CHAPTER 288: GENERAL

The military headquarters occupied a massive stone building at the heart of the capital’s government district.

Despite the late hour, activity buzzed throughout the complex as officers coordinated defensive preparations and processed intelligence reports from the various fronts.

General Chen was a man in his fifties whose weathered face and numerous scars spoke of a lifetime spent in active military service.

He looked up from a table covered in maps and reports as Grim entered his office.

"Lord Ambrose. His Majesty sent word that you would be coming. I understand you’ve made quite an impression during your journey here."

"General. I’ve had some success against the elves, but nothing that changes the big picture."

"Thirty dead elves in three days suggests otherwise." General Chen gestured to a chair across from his desk. "Please, sit. We have much to discuss."

Grim settled into the offered chair. His eyes immediately drew to the detailed maps spread across the general’s desk.

Red markers indicated elven positions, while blue showed Yanyu forces. The pattern was clear even at a glance.

The blue markers were vastly outnumbered and increasingly isolated.

"How bad is the situation really?"

"Worse than what we’ve told the court. We estimate three thousand elven forces have crossed our borders in the past two weeks. Our eastern defenses have collapsed entirely, and they’re pushing toward the capital along multiple routes."

"Three thousand. That’s a full-scale invasion."

"Exactly. Which makes your rescue mission both more urgent and more dangerous." General Chen pointed to several red markers in the eastern hills. "The elves aren’t just operating with small groups anymore. They’ve established major encampments here, here, and here."

Grim studied the positions carefully. The encampments formed a rough triangle around a central valley, with each position supporting the others.

"Coordinated defense. They’re planning to hold their position."

"Our assessment as well. And somewhere in that triangle, they’re holding the captured prisoners."

"What’s your current military strength?"

"Two thousand regulars in the capital, another eight hundred scattered across the remaining frontier posts. We’ve lost nearly half our forces in the past month."

Grim was quiet for a moment as he processed the numbers. Three thousand elves against less than three thousand humans, with the elves holding superior positions and having the initiative.

"You need reinforcements."

"Obviously. But our neighboring kingdoms are dealing with their own problems. The elven invasion isn’t limited to our borders."

"What about the Celestis Empire?"

General Chen raised an eyebrow. "What about them?"

"I have allies there. People who would respond to a call for assistance if it came through proper channels."

"Lord Ambrose, with all due respect, the Celestis Empire has no formal alliance with our kingdom. Why would they send military aid to a foreign war?"

"Because this isn’t just a foreign war anymore." Grim leaned forward, his expression becoming more intense. "If the elves succeed here, where do you think they’ll strike next?"

General Chen considered this argument while studying the maps. "You’re suggesting we request imperial assistance?"

"I’m suggesting you send a formal message to Empress Alexia explaining the situation and requesting aid. Include detailed intelligence about elven force strength and capabilities. Make it clear that this is a threat to regional stability, not just a local conflict."

"And you believe the empress would respond favorably?"

"I know she would consider it seriously. Especially if the request came with my personal endorsement."

"Your endorsement carries that much weight?"

"More than you might expect. But beyond political considerations, I have allies in the empire who would want to be involved in a fight like this."

General Chen set down his pen and looked directly at Grim. "What kind of allies?"

"Cultivators."

"How many people are we talking about?"

"Perhaps a couple hundred individuals, but each one worth a dozen regular soldiers in combat effectiveness."

"That’s... significant."

"It would be."

General Chen was quiet for several minutes as he considered the implications. "Lord Ambrose, are you proposing to turn a local conflict into an international war?"

"I’m proposing to prevent this local conflict from becoming an international war by ending it quickly and decisively."

"There’s a difference?"

"Timing. If we act now, while the elven forces are still concentrated and exposed, we can crush them before they establish permanent positions. If we wait, they’ll have time to dig in, bring in additional forces, and expand their operations to neighboring kingdoms."

"You make a compelling argument. But I can’t authorize international military cooperation without imperial approval."

