Chapter 107
It's always pleasant when things go according to plan.
Even if the enemy retreated or conducted delaying tactics by attacking supply routes as they had done before, it wouldn't have been a problem, but,
"The enemy is fleeing!"
"Hmm..."
The main cavalry force jumped entirely into the trap, and the infantry leaping in to help those buried.
As it flowed according to one of the best scenarios I had wanted, the enemy's ranks quickly collapsed.
"..."
If there was anything regrettable, it was that the enemy had prepared for retreat this time as well.
Unlike the officers of the Brotan Kingdom who hadn't thought of retreat at all, the Esperian Kingdom's army always moved with retreat in mind.
A small number of soldiers were waiting in their rear, and even during retreat, some remained in place to delay our pursuit.
"The enemy in the rear is fleeing too!"
"It's impossible to chase all the fleeing enemies. Focus on striking those who are resisting while holding their positions first."
"Understood!"
Moreover, their speed in deciding to retreat was fast, and as I didn't want to suffer unnecessary additional damage, it was difficult to forcibly capture all of them.
"Our casualties total 2,291. Most are from the 3rd Infantry Regiment, and a considerable number are wounded."
"Enemy casualties are estimated at about 15,000, and we've captured about 4,000 prisoners."
Still, we succeeded in inflicting sufficient damage on the kingdom's army in this battle.
We completely annihilated the cavalry, which had the greatest potential to create variables, and this time, as the mercenaries retreated before the regular troops, most of the damage was concentrated on the enemy regular troops who held their positions.
In contrast to the previous Battle of Al Berdo Pass where the elite troops escaped, resulting in a somewhat disappointing outcome, and although we let the enemy commander Sancho slip away for the second time.
There's no enemy as easy as mercenaries holed up in a fortress.
With this battle, we gained a definite advantage.
"We'll advance right up to Ordova. Regiment Commander Axel Lübeck. Stay here and handle the wounded and prisoners."
"...Understood."
I left Axel in charge of the cleanup and resumed the march to prevent the kingdom's army from stopping in strange places.
By sending scouts far ahead to deceive our position, the enemy didn't even think of stopping midway and fled all the way to Ordova Castle, and,
"...Is that castle Ordova Castle?"
"Hmm."
A few days later.
We arrived at our destination, Ordova, without hindrance and were able to set up camp in front of the walls.
The castle was huge and the walls were high, but the walls of the Ceres Gate, which couldn't withstand the bombardment even after some reinforcement, were higher and thicker.
"We'll prepare for bombardment tomorrow."
"Yes!"
We planned to bombard the next day, intending to bring down the capital in one go, but,
"...They're holding a white flag."
"Oh."
Before our bombardment could begin, a messenger from the Esperian Kingdom approaching with a white flag came first.
"We need to make some preparations."
For the 'preparation' to receive the messenger, I called the officers in advance.
---
Viktor sat in the middle of the tent, receiving the messenger along with the officers holding documents as if in a meeting.
"Are you saying to bombard this point?"
"That's right. Three hours? No. Two hours should be enough."
"..."
As per the instruction to let him in without a separate answer, the messenger entered the tent, which looked like a meeting in progress, with stiff steps.
At first, he just stood still, looking at the Red Dragon Corps officers, but they conversed as if the messenger wasn't there, and,
"That's right. All the way over here. It seems possible to bring down even this part."
"You mean to topple the entire gate. Good."
"If it doesn't work, we can bombard the gate as well."
"...!"
The messenger's expression, who had been listening silently, grew paler as the conversation continued.
Although he was trying to hide his tension, his fingertips fiddling with his monocle were trembling slightly.
"Will one day be enough?"
"Yes. If you'd like to have dinner inside the castle, we could hurry a bit more."
"Haha. I appreciate the thought, but I'd prefer a hearty lunch over dinner. Feel free to proceed at a leisurely pace."
"Understood."
"Then..."
The messenger, who had been opening and closing his mouth slightly,
"General Viktor...! ...I am Count Emilio Silva of the Esperian Kingdom."
"Ah. They said a messenger had come."
Called out to Viktor with a trembling voice.
