The Empror's Trap

Ch 19 - The Decision

The Empire's generals gathered in the Emperor's grand hall.

This matter hadn't been discussed with the civil officials because it concerned the Empire's military affairs. From both a practical and jurisdictional standpoint, there was no reason to involve civil personnel.

Of course, Kenji had his own motivations. Those officials were watching him closely, and he didn't want to be constrained by them.

After greeting Pluvia, the generals chatted briefly with Kenji. They then got straight to business, with Kenji presenting the current situation. The generals listened in silence, weighing every detail.

They knew the state of the battlefront well. Because Pluvia and Kenji insisted on centralized control of the army, the border forces weren't truly part of the Empire's regular troops. In Kenji's previous world, they'd be similar to militias. Even so, the generals understood it wasn't easy to breach Hanyin City.

Everything happening up north seemed bizarre, suggesting something was deeply wrong in the border region.

"Our northern border defenses combine military and government functions on a city-by-city basis, with local governors overseeing garrison forces," Kenji explained. "That's probably the source of our problem."@@@@

Northern governors typically had more authority than governors in other parts of the Empire because they coordinated local defense troops. (Of course, if the Empire's central government issued orders, local governors had to follow them.) This system was designed so that if the Northern Royal Court invaded, the Empire wouldn't be caught off guard.

Now...

"Your Majesty, with respect, I believe we must deploy our troops to the north immediately. We need to stabilize the population, confirm whether the nine governors there have betrayed the throne, and drive out the barbarians before it's too late."

"I agree with the Grand Marshal," General Balinos said first. "The sooner we act, the better. If we miss our window, then..."

"I understand," Pluvia replied.

"Yes, that's the idea," Balinos said calmly. "I can present a detailed plan once I make final arrangements."

He was indeed one of the Empire's foremost generals, favoring a direct approach—an incursion behind enemy lines, followed by a swift return to surround any threats in the valley. By doing this, he'd also block nearby cities from supporting each other. Once Hanyin City fell, anyone who'd betrayed the Empire would face an army emerging from the gorge.

"And if you're the one leading this mission, General Balinos, what are your odds of success?"

"I'm not certain. Someone is clearly aiding the northern forces, so I can't be sure..."

"Your best estimate?"

"Roughly seventy percent," Balinos replied. "That number assumes we're not sabotaged by local governors. I can't draw every soldier from everywhere, so I might have to request reinforcements if we face serious betrayal."

"I hope you won't need those reinforcements," Kenji said. Balinos just nodded.

"Very well, General Balinos, I'm entrusting this mission to you," Pluvia declared. "You may command fifty thousand troops."

Fifty thousand was small compared to the Empire's full standing army, but Kenji knew it wasn't bad. The Empire's borders were vast, and it needed soldiers at each frontier. Also, some units were off-limits because of ongoing military reforms. Kenji commanded three hundred thousand of his own, but Pluvia would never let him deploy them unless she completely broke with him.

Plus, each region kept a basic garrison for local stability. Considering all that, fifty thousand wasn't a small number—many nations would consider fifty thousand a formidable force.

With his orders received, General Balinos immediately prepared to march.

They didn't just sketch a rough plan and call it a day. Everyone gathered around the throne room, discussing the tactical details of how this campaign would play out.