With the announcement of an impending invasion of the Tidal Crown Empire, the country was working tirelessly to prepare. Factories were operating at full capacity, and the military was growing with each passing day. The recruitment efforts had yielded a total of 7,500 soldiers—the most they could manage in the given time. However, this was nowhere near the scale of the Tidal Crown's 30,000-strong army. The odds were stacked against them, yet the young prince, leading the charge, remained determined.
Despite the disparity in numbers, the prince had faith that innovation and strategy could turn the tide in their favor. The Tidal Crown army, armed with traditional bows and swords, would face an opponent wielding more modern weapons—crossbows with quicker reloading times and greater accuracy, cavalry, and most importantly, cannons. These would be the deciding factor, the prince was certain. Still, he knew that even with these advantages, invading the Tidal Crown Empire would be no easy feat, and casualties were inevitable.
As the invasion date loomed closer, the prince sat in his office, pouring over maps of the empire. He had a plan, but uncertainty lingered. A knock echoed through the room, and his general, Rock, entered, his voice tinged with a touch of regret.
"Your young prince, we've managed to build only seven cannons. We exhausted all available resources, and there is nothing more we can do at the moment."
The prince smiled reassuringly. "It's alright, Rock. I didn't expect to have dozens of cannons. Seven will suffice."
Rock looked up, his face lighting up with a grateful expression. "Thank you, young prince." Then, his demeanor shifted to seriousness. "But… do you have a plan to invade Tidal Crown?"
The prince leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing. "I do, though I'm not certain it will succeed. Can you also bring Nightfang here? I'll need CSRW's assistance for this plan."
At the mention of Nightfang, the door creaked open again. Nightfang, a skilled assassin, leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed. "You called for me, Prince?"
The prince raised an eyebrow. "When did you enter my office without anyone noticing?"
Nightfang shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I'm an assassin, Your prince. Stealth is my specialty."
"I need your help," the prince said with a commanding tone. "I've devised a plan, but it requires your expertise. It's not complicated, but its success depends on speed and stealth. We will strike quickly and with precision, before they have a chance to retaliate."
Rock furrowed his brow. "How do you intend to do that, young Prince?"
The prince's voice dropped to a more confident, decisive tone. "Simple. We use our horses to our advantage."
Rock still looked perplexed. "Horses?"
The prince nodded. "Yes. The first step is to cause chaos within their ranks. Nightfang and CSRW will be pivotal in this. Nightfang, you will target the corrupt ministers. Assassinate them, sow chaos, and make sure there are explosions near their castles and key areas."
Nightfang's ears perked up. "Understood, young Prince."
The prince continued. "While that chaos unfolds, a smaller portion of our army will approach the Tidal Crown capital. We'll use our cannons to create more confusion, but we will not engage in battle. A small cavalry, protected by the cover of cannon fire and crossbow support, will charge directly towards the king's palace. The army will be engaged by the constant fire and the remaining force which are not on houses."
Rock and Nightfang exchanged a surprised glance. "But why bypass their army and go straight for the king?" Rock asked.
The prince's expression turned grim. "If we waste time fighting the enemy army, we risk being overpowered. The longer the battle goes on, the less chance we have of victory. We must checkmate the king directly. End the war before it has a chance to escalate."
Both men nodded in understanding. Nightfang bowed slightly. "As you command, Prince."
The prince's gaze grew colder, and he stood from his desk. "Prepare yourselves. If we win, our empire will rise, but if we fail, I will surrender myself. Now go."
Rock and Nightfang exchanged a silent look. Their prince's resolve was unwavering, and they understood the gravity of the situation. With a last nod, they turned and exited the office, each of them preparing for the battle that could either secure their future or bring about their downfall.