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“Alright, let’s start the meeting. How are we going to drive back King De Morgal’s army?”
Julia declares to the assembled clansmen.
These are people who already know and have acknowledged that I will succeed as King.
Julia presides over the meeting as King Rosyth’s health has suddenly turned for the worse.
I brought along Bolus and Tetra.
Although I wanted to bring along Ron and the others as well, I couldn’t due to problems concerning their social status.
“The enemy is 15,000 strong. Let us proceed with the assumption that ours would be 7,500 strong. Does anyone have an opinion?” (Julia)
The clansmen look at a map that is spread before Julia. Upon this map, chess pieces are assembled. (TLN: Actually, Shogi pieces but hey, it’s like chess anyway.)
A clansman takes the king piece of the color representing our Rosyth Kingdom’s side and places it upon Fort Terrier, the fort I had recently completed in the border between the Ars and the De Morgal Kingdom.
“As I thought, don’t you think the best way to go about this is to fight a siege using a small defending force? We can barricade ourselves in the fort enabling us to take on up to three times our own forces. With this, we can force our enemy to withdraw.” (Clansman)
This is proposed by a clansman from the Ordovices Clan.
The Ordovices are a branch of the Ars clan. They also have marriage ties with the Rosyth Clan.
Their territory borders the Belvedere Kingdom.
Although they never had a war even once with the Belvedere Kingdom, they did nevertheless have several skirmishes making them very experienced with war.
“Certainly, we won’t lose if it’s a siege even with small numbers. However, we also won’t win. Though I do agree that the enemy would not prolong a battle so they will withdraw if it’s to the extent of a skirmish
.However, this time, King De Morgal is determined to head south. I don’t think he will withdraw.” (Bartolo)
“Then it comes down to a field battle, yes?
.Will we hit them with Lord Bartolo’s echelon formation?”
The one who asks so is a clansman from the Perm Clan.
The Perm Clan also has familial relations with the Ars Clan.
The clan borders the DeBell territory so they would be valuable when the civil war breaks out. I hear that, although their territory is small, their economy is quite strong because of the various rock salt mines that they have.
However, they don’t have much experience in war.
“The echelon formation cannot be used without extensive practice. We were able to manage with my army and King Rosyth’s army

.however, this time
” (Bartolo)
This time, although we have greater numbers, it’s hard to say that the army could work together smoothly. The echelon formation would probably be difficult to pull off.
“The enemy is a big army numbering over 10,000. Therefore, their food consumption would be rapid. They will immediately exhaust the rations they would bring. Furthermore, because the enemy needs to bring siege equipment, they won’t be able to bring much materials. In other words, they would have to source the rations from the locality after exhausting what they’ve brought. We will pull them into our territory while employing scorch earth tactics. We will wait until they exhaust their resources and then we will cut their supply lines using hidden soldiers.” (Tetra)
Tetra gives off quite a tangible strategy. However, that strategy will scorch our interior, huh.
Even though the land had just recovered, they will have to be devastated again, huh.
“With that, wouldn’t the soldiers from the Ars Territory be demoralized?”
Julia points out the plan’s biggest weakness.
With the scorched earth policy, we would have to burn fields and throw poison or dust into the wells.
If one is unlucky that as a result of possibly being in charge of one’s village

.. then morale will greatly fall.
“Almis, what do you think?”
You’ll push this on to me huh
.Well, I am the supreme commander so I guess it’s only natural.
Hmmm
my opinion, huh.
I think it’s best we go for the field battle but if you consider the difference in number then it’s impossible.
On the other hand, we will be able to fight effectively in a siege but it’s just a strategy for buying time.
We won’t have reinforcements, huh
.
N? Now that I think about it


“Certainly, the De Morgal Kingdom and the Gillbed Kingdom had signed a cease-fire agreement. However, that agreement doesn’t mention anything about the Fardam Kingdom and Rozel Kingdom, yes?

.How about we ally ourselves with those two countries?”
If they got attacked in a pincer, even they would have to withdraw, right? With this, we’ll have to go with the siege to buy time.
“King De Morgal left behind quite a number of soldiers so I don’t think they will withdraw from our country even if we attacked them from the front and back. Besides, the Rozel Kingdom and the Fardam Kingdom are at war right now.”
This ain’t gonna work, huh.
As for the other plans
.
“Honestly, I think cutting off their supply route is a great idea. We could probably win this just by upsetting their weakness in morale.” (Bartolo)
Bartolo declares.
I also think it’s not a bad idea.
It’s just like that huh. It’s problematic because we have to apply the scorched earth on our territory. Can’t we do it to the enemy’s territory?
N? I see

.If we do it in the enemy’s territory then it won’t be a problem at all.
“Then how about this way?”
I tell them about my plan.
The clansmen open their eyes wide in surprise.
“That would incur the curs

.no, If it’s you then we won’t have to worry about that, huh. I think a surprise attack would be enough to succeed.” (Raymond)
Raymond agrees with my plan.
“I see. As for the next phase, after luring them into pursuit, we will attack them from the front and back in a pincer. Not bad. However, we might get hurt if we do this sloppily.” (Bartolo)
Bartolo agrees while also saying the plan’s faults.
Well, yeah.
This plan’s greatest barrier is the mobility.
“I think we can do this with the cavalry’s mobility. Although we could also do this with Velites (light infantry)


the De Morgal Kingdom has cavalry. The velites would be helpless against an attack by cavalry dispatched from the center.  If we use cavalry, then we can stir them up completely.”
The problem is I only have 100 cavalry. If I remember correctly, King Rosyth only has 50.
That’s too little.
“How many does everyone have?” (Almis)
I ask the clansmen how many cavalry they have.
The total? 50.
In other words, the Rosyth Kingdom has 200 cavalry in total.
As expected, that’s too little.
In the first place, horse riding is a special skill so you couldn’t gather people with that skill in large numbers. Therefore, cavalry couldn’t become the main force in war.
Although you could also use them for messaging and scouting, this world has falcons which can do those jobs better.
What the horse can do in several hours, the falcon can do immediately.
The value of horses, therefore, are lower.
“At the very least, we’ll want 200 more. We can’t rest easy otherwise.”
The Ordovices clansman says so.
“Then, what do you say about hiring Alva people?”
Julia proposes.
Who are those Alva people?
“Eh

