Knife-in-the-Butt had not noticed the Restoration Army's arrival. Nor had they known someone lurking in the shadows had "helped" them by putting the guards inside Bolas Fortress on alert.
An elite Restoration Army unit's surprise attack had been forced to end in failure before it even began.
By the next day, the furious Restoration Army had appeared in front of Bolas Fortress and begun setting up camp, felling trees, and preparing siege works.
Although the surprise attack had failed, the Restoration Army's general had not given up. He still wanted to try.
Bolas Fortress occupied a position of critical importance. Unless they took it, the Republic's army could pass through at any time and deliver a crushing blow to the flank of the Restoration Army's lines, threatening the safety of their rear.
But a direct assault with just five thousand men would never take the fortress... They did not even have enough men to fill in the hillside. What made them think they could capture Bolas Fortress?
So the Restoration Army's commander had two plans in mind.
First, draw attention with a frontal assault, then launch a surprise attack from behind.
Second, even if they could not capture Bolas Fortress, they would establish a foothold here to block it, preventing the Republic's army from emerging to strike the flank and rear of the Restoration Army's defensive lines.
Tying down fewer than a thousand fortress guards with five thousand soldiers was a terrible trade, but the Restoration Army had no choice. They had to do it, even at a loss.
After all, they were the ones who had carelessly lost Bolas Fortress in the first place.
Carelessness had to be paid for in blood.
But if a chance to breach Bolas Fortress did arise, reinforcements could come from the rear.
It