Never Surrender: A One-on-One Challenge

"I only said I wouldn't kill anyone, not that I couldn't do other things for you," Aaron said meaningfully. "For example... catapults."

Caspian paused for a moment, "Even so, fourteen bullets would barely be enough, but what about later..."

"What happens after that is none of my business," Aaron interrupted Yu. "I also have principles. Unless it's a truly heinous crime, I won't kill anyone."

"But this is war," Peter said.

"I have no grudge against the Telmarine, and I only met the Narnian by chance."

"In other words, I'm just passing through; getting too involved won't do me any good," Aaron said seriously.

Lucy wanted to persuade her further, but Susan glared at her and shut her up.

"You may not want to hear this, but I really don't want to get involved in the war. All I can do is try to reduce the number of people dying in Narnia."

Apart from that, I will only kill those who want to kill me.

Peter was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. "This can be considered being honest with each other."

"We won't force you if you don't want to go into battle, but thank you for your help anyway."

"You're welcome."

On the morning of the first day, Miraz led the army of the Telmarine to the border.

Peter and his companions stood atop the fortress, gazing at the vast army opposite them, their hearts sinking to the bottom.

"Fully armed, there must be several thousand men!"

There were also several giant catapults and a row of ballistae. Aaron couldn't help but click his tongue, sighing, "This battle won't be easy!"

"We can see that, no need for you to remind us." Caspian was speechless.

"Let's go back first! We need to figure out a strategy before they set up camp," Peter a deep voice.

The group gathered in a simple stone room and held a meeting around a stone table.

"What do you think?" Peter asked Aaron.

"We agreed yesterday that I would only be responsible for dealing with the heavy weapons."

"You are the only Warlock among us, and your opinion is very valuable."

Aaron touched his nose sheepishly. "The enemy outnumbers us three to one, and they are well-equipped and highly trained."

A direct confrontation is disadvantageous; allowing the enemy to slaughter you is futile; there is only one path...

"We will never surrender," the centaur leader immediately interrupted.

"Uh... surrendering is worse than death, my advice is simple... run away."

The moment the two words were uttered, the representatives from various ethnic groups attending the meeting were all stunned.

The next moment, shouts and curses rose and fell.

"We will never retreat."

"This is Narnia's last vestige of dignity."

"The Knights will fight to the very last moment."

"This is our land."

Aaron looked at the indignant crowd and couldn't help but shrink back. "This is the best solution I can think of."

Our chances of winning are very low; in fact, we could say that a mutually destructive outcome would be a victory.

However, the Telmarine population was much larger than the Narnian. It didn't matter if their first attack failed; as long as they didn't suffer heavy losses, they could organize a second or even a third attack after a period of recuperation.

Retreat now, preserve your strength, and you'll always have a chance to retake your homeland someday.

"We have nowhere to retreat." Trof's expression was grave. "The Narnian thought the same thing hundreds of years ago. We have barely survived to this day by clinging to life in the forest."

We can't hide any longer, or we'll just fade away with time.

"Miraz won't give us a chance to hide," Tumnus added. "He said he would cut down all the trees in the forest."

Aaron shrugged. "Then there's nothing more to say. Let's fight!"

"That's what we all think," Peter said calmly. "What I'd like to know is if you have any better suggestions on how we can defend this fortress."

Aaron hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something but holding back.

"You really have a way?" Susan asked in surprise.

"I can't say what a solution is, I can only say what is not a solution," Aaron said with a troubled expression. "If the Telmarine want this fortress, then give it to them."

"What did you say?" Caspian couldn't listen any longer. "I'm not exaggerating, but if we abandon this fortress, we will lose our last line of defense."

"Let him finish speaking," Peter said.

Aaron looked at Caspian and said, "You've already hollowed out a section of land in front of the bunker to deal with the Telmarine cavalry."

"That's why we can't abandon this fortress," Caspian explained patiently. "On the plains, it's difficult for us to fight against large numbers of infantry, but this fortress will give us a terrain advantage."

