Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 490 - 490 229 Injuring the Heavenly Harmony_2

490: Chapter 229: Injuring the Heavenly Harmony_2 490: Chapter 229: Injuring the Heavenly Harmony_2 If this strategy succeeds, it will undoubtedly allow the Orland Army to withdraw fully from the conflicts between the North and South as soon as possible, and to quickly address the approaching Undead Calamity from the East.

Azeryan listened to Leon finish explaining this plan, taking a deep breath, feeling as though he had been granted a newfound perspective.

Indeed, Wizards are as clever as the stories depict them…

He secretly admired his companion’s brilliant strategy and then asked, “How many people and how much time would it take to build the dike and diversion canals?”

“If we want to trigger a truly massive flood, the time and manpower required would be unimaginable.

But if we only aim to achieve my desired effect of diverting the river to flood the land, it would only take a conscription of 20,000 people, and I estimate it could be completed in fewer than twenty days.” Leon explained the specific engineering plan to his companion, drawing in the mud beside them.

Azeryan nodded frequently as he listened.

Achieving victory without any death—this was, of course, an exceptional outcome.

But as he looked on at Leon’s still-calm expression, he was a little puzzled.

“If this tactic is so effective, why do you still appear so troubled?”

Leon sighed and set down the wooden stick:

“The method of water attack is indeed an excellent strategy for us to repel the enemy.

But when the floodwaters submerge fertile farmland and the tributaries dry up…

who can tell how long it will take to repair the water damage to this region?

Even if the flood recedes quickly, it will take at least a year or two—possibly three to five years—for the affected land on the South Bank to recover for farming.

This cost will ultimately be borne by the civilians who return to reclaim their homes.”

Even though these were the people of Kantadar, Leon, as a true “outsider,” did not hold deeply ingrained prejudices based on region.

Moreover, under his own rule, he was currently governing tens of thousands of Kantadar’s people.

For the poor common folk, who suffer in both rise and fall, the education he received in his past life meant he still retained some compassion and reluctance to harm.

Azeryan sensed the heavy burden on his friend’s shoulders and began stroking his chin in thoughtful consideration.

After a long while, he comforted and persuaded, saying, “Leon, given the current situation, you might not need to worry too much about the consequences of the flood on the local populace.”

“Oh?

Why?” Leon glanced at his companion.

Given the infamous precedent of a certain bald man in his past life causing a disaster at Huayuankou, he had long harbored moral concerns about deploying water warfare.

“My point is, the damage caused by the flood you intend to unleash may be less severe than the devastation wrought by the Urians’ massacres and plunder.”

Drawing from his observations over recent days, Azeryan explained and analyzed further for his friend: “Compared to the suffering they’ve already inflicted and the calamities they could yet cause, the flood damage you mentioned would be practically negligible for the people here.

Duke Ablo of Kantadar has allowed the Urians to pillage Ustato Territory indiscriminately.

Regions farther south are already riddled with ghost towns, which has triggered a mass exodus of South Bank residents toward the North Shore in terror.

Even if the farmland on the South Bank cannot be cultivated for years, shifting the population to rely on the land of the North Bank is not an unfeasible solution.

What’s more, the shallow flood wouldn’t even reach regions farther south in Ustato Territory.”

“Besides, even if the lords of Ustato Territory face a famine, their people will simply head northward.

The Northern lands captured by the Orland Southern Expedition—surely they can absorb part of Ustato’s population?”

Azeryan shook his head.

“If I were our King, I’d gladly accept the refugees fleeing famine, thereby draining Ustato Territory of its population and weakening Caso, the puppet ruler, to tighten the Kantadar royal family’s grip.

Make no mistake, King Lydwen summoned his army here not to help secure the other’s throne.”

As he spoke, he moved closer while holding the candlestick, placing his right hand firmly on his friend’s shoulder:

“And furthermore, Leon, even if the aftermath of your water attack proves severe, as long as it preserves the lives of our warriors, it is still worthwhile in my eyes.

The catastrophe you saw brewing to the East involves more than the safety of just one region’s populace.

If we can quickly extract the Orland forces from here, we have the chance to save many more lives in the future.”

