Decision

Actually, if you really expect a commander's nonsensical pep talk to max out the soldiers' loyalty, make their morale explode, and boost their combat effectiveness by N percent so they can turn defeat into victory and grind an enemy who had the upper hand into the dirt, then you've watched too many third-rate war movies.

What, do you really think everyone has a system that multiplies the effectiveness of their speeches by N? Do you really think everyone has a face with maxed-out charm?

Morale is an exceptionally mysterious system of art. The reason it's "art" rather than "engineering" is that even at this point in civilization, nobody has found a reliable, controllable formula for calculating it all. A pep talk might just be the most useless yet most lavish exterior ornament on the whole edifice. But one thing is certain: a commander's prestige, the victories accumulated over time, and the soldiers' own state of mind are the most important building materials.

Fortunately, all of that had fallen into place during the battle two days ago: after countless brave Sandfolk swift-drake riders and chariots had been bloodied beneath Tulong; as flames flickered outside the city; and as explosions, visible to the naked eye, erupted one after another across the Sandfolk camps that stretched beyond the horizon.

And so, when Eleanor marched through the soldiers carrying the regimental colors, their cheers and battle cries began to boil over, even drowning out the explosions outside the city.

At that moment, these ragtag security troops and militia recruits who had only had a few days of proper training all felt that the spirit of the universe had taken visible form as the Goddess of Victory, guiding them forward. They weren't cannon fodder or a rabble at all. They were the very spirits of the volunteers led by the Father of the Nation thirty years ago, possessing them.

We will win! We are bound to win!

In that surging, thunderous roar, the assault squad in its Dragoon armor followed close behind. Then came the security troops in their AS40s, and right after them charged a great many militiamen wearing nothing but crude protective suits and carrying rifles.

Of course, before Eleanor's troops even passed through the light-barrier shield, the more than forty Black Panther tanks and Type 10 light tanks remaining in Tulong Harbor had already rolled out of the city. They began scouring the ground with Vulcan cannons, mines, and high-explosive shells. The dual-purpose sentry guns and fortress cannons had opened fire earlier still, pouring their firepower recklessly into the enemy ranks.

So when Tulong's defenders, advancing in coordination with their tanks, reached the Sandfolk, they were completely dumbfounded.

Twenty-odd years wasn't enough to transform the Sandfolk from a traditional warrior society in the nomadic age into a true modern military. Though they had built some fortifications under the guidance of their "collaborators," the works were irregular, lacked quality control, and were poorly maintained. More importantly, the sudden bombardment had engulfed the area where Grand Elder Hesen was located in smoke and fire. The ordinary Sandfolk soldiers had lost all command, because their lords and chieftains were just as bewildered and terrified.

As a result, the troops pouring out of the city met almost no resistance as they vaulted over the first trench. It was a truly shallow trench; an ordinary Sandfolk standing in it would only have it reach his chest. It couldn't stop a Black Panther or a tank, and even powered-armored infantry could clear it in a single stride.

Eleanor raised the Z17 rifle in her hands and casually swung it around. It boomed. Every Sandfolk soldier within a sixty-degree arc thirty meters ahead of her was blasted full of holes.

Yes, compared with the C10 rifles issued to "light infantry" and "unarmored infantry," the Z17 rifles carried by the Marine Corps and assault units had much greater ammunition capacity and firepower. They could also switch between rifle and shotgun modes.

Eleanor Bonaparte raised her left hand, setting the Vulcan cannon to firing as well, while issuing a rapid-fire stream of orders with astonishing speed and perfect composure.

"Major Sangja, sweep every anti-aircraft position!"

"Captain Luelong, once the outer anti-aircraft positions are captured, get all the airships and drones airborne! The target? The enemy is all around us. Do I really need to mark on a map where you should bomb?"

"Captain Williams, take your armored unit south. Destroy their arsenal, then keep pushing south and punch through the enemy line!"

"Captain Ames, head north and drive the enemy into the lake!"

"Major Dorset, stay close to me! We're heading toward the heaviest gunfire!"

Eleanor was a lunatic who loved charging straight at the enemy, and she was naturally fearless. But the difference between a fool's courage and a great general's courage was that the latter always knew where to charge. The bombardment was hitting the place where the Sandfolk's spiritual leader, Grand Elder Hesen, was located. Unless she saw his corpse, Eleanor wouldn't consider herself victorious even if she piled up a million Sandfolk heads.

At that moment, the signal from Tulong Harbor also reached Yu Lian's heavy artillery position.

"Upperclassman... Has Commander Bonaparte already left the city? Charging into battle herself again?"

