Chapter 844: Operation Dried Fish

Tuge takes out another document. "These are rainfall surveys for the whole region from previous years."

"High-ranking spellcasters from the empire and the church have surveyed the area in person. They've assessed what will happen if the enemy uses a spell to affect rainfall over an area this large."

"The river-bandit army's high-ranking spellcasters will be weakened for a time after casting it."

"More importantly, the extra rain doesn't come from nowhere."

"The spell draws vast quantities of water vapor from the surrounding areas. The downpour will be fierce, but brief."

"Then comes a long period of drought!"

"The river-bandit army making the breakthrough will be trapped in that dry region. We'll wipe them out there."

The officers study the deadly water-control works on the model, then look at Tuge with mixed feelings.

What a ruthless plan!

Tuge goes on. "Now, the deployments!"

"Once they're trapped, I'll take the Cross Scythe Legion and the Lumir Eleventh Legion to block both flanks."

"Peace Haven's two warbands will cut off their retreat."

"The Mobile Strike Group's three warbands must hold the area between Palm Tree Lake and the Leo River."

"Their breakthrough force includes many extraordinary calamity creatures and many powerful combatants."

"They won't abandon it lightly. They'll send heavy reinforcements to rescue it, and powerful combatants to destroy the water-control works diverting the Leo River."

"Professionals from the empire and the church will stop the ones sent to destroy those works."

"The Mobile Strike Group's three warbands will ambush the reinforcements coming to relieve the trapped force. You cannot let them enter the Leo River."

Tuge looks around the room. "This plan has been kept secret. Only now are you being told about it."

"Until now, no one carrying out a stage knew the purpose of his task. He had no way to leak the plan."

"Once we begin, the first defensive line will act with us. The troops there have set a trap too, ready for the enemy's counterattack to rescue this force."

"Time is on our side. We don't need a quick victory. We need to draw this out. The longer it lasts, the better for us."

Tuge turns to Pabos and the other commanders. "We must keep the plan secret. The river bandits are strong around Palm Tree Lake, and they have plenty of infiltrators."

"We can't mobilize troops from nearby, let alone move a large force into the area. That would put them on guard."

"Their counterattack will be fierce. Only elite troops can hold that position."

"That's why we need you, coming from farther away, to block their reinforcements."

"Each extra minute you hold them off makes our fight easier."

"I need to know how long you can stop them!"

"How many reinforcements will they send?" Dimir asks. "And will we have reinforcements of our own?"

"Of course. Once the enemy is trapped, three legions nearby will march toward your position."

"But the rain will slow them down. Even an optimistic estimate puts their arrival at five days."

"The enemy won't send large numbers, but the troops will certainly be elite."

"The subterranean waterways are too small to move a large army through quickly."

"We estimate their reinforcements at twenty thousand, coming in a steady stream."

Whistler asks, "What about our supplies? Do we have any defensive works?"

Tuge shakes his head. "No defensive works. We need elite troops because you'll be fighting in the open!"

"You needn't worry about supplies. We have several defensive fortresses in the area."

"They've been destroyed and abandoned, but we sealed large stocks of supplies beneath them long ago."

"There is enough to supply all three of your warbands for a month!"

Pabos asks another question. "For the best result, how many days after they're trapped should you launch the encirclement attack?"

Tuge looks at Pabos and hesitates. "Ten days!"

Pabos gives a slight nod. "We'll hold for at least fifteen days!"

Tuge says, "Pabos, there's no need to hold that long..."

Pabos shakes his head. "Of course there is. From these deployments, the surrounding legions will need at least ten days to close in."

"Then you'll need another five days at least to organize the troops and finalize the battle plan."

"Our men will be rested; theirs will be exhausted. We shouldn't have much trouble."

"You said it yourself, General Tuge. They won't send a large army, mainly elite troops in piecemeal attacks."

"And the Mobile Strike Group was formed to strike at the calamity creatures' elite forces!"

"If we can, we'll wear down as many of their elite troops as possible."

"That will help the whole campaign. Our sacrifices won't be for nothing!"

The young man's eyes are sharp, his expression calm. The officers marvel at Henwell's good fortune: even his heir is this capable.

The conference lasts another full day as they settle the details and contingency plans.

Three days later, Pabos and the others reach a city near Palm Tree Lake. They pretend to be passing through on their way to reinforce the first defensive line.

Even if the river bandits' infiltrators nearby report the three warbands, the bandits' commanders are unlikely to care.

These are three cavalry warbands. In the coming downpour, cavalry will be all but useless.

They rest for another two days. By then, the change in the weather is unmistakable.

The stifling heat promises a downpour.

A day later, the rain pours down.

Outside, the rain cuts visibility to almost nothing. Everyone grows tense.

It pours for a full day and night. Inside and outside the city, the water rises past knee height.

At midnight, a coded message arrives through extraordinary communication.

They know the Subterranean River Bandits have begun to assemble.

Fifteen hours later, the rain still falls. The Subterranean River Bandits use it as cover to surge into the Leo River.

Another coded message arrives through extraordinary communication every hour. The scouts risk their lives to report the bandits' movements.

The report comes: the bandits have breached the bank at the designated point and entered the old river channel, just as planned. Pabos clenches his fists until his knuckles whiten.

Another two days pass. Word comes through extraordinary communication that the Leo River has been successfully cut off and diverted. All three warband commanders pound the table in excitement.

"What a brilliant plan!" Whistler exclaims.

Dimir laughs. "The Subterranean River Bandits are going to suffer badly this time!"

Pabos takes a deep breath to steady himself. "According to the plan, we leave for our designated sector in ten hours!"

"For now, brief the entire force on the Dried Fish plan and get ready for battle!"

Ten hours later, the downpour has eased. The rain is still heavy.

The Mobile Strike Group's three warbands set out on foot, without their horses. They wade through muddy water a foot deep toward their assigned combat sector.