The air in the command post slowly began to flow again. Major Thomas and Captain Hauser exchanged glances, both seeing the same emotion in the other’s reaction: they had struck gold.
This young Second Lieutenant before them was not just quick-witted and adaptable; his professional capability was surprisingly strong, surpassing even some veterans who had served for years. Even setting aside his excellent performance in the morning’s battle, the intelligence and evidence he had brought back from this deep penetration behind enemy lines were far more valuable than either of them had anticipated. Not to mention, the morning’s battle couldn’t really be set aside.
At this point, Major Thomas’s view of Morin had shifted from mere appreciation to unconcealed admiration and respect. Meanwhile, Captain Hauser looked as if he were staring at a breathtaking beauty—metaphorically speaking, of course.
“Ahem.” Major Thomas cleared his throat, interrupting Hauser’s intense gaze, and turned to Morin. “Second Lieutenant Morin, please mark the intelligence you gathered on the map.”
“Yes, sir.” Morin didn’t hesitate for a moment, taking the pencil offered by a staff non-commissioned officer.
He didn’t immediately begin drawing on the large command map. Instead, he first pulled out a small, hard-cover notebook and a folded map from his uniform’s inner pocket. This was his own ‘backup.’ Morin was not one to put all his eggs in one basket, so he didn’t fully trust that his ‘Cheat Code’ system wouldn’t fail. Following Saxon Army map-marking protocols, he had already transcribed the crucial information from the system map during the reconnaissance. This action perfectly explained how he could recall such complex intelligence, preventing unnecessary suspicion. After all, if he had flawlessly reproduced a large enemy deployment out of thin air, Major Thomas and the others would likely have suspected he was fabricating it.
Morin spread out his map and notebook, then began marking the larger operations map in the command post with his pencil. His map-marking skills were excellent, both before and after his transmigration. Red symbols representing enemy strongpoints and troop assembly areas quickly took shape under his pen.
As the red markings accumulated on the map, Major Thomas and the others’ expressions grew increasingly grim. When Morin marked the Aetherium Crystal Cannon emplacements on the high ground, everyone fell silent. Senior officers knew that the Britannians’ Aetherium Crystal Cannons had a range of about 4,500 meters. Deployed in the positions Morin marked, they covered most of the area where their offensive was planned, and the destructive power of Aetherium Crystal Cannons against massed infantry was absolute.
When Morin finished all his markings, the battalion officers gathered around the map, speechless for a long time. The defense of Seville by the Aragon Royal Army and the Britannian Expeditionary Force was far tighter and more challenging than they had anticipated.
Major Thomas stared at the map, his brow tightly furrowed. After a while, he finally looked up at Morin. Morin knew it was his turn to speak.
“Sir, I believe we should not rush to launch the offensive.” His voice was low but remarkably clear in the quiet command post. “The enemy’s posture is very clear: they have pulled back their defenses and are relying on the city and those Aetherium Crystal Cannons to force us into a direct clash.”
Morin’s finger traced the densely marked red area on the map. “If we rashly attack now, even if we eventually take Seville, the casualties for us and our allies will be immense! Furthermore, once the enemy mounts an effective counter-attack, whether we can hold the city is an open question.”
His words were well-reasoned and logical. Any rational commander, after seeing this map, would be forced to seriously consider this possibility.
Major Thomas’s expression confirmed he was persuaded. Morin pressed his advantage, adding, “Sir, after the battle this morning, I trust you don’t want the troops to repeat that costly lesson!”
This final statement was highly effective.
Of course, Morin’s lengthy persuasion was not purely for grand tactical considerations. He had his own selfish reasons. Having personally seen Seville’s defenses, he knew the upcoming siege would be an absolute meat grinder. He had no intention of sacrificing his life for the glory of the Saxon Empire. Are you crazy? Who would risk their life for a country they transmigrated to less than 24 hours ago? The later they fought, the better. Not fighting at all would be ideal. His current goal was to do everything in his power to postpone this attack, which was almost certainly guaranteed to cause a mountain of corpses.
“You’re right…” After a long pause, Major Thomas finally spoke, sighing heavily. He was convinced by Morin but wore an expression of helplessness. “But Second Lieutenant Morin, I am only a Battalion Commander. Whether or not we attack is not my decision.”
He paced back and forth in the command post a few times, then finally made up his mind. “You will come with me. We’re going to Regimental Command, then Brigade Command!” Major Thomas lightly punched the map. “Whether we can convince the Colonel and the Brigadier is another matter, but at the very least, they must know the true situation in Seville right now!” He looked at Morin, his expression more solemn than ever. “Prepare yourself. We leave immediately!”
Soon after, Major Thomas selected a few skilled riders as escorts, and with Morin, the group galloped toward the Brigade Headquarters in the rear.
Hooves flew and dust swirled. By the time Morin and Major Thomas reached the Regimental Command of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, it was already dusk. They wasted no time. After finding the Regimental Commander, Major Thomas immediately summarized the severity of the situation. The Regimental Commander of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, after listening to the report and examining the evidence Morin had brought back, also looked extremely grim. He made a snap decision to personally accompany the two of them to the Headquarters of the 16th Infantry Brigade, located in the camp’s core area.
The atmosphere in the Brigade Command tent was serious. When Morin once again stood before the large operations map, he noticed that this brigade-level map was far more detailed than the one at the battalion level. Moreover, a few scattered red enemy symbols were already marked on the outskirts of Seville, indicating that they were not the only reconnaissance team sent forward.
In front of the Brigadier, the Brigade Staff, and liaison officers from the National Army and the International Brigades, Morin once again demonstrated his excellent map-marking skills, annotating the intelligence he had gathered piece by piece. He then provided a detailed account of everything he had witnessed in Seville, from the enemy’s defense deployment and the presence of Aetherium Crystal Cannons to the poor discipline of the enemy soldiers. Finally, he reiterated his suggestion, urging the command to seriously consider postponing the offensive.
(End of Chapter 26)