I Am Being Mistaken for a Genius Strategist

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After concluding discussions with the Ministry of War, I headed towards the headquarters of the staff.

It’s been quite a while since I took my seat as Chief of Staff, yet I’ve hardly ever set foot in the staff office.

I’ve practically been stationed at the frontline from the very beginning, so this is how it turned out.

“You’ve arrived, Chief of Staff!”

As I stepped inside, a crowd of individuals emerged from somewhere, bowing deeply.

From what I could tell, there wasn’t a single person younger than me.

The youngest among them seemed to be in their thirties at the very least. Those in higher positions were almost of my father’s generation.

It’s a bit burdensome to have them treating me like the boss of the organization.

However, on second thought, it’s true that I am the one in charge here.

In my previous life, the organization operated based on rank rather than age.

Their reaction is not flattery or sycophancy, but simply the natural order of things.

“Let’s accept this. They are the subordinates; I am the superior. I must uphold this distinction to avoid burdening whoever becomes the next Chief of Staff after me.”

Taking a light breath, I returned their greetings adequately.

With the guide, I finally arrived at the office of the Chief of Staff, a place I had never visited before.

“So this is where my office is,” I remarked.

“Yes, Chief of Staff. You have often been absent, but we have kept it immaculate, free of any dust.”

“That’s good to hear. With this level of competence, I trust that you all are dedicated to your duties in the staff.”

This implies whether they have neglected their own responsibilities by doing such things.

Thankfully, no one appears to have done that, as they all confidently shout, “Yes! That’s correct!”

“I reported the discussions with the Ministry of War. The matters of prisoners and supplies will be handled by the Ministry of War; therefore, staff members, your focus should solely be on the battles with Dedorant. That’s where you must concentrate.”

“What was the response from His Excellency the Minister of War?”

“He seemed troubled initially, but eventually, he accepted it willingly, stating that this is your responsibility.”

Ah, of course, he did scream about the large-scale deployment of the Magical Corps.

That part not only requires consultation with the Ministry of Finance but also with the Ministry of Sorcery.

As the Chief of Staff, I could manage it, but it’s always best to delegate such matters to the experts!

“Alright. Everyone focus.”

As I tapped the table a few times, the key personnel in the staff turned their eyes to me, piercingly alert.

“We have seized the advantage. We inherently had the upper hand, but we’ve never been this perfectly positioned before.”

“All thanks to you, Chief of Staff.”

“Comments like that can be held off for later. Yet, our Dedorant does not seem prepared for surrender; rather, they are igniting their fighting spirit. They’re even stripping their allies and occupied territories bare!”

At this point, they must have realized they cannot win this war.

And historically on the continent, when it reaches this stage, enemies would generally begin preparing for surrender.

After all, they need to survive and at least maintain a façade as a kingdom.

However, Dedorant is different. They seem intent on fighting even when it’s clear they will lose.

No, I’m starting to wonder if ‘to fight’ is even the right term. It feels more like a mindset of wanting to die.

Is their pride as the Deo Ethnicity causing all rationality to fly out the window?

“There should be no more tactical or strategic consideration made with the enemy’s potential surrender in mind as before. Our foes will strive to fight until the end, seeking psychological victories at all costs. If we misstep, it could lead our Empire into serious trouble.”

“I fully understand your statement, Chief of Staff.”

There can be no further purging of the staff. They are valuable personnel.

No matter how vast the talent pool is within the Empire, having more people is always better.

Some of those who belonged to the faction of the former Marquis of Consloker have also returned.

To be precise, I requested their return. The workload is bound to increase, not decrease.

In such circumstances, experienced staff members are absolutely necessary.

Of course, I did not reinstate the Commander Mesok, the leader of that faction.

He was penalized for his poor judgment; how could I possibly intervene in that matter?

However, when that rumor spread, another peculiar rumor began to circulate.

It was said that I, having seized control of the staff, extended a hand to the Marquis of Consloker and his faction.

Look here, I’m not filling my ranks with my own people. They say I’m clearly a person who values cooperation.

[It seems the Marquis of Consloker has visited our territory.]

I once received such a message from my father.

Thanks to that, my recognition in both the staff and the Empire’s administration reportedly improved.

I had no intention of doing so, but somehow luck favored me again.

“Everyone, stay strong. The better we perform, the higher the chance our soldiers will return home, one more than before.”

“I will keep that in mind, Chief of Staff!”

*

Meanwhile, at that moment the news of Dedorant’s great defeat reached us.

“Steady, Your Majesty.”

