Gaze

A thousand cavalrymen were enough to carry out harassment, reconnaissance, and even localized assault missions, but not so powerful that they would give Karl the illusion that he could independently wage a decisive strategic battle. This forced him to use them cautiously, relying more on tactical wisdom than brute force.

Second, the Count had to leave himself, and the entire Northern Territory defensive line, sufficient reserves. He had to provide a safety net for both this operation and Karl.

He regarded the thousand elite cavalrymen as stones thrown to test the waters, or sparks meant to set the prairie ablaze.

If successful, they would naturally alleviate the pressure on Fran City's front line and provide a window of time to build the defenses.

But if the front line suffered defeat, and Karl and his cavalry were surrounded or even routed, the Count had to prepare a powerful relief force to strike at the critical moment, secure the lifeline from Fran City toward Carnford Castle, prevent the defeat from spreading, and keep the entire northern defensive line from collapsing because of one failed gamble.

To a certain extent, the thousand cavalrymen were bait as well, meant to probe the Sauron's true intentions and deployment.

Finally, there were deeper political considerations.

Karl's position was special now. He was not only a frontier lord with an impressive record of military achievements, but also the King's brother-in-law.

His success or failure affected the Royal Capital's attention.

If the Count provided too many troops and they ultimately suffered a disastrous defeat, he would inevitably have to shoulder the blame for "appointing the wrong man and squandering military forces," while enduring enormous pressure from the King and the court.

By granting only a thousand cavalrymen, however, even if they were ultimately lost, it would still fall