Staring at his friend, who was grappling with his words, Azeryan couldn’t help but add, “As a leader, sometimes you must make relatively cruel decisions for the sake of greater objectives and the bigger picture.”

He paused and then suggested, “Or perhaps let me take responsibility for this decision instead.

I am willing to bear the immoral burden on your behalf…”

“No… I shouldn’t push the responsibility onto you.” Leon shook his head, interrupting Azeryan’s offer.

He looked at his friend, his mind already made up.

“You’re right.

I’ve thought it through.

To hesitate and hold back due to such concerns would be far crueler to you all… to all the warriors who follow me.” Taking his friend’s advice to heart, Leon no longer hesitated.

“Whether it gets approved or not, tomorrow I will go to Lord Eriv and present this water attack proposal.”

…

The next morning, Leon sought out the Sealing Lord, explaining in detail the plan he had been devising for many days.

As he listened to his favored commander present strategy after strategy, Lord Eriv’s initial relaxed smile gradually faded.

He gazed at the locations Leon pointed to on the map with growing seriousness.

He was equally astonished by the boldness of the tactic and refrained from hastily passing judgment.

The water attack tactic of dam-building to create floods was exceedingly rare, but after some deep thought, Lord Eriv recalled that it was not entirely without precedent in the Northern Kingdom’s military history.

There had indeed been instances of Northern commanders, upon discovering advantageous terrain, diverting rivers and breaching dams to flood enemy camps or fortresses.

However, since most castles and strongholds were originally built on elevated ground, smaller-scale flooding often had little real impact.

Thus, in ordinary skirmishes, this theoretically sound strategy was rarely considered by commanders.

To create a flood of meaningful scale, the manpower and resources required were so enormous that even for armies of the Great Lords, it was considered impractical.

Without an army of tens of thousands and a large-scale war engaging several hundred thousand soldiers and civilians, no side could mobilize the workforce for such a grand undertaking.

However…

Lord Eriv estimated that in the current scale of the North-South conflict, this could indeed be accomplished.

The 4,000 conscripted militia from the Royal City, gathered by Caso, could provide part of the labor force.

Thousands more could be drawn from the Orland Army’s ranks of laborers, and the remaining 10,000 could be forcibly requisitioned from the villages scattered across the North Shore.

With a few thousand additional troops designated from the rear forces, mobilizing 20,000 people for this engineering project would not be a challenge for the Northern Army.

Though it would no doubt increase the strain on logistical supplies in the short term, once the tributary was rerouted, the subsequent battles would likely be unnecessary, perhaps even sparing the resources otherwise consumed in prolonged warfare.

“After regrouping with Balfe, fly me back to the North Shore Camp so we can discuss this with His Majesty and General Trosa.”

Lord Eriv dismissed any concerns about the consequences of flooding the South Bank of Ustato Territory, grinning as he said to Leon, “I never imagined that my Griffin isn’t just fearless in battle but also possesses the strategic mind of a general.

You constantly make me thankful I didn’t let General Trosa snatch you away from me back then.”

Leon smiled faintly at the overly flattering remark.

“Thank you for the compliment, but it’s only because of my frequent time in the skies that I’ve been able to gather more information.

Besides, this idea might seem simple in theory, but if I had to personally command tens of thousands to carry it out, I’d be utterly at a loss on implementation.”

Lord Eriv waved him off, “You’ll naturally figure out the execution with more trials and experience.

But for someone soaring in the heavens to come up with such a strategy… well, even the Flying Pegasus Knights of the King’s Domain ride the skies daily, but none of them has proven to have such a nimble mind.”

Having secured an impactful and crucial strategy, he was unwilling to delay further.

He promptly ordered the Thorny Flower troops and the Alliance forces of River Valley County to set fire to the Urian camps they could not transport, taking away the provisions and supplies they’d seized, and began retreating northward toward Balfe’s forces.

The two armies regrouped on the outskirts of Green Creek Village.

After giving orders for the troops to set up camp, Lord Eriv then climbed onto the rear seat of Leon’s Griffin and hitched a “ride” at lightning speed towards the North Shore Camp.