.Alva people are

Aren’t they barbarians?”
The Perm clansman makes a sour face.
“We don’t want to get involved with those kind of people, yes?”
The Ordovices clansman, too, make a disagreeable face.
I said who the hell are those Alva people?
Somebody please explain!
“The Alva people are a flat-faced clan who spread out to Germanis, Gaul, and the Adernia peninsula a very long time ago
.500 years, if I recall correctly. They live across the mountains to the east of the Rosyth Kingdom. Right now, they have completely assimilated with Adernians.” (Tetra)
According to Tetra:
Apparently, those flat-faced clan came and invaded the Adernia Peninsula with their horses and subjugated approximately the whole area 500 years ago. They made an empire that covered Germanis, Gaul, and the Adernia Peninsula.
However, after their great king died, the flat-faced clan broke up into several competing clans and families.
At the same time, taking advantage of the revolting Adernians, the expanding Cretians and Povenians drove them out.
After that, the flat-faced tribe also couldn’t maintain their control over Germanis and Gaul so they ended up retreating to the east.
Apparently, they were the ones who brought horse-riding to the west.
However, not all of them joined the retreat. A part of them detached from the main force and settled around the Alva mountain range to the east of the Rosyth Kingdom.
They assimilated with the Adernians and became known as the Alva people.
“The Alva area is a dry region in the middle of the Adernia Peninsula that receives very little rain. Originally, livestock farming was popular in the area. That’s why the flat-faced tribe seemed to have an easy time assimilating.” (Tetra)
I see. It’s to the east of a mountain range so it rains very little, huh.
Although this world doesn’t seem to be particularly aware of the existence of westerlies so I can’t confirm but let’s just assume that it exists.
Moist air comes from the west and causes rains.
However, the Alva mountain range cuts off that wind so the rains won’t come.
Something like that?
Well, climate is a combination of a lot of factors so I can’t say for sure.
“But why do you call them flat-faced people?” (Almis)
Is it because they have flat noses or something?
“Well, that’s one reason. However, the primary reason is that they had a custom of tying down their noses from a very young age to flatten it.” (Tetra)
So they’re really flat, huh
..
Well, it couldn’t be helped if you called them savages.
“But aren’t they assimilated to the Adernians already? Then we should be able to communicate in Adernian. I don’t see any problems?” (Almis)
“Yes, yes. They apparently stopped doing their custom of flattening their noses. It seems their numbers have dwindled too. There are around a thousand people left in the Alva area. They’ve assimilated into bona-fide Adernians. Certainly, they speak with an accent and their lifestyle is different too. But I think that won’t be much of a problem.” (Julia)
Julia and I agree to hiring the Alva people.
“We have established a commercial relationship with the Alva trading wool and the like. We are also quite distant to the Alva mountain range so we don’t have a history of war. If we approached them with a friendly disposition then I don’t think there would be a problem.” (Bartolo)
“I agree, we have nothing to fear if we have Alvan cavalry. They’re also probably troubled about the De Morgal Kingdom’s southward policy. I think the plan’s fine.” (Tetra)
Tetra and Bartolo also gives their support.
“Yes

Certainly, Alvan Cavalry can be relied upon
..however, we don’t have official diplomatic relations with them
.”
“They are nomads. Their concept of a nation is different to ours. We don’t know where to find their leader.”
“We also have the problem of finding out with whom do we need to negotiate.”
Raymond, Ordovices, and Perm object citing those difficulties.
I see. We need a bridge for negotiations, huh.
I think I know

.just the right person.
“There’s this Cretian merchant called Ains. When I got some horses from him before, he said that he procured some of them from the Adernia Peninsula. There’s a possibility he got them from the Alva people.” (Almis)
“Certainly, if it’s him then he probably knows the Alvans. Shall I call for him?”
With this, the meeting comes to a close.
“The Alva people? Yes, I know them.” (Ains)
A week later, we call for Ains and hold another meeting.
This time, King Rosyth is in attendance.
By the way, we also have to hide the matter regarding my succession as king.
“The area is divided into three countries. The Equus Clan, the Aries Clan, and the Lupus Clan. The Aries clan is weak and under the control of the Lupus Clan. The remaining two are the two major powers.”
Oh? There are two major powers, huh?
That makes things easier.
We’d have to negotiate anyway no matter how many tribes there is, after all.
“With whom can we probably negotiate mercenaries?”
“That would be the Equus clan. The Lupus clan doesn’t want contact with the outside world after all. On the other hand, the Equus clan is proactive. A part of the clan seems to practice agriculture too.”
Even if you say it doesn’t rain often, there’s still the river. That should be sufficient for agriculture.
It’s only natural to have better productivity with agriculture than with nomadism. However, while it’s only natural to convert to agriculture, it’s normal to fear and fail to suddenly change your way of life.
The Equus clan probably has quite the progressive mind set.
“Can you act as the intermediary on our behalf?”
Ains-san grins and bows.
“That would be a very easy task. 
..By all means, leave it to me.”
Just like this, it’s decided that we will send an envoy to the Alva area.