Hmm. ...... Okay. Let's accept the peace and withdraw. Tell the ...... Emperor, 'Thank you for your generosity to our starving people.

　The general of the Bulgaron Kingdom said this to Todoris, who was sent as a diplomat.

　Originally, the purpose of the Bulgaron Kingdom was to pay tribute.
　It was not going to fight the great nation of Lemuria now that it had that money.

　"Yes, I understand. I'll tell the Emperor that.

　Todoris said, and left the place.

　After Todoris left, the general of the Bulgaron Kingdom muttered.

　Now, ...... let us watch the battle between Phallus and Lemuria, ...... and see what Emperor Hercule has in store for us.









　"So peace has been made. Hmm ......, that was cheaper than I thought.

　Hercule looks at the report from Todoris.
　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can't afford to buy a car.

　...... I don't want to settle this with money. Isn't that crazy?　I don't want to settle for money. Isn't it strange that they say, 'You can bet a thousand dollars on defense, but not a hair on tribute?
　If it's only a hair, it's more economical. If the country is destroyed as a result of not allocating a hair, there's nothing to worry about.

　For what it's worth, the Lemurian Empire has been kept afloat thanks to the "tribute money" diplomacy of Hadrian, Hercule's father.
　The Lemurian Empire's treasury has been squeezed because of this, but it has been able to survive because of this diplomatic policy.

　In addition, the money paid to the Kingdom of the Bulgurons will come back to you, so it won't be much of a problem.
　...... What do you mean?
　"What I paid to the Bulgurons was gold. Precious metal. Carolina, can you eat gold?
　...... You can't eat it.
　Exactly. Money is inedible. I'm sure you're aware of that. ...... Now, how many countries can use money?

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　The gold and silver that flowed to the Bulgaron Kingdom always returned to the Lemurian Empire.

　In addition, the luxury goods that can be obtained by using gold and silver, such as ...... spices, silk, tea, of course, sugar, coffee, and bone ash porcelain, once you have obtained and used them, it is human greed that makes you want the next one.

　The current rulers of the Bulgaron Kingdom have sold off their sheep and horses to buy them in the Lemurian Empire.

　And they won't last long. The Cotormia clan, the mainstay and ruling class of the Bulgaron Kingdom, is losing its centripetal force due to years of extravagance. They've monopolized the tribute from our country. Already, discontent has spread to all the clans of the Kingdom of Bulgalon. ...... Nomads are strong because they are always in need. A nomad who has learned to live in luxury is like a fat sheep.

　Just keep fattening them up.
　The fatter they get, the easier it is to hunt them.

　Hercule smiled a cruel smile.

　A chill ran down Carolina's spine when she saw that smile.

　(...... This man is going to destroy the Kingdom of Bulgaron.)

　Karolina gulped.

　I'm not sure what to say. ...... This is where it all begins.

　The Lemurian army, led by Hercule, was currently marching north away from the province of Suria.
　If they went south from here, they would be in Suria, and if they went further east, they would be met by the army of Phallus.

　Hercule was leading two infantry corps, totaling 2,400. He has six battalions of cavalry totaling 720.000. Six battalions of archers, 720. And one battalion of newly organized light cavalry, 120.
　Total: 396,000.

　That's a huge army of nearly 400,000 men.

　On the other hand, the invading army of the Kingdom of Fars has around 30000 infantry, 10000 cavalry, and 500 crossbow troops, for a total of around 45000.

　It was reported to Hercule.


　500 more than the enemy.
　But Hercule was full of confidence.

　"Karolina.
　What is it?
　The war is a surprise, don't you think?

　What the hell is he talking about?
　Karolina looked at Hercule with a frown.

　Hercule believes that there is an equation for war.
　Of course, the same is true for mathematics, but there are many ways to get to the answer.
　You can use vectors, or you can use calculus to solve it.

　It is up to each person.
　However, there is a method that suits each person.

　Hercule had already established a method, a doctrine, that suited him.

　First, use standing armies as much as possible, and always train them to be ready to go into battle at any time.

　Second, gather as much information as possible about the enemy or potential enemies.

