177 – Fishing Operation (4)
Ten days later, Whitebeard mercenary barracks.
The Count of Dion’s army, including our mercenary corps, arrived at the Seville River, the destination of the march.
Even though ‘fishing’ operations are still confidential to mercenary centurions and soldiers below intermediate level among noble knights.
Those quick-witted guys predicted that something would happen and were preparing.
“Don’t drink and just sleep.”
Among the platoon leaders, some of the less busy ones even seemed to be sharpening their weapons and preparing for the next battle.
“The atmosphere is unusual, so it seems like there will be a battle before we arrive at Lamasana Castle.”
There is no way these guys know about the strategy I am proposing and preparing, and I think they probably figured something out by looking at the expressions and actions of the high-ranking members of the mercenary corps and noble families, including me.
They are very quick-witted bastards.
In order to hide the fishing operation, Count Dion and other barons, knights, and mercenary leaders are drinking and playing with women as usual and pretending that nothing is wrong.
‘Even if they find out, as long as it doesn’t leak confidential information.’
Still, if there is a spy among them, they will be found out… So I guess I should give them a hint.
“You guys, why are you in such a hurry?”
“I thought there was something there.”
I felt like I had to stab my enemies in the back, so I wanted to hit them in the back first, telling them not to show up.
“You idiots, it won’t be until 15 days before you arrive at Ramasana Castle. But if you sharpen your spear and knife every day from now on, your weapons will all be ruined. So, take it easy.”
I added one word to the guys who didn’t understand my intention.
“Rest in peace now. That way we can fight like dogs in the upcoming battle.”
When I gave this hint, they immediately stopped sharpening their weapons and returned to their seats.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been eating military jjambap for decades, but if everyone notices me, I’m acting like I’m being rude.
From Noble mtl dot com
Then, as if nothing had happened, I slowly returned to the barracks and was about to sleep when someone approached me from the side.
“Captain Martin, we have captured the enemy messenger.”
I guess I’ll sleep a little late tonight.
When I walked to the mercenary command barracks, I found Hanson, the scout leader, and an enemy soldier with his shirt removed and tied up.
“Ugh, kill me! “Kill me!”
Often, those selected as messengers are quick-footed and trustworthy soldiers.
As a result, even if they are caught like this, instead of trembling and begging for their lives, they often stiffly insist that they be killed.
As Hanson looked at the guy, he pulled out a dagger and waved it in the air, laughing.
“Do you think we’ll kill you that easily?”
“Kuh, kill it! “You mercenary bastard!”
Hanson tried to stab the guy with the dagger in his hand.
“Take a look around!”
I raised my hand to stop him.
The bastards who tell you to kill them like that sometimes become venomous and don’t share the information they know once the torture begins.
‘Since my body is broken, I guess I just want to protect my family, who will die anyway.’
And when the circumstances of the death of a messenger or spy are confirmed, be they nobles or mercenaries, be kind to the bereaved family.
“Hanson, calm down, do you have a letter from that guy?”
“Yes, there is. “He tore the lining of the clothes and put a secret letter inside.”
“Huh, as expected.”
While marching to war, there are times when we encounter suspicious hunters or herbalists and check them thoroughly just in case.
No matter how much we live in a fantasy world where human rights are as light as a stone, we don’t just kill people whose charges are not clear.
Check through clothes, bows, pockets, and bags, and if you find anything suspicious, grab it and kill it.
And that guy was caught putting secret messages inside the lining of his clothes to avoid getting caught by us as much as possible.
“What did it say?”
“Let’s see for yourself.”
This was written in the letter Hanson handed over.
[15,000 Troops under Count Dion are heading to La Massana Castle. As soon as they arrive at Lamasana Castle, please lead your troops and rush out so that we can attack together immediately.]
Is it working as I expected?
I met the eyes of the messenger Hanson was holding and asked.
“Messenger over there, do you know what is written here?”
The messenger trembled and stammered in her voice.
