“Well. I will be honest with him. I expect that he asks for no less than that from me.”

Roland walked to the mirror, adjusting his hair a little before taking the dossier and walking off to find Lawrence, who had said that he will be processing documents relating to the town in his home.

The military leaders and spymaster looked at each other before hurrying after Roland.

Lawrence looked over at the report that Roland had brought over. He was flanked by the military leaders as well as that Trey, whom Lawrence always felt uncomfortable to be around.

The reports were grim news for the Carmine Kingdom.

Frontlines smashed, even entire units that were surrounded and trying to break through have been rooted out. The only surviving units intact was General Kaffe’s Plateau as well as the entire army group that Colonel Vava has pulled back.

News was coming that a general mobilization order would be sent out by the military to mobilize the lords’ armies to help repulse the invasion and there was a strong likelihood that Lord Black will ask that Lawrence to rally his soldiers as well and have his men do the bulk of the dying.

All these were things that Lawrence were highly negative towards.

“Can’t we put them on a ship and say that they have gone for the subjugation of sirens?” Lawrence asked and Roland shook his head.

“It will look too obvious that you are trying to wiggle your way out of this.”

“According to the reports here… It says that the Reserve army has not been called up. Why?” Lawrence asked and for this, Trey was the one to interject.

“The Reserve Army has saved the Kingdom countless times but the current King Carmine treats it as his own private army to subjugate disobedient nobles or generals who went out of line in his opinion. Therefore, it is not acceptable to him to weaken his own authority.”

What a fool, even France had wished that they had this reserve army to call upon in the Second World War.

As France faced total defeat in the Second World War, Churchill, the prime minister of Great Britian had flown to Paris and in a meeting with French commanders, he had asked, “Where is the strategic reserve?”

To fans of history, you will know that as German forces faced off with the French in the First World War, the reserve that was committed to France’s defense had helped to turn the tides of the First World War.

However, General Gamelin replied, “There is none.”

Churchill later described this as the most shocking moment of his life.

“Why should I send out my troops? Shouldn’t Lord Black’s soldiers be enough?” Lawrence asked, bordering on denial. He knew the Owls were too well trained and equipped for their own good.

“A few dozen knights and a handful of peasants is as good as not sending troops at all although the knights can be used to some effect. Kaisenberg is a competent commander and the soldiers are not weak,” Kraft muttered and Lawrence looked at the four of them, seated on his chairs, in his house.

“You four obviously came to me intending to send troops. No?” Lawrence asked, his voice low. It was the first time that Roland had seen Lawrence with such an expression. It was one of anger, depression.

“No, Sir Carstein. You misunderstand. The military here is against war,” Longines said, leaning forward, small drops of perspiration on his forehead. He had sensed Lawrence’s anger and moved to placate him.

“Kraft and I are both against the notion of war entirely. However, if it is going to be that-“

“If it is going to be that Lord Black is going to mobilize us, we may as well mobilize first and await his orders. This way, we have more time for supplies and preparations,” Kraft added on quietly and Longines nodded, sitting back. Lawrence looked at the floor, then at the parchment that Roland had prepared ordering for the mobilization of the army in anticipation of Lord Black rallying the banners.

Lawrence reached for the quill, dipped it in ink and signed his name and Roland stretched his hand out to accept the mobilization order.

“Longines, Kraft, what are our chances?” Lawrence asked and Kraft took the troop assessment from Trey. As Kraft looked through it, Trey answered on his behalf.

“Well… Light cavalry, heavy infantry, really not your standard Gerheist setup… I’d say the invasion has been planned for a long time. Given the geo-political situations in both countries, I would say the Gerheist soldiers would most likely not retreat until total victory or an overwhelming defeat is dealt.”

“Right now, King Gerheist still has more to lose than King Carmine overall. King Gerheist is new to the throne and a major defeat here will only weaken him after he has united his power base in favour of action against King Carmine,” Trey explained.

It was common for leaders to rally disunited civil and military officials with military threat. Sometimes, the enemy presents them with an opportunity automatically. For example, when the United States had yet to enter the Second World War, the majority of Americans favoured staying out of the war (isolationism).

However, with the bombing of Pearl Harbour, and the vote was 82 – 0 in the Senate and 388 – 1 in the House in favour of declaring war on Japan.

In times of confusion or uncertainty, leaders also opt to rally their people against an external threat, be it real or not. However, King Carmine had very kindly rendered the people of the Gerheist Kingdom his enemies simply by insulting the royal house which was respected in the nation and forcing anyone who had might have had dissenting views against King Gerheist to fall in line with the noble family for fear of being accused as being a traitor and putting personal gains ahead of the nation’s.

However, a defeat that completely reverses the fortunes the Gerheist Kingdom may start shaking nobles or military commanders dissatisfied with the existing rule of King Gerheist, may be able to start rallying commoners shocked by perhaps a string of defeats or the destruction of an entire army group.

Therefore, mistakes were not allowed. Or rather, there cannot be mistakes.