The NTR Knight Commander has Decided to Desert

Chapter 20

"In short, the enemy forces are currently camped to the west of here, and they will likely advance soon to retake this place. Their numbers are estimated to be around 13,000, and it's believed that one of the Britannian Empire's Three Generals, Burgoyne, is among them."

With that, Franklin finished reporting the current situation and the enemy's movements, then took her seat.

In response, General Gates spoke in a disinterested tone, his voice dripping with boredom.

"So the enemy has a bit less than twice our numbers, huh? Well, that's nothing to worry about. Everyone knows that the defending side always has the advantage in battle. If we just hold our position and fend off the incoming attack, victory won't be too hard to achieve."

"..."

From the very start, General Gates' words crushed the mood like a hammer to glass.

Franklin sighed inwardly, then looked at the Supreme Commander who was giving her bad vibes and spoke.

"General, it's true that defenders hold many advantages in battle. However, our current situation can't be interpreted so optimistically."

"What are you saying? Don't tell me you're getting scared before the fight even begins? You of all people should know the basic rule of warfare—that a defending force can enjoy a fourfold advantage in numbers over the attackers."

"That's true, but..."

General Gates kept spouting textbook strategies without considering the actual circumstances.

Franklin felt increasingly frustrated and tried to explain in more detail,

but before she could, Gates' adjutant, unable to bear it any longer, stepped in to speak.

"But General, it's unreasonable to view the situation so simplistically. Most of our troops are former militia, while the enemy consists of elite forces with a high proportion of trained mages and warriors. We can't just compare numbers one-to-one."

"Even if they're elite, anyone who isn't a mage still dies when shot, don't they? Besides, unlike the Imperial Army, our rebel forces are united under the cause of freedom. Even if our combat power is slightly inferior, our courage surpasses theirs. There's no reason to think we're weaker."

"But still..."

"Tsk, praising the enemy before battle? That's not like you. Are you telling me my own adjutant is a coward?"

"..."

Silenced by General Gates' irritated tone, the adjutant bit his tongue.

Watching this unfold, Franklin opened her mouth to speak again.

"Troop numbers aside, the bigger problem is the terrain. While the defenses of Stanwick fortress aren't bad, it's too cramped to face a massive army head-on. If we don't find more suitable ground, the terrain could actually hinder us."

A fortress could be a great asset in a battle involving thousands of troops.

But with both enemy and allied forces nearing 10,000, fighting here wasn't an ideal choice.

Not only would troop movement be difficult, but the area surrounding the fortress was flat plains—making it more advantageous to face the enemy elsewhere.

However,

Upon hearing Franklin's suggestion, General Gates looked at her as if she'd gone mad.

"What are you saying now? Are you suggesting we abandon this fortress we've worked so hard to hold?"

"I'm not saying we should abandon it. I'm saying we should focus on annihilating the enemy first. Instead of forcing ourselves to defend here, we could temporarily allow them to take it and use that to set a trap that deals a decisive blow."

"And if we lose to them in the process, that means we lose everything in this region! You want me to abandon a safe defense and take that kind of risk? Absolutely not! I'll stay holed up here and secure a safe, guaranteed victory!"

General Gates, who had previously downplayed Franklin's achievements in defending this place, now refused to make any strategic decisions and clung to the fortress.

Seeing this, Franklin was dumbfounded and raised her voice once more.

"General! If we do that, we could end up surrounded and wiped out without being able to do anything!"

"She's right! With militia reinforcements arriving from all directions, it's better to face the enemy on the plains than to stay holed up here and let them run wild!"

General Gates wanted to hole up in this cramped fortress with nearly 10,000 troops and do nothing.

All he sought was safety...

And Franklin and the adjutant fiercely opposed his narrow-minded conclusion that the enemy would conveniently come to fight here.

However,

"Enough! I am the Supreme Commander here! Once I make a decision, your only duty is to follow it!"

"G-General!"

"If you do that, we could lose not just the battle but the entire surrounding region! Please reconsider!"

They desperately tried to stop the worst possible decision.

But General Gates silenced them with a cold threat.

"Shut up! No matter how much nonsense you spout, my decision won't change! From this moment on, anyone who disobeys my orders or acts without permission will be severely punished for insubordination!"

"..."

"Tch..."

Using the authority of Supreme Commander to shut everyone up, General Gates silenced the room.

Franklin and the adjutant could only grit their teeth in silent fury.

'This damn bastard...'

'I expected this, but I didn't think he'd be this hopeless...'

Even before the battle began, Franklin was already filled with bitter disappointment—no, near despair—at her superior's decision, cursing the bastard in her heart.

'It would've been better if that man hadn't come at all... If only we could rely on Commander Cromwell and freely maneuver a smaller force, we might've had a chance...'

Feeling utterly stifled, Franklin turned her gaze to Cromwell.

He had been silently observing the situation without interruption since earlier.

His demeanor showed no signs of agitation—if anything, it seemed almost serene.

Franklin couldn't help but wonder if he had simply given up on the current situation.

'Well... even someone like him wouldn't have a solution in this mess... Damn it. If only Commander Cromwell could take command of the entire army, we could crush the Imperial Army with ease...'

Franklin bit her lip, filled with deep frustration.

Meanwhile, separate from her thoughts at that moment,

Cromwell quietly smiled to himself as he watched General Gates threatening his subordinates.

'Perfect. If he's this far gone, it'll actually be easier to make my move.'

*

A dark and quiet late night.

As the troops who had marched a long distance were resting, General Gates sat alone in the command room, deep in thought.

'Pathetic fools. Young people these days are always so reckless. What? Abandon the fortress and move elsewhere? Do they even know who'd take responsibility if we lost? How can they say such nonsense?'

With years of military service behind him, General Gates had risen to second-in-command of the rebel army.

To him, the two most important principles in life were self-preservation and career advancement.

Avoid all dangerous actions and reap only the fruits of victory.

Thanks to living that way, he had safely climbed the ranks to his current position, regardless of personal merit, and firmly believed his way of life was the only truth.

So to General Gates, the reckless plan proposed by Franklin and the adjutant wasn't even worth considering.

He reaffirmed his belief that defending the fortress and facing the enemy as safely as possible was the right choice, while trying to ignore the minor damages he anticipated in his mind.

Just then...

- –"General. Someone is requesting to see you."

"...At this hour? If it's Franklin or that adjutant bastard..."

- –"No, sir. The visitor is someone named Edward Cromwell."

"What?"

At the unexpected name, General Gates looked slightly surprised.

A legendary commander who had led seemingly impossible battles to victory with near-supernatural skill.

Even General Gates was well aware of his formidable reputation.

The fact that such a man had come to see him personally sparked both wariness and curiosity in General Gates.

'Why is he here?... Well... most likely Franklin sent him, but there might be something else.'

During the earlier meeting, Cromwell had remained completely silent, which gave General Gates the impression that he didn't fully support Franklin.

So, thinking it might be worth hearing him out, he told his subordinate,

"Let him in. I'd like to hear what he has to say."

With permission granted, the door to the room slowly opened.

And in walked a young man with a calm demeanor.

Edward Cromwell appeared before General Gates.

"Pardon the intrusion, General. I truly appreciate you making time to see me like this..."

"Enough with the pleasantries. Just get to the point."

General Gates cut off Cromwell's greeting and gestured lightly with his hand.

Cromwell quietly sat down across from him and began to speak in a low but clear voice.