There is a law called the triple attack law.
　To put it simply, it means that the attacker needs three times as many attacks to defeat the defender.

　However, the attacker has a greater range of choices than the defender, because the attacker can attack wherever and whenever he wants.
　Also, in Shogi (Japanese chess), the attacker can take the initiative rather than the defender, and it is easier for beginners to play.

　Now, Hercule thought.

　Let's attack strategically and defend tactically.



　"You've been saying initiative, initiative, initiative for a while now. ...... Are you sure you want to go on the defensive?
　What are you talking about? Waiting is a great way to take control, Carolina.

　The Lemurian army, led by Hercule, was positioned on a hilltop a short distance from the city.
　The river runs along the side of the hill, so you only need to worry about the front and back. ...... This is the best place to defend.

　Yes, for defense.

　But you can't take the initiative because you're on the receiving end, and if you're at a disadvantage, ......
　On the receiving end. Listen, Karolina. I'm not defending, I'm not being attacked. I make them attack me.

　Darrios is very much hated on this peninsula.
　They're tired of being ruled by ruthless mercenaries.

　That's why Darios needs to get rid of Hercule as soon as possible.

　Besides, any sign of weakness might cause the mercenaries to flee.
　Mercenaries don't have time for battles they can't win, and their lives are not light.

　War is a business.

　That is why Darios must defeat Hercule.
　He must attack.
　No matter how disadvantageous the battlefield.

　In other words, Hercule is currently in control of the war.
　There's no need to exhaust the troops with more running.

　"Listen, Carolina. There's nowhere to attack on this hill but the front and the back. ...... And I've had the soldiers dig and stake shelters in the front and back. That should be enough to overcome the disadvantage in numbers.

　Hercule had so far outmaneuvered Darios and kept the initiative.
　However, it is doubtful that he will be able to hold the initiative forever.

　This is because Hercule believes that Darios is a very powerful man.
　If he were to meet him head on in the plains with an inferior force, he would surely lose.
　Hercule was convinced of this.

　That's why he dragged the enemy into the advantageous battlefield.
　To offset the disadvantage in numbers, to destroy the enemy's advantages, and to maximize the advantages of his allies.

　Your Majesty!　Tens of thousands of enemy troops from the southwest!　Enemy general Darios' banner is also confirmed!

　Hearing the report from the scouts, Hercule smiled fearlessly.
　He smiled at Karolina and pressed his lips to her cheek.

　"Ah!
　"I offer you victory. Stay tuned.






　'...... Is this really the son of Hadrian III?　Who said anything about a young, inexperienced emperor ascending the throne?

　That was me, wasn't it?
　Darius looked at the enemy's position from the high ground.

　The enemy had built a strong position on the hill.
　From a distance, you can clearly see the fences and stakes that have been erected to protect the horses.

　Although not visible, it is safe to assume that a shelter has also been dug.

　He knows the basics of warfare: "Block the enemy's advantages and make the most of your own. You know the basics of warfare.

　The advantage that Darius' army had over Hercule's army was in numbers.
　That's why the Herculean army is positioned on that hill.

　Since the hill is flanked by a river, attacking from the flank is impossible.
　He can only attack from the front or the rear.

　In other words, the terrain is not conducive to encircling the enemy with the advantage of numbers.

　In addition, the Lemurian army led by Emperor Hercule possesses longbow soldiers.
　The longbow is more difficult to train and less powerful than the crossbow of the Darius army. ......

　The longbow is more difficult to train and less powerful than the crossbow of the Darius army, but it has a longer range and better rapid fire ability than the crossbow.

　Crossbows, which are difficult to fire, are no match for longbows, which can shoot from the top of a hill.
　On the other hand, the longbow can shoot at you as much as it wants.

　All the advantages of the Darius army have been destroyed, and the advantages of the Lemurian army have been fully exploited.

　Let's be clear.
　Darios has no chance.

　The Emperor Hercule has already won 90% of the battle.

　But if they surrender now, all that awaits Darios is death.
　And there's still a 10% chance of victory.

　Then ......

　"I haven't had enough fun in my life to back down now. I'll give you a chance, Emperor Hercule.

　Darios smiles fearlessly.
　Darios was enjoying the crisis more than ever.




