"I see. You guys did a great job. Thank you."
"Yeah. This is valuable information. Thank you all so much."
The girls looked at each other and put their faces down, beaming, as they expressed their thanks following their father.
Then, as if to represent them, Saria stepped forward and looked up.
"Yes, no. It's nothing at all. Besides, we were just looking at the enemy from a high place with the 'binoculars' provided by Master Rid,...... so we didn't do that much."
No,......," he muttered, and his father's eyes narrowed.
"This is sothing only you could have done. Don't be modest, but be proud."
"......⁉ Yes, indeed. Thank you very much for your complints, I am delighted ......."
Saria, her eyes widening with a huff, bailed happily and then returned to her original standing position.
The father coughs and turns to the talking head.
"So, Cross. How were the enemy soldiers you fought? Were they refined soldiers? Or were they just unskilled militia?"
"Yes, they were. The 15,000 troops deployed side by side in front of the city walls were probably unskilled militian who had been recruited only for their numbers. The warriors who commanded the militia were indeed officers, but I got the impression that they had little experience in actual combat. However, since we did not confront the troops who had taken up positions deep in the front, the quality of the soldiers there is unknown."
"I see. ......"
The father, who had been hamring, changed his gaze.
"Amon, I would like to ask you for information on this point. What is the composition of the Grandek family's army?"
"Yes . I will tell you everything I know."
He said and began to explain, pointing to a convex piece of the map.
The three units deployed side by side in front of the walls of the narrow fortress are, as Cross had observed, militia units conscripted mainly from the peasantry.
It is highly likely that they are serving as advance troops to check the strength of the fortress and the skill level of the soldiers before launching a full-scale operation.
He said that the main body of the Grandeks would be four units lined up vertically behind the militia units, probably in order of closest to the front line: Malbus' unit, Rafa's unit, Elba's unit, and the general's Gareth's unit.
It is also highly likely that these four units are composed of highly skilled soldiers, and it is not difficult to imagine that they are certainly a more powerful army than the advance troops on the front line, the militia, which is estimated to have a total strength of 15,000.
Amon continued to tell us about the composition of the Grandeks' infantry, archers, and magic soldiers.
Although it is a powerful and incomparably large army, it is hard to believe that there are that many "troops" based on the situation of the fox people.
Therefore, a siege is one option,...... he added at the end.
'That's just not possible.'
"......Why is that?"
Amon nodded his head as his father denied that "siege" was an option.
"There are two ways to win in a siege. The first is to hold out against the enemy's attack until reinforcents arrive, and then, when you are in a good position, you can attack and defeat them. The second is to endure the enemy's attack and wait for them to give up the attack. That is all."
After saying this, Father took on a more stern expression and continued, "But ......
"We have requested the Imperial Capital, but it will take at least seven days or more before reinforcents arrive here. Considering the enemy's military strength, it will be impossible for the narrow fortress to endure until then. Naturally, it would also be difficult to hold out until they give up the attack."
A heavy atmosphere filled the room.
But Father smiled wryly, his mouth relaxed.
"Therefore, my son, Rid, has co up with a 'strange plan.'"
"A strange plan ......?"
Cross asked back, and the knights' gazes turned to .
The exchange between Amon and father was arranged in advance in order to increase the persuasive power of the "strange plan" that I am going to tell you about.
If you share a hopeless situation and then present a "strange plan," everyone will believe that "this is the only way.
This would lead to a boost in morale, which is necessary to win.
One cannot win a war with gut feelings or ntality.
But it is also true that to win you need 'people's strong will.
I took a deep breath and looked around at everyone present.
"Let explain."
I explained the "strange strategy" using the blue convex pieces representing my army and the red convex pieces representing the enemy's army on the map on my desk.
Father said that it was my idea, but in fact it was a little wrong.
It is true that I ca up with the original plan, but everyone with extensive experience in actual battles, including my father, worked out the details and developed it into a more reliable "plan."
And when the plan was sowhat finalized, my father said,
"Rid. This is all your idea."
"Yes, why?"
"The fact that there is a prodigy on our side ...... who can co up with all these 'tricks' will give hope and courage to the knights. This is one strategy. Is that right?"
"Yes, indeed. I understand."
Thus, this "wacky plan" was mostly my idea alone.
If I think about it calmly, you would not think that a child like could co up with such a devious plan that could be used in a real battle.
However, the knights did not seem to doubt that I had devised the plan.
Rather, they listened carefully.
" ... This is details . We are considering final adjustnts after taking into account the current war situation and the opinions of those of you on the ground. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know."
When I finished speaking, I looked around at the knights present and they were all stunned.
Well, what kind of reaction is this?
When I was puzzled, Cross burst out, "Hmmm.
I had never imagined that you could co up with such a plan in such a short period of ti. Master Rid is indeed an "unconventional prodigy." His "ingenious plan" lives up to his na.
"Is that so? I think anyone can co up with sothing unexpectedly. ......"
The knights smiled as they scratched their cheeks to hide their embarrassnt.
It was the mont when the heavy atmosphere turned to one of heightened anticipation.
At that mont, the father clears his throat, drawing attention to himself.
"You have heard it all. This battle will be decided by the success of this 'strange plan' or not. You will have only one chance, so be determined to take it."
Father then turned his attention to .
"Rid. If you, as the organizer, have sothing you want to tell the others, tell them here."
"Yes. So ...... that's it."
I thought about it for a while and then suddenly spoke up.
"If you give up the fight in the face of a large army and give in to the enemy, our territory, Bardia, will be dood to extinction. Fighting a large army may also an the death of our lands."
Everyone present here is listening to my words with bated breath.
...... If we don't fight, our territory will die, and if we do fight, our territory will die. But if we die without fighting, the bodies and hearts of those who live in Bardia will forever be holess."
The knights' eyes lit up more strongly than ever as if they had understood what I was trying to say.
I continued to speak, calmly but strongly.
"If we fight and remain true to the spirit of devotion to our hotown, even if we do not win, we will still have the pride and spirit of having fought and defended our hotown. And that pride and spirit will beco our souls, and will be an everlasting light in the hearts of the survivors, and Bardia will eventually be rebuilt. Therefore, this battle must be fought with determination. But we will win. Let us win this battle and make a triumphant return together."
When I finished my speech, there was silence in the room.
But the eyes of the knights were filled with a strong color of determination.
"I have a wife and daughter that I can put in my eyes and it doesn't hurt."
Cross slowly began.
'If I lose my life in this battle, Master Rid is right, my pride and spirit will beco a soul and remain in the hearts of my family forever. Therefore, there is nothing to fear."
He showed his white teeth, and the other knights followed suit, " too," and "There is nothing to fear.
Soon, Cross was again in awe.
"As a knight in the service of the House of Bardia, it is my true duty to have t with this kind of battle. I will risk my life to bring this plan to a successful conclusion."
As he bowed, the other knights bowed as well.
"Yes, I will do my best "
"Thank you, ......."
When my father and I answered, they looked up and smiled at us.
After that, we made the final adjustnts with the knights present to make sure that the "strange plan" would succeed.
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