<Henry’s POV>
Henry stood on the rocky plateau that lay before Armas Fort.
This band of cliffs was surrounded on all sides by a vast forest.
He climbed onto the rocks and looked down at Armas Fort.
That must be Armas Fort.
A massive stronghold rising like an island in the sea of trees, ringed by stone walls and resembling a small city in scale.
「Armas Fortress is an impregnable fortress that boasts 5,000 soldiers」
Said Chacellor Timeria.
She had accompanied the campaign this time.
As one of the state’s leading ministers, she wanted to feel the battlefield firsthand.
A great fortress wrapped in nature. Hard to assault, easy to defend, and the single most important strategic point in this war.
If they were to go to war with Rilincross, this place had to be taken at all costs.
From Rilincross’s point of view, it was the one fortress they absolutely could not lose.
It was the decisive hill.
Henry commented.
「Five thousand garrisoned troops is extraordinary for a fortress. Keeping that many soldiers fed and housed is no easy task.」
Soldiers are still human. They need food, clothing, and shelter.
Especially food.
If five thousand soldiers each eat 3,000 dilin worth of rations per day, daily food costs hit 15 million dilin.
Over a month, that approaches half a billion dilin.
That is an enormous upkeep, and just covering food costs would strain any military budget.
So, Armas Fort had an established system of self-sufficiency, taking advantage of the natural bounty in the surrounding forests.
The state provided massive funding, of course, but the soldiers were also expected to procure some supplies themselves.
「It means the fort is important enough for Rilincross to station so many troops.」
「Yes. Whether we take the fort or not will decide the course of the war――――oh. It seems they have noticed our presence.」
Henry said, narrowing his eyes.
Lookouts near the main gate started moving in a flurry.
Moments later, the gate that had been open slammed shut.
They had clearly detected Henry’s force and gone on full defensive posture.
「Well, it is no surprise after getting this close. Let us begin to move as well.」
Saying that, Henry began preparations.
The soldiers he had with him numbered only a thousand.
He had marched with more at first, but cliffs, wide rivers, and dense forests obstructed their path. Many could not keep up, and in the end only a thousand reached the destination.
So, this would be a confrontation of one thousand versus five thousand.
However, Clemuir and Dione were there with him.
Kaiton, Zess, and Sarabelle remained at the Bernada homeland to guard it.
Timeria the Chancellor asked.
「How do you intend to take it?」
Henry answered with a question in return.
「What do you think?」
Timeria replied without hesitation.
「A war of attrition would be best, I believe. As you just mentioned, Your Majesty, the garrison’s supplies are the fort’s weak point. If we deprive five thousand soldiers of food and make them unable to eat, it will be possible to take the fort. For example, a midnight raid to destroy their provisions could allow us to capture it in a relatively short time. Given our small numbers, it seems to be the only viable option.」
「I see. Very rational, and a civil official’s kind of thinking.」
Henry said with a smile.
Cutting off the enemy’s food supplies or destroying their reserves so they cannot eat.
Eventually soldiers starved and began to riot, and the fort would collapse from within.
That was Timeria’s proposal.
Of course, food supply is a problem for them as well, but with Rilincross fielding five times our troops, they would falter sooner.
「But my idea is different.」
Henry said.
Timeria asked.
「What do Your Majesty propose?」
Henry smiled defiantly and replied.
「Crush them head on. That is all.」
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