness?”

“I received this news directly from a scout. The Fifth Army stationed in Benito is also sending the same report.”

“….”

The Empire’s Second Princess. She’s not particularly a great warrior or a strategist.

But every time she appears, significant movements from the Empire tend to follow.

This was the case in the conflicts between the Empire and the Eastern Kingdoms, and again with the Empire’s alliance with the Southern Kingdom.

Every time there’s a change or a big event, the Second Princess is always there.

From this standpoint, the commanders could posit two scenarios.

“Either they are planning a massive attack on Benito.”

“Or they’re sending the Second Princess to keep our eyes fixed to the south.”

Honestly, it’s a bit much. The real battlefield is here, on the Central Front.

Dedorant’s main forces are stationed here. The outcome of this fight will determine the direction of this war.

Yet, the Empire keeps expanding the battlefield north and south.

There are hardly any reinforcements regarding the Central Front visible at all.

That being said, to consider this merely a deception was quite difficult to believe.

The reports from the scouts align with the Empire’s possibility to do so.

Mobilizing about 50,000 isn’t too much of a stretch for the Empire.

It can’t be helped. We must predict and judge the more likely scenario.

In that case, we can see a bit of the Empire’s schemes.

They probably intend to suffocate Dedorant to death.

By expanding the battlefront like this, Dedorant would have to handle far too much.

They’re just waiting until we can’t bear the weight and fall on our own.

“Your Highness, does that mean the Empire’s goal is not just to eliminate our army, but to encircle Dedorant itself within a massive siege?”

“For now, that’s what we expect. By constraining Dedorant from the north and south, if we split our forces accordingly, they won’t need to reinforce the Central Front as it will be equivalent to having reinforcements.”

Since two legions vanished after the disappearance of the Western Legion, the Empire hasn’t reinforced its First Army beyond the Eastern Allied Forces.

Now, the forces available to them consist of only nine legions, around 180,000 troops.

With that number, it would be quite manageable for our Dedorant and Atria forces to engage.

No, to be precise, it could have been manageable ‘before.’

As they spread their troops to the north and south, Dedorant’s forces have significantly reduced as well.

Now, we’re down to just shy of 100,000.

“Your Highness, if they are truly expanding their battlefield, shouldn’t we break through the center even more?”

“Come now, use your head. The Empire still has nine legions left in the Central Front. How are we supposed to break through against an enemy that nearly doubles our numbers?”

“Does that mean we should just let the north and south close in? It’s as if our Deo Ethnicity is about to shoulder the ‘Yoke of Seton’ again!”

For a brief moment, a heated argument erupted among the commanders.

Even the name Seton, the one figure they despised most in the Empire, was mentioned.

The one who quelled the potential uproar was, predictably, Prince Georg.

“The Empire has changed its grand strategy. They plan to strangle us with resources and personnel we could hardly handle, gradually wearing us down.”

“…”

“The weakness of such a strategy, as you all mentioned, is that we could once again inflict devastating damage to the center. However, Kael, the Empire’s strategist wouldn’t have ignored that aspect.”

As soon as Kael’s name was mentioned, some let out a sigh while others vented their anger.

If that young man wasn’t around, our situation would be several times better than it is now.

He’s like a reincarnation of Seton. No, frankly, Seton would be better.

At least he fought on the battlefield with spear and sword in hand. Unlike this crafty strategist named Kael!

“So, this is about guiding our forces to be distributed to the north and south. It’s to eliminate any intent we have to break through the central region, without bolstering Dedorant.”

“…Your Highness.”

At that moment, one of Prince Georg’s subordinates raised his hand tentatively.

“Speak, Gruber.”

“Ultimately, the reason our Dedorant can’t launch a decisive strike is because our forces are split and are fewer than the Empire’s First Army, right?”

“That’s the biggest reason.”

“If so, can’t we just somehow fill the ranks?”

Filling the ranks. Other commanders expressed skepticism at this suggestion.

Who doesn’t know that? The lack of troops means we just need to fill them up.

The issue is that the Dedorant and Atria armies have already been significantly depleted from previous lure tactics.

Not all of them have vanished, but losing 30,000 is no small number.

However, it seemed Gruber was having some other thoughts.

“Our Dedorant and our brother kingdom Atria aren’t the only ones that exist.”

“…Are you talking about DeGale?”

“It’s now just what used to be DeGale. Many of the high nobles who surrendered to us Dedorant are likely there, and their remaining forces are considerable.”

That’s true. Not all of DeGale’s forces perished under Dedorant.

At least over 30,000 residual troops have been disarmed and returned to their homeland.

There had been opinions from the start to immediately utilize them in our Dedorant forces.

However, due to concerns about rebellion and maintaining public sentiment in DeGale, we had to abandon that plan.

Now that Gruber has brought it up again, the Dedorant commanders start calculating.

‘Our main forces in Dedorant have caught their breath. The Empire has reorganized, but they haven’t reinforced their lost legions.’

‘The Empire’s strengths lie in their vast human resources and supplies. Initially, the goal was to buy time, but now doing so will lead to our downfall.’

‘We cannot repeat the Yoke of Seton again. Absolutely not.’

With the current situation confirmed and the placements of the Dedorant army and Imperial army evaluated.

The commanders, having weighed various factors, turned to Prince Georg.

“Your Highness. If we procure troops from DeGale as suggested, we would be able to handle the tribute issue to some extent.”

“While I have concerns about rebellion, what if we increased the number of peacekeeping forces in DeGale? They wouldn’t dare think foolishly because of their own families.”

“If we recruit additional volunteers from the existing DeGale army of 30,000, we could reach a maximum of 50,000. With that level, we could deliver a significant blow to a complacent Empire.”

Prince Georg also quietly considered the possibilities and effects.

It’s a harsh reality that we have no sharp solutions right now. But we have to break through somehow.

We can’t just stand by while the battlefield keeps expanding.

“…Gruber.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’m assigning you the mission and full authority to gather troops from DeGale. Do your best to collect those who can manage our tribute as quickly as possible.”

“Understood!!”

Ah, just in case, he adds a warning.

“Conscription is good, but don’t overdo it. If the public sentiment in DeGale turns against us, it will be serious.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

After the commander meeting concluded, Prince Georg let out a sigh of relief.

Stay calm. Don’t be hasty. Being so will only lead to instability.

He must remain composed. A cool-headed rationale must be maintained at all times.

‘Once we’re reorganized, and gather some conscripts from DeGale. If the Empire continues to pay attention to the north and south while we swiftly penetrate the Central Front, there will definitely be a chance for victory.’

What’s crucial is that he must never rush.

After sufficient reorganization in Dedorant. At the same time, when the Empire is excitedly expanding the battlefield.

There will arise an opportunity when they’ve overextended themselves, causing a chance to strike.

*

“…What did you just say?”

The next day. Upon receiving urgent news, Prince Georg doubted his own ears.

“The, the Empire folks. They’ve renamed the castle they seized from us Dedorant as their stronghold. And the name is… ‘Setongrad,’ Your Highness.”

“…”

“Those vile creatures dare to brand our Dedorant castle with Seton’s name!!”

 

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