Tactical Plan

Karl then asked about the cavalry. Lyon stepped forward, his posture as straight as a pine tree, and said in a loud voice, "The cavalry is also ready. There are ninety-eight men in total, all of them elite cavalrymen selected from among the best."

"Among them are more than thirty elite Border Army selected from the refugee groups. They are mostly veterans, skilled in horsemanship and archery, and even more adept at close combat. Dealing with the Sauron scouts and skirmishers is a piece of cake for them."

"Very good." Karl nodded, a satisfied look on his face. His gaze swept over Lyon and landed on the slightly thin young man at the back of the crowd—it was Elmont. He raised his voice and asked, "What about the artillery?"

Upon hearing this, many people in the tent were slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Karl to suddenly mention artillery.

After all, this is a guerrilla war, which emphasizes light equipment and quick victories. Bringing heavy Cannon would seem somewhat inappropriate.

Only Karl himself knew that his last-minute decision to bring an artillery unit was partly due to the possibility of using Cannon during the assault to blast open the simple yet sturdy wooden fortresses and stone walls of the Sauron, thus reducing casualties.

Secondly, it was also for training, allowing these artillerymen to accumulate experience in actual combat. After all, the artillery units in the Northern Territory had only been established recently and lacked real combat experience.

Hector was a skilled craftsman who could make excellent Cannon, but he was old and frail, making him unsuitable for traveling with the army and leading troops into battle.

Elmont, on the other hand, is different. This young man is strong and agile. More importantly, he was a pirate in his early years and has experienced countless battles at sea. He has rich combat experience, making him the most suitable candidate to lead the artillery unit.

Upon hearing Karl call his name, Elmont immediately stepped out from behind the crowd, his steps steady and his expression serious. "Reporting to the General, the artillery unit is ready. There are three Minin Cannon in total, which are light and flexible, just right for this mobile operation."

He paused, then added, "The Eagle Cannon is just too heavy. The barrel is heavy and it carries a lot of ammunition. Moving around in the forest will only slow down the march and make it completely useless."

"The Minin Cannon is different; it's lightweight yet powerful enough to easily destroy the Sauron camp."

"Each cannon is equipped with a five-man gun crew, all trained according to the artillery Drill Manual I just reviewed. The division of labor is clear, and loading, aiming, and firing are all done in one go. In addition, each cannon is also equipped with two horses to take turns pulling it, ensuring that it can keep up with the marching pace of the main force in any terrain."

Upon hearing this, Karl's smile widened, and he nodded emphatically. "Well done, we'll do it your way."

He refocused his attention on the map, his finger first pointing to a marker closest to Carnford, located on the edge of the eastern woods.

That was the "Camp One" where Lucas and Felin's group killed three Sauron hunters and initially identified it.

"My strategy is simple: clear out the enemy forces from the outer perimeter of the forest to the inner perimeter, gradually moving outwards." Karl drew a clear route of advance on the map with his finger.

"We'll attack here first, Camp One, for three reasons: First, it's the closest location with the shortest supply line, which is advantageous for the initial battle; second, we already have scouts operating here and clearing out enemy outposts, so the enemy may be on alert, but they are not fully prepared yet, making this an excellent opportunity for a surprise attack."

"If we attack other camps first, it will only make them fully aware of our mobilization, and their defenses will definitely be tight. Thirdly, taking this place can establish a solid forward base or supply depot for subsequent operations, and we can also monitor the barracks on Gray Wolf Mountain."

His finger then moved northeast, pointing to Camps Two, Three, and Four in succession. "Then, use these as a springboard to attack Camp Two. After succeeding, decide whether to continue advancing towards Camps Three and Four, or make slight adjustments based on changes in intelligence."

"In short, follow this line, gradually advancing into the depths of the forest, into the heartland of the Sauron's activities. Along the way, as you encounter small villages," he said, his finger sweeping across the dots representing those villages on the map, "There's no need to waste time besieging them. Just send small teams to quickly clear them out, burn down houses, disperse or... eliminate the population, and seize usable supplies."

"Our main focus and time should be on these five organized, relatively resilient large camps. We must strive to completely annihilate their forces, burn their settlements, and render them utterly incapable of recovery. As for the barracks on the mountain, we'll deal with them last."

Brendan, Roland, and other officers stared intently at the route Karl had drawn on the map, rapidly mentally rehearsing each step of the march, resupply, engagement, and withdrawal.

The route is clear, the objectives are well-defined, and the priorities are clearly distinguished, which is consistent with the current intelligence and troop strength situation.

"My lord, this plan is prudent," Brendan said first. "A step-by-step approach avoids the risk of being cut off from our retreat by advancing rashly, while effectively expanding our gains and eliminating threats. I agree."

I second that.

I second that.

The other officers nodded in agreement, indicating that they had no objections.

"Good!" Karl felt relieved to see that the plan had been unanimously approved.

He straightened up, his gaze sweeping over each of the officials present, his tone becoming serious. "Since there are no problems, then immediately execute the following orders: First, Richter, your Intelligence Bureau, make a sufficient number of copies of this map as quickly as possible, ensuring they are clear and accurate."

"Distribute copies to the commanders of all participating battalions and companies, and require them to memorize them. Second, Brendan and Roland, return to your camps immediately and announce that the troops are ready for battle."

"From this day forward, all officers and soldiers participating in the operation are not permitted to leave their barracks without special permission. Communication with the outside world will be subject to strict inspection. Training will continue as usual, but nighttime operations, mountain marches, and targeted drills against surprise attacks will be intensified."

"Third, Edgar, your logistics team must also be on standby. Laborers must assemble, vehicles must be inspected, and supplies must be inventoried and sealed for the final time. Similarly, relevant personnel should be temporarily placed under centralized management and not allowed to move around freely."

His gaze sharpened like a knife. "The key to this operation lies in secrecy and surprise. Before we officially break camp and set off, I do not want any word to leak to the Sauron. Pass down the order: anyone who leaks information, whether intentionally or unintentionally, will be treated as a traitor and punished according to military law, without any leniency!"

"Yes, sir!" The men responded resolutely, their voices echoing in the narrow study, carrying a steely tone.

After the meeting, everyone filed out and went to their respective posts.