Battle of the Haksha Plains (3): The Grudge

"Since Franklurt has made his move, we can't simply sit by and watch." Wickhart-sama declared with a stern expression.

"I understand how you feel, but we've heard the enemy numbers at least 7,000. Even with the 700 I brought added to our forces, we'd barely reach 6,000. There are plenty of muddy areas where we'd get bogged down. And I hardly need to explain the danger of crossing the river..."

Captain Ryuzel persisted, but Wickhart-sama gave a small shake of his head.

"We can win. Our chance has come. I was just working out a plan for an assault."

"What chance?"

"One of the thugs loitering around here came to me and said, 'I want you to buy some information.' He said there had been a landslide on the mountain road from Golbel to Haksha. They're trapped on the other side of the river right now. If we strike them hard while they're shaken... we can win!"

"Information from a thug? You're going to advance based on something so uncertain?"

"Naturally, I checked it out. We confirmed that more than 1,000 enemy soldiers are stationed around the corridor. They appear to be clearing the rockfall. In other words, their attention is focused behind them. In fact, they've pulled troops farther to the rear than when they first took up position. We won't be spotted crossing now. Besides, since we have so few troops, they never imagined we'd force our way across and attack. What do you say we strike hard right here?"

Just hearing him out, it sounded like there might be a chance, but I knew instantly that this plan was no good.

First, the source of the information—the thug—was unreliable. General Wickhart said troops had gathered in the corridor, but since he had only said, "They appear to be clearing the rocks," he had not actually confirmed the rockfall...