Rebirth in a Ruined Nation! The Life of a New Strategist Starting From Now - Chapter 96

Zetta Great War (11) – The Second Day – Poison

The morning of the second day, the Rudek army’s military council.

“Pitting Loderite and Zegabain against each other? How?” was the first question posed after I shared my plan. 

“Send someone to Gorber’s camp and make him tell Zegabain that Loderite was actually working with Rudek.”

“Easy for you to suggest, but….” a captain expressed doubt about the feasibility of my plan. 

“Wait. Let’s listen to his explanation first,” Boltras-sama’s words made the atmosphere in the council more serious.

I scanned everyone’s expression then asked, “First, do you all sirs think Loderite and Zegabain have a good relationship?”

No one responded, so I continued, “Let’s say the 10th Division claims all the credit for winning this battle. How would you all feel?”

I think this got my point across. 

To put it simply, Loderite was good at ‘making himself famous’. Of course, he was also good at war, but the reason why in my past life, the opinion about him was so divided was likely because he didn’t have a good reputation among non-civilians. 

In fact, the judgment of Rays-sama, Hogg-san, and Boltras-sama about Loderite as general was…questionable. Specifically, It seemed that Loderite’s strategy-making and his ability to see a broad perspective had some problems.

Since this was how the generals of an enemy country viewed Loderite, then it wouldn’t be strange that despite how popular Loderite was, there were people who didn’t like him because he was a show-off with questionable ability. 

Even in this battle, Zegabain was the supreme commander of the Gorber army yet Loderite ignored Zegabain’s order. I knew Loderite ignored Zegabain’s order just by looking at the situation on the first day.

At that time, despite leading his army toward the east gate, Loderite barely attacked the east gate to preserve his power for the night raid.

If the Gorber army’s strategy from the beginning was to launch a night raid using Loderite’s army, then the Gorber army should just let Loderite’s army remain at their camp to preserve their energy, rather than sending Loderite’s army to the east gate. What probably happened was that Loderite’s night raid strategy was effective so Zegabain had no other choice but to swallow his anger and change his strategy.

Thus I assumed that perhaps there were some rift between Loderite and Zegabain….no, between Loderite and other Gorber’s generals. If this was true I could take advantage of it.

“But even if it’s true that Zegabain dislikes Loderite, there’s no way Zegabain will easily believe in the words of the person we will send over.” Everyone nodded at Boltras-sama’s words.

“Yes. That’s why we must send the right person. Someone with a considerable amount of influence, yet from an outsider’s perspective, it won’t be strange for him to have dissatisfaction toward our country.”

“Do we even have someone like that?”

The room began to get noisy, as the captains started to look toward each other.

There was one person.

There was one person who fit the criteria to the dot. But, this strategy relied on the assumption that Loderite and Zegabain didn’t get along. At the very least, Zegabain must dislike Loderite for the plan to work.

Based on the record about Loderite from the future I knew, there was a good chance that Loderite was disliked by the Gorber’s generals. However, if asked if I had seen a record that clearly stated Zegabain and Loderite didn’t get along, then no, I haven’t seen such a record.

In other words, if my assumption was wrong, the person we sent over to the Gorber’s camp would immediately be detained and even killed.

That was why I was so hesitant to bring up this plan.

“I see…it’s my role, isn’t it?” Wickharlt looked at me with a calm expression.

The famous Blue Bow, who was stripped of his title of the 6th Division Commander, then in the 10th Division, wasn’t even given the position of Rays-sama’s close aide. He was instead placed under the command of an unknown commander.

There was no candidate more perfect than him for my plan.

“If my assumption is wrong, you will die.”

“Perhaps I will. But if I do nothing, the entire fortress, including me, will also die. If I will die either way, I’d rather die fulfilling the order of the master I’ve dedicated my bow to.”

When I looked around, everyone was watching our conversation with bated breath.

For a moment, Raimaru-san’s face crossed my mind.

My chest feels painful.

I was afraid that I might make the same mistake again.

But…

“Please, Wickharlt. Fool Zegabain. Our fate lies on your hand.”

“Yes, sir!”

Thus, my plan began.

***

The night of the second day, Gorber’s main camp.

“I see. I’ve heard about your rather unfortunate situation. But I cannot trust you easily.”

Inside Zegabain’s tent, even though a sword was pressed against his neck, Wickharlt was sitting with a calm expression.

“I understand your concern, Zegabain-sama. I, too, didn’t intend to join you without bringing any gift.”

“Oh? What kind of gift can you give me?”

“Tomorrow…no, the day after tomorrow I shall open the west gate for you.”

“The day after tomorrow? Is it impossible to do it tomorrow?”

“I can only promise to open the gate the day after tomorrow. If it’s the day after tomorrow the fatigue of the soldiers inside of the fortress will be at its limit. At that time, me and the soldiers who share my aspiration shall open the gate from the inside.”

At those words, Zegabain showed some reluctance.

“But we might be able to make Kitsar Fortress fall tomorrow. If that’s happened, I don’t want you to just jump on the bandwagon.”

“At that time, I will just blame my bad luck, and will show my loyalty by giving the head of the soldiers in the fortress.”

Looking at Wickharlt’s calm yet resolute smile, Zegabain began to think.

There was a good chance that this was a trap, but even if it was, what kind of damage would his army suffer?

If by the day after tomorrow, Wickharlt didn’t open the gate…Honestly speaking, it wouldn’t be much of a problem for his army. There was even a possibility that his army could claim victory by tomorrow, if it was by the day after tomorrow, his army’s victory was certain.

However, if Wickharlt was able to open the west gate, then that would minimize his army’s loss. Moreover, bringing back the Blue Bow to his home country by itself wasn’t a bad result.

If this was a trap, he would still win. There was no problem in accepting Wickharlt’s offer then.

It might be worth taking Wickharlt’s offer as insurance. He didn’t trust Wickharlt at all, though.

Zegabain made his decision and lowered his sword.

“Then, from now on, report to me the situation inside the fortress.”

“Understood. Also…this is quite a sensitive matter so, I hope we can keep it strictly confidential…”

Wickharlt seemed hesitant.

“What is it? Quickly say it,” Zegabain ordered.

“This is about Loderite-sama…..”

Little did Zegabain know that he was being fed ‘poison’ 

***

T/N: Roa be like: Everything according to keikaku (plan) *smug smile*

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