When preparing for war, a general does not inform the troops or even the captains of the entirety of the plan.
This isn't done out of malice, or an underlying attempt to lose the war, but rather, for the opposite reason.
In leadership, there was the concept of compartmentalization.
Keeping information in little bits and distributing them accordingly when necessary. That way, the troops were not overwhelmed by the complexity of the general's plans but concentrated on the single task they had been assigned.
Certainly, in war, some soldiers were going to be sent to their deaths.
However, if an all-powerful and benevolent strategist was the one who took command, wouldn't it be reasonably expected by the troops that victory was assured?
Using all of this as a reference to the current situation, I could see why Neron did not see a supposed error in his plan.