Originally, a decisive battle was the only option, but your gun can destroy catapults and heavy crossbows, which means they can't easily destroy this fortress.

In close combat inside the bunker, we might not be without a chance of victory.

"Superficial." Aaron curled his lip in disdain. "It's obvious you've never fought a war. Your strategic vision is truly embarrassing."

"Don't talk like you've been to war," Caspian retorted. "Gaius wasn't even in the history of Narnia hundreds of years ago."

"There will be more in the future. Gaius will become a legend in Narnia," Aaron said confidently. "King Peter once described this fortress as a tomb, and I think that's quite apt."

"Thank you for the compliment," Peter said irritably. "But if we don't have a better solution, this place might really turn into a graveyard."

"The key question is whose grave this will be." Aaron snapped his fingers, and a red light flashed on the stone table, revealing a small model of a fortress.

"Can I learn magic?" Lucy asked with interest, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"I'm afraid not." Aaron shook his head, immediately extinguishing the little girl's hopes. "You have no Warlock blood whatsoever, and no talent for learning magic."

Is there absolutely no hope?

"Give up, don't waste your time on this."

Perhaps there are magic spells that ordinary people can learn, but I haven't found them yet.

"Ahem!" Susan coughed. "The important thing is to get things done."

Aaron snapped out of his daze and pointed to the front of the bunker projection, continuing, "There's an opening at the front. Caspian even dug two tunnels that lead to the rear of the cavalry."

In other words, this fortress has three entrances, but no exits.

"What do you want to say?" Caspian asked.

"Your idea is to use traps to deal with the cavalry, and then use your familiarity with the bunkers to fight the infantry. Why can't you think further?"

For example, you could set up a bunker as a trap to eliminate infantry.

Upon hearing this, Caspian seemed to understand, but the others also seemed to grasp something, yet they couldn't quite put their finger on the key point.

"Could you be more specific?" Cornelius asked.

"Heh! Your intelligence is really worrying me!" Aaron shook his head speechlessly, rubbing his forehead, and pointed to the back of the castle, where an exit appeared.

"Lead the infantry into the bunker, and we'll use our familiarity with the castle to shake them off and leave through the tunnels."

At this point, the bunker was full of enemies. Destroying the bunker, with a bit of luck, could bury at least a third of the infantry.

Peter slammed his hand on the table, feeling a significant release of the pent-up frustration in his chest.

"Let's do it this way. If it succeeds, the Telmarine's numerical advantage will be wiped out."

"The plan is good, but there are two problems with its implementation," Edmund said hesitantly. "I know it's a bit of a downer to say this, but we simply don't have the capability to destroy this fortress."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone turned to look at Aaron.

They are just ordinary people, and it would take them a long time to dismantle a fortress, but surely Warlock have other methods!

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't look at me like that."

That look in your eyes always makes me feel incredibly pressured.

"We need the power of magic," Susan said righteously. "That may be the reason you came to Narnia."

"Don't be ridiculous, magic isn't for killing people," Aaron scoffed. "I've already done more than enough by helping you deal with those large weapons and offering advice along the way."

I'm not some all-powerful savior; don't ask me to do jobs that involve killing thousands of people at once.

I'm only ten years old, and I don't want to have nightmares at night.

"Then you must come up with another idea!" Peter said anxiously. "This fortress is not as sturdy as Cair Paravel, but it is almost impossible for us to destroy it in a short time."

"Can't you be a little more intelligent?" Aaron swept his gaze over Peter and the others with the kind of look one might give someone with intellectual disabilities, causing an unnatural blush to appear on their faces.

"So, you still have a way, right?" Lucy asked, somewhat embarrassed.

Aaron took a deep breath. "Complex problems are often simple."

Your perspective on the problem is too simplistic. There are many ways to destroy a bunker; you don't necessarily have to demolish the foundation. The simplest way is... to set it on fire.

