Never let yourself despair at your foe's numbers. A disciplined army of hundreds is worth more than a rabble of ill-trained thousands. This of course doesn't mean that you may squander your strength frivolously by confronting your foes head on in the open.
If your foe is too numerous have him spread out and defeat him in detail.
if your foe refuses to split his army, harass his supply lines, and starve him into action.
If your foe confronts you and you're in no position to avoid him, use the terrain to inconvenience him.
Do not hesitate to use traps and tricks to augment your own advantages.
Above all - Control the mass of his army.
So may a smaller force still be victorious against a larger force.
Except from ''An insight in war and politics'' by Grandmaster Robin of Ylisse
Chrom gave a tired sigh as he looked through the daily rapports that has been presented to him. Being Exalt was not easy and much was expected of him. Especially now that he was about to drag his nations into another war, barely two years after the first one.
Like father like son…
The young Exalt thought bitterly. His late elder sister Emmeryn had worked so hard to restore their country after their father's ruinous wars against Plegia, and here he was pouring it all down the drain by going to another war.
Gods knows that he and Emmeryn had tried to avoid conflicts, but it was as if the entire world conspired against their efforts for peace.
The last war started because of a mad king in Plegia, who had thirsted for revenge for past actions. Even though their father had died years earlier and a peace-treaty had been signed long before that, the king of Plegia had judged that this was still not sufficient. His sister had tried to negotiate; to come to a new settlement that would mark an end to the uncountable number of conflicts between their nations. A true paragon of peace…And what did it gain her? An early death and the mocking laughter of the Mad King. Chrom in response did not sheath his blade before he had cut off the head of the Mad King of Plegia himself. A hollow consolation…what he would not trade to have Emmeryn back again.
And once again he now finds himself on the doorsteps of war. When the vanguard of Valm had landed on the port of Ferox, Chrom had tried to negotiate a peaceful solution. The Valmanese had responded by beheading his messengers and demanded that the entire continent submit to the Conqueror Walhart. Against such a response there was no other choice but taking arms once again.
In this he had been blessed with having a most able tactician. Robin had proven to be a genius in the field of battle and had spared their army much grief. Thanks to him their casualties had been minimal if not outright neglectable in some of their battles. In addition, he was also a very competent strategist and administrator, seeing to it that Ylisse had a well-developed system of supplying their army even after it has swelled in size with their new levies.
In short, this offensive would not be possible without him.
This however made it even harder for what came next.
Lucina's accusation that he was a traitor was concerning to say the least.
The mere suggestion was preposterous and if it had been anyone else that had hinted it, he would have seen to it that they were thrown out of the camp immediately.
Still, Lucina was a different matter entirely. She was his daughter at that he had no doubt, despite her outlandish situation. By the grace of Naga, she had been thrown back in time to save their world from a calamity that was rising in the horizon. He just wished that it was not his best friend that was this harbinger of doom.
Logic dictated that he should act on this, yet the Exalt loathed the very idea of sentencing a man on such flimsy grounds as mere words. Lucina knew much of his tactician's future cruelties, yet she could tell little as to why he would do such a thing. She had been too young back then and his future-self had not troubled himself to tell her much of his affairs.
That was the core of Chrom's misgivings for Lucina's accusations, the lack of motive. Chrom did not believe that Robin was a traitor, not now at least. Something must have happened in the future, there was at least a decade long gab between the conclusion of the wars in Valm and his own future demise that Lucina could not account for in a satisfactory manner.
What transpired in those years of peace after the war in Valm? Why would Robin betray him after so many years? Why did Plegia wait for so long while they could just as easily attack them immediately after Valm while their armies were weakened?
These was questions he needed to answer before he would do anything substantial, and he knew that there was only one who could help him find them…
''My Lord?''
Chrom felt a jolt across his body, he had not noticed Frederick had entered his pavilion.
''…The War Council is gathered and awaiting your presence, or shall I say that you have been delayed?''
Exalt Chrom could feel himself getting embarrassed, he had almost forgotten about it.
''No…It's fine Frederick, thank you. I'll be there shortly.''
The War Council was held inside a large tavern outside of Port Ferox. It had been precured for this occasion and had been cleared for all of it usual patrons. A large round table had been placed in the middle of the main room with Chrom's seat being placed closest to the fire. To his right sat his tactician Robin, to his left was Khan Flavia who in turn had the former head Khan Basilio to her left. Both Khan's would participate in this war, bringing with them around twenty thousand soldiers. The people of Ferox had been steadfast allies of Ylisse for many years, and Chrom was happy to fight with them once more.
And then there was another presence of one he would prefer to do without…
The Plegian representative; Aversa, who had seated herself besides Robin, much to the formers discomfort. An attractive woman, dark skinned and with white hair like his tactician. She wore a revealing outfit common amongst the dark mages of Plegia. It left little to the imagination, showing much of her cleavage and her dress (if you could even call it that) barely covered her lower parts. It was almost amusing to see that Robin seemed to take great effort to not stare at her directly, or maybe he was just annoyed at her flirty attitude? Apparently, something about Robin made him irresistible towards plegian women. It was not the first time that he attracted such attentions.
Nevertheless, despite the unprofessionalism of their representative, Plegia had a right to be in this council given how they would fund this entire endeavour.
A common enemy made for strange bedfellows, the Conqueror Walhart had vowed to exterminate all kinds of worships of Gods and intended to place himself in the pedestal. At this Plegia had voiced their intent to join the war effort on the side of their former adversaries.
