220 Episode 3 Corner (1/2)

What?　The army of the Kingdom of Fulling has crossed the mountain range?　...... That was surprisingly fast.

After the siege of Edelna City, Hercule's eyes widened in surprise for a moment when he heard the report.

In Hercule's estimation, it should have taken much longer for the Fulling Kingdom to gather its forces.

”How many men?

'Yes, Your Majesty. Yes, Your Majesty. 100 infantry troops, mainly crossbows and spears, and 500 cavalry. The total number of infantry and cavalry is 15,000. The enemy commander is the Bradamante of Temperance.

”...... I see. So it's an advance party.

Hercule patted his chest inwardly.

It was not as if Ludwig I had brought the lords together and led a large army much earlier than Hercule had expected.

It was probably the army of Ludwig I's protégé.

The kingdom of Flering was a feudal state.

As a military state, the total number and quality of its troops is moderate, but it takes time to gather soldiers.

The fact that it was able to move into military action so quickly suggests that it was a kind of standing army, a tiger child that King Ludwig I could move quickly.

(But how could he entrust his precious elite to a single vassal? ...... And at such speed. You should think that they probably anticipated our moves at the stage when I moved my army, or even before that, in the preparation stage.

It's a troublesome opponent, Hercule ponders.

Fortunately, the city of Edelna had fallen easily.

As a result, the ”king” of Edelna and the nobles of his court have already expressed their intention to surrender to the Lemurian Empire.

However, the Kingdom of Edelna is a country that is not yet centralized.

Therefore, even if you cut off the head, the body and limbs will move on their own.

The lords of the land have shown their will to resist.

Currently, diplomatic measures are being taken to make them obey. ......

However, it is a different story when the Fulling Kingdom army arrives so quickly.

There will be many lords who will be shuffling left and right, weighing the Lemurian Empire against the Fulling Kingdom.

(It's those who don't know whether they're friend or foe that are the most troublesome. (It's the ones who don't know whether they're friend or foe that are the most troublesome. ......)

This is probably exactly what Ludwig I wanted.

On the tactical level, Hercule has a big lead at the moment, but on the strategic level, the board is even.

Hercule has the corner of Edelna and Ludwig I has the corner of the advance troops.

The battle situation is not in favor of Hercule.

However, unlike ...... Othello, both sides' corners can be taken.

(If we can defeat Bradamante, the wind will be in our favor.

Hercule chuckled.

And then the generals gathered around him.

They were Sonia, Alicia, and Jebe.

”Welcome. You know that an advance party of the Fullerling army has crossed the Great Mountains?

””Yes, Your Majesty.”

The three of them, who had already shared the information, replied in unison.

Hercule nodded.

I'd like to say that I'm going to go to ...... to fight them off, but I can't leave for a while to coordinate and settle the surrounding area. Therefore, I will send out a separate force to intercept the enemy.

The question is who to send out as a detachment: ......

You can't send Sonia and Alicia out together.

We can't send Sonia and Alicia out together, because it's obvious that they'll start to split up.

So it's safe to say that it's either Jebe or these two.

And considering the specialties of each of them, ......

”Sonia, you will lead an infantry corps of the Kingdom of Chelda and the Red Wolves to intercept them. Jebe, you will lead an independent battalion to assist you.

Yes, sir!

...... Yes.

”......

Sonia wagged her tail happily.

Jebe looks as if he's been entrusted with something troublesome.

And then there's Alicia, who looks very unhappy.

(I wonder if it's okay ......)

Hercule's anxiety got the better of him.