The reply over the comms was, of course, yes.

"What is wrong with her...? It's the space age, for crying out loud. Why does everyone still have a Stone Age heart?" Yu Lian slapped his forehead. Thinking of what had happened to his upperclassman in "history," he suddenly felt a bit panicked.

Just then, another message came in from elsewhere.

"Sir, we're under attack here too." It was Sergeant Youyou. He and the eight soldiers under his command had been left by Yu Lian at the canyon hideout with a Black Panther tank, where they were to direct the cowboys in protecting the civilians.

"Have they found you?"

"Yes. A small band of giant-lizard riders followed our scent right over. We took them out, but more will be coming soon, won't they? Don't worry, though. We've organized everyone. Just as you arranged, we've fortified the canyon entrance and set up firing positions on both ridges."

"Understood..." Yu Lian had just started to ask for more details when the signal cut off, making his heart sink.

He knew the canyon had stayed undiscovered for so long partly because it was well hidden, but also thanks to Ina's sentry-like illusion ability. She could construct a psionic array in advance. When it was applied to the canyon entrance, the atmosphere, rocks, and heat combined to create a sort of optical illusion that interfered with creatures' senses. But Ina was fighting now too. As a novice, how much mental energy could she spare to maintain the array over such a long distance?

What's more, a large-scale battle was now underway. Explosions, flames, and the heat from ion and beam weapons blazed around them. Bloodshed and screams came in waves. Lives were ending, souls were vanishing, and the flow of air, the temperature, and even the geological structure were all changing. Naturally, all of this would affect the array's stability.

Those master saints could unfold vast mental arrays even in battles spanning the stars, granting war buffs to thousands of warships and millions of soldiers, as if they were deities.

But Ina was only at the first ring!

Yu Lian was in a bind. He looked toward the bombardment below, then back toward the valley behind him, feeling as though he'd suddenly run into one piece of bad news after another.

The only good news was that, perhaps because Yu Lian had intervened, the 101st Company's assault was going more smoothly than it had in "history," and its defenses were more thoroughly prepared.

The strongpoints at the stone gate and the watchtower had fallen into their hands without firing a shot. The dual-purpose anti-aircraft cannons were pushed to the edge of the ridge and poured fire into the approaching Sandfolk. Four "Frankenstein" tanks were shoved right off the mountain, tumbling down to wedge themselves among the rocks and completely blocking the route uphill. Every Sandfolk who tried to counterattack was pinned beneath the high ground.

The Sandfolk tried to push the tanks aside, only to be blown to pieces by a hail of bullets. They also tried to bring up artillery, but spent ages arguing over where to position it, only to be picked off one by one by Ina on the opposite ridge.

More Sandfolk went berserk with rage. With the mountain path blocked, they resorted to the most brutal form of swarm assault from the age of cold weapons, clambering up the cliffs with knives in their mouths and rifles on their backs. But that only meant the 101st Company's soldiers could inflict tremendous casualties by casually shoving a few rocks down at them.

The hollow beneath Alchi Heights became a sea of blood. Still, the Sandfolk's courage had to be acknowledged. Even under these conditions, reinforcements kept arriving without end. Such courage could have inspired an epic for the ages.

But that was all it amounted to.

So far, not a single soldier in the 101st Company had been injured. Their results were even more astonishing than in the original timeline. Perhaps those results had gone to the lieutenant's head. He told Yu Lian, "I can spare you thirty men."

Yu Lian was a little stunned. He had considered asking the lieutenant for reinforcements, but he would have been thrilled to get ten. He could also guess that someone would get carried away when the battle was going so well—but of all people, Lieutenant Winter shouldn't have been the one.

"Yes, we're under siege right now, but I've checked how the enemy fights. Hah. They're certainly brave, but they lack discipline and any effective organization. Losing one platoon won't have much effect on the overall battle. Trust me, warrant officer. You may be brilliant, but I've got a bit more ground combat experience than you do."

Yu Lian had no reason to doubt Lieutenant Winter's judgment. The problem was that the company's hundred-plus soldiers were still surrounded by tens of thousands of enemy troops. There was no way they could afford to let their guard down. Besides, every army needed a reserve. Wasn't that just common sense?

"Exactly. That's why it's time for the reserve to move out! But you get to decide how and where to use them. Parkin, assemble your platoon!" The lieutenant made the decision without further discussion.

"I'll follow your orders, Moonie." Lieutenant Parkin, two ranks above Yu Lian, slapped his forehead and grinned, showing no trace of resentment.