Our Family Has Fallen

This has led to the original plan of overwhelming with sheer numbers without injuries becoming non-existent. In fact, due to the fierce resistance from the heretics, the number of wounded soldiers continues to increase...”

Now, there are nearly seventy injured soldiers being withdrawn from the frontline who are severely affected in battle. Many others with minor injuries continue fighting with simple bandages.

No matter what the Ascension Sect has done, the reality is that Hamlet’s advantage is further diminishing.

In such circumstances, it’s impossible to be very excited or to smile.

Even Lance is somewhat worried that due to the delay with the second target, it’s unclear if the third can hold out.

To summarize in one sentence—

[Despite frequent reports of success, Hamlet’s momentum falters, while the Ascension Sect retreats gloriously.]

Margaret, upon hearing this, finally sees the difficulty of the battle. Hamlet seized the enemy’s loss of command to achieve initial successes but is also forcing the heretics to unite.

Heretics are different from ordinary people; they won’t surrender, only fight to the death. Conversely, Hamlet’s army suffers increasing losses. As the fight continues, the advantage diminishes, making the battle increasingly difficult.

”I understand now, without understanding the specific situation, one should not merely question your decision based on attitude.”

Since she responded positively, Lance also expressed his stance.

”You ask why I don’t care? Actually, you’re wrong. I care deeply; I’d rather trust everyone than doubt them.”

In this ”advantage is ours” situation, Barton and his team have dragged on for so long. If replaced by a crazy commander like Michelle, Barton’s team might even be blamed for ”delaying battle opportunities.”

But Lance’s silent contemplation already shows he understands the various surprises at the frontline, as long as the goal is reached.

”Since you see the situation deteriorating, why don’t you make changes?” Margaret is unwilling to stay stagnant here. She is in the middle of an intense war yet can only watch the situation weaken.

”Change what? In this operation, I’ve already brought out all the troops; everyone is fighting at the frontline. If there were reserve forces, I wouldn’t be here frowning.” Lance adds somewhat jokingly to Margaret.

”Because I’m not at the frontline, I don’t know what they face there, so I honestly stay here, doing my part, planning the operation overall, and leave the specifics to them.

Support them with logistics and wounded care to create a stable rear base, instead of sending Laura’s Hawks to intervene with orders at the frontline.”

Now he is compelled by circumstances to act, all thousand soldiers have been committed, otherwise, he wouldn’t be guarding the city alone.

If I had three thousand troops, I’d be dining at the old patriarch’s doorstep tonight; even with two thousand, I’d have a midnight snack.

Unfortunately, I don’t.

Simply because the outpost must not be lost, yet there aren’t enough forces.

He is also forced to be tied here; otherwise, charging forth and slaying enemies would be ideal!

Lance wants more than anyone to fight at the frontlines. His rage has been pent up for long, but...

”Go and call Laura, let her Hawks help me contact the second target. I need more information.”

Lance doesn’t have much time to waste on her; educating her is Lawrence’s responsibility. Ensuring her safety is enough.

The fact that he said this explains why Laura is kept by his side, rather than deploying such a wilderness-savvy and jungle warfare expert for battle.

Comparatively, it’s clear that conveying information is more critical than having her fight.

Especially for those isolated troops in the wilderness, understanding their situation is best achieved this way.

War is a collective affair; no matter how exceptional personal ability is, it only affects local battlefields. The overall victory depends on the entirety.

Even if you succeed in wilderness maneuvers, what does it matter? If the outpost falls, everything achieved before becomes meaningless.

Therefore, every step is crucial, requiring every participant to fulfill their tasks as best as they can. These small victories will finally lead to the ultimate success.

Margaret departs, leaving Lance standing alone before the map.

Lance actually hasn’t explained many detailed situations. The major difference between heretics and ordinary people is they don’t need rest, while soldiers fighting all day have to rest.

It is foreseeable that when night falls, it will be a turning point in the war.

Hamlet will switch from attack to defense; if they survive and secure the battle line, the odds are high, but...

With the current advancement pace, reaching the second target before dark tonight is very difficult, not to mention the people at the third target.

Lance now has the impulse to blast the first target and then personally lead a charge slaughtering everywhere.

But doing that would increase the burdens on others.

Yes, it’s that counterintuitive, because now there are only three exits left. Blocking the first would force them to cause trouble through the other two.

Lance alone can guard one, but heretics just need to pass through the other.

This could cause the other to collapse, leading to greater confusion in the situation.

Leaving the first open, with the outpost as bait and the advantageous situation behind the attack, forces underground heretics to emerge here, easing pressure on the other two targets.

Simply put, the outpost binds Lance while also drawing heretic forces. Regardless of how many heretics attack the city, Lance doesn’t mind; more is better.

But if Hamlet’s army can’t hold on till tonight, all would be pointless.

Now it’s Lance and the old patriarch’s game.

Lance moves a piece representing Balistan leading the second squad forward towards the third target, murmuring to himself.

”If only Balistan could lead the second squad and arrive, everything would get better…”

......

From dawn, the operation has ignited fires in the wilderness, sporadic, large and small battles throughout the day further stirred the whole wildness into unrest.

Hamlet soldiers’ spirited chants could be heard everywhere, as well as the heretics’ frenzied prayers.

Swords and blades clanged, steel clashed with flesh.

Gunfire roared, gunpowder and souls burned.

Yet, no one can stop the sun from rising, nor can anyone stop it from setting.

No matter how unwilling, light gradually fades, and darkness steadily, albeit slowly, encroaches upon the wildlands.

When night falls, as darkness fully swallows the wilderness, yet, contrary to Lance’s expectations, there was no heretic counterattack and slaughter.

Instead, the wilderness fell into an eerie silence.

No sounds of guns nor shouts were heard.

The reason is simple; the daytime slaughter was too intense. Hamlet’s soldiers indeed suffered many wounds, but heretics suffered death.

Piles of corpses were dragged away, Lance at the outpost sat well-stocked.

Conversely, as long as soldiers didn’t die immediately on the spot, due to timely treatment and logistical transport back, even deaths were in single digits.

Regarding the wounded sent back, with Lance’s intervention, even near-fatal injuries could be reduced to minor ones, allowing a night’s rest and recovery the next day.

Having seized control of those passages, cutting off their personnel supply channel, how many heretics could remain in the wilderness?

Such killing method leaves even the old patriarch without surplus resources.

Chased away and scattered heretics need time before ambitious individuals can reunite them.

As for Hamlet’s army, dispersed squads will regroup into larger units, forming camps of hundreds.

Indeed, in the wilderness, it’s challenging to clear sufficiently large camps quickly, this scale fits well.

And they’ve already fortified the surroundings, placing traps, cleared areas around the camps, stacking felled logs around to kindle bonfires at night. It stays well-illuminated with no dark pockets.

Combined with sentinels and patrols, heretics cannot mount sneak attacks.

Judging by this setup, the current quietness is just the calm before the storm; everyone is ready for the heretics’ counter-offensive.

However, for now, let’s eat first...