Building an empire which the sun never set-Chapter 41: All In for War

Arthur leaned forward, his eyes scanning the detailed battlefield map spread across the wooden table. His officers stood in complete silence, waiting for him to explain his strategy.

He tapped a point on the map and began, his voice composed and commanding.

"When we engage the enemy in open terrain, we will allow their first wave to strike. At the same time, we will send a small cavalry unit to launch a simultaneous charge against their front lines. This is not to win the initial engagement but rather to lure them in."

The officers exchanged glances, listening carefully.

"After a short skirmish, our cavalry will begin a staged retreat. The illusion of us losing ground will push the Aragonese army into a full-scale charge. That is exactly what we want."

Arthur's voice was calm yet calculating, his strategy unfolding like a carefully orchestrated trap.

"As they advance, they will be pulled deeper into our kill zone. The first point of engagement will be five kilometers away from our actual defensive position. By the time they reach this area, they will unknowingly step into a semi-circle formation of machine-gun-equipped infantry, waiting for them."

The room remained still, every officer absorbing the ruthless logic behind the plan.

"At that moment, our artillery will unleash a relentless bombardment, targeting their densely packed ranks. As their front line continues forward, they will be caught in a devastating crossfire from our entrenched machine guns and riflemen. With nowhere to maneuver, their entire force will become trapped in a concentrated storm of gunfire and explosives."

Arthur's eyes glinted with resolve.

"Their soldiers, pinned down, will suffer immense casualties in a short period. As panic spreads among their ranks, they will begin to flee. That is when we execute the next phase of the plan."

He gestured toward the western flank of the battlefield.

"We will close off their left escape route with a cavalry charge, forcing them to retreat only toward the east. However, we will leave an opening on the right flank."

One of the commanders frowned.

"Your Highness, why would we deliberately let them escape?"

Arthur turned to him, his expression unreadable.

"If we trap them completely, they will have no choice but to fight to the last man," he explained. "Even with our firepower advantage, we are still outnumbered ten to one. If we force them into a desperate last stand, they may still overwhelm our defenses—even at great cost."

He continued, his voice steady.

"Instead, we will make them believe they still have a chance to flee. The moment they break and run, they will retreat toward the right, moving toward the Sarsat River. Due to the spring rains, the riverbanks will have turned into a marshy swamp, severely slowing them down. At that moment, our artillery will execute the final strike, launching a massive bombardment to wipe out the remainder of their forces."

The room was silent.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Arthur's strategy was precise, merciless, and highly calculated.

It was a battlefield of death, a perfect engineered kill zone where the Aragonese army would be annihilated before they had a chance to react.

Yet the plan carried immense risk.

If anything went wrong—if the enemy broke through the defensive lines, if the artillery miscalculated their bombardments, or if their soldiers failed to hold formation—Pendralis could suffer a devastating defeat.

The weight of the decision hung in the air.

It was General George who finally broke the silence.

"This war cannot be prolonged," he said. "We do not have unlimited resources. Under the current circumstances, this plan is our best option."

The officers debated for several hours, fine-tuning the tactical placements of artillery, infantry positions, and cavalry movements. Eventually, they all agreed—Arthur's plan was the only viable course of action.

Meanwhile, far from the battlefield, an even greater crisis was unfolding in Pendralis' royal capital.

News had just arrived—Fasi had formally joined the war on Aragon's side.

The moment King Cedric received the report, he summoned his top ministers and generals for an emergency war council.

Inside the royal war room, tension was high.

Cedric, though furious, was an experienced king. He forced himself to control his emotions, though his voice was laced with barely restrained anger.

He turned sharply to Defense Minister Daniel.

"How soon can we dispatch a second fleet to break the blockade?"

Daniel, always pragmatic, responded without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, the old sailing ships from our previous navy are still intact and can be deployed. However, the next batch of steam-powered warships is still under construction. It will take at least three more months before they are fully operational."

Cedric clenched his fist.

"So, you're telling me that the only viable fleet we can send right now consists of outdated sailing ships?"

Daniel nodded grimly. "Yes, Your Majesty. If we mobilize them immediately, we can assemble a fleet in two weeks and send them to battle."

Cedric exhaled sharply.

"So even if they set sail within two weeks, they will take at least a month to reach the Fasi blockade?" He shook his head. "That's too late."

The room fell into silence.

Everyone knew that sailing ships could never match modern ironclads. Even with favorable winds, the journey would take far too long.

Still, Cedric refused to give in to despair.

Arthur had successfully seized control of the strait. If he could hold out, reinforcements could still arrive in time.

"Begin preparations immediately," Cedric ordered.

Back at the fortress, Arthur was deep in thought.

The reality was unavoidable—Pendralis was not yet fully ready for large-scale war.

The 6,000 troops under his command represented the most modernized part of the army, but the rest of the nation's forces were still undergoing restructuring.

Arthur had pushed Pendralis toward rapid modernization, using his knowledge to accelerate industrialization.

Water-powered primitive factories had begun replacing handcrafted goods, and trade had flourished under a growing capitalist economy. However, despite these advancements, the country was still not fully industrialized.

He had introduced mechanized production, increased economic output, and expanded manufacturing infrastructure.

But reforms take time.

Arthur clenched his jaw.

Pendralis was on the brink of becoming a major industrial power, but it was not yet strong enough for sustained war against multiple enemies.

This war had forced Pendralis into action prematurely.

Arthur now realized that after this war, Pendralis would need to pause military expansion and focus on economic growth.

If Pendralis could fully industrialize, its economy would stabilize, production would match internal demand, and its military would be fully modernized.

Only then would Pendralis be ready for empire-building through conquest. But until that day came, he would need patience. For now, there was only one priority—winning this war. The Pendralis army moved out, marching toward the chosen battlefield to meet the Aragonese forces head-on.

And so, one week passed—the final days before what would become the most pivotal battle in Pendralis' history.