Chapter 64.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??)


    Indeed, Marquis Crucho was an exceptionalmander.


    The most difficult aspect ofmanding an army was the retreat.


    The armies of this world were not well-organized. Loyalty was even harder to find.


    The fact that some mercenaries were famous for their loyalty meant that other mercenaries werecking in this respect.


    Thus, both mercenaries and soldiers would flee without hesitation if the army’s morale was low, especially since their own lives were at stake.


    And now.


    It was rare for an army’s morale to be as low as during a retreat, yet Marquis Crucho’s army was retreating in an orderly manner.


    “Marquis Crucho is an experiencedmander, so this is to be expected.”


    Upon hearing the report from the scouting knight, Johan nodded. He already knew Marquis Crucho was an outstandingmander from experience.


    The attack hadsted less than a week, but it was fierce. Thousands of soldiers were throwingdders and shooting arrows.


    Being able to lead such a total attack with troops gathered from various ces itself proved his capability.


    However, Marquis Crucho greatly underestimated thebat power of the army led by Ulrike. They were neither tired nor injured.


    Even after the siege, the soldiers remained almost unharmed. It was unthinkable that they couldn’t hold their position on the walls, especially with Johan there.


    “I would like to hear your opinions, knights.”


    At Johan’s words, the knights’ faces brightened, and they began to offer various suggestions.


    Suggestions includedunching multiple assaults with a robust cavalry of several hundred to gradually annihte the enemy, and targeting Marquis’s main force directly.


    Johan gathered their opinions and made a decision.


    “Let’s follow them at a distance. If the enemy’s morale is low, that alone will cause many soldiers to scatter.”


    “That’s a wise decision.”


    Setting a trap under the guise of retreat was not something anyone could do. Pretending to retreat could lead to the disintegration of an army.


    However, Johan decided to prepare for any contingency. Suetlg had advised the same.


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    On the first day, there were dozens.


    On the second day, there were hundreds.


    On the third day, the scattering was so widespread it was frightening to Count .


    “I apologize, Marquis.”


    “No, themander is clever.”


    Marquis Crucho did not feign retreat, but it was true he wasying traps.


    He intended to rally the remaining elite troops to annihte the pursuers and then turn the morale around with that.


    However, the enemy only followed closely enough to seize an opportunity, not rushing in. This naturally brought the soldiers’ morale to rock bottom, knowing that knights ready to strike were nearby.


    Now, it seemed there were less than a thousand left, mostly infantry and too many conscripts. They were those who would copse at a charge led by knights.


    “We will charge.”


    “No. Stop.”


    When his knights moved to act, Marquis Crucho stopped them. The enemy wasn’t all knights either; except for twenty or thirty, the rest were likely mounted heavy troops.


    But their number was in the hundreds.


    Marquis Crucho’s cavalry, even if scraped together, amounted to only dozens. Many knights had fallen during the siege, and mercenaries deserted at night, making it hard to be confident of victory.


    In this era, knights and cavalry made up the bulk of warfare. Conscripts and mercenaries mostly couldn’t withstand knights. Once the formation broke, it was over.


    “Who is the knight leading them? A new face. Were such knights in the Abner family?”


    Johan’s name was already a rumor among the Marquis’ camp.


    Soldiers atop the walls, trembling with fear, had spread the rumor about the mighty knight.


    Initially, the knights didn’t believe it, but as they were pursued, they couldn’t ignore the rumor.


    “He’s Knight Johan of the Yeats family. Said to have in a troll in Marcel.”


    “Huh. . . Such a knight existed? A shame not to have recruited him.”


    “Don’t worry. He’s young and unrefined. We can win in a direct confrontation.”


    Marquis’ knights proudly dered, as true knights are never lukewarm.


    “If possible, we should enter Lebuten without fighting. Any sh now would cause great damage.”


    “If we speed up. . .”


    “We’re already losing men at this pace; speeding up will leave even fewer. And the enemy will start attacking.”


    Increasing the retreat speed would only create vulnerabilities, practically inviting an attack.


    “But Marquis. . . Now is not the time to worry about appearances. If you’re captured, the situation worsens significantly.”


    “I agree. You should escape first, Marquis.”


    “What are you saying? You mean to leave the army behind and flee. . .?”


    Marquis Crucho asked in disbelief, but his knights were serious.


    “I’ll stay andmand. Escape tonight with the other knights, Marquis.”


    Usually, Marquis Crucho would have rebuked them, but not now. The dilemma was too great.


    If he continued leading the army, they could reach Lebuten in days. Many dispersed mercenaries would likely join there for a regroup.


    But if the army crumbled further. . .


    Even Marquis might not escape. With less than dozens left, no tricks would work.


    To escape first, it had to be now, while over a thousand decoys diverted attention.


    “. . .Understood. Let me know once you’ve decided.”


    “Yes!”