The Debt Of Fate
Chapter 172: Planning an ambush

Chapter 172: Planning an ambush

The Command Pavilion, Two Days Later

The two deputy generals and all the captains gathered in the pavilion. A map was spread across the table. The spies had returned, bringing news that there was no movement from the military camp of Gube.

"They seem to be waiting for something," the first deputy general commented.

"I bet it’s the princess. Given that they managed to bring her close to the border, they must have hoped to use her to plan some kind of trap," the second deputy commander said.

Due to the many injured soldiers, those who had delivered the supplies were made to stay as backup, so Eldric was also present at the meeting. He felt conflicted hearing the discussion; after all, he knew firsthand that Anastasia had never been in the hands of the people of Gube.

"I suggest that now that they are standing back, we launch an ambush," the lieutenant general said.

"That’s true. We cannot always allow Gube to lead us by the nose. If you ask me, I think we should find out where that Sergeant Major General is and hunt him down. As long as that strategist dies, they’ll run around like headless chickens," a colonel said. He hated the fact that, although he held the same position as Ernest, he was always looked down upon. He quickly suggested this idea, hoping it would be accepted and he would earn merit.

"Colonel Simon is right," the lieutenant general agreed.

Everyone thought the idea was very bold. They began to make plans. Prince Edward also hoped the war could end as soon as possible. He felt that the best way to do so was indeed to eliminate the strategist.

"We should send a hundred elite soldiers for the ambush," Colonel Simon said. Seeing that his suggestion had been recognized by the lieutenant general, he became bold and started making further plans.

"What do you think of this plan, Colonel Ernest?" the first deputy general asked. He had noticed that Ernest had been unusually quiet.

Ernest raised his brows. "I think it is a wonderful plan—"

"Of course! Once the strategist is dead, we can hit them hard while they are down," Colonel Simon cut him off smugly.

He felt proud of himself. Everyone had the ability to think, but in his opinion, Ernest just looked better because he always took the lead. This time, he had been smart enough to speak first. He had no idea that Ernest once sought to show his brilliance to rise through the ranks quickly, but after the king’s death, he had lost the motivation.

Seeing Simon’s smug expression, Ernest gave a faint smile.

"On the surface, it indeed looks grand—that is, if we assume the people of Gube are fools," Ernest finished his statement. He had originally intended to help refine the plan to increase its chances of success, but seeing Simon’s attitude, he changed his mind.

Why should he help modify a plan that would bring him no merit?

"What do you mean? We are all military elites here, veterans of bloody battles. Do you think we are all fools, and only you are wise?" Colonel Simon challenged. He chose his words to stir everyone’s displeasure against Ernest.

After all, the lieutenant general had just complimented his plan. No one liked a subordinate who thought himself better than the rest.

"Deputy General Gilbert asked my opinion, and I gave it. I never said anyone was foolish. But I believe your plan makes it appear as though the people of Gube are fools. The master strategist has been recognized as a Sergeant Major General. Do you think a fool could attain that position? Or do you think he believes he has nine lives and would be careless with his safety? He dared to gamble with his life, and the crown prince was almost captured. What makes you think he isn’t deliberately trying to lure in our elite soldiers to their deaths?" Ernest asked calmly.

He did not care if anyone felt displeasure toward him. If anyone wanted respect then they can use their head.

Colonel Simon was speechless. He hadn’t expected Ernest to point out the flaws in his plan so directly. He had thought that with the lieutenant general present, Ernest would at least be diplomatic.

The lieutenant general didn’t appreciate Ernest’s blunt approach, but he knew that this was war, it wasn’t a court debate. As the lieutenant general, he would reap the most benefits if they won, just as he would suffer a setback if they lost. Now that the major general was injured, he couldn’t act as freely as before.

"What do you suggest?" the lieutenant general asked, swallowing his displeasure. What was the use of fighting amongst themselves instead of the enemy. After the war, they can discuss benefits.

"There is indeed a need to take the initiative and attack. If what they are truly waiting for is the princess, then we must locate the spies and send them a message, pretend that the princess has been kidnapped from Nixel. Under the cover of night, we will approach. Once their guard is lowered, we attack," Ernest proposed.

"Wonderful," the lieutenant general said with a smile. He considered both plans and felt that Ernest’s plan had a higher chance of success.

"Do you think it’s easy to fool Gube about the princess?" Colonel Simon asked, eager to find fault in Ernest’s plan.

"It’s not easy, but we can try. Even if they aren’t fully fooled, it will still give us an advantage."

Everyone discussed the idea and agreed it was a better plan.

"But without capturing the spies, how can we be sure of their arrangements?" someone asked.

"Captain Eldric, I heard you were kidnapped by two of those men. Did you notice anything?" Ernest asked.

"One has a scar on his face. The other never took off his mask, so I’m not sure what he looks like. I believe there are only those two within Lowe Pass. The others should be near Wiwell. His Highness has already sent soldiers to find them, but I don’t think it’ll be easy to make them talk," Eldric replied. The two men had been careful; they hadn’t revealed much.

"Why don’t we set a trap for the spies instead?" Ernest suggested after a moment of thought. "If we let them believe they have successfully kidnapped the princess, they will definitely make a move. This will also give us an opportunity to monitor Gube’s next steps."

Everyone found Ernest’s explanation reasonable. The spies could help them understand Gube’s plans more clearly.

"I fear the spies already know what the princess looks like. It will be hard to fool them," Eldric said. He felt the urge to tell the truth but held back. After all, the princess herself had not told the whole truth. Moreover, the entire situation surrounding the kidnappings still seemed strange to him.

The pavilion fell silent for a moment. Prince Edward was eager to end the war and return to the royal palace to become king.

"Then let us set a bait using the princess. Have skilled men follow from a safe distance to keep her protected," he said.

The men were surprised by his suggestion. Anastasia was barely recovering from her first encounter with them, and now the prince wanted to use her again.

Ernest looked at the prince in shock. The risk of Anastasia falling into Gube’s hands a second time was enormous, yet the prince dared.

Ernest looked at him and felt he was no different from his father. King George had killed his own brother to ascend the throne. It was no surprise his son was willing to sacrifice his wife. After all, the war with Gube had to end before a proper coronation ceremony could be held.

"Your Highness, that is like handing a knife to the enemy," the first deputy general objected.

The others nodded in agreement. They wanted to lay an ambush, not offer a weapon.

"True. But without taking risks, how can we achieve our goal?"

"Let us find someone with a similar body shape. We can try ... what if it works?" someone suggested.

A brief debate followed.

"That female physician can pretend to be the princess. During the search for her, the princess’s painting was never made public," Ernest said. He remembered the rumors he’d heard about the female physician and the prince after returning to camp.

The princess had been in the camp for two days. The crown prince had only visited her once when she was found. Since then, he hadn’t returned, but the female physician had visited his tent for two consecutive days, even though she was the princess’s personal physician.

There were even stories about the female physician being the crown prince’s lifesaver. The men in the camp could already guess what was going on.

Prince Edward immediately rejected the suggestion.

"Your Highness, the princess is also a symbol of our kingdom’s prestige. We cannot dare risk her safety. If anything were to happen, other kingdoms would laugh at us," Ernest said. He was feeling disappointed at the prince. He dares to risk his wife’s life, not that of his mistress.