Volume 4 Chapter 22 (1/2)
Chapter 4 Epiosde 22
Editors : Starbuck11, Kev
Built within the Zalda Kingdom’s territory, was an Ortomea Empire's fort.
The fort was built at the foot of the mountain range that lies on the border between the two countries, it was the most important fort for the invasion of Ortomea Empire.
In one of the rooms inside the fort, Sardina was laying her body on the sofa listening to Seria's report.
”The personnel and goods we have gathered at the Notiz fort would arrive here at least within a month. That was the report regarding the supply status.”
Seria cut her words after she read the numbers listed in the doc.u.ments.
Notiz fort had become a place where personnel and goods gathered from the Ortomea Empire.
From there, via the mountain range valley, they carried the goods to the highway and then brought toward the inner territory of the Zalda Kingdom.
”Good... Finally, we will finish all of this mess...”
Sardina shaked her head while sighing.
This invasion had ended up as a costly invasion that span more than one year.
The disaster happened after the first battle against the Zalda Kingdom.
For Sardina who had thought that the war could end within six month, she could only curse her luck for the war that was still on-going even after a year.
Sardina who had nearly lost the same amount of soldiers as the enemy during the battle of Notiz Plain, stopped the advance of her troops in order to observe the movement of ErnestGora who had began to move their soldiers along the border of their nation with the Zalda Kingdom.
Being wary of an intervention by a great nation such as ErnestGora, it was a natural decision for her to divide her army in two, the main force and the invading one. <tln: some=”” might=”” use=”” ”spearhead vanguard=”” force”=”” but=”” hey=”” the=”” author=”” uses=”” invading=”” words.=”” as=”” for=”” the=”” purpose=”” of=”” her=”” dividing=”” the=”” army,=”” well,=”” think=”” if=”” the=”” ernestgora=”” actually=”” cut=”” off=”” the=”” supply=”” lines=”” of=”” the=”” invading=”” force,=”” she=”” needs=”” to=”” save=”” them=”” by=”” using=”” the=”” main=”” force.=””>
Even when she thought back on it, Sardina didn't think that her decision was wrong.
As a result however, it was also true that Sardina's decision was one of the reasons that prolonged the conquest of the Zalda Kingdom.
If she had advanced with the army after the defeat of the Zalda Kingdom’s main army as a whole, it was possible for her to capture the capital city of Periveria and move their troops into the Rozeria Kingdom by now.
”Finally, I can get rid of that bothersome man...”
Remembering the biggest cause of all this mess, Sardina murmured those words while chewing her thumbnail.
It was one of her bad habits whenever Sardina felt irritated.
”Is this about Joshua Belharres?”
”Thanks to that man, everything has become a complete mess...”
After his father Belharres’ honorable death during the battle of Notiz Plain, Joshua had withdrew the surviving soldiers.
Although she had suffered the same casualties as the enemy, since the enemy commander-in-chief ended up dead, victory was indeed in Sardina's hand.
Although the competence of individual soldiers was important, the most critical elements during warfare were cooperation and command capabilities.
For Sardina, it was natural for her to feel convinced that she had obtained victory after the death of General Belharres, which the Zalda people thought of as the Kingdom's Guardian.
Indeed, within the Zalda Kingdom, no one boasted the same fame and track record as the deceased general.
However, the invasion army that should have proceeded smoothly met a counter-attack from the Zalda forces under the command of Joshua Belharres, leading the invasion force to end up with high casualties and fail.
Because of ErnestGora’s movement, it was impossible to increase the invasion troops, but the invasion force should have enough power to invade deep into the Zalda Kingdom’s territory since the enemy general was already dead, and the enemy chain of command should have become a complete mess too.
But such force was defeated by Joshua Belharres.
It was not because Sardina was stupid, Joshua had made use of the poor visibility and other features along the mountain valleys to his advantage, which caused her to praise him for his superb surprise attack.
And with Joshua’s ability in leading a defensive battle, coupled with the sympathy after his father death, he had attracted the hearts of many Zalda aristocrats who were keen on protecting the country and their territory.
Thanks to that he was hailed as a hero...
At that moment, the outcast third son jumped into fame.
”We've been temporarily forced to pull in the Western Army which is strong in mountainous warfare. From here on out, I won't let you do as you please, Joshua Belharres.”
In a war, the more troops one possessed, the more advantageous it would become.
But then again, even if that thought was not wrong, on a battlefield nothing was certain.
Sharp mountains and deep forests filled most of the Zalda Kingdom territory, making a commander unfamiliar with such topography unable to lead an army properly.
In addition, the metallic fullbody armor worn by the knights might have exerted an outstanding power in plain battle, but in the mountainous areas where there was a difference in elevations, such armor would only become a burden that exhausts the soldiers' physical strength.
However, Ortomea Empire could overcome such limitations by putting soldiers who had experience in irregular battlefields as well as provide them with a map that they had painstakingly made by making use of the locals.
With the soldiers quality becoming equal, the element that could determine the victor would be the number of soldiers one possessed.
(With the Zalda Kingdom's aristocrats turning over to us, strategic victory could have been achieved... I should not make any mistakes afterwards. Letting a prey escape once is enough...)
Carelessness, self-conceit, arrogance...
Sardina knew that such momentary mistakes could lead her into disaster.
Strategic planning fills only 99 percent of the victory conditions. A tactical victory was also needed to fill the 1 percent gap and make it a 100% decisive victory.
”Also, there is a letter sent by his majesty the emperor for your highness Sardina...”
When Sardina was drifting through the sea of thoughts, Seria took out a letter from her bosom.
”From father huh?... It must be filled with a reminder that the war with Zalda Kingdom needs to be finished soon, no?”
While sighing, Sardina sat up and fixed her posture.
For the past year, all the letters that had been delivered using fast horse and birds once a week had the same content.
(Father is too impatient... Though I can understand his feeling, but...)
Naturally, there were limits to both, national strength, and mobilization capability.
Not only that, the fighting along the border with ErnestGora on the western side of the continent had not ended yet.
It was natural that the Emperor wanted to end the battle quickly.
”Give me the letter...”
Seria handed the letter to her silently.
”Che...”
Sardina's face turned cloudy after she read the letter from the Emperor, and after she read one of the sentences inside the letter, she clicked her tongue.
Such an act was very rare for Sardina who had always kept her elegant appearance as the first princess of the Empire.