Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Fractured Advance
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A few days later, the allied forces of the Eastern 3 Kingdoms finally arrived at Pavilion Pass.
After a brief rest, they launched a direct assault on the Empire's 12th Legion.
The longer they dragged this out, the worse it would get for them. They had to go all-in right now.
On a grand scale, for the future of the 3 Kingdoms alliance. On a smaller one, for the command staff's own interests.
The first target for the 3 Kingdoms allied forces was, predictably, the troops guarding the pass itself.
The enemies on the mountain would come next. Breaking through here would end it all anyway.
'The enemy just arrived themselves. At best, they're relying on that narrow pass, barely holding an unstable supply line.'
So if they cut off that route, the foes on the mountain might as well not exist.
"Charge! Charge!!"
3 Kingdoms alliance commander Bethel aimed to punch straight through the Imperial defenses in one go.
Knowing the enemy was split, he planned to overwhelm them with the allies' numerical advantage.
The pass was narrow, making it tough to maneuver large forces—that much was true.
But they had to break through. For personal glory, all the way to their homelands' futures.
'No time to watch our backs. Even if we need rest, we have to secure at least this pass. Sorry to the troops, but no choice!'
Even excluding the detachment left to watch the mountain flank, they still had manpower to spare.
Just as Bethel committed his full reserves to drive a wedge through in a single day...
"Commander! Commander! Big trouble! O-over there! Right there!"
His agitated aides pointed frantically at one spot.
Imperial banners suddenly rose from the mountain.
On the complete opposite side from where they'd scouted.
'Oh no.'
The allies had fixed their gaze on the main defensive line at the pass and the adjacent mountain.
Then the Imperials sprang up from an utterly unexpected spot, baring their fangs.
Now the allies faced a defensive line ahead, with enemies holding the high ground on both flanks.
"Commander, we need to pull back the assault for now. If we're not careful, we'll get counter-flanked...!"
"No, Commander! If they've split their forces across three spots, the pass defenses must be thinner. We should press the attack and settle this now!"
"If those bastards come down, our lines get cut in half! We've stretched too thin committing the reserves—our formation's way too long now!"
The situation grew chaotic. Especially fatal with all three kingdoms' commanders together.
From junior officers to the top brass, everyone was desperate to claim credit.
The three kingdoms might be allied, but only one could seize command in the end.
And the way to grab that dominance? Wield influence in the war against the Empire.
Some sought glory through outright victory in battle.
Others aimed for it via split-second decisions over victory itself.
Push forward? Or pull back and assess?
Torn between options, Bethel finally decided to halt the offensive.
"Commander! If we retreat now, there won't be another chance!"
"Reconsider, Commander Bethel!!"
It was a given that the Burkhai and Kaden commanders would leap to their feet.
Whether it was the commander's rightful call or a sensible choice didn't matter.
All they saw was a shot to wrest control from Porland.
With an Imperial legion right in front of them.
Unsure if the three kingdoms could even beat the Empire.
Could they really afford infighting?
Humans were creatures who could brawl even on a sinking ship.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Our hiking enthusiast Teacher Ma Su's blunder would be mocked for ages.
A thousand years from now, folks would still roast that idiot.
Two thousand years later, countless more would curse his screw-up.
Honestly, though, I didn't see seizing the high ground as a bad move.
Taking elevated positions isn't against military basics.
Just a few mistakes that were a shame.
First: Even taking the heights, the main force shouldn't stray from the key battlefield.
Our goal was holding the pass, grabbing the enemy by the ankles as long as possible.
He thought the climb was the key to victory; I saw it as just one piece.
Splitting troops didn't mean the pass guards were weak at all.
Second: If you're taking heights, grab two, not one.
One mountain becomes a fortress, shielding the other like a wall.
Layered defenses, double and triple lines.
Exposing just one while hiding the other? They'd be panicked for sure.
'And this. The most crucial part.'
More than my own perfection, force mistakes on the enemy I'm facing.
