On the surface, everything seemed normal. The Fourth Legion stationed at Story 13 remained on guard, while Fortress Boen ahead appeared completely inactive. Kriolyov continued deploying and adjusting his troops, doing his utmost to prepare for the coming war… However, this calm did not even last a full day.
"What did you say? The Inquisition has made a move?!"
At noon the next day, before it was even time for lunch, Kriolyov received this startling news from his adjutant Karl.
"Yes, sir. According to scout reports, that steel giant of the Inquisition, along with five steel war chariots and 5,000 soldiers from the Fourth Legion, left Story 13 early this morning and are advancing toward Fortress Boen!"
"How long will it take them to reach Fortress Boen?"
"At least five days!"
"Very good."
After calculating briefly, Kriolyov nodded. Five days was enough time for the Second Legion's reinforcements to rendezvous with them. Since the steel giant had taken action, they could seize the opportunity before it reached Fortress Boen—join with the reinforcements, push past Boen, and then launch attacks on multiple fronts! As long as they separated the steel giant from the Fourth Legion, operations afterward would become much easier!
However, just because Kriolyov thought so did not mean others thought the same.
"Report!!"
Kriolyov had just finished lunch when a messenger rushed into his room.
"An order from Commander-in-Chief Ketchak of the Council! The First Legion is to spare no cost in defending Fortress Boen. It must not be lost under any circumstances!"
"...…"
Hearing the message, Kriolyov suddenly felt that the food in his mouth had lost all flavor.
"Sigh...…"
Looking at the written order handed to him, Kriolyov sighed helplessly and glanced at his adjutant Karl, who shook his head as well.
This had not been their original plan. But that did not matter. The order came from the Commander-in-Chief of the army. They had to obey.
"What do we do now?"
"There's only one option. We move to Fortress Boen and hold it."
Kriolyov let out a quiet sigh. The Council's order was very clear: the First Legion was to depart immediately for Fortress Boen and assume defensive duties there. Reinforcements from the Second Legion would arrive soon after, and the First Legion was to defend Boen at all costs. It was obvious that the Council had also learned of the Inquisition's movements—and their first instinct was to protect themselves…
Thinking of this, Kriolyov had no appetite left.
"Inform the entire army. Prepare to depart. Send word to Fortress Boen—starting now, it falls under our command!"
As the First Legion mobilized, their movements were naturally reported upward by Rinjo and Kanami, who were responsible for reconnaissance.
"I really didn't expect it… Kriolyov actually made a move…"
Hearing the intelligence the two brought back, Kilty and Urzze both looked stunned, hardly able to believe it. Especially Urzze. As Seth's strategist, she excelled in such planning. Before the operation began, she had conducted a detailed analysis of Kriolyov. In her view, this veteran general was bold and decisive, yet cautious and careful by nature. He should have sought to seize the initiative himself, not hand it over to others.
Being led around by the nose like this simply did not match Kriolyov's style.
"It's simple."
Compared to Kilty and Urzze's astonishment, Duanmu Huai appeared calm.
"Because in the final analysis, this is a political issue, not a military one."
"A political issue?"
"That's right."
Duanmu Huai nodded.
"You all consider Kriolyov our opponent. But in truth, Kriolyov is ultimately just a general, the commander of the First Legion. No matter how high his prestige in the army, he is not the Emperor, nor is he the Commander-in-Chief. And our true opponent is not Kriolyov—but the Council…"
As he spoke, Duanmu Huai picked up a chess piece and planted it into the sand table.
"From the Council's perspective, when they learned that our army was advancing, what do you think they thought? They would definitely fear that the Inquisition would march straight to the capital and blast them into the sky with a single shot. So they would absolutely demand that the First Legion block our forces at all costs. In that situation, no matter how talented Kriolyov is, it means nothing."
"…It can actually work like that…"
Hearing Duanmu Huai's explanation, everyone present was left dumbfounded. All along, they had instinctively separated military matters from political ones. But clearly, Duanmu Huai saw things differently.
As the others looked at him with admiration and surprise, Duanmu Huai remained calm. The military was an extension of politics. Within human society, in the end, the military was merely a political tool.
History was filled with examples of politics influencing military strategy. For instance, during the Warring States period, in the Battle of Changping, Zhao appointed the veteran general Lian Po, who held off Qin for months. Qin then spread rumors within Zhao, claiming they did not fear Lian Po but feared Zhao Kuo. If Zhao Kuo were made commander, the Qin army would supposedly throw down their armor and flee in less than three hours.
