SWNOVELXO Chapter 115
Meanwhile, the Empire’s Second Princess, Isabelle, finally arrived in the South.
As she stepped into the region, the Waiting Ghost Legion greeted her with a flourish.
“Salute to Your Highness the Princess!”
With a commanding shout, what appeared to be the commander ordered, and thousands of sturdy men performed a synchronized military salute.
The sight was indeed magnificent, but upon closer inspection, it was filled with sheer ridiculousness.
Firstly, the grandiose voice and exaggerated gestures belonged to a real-life theatrical actor, not an actual commander.
Until recently, he had been doing decent work back in the Empire, predominantly portraying formidable roles, and his acting skills were shining again.
And then there were the soldiers, who were performing their salute with extreme restraint yet sharp intensity towards Isabelle.
At a glance, with such discipline, they seemed formidable enough to be regarded as a legion capable of battle.
However, in reality, they were merely ordinary folks who had just been conscripted not long ago.
Moreover, the training they received was strictly focused on maintaining precise military form, and not actual combat.
‘And let’s not forget, the thousands here are all that there are.’
It goes without saying that a deception unit comprising tens of thousands would entail significant logistics.
The movements intended to mislead the enemy became a strain on their own supplies.
From Kael’s perspective, it was a case of the tail wagging the dog.
Thus, this deceptive unit was organized into the scale of thousands, not tens of thousands.
But how would they draw the enemy’s miscalculations? How would they appear as a mighty legion in the enemy’s eyes?
Experts selected from throughout the Empire provided the solutions.
One person’s voice sounded like the voice of ten.
One person’s movement appeared as if ten men were moving.
From a distance, it should seem like a cry and motion of tens of thousands.
Moreover, the armor and weapons they donned were nothing real.
Even the vividly fluttering and ostentatious flags were all fake.
Crafted to be more convincing than real, far more splendid and majestic.
Works meticulously created by the Empire’s painters, sculptors, and makeup artists.
“Great job, everyone.”
Isabelle smiled at the commander and then at the soldiers.
Indeed, at a glance, it felt as if she was facing a new legion of the Empire.
In reality, they were merely conscripts who had never fought a proper battle.
Once on the battlefield, the likelihood of them being swept away and defeated was exceedingly high.
Yet the discipline and imposing presence they displayed made them seem like an invincible legion.
“It seems everything is going as the Chief of Staff desired.”
“Yes, Your Highness. They are working hard enough to be seen as an invincible army.”
What Kael sought from them was one thing: Fear of Dedorant in the Southern region.
The Southern Kingdom forces and the Empire’s 4th Legion had already begun their movements before them.
Benito was keeping an eye on the Dedorant 5th Army stationed there.
In such a scenario, if they were to sense the suspicion of an enemy presence exceeding fifty thousand behind them,
If they realized a massive army of nearly a hundred thousand was gathering solely in the South,
No matter how formidable Dedorant was, they would have no choice but to split their main forces.
“I must leak news of my arrival in the South as much as possible. It would also be advantageous for them to know that I visited the ghost legion so openly.”
There would certainly be Dedorant spies hiding somewhere in the South.
Crouching and hiding, they would be trying to dig out information by any means necessary.
Isabelle sincerely hoped that today’s news would reach them.
Only then would Kael’s moves become even smoother.
Before heading south, she had heard a more detailed plan from Kael.
What he was currently imagining. What he was targeting.
“I plan to place a castle in the Central region and let the Dedorants run amok. To the extent that they can’t handle it without capturing it.”
“Uh… is that even possible? I’ve heard that the Dedorant army is quite something.”
“It must be made so.”
Kael’s words to Isabelle were about the former legendary general of the Empire, Seton.
He intended to attach that name to the important castle of Dedorant they were about to capture.
Isabelle couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment at Kael’s response.
To them, dealing with Seton’s yoke was an absolutely intolerable matter.
If the news spread and they simply let such a thing happen, public sentiment would be shaken.
The military’s grievances about why they were letting such a situation be would surely flourish.
“When they regroup, they will have to send that regiment elsewhere. If they find something that can turn the tide, before they can execute it, they’ll already be sapped of strength.”
“While making sure they can never retreat. They will have to attack constantly until they eventually break themselves.”
This was a fact that not only the Dedorants but even the Empire’s high command occasionally forgot.
