Chapter 883: The Counterattack Begins

The Mobile Strike Group's deployments had partly been intended to sharpen its troops' fighting skills.

More importantly, it had cleared the enemy's scouts from the surrounding area.

That would make it hard for the enemy to track the coalition's troop movements once the third phase began.

The second phase had ended on the fourteenth day, but another full half month passed before the third phase began.

During that time, reinforcements from the various forces arrived in succession.

The arrival of four standard warbands from Peace Haven's Southern District was especially welcome. Sera finally had troops he knew well at his disposal.

Throughout that half month of waiting, the Mobile Strike Group had reported successes every day.

Its tally of enemy dead was no smaller than that of a full campaign.

Even so, Sera faced constant accusations. Some claimed he had ulterior motives. Others said he was afraid to fight, or that he was using the opportunity to build Peace Haven's influence.

People said all sorts of things. Sera himself paid them no attention.

Most of the pressure fell on Magnus, Lumir's eldest prince. Only twenty-seven, he had to find new ways each day to silence the opposition with a mixture of rewards and threats.

One reason for waiting half a month was the need for reinforcements.

Hard fighting lay ahead. The hastily reorganized legions on the second defensive line were not up to it.

Now Sera has the Southern District's four warbands, the Holy Lake Knights, Lumir's First Guard Legion, and the Lake Sword Legion.

With these sixty thousand elite troops, he can finally launch the third phase of his counteroffensive.

He has also been waiting for the weather to change, for the air to grow drier and colder.

When the first snow finally falls, Sera launches the third phase at once.

As soon as the legions' commanders see the plan, they begin protesting.

"We do not question your ability to command, General Sera. Your earlier victories have proved that. But this plan takes us completely away from our objective!"

"General, it's a sound plan. But for both political and military reasons, we must be clear about our priorities."

Those are the polite objections.

"You're deliberately trying to get our marshal killed! We should never have trusted an outsider!"

"I knew you had bad intentions. Now you're finally showing your true colors..."

These are rather less polite.

Sera answers calmly. "Then propose a plan of your own. I'm prepared to stake my life and everything I have on this one. Which of you can say the same?"

None of them dares. That does not mean they will agree.

As Magnus tries to think of a way to persuade them, the head of the communications office enters the conference room with fresh orders from coalition headquarters.

At the same time, orders arrive from Obilian in Holy Lake City.

Both say the same thing. Everyone at the front is to cooperate unconditionally with Sera's operational plan.

Anyone who disobeys will be stripped of his title, and his family will be wiped out.

Both coalition headquarters and Obilian plainly mean business.

Further objections are useless.

Sera does not expect everyone to follow his instructions to the letter. Some will stall or cause trouble, but that will not matter much.

All he needs is for those sixty thousand elite troops to obey him.

The fighting has already begun under cover of darkness. The enemy is stronger at night, but the darkness also conceals the army's movements.

As they wait for dawn and reports from the various units, Magnus seeks Sera out.

The eldest prince opens with compliments, then keeps changing the subject.

Sera finally loses patience. "I understand what you mean, Your Highness. I also know what your father wants me to do."

"The question is what you're willing to pay. I'm the one who'll be cursed, and Peace Haven will bear their hatred."

Magnus gives an awkward smile. "General, I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."

"You want me to use this opportunity to execute a number of senior commanders for delaying operations, shirking their duties, or disobeying orders. At the very least, you want me to strip them of their commands..."

Magnus immediately interrupts him. His smile disappears.

"That is not what I want, nor what my father wants," he says gravely. "This is only for..."

Sera waves a hand and cuts him off in turn. "I know. It's what Lumir's people and soldiers want. It's what the whole country wants."

"I don't care whose idea it is, and I don't intend to ask. Just tell me one thing. What do I get out of it?"

After a moment's silence, Magnus asks, "Then what does Peace Haven want?"

Sera laughs. "You're still missing the point, Your Highness. This isn't about what Peace Haven wants. It's about what I want."

"Let me put it plainly."

"I want discretionary authority in military operations for my Southern District troops while they're in Lumir. If any of your nobles interfere with our operations, I want a measure of authority to deal with them as circumstances require."

Magnus stares at him. "That's all?"

Sera's smile broadens. "That's all. You're still too young. When your father said that, he already knew we'd agree."

"So this isn't about what Peace Haven wants. It's about what I want."

"Peace Haven needs you to be strong. Remove these parasites, and your armies will fight better. The subterranean waterway front will be more secure too."

"That also makes Peace Haven safer on this side."

"For that, a little hatred and abuse is nothing. If it came to it, our lord would come here himself to act as your executioner."

"But I'm the one next door. The curses will reach my ears and ruin my mood."

"And if a number of nobles obstructing your father's reforms die because of me, there'll be plenty of hostile eyes around the Southern District. Some may do more than glare."

"That will cost me time and effort. Asking for something in return is only fair."

"You can rest assured about one thing. I won't kill anyone in your faction. I'll only deal with the fools who don't know when to stay out of the way."

"This benefits both of us. At least it does for now, during the Calamity War."

Magnus studies him suspiciously. "There's no deeper reason?"

Sera looks away. "Not for me. As for Peace Haven, you'll have to ask your father. Perhaps he knows."

Does Peace Haven truly have no deeper motive for helping Obilian eliminate his political opponents?

Of course it does. A very important one.

After the Calamity War, Peace Haven will most likely move to annex Ogiro.

It will need a buffer to keep the empire and the church from intervening.

A strong Lumir would serve that purpose best. As long as the Western Lumir Federation exists, Obilian will remain at odds with the empire and the church.

That cannot change. Neither side will give ground.

Obilian will not let them use his teleportation nodes, support their armies' expeditions, or even allow their troops to cross his territory.

Sometimes, having a strong neighbor is not a bad thing.

Could Lumir grow beyond Peace Haven's expectations and even become its greatest enemy?

Some in Peace Haven worry about that possibility. Henwell, however, is certain of his judgment.

In time, Lumir will be the easiest state for Peace Haven to conquer.