Inside the bunker, prepare enough oil, firewood, and hay. After we emerge, Susan can launch a Rocket from a distance, turning the entire fortress into a blazing furnace.

The thought of that scene sent shivers down everyone's spines, and their gazes toward Aaron were filled with fear.

"This is too poisonous!" Peter said with an extremely unnatural expression.

"You said it yourself, this is war."

Being merciful to the enemy is being cruel to oneself.

Besides, there's not much difference between being burned to death and being buried alive; it's all death anyway!

"Don't make it sound so nonchalant," Trof said tremulously. "Anyone with a brain would choose death over being burned alive or stoned to death."

"Since you're so kind, why not be more diligent and use your claws to dig through the bunker's foundation?"

"Let's forget about it," Trof immediately changed his mind. "Let them burn us to death, after all, they attacked us first!"

"I will have people gather all the flammable materials we have and spread them across the entire bunker floor," the centaur leader said.

"This is the first problem I have to address," Edmund interjected. "Whether it's digging a new tunnel or preparing and laying flammable materials, we need time, but the Telmarine army has already set up camp."

"Knowing Miraz as I do, he won't drag this war into tomorrow."

"The attack will begin no later than the afternoon," Caspian said gravely. "The earliest would be noon."

"Delaying time?" Aaron tapped his chin, then turned to Caspian. "I think our prince wouldn't mind meeting with his uncle!"

"I'm afraid that won't work," Susan said. "Miraz is no gentleman. If he sees Caspian, he might just shoot him with an arrow."

"Then I can't help you." Aaron shrugged. "When two armies are locked in a stalemate, the best way to buy time is through negotiation."

Whether you're obsequious or arrogant, you can achieve your goal, but if the other party doesn't even want to meet you, then there's no point in trying.

"No, there is hope," Caspian suddenly said. "Miraz is undoubtedly Tyrant and a murderer, but as king, he must consider traditional values and the will of the people."

There is a way to buy us some time: a head-on, one-on-one challenge, a duel that only the two kings can participate in.

"I like this tradition," Aaron laughed. "Your ancestors must have been out of their minds. They had a huge advantage, yet they still gambled with the king's safety."

Caspian's lips twitched. "The first thing I'll do after I ascend the throne is to change this tradition."

"Wait, what do you mean only the King can participate?" Susan asked worriedly. "Does this mean we're going to have Peter and Miraz duel?"

Caspian nodded noncommittally, "Only the king can represent both countries."

"We can have someone impersonate him," Edmund suggested. "Aaron and Peter are about the same height anyway."

Aaron:...

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Nonsense, Peter might not be able to beat Miraz, but you definitely can."

"I won't." Aaron refused without hesitation, stating righteously, "I have always been upright and honest since I was a child, and it's impossible for me to impersonate someone else."

Besides, given my exceptionally distinguished presence, if I stood next to Peter, anyone could immediately tell... who the king was.

Peter staggered.

What do you mean? I admit I'm not as good as you, but am I not worthy to be king?

"Impersonation is not an option; both sides need to verify each other's identities before the duel," Caspian said.

"I will," Peter said, then looked at the other representatives. "I will try to buy some time. I'll leave the tunnel and the flammable materials to you."

"Ming, Your Majesty," Trof said, "Many of us have stored up charcoal and firewood for the winter; if we bring them all, it will be enough to cover the entire bunker."

"If the plan succeeds, our chances of winning will increase to 100%," Peter nodded. "The remaining chances will depend on the outcome of the battle."

"I can go find Aslan," Lucy suddenly said. "I've seen him deep in the forest; he's definitely waiting for me to go find him."

Peter hesitated for a moment, then nodded heavily. "Perhaps this time we have to trust you."

"No," Tumnus said. "It's too dangerous for a young girl like you to go deep into the forest."

"This is the best way to reduce casualties."

Aslan will help us; as long as he intervenes, everything can be resolved properly.