Chapter 588: The First Day of Battle
The decisive battle between Ansem and Leo, which began on the plains, was evenly matched.
The first move for both sides was a cavalry charge.
The cavalry charge was most effective on the central plains.
Due to the intense collision in the center of the plains, a melee ensued instantly.
"Prepare the infantry battalion. Begin the advance."
Observing the melee, Ansem immediately decided to deploy the second wave.
The ten thousand waiting infantrymen began to advance.
The first wave of cavalry resolved the melee, and with the infantrymen who came from the rear, they began the second charge.
This too was evenly matched.
While watching the situation, Leo muttered.
"It would have been easier if the magic user division were intact..."
This was a monologue unheard by anyone.
Everything had been in motion since that time.
Ansem, foreseeing the threats, had eliminated them beforehand, and thus, was looking at this stalemate of a battle.
If he had the magic user division, who had achieved overwhelming success with the concentrated use of magic, it would have been a trump card. However, Ansem, recognizing their danger, had swiftly taken the magic user division out of the picture.
It's not that there were no magic users, but reorganizing magic users of that level into a unit was impossible even for the Empire.
Not just the magic user division.
The reinforcements from the south were not of their usual size.
If the Duchy's Navy had been at full strength, it wouldn't have been impossible for the combined fleet from the south to break through the fortress on their own.
However, sabotage made that impossible.
Ansem was always making moves ahead of time.
He was doing everything he could to single-handedly take on the Empire and its allied countries.
"Your Highness, there's movement in the enemy headquarters. It seems they might be deploying troops in the forests on the left and right."
"We'll deploy as well. Send ten thousand each to the left and right."
While giving instructions, Leo couldn't help but wryly smile.
Despite making the first move, he always found himself on the back foot.
His countermeasures weren't wrong, but he wasn't getting the initiative.
He didn't consider that to be a loss. He knew there was a difference in their command abilities.
Despite having an advantage of ten thousand, the situation was at best a stalemate.
Yet, the reason Leo took up Ansem's invitation was because he thought it was great to be able to fight the decisive battle while they were still evenly matched. ṟ𝘈NŏＢÊŝ
Ansem was under the influence of the Crown Prince.
That is, he was expected to go on the offensive even if he had to force it.
He had also considered the possibility of having to fight a decisive battle in a situation that was less than equal due to that offense.
In that case, he had no choice but to face it while his advantage in numbers was secured.
That was the thought behind his actions.
"It feels like I'm fighting my brother."
"Prince Arnold was good at board games, wasn't he?"
"Yes. He's very strong."
Arnold had been Leo's playmate since a long time ago. The most update n0vels are published on noⅴelfire.net
No matter how much he studied tactical books, he never won a board game against Arnold.
As he grew up, the gap between them widened.
From that, Leo learned.
There were opponents in the world he couldn't win against.
And when he tried to win against an unbeatable opponent, he was always hit with a painful backlash.
"Theodore, I'd like you to send your men to the rear. If Ansem is on par with my brother, I expect he'll have a surprise attack prepared in advance."
Theodore didn't question Leo's words.
It wasn't a suggestion, it was an order.
When given an order, you obey. This is a battlefield.
Moreover, the order was reasonable.
Among the Royal Knights, Theodore was the knight with the best defense. His unit excelled in everything from VIP protection to defensive battles.
Even from Theodore's perspective, Leo excelled in defense.
He might not win, but he wouldn't lose.
He was capable of such a fight.
But that wasn't because Leo was weak.
Leo was stronger than most generals.
His battle records told the story. He had the ability to go on the offensive if he wanted to.
Yet, Leo shined the most when his opponents were of a higher rank.
The underdog situation was the battlefield that Leo was most comfortable with.
"Enemy unit from the rear! Thanks to the Royal Knights, we repelled them without major damage!"
Hearing the report, Theodore nodded once.
"It seems we're dealing with an opponent on par with Prince Arnold."
"Yes, that's right. Well, I knew that. Indeed, Ansem is strong. But from my perspective, it's rather easier to deal with him. I'm used to it. Dealing with people who love to trick others."
With that, Leo laughed.
Afterwards, the first day of the battle ended without any major movements, and both armies decided to withdraw their troops.