The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 579

Chapter 579: A Heavy Responsibility

"Report! News from the kingdom has arrived by swift horse! The kingdom's frontline cities have fallen! Furthermore, after their fall, the kingdom's soldiers burned the food in the cities, prompting the Imperial Army to start supplying the people with food! There was concern over food shortages, but the Holy Maiden Leticia has won over the cities in the northern part of the kingdom, and food is now being supplied from there!"

There's too much information.

While listening to the courier's report, I let out a sigh.

Having the courier step down, I looked at the map spread out on my desk.

"What do you think, Sebas?"

"I don't think you should be asking me."

Sebas appeared silently behind me as he spoke.

Sebas had been assisting my uncle in the principality, but with the fleet joining us, he has returned to my side.

However, Sebas would not answer when it came to military matters.

"I am asking for your opinion."

"That is outside of my expertise."

"You are quite a useless butler."

"I am a butler. If you want to know about war, you should ask a soldier."

I'm asking him because the soldiers are not reliable.

Even though he should understand what I'm trying to say, Sebas doesn't say anything.

He must mean I should think for myself.

"You could make things a bit easier for yourself..."

"Weren't you the one who decided to draw attention to yourself?"

"Stop nagging. I get it, I should do things properly. Really..."

What a troublesome butler.

Supposedly, a butler's job is to help his master, not to make him work.

"...Ansem's basic strategy is to lure the Imperial Army into the kingdom. Knowing that we have a navy ready, he intends to settle things in the interior of the country."

"So he doesn't hold up in his proud fortress because it would turn into a two-front battle?"

"Exactly. He could defend against one side indefinitely, but if he's surrounded by a large army from two directions, even the Louvell Fortress will fall. He understands this, so the Empire tried to push him into the fortress... but Ansem understood this, and chose not to hole up in the fortress. He's set up a strong defense network, takes his time whittling down Leo's main force, and plans to initiate the decisive battle at an opportune moment. That's Ansem's strategy. However... a gap has opened up."

"Burning even the people's food was a misstep."

"Rather than a misstep... it was probably a decision made on the ground. It would be better than handing it over to the enemy. They must have thought that. Some somewhat clever person must have been on the front line. They understood the kingdom's basic strategy was to attack the food supply, and so they couldn't hand over the food. There was no order to do so, but they thought it was for the best. That's probably it."

"Is it appropriate to call them smart?"

"Idiots can't understand basic strategy. However, sometimes those who are slightly smarter can be more troublesome. They think they understand things and act on their own. Even Ansem must be at his wit's end. The decision not to hand over the food is common. However, now it is different. The defense network that Ansem has laid out is rooted in the cities. It won't hold up if the people don't cooperate. So what is demanded of the front-line cities is resistance to the extent that the people don't suffer. By continuing this in many cities, the aim is to wear down the Imperial Army. But they've crossed the line."

On the map.

There are three strongholds placed there.

I put the Empire's piece on that stronghold.

It was expected. It was known that they would eventually fall.

However, the wind is blowing more favorably for the Empire than expected.

"By now, there must be cities in the kingdom starting to defect."

"Only soldiers can sacrifice everything. As for the people, they would be troubled if they were asked to do the same."

"That's right. If they push too hard, people will feel unable to keep up. Ansem probably never thought his subordinates would do something like this. If they were going to abandon even the people and be thorough, they should have done it from the start. They knew they were going to be invaded. If they wanted to, they could have collected all the food from the front lines. They've been backing Leticia, so the Empire can't abandon the people. If they share food with the people, the Imperial Army will eventually dry up."

"It's a scorched earth policy. It's effective, but they're not doing it because..."

"It's tough afterward. It would be difficult to govern, and if the Empire successfully crosses that front-line area, there's no hope of winning. And Ansem probably wouldn't use it because of his personality. To be thorough means there's little hope of winning."

His pride has shown through in glimpses.

He must also have absolute confidence in himself.

I can't imagine that Ansem would resort to a scorched earth policy. That's why this time, it's a decision made on the spot. It's too half-baked, and it's unnatural that there are no other actions if he's changed his strategy.

It must be a blow for Ansem.

The strategy that had been going well has begun to crumble.

Well, things won't always go as planned. After all, it's a war.

"It's about time for our turn..."

"The time has come for you to finally step up."

"Indeed. It's not like we need to move immediately, but we've come to a point where waiting for more reports might leave us lagging behind."

Information from within the kingdom is conveyed to us as quickly as possible, but even so, a delay of several days is inevitable.

Moving the fleet takes time. If we don't anticipate and move in advance, we won't be able to support Leo from the sea when he pushes the enemy into the fortress.

"...Sebas, I have a favor to ask."

"Anything you wish."

"... After I leave, I want you to return to the Imperial Capital and stay by my mother's side. Finne is with her now... but I would like you to be there too."

"If that is what Lord Arnold wishes."

"It's fine. If you're around... I can do what I need to do."

Sebas, perhaps sensing what I wanted to say, bowed his head deeply.

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