Calm

Edgar was the first to raise his head and look at Karl, saying, "Lord lord, I fully agree with your plan." This statement caused everyone, including Karl, to glance at him slightly.

Edgar took a deep breath and continued, "I believe this battle is unavoidable. It's not that we provoked it, but rather that the situation forces us to it!"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notebook, his memo for recording various affairs of the territory. He turned to a certain page and pointed to the densely packed but clearly marked entries.

His voice was filled with suppressed anger. "These past few days, according to reports from the various village chiefs, especially those responsible for organizing hunters to go into the mountains to collect mountain goods and herbs, and the foremen sent to the northeast river valley to tentatively search for mineral veins..."

"Our forces have been repeatedly ambushed and attacked by these Sauron Tribe in the mountain edges and valleys!"

"The failed collection and the loss of some goods and tools are minor issues; the key is the people! We have confirmed that at least thirteen people have been killed or wounded, and the bodies were found... in a gruesome manner."

"More than twenty people have completely disappeared, neither alive nor dead. Based on the descriptions of the wounded who managed to escape, and our understanding of the Sauron's customs, these missing brothers were most likely captured by these barbarians."

"They would either be taken away on the spot as 'trophies,' or captured after being wounded. What awaited them? Slavery! A miserable fate of being whipped and starved to exhaust their last bit of strength!"

Edgar slammed the notebook shut, his clenched fist lightly tapping the table with a dull thud.

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the officers present, finally settling on Karl's face, and said, word by word, "They plundered our people, killed our citizens, and enslaved our compatriots! How can we tolerate this? How can we forget this blood debt?"

His emotions infected those present; several officers clenched their fists, their eyes blazing with fury, while Brendan and Roland nodded solemnly.

Edgar took a deep breath, calming himself slightly, but his tone remained resolute. "Therefore, sir, we should not show the slightest mercy to these Sauron Tribe whose hands are stained with the blood of us Carnford People!"

"Your plan says 'kill them all,' and I think you're right! We must not only annihilate their soldiers, but also destroy the very foundation upon which they depend for survival and reproduction. To be merciful to the enemy is to be cruel to our own people."

"Only by taking swift and decisive action to completely eradicate these venomous stingers can our hunters, mountain dwellers, and prospectors dare to venture into the forests with peace of mind, can the border villages sleep soundly at night, and can everyone know that safety is guaranteed when they follow Carnford!"

Edgar was usually perceived as shrewd, pragmatic, and sometimes overly concerned with gains and losses, but these resounding, courageous, and responsible words gave Karl a new perspective on him.

This steward was not merely a civil servant managing warehouses and accounts; he also deeply cared about the safety of every Carnford resident and considered protecting them part of his duty.

His support was not merely a logistical promise, but a clear statement of his attitude and stance.

Edgar's passionate and responsible speech, like a stone thrown into calm water, stirred up a strong resonance in the Council Chamber.

The eyes of several new army officers ignited with the flames of battle, their breathing became heavy, as if they wanted to draw their swords, mount their horses, and charge into the mountains to seek revenge at any moment.

Morr gripped his quill pen tightly, his face showing indignation.

Even the usually composed Roland nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with Edgar's words.

However, as the most experienced Military Chief in the Carnford Army, who was actually responsible for most of the military training and combat command, Brendan quickly suppressed his initial excitement and regained the calm and prudence that a soldier should have.

He knew that emotional outbursts could not win a war; meticulous planning and calm execution were the keys.

Especially when shifting from "defense" to "offense" and entering a completely unfamiliar combat mode, any underestimation of the enemy or reckless advance could lead to disastrous consequences.

After the slightly heated atmosphere in the Council Chamber subsided somewhat, his slightly hoarse but steady voice rang out. "Gentlemen, please calm down."

All eyes turned to him. Brendan, his expression grave, glanced at Edgar, Karl, and the other officers, and slowly said:

"I share Mr. Edgar's indignation and the plight of our missing and dead compatriots; my anger is no less than that of anyone here."

He emphasized, "But it is precisely at times like these that we cannot be driven solely by anger. War, especially a war waged by the initiative, requires us to set aside our emotions and use the calmest mind to consider every detail and assess every risk."

He paused, then began his analysis with clear logic. "First, and most importantly, our combat strategy has completely changed. Our previous battles against the Sauron, whether repelling small-scale raids or dealing with Harald's general offensive, were essentially defensive battles."

"We rely on the castle, the walls, the pre-established positions, and even the familiar Carnford; we are the defenders, Sauron are the attackers."

"This gave us a huge advantage: familiar terrain, relatively clear intelligence, strong fortifications, and most importantly—our soldiers had their homes and families behind them, and a strong belief and fighting will to fight to the death and defend their homeland."

Brendan's voice turned serious. "But now, the situation has completely reversed. This time, we are taking the initiative, venturing deep into the likely unfamiliar mountains and valleys to attack the Sauron camp."

"We are unfamiliar with the battlefield environment, so our intelligence is currently almost zero. We rely entirely on Richter's reconnaissance, and the extent and accuracy of that reconnaissance directly determine whether we launch a surprise attack or walk into a trap."

"Finally, the soldiers leave their familiar barracks and fortifications to fight in unknown and hostile territory, and their psychological state is different from when they were defending their homeland."

"The enemy we face has become the 'defenders,' who are familiar with every blade of grass and tree in the area. They may have set up traps and sentries that we don't know about, and they may even have escape routes or assembly points that we don't know about."

"Second," Brendan continued, "Our troops, whether veterans of the First Regiment or newly formed units, although trained, have never had any experience in launching a proactive attack on Sauron camp."

"We've practiced defense, counterattacks, and troop advances, but how to march covertly through the mountains and forests, how to choose the starting point of an attack, how to deal with the complex streets and alleys that may appear in the camp, and how to quickly withdraw after a successful attack to avoid being entangled by reinforcements... these are all completely new challenges."

"Training and actual combat are ultimately two different things. The accuracy of Richter's intelligence will directly determine whether we can leverage our strengths and avoid our weaknesses to complete the mission at the lowest possible cost."