　Darios led his mercenaries, 400 infantrymen and 300 crossbowmen, for a total of 700, plus 280 infantrymen hired from outside and 500 barbarian light cavalry.

　A total of 400,000.

　They were met by 800 heavy cavalry (clivanarius) led by Emperor Hercule, 150 infantry, and 500 longbowmen.

　A total of 2,800.



　Darius the Kuro Panther, mercenary captain.
　Emperor of the Lemurian Empire, later known as the "Champion of the Three Continents".

　The battle between the mercenary captain and the young emperor was about to begin.





　Darius immediately began to prepare for the attack.

　He hired 2,800 infantry from the outside to attack the front. 　
　On the flank, 500 barbarian light cavalry.

　Behind them were 400 mercenary infantrymen and 300 crossbow troops for a total of 700.

　Darios' strategy was simple and straightforward.
　It was a force majeure.

　Or rather, there was no other option but force.
　It was obvious that if he tried to cross the river and attack the flank, arrows would rain down on him.

　However, Darius is no fool.

　It is the mercenaries and barbarians that he has hired for money ...... and it doesn't matter how many die.

　And to prevent them from escaping, he has placed his trusted elite behind them.

　The mercenaries are used up and break through the defensive position of the Emperor of Hercule.
　Finally, the mercenaries of his henchmen would finish him off.

　That was the best Darios could come up with at the moment.

　"Well, I suppose you know what to expect. If the Emperor of Hercule is as talented as I am, I would naturally expect this best move.

　And ......
　He's confident that he can win even with that best move, which is why he's positioned himself on the hill.

　In other words, it's impossible for Darios to win with this strategy.

　It's hard to win back a game you've lost on strategy with tactics. ...... But I'm not so innocent as to lose knowingly.

　Darios will incorporate another strategy.
　The second strategy.

　The rest depends on how good your opponent is.

　The die was cast.






　Hercule muttered as he looked down from the top of the hill at the 2,800 mercenary infantry coming straight at him.
　"Hmm ...... that's what they'll come for.

　There were four tactics that Hercule thought Darios could employ.

　The first is for the crossbow troops to shoot at Hercule's longbow troops and eliminate Hercule's longbow troops.

　However, this is impossible if you know the performance of common sense weapons.

　In the past, he lured the heavy cavalry of the Lemurian army into a swamp and skewered them with his crossbow troops. ......
　It is unlikely that Darius, who defeated the previous emperor Hadrian in a battle that took advantage of the characteristics of his army and the terrain, would adopt this strategy.

　The second is to force a siege.
　The second strategy is to force a siege, encircling the Herculean army at the foot of the hill, and gradually closing the circle to annihilate it.

　However, this is a poor strategy.

　The side of the hill has a river running through it, and crossing the river will consume time and the strength of the soldiers.
　Inevitably, the circle of siege will collapse.

　After that, you can easily break through by using gravity to your advantage and charging with heavy cavalry (cribanarius) against the break.
　After that, repeated assaults from behind will inevitably lead to the defeat of Darius' army.

　There is a third option.
　The third option is to divide your forces into two groups, one in front and one behind, and forcefully attack.

　This is not a bad idea. ......
　This is not a bad idea, but it raises the question of whether there are generals in the Darius army who can be trusted with one side of the army.

　A general who is not likely to betray you, who can work with you at a distance, and most importantly, who can lead an army of more than 200,000 troops: ......

　If there was such a thing, Darios would not have been driven to this point.

　It is precisely because he is the only one who can lead an army and cannot be trusted to do so that Hercule has taken advantage of him.

　Besides, splitting the army in two would lead to the dispersion of the forces.
　In the first place, it is unlikely that Darios would choose to allocate his forces in a situation where it was doubtful that he could break through the defensive position.

　Thus, the fourth option.
　A frontal assault by force.

　It's also ......

　I'm sure you'll be able to guess what I'm going to say: "Put the expendable mercenaries in front and the trustworthy elite behind them.

　The only question now is how many tricks are in store for us.
　The only thing that matters is how many tricks are in store for you.

　That's how victory or defeat will be decided.

　The rest will depend on the soldiers' efforts.

　The die is cast.