Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1173 - 18 The Great Alliance Moves Forward (3)

Chapter 1173: Chapter 18 The Great Alliance Moves Forward (3)

[Mirror Lake County]

[Base of the Mountain Intersection]

The earthen road ahead splits into two: one path leads to Changhai Town and onwards to Bazenaur; the other leads to Qingyin Pass and onwards to Maplestone City.

The advancing army also divides at the intersection:

Units from Mont Blanc County, Thunder Group County, and Riverside County continue north along the Big Horn River to reinforce Bazenaur, whose status of resistance is unknown;

Units from Iron Peak County head east, crossing Qingyin Pass, advancing towards Green Valley Town.

The bugle fell silent, and the war drums ceased; fully armed soldiers swiftly marched into the unknown mist. Only the morning bells of prayer from distant villages accompanied them.

An old soldier and a young one stood side by side on horseback at the intersection, watching the warriors who might meet vastly different fates.

"The mission you bear is even more significant than the mission at the Stygian camp when we were defeating the Red River Tribe. Whether or not enemy reinforcements arrive, regardless of their numbers, you must ensure the main army’s rear remains secure."

Colonel Bod turned to look at the young soldier, Winters, his tone serious and heavy: "Do not let us repeat the mistakes of the Battle of the Great Wilderness."

"Understood." Winters solemnly raised his hand in salute: "To victory!"

Colonel Bod solemnly returned the salute with his only remaining right arm: "For peace."

...

[Two Days Earlier]

[Scene of the Pre-battle Evaluation Meeting]

The pre-battle evaluation meeting traditionally disregards rank and has no taboos. Attending officers, whether sitting or standing, gather around the map. A cavalry captain spoke first:

"If the intelligence is correct, Sanel has taken at least two-thirds of the forces from Maplestone City and Maple Fort. The remaining troops have shrunk into Maple Fort, leaving the town to be defended by the city militia. Reaching an agreement with the City Council of Maplestone City would be no difficult task once we arrive there. By then, we only need to deal with the enemy in Maple Fort. Whether besieging or attacking, the initiative will be in our hands."

"Commander." The captain voluntarily requested Colonel Bod: "I am willing to go to Maplestone City as an envoy to persuade the City Council to open the city and surrender."

"Your thinking is overly optimistic! It’s entirely based on the premise of ’the enemy acting according to your plan’." Another major present shook his head: "What if Maplestone City does not surrender?"

"If they do not surrender, then we will fight until they do." The cavalry captain responded calmly.

The major coldly retorted: "Do you think Maplestone City and Maple Fort are so easy to take? That’s the headquarters of their corps! If we can’t capture it quickly, shall we wait for Sanel to turn around and annihilate us at Maplestone City?"

The cavalry captain explained his strategy: "We don’t need to actually launch an assault—we just need to make it appear as if we are assaulting. Once Sanel hears Maplestone City has fallen, he will be anxious and rush back to support it, allowing us to choose the battlefield and ambush Sanel at Maplestone City."

"Luosong." Colonel Skool, who was listening to the argument, softly called the cavalry captain’s name.

"Yes."

Colonel Skool contemplatively asked: "Have you considered what situation we will face if Sanel doesn’t return, or returns cautiously?"

"How could they not hasten to return?" Captain Luosong was taken aback and asked, puzzled: "The traitors’ supplies, armaments, and provisions are all stockpiled at Maplestone City and Maple Fort. Once Maplestone City falls, their operation in the Newly Reclaimed Land will be like rootless and ungrounded dead grass, ready to be blown away by a gust of wind. Not to mention the symbolic significance of Maplestone City. How could they not hurry back?"

"Rootless and ungrounded dead grass? Rushing to aid?" Colonel Skool repeated these words, shaking his head and said gravely: "That’s not necessarily the case."

Skool stood up and used a scabbard to draw a line along the Ashen Stream River on the map, looking around at the officers participating in the evaluation conference: "Don’t forget, there’s still a smooth and open road here."

The wind rustled the map, and Colonel Skool held his sword hilt as a layer of foreboding clouded his eyes: "The United Provincials have reinforced the Grand Council’s fleet, and the Ashen Stream River is now firmly in their grasp. Currently, on the Ashen Stream River, ships flying the Red Rose flag can travel unimpeded."

Skool pointed at the map with his scabbard: "If we choose to attack Maplestone City, then Sanel can take Bazenaur first, source supplies directly from Kingsfort via the Ashen Stream River route, and then leisurely engage with us."

"And what will happen then?" Skool asked Luosong: "Have you thought it through?"

The simple stable fell silent. Without waiting for Captain Luosong to speak, Colonel Skool answered his own question:

"Even if we capture Maplestone City and Maple Fort, we will lose the initiative. Our main forces will be pinned down by Sanel at Maplestone City, unable to maneuver; the Grand Council’s troops from Northern Foothills Province will launch offensives against Thunder Group County and Riverside County to support Sanel; seeing us in a predicament, cornered on all sides, Bazenaur of Vernge County is likely to join in. By then, our annihilation would just be a matter of time."

The junior officers present looked at each other. In a regular standing army unit, junior officers would have no chance to attend military evaluation meetings. However, in the officer-scarce Newly Reclaimed Land, junior officers also had to assume mid-level command roles.

Yet, the junior officers attending a pre-battle evaluation meeting for the first time did not anticipate that the colonel would present such a severe scenario, as if... as if boosting the enemy’s morale while undermining their own confidence.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.