Capítulo 1514: Chapter 60: Siege (Part 30)_2
“Nor would we have persevered to this day under unfavorable initial conditions.”
With his brow deeply furrowed, Winters muttered, “However, the information that ‘the enemy has only four battalions’ — the premise of all our actions — originated from the enemy itself, which is very suspicious.”
Mason fell into contemplation, biting his nail as he stared at the slope of the river dike, instinctively nodding his head.
Unable to get effective feedback from his senior, Winters turned to the second battalion commander and asked, “What do you think, Bart?”
Bart Xialing, who had been listening attentively on the side, clearly did not expect to be called upon.
But instead of being at a loss, Bart Xialing took a moment to organize his words before speaking steadily.
“I think you’re right,” Bart Xialing initially agreed, then suddenly shifted his tone and posed a dangerous question to his centurion, “But is it possible that, at the root of it, your doubts and unease are because — you oppose the siege of Kingsfort?”
Upon hearing this, Mason stopped biting his nails and looked at Winters.
Winters laughed in disbelief, “So you’re saying that because I oppose the siege of Kingsfort, I’m finding various reasons to be suspicious of everything?”
“That’s not entirely what I mean,” Bart Xialing’s attitude was humble yet firm, “but it’s close to what I mean.”
This statement immediately struck Mason as somewhat excessive.
People’s impression of Winters Montagne tended to be this: the further away they are, the more they find the “Blood of the Wolf” terrifying; the closer they get, the more they find His Excellency Montaigne amiable.
However, at the proximity Richard Mason was at, the perception was different again.
The longer and more intimately they interacted, the more Mason realized — through all the storms, Winters Montagne had never lost his fiery temper; that terrifying fury had never subsided, it was just that the “Blood Wolf” had buried it, releasing it only towards enemies.
So, Mason coughed lightly and, unusually, hardened his expression to reprimand, “Captain Xialing, mind your words.”
Bart Xialing immediately saluted, bowing his head.
The spot where the three stood fell into a suffocating silence. It wasn’t just Bart Xialing; even Mason felt pricks on his back.
After a while, Winters let out a long sigh, and the other two finally relaxed their tense nerves.
Winters, somewhat dejected, still openly admitted, “Bart is right… I can’t lie to myself, I truly oppose the current siege of Kingsfort from the bottom of my heart.”
Mason exclaimed with surprise and raised his eyebrows, asking, “Didn’t you just express a reserved attitude towards Brigadier Skur’s judgment?”
“I do hold a reserved attitude towards Brigadier Skur’