　Third, as a general rule, fix the enemy to one person and do not fight multiple enemies. Always make diplomatic efforts to prevent third countries from intervening when you are at war with another country. If the enemy has formed an alliance with another country, break that alliance through diplomatic efforts. If that fails, concentrate your forces on one side or the other and try to defeat them individually.

　If this fails, concentrate your forces on one side or the other and try to defeat them individually. However, do not mix weak soldiers with strong ones. However, do not mix weak soldiers with strong soldiers, because the ability of an army is matched by its weakest soldiers.



　Fifth, as a general rule, the battlefield should be set in the enemy's territory. If you fight in your own territory, your territory will be devastated, and even if you win, enemy soldiers who have turned into bandits will spread throughout your territory. In addition, if you fight in your own territory, there is a risk of your soldiers escaping. If you are in the territory of another country, it will be more difficult for your soldiers to escape.

　Six, the battlefield should be set as much as possible in a land favorable to your army, specifically in the plains. This is because the Lemurian army, with its main force of cavalry, pikemen, and archers, shows its true value in the wide plains. In addition, since the battlefield is set in the enemy's territory, there is always the fear of ambush in forests and mountains. On the plains, there is no room for subterfuge.

　In order to achieve the goal of No.7 and No.6, you must always take control of the war and never let the enemy take control of it.

　In order to achieve the seventh objective, you must attack earlier than the enemy and in places that the enemy cannot anticipate.

　In other words, from now on ......, Hercule's strategy will be as much in line with this doctrine as possible.

　By the way, can you tell me what the plan is?　You said you'd tell me later, and then you didn't tell me anything.
　Haha, sorry, sorry. ...... Get me Galfis and the others.



　At the order of Hercule, Carolina gathers Galfis and his men.
　The four generals who will be participating this time are Galfis, Edmond, Darios, and Oscar.

　As usual, Lucanos and Christos are on duty.

　"Well, gentlemen. In bed at night, I'm better at attacking than being attacked, and I prefer to do what I want rather than being attacked. After all, I like to keep the initiative in my own hands.

　Hercule said, and winked at Karolina.
　No matter what, s*xual harassment is not forgotten.

　Then he tells the generals.

　"It's the same in war. So what we're going to do is not defense. It's an attack. With that in mind, ......

　Hercule smirks.

　"Do you like marathons, gentlemen?　I love it.








　"I hear ...... you've got a lot of mooks, but you've got a lot more resistance than you think.

　The general of the Kingdom of Foulds, Coward, frowned.

　Coward is a nobleman of the Yazdegerd faction of the Kingdom of Farus, and one of the most prominent generals in the Kingdom of Farus.

　Coward wanted to stop the declaration of war against the Lemurian Empire.
　This was because the mission entrusted to the Yazdegerd by King Sasan VIII was to defend, not to attack.

　However, we can't simply overlook the Lemurian Empire's Tunda soldiers.
　It is also possible to argue that the mission of the Lemurian Empire is to attack before being attacked, which is active defense.

　It is also possible to argue that it is active defense.

　Besides, the invasion of the Lemurian Empire was first proposed by the Kingdom of Bulgalon.
　If the forces of the Lemurian Empire were divided into two, the odds would certainly increase, and if this chance were to be missed, Sasan VIII might think that Yazdegerd was not worthy to be the next king.

　Besides, King Sasan VIII is a results-oriented person.
　He would turn a blind eye to a few violations of his orders as long as he won, and he would also appreciate the fact that he did not miss an opportunity.

　In the end, Coward was unable to oppose him. ......
　This is how he ended up invading the Lemurian Empire.

　There's no ...... damage, but ...... there's no progress.

　According to our initial estimates, we should have already penetrated deep into the province of Suria. 　
　However, the Tundabei's defenses were more solid than he had imagined.
　The Achaean Messianists, who had become pro-Erculean under the Achaean Edict, were also defiant and sometimes attacked Coward and his men.

　I thought that commoners would run away like spiders if you attacked them,......, but the commoners of the Lemurian Empire are very belligerent. That's .......

　Coward sighs.
　But we've already lost a few fortresses and the Tundan soldiers are beginning to retreat.

　Coward thought that in three days, he would be able to attack the heart of the province of Suria.

　But what about the Lemurian Emperor?

　It was about twenty days ago that we received word that the Emperor of Lemuria, Hercule, was on his way to the province of Suria with about forty thousand soldiers.