"Then get imperial approval. Send the message tonight. Include everything; force estimates, tactical assessments, and intelligence about elven objectives. Make it clear that time is critical."

"And what will you be doing while we wait for a response?"

"Hunting elves. Gathering intelligence on their positions and strength. Hopefully finding and rescuing Lady Levenhart and the other prisoners before they’re moved beyond our reach."

General Chen spread out a more detailed map of the eastern hills. "These are our best estimates of elven encampment positions. This valley here seems to be their primary staging area."

Grim studied the indicated location. "How recent is this intelligence?"

"Two days old at most. We lost contact with our forward scouts after they reported increased activity in that region."

General Chen reached into a desk drawer and withdrew a small scroll sealed with the imperial seal.

"This grants you full military authority to act in the emperor’s name. Any Yanyu forces you encounter are ordered to provide whatever assistance you require."

"Appreciated."

"Lord Ambrose, I need to ask, what are your chances of success? Realistically?"

Grim was quiet for a moment. "Against the forces I’ve encountered so far? Very good. But if they have high-ranking officers with them, as the emperor suggested, then it becomes more difficult."

"How much more difficult?"

"Unknown. I’ve never fought elven nobility or their elite military units. My experience is limited to raiders and slavers."

"That’s... honest."

"It’s the truth. But I have advantages they won’t expect."

"Your sword?"

"Among other things. I’ve spent considerable effort preparing for exactly this kind of conflict."

General Chen nodded slowly. "Very well. I’ll send the message to Empress Alexia tonight. How long do you need to prepare for your reconnaissance mission?"

"I leave within the hour."

"That soon?"

"Every hour we delay gives them more time to move prisoners or reinforce their positions. Speed is more important than extensive preparation."

"What supplies do you need?"

"Nothing you can provide that I don’t already have. But I want that message sent to the empire immediately, and I want a response team ready to move as soon as reinforcements arrive."

"Done."

Grim stood and studied the map one final time, memorizing positions and terrain. "General, when you write to the empress, include one specific request."

"Which is?"

"Tell her to send Chen Xing and Shen Lao if they’re available. They know my fighting style and can coordinate effectively with whatever else I’m doing."

"I’ll include that in the message."

"Good. If everything goes according to plan, we should have this resolved within the week."

"And if everything doesn’t go according to plan?"

Grim gathered the scattered ears from his belt and placed them on the general’s desk. "Then you’ll have a much larger collection of elven ears to show for the effort."

General Chen stared at the grisly trophies. "Lord Ambrose, I hope you understand what you’re walking into."

"I do. The question is whether the elves understand what’s walking into them."

With that, Grim left the military headquarters and began making his final preparations for the journey into the eastern hills.

Behind him, General Chen was already composing a message that would either bring powerful allies to their aid or drag the entire region into a larger conflict.

Either way, the war was about to escalate significantly.

--

An hour later, Grim rode through the capital’s eastern gates into the darkness. The moon was shining bright on Grim and he had a wide smile.

His horse’s hooves echoed hollowly on the cobblestones as he passed through the final checkpoint, where guards saluted him with the respect due to someone carrying imperial authority.

The road stretched ahead into territory that had been peaceful farming country just weeks ago.

Now it was a war zone where elven raiders moved freely and human settlements had been abandoned or destroyed.

"Thirty more ears before dawn," Grim said to himself as he spurred his horse to a faster pace.

The hunting season had officially begun.

[Ready to collect more trophies?] Caius asked with dark amusement.

"Always," Grim replied. "But this time, we’re hunting for information as much as kills. Finding Lianna is the priority."

[And if she’s already been moved somewhere you can’t get to?]

"Then the elves will discover exactly why crossing me was a mistake they’ll never have the chance to repeat."

The eastern hills loomed in the distance, dark shapes against the star-filled sky.

"Caius, how do I get Luna to answer me appropriately?"

[She’s a little finicky. Your going to have to smooth talk your way to her.]