At the time, the entire Zhao court panicked. Even Zhao Kuo's own mother personally pleaded with King Xiaocheng of Zhao, saying her son was useless and should not be made general. Yet in the end, King Xiaocheng insisted on replacing Lian Po with Zhao Kuo on the eve of battle. Unexpectedly, Qin replaced their own commander with Bai Qi, who crushed the "armchair strategist" Zhao Kuo in a single campaign and buried alive 200,000 surrendered Zhao soldiers, beating Zhao so badly they could barely cry for their ancestors.
Later historians often mocked King Xiaocheng as foolish. But in reality, the prolonged war had drained immense supplies. The granaries were so empty that even rats would weep. As king, he had to make a decision. If the stalemate continued, regardless of victory or defeat, everyone might starve to death.
Lian Po, as a general, only needed to focus on the war. But King Xiaocheng, as ruler, had to consider the entire nation. Even if Zhao won, if its people starved, what would that mean? And victory was not even guaranteed.
So he gambled. Since Lian Po would not obey, he replaced him with the compliant Zhao Kuo.
He simply lost the bet.
The same applied to Yue Fei. Emperor Gaozong of Song initially valued Yue Fei highly. But later, he sent twelve imperial decrees ordering Yue Fei to withdraw. Yue Fei's tragedy was not merely the result of Qin Hui's slander. In another dynasty, Yue Fei might not have met such a fate. Even Liu Bang of Han executed his generals only after the rabbits were dead and the hounds no longer needed. Yet the war against Jin was unfinished—why was Emperor Gaozong so eager to curb Yue Fei?
The reason was simple: the Song dynasty had precedent.
Yue Fei, as a national hero resisting Jin, held enormous prestige in Southern Song. Emperor Gaozong feared that if Yue Fei drove out the Jin, he might one night be dragged from his bed by his own subordinates and have a dragon robe thrown over his shoulders… Did he not know how his own ancestors had seized the throne?
Why did successive Song emperors emphasize civil officials over military ones? Were they not afraid of another Chenqiao Mutiny? With Yue Fei's prestige and position, and with Southern Song's unstable public sentiment much like Later Zhou before it, if Yue Fei truly staged a "yellow robe" incident, would not Song end as Later Zhou did?
Thus Emperor Gaozong already harbored such fears. With Qin Hui stirring trouble, a series of foolish orders were issued, ultimately sealing his own fate.
In truth, many so-called absurd historical decisions, upon closer study, reveal objective conditions behind them. Combined with a ruler's hesitation, the schemes and slanders of traitorous ministers merely gave the final push, leading to decisions later generations judged as idiotic.
Without objective conditions, no matter how persuasive the words, they would be useless.
As the saying goes, a useless general exhausts three armies.
But no matter how brilliant a general is, his arm cannot twist a thigh. If the Emperor issues an order, can you defy it?
In the final analysis, all military problems are political problems.
Wu Qi, Han Xin, Yue Fei—these generals were all top-tier in leading armies, practically invincible in battle, slaying gods and Buddhas alike. Wu Qi was even a rare talent adept in both military and political reform. Chu rose to power during the Warring States because of his reforms.
But what was the use?
Wu Qi offended Chu's nobles through reform and was shot to death by a hail of arrows.
Han Xin, who defeated Xiang Yu, was later lured into the palace and assassinated through a plot by Empress Lü and Xiao He.
As for Yue Fei, everyone knew his fate.
Thus in the end, no matter how fierce a general is, against political maneuvering, there is only death.
Therefore, in Duanmu Huai's view, no matter how capable Kriolyov was, it did not matter. Even if he were Sun Tzu reborn or Han Xin reincarnated, as long as Duanmu Huai grasped the Council, Kriolyov would have only a dead end!
It did not matter if Kriolyov did not take the bait. As long as the Council did!
Just like Qin's scheme back then—if Lian Po did not fall for it, fine. If the ministers did not fall for it, fine. As long as King Xiaocheng believed it! Could Lian Po rebel against his king?
The same applied to Kriolyov now. With the Fourth Legion's prior rebellion under the banner of "loyalty to the throne," the Council would surely fear the First Legion doing the same. For Kriolyov, there were only two paths: fully obey the Council's orders, or openly rebel. And if he rebelled—so much the better. He could join the revolution and be happier for it.
Politically speaking, Kriolyov was already checkmated.
"Have everyone make preparations."
Duanmu Huai let out a cold laugh and stood up.
"Since the First Legion wants to come, let's give them a grand and enthusiastic welcome ceremony!"
(End of Chapter)