Guillaume’s march toward the Baldua Plains was plagued by challenges from the start.

“Clang!”  
“Ahhh!”  
“Maintain your spacing! Keep formation!”  

The conscripts, most of whom had received only the bare minimum of training, caused multiple incidents during the march. These accidents resulted in non-combat losses.  

“I-I don’t want to fight!”  
“Seize him!”  

Morale among the troops plummeted to such an extent that several soldiers attempted desertion. By the time the Brotan forces reached the Baldua Plains, their initial strength of 70,000 had dwindled to 65,000.  

---

In the midst of a subdued atmosphere, Guillaume convened his officers for a strategic meeting.  

“The Imperial Army appears to have deployed their forces in a linear formation, without any notable division of troops. I’d like to hear your thoughts on how we should counter them,” Guillaume said, addressing his officers.  

As the room filled with uneasy glances and whispered exchanges, Antoine Clavier stood up at Guillaume’s gesture.  

“The situation may change if they alter their formation, but I believe we should divide our forces into left, center, and right flanks.”  
“Hmm.”  

“We should place 35,000 troops, including a reserve force and 3,000 cavalry, in the center as our main strength. The left and right flanks should each consist of 15,000 troops to protect our sides.”  

Antoine proposed a conservative strategy, one frequently employed by the Brotan Army.  

“With the majority of our soldiers being conscripts and a shortage of officers to command them, maintaining a complex formation or executing advanced maneuvers would be impractical. The conscripts on the flanks should focus on defense, while the elite troops in the center confront the Imperial Army’s main force.”  

Guillaume rested his chin on his hand, his expression inscrutable as he watched Antoine present his plan.  

“Of course, to prevent the flanks from collapsing too quickly, some elite troops should be stationed there to support the conscripts and maintain the line.”  

“...”  

“The Imperial cavalry may outnumber ours two to one and surpass us in individual combat capabilities. Our 3,000 cavalry should remain as a reserve force to respond to any movements by the enemy, ensuring their attacks are contained.”  

Several veteran officers nodded in agreement, standing to voice their support for Antoine’s plan.  

---

Guillaume, however, scanned the room, observing both the officers supporting Antoine and those sitting with dissatisfied expressions. Then, he stood abruptly, the metallic clink of his armor echoing through the chamber.  

“...A cowardly suggestion, Duke Clavier.”  

Guillaume’s sharp tone cut through the room like a blade.  

Before anyone could react, Guillaume raised his voice to command the room.  

“Defense? Defense? Defense? What a joke. Have you forgotten our purpose here?”  

He paced with authority, his words seizing the attention of every officer present.  

“Saint-Toir, Aniak, Montpieu. Rochelle, Chêne, and Triel. These are all Brotan territories. And yet, you suggest defense? At a time when we should be driving out the enemy and reclaiming our land, you propose defense?”  

“My mention of defense was only for this specific engagement—”  
“Silence, Duke Clavier! You are not the commander of this army—I am!”  

“...”  

Guillaume’s forceful declaration stifled any attempt by Antoine to continue.  

“Bevis and Gaston failed for a simple reason—they were like you: timid and naive!”  

“Your Majesty, I—”  
“Divide the forces into three groups? Keep reserves in the rear to counter enemy movements? Do you think Bevis and Gaston didn’t know such basic strategies? Of course they did!”  

The officers who had been close to Bevis and Gaston flushed with anger at Guillaume’s harsh words, but none dared to speak out.  

“They lacked boldness! Had Gaston attacked despite facing an estimated 20,000 enemy troops, how might that battle have ended? If Bevis had acted swiftly upon discovering the Imperial Army’s exhaustion from their forced march, would the outcome have been different? Instead, they moved cautiously and predictably, allowing the enemy to dictate the flow of battle—and they lost!”  

Younger officers, frustrated by Antoine’s conservative stance, began to find inspiration in Guillaume’s fiery rhetoric.  

“Duke Clavier, do you truly believe the Imperial Army will fall for such an obvious strategy?”  
“...Then what strategy do you propose, Your Majesty?”  

Antoine’s voice trembled with suppressed frustration as he posed the question.  

“Swift and decisive action. We will form an *echelon formation* to crush the enemy center.”  

Guillaume unveiled an aggressive and daring plan.  

“We’ll position all 20,000 of our elite troops, fresh from their victory over Kaen, at the vanguard to break through the enemy’s central line.”  
“...!”  

“Once the center collapses, the conscripts following behind will have the simple task of annihilating the Imperial forces split in two. A role, Duke Clavier, even they can handle.”  

“The morale of these conscripts is dangerously low. Launching an offensive with them is highly risky!”  
“Their morale is low because they haven’t been allowed to fight, Duke Clavier! Under my direct command, they will not fail as Bevis and Gaston did!”  

“If the enemy threatens our flanks, we’ll struggle to defend them!”  
“If the Imperial Army adapts their formation, we won’t be able to respond in time!”  

Some officers voiced concerns about Guillaume’s plan, particularly its reliance on the conscripts and its exposure to counterattacks.  

---

However, the majority, desperate for a victory to reverse their streak of losses, rallied behind Guillaume’s vision.  

“This is the perfect opportunity to show our strength!”  
“If we annihilate this force, it will be our chance to reclaim the Vildorne River!”  
“His Majesty has succeeded where others failed. This is the difference between a victor and those like Bevis and Gaston!”  

Guillaume dismissed Antoine’s concerns with a confident wave of his hand.  

“Duke Clavier, you fear the Imperial Army too much. We are 65,000 strong, and they are a mere 40,000. Are you suggesting we can’t overcome them?”  

“Well, if they utilize their mobility to encircle us—”  
“Encircle us? With what troops? To encircle an army as large as ours, they’d need to spread themselves thin. Are you suggesting we couldn’t break through their weakened center?”  

“...”  

Antoine’s shoulders slumped, knowing Guillaume had already made up his mind.  

---

“Count Berto, you will lead the vanguard.”  
“With honor, Your Majesty!”  

“And who will command the cavalry supporting the breakthrough?”  
“I, Damien Lelouche, volunteer for the task!”  
“Good. Prepare the troops!”  

Ignoring Antoine’s protests, Guillaume’s bold and dangerous strategy was set in motion.  

---

“Relay this to the soldiers: we march and attack as soon as preparations are complete!”  

“Yes, Your Majesty!”  

Antoine sank into his chair, defeated, as Guillaume coordinated the deployment with a commanding presence that seemed to exude victory.  

To Antoine, however, Guillaume’s confidence looked like the brilliant but fleeting glow of a candle about to be snuffed out.  

---

“Enemy forces are advancing quickly. It appears they’ve adopted an echelon formation, with elite troops at the vanguard.”  
“An echelon, huh... Guillaume is drawing his sword.”  

Despite expecting Brotan to adopt a defensive posture like Bevis had, Guillaume’s aggressive maneuver caught the Imperial command off guard.  

“...So they’ve chosen offense. What now?”  
“We fight them head-on.”  

Gerhardt turned to Viktor with a knowing glance.  

“Well then, Deputy Commander, what’s your strategy?”  

Without hesitation, Viktor stepped forward.  

“We’ll win.”  

As he spoke, Viktor’s mind conjured the image of one of history’s greatest tacticians, Hannibal Barca, and his legendary battle.