I Am Being Mistaken for a Genius Strategist

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After a brief ceasefire, our Imperial Army did not move for a while.

No, that’s not quite right. To be more precise, it’s correct to say we could not move at all.

Trapped within the siege, an astonishing 40,000 soldiers all surrendered.

Not just individual surrenders, but the commander himself came forward to request surrender directly.

In a situation like this, one cannot simply say, “Alright. I understand. But I’m busy, so let’s do the surrender casually.”

First and foremost, for our commander, we must uphold Paelus’ dignity who was the first to surrender.

You might think what’s this sudden turn of events, but it’s necessary to highlight the Empire’s mercy in turn.

Even a commander who had been persistently resisting will come to perceive that their honor is preserved upon surrendering.

If others who were preparing to yield follow suit, it would benefit the Empire.

Moreover, it must be conducted grandly and ceremoniously to shake Dedorant even more.

Look at this! The army you all claimed to be of the Deo Ethnicity has surrendered.

You say there are some from Atria? And some from DeGale as well?

You’re all of the same ethnicity, right? You called yourselves honored Deo Ethnicity, and now you’re changing your tune?

“Commander Paelus Gusthagen of Dedorant requests an honorable surrender from His Excellency the Chief of Staff.”

“I shall accept that surrender request, Commander.”

“This sword signifies my command. Please accept it as a token of our army’s surrender.”

“I believe I needn’t accept this. I’ll allow you to keep it.”

“…I am in awe of the Chief of Staff and the Empire’s mercy.”

Thus began the complete disarmament of the Dedorant Army.

The dialogue between Commander Paelus and myself served as a grand finale.

With that, the surrender of the Dedorant rear guard was officially received.

Meanwhile, the princess blushed, stating how magnificent that declaration was.

The claim of permitting him to keep his sword was a display of both the Empire’s mercy and might.

It was just something I had thrown together from my past life’s memories, but it felt a bit embarrassing.

Anyway. Such a grand surrender was certainly not the only reason for our halt in advance.

There are various other reasons, the foremost being the emergence of 40,000 prisoners.

Prisoners aren’t an immediately usable resource of military personnel.

Just yesterday, they were soldiers fighting against us.

No one knows what might happen if we neglect their management.

Naturally, they must be disarmed and closely monitored for a while.

Furthermore, how many troops need to be assigned to watch them, and what facilities will accommodate them?

How on earth will we feed not 4,000 but a staggering 40,000 mouths?

Just considering this part alone, the staff and those in the Ministry of War screamed in agony.

Ah, the Ministry of Finance needs to be involved too. Additional funds for rations need to be supplied, after all.

“It’s concerning how our supply lines are slowly lengthening and worries are piling up.”

Right. The second problem. The increasing supply burden as the Empire advances.

Although there exists a magic circle for transportation, it can barely move a handful of people.

When it comes to goods, only what a person can carry is allowed.

Transporting the supplies needed by hundreds of thousands is impossible.

In other words, supplying goods must be done directly, now and in the past.

People must load them one by one. Oxen and horses pulling carts filled to the brim.

If any accidents occur along the way, the commanders’ heads will surely roll.

If the transport is delayed, the entire army will collapse on the ground, unable to move.

[ The Ministry of War is doing its utmost to secure supply capabilities, Chief of Staff. ]

[ However, it seems prudent to adjust the pace of advance just in case. ]

Now fully populated with my aides, I raised this opinion in the command.

Since the number of mobilized Imperial Army troops is so great, a tiny hole in supply could be catastrophic.

Because I also agreed, we decided to pause our advance for a while following Paelus’ surrender.

We definitely shouldn’t give the Dedorants a chance for a counterattack.

We must push this momentum forward until the end. That’s how one can secure a profit.

The Empire didn’t create this tremendous chaos just to break even.

“Chief of Staff. Reports have come in from Atria and Benito.”

“What do they say?”

“A large-scale conscription has begun in Atria. I don’t know the exact numbers, but as far as we can confirm, it’s already over 30,000.”

30,000. 30,000, you say? That’s quite an impressive figure at face value.

“If I recall correctly, Atria only had slightly over 70,000 troops before.”

“You’re right, Chief of Staff.”

“And yet, they’ve already conscripted over 30,000 able-bodied men?”

“Yes. However, it’s said that the ones conscripting them aren’t Atria nobles but Dedorants.”

I thought I must have misheard. No matter how close they are, they’re of the same Deo Ethnicity.

Nonetheless, they are different nations, and the rights over those under that kingdom belong to each of them.

