Dull clouds cover the sky. The rain that has begun to fall is gradually increasing its intensity, creating puddles here and there.
The soldiers of Lamaron can be seen on a small hill in the steppe that stretches across Agartha. What started out as a small group has gradually increased in number, and within a few hours it has grown into a large army that fills the entire hill. At the center of the group is Zizeu, the commander-in-chief of the Agartha army. He looks around with satisfaction at the soldiers who greeted him.
"Are they all here?"
"Ha, the Commander-in-Chief is the last one. They are all here.
What about collecting the tribute?
We have completed the collection, as you ordered.
How are the soldiers?
No, sir. There were some skirmishes in some areas, but we have completed the collection without any problems.
"What about those who interfered with the collection of the tribute?"
They were all executed.
"I hope you've been thorough. Well, okay. The point is, all you need to rule a people is fear. Give them that, and you can squeeze as much out of them as you can. So they executed everyone who got in their way. Well done. Nihihihihihihi.
Zizeu was in a good mood and chuckled. In the center of the army, a large number of tribute wagons that they had collected from various places were gathered. The sight of them naturally brings a smile to his face. Zizeu gives orders to his soldiers.
"Hold a council of war. Gather the staff! The rain is getting heavier. Hey, wardens! Guard the tribute wagon! Especially the ones with wheat!
The bureaucrats began to gather around Zizeu.
"Oh, my God! What a terrible thing to do. It's just like the coming of the Great Demon King!"
I was dismayed to hear the reports from the faerie dragons I had sent out as scouts. The Lamarons had taken most of the crops that the people had worked so hard to harvest. I heard that some villages tried to stop them and small battles broke out, but they were all executed by the Lamarong soldiers. Not only that, they were said to have been very violent toward the people.
I don't care what happens to the lords, but I feel sorry for the people.
I looked up to the heavens in my room at the headquarters of the Royal Army. I rang the bell and called for people, and asked them to tell Rico and the others who were packed in the same building to gather in the room.
Everyone immediately gathered. After confirming that everyone was seated, Knogen opened his mouth.
"So, what do we do now? Do you want to continue to watch the Lamaron army?"
"No, if they bring food back to Ramallon, won't the people starve?"
Lafayence's face is worried. Rico interrupts him.
"No, the national harvest has been good so far. The taxes coming in from all over the country should be enough to make up the difference.
"No, let's take out Lamaron's army. It's not in my nature to let them do what they want. We'll take back the food they took from us. General! May and Gon! Prepare as many boundary stones as there are soldiers! Right away."
"Yes, sir."
Knogen and Gon and the others leave the room, and preparations are made in a hurry to go out.
"Now, about this mission to defeat Ramalon's army..."
"Well, as for the plan... I guess the only way is by surprise."
Lafayence mutters with a distant look in his eyes.
"There is no way for 2,000 soldiers to take on 10,000 soldiers except by surprise. We must advance our army into the forest along the Irbezi River. The only way for Lamaron's army to return to the country is through there. Moreover, that road is narrow because it is a mountain road. Any large army would have to move in single file. That's the most effective way to hit them.
"Okay. Let's go with the general's plan. Let's go!
Lafayence and I left the room as quickly as we could. But for some reason, Rico comes out of the room with us. The old general saw us, gave me a look, and left.
"Linos!"
"What's wrong, Rico?"
Rico said nothing and hugged me.
"Please come back safely, I promise."
"It's okay. Whenever I go out with Rico hugging me, I always win. That's why I'll be okay this time. I may not be back tonight, but I'll be back.
"I'm sure, sir?"
I disentangled myself from Rico and walked quickly to the south gate where Ilimo was tied up.
"All right, everyone's here! Let's go out!"
The 2000 cavalrymen of the Agartha army rushed out of the capital at a tremendous speed in the rain.
On the hilltop, the chief commander Zizeu and the rest of the staff of Lamaron's army gathered for a war council on horseback. Zizeu brushes off the pouring rain with a vexed look and opens his mouth.
"First, we will divide the army into two groups. First, we will divide the army into two groups. As the first group, we will divide the 5,000 soldiers into five groups of 1,000 soldiers each, and lead them forward. I will go with the rest of the men to the kingdom to protect the food.