　His movements since then have been reported to Coward little by little, albeit in fragments.

　The route of their advance was a little strange.
　No matter how you look at it, it is not the shortest route to the province of Suria.

　It is inexplicable that they are traveling over land in the first place.
　It should be faster and easier to secure logistics by sea.


　General Coward!
　What is it?

　A general rushes to Coward.
　It was the man who had been entrusted with organizing the scouts.

　"It seems that the Lemurian army has advanced further east since our last report.
　"East?　Are you sure?

　The general nodded quietly in response to Coward's question.
　Coward tilted his head.

　So far, the march route has been a bit circuitous. ......
　Well, it was tolerable.

　But to head further east after that was clearly a detour and a waste of time.

　Funny ......
　A whistle goes off in Coward's head.

　"Bring me a ...... map.
　It's right here.

　The general in charge of the preparations had already brought the map, anticipating that Coward would ask for it.
　Coward took the map and unfolded it.

　The map depicted a vast area around the entire border of the Lemurian Empire and the Kingdom of Phallus.

　The Lemurian Empire to the west and the Kingdom of Phallus to the east.


　To the north of the border between the two countries lies the Kingdom of Khayastan.

　The location of Hayastan is strategically important to both the Lemurian Empire and the Kingdom of Phars, and it has often been the site of disputes between the two countries.
　The Kingdom of Hayastan is now a vassal state of the Kingdom of Phallus, and the Kingdom of Hayastan was forbidden to take up arms, and protected itself from foreign nations by having the army of the Kingdom of Phallus stationed there.

　The Kingdom of Khayastan was forbidden to take up arms and had to be garrisoned by the army of the Kingdom of Farus to protect itself from foreign nations. It's a long way from here. ......

　Coward muttered, and then ......
　Something was bothering him, he felt.

　The Kingdom of Khayastan has nothing to do with it.
　...... Are you sure it doesn't matter?　

　The army of the Lemurian Empire headed east.
　From ...... the Lemurian Empire, the Kingdom of Khayastan is to the east.

　And ......
　I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.

　In other words, ......

　So ...... the Lemurian Empire's goal is the Kingdom of Khayastan. It is true that the Lemurian Empire's goal is the Kingdom of Khayastan, and if you attack Khayastan and march south from there, you will find the heart of our country, the capital area. The Lemurian Empire's current location is about eight hundred kilometers from the border of Hayastan. No matter how fast we march, it will take forty to fifty days.

　On the other hand, the distance between the current location of Coward and the city of Orontia, the capital of the province of Suria, is about 250 kilometers. It would take sixteen days to get there.

　If you take into account that the Emperor of Lemuria has an army of around 40,000.
　Taking into account that the standing army in Lemuria is around 10,000, and that it is necessary to leave troops in the capital to prepare for neighboring countries, the Lemurian Empire can probably allocate around 10,000 troops to the defense of Orontia, including Tonden-hei and volunteer soldiers.

　The army of the Kingdom of Fars is over 30,000.

　Orontia City is famous for its impregnability, but with a 30,000 manpower difference, ......
　If Coward is strong enough, he can defeat it in a month.

　By the time the Lemurian army finally reaches Hayastan, the province of Suria will already be in the hands of the Kingdom of Fars.
　The Lemurian emperor will have no choice but to turn back if he loses the province of Suria.

　It's not a bad point of view, but you should consider the ...... distance. The new emperor of Lemuria.

　Coward laughs.
　The Emperor of Lemuria is definitely lacking in experience.

　It was as good as a victory.






　Six days later, Coward was marching on Orontia City. ......
　Coward received information about new developments in the Lemurian army.

　It was ......

　"Nonsense!　There's no way the Lemurian army is here!　It's a false alarm!
　"And, sir. I checked with ......, and they're correct!
　What is it, then?　Did the Lemurian army use magic?　Did they do some kind of instantaneous travel or stop time? ...... Let them check again!

　The Lemurian army was found about two hundred and seventy kilometers away from the last reported location.

　Two hundred and seventy kilometers in six days.

　That means they were advancing about forty-five kilometers a day. ......

　Its marching speed was three times faster than that of the Kingdom of Fars.