If there’s no Atria monarchy, it would make sense that the nobles under them would handle Atria’s matters.

But to think Dedorant is actively sweeping through and gathering Atria’s people!

“Benito is in a similar situation. They’re also conscripting anew and sending them through the border to Dedorant.”

“And what about the 5th Army stationed there?”

“They are still holding their position. However, the forces that were stationed on the southern border have been redeployed to the central region.”

Still. It seems they cannot give up on Benito just yet.
Or perhaps, since the 5th Army is there with nothing in particular to do, they just want to gather more human shields.

In terms of numbers alone, an astonishing resource of over 50,000 soldiers has emerged already.
It’s more than enough to recover the losses Dedorant incurred in the recent surrender.
However, that is just on paper, and recovering their morale or elite status is impossible.

Dedorant must know this as well. While numbers are crucial, they aren’t invincible.
Even if they begin arming and training them from now, it’ll take at least a year to have usable soldiers.
What could possibly be driving them to fight so hard, knowing full well the public sentiment is plummeting?

“Chief of Staff. There have been reports recently from DeGale via Ross Tanika.”

“Do they need more weapons?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s said that conscription has also begun in DeGale, and the scale is said to be unprecedentedly ruthless.”

“…Are they really out of their minds?”

This isn’t a game. Once conquered, it’s not the end; rather, it demands even more meticulous care.
It’s harder to make a former enemy into part of your own than to strike against them.
If things go wrong, one might have to spend more money than in the war just to manage the resistance.

That’s why the Empire has refrained from expanding its territory for quite some time.
The aim has been to completely assimilate the territories absorbed so far and ensure they become part of the Empire themselves.
No matter how much time passes, no place should return to how it once was.

Initially, Dedorant displayed similar caution. They collected needed resources or human resources while respecting what DeGale could handle.
Most of the DeGale soldiers who surrendered under Paelus were volunteers.

But now they seem to have cast off that facade. They’re sweeping everything visible.
Whether the entirety of DeGale starves or the men who can work dwindle to naught means nothing to them.
Simultaneously, they work diligently to erase the justification of the resistance forces.

“It has been proclaimed that every time the resistance forces of DeGale stir, the remaining DeGale will suffer more. In fact, when the DeGale resistance killed over 30 Dedorant soldiers, it was reported that 300 citizens of DeGale were executed.”
“What in the world.”
“If the resistance forces no longer move, they won’t take supplies and personnel anymore. Because of this, there’s much discussion even amongst the DeGale resistance forces.”
That’s quite understandable. While they receive supplies from our Empire via Ross Tanika,
Ultimately, the ones helping the DeGale resistance the most are their very compatriots.
However, if they suffer every time they mobilize, their resolve will surely weaken.

Again, I say, those Dedorants are truly madmen.
Sometimes they seem quite remarkable, yet looking at it from this perspective, they’re the world’s greatest fools.
Yet, when you turn your back, all that nonsense seems to work wonders.

Amidst all this, the climax was reached with the news of Prince Georg Sistania’s ascension.
What? Cassius II? The king who will restore the glory of the Deo Ethnicity?
With the true king in power, you say even God will promise Dedorant’s victory?

“Did they all collectively take some kind of medication?”

Indeed, it seems I will not have to revise the grand strategy that was laid out from the start.

Though there were some opposing opinions within the command staff, they too will come to understand as the situation unfolds.
Dedorant isn’t the same as Nobogord, the eastern three kingdoms, or even the Southern Kingdoms.
There is nothing, absolutely nothing to gain by either keeping them alive or turning them into collaborators of the Empire.

“I must return home for a moment.”
“Are you heading to the capital?”
“Yes. I believe I need to personally communicate the Empire’s next course of action to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Are you going alone?”
“Well….”

Hmm. Since I’m going anyway, wouldn’t it be better to go with the princess?
I’ve heard the Crown Princess and Crown Prince are all in the capital as well.
I’ll report back, and the princess can reunite with her family. It’s a win-win situation.

“I will be traveling with Her Highness the Princess.”
“Understood, Chief of Staff. I will report to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of the Palace immediately.”

I asked an aide to take care of it and went to meet the princess.
I planned to briefly return to the capital and wondered if she wanted to join me.

“Did you know, Kael?”
“Yes?”
“This is the first time someone has come to me suggesting to go together instead of sending me off somewhere.”
“Oh… Did I really do that?”
“You did. Quite a lot.”

I have committed a capital offense, Your Highness…