Hear me out! ...The first 5,000 advance south along the Irbezi River as quickly as possible."
Zizeu points to the Irbezi River in the distance and continues.
When you reach the forest along the river that leads to the border, camp there for the night. Then tomorrow morning, proceed through the forest. At that time, we will divide that forest leading to the border into five zones. The advance guard will take charge of each section and guard it until we arrive.
May I ask why, with all due respect?
"You are a fool! I'm not going to let the people of Agartha attack my army! We have an overwhelming military advantage. The only way to fight against us is by surprise. Where is the best position to attack us? It's a forest that goes all the way to the border. The road there is mountainous and narrow. Even with a large army, even a small army can strike a blow against us if they hide in the forest. We must seize that chance!"
"Oh, that's great, Commander-in-Chief."
"The advance party will head for the forest entrance. And our main force will advance while guarding the food supply. Are we clear? Now, let's go."
Receiving Zizeu's order, the Lamarong army moved swiftly.
"What? What is this?"
After a few moments of riding, there was movement on the map. At the same time, Sadakichi, the Fairy Dragon, reported
"The enemy is splitting up?"
One of Lamaron's columns is moving east at great speed. And the following force, though not as fast, is chasing after the one ahead at the speed of a human sprint. I halt the march and order the soldiers to rest.
"What's going on here, Lord Rinos?"
Lafayence is advancing his horse near me.
"The enemy forces have split up. The advance guard is moving east at a tremendous pace."
"You don't think...?"
"If we keep going, we might collide with the enemy army. Let's just wait and see. We've come this far. Let's get something to eat.
I climb down from Ilimo, put up a ward against the rain, and then house the army there and distribute the lunches that I had prepared for everyone since yesterday. After eating and relaxing for a while, the map showed the advance party of Ramallon's army moving toward the forest along the Irbezi River. And after a while, Sadakichi also reported.
"It seems that the advance party of the enemy is heading for the forest along the Irbezi River."
"You don't mean to tell me... that our operation is known to the enemy?"
"No, General. No, General. I don't think so. Perhaps some of the enemy had as much insight as the general.
"Well, what about us...?"
Lafayence is thinking with his hand on his chin. I open my mouth as I watch the movement of the enemy forces on the map.
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
While looking at the map and listening to the reports of Sadakichi and the others, he checks on the soldiers. The soldiers were spending their time in the wards as they pleased. Some of them are taking a nap.
Near evening, the advance party stops near the entrance to the forest. The faerie dragons report that they are preparing to make camp. Then the followers also stopped, and they too began to prepare for encampment.
"You guys are setting up camp at a very delicate distance. At this distance, if one of the units is attacked, they would not be able to come to the rescue easily.
I draw a map on the ground and show the soldiers the enemy's position.
"Well, the rear units are transporting food, so that's what they'll be doing," he says. They probably think they can repel us if they are attacked by us.
Knogen analyzes the enemy's rear units, pointing to them with a stick. Hearing this, Lafayence opens his mouth in an excited voice.
"Should we launch a night attack?"
"No, General, let's not. No, General, let's not do this. I'm sure the enemy is well aware of that. Besides, there will be sorcerers with the skill of detecting signs. Well, we'll sleep at night. We'll camp here for the night. The battle will be decided tomorrow. Tomorrow we will attack the army that follows.
"Attack the army that follows...? Won't we be caught in the middle of the enemy?"
No, we must fight as close to the following army as possible to prevent that from happening.
"But Mister Linos, I believe that this area is a large grassland. Even though the enemy has split into two groups, they have twice as many men as we do. We would not stand a chance if we were to go head-to-head against them on the plains where there is no place to hide, would we?
I have a plan for that. But it requires a lot of soldiers..."
"Oh, leave it to me then! These are men I have trained with great care. They are skilled enough to charge at a target in total darkness without breaking ranks or making a single sound."
Lafayence is full of confidence.
"Are you sure about that, guys? I'm sure you're very well trained, but after only a month or so... are you okay?"
I look at the soldiers, all of whom are smiling wryly.
"You can see how hard the general's training is."
Knogen is also smiling.
"All right, all right. Let's see how well the general's training has paid off, shall we?"
I looked at the soldiers with an evil look on my face.