One month after the Eastern Federation of Three Kingdoms declared war on the Empire…
Finally, the Empire’s 12th Legion marched into the eastern borderlands.
Since then, they hadn’t stopped, pushing forward until they reached their objective.
The place where the 12th Legion halted was called Pavilion in Imperial terminology.
To ensure a smooth advance into the Eastern Federation of Three Kingdoms, this was a location that absolutely had to be secured.
The Empire was well aware of this, which was why they had deployed the elite 12th Legion.
The Legion’s commander, their aides, and frontline officers were seasoned veterans of the battlefield.
From the moment they entered the borderlands, they had already established an unshakable grand strategy.
“Completely seal off the Pavilion area and crush any enemy attacks.”
The key here was controlling the main thoroughfares—blocking the limited access routes.
Armies aren’t individuals; they can’t just wander wherever they please. They need designated paths to ensure the preservation of their combat power, a functional command system, and stable supply lines.
Passing through random trails isn’t feasible when you’re talking about thousands of troops.
Therefore, by carefully studying the terrain, predicting the movement of an army becomes quite straightforward.
From the command’s perspective, Pavilion was a location of utmost importance.
For the Empire, it had to be defended at all costs, and for the Three Kingdoms Alliance, it had to be captured no matter what.
Their goals were opposed, but ultimately, there was only one main route—through the central avenue of Pavilion.
“Thankfully, our legion appears to have moved one step quicker than the Eastern Federation.”
“Commander, we’ve successfully blocked the enemy’s main passageway. Fortunately, since the route is narrow, we should be able to hold it off with relatively fewer troops.”
As successive reports came in, the 12th Legion commander nodded, inspecting the operation map.
Despite the good news, his face remained solemn, not showing any signs of relief.
“Commander, is everything truly going to be alright?”
As if speaking for the commander’s troubled mind, the advisors cautiously interjected.
“What can we do? Her Highness the Crown Princess has given her orders.”
“But Her Highness might also understand the need for the commander to exercise discretion in the field.”
“That’s enough. Anyone listening might think we’ve already suffered a major defeat.”
Though he silenced the advisors, the commander wasn’t feeling particularly optimistic either.
Focused on the map before him—more specifically, the chokepoint where his main forces were stationed—and…
‘What in the world is he even thinking?’
he kept pondering over a nearby mountain.
[Listen to the advice of Kael Klauwitz who is accompanying you.]
This was the direct order from the Crown Princess—and by extension, the Emperor Himself.
Even a legion commander heading into battle cannot rebel against such a royal decree.
Actually, the commander secretly had high hopes for Kael, a young man of significant repute.
After all, he was the eldest son of the Duke of the Bertier Empire—not just anyone.
A young strategist who had distinguished himself in the conflicts with Nobogorod, reviving the morale of the Empire’s faltering troops and delivering a well-deserved blow to the Demon Race.
He was also part of the Anti-Empire Faction, landing a satisfying strike against the Pro-Empire Faction.
‘So, how amazing is this guy supposed to be…?’
With his own expectations, as well as the Crown Princess’s orders, he thought Kael might reveal some brilliant tactics.
However, upon reaching near Pavilion, Kael made a peculiar announcement.
“I’m going up the mountain.”
The commander was baffled. Why climb a mountain when you’ve got a perfectly defendable chokepoint?
Maybe he thought taking high ground provided a tactical advantage?
Sure, that could work. In practice, occupying high ground is often very advantageous.
But not this time. If the enemy passed through Pavilion, they could cut off the Imperial forces from their allies, allowing reinforcements from the alliance to converge.
“Master Kael, may I inquire why you would prefer to climb the mountain instead of holding the chokepoint?”
“Let’s say… it’s Master Kongming’s revenge… No, because there’s simply no better way, Commander.”
The commander wanted to shout, “Enough with the cryptic nonsense—just block the route and wait for the enemy already!”
But Kael was steadfast, and with the Crown Princess’s orders hanging overhead, there was nothing to be done.
Just before reaching their destination, Kael added another cryptic remark:
“Simply defending the chokepoint will only result in chaos, Commander. We need a decisive victory for the Empire.”
“War is about which side makes the most mistakes.”
“And I intend to make the three kingdoms commit plenty of them.”
It was all rather enigmatic. So, the commander pressed for more details.
