第２１８掘：戦 (Part1)
**Dig 218: War**
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Never mind that, here is the main story!!
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**War**
Now, though it may be sudden, what is "war"?
It is said that war is the use of military force to achieve various political objectives.
In other words, it is the exercise of armed force for the purpose of self-defense or the securing of interests.
War is not limited to the collision between nations; if one’s own will defines it as a war, then a conflict between individuals can also be a war.
Yes, from an outsider's perspective, what might be called a skirmish or a preliminary battle can be viewed as part of a larger war, or as a single war in its own right, depending entirely on the subjective perspective of the individual.
Perhaps it is easiest to understand if we look back at war from the perspective of history.
There are countless battles and wars, but there is always a specific scene that stands out.
A battle that changed the flow of the war, or one that is said to have brought about its end—it goes by many names: a turning point, a genesis, a pivotal moment—but it is a battle that remains etched in people’s memories as "the one."
It is often said that a single, small battle in a remote region can change the entire course of a war.
And a battle that would likely change the course of the war was about to occur between the Zilba Empire and the Holy Kingdom of Enaria.
Both nations have existed on the continent since long ago, growing by pushing back and subjugating other countries.
Because they were busy dealing with surrounding nations and were separated by a fair distance, they did not clash in the past.
However, in recent years, they have either subjugated or absorbed most of the surrounding countries, leaving them in a state where they are now warring against the remaining powerful nations.
Naturally, those remaining powerful nations include the Zilba Empire and the Holy Kingdom of Enaria themselves, and sporadic border conflicts have occurred between them until now.
In the midst of this, the Zilba Empire, perhaps seeing an opportunity, gathered three Magic Sword Users—the strongest pieces on this continent—at a single point, and with astonishing speed, captured one of the Holy Kingdom of Enaria’s fortresses and two of its towns.
Upon hearing this report, the Holy Kingdom of Enaria deployed their own Magic Sword Users, led by a peerless dual-wielding Magic Sword User, and launched a recapture operation with a massive army of over 100,000. Unfortunately, due to a natural disaster, this force of 100,000 went missing.
However, they were only "missing"; in reality, most of the 100,000 remained intact. The outcome of the fighting in this region remains unknown, and both sides are locked in a stalemate, waiting for reinforcements to arrive.
Naturally, both sides are taking various measures while waiting, and everyone believes that this war will ultimately be decided when the respective reinforcements arrive and clash.
However, the commander of the Holy Kingdom of Enaria’s reinforcement unit, General Buris, did not share that view.
He is one of the most distinguished generals in the Holy Kingdom. While he lacks the transcendent power of a "Magic Sword," he possesses a keen tactical eye and has led many battles to victory.
The role of commander for this reinforcement unit is a position beneath someone of his caliber, who should normally be entrusted with an entire army. Yet, understanding the gravity of the situation, he displayed brilliant leadership by immediately organizing a ragtag force of 80,000 and setting out.
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**Side: Holy Kingdom of Enaria, Reinforcement Commander General Buris**
"Listen, in this battle, it will be too late if we wait until we link up with General Prism."
"What do you mean by that, sir?"
I am discussing our upcoming course of action with my subordinates while we are on the move.
There is no time to waste setting up tents for strategy meetings.
Of course, I ensure we take proper breaks and rest to keep the infantry in good condition.
"The key to this battle is how quickly we can arrive and launch our strike."
"Eh? Weren't we told to await instructions from General Prism?"
"That doesn't sound like General Buris, sir. Are you intending to make a name for yourself on someone else's battlefield?"
My subordinates don't seem to grasp the gravity of the situation.
That is why I need to make the meaning clear.
"Our goal is not to bring General Prism home. It is to join General Prism, recapture the fortress and the towns, and then surge into Zilba."
"Yes, sir."
"Indeed."
First, we confirm the purpose for which we have arrived as reinforcements.
My subordinates know the orders, so they nod without issue.
Therefore, it is only natural that the flow of events would lead to a rendezvous with the main force under General Prism.
However, the current situation is not that simple.
"We have received no word that General Prism has escaped the ruins, and the enemy has already secured the site of the collapse. However, the number of enemy soldiers at the collapse site is not that high. Do you understand what this means?"
"Surely it means they are gathering their strength in the fortresses and towns they took from us to bolster their defensive capabilities? They do have the three Magic Sword Users, but the current force disparity is over five times in our favor. Perhaps they think they will be swallowed up in an instant?"
"Indeed. Zilba captured three strongholds with a small elite force of less than 30,000, and they have divided that number into three to handle the defense. It stands to reason they don't have much manpower to spare for the collapse site."
"Exactly. That is why we must strike the enemy’s town of Betan as quickly as possible. We are not the only ones sending reinforcements. The enemy, Zilba, must be sending reinforcements as well. If we do not strike quickly and take the initiative, linking up with General Prism will become difficult. Conversely, if we strike from our side and use a detachment to secure the collapse site, we can rescue General Prism and her group and link up with them."
When I say this, my subordinates look thoughtful.
These two are not fools; in fact, they are capable vessels who could command an army in my stead.
"I see. That may indeed be the best way to link up with General Prism quickly."
"But, the Magic Sword Users who captured the fortress in an instant... well, they wouldn't come, would they? The enemy doesn't know our moves either, so they are waiting for reinforcements and have gone on the defensive. Staring each other down or openly conducting rescue operations at the collapse site would be disadvantageous for us. Rather than gauging the enemy's moves, we should strike first and restrict their actions?"
"Correct. If we attack, they will be unable to move from the strongholds they are defending. However, if the enemy happens to sortie, there is a possibility that our rear could be struck, causing severe damage."
"That is true. They must realize that if they don't take some kind of action, they will be defeated in detail."
"I see, so we are to use the fact that we outnumber them?"
"Yes. We will send a unit of about 2,000, centered on cavalry, to areas other than Betan to keep them in check. That will serve as a lookout and allow us to strike down their messengers, isolating them from information."
With this, the enemy will not only be ignorant of our movements but will even be unaware of how far their own allies have advanced.
Regardless of the enemy's generals, the rank-and-file soldiers will not be able to endure that situation.
"Hmm, in that case, why don't we slip through the gaps and send troops deeper?"
"What do you mean?"
"To delay the enemy's reinforcements. From the enemy's perspective, they believe the fortress and towns are still secure. What would they think if our army discovered their reinforcement unit?"
"Hmm, they would naturally assume the fortress had fallen. General, this is a brilliant move."
Indeed, even if it doesn't lead directly to combat, it can be used to stall them, and we might even gain information on the enemy's reinforcements.