Rebirth in a Ruined Nation! The Life of a New Strategist Starting From Now - Chapter 83

The King’s Sons (4) – Aim

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Translator: Nisarah

Editor: Nisarah

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A little before the start of the battle…

While looking at me (Zeland)  Roa said, “I’m thinking of leaving 50 cavalrymen here,”

“For what?” Frein asked

“To attack them from behind.”

Roa then started his explanation.

The Roa Brigade would first set out from the capital, leaving 50 cavalry as a detached troop in a remote location. The main army would also arrive on the promised battlefield late on purpose. This would make the main army seemingly unprepared, thus baiting Ural to attack the main army. After Ural took the bait, the separate army of 50 men would attack the empty Ural’s main camp.

“But this strategy will fail if Ural didn’t set up his camp on the capital’s side,” Luzel commented

Zeland agreed with Luzel’s word, but then Roa refuted, “Prince Ural will definitely set up his camp on the eastern side, the side with its back to the capital.”

Zealand has to agree with Roa’s words.

In the mock battle, there was an unspoken rule that the eastern side of the training ground, with its back to the capital, was where the higher-ranked army would set up their camp.

Ural was a prince and he also looked down on Roa. Even if Ural didn’t know of this unspoken rule, his followers would know and they would definitely advise Ural to build his camp on the eastern side. Knowing Ural, he would definitely follow that advice.

“Of course, if the two armies are of the same rank, they will decide which side will build a camp on the eastern side via discussion,” Roa added.

“But our opponents are the Grantz Brigade and Lapilia Brigade. Won’t they notice immediately that our main army is lacking some men?” This time, it was Wickharlt who asked.

“Of course, they will notice, but whether they will tell Prince Ural is a different story. Rays-sama said he wouldn’t be giving any kind of advice to the Prince so knowing the two’s characters, since Rays-sama won’t help the Prince, the two of them won’t too. Unless Prince Ural asked them for their advice.”

“So, you think Prince Ural won’t ask the two of them for any advice?” (Frein)

“Yup. Prince Ural’s aim this time is to prove to people that he is a better commander than me, that if the two best commanders in the 10th Division move according to his own command, they will defeat me, right?”

“Right…But what if Prince Ural asked for Grantz-sama and Lapilia-sama’s advice?” Frein asked again.

“Well, if he did, then it’s fine. The detached troop can act as a diversion. After that, we can just buy some time and when Prince Ural got impatient and left his main camp, Wickharlt, you can shoot him down, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

Despite his relaxed expression, Roa has no hesitation in planning his strategy. He has seen through the character of Ural, whom he had just met, and quickly gave everyone precise instructions. Zeland was a little taken aback as he watched Roa giving instructions.

“…Well, I doubt that will happen though. Anyway, the detached troop will be led by Frein…ah, no. Frein, you will act as the vice commander. Prince Zeland, can you please become the commander?”

As Roa said that while looking at Zeland’s eyes, Zealand hesitated for a moment. He then saw the young girl, Rufa’s encouraging small. He gathered his courage and answered, “Yes.”

(T/N: Actually, this yes used the same words as ‘I’ll do it’ in the previous chapter, but because of the context, I decided to change it in this chapter.)

***

“Grantz Brigade and Lapilia Brigade have started to move.”

“It worked…”Zeland said while gulping with a tense expression.

Currently, Zealand was riding with Frein.

“Please look at that cloud of dust. Behind that dust is the Roa Brigade. Please look carefully so you don’t miss the signal.”

“A…Alright.”

After a while,  a large flag was raised high on the Roa Brigade’s side, and it began to wave slowly.

First, it was one big wave to the left and right.

“One wave means that the enemy has started to move. At this time, your troop should stay still,” Zeland recalled Roa’s words.

Then, if the flag stopped after one wave, that meant the enemy had moved outside of the prediction so there would be a change of plan.

If the flag was waved a total of three times…

“It’s the third time! The flag was waved for the third time, right??”   Zeland asked Frein behind him.

“Yes. Your Highness, please give the order to attack.”

Urged by Frein, Zeland looked around him.

The 50 horsemen entrusted by Roa were here, waiting for his order.

