Chapter 817 - 506 Cui Feng City
Chapter 817 -506 Cui Feng City
“No way.”
Gerard shook his head, feeling a headache coming on as he looked at the map of the Ely Hills in front of him.
What Archil had said at the meeting was indeed true, albeit slightly exaggerated when it came to the extent of the resource shortage within the camp.
As the minister responsible for the logistics of the Kingdom Army, Archil had the greatest authority to speak on this matter; the other generals had no way to verify the truth of his words.
So Gerard had instructed Archil to do so, although Archil was somewhat worried that this might cause panic or even chaos in the army, before the enemy even took the bait.
“As you know, the situation in the Kingdom is such that, although there is still some reserve strength, it is no longer possible to provide us with more substantial assistance here.”
Gerard’s brows furrowed slightly as his gaze remained fixed on the various documents in front of him.
“To tell the truth, if I could, I would prefer to join the battlefield and fight as I did before, but…”
Gerard shook his head slightly; as the commander of this army, he knew his thoughts were highly unlikely.
Unless one was a Legendary Strongman, even Gold Rank Professionals would find it difficult to affect the outcome of a war between kingdoms.
Even with his strength, strong among the Gold Rank Professionals, it was still far less impactful than his presence at the central command, bolstering the soldiers’ faith.
“Only now do I understand why Father King asked me to halt the attack on the Caro Kingdom.”
“We are really on the brink.”
Gerard shook his head with a bitter smile. Most people in the Kingdom regarded him as the main contributor to all previous victories, but back then he didn’t have to consider anything else; simply defeating the enemy was enough.
It was only after King Gordon had assigned him to the Ely Hills that he truly realized that governing a nation required more than just winning battles; there was much more to worry about.
Reflecting on Father King’s earnest teachings, which he had never taken to heart, Gerard now felt the weight of leading a country.
He wondered how his father’s slight frame had borne all this for so many years.
As King Gordon’s youngest child, Gerard was not young anymore, having always focused on his training under his teacher, only to start dealing with these affairs once the war began.
The King doted on him, and his elder brothers, recognizing their younger brother’s capabilities, had never contended with him over anything, including the throne of the Gordon Kingdom.
This had made Gerard’s life smooth sailing, until he faced the invasion from the Archibald Kingdom and the Paluo Federation here in the Ely Hills, where he truly encountered hardship.
“Your Highness, you’ve done your best.”
Archil, looking at the weary Gerard, said with a sigh.
Throughout the fierce battles in the Ely Hills over the past half year, Archil had witnessed Gerard’s transformation from a spirited commander to a more mature leader, his prestige steadily growing in everyone’s hearts.
Even this deliberately devised plan, risky as it was, was a necessary last resort.
The Prince had done his best to find a solution to the predicament, and Archil believed that the situation in the Archibald Kingdom and the Paluo Federation was no better; it was just a matter of who could hold out longer.
“Do you think there really is a traitor?”
After a moment of silence, Gerard asked Archil.
“I’m not sure, and I haven’t found any clues.”
Archil shook his head and then said:
“But this time, the attack on our rear by the Archibald Kingdom and the Paluo Federation was clearly based on accurate intelligence; otherwise, our losses wouldn’t have been so heavy.”
“Alas~”
Gerard sighed, not wanting to believe it, but knowing that Archil, as a minister of the Kingdom, was right.
The likelihood was quite high!
The level of the leaked intelligence boiled down to the likelihood that someone in the meeting had disclosed it.
That’s exactly why he had staged that play with Archil just now.
On one hand, it was an attempt to catch the “traitor,” if there really was one, since the critical news of Gordon Kingdom’s imminent retreat would certainly have to be communicated to the Archibald Kingdom and the Paluo Federation.
In the other direction, by spreading such false information, he wanted to see if it could lure the enemy into a pre-laid trap; if not to win the war outright, then at least to break the current stalemate of the Kingdom Army.
“…After you go back, quietly inform Angus about the plan; let him in on it.”
Gerard pondered for a moment before telling Archil.
“I understand, Your Highness.”
Archil, unsurprisingly, bowed slightly in acknowledgment.
If there was anyone in the army whom Prince Gerard trusted the most, it was Angus and Archil.
Although Archil and Angus had never gotten along, he never doubted the latter’s loyalty.
As a confidant of the old king, Angus had always led the Kingdom’s most elite legion and Prince Gerard had often sought advice from him.
Previously, it was only the concern that he would give the game away that had stopped Gerard from telling him, but given the current situation, it was definitely not the time to continue hiding information.
After all, with Prince Gerard needing to remain at central command and unable to join the battle himself, most tasks would need to be done by this legion commander.
“That will do for now, the rest of the preparations will be up to you, Archil.”