Now in the commander’s tent, Rojan addressed Commander Moon and his officers.
“I mentioned to your commander that of the five elements of war, we are lacking in two - moral influence, and terrain. Here, we would never be able to change the element of terrain. However, there is the matter of moral influence.”
Rojan paused to gauge the reaction of the various officers.
“I see this confuses you, so let me explain. The majority of the city’s defenders are not proper soldiers, but common folk brandishing weapons for perhaps the first time. The reason they’re giving us so much trouble, is because they’re fighting to protect the city lord.
“Moral influence. The lord’s family has controlled the city for decades, and they’d done so in a very benevolent manner - the citizens trust him to lead them well, and he has reciprocated their trust.”
He glanced at Osen before continuing.
Seeing the glance, Osen groaned.
What the hell are you looking at me for, I fulfill my promises.
“So, for an easy victory, if we were to act by the book, it would be to use our strengths to exploit their weaknesses. However, that would still not be the most efficient method to take this city down. Do you see what I’m getting at?”
Looking around, all Rojan saw were blank stares.
“Ahem. Basically, we will use his benevolent nature to our advantage. There are two options here that may work, and we can execute both at the same time. Of course, I have a failsafe plan in case these two fail.”
“The first option is to send a message to the lord of the city, by sending a single messenger to the city gate as a sign of good faith. The messenger will announce to the city that we would like to offer the lord of a city a chance to save his people as well as his position. After all, your goal is not control of the city, but to be able to use it as a supply depot for further incursions into the Armoa Kingdom, yes?
“If he immediately surrenders, we will not harm the people of the city. If that is unsatisfactory, then the messenger will announce a second option - that the outcome of the battle be determined by a bout of champions. Each side would send a champion to fight for their side, winner takes all.”
Rojan cleared his throat.
“Of course, if our champion were to lose, we’d attack anyway. That, is where our backup plan comes into play.
“I, er, have people on the inside who will open the gates for us, if the city lord doesn’t comply with the first two options. In which case, you should be able to take the city within a day’s worth of battle, yes?
“Alright, I’ve done my part. Commander Moon, please take over from here.”
“Wait, wait.” Osen wasn’t ready to let Rojan leave. “How did you get people into the city?”
“Some of my friends mixed their way into some food supply caravans the city let in before closing themselves off. Really, I’m just giving you all of my tricks here. Next time, you’ll have to pay me before I let you in on my plans.”
Osen couldn’t help but shake his head. Just how much of the current circumstances had Rojan predicted? Or, had Rojan had a hand in orchestrating this mess?
He couldn’t put it past the little monster.
Whatever the case may be, he would have to think about it later. For now, he had a battle to win.
…
The next day, Rojan sat on horseback next to Commander Moon, about half a mile from the city walls. Behind the two, all forty thousand soldiers under Commander Moon stood rapt at attention.
With a signal from Commander Moon, a lone messenger road toward the city on horseback. After a minute or two of waiting, the messenger had reached the city gates. Although Rojan couldn’t hear the exchange between the messenger and the city’s soldiers,
Rojan nonchalantly looked on. “Well, he hasn’t died yet. That’s good.”
Even as he spoke, a flurry of arrows flew from the castle walls, killing their messenger.
“Well, then.” Rojan scratched his chin. “I didn’t expect that. I guess the reports you had regarding the city lord’s benevolence must have been grossly exaggerated. Well, plan C will have to do. Do you mind if I take over from here?”
Commander Moon glared at Rojan. “You expected this, didn’t you?”
“Sort of, but I was holding out hope. After all, I wanted to believe in the abilities of the Tero Kingdom’s intelligence network. So, tell your soldiers that now, they are to follow my command. Yes?”
“Fine, fine.”
Commander Moon kicked the side of his horse to turn it around, then addressed his soldiers.
“These bastards of the Armoa Kingdom have refused our kindness and have slain our messenger of peace. The Royal Council has sent Rojan here to lead us to victory - from this moment forth, please listen to his commands as if they were my own. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!” The sudden shout from 40,000 brought chills even to Rojan’s heart.
A small smiled formed on his lips as he took a moment to enjoy the feeling of having forty thousand soldiers in his grasp.
“Hello everyone, you heard the commander. Now, here’s how it’s going to work. Those of the 1st to 30th Battalions, stay here. We will be the force assaulting the main gate. Those of the 31st to 35th Battalions, on my command, march toward the western gate, and stay put just outside their archers’ range.
“Those of the 36th to 40th Battalions, do the same at the eastern gate. Both of you will begin your attack on the city walls five minutes after you see fighting at the main gate. Are my orders understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Move out!”
Two sections of the army split off, marching toward opposing sides of the city, but the main force stayed put.
“Shouldn’t we be moving up as well?” Commander Moon questioned Rojan.
“Wait, be patient. The key to achieving the best victory possible here is timing. Move too early, and many of your soldiers will die for nothing. Move too late, and we may lose our opportunity to strike.”
Despite Osen’s interruption, Rojan had been quietly counting down in his head. He had spent the last few hours estimating several things. First, how long it would take his friends to unlock the gate. Second, how long it would take for the soldiers behind him to cross the distance to the previously mentioned gate.
Third, how long of a window they would have to break open the gates and swarm into the city before the soldiers inside the city would be able to reclaim the room with the gate’s lock.
As the seconds trickled by, the soldiers behind Rojan and Osen couldn’t help but shift in place - when it came to war, sometimes the calm before the storm was less bearable than the storm itself.
Even Osen couldn’t help but repeatedly grasp and ungrasp his sword hanging by his sided.
Only Rojan stared motionlessly at the city in the distance.
Just as Osen was about to prod Rojan to make sure the latter hadn’t fallen asleep, Rojan shouted at the top of his lungs. “Forward, march!”