Viktor's eyes lit up upon hearing Emilio's self-introduction.
"His Majesty King Julio Tosar wishes for dialogue."
"Dialogue, is it?"
Casually receiving the messenger's words about wanting dialogue, Viktor gave a slight hand signal to the officers.
"Hahaha!"
"Dialogue? Haven't we already had enough dialogue!"
"I was wondering why there was no response, it seems our greetings are still unfamiliar!"
The officers who noticed the signal raised their voices, laughing uproariously, and Emilio's shoulders shrank even more.
Viktor didn't stop them separately, waiting for them to quiet down on their own, then,
"Is that so?"
"..."
"If you had asked for dialogue in Adense or at the Ceres Gate, it wouldn't have been impossible, but don't you think it's a bit late now?"
He shot a question at Emilio, who had lowered his head.
"...We'll send the mercenaries out of the castle, so please give us a few days' grace. His Majesty said he's willing to accept whatever demands you make."
"Haha..."
Viktor, who had been rolling his eyes with a sharp expression for a moment, frowned and then stared into space for a while.
A few minutes later, he relaxed his posture, taking the strength out of his eyes.
"You must know what kind of contract the Brotan Kingdom made with our empire. Are you saying you're willing to accept even those same terms?"
"...That's right."
"In that case, I can wait about two days. However."
To Emilio, who was looking with hopeful eyes,
"Make sure the mercenaries, no, not even a single rat comes out of the castle. That's the condition."
"What..."
"Of course, messengers sent to us are an exception, but if anyone else sneaks out of the castle... we'll have no choice but to have our kind of dialogue."
"...Understood."
Viktor threatened with a serious expression.
"You may go."
"Yes, then..."
Emilio quickly left the tent.
"...May I ask why you gave them time?"
After he had disappeared into the distance, Alexandrov asked Viktor, who had a strange expression, about his intentions.
"Our victory is already inevitable, but I thought negotiation might be a more economical method than subjugating them through battle. And..."
Viktor hesitated slightly, then,
"...I felt some kind of sign. When it becomes clearer, I'll tell you then."
"Understood."
He fell into thought, evading the answer.
As Viktor always brought good results despite seemingly responding ambiguously, the officers withdrew without pressing further.
---
Originally, I had no particular intention to negotiate.
Just looking at the fact that the kingdom sent a high-ranking noble, a count, as a messenger shows this.
Negotiation is something done by those who have something to lose, and in our current situation, we could sweep away the enemy with siege cannons and guns.
Although I ended up stopping at just pressuring them, having the officers mock the messenger was also because I hadn't considered negotiation.
However, when I looked at the mini-map to check what the kingdom army's request to send mercenaries out of the castle, which seemed full of ulterior motives, meant.
"...This is ominous."
"What's wrong?"
"It's hard to explain."
"..."
"...Are you familiar with this?"
"Yes."
"Ah..."
In the process of confirming that the Esperian Kingdom no longer had any forces to threaten us, I could see a single green dot approaching our camp at a very fast speed.
It might be nothing, but from experience, in times like this, it was often a messenger bringing urgent news.
If a messenger was coming, I had an idea of what news they might bring, so I mentioned two days' time to allow the messenger to arrive, and,
"Urgent news. It's from His Excellency Gerhart."
As expected, that green dot was carrying a letter from Gerhart.
"..."
"The situation in the south isn't good."
However, the content of the letter was more serious than I had anticipated.
"The south...?"
"The Ecrini Kingdom has suffered one major defeat, and the Labria Republic has declared war on us."
"...!"
Not long after receiving a letter saying the situation was strange, the southern situation was changing dramatically.
If only the fact that the Labria Republic, which had opened a two-front war at the southernmost point, had declared war on us had been reported, I would have simply considered it the mad act of a madman, but,
"..."
Originally, the Labria Republic had struck to take the dwarves' land as their home base.
If they had won on one front and then declared war on us even before our borders met, there was a high possibility that this was the influence of the 'Black Dragon'.
And if the enemy was indeed the 'Black Dragon',
"We need to prepare for negotiations."
I couldn't afford to be complacent here either.