Kael replied, however, that this was sufficient information for the operation’s success.
“All you need to do is hold the chokepoint well. I’ll handle the rest.”
And with that, Kael took a detachment from the 12th Legion and ascended the mountain, leaving the commander staring up at the Empire’s banner flying atop it, unable to hide his unease.
If the Three Kingdoms Alliance wasn’t stupid, they would inevitably send a large force here.
The 12th Legion would be split in two, with part defending the passageway and the other holding the mountain.
Could the divided forces of the Empire withstand a concentrated attack from the enemy?
“…Alright, the dice have been cast.”
Indeed, the 12th Legion had already split, one group stationed at the pass and the other up the mountain.
All that remained was to fight the enemy with all their might.
“…What formations has the Imperial Army taken?”
Bethel, a commander of the Allied Forces from the Kingdom of Porland, smiled upon receiving this good news.
He had clenched his teeth in frustration upon learning that the Empire’s 12th Legion had arrived earlier at Pavilion.
At the same time, he had not held back his curses against those from Burkhai and Caden who kept questioning his leadership just because he was from Porland.
Had those individuals cooperated properly, they might have arrived before the Imperial Army, taking advantage of their geographical position to force the Empire into a costly battle.
But internal rivalries and disputes caused nothing but delays, leading to the missed opportunity.
“Those guys are ignoring our Porland’s role even at this critical moment for the East.”
Among the three eastern kingdoms, Porland was the smallest in territory and population, naturally making it difficult for them to take control. This was reflected in command issues as well.
Resolving these matters required victory.
As a commander from Porland, Bethel had to utterly annihilate the Empire.
With such pressure on him, this news was truly a blessing.
“The Empire’s 12th Legion has split their forces—half at the chokepoint, the rest up a nearby mountain.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Commander. There are Imperial banners observed beyond the chokepoint, and we’ve confirmed a significant number of troops stationed on the mountain.”
At first, Bethel was suspicious and sent out another reconnaissance mission.
But the information was consistent: the Imperial Army had split and distributed themselves between the passage and the small hill nearby.
With additional intelligence about the enemy’s command structure, the whole picture started falling into place.
“Seems this ‘meteoric young strategist’ is a one-hit wonder.”
From what he’d heard, Kael Klauwitz was quite the prodigy.
But only for so long. Typical rookie mistakes began to appear.
Did he really think occupying high ground meant moving troops would be easy?
This wasn’t out of a book, nor a game where thousands could move with a mere word.
Each soldier was human. Tiredness can make even facing d*ath seem overwhelming.
“Our Allied Forces will strike immediately, smashing the half that’s holding the chokepoint, then quickly surround and overwhelm the ones on the mountain.”
Apparently, the Empire had gotten too excited, pushing a promising talent into a position where basic mistakes were made.
If they weren’t, how could they have fumbled so glaringly?
From Bethel’s vantage point, a fatal weakness was clearly evident.
“Fake an assault on the mountain while we crush the forces at the chokepoint.”
In terms of numbers, their allies had the clear advantage. They’d deal with the mountain forces before they could descend.
Afterward, it would be much easier. They could annihilate the entire Imperial legion.
The prospect made Bethel tremble with excitement and anticipation.
There was no way but to succeed. Absolutely. For my country, Porland.
And to show those from Burkhai and Caden who looked down on him and his homeland exactly what he was capable of.
The pressure to succeed was constricting his flexibility.
Unbeknownst to Bethel, this growing sense of urgency was slowly closing in around him.
It had begun. The enemy was coming. There was no turning back now.
The feeling of having my breath cut off was overwhelming, but I shoved it aside.
I must approach this calmly. I’m not the genius they make me out to be.
Frankly, calling me a strategist might even be a stretch. This is nothing more than me talking nonsense with slightly more knowledge than others.
You had to give credit where credit was due. I just happened to know a little more than most.
And with that bit of knowledge, coupled with a little luck, I had the confidence to act boldly in this moment.
That’s how people gain insights from others’ mistakes, crossing from failure into the realm of success.
Therefore, when it came to examples of things you shouldn’t do and things you must do, I was ready.
Luck favors the prepared, no matter how little.
So once again, fortune would smile my way.
“Gang up on the mountain enthusiasts. It’s the culmination of hard-earned wisdom.”