“Just hold firm to your resolve!”

The Benito Palace was facing a storm of turmoil.

“Dedorant has fallen. If we remain idle, our Benito will be isolated. We must act before that happens.”

“Not yet. The southern border with Dedorant has not been severed, and their fifth army is still stationed there. Thus…”

“That fifth army can return at any time! And you’re aware that the forces at the Dedorant border have all moved to the central regions!”

After suffering a complete setback against the Empire, King Andrea II of Benito found himself regaining some composure, only to be slammed with even more shocking news.

Dedorant had suffered a catastrophic defeat, resulting in over forty thousand prisoners.

The commanders did not receive a surrender request but surrendered voluntarily!

Perhaps out of impatience or having lost their senses, Andrea II began to voice improbable claims.

He insisted that while the Empire took a breather, we needed to quickly change the southern front.

We must ensure that Dedorant does not throw all their effort into their attacks.

Naturally, the ministers of Benito vehemently opposed such opinions.

Suddenly launching an attack while we are merely defending? Does that make any sense?

Having lost so many well-trained soldiers, a military action is utterly unfeasible now.

“That exactly is the crux.”

However, Andrea II continued laying out his logic.

“The Empire would have made some predictions regarding the ongoing battles in the southern regions. Our Benito lacks offensive capability. Since we can only defend ourselves, we can afford to focus solely on Dedorant while keeping appropriate forces for defense!”

“But…”

“If Dedorant crumbles, our Benito will face the end too. Why do you think they’ve kept their fifth army here? If one axis collapses, the others will follow in succession. It’s the same with us. If Dedorant faces further defeats, hope will truly evaporate.”

While at first glance this sounds absurd, upon reflection, it seems somewhat plausible.

After all, as Andrea II mentioned, Dedorant and Benito are each other’s pillars.

If one collapses, the situation could spiral out of control.

Furthermore, Andrea II is still somewhat of a popular king.

He may not have reigned long, but he is the one who forged Benito into the Southern powerhouse.

The kingdom’s people, and even several ministers, still hold a sliver of hope.

“Ultimately, what His Majesty desires is not to win against the Empire.”

“He merely wants to prevent their forces from focusing entirely on Dedorant, making them keep a constant eye on the southern region.”

“Initially, the fifth army of Dedorant will resist, but if positioned as a means to alleviate their own burden, they will at least offer minimal cooperation.”

Having faced the Empire’s offensive a few times, I’ve come to realize.

This is not their main battlefield. Their true front is Dedorant.

They aim to prevent Benito and Dedorant from forming a cohesive operational synergy.

In reality, that tactic has been working until now.

Despite being allies, both kingdoms have been unable to mount a significant joint effort due to their respective circumstances.

And the Empire likely desires this situation to remain unchanged until the end of the war.

“Your Majesty, how about we attack the Empire moderately while observing the situation afterward?”

“That’s exactly it. We must show the Empire that if they ignore us, we can strike at any moment.”

Ultimately, the ones who had to carry out the orders were the commanders and various leaders.

At first, it was an absurd and ridiculous royal command, but soon they came to accept it.

And they understood that just sticking to defense wouldn’t break the deadlock.

They knew they couldn’t win. Victory? They didn’t dare to hope for that.

They simply had to irritate the Empire’s flank, making themselves uncomfortable in the process.

Still, they believed Dedorant would find some key to turn the tide better than they could.

“We aim for the dawn when their defenses will be at their weakest.”

“Remember, there’s no need for victory. Just showing the spirit of our Benito will suffice.”

Finally, as dawn broke, the long-coiled Benito began to move.

With a deafening roar, they advanced, announcing that they were far from finished.

However, something felt off.

“I report! The Imperial Army is retreating.”

“They seem to have pulled back the camp to avoid combat with our forces!”

Isn’t this the Empire that had been relentlessly attacking to crush Benito?

What could have caused them to suddenly pull back like this?

While the command of Benito was thrown into disarray, another report came in.

“Emergency report! A large Imperial force is bypassing our Benito and heading toward the southern border of Dedorant!”

“Are you sure?!”

“Yes! We’ve found traces of large-scale troop encampments and movements. It seems they’ve taken the opportunity to move in now that our army isn’t acting!”

What a marvelous twist of fate! Can this really be our luck?

Truly, what a relief. It’s fortune. The gods have not abandoned Benito yet.

With such news, the Benito forces returned to their headquarters.

With thousands of Imperial troops vanishing, it was time to begin harassing them in earnest.