“How can a lowly person like me know such a thing!”
It seems like a lie because I see his eyes fluttering, but it doesn’t really matter.
Anyway, by securing this letter from the guy’s arms, it’s the same as finding out all the information our Count needs to know.
But just in case, should I give it a try?
“To be honest, I pretend not to see him and save him. “Is there really no more?”
“f*ck you there isn’t one! “If there was, I would blow it.”
…… You damned bastard, I don’t even know what kind of torture I might torture you, but you remain loyal to your master until the end.
‘But even using torture is no longer useful.’
“Hanson, don’t torture that guy, just kill him.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Instead of his dagger, Hanson cut off the guy’s head with the long sword he was wearing at his waist.
“Captain, what are you going to do now?”
At those words, I shrugged my shoulders and chuckled.
“Other units, including our mercenary unit, were looking for many enemy messengers and scouts. “What that means is that they are monitoring our every move, and they want to see us get our heads smashed in Lamasana Castle.”
I don’t know how many troops they have, but if we arrive at ‘Ramasana’ Castle and are attacked by both sides, we will naturally be at a disadvantage.
The moment you lay siege to Ramasana Castle, your supply route will be cut off, and you will be like a rat unable to move as you will be surrounded by enemies from both front and back.
“But we have already taken measures against it, so all we have to do is pretend not to know anything until Count Dion gives the order to retreat near the Seville River.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And we have checked for suspicious people within our mercenary unit. When they start to retreat, we will arrest them, imprison them, and interrogate them. “Then I will take this letter to Baron Eclair and go to bed right away.”
“Yes, Captain.”
And the next morning, the count’s order to retreat finally came.
“It’s a retreat! “Turn your army around and march in the opposite direction of Ramasana Castle!”
“Leave all unnecessary heavy things behind and return to the army!”
“I’m going to destroy the pots of those who are targeting us!”
The soldiers were very embarrassed by the sudden order to retreat, but the centurion commanders of our mercenary unit, who had noticed in advance, calmed the soldiers down and told them not to panic as it was no big deal.
Lucia held up her magic wand and gave clear instructions to the wizards.
“It was decided from the beginning, so you just have to follow the orders. Hurry up!”
Otto slightly kicked the dazed guy to come to his senses.
“Everything has already been decided, you idiot! Just follow orders and don’t think much about it!”
With the calm instructions of the centurion commanders, the situation was immediately resolved, and we began to hasten the retreat to launch a counterattack on those who were coming to attack our troops.
“Walk until you die. “You have to go as fast as one second!”
Now that the dice has been cast, we need to get the outcome right.
**
A week later, Soldeu Plain.
After a hasty march, the Count of Dion’s army encountered an enemy army numbering about 10,000 here on the Soldeu Plain.
Because the full-scale battle had not yet begun, they were just confronting each other, and there was no magic or arrows coming and going…
‘It’s the calm before the battle.’
While I was checking the status of the guys in front of me, Otto started talking to me while wandering.
“Ha, Captain Martin is really brave. How on earth can you put those damn bastards on your palms and play with them?”
The scale of what I did was very large, and the aftermath led to a plan that could affect the lives of tens of thousands of people. The central point was simple.
“All humans are greedy. Money, alcohol, women. What I want to have with all three are men. So you can grab anyone who offers to give you what you want.”
“That’s right.”
“All I did was think about what the Barcelonet nobles would be obsessed with, create a strategy based on that, and propose it. But, look at those bastards.”
Both Otto and I looked at the guys in the distance across the way.
You couldn’t see their limbs or faces, but if you look closely, the window pole, which is supposed to stand upright, is shaking.
‘These bastards are completely exhausted.’
Otherwise, there’s no way you wouldn’t be able to hold the spear properly.
“This is a mess. “This could end a little easier.”
I chuckled at those words.
“You will only know that in hindsight. “There are always unknown variables hidden in war, right?”
Not long after, the trumpet sound announcing the start of the battle rang out.