Would the plan really work? This easily?

With some doubt still remaining in his mind, Zeland shouted, “C…Charge!”

The battle ended in an instant.

When Zeland and his men attacked, the area behind the Ural’s main camp was surprisingly empty. No one was paying attention to that area.

Zeland’s troops climbed elevated ground at once and immediately succeeded in seizing Ural’s main camp.

Zeland felt as if he had been tricked by some kind of dubious magician, and raised a victory cry in the place that was supposed to be Ural’s main camp.

***

“It’s not fair!?It’s not fair!!!!”

The battle was settled and we gathered on the eastern side and found that Ural and all of his entourage had been captured. Ural kept shouting that I was a coward.

…Luzel, this was a bit too much. True, I told you to seize the camp but I didn’t tell you to tie them up like criminals!! This kid was still a prince, you know!

When I turned my gaze to Luzel, Luzel moved his gaze to Rays-sama. Was this an instruction from Rays-sama?

“You! You know you can’t win if you fight openly, so you used cowardly tactics and embarrassed Ural-sama like this!” one of Prince Ural’s entourage who was also tied up said.

Well, well, this guy was quite lively. Glad to see you are doing well, Sir.

In the meantime, King Zeurasia, who had been observing at some distance, arrived.

Prince Ural took it as an opportunity and started to complain to the King that he was defeated by a cowardly move.

But King Zeurasia looked at Prince Ural with a very stern expression,

“Ural, you are the one who said to treat this battle as if it was a real battle, so what exactly do you mean by calling him a coward?”

Prince Ural was quite speechless at the King’s unexpectedly harsh words.

“But… they launched a surprise attack from outside of the training ground…”

“Fool! Don’t you realize that if this was an actual battlefield, your head would already be gone!? What, are you planning to shout toward your opponent that they are cowards right before they kill you!?”

Oh, wow. I thought he was a mild-mannered person, but unexpectedly our King could also be fierce. Your Majesty, your son was on the verge of tears, you know.

“Your Majesty, please, stop.”

Rays-sama interceded and Prince Ural and his entourage seemed to be relieved.

Unfortunately for them, this wasn’t the end.

“But I am somewhat disappointed with this battle. If you observe carefully, it’s clear that the Roa Brigade has fewer men than they should have. In addition, it is quite foolish to move your army before even checking your surroundings.”

“But..!”

Prince Ural was about to argue, but Rays-sama’s glare shut him up. For people who weren’t used to it, Rays-sama’s icy glare was pretty scary.

“To think he was ‘undefeatable’ with this level of strategy…no, this can’t even be called ‘strategy’ it’s nothing more than child’s play…”

Prince Zeland was visibly startled by this sentence. 

But then, Rays-sama directed his next words to others.

“Your Majesty, I think the responsibility for this falls into the Prince’s aides. Perhaps they purposely held back when fighting against the prince, or perhaps they are simply incompetent people who will fall for this level of child’s play. Either way, it is a serious problem.”

The faces of the Prince’s entourage turned pale after hearing these words.

“I believe that the rule for this battle was to treat it like the real battlefield? Since they dared to participate knowing the rule, they all must be prepared to risk their lives. I suppose It will be fine to kill some of them.”

The place went into silence the second Rays-sama uttered those words.

“Mm. But they are the ones who have served the Prince for so long. It would be heartless to kill them, wouldn’t it?”

The aides breathed out in relief.

“But you are right, Rays. It seems like the role of educating the Prince is far too heavy for them. I will replace them.” 

After saying that, the King turned his gaze to the Prince’s entourage.

“Naturally, it has also become clear that the Prince’s entourage are incompetent. After all, they can’t even give the Prince correct advice against this level of strategy.” After the King said this, some of them fell to their knees on the ground with a groan.

Ah, I see. This was their aim.

The King and Rays-sama used me to get rid of Prince Ural’s current aides and entourage, huh. I turned my gaze to Rays-sama and I saw the corner of his mouth rise a little.

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(T/N: There are actually two different groups here, Ural’s entourage and aide. The entourage is more like Ural’s servant or follower, while the aide is more like Ural’s teachers.)