"What? What are you planning to do?"
In her command post, Lady Heather was still congratulating herself on reclaiming Position One after a bloody battle at the head of her guards. She was just about to reward herself with a bottle of fine wine when she saw the battle plan delivered by Old Qin, the Transian major she had personally nicknamed "the Meat Grinder."
The fact that Transians loved war had spread throughout the Blackflame Pass. Lady Heather had been prepared for them to propose a battle plan.
Even so, when she saw the objective listed on that thin document, she couldn't help spraying the fine wine from her mouth.
She jumped to her feet in shock and shouted at Old Qin, who stood before her with a calm expression:
"You're planning to lead your troops in a direct assault on the gnoll vanguard position! Are you insane? My most trusted scouts told me there are at least 4,000 elite gnolls at that position, along with three times as many frenzied kobold brutes!
Their reinforcements are on the way. I don't know how many Rending Claw gnolls you'll end up facing, but without a doubt, it'll be a number you can't withstand.
Your battle plan lists only 2,200 soldiers. And veterans make up just a quarter of them?
"I know you Transians love war, and I know you fear no enemy. Your great victory at Fortress of Courage has become a celebrated tale, but this—
"I can't approve this!
"This is nothing less than sending you to your deaths, and worst of all, those deaths would be utterly pointless! You can't break through that vanguard position."
"Whether we can do it is our concern, Lady Heather."
Old Qin replied:
"We only need you to approve the plan. If possible, we'd