Normally this should be cause for celebrations; A former foe casting past enmity aside to combat a common threat. However, Plegia would not support this war with any soldiers like Ferox. Instead, they had declared that they would backing this war by footing the bill and lending them their fleet.
In other words, this war would be fought with Ylisse and Ferox blood and Plegia gold.
Chrom did not trust them. He would not trust anyone that would not bleed for him as he would for them, and he was wary if the Plegians intended to use this war to indirectly weaken Ylisse, but still…
Wars had the habit of draining a ruinous amount of gold, and it that regard Plegia could very well pay the highest price of them all.
However, Chrom was not so foolish as to leave his homeland defenceless. He had seen to it that much of the Ylissean army was still stationed at home. Nearly half of his army in Ferox was in fact not Ylissean levies, but sellswords and mercenaries, paid with the gold that Plegia had supplied him. If the Plegians insisted on paying for the entire war, he would see to it that they did.
Despite what people thought of him, he could also play underhanded.
At the opposite of Chrom stood captain of the Pegasus-knights Cordelia, who was currently giving them a briefing about her scouts' findings. She was one of Chrom's most gifted soldier nearly on par with Robin in some fields. One of the few survivors of the original cadre of Pegasus Riders from the war against Plegia, she had nearly singlehandedly rebuilt the Pegasus Riders of Ylisse during their time of peace. A reserved woman, she always seemed hesitant to speak to Chrom whenever they were in a private setting, but she spoke well enough with his wife or anyone else for that matter.
Maybe I'm not that much of an interesting person for her.
Whatever her opinion of him, Chrom valued her highly as a fellow member of the Shepards.
''The main fleet of the Valmanese has been sighted. Hundreds of transport ships sailing in thigh formations, each filled to the brim with men in heavy armour, some ships even carry horses.''
''How many soldiers do you estimate that they have?''
''Hard to say…more could be hiding down deck. Sixty thousand? Maybe fifty? It's clear however that all of them are professionals given their equipment.''
Either way that was troubling news, Chrom estimated that they might win in a direct fight, but it would be by a narrow margin, and it might rob them of any ability to invade Valm itself. Worse most of his soldiers were lightly armoured in comparison; few had heavy plate, most were armed with spears and some padded leather at most.
The two khans seemed to come two the same conclusion too, but if they had any doubts, they did not show it. Instead putting up some boasting words as it was custom for their people.
''Let them land! We'll then kick them back to the sea as we did with their vanguard!''
That was Chrom's immediate thought too. It would be suicide to engage the Valmanese in the sea, given how their troops were of superior quality. But if they were to land, maybe the Feroxi and Ylisseans could use their superior knowledge of the land to outflank them…
Chrom shook his head, but then again, he remembered facing the vanguard of the Valmanese. They had just been five thousand. Yet they still gave Ferox and Ylissean much grief, and it had not been easy for even his tactician to outmanoeuvre their foe.
Before he could voice his concern, Robin burst out laughing.
''HAHAHA This must be the greatest gift the Valmanese have given us! Sixty thousand of their most elite fighters all wrapped up for us to take down in a single swop!''
Everyone, except Aversa, looked at the tactician as if he had gone mad. Chrom quickly gathered himself.
''R-robin? What are you talking about? How can that be funny?''
Robin laughter had now been reduced to little snickers, he turned towards Chrom; his eyes was filled with an almost childish glee.
''Don't you see? Their general is an idiot! Ships sailing in close formation? Men clad in heavy plate in deep seas? They clearly don't have any idea on how to wage a sea-battle.''
Robin leaned back.
''Cordelia, you said that your scouts were not engaged?''
''Yes sir, I did find it strange, as they did have some riders but…''
Robin finished her sentence.
''They did not pursue; I believe that there is a very good reason for that. Their general wants us to see them and he wants us to be afraid and give up engaging him at sea. He's vulnerable out there. The valmanese lost most of their warships with their vanguard. Their ships are mainly just transports and their general most likely sails his ships in tight formation since his people are inexperienced at sea.''
He continued.
''No, we shall not be intimidated by their little display. If those fools are so eager to die, then we must be the good host and indulge them. Their little seaborne parade shall be their grave!''
Khan Flavia smiled in approval.
''Well-spoken lad, and I guess that you have a plan up in that little head of yours?''
Robin made a confident nod and turned towards Aversa.
''My plan would require that we sacrifice half of your ships, would that be tolerable?''
The look Aversa gave his tactician was one filled with adoration, Chrom could not see Robin's expression, but he had no doubt that it was uncomfortable. Robin was not a womanizer by nature, he could be courteous with women, but he had always been averse whenever the women at court had made any romantic approaches.
''Oh, my lord you have but to ask! Our fleet is yours to command.''
The way she said it sounded sickly sweet. Robin continued without given any sign of noticing.
''And oil…Enough to fill the hull of half of the ships.''
With this everyone at the table realized the tactician's plan. As usual Robin never failed to come up with a plan against overwhelming odds. Some details still needed to be worked out, but with this plan they could once again minimize their own casualties, while their foe would suffer horrendously.
Chrom owed much to his tactician, and he loathed how he needed to keep a suspicious eye on his best friend, but he hoped that all this would be cleared when they arrived to Valm.
Naga had set all this in motion by sending his daughter back in time, it would only be fair that he seek her out for answers by finding her voice.
Her only living conduit in the mortal plane; Her own daughter: Tiki.
Thank you all for reading ^^ Next chapter will be from Lucina's point of view again.