The army heading north was not the Empire’s army. It was the Nobogord’s army.
Half of the forces stationed in the South were from the Southern Kingdom, and the other half were from the Empire’s 4th Legion.
And the 4th Legion was originally meant for the South, so it made sense for them to be there.
The fifty thousand behind them was a deception—just a few thousand actors in the facade.
However, the reinforcement of the Empire’s army was ongoing.
A tremendous supply was being prepared, and organized reserves were continually moving.
The endless transportation units were diligently advancing toward their targeted points.
Even at this moment, the wings of the Empire’s 1st Army,
The Eastern Legion and the Southern Legion, were continuously expanding their numbers.
Dedorant, meanwhile, was only focusing on the injured Western Legion before them.
Growing increasingly anxious with ominous news from the North and South.
Ultimately, they would come to realize that there was only one path they could take.
“What I want is but one thing. The enemies’ choices of when, where, how, and under what conditions they fight. After trimming all those options, to annihilate them only where, how, and as I wish.”
At that moment, Isabelle suddenly wanted to say this to Kael.
How could someone so strategical have said they weren’t a strategist until now?
To anyone’s eyes, even after a hundred looks, they were the essence of a strategist.
*
The Dedorant commander, Gruber, was originally an aide of Prince Georg.
He received an important mission from his lord and ventured into DeGale’s territory.
He had to somehow gather the insufficient reserve forces and fill the gaps.
Otherwise, there would be a shortage of troops in the second offensive later on.
If bait was needed as before, he wouldn’t hesitate to utilize it.
The method of enlisting troops from Dedorant was a topic for the future.
Currently, it was crucial to keep experienced soldiers as reserves.
In that regard, the remaining forces of DeGale were an appealing option.
[ Those who came from the DeGale army! Enlist now in the newly organized auxiliary troops, the Dedorant Foreign Legion. High wages and the promise of advancement await you. ]
[ We no longer care about your past of opposing us Dedorants. If you gave us trouble, we will make sure to utilize you even more. ]
[ Your king has fled, and the nobles have all surrendered. Now you too must seek new glory in a new future with us, the Dedorants. ]
While he wished to gather them all forcibly, he still needed to consider public sentiment.
Even if the royal family of DeGale had fled and the nobility had all surrendered,
The heart of those who had lived as ‘DeGale’ wouldn’t change in an instant.
Thus, rather than scaring them with forced conscription, he called them together under the name of auxiliary troop formation.
Under the name of the Dedorant Foreign Legion, he gathered scattered DeGale soldiers here and there.
It would certainly catch their interest. After all, money was crucial for those trying to survive.
When several of them stealthily expressed their desire to enlist, Gruber personally welcomed them.
He even granted them relatively high ranks if they had any command experience.
He even demonstrated his willingness to reduce taxes in the areas they came from.
The benefits were not only for the enlisted individuals or their families.
The more they sent, the better those regions would be compared to others.
As this recognition began to take root, more active movements occurred in DeGale.
Just recently, were those who once fought against Dedorant supposed to act this way?
Could it be right? Yes, but to be honest, that was a fight for the high and mighty.
While they weren’t particularly good, neither were those high-ups exceptional.
Didn’t their so-called great king flee while the respectable nobles surrendered long ago?
‘We have to eat and survive. How long are we supposed to live in fear?’
‘This is a better wage than what we received from the DeGale army!’
‘Dedorants? They’ve battled enough, their treatment of soldiers seems decent enough!’
Of course, there would be some reluctance in certain areas.
Gruber resolved to use the stick instead of the carrot there.
He threatened and intimidated those who couldn’t meet the required troop assignments.
As the conscription and enlistment processes were underway, news eventually reached Gruber in DeGale.
“Se, Setongrad?”
The crazy Empire is finally stirring up trouble.
In front of His Highness the Prince, who proclaims the glory of the Deo Ethnicity,
Among the commanding officers and soldiers who fervently support that statement,
Every member of the Deo Ethnicity truly believed in victory.
And yet, his name was to be engraved upon the stronghold of Dedorant.
“…It seems I must change my approach a bit.”
I’ll definitely need more troops. There is no doubt about it.
From that day onward, the conscription process in DeGale accelerated significantly.
Naturally, the methods became far more violent compared to before.