Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The Betrayed Genius General Betrays
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Sancho had arrived at the pass, hastily reorganized his forces, and then headed to the capital alone.
"Lord Lopez. Most of the mercenary companies have decided to stay."
"...And the payment?"
"No company mentioned additional compensation."
"Hmm..."
Carlos, who had been lingering at the pass, unexpectedly found himself taking over command of the routed remnants.
Though not as seasoned as Sancho, Carlos was still an experienced commander, so the other nobles and officers at the pass had few complaints about him temporarily restoring order amid the chaos.
"What's the enemy's status?"
"They haven't emerged from Al Verdo Pass yet."
"Looks like they took some losses too. Keep observing from a distance where they can't counterattack."
"Yes, sir."
He monitored the Red Dragon Legion's movements while swiftly stabilizing the rattled soldiers in the aftermath of defeat.
"A messenger from Ordoa has arrived."
"Mm."
A few days later, the messenger dispatched from the royal palace reached Ceres Pass.
"I will now read the decree."
The messenger read out the decision in a meeting room packed with officers.
"...In light of the defeat at Al Verdo Pass, Sancho Gonzalez, Earl, is placed under house arrest. Carlos Lopez, Earl, is appointed as his successor."
The gist was that Carlos would take over command of the forces at Ceres Pass.
"...Ceres Pass is a key stronghold for defending the capital and Ordoa. The enemy's momentum pierces the heavens. Carlos Lopez, Earl and successor, shall minimize unnecessary losses, focus on defense, and preserve the troops."
"..."
Unlike the field battle advocated by Sancho and the officers, this was a direct order to hunker down and defend the walls.
"That concludes the decree. And here—a letter from Duke Francisco Casas, specifically for Earl Lopez."
"Hmm..."
Ignoring the officers' crumpled expressions, the messenger handed Carlos a letter and departed after fulfilling his duty.
Carlos carefully broke the seal and read the contents.
"..."
The letter detailed the nobles' discussions and conclusions upon learning of the Al Verdo Pass battle.
"Could you share what it says?"
"...You all should know too."
Carlos grimaced and set the letter on the table.
Yon Casamajo, the baron who had asked if it could be shared, checked it alongside the other officers.
"...Ha."
"Overambitious offensive? Unfavorable terrain? Give me a break..."
The letter noted how, after Sancho's punishment, the nobles claimed his preemptive strike was the mistake to begin with.
"Serona and La Leon Fortress are different from Ceres Pass?"
"...I didn't see the siege guns' power firsthand, but they seem to be underestimating it badly."
From now on, focus solely on wall-based defense.
It even cited Ceres Pass's superior defenses compared to forward fortresses as one justification.
"So, we're just supposed to hole up in the pass?"
"That's what the nobles in the palace think."
"Do they fancy themselves smarter than Lord Gonzalez?"
"This is why nobles who know nothing of the battlefield... They want us to stop an enemy that crumbles walls in hours from atop those same walls?"
Everyone at Ceres Pass had battlefield experience, so they freely badmouthed the pampered palace nobles enjoying peace in the rear.
However,
"It's not entirely without merit."
"Lord Lopez...?"
Carlos, who had been listening to their complaints, suddenly stepped forward as if defending the letter's contents.
Given his usual respect for Sancho, the officers were taken aback.
"Lord Gonzalez chose a field battle, relying on our ranged firearms as the main force and assuming the Red Dragon Legion—unfamiliar with the terrain—wouldn't exploit it well. The result... no need to belabor it."
"..."
"I'm not saying Lord Gonzalez lacked ability. But even after committing nearly 30,000 men to what he deemed an advantageous field, we couldn't beat them."
"Lord Lopez."
"I'll opt for the safe strategy. Per His Majesty's orders, we won't leave Ceres Pass."
He outright declared he'd follow the king's directive.
"...Really?"
"Yes."
"Those weapons literally demolished fortresses! Even Ceres Pass won't hold easily!"
"We'll reinforce the walls as much as possible before they move."
"...The sustained raids were definitely effective. Even if no field battle, we should at least send out detachments..."
"Missions with inevitable heavy casualties. With our shortages, deploying regulars is tough. Sending mercenaries means paying enough to make them reliable. Are you willing to foot that bill?"
"That's..."
He quashed each officer's rebuttal one by one.
"Time's short. We don't know when they'll move, so let's start work immediately."
"...Understood, sir."
"Yes, sir."
Faced with Carlos's unyielding resolve, the officers gave up protesting.
"...Lord Gonzalez's defeat must've hit hard."
"He's too scared. Didn't think he was such a coward."
"Maybe self-preservation matters more than anything..."
"Worrying about factions and politics in this dire situation? ...Thought Lord Lopez was different."
They left, disappointed in his decision.
"Reinforce the wall's front with fences and earth. Properly fill cracks, and bolster key points atop the walls like watchposts."
"Understood."
"Set up dummy watchposts here. Cover them well with cloth so they're indistinguishable from afar."
"Yes, sir!"
But unlike their assumptions, Carlos—who mobilized troops to reinforce the walls—was utterly disinterested in politics.
"...Haa."
He too disliked the higher-ups' order for a wall defense.
Though they'd suffered a major field defeat, he believed a field battle offered better odds than cramming everyone into Ceres Pass.
Yet he abandoned field battle not just from lack of confidence against the Red Dragon Legion that beat Sancho,
"Let's see if you can really be stopped by walls."
but mainly to prove to the nobles that the enemy couldn't be contained by defenses.
"Reinforced the walls all the way with stones, earth, and fences?"
"Yes. They're fully committing to wall defense."
"Good. Very good. Soon it'll be clear Sancho was just making a fuss."
The nobles who advocated defense were pleased with Carlos's obvious preparations and expected real results.
"...Meaning they need reconstruction-level work."
"Sorry, but yes."
"...Hmm."
Having read all combat reports and consulted artisans, Carlos was convinced no makeshift fixes could stop the siege guns.
"How far along today?"
"Fences are about half done. Sandbags with earth are only at some key points."
"Good work. Keep it up tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
Barring the faint hope these might somehow hold the siege guns, his goals were twofold:
Etch into the nobles' minds that wall defense was futile against this foe,
"...Lord Gonzalez."
and, as a result, reinstate the confined Sancho to lead a field battle anew.
Thus, he diligently reinforced the walls' structure but skipped separate soldier training or field prep.
He figured Sancho commanding offered higher win odds than himself, so he'd follow orders and preserve forces to the utmost.
Fortunately for him,
"The Red Dragon Legion has emerged from Al Verdo Pass!"
"...It begins."
Over a week after preparations, the Red Dragon Legion finally moved.
With roughly 10,000 troops mobilized, the kingdom army had noticeably reinforced the pass's exterior.
"All reinforcements complete?"
"Yes! Fences and earth piles on the outside, similar work atop the walls!"
"Mm."
Carlos surveyed the officers' odd expressions.
He took a deep breath to steady himself,
"The enemy will strike with siege guns from beyond our weapon range, then pour troops through the breaches. I'll place minimal forces atop the walls, main force behind to hit approaching foes."
and began preparing his envisioned "proper defeat."
"I'll take the walls myself."
"...Isn't that dangerous?"
"Walls we reinforced for a week. I'll come down before it gets risky. No worries."
"...Understood."
The officers, with mounting dissatisfaction, didn't press the dangerous role he volunteered for.
Days later, the Red Dragon Legion arrived before Ceres Pass.
"..."
Carlos ascended the walls with a small detachment and watched them.
Cold sweat dripped from his clenched fists.