Focus on the pass? Flankers could drop from the two heights.
Try surrounding the mountains? The pass troops won't sit idle.
Can't advance or retreat freely—the army's morale crumbles fast.
Above all, fail here and other Imperial legions invade their alliance lands.
They're not a unified empire like ours. Three nations allied.
They bicker a ton, from what I hear. That doesn't fix overnight.
'Makes sense. Their internal vibe must be even uglier.'
So strip those enemies of any leisure.
Plant fear. Breed haste. Strip their flexibility.
No need for earth-shaking genius schemes.
Stick to solid basics—that's plenty.
Victory's mostly who screws up less.
'This should've been enough. Just steady hits, no need for home runs.'
And after defeat, not regrouping but fleeing?
Even Teacher Zhuge Liang, red-penning Ma Su's playbook, gets a Joker pass to stab him guilt-free.
"Young Master Kael, look over there."
"...No way."
"Yes. Looks like the enemy’s pulling back to regroup."
At the on-site commander's words beside me, I let out a quiet sigh of relief inside.
I'd worried their alliance commander might go berserk and keep pushing.
Expected the retreat, sure, but crazies defying predictions always exist.
If they had, my carefully prepped ploy would've gone to waste.
"Then tell the Legion Commander we're good to shift to the next phase."
"Understood, Young Master Kael."
Like flying the kite for our troops or stripping arrows to taunt the Norobogord.
This time, too, I planned to ignite the massive powder keg of their psychology.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What the hell is this? Commander. Sure, the flanks were risky, but our Burkhai forces could've handled it."
"Our Kaden troops were ready for the other side too. If we'd pushed, we could've taken both heights and maybe even broken the line!"
"... ."
Damn bastards. Burkhai, Kaden—all itching to devour our Porland.
Bethel glared at the commanders crowding him, spouting off with smug confidence.
They weren't saying it outright, but those two kingdoms wanted just two things from Porland.
One: abundant food from its vast farmlands relative to its size and decent population.
And Porland held overall command despite just one army? That'd twist their guts.
"Everyone, restrain yourselves! What is this?!"
"The commander's decision was spot-on. Our lines would've collapsed from the front if flanked."
Not just Porland officers—a few from the other nations held them back.
Infighting over dominance amid war with the Empire!
Thanks to their tearful efforts, the command tent finally quieted.
But the shattered mood didn't recover easily.
"...Nothing's changed. Our alliance must break through Pavilion Pass."
"Casualties are minor beyond what we took hammering the pass line. But adding POWs to the dead and wounded, we're at least a few hundred."
"Scouts say enemy numbers on those two mountains are fewer than expected. Could still be a feint, and even if not, charging in blindly's tough."
The early stumble hurt bad. Obsessing over one seized mountain.
Especially since the guy who did it was the Empire's rising star, that young strategist.
After he smacked Norobogord good, they couldn't ignore it.
But it was bait. He dangled his rep like a lure, waiting for the allies to bite.
Then secretly shifted troops to take the opposite peak, building another wall.
"Unless the enemy charges down recklessly, those mountains shield each other. Hard to encircle one, let alone seize it."
"Same when pounding the front. Our troops freeze up fearing flanks every time the enemy moves up there."
Bethel and the other commanders sighed at the steady influx of reports.
They flowed so smoothly into the trap they didn't even realize they'd been duped.
Word spread everywhere about the genius strategist seizing a mountain—they got fixated.
"C-Commander!"
As they aired out the tent to resume the meeting...
A messenger burst in, practically tumbling.
"Just now, the Imperials released our POWs!"
"Released?"
"Yes! Scouts confirm they're heading to our camp, disarmed."
Releasing prisoners? Trying to demoralize us?
Showing off how much leisure the Empire has—time to get tense?
As the alliance command pondered this sudden move...
"But, Commander! All the released POWs are Porland natives!"
That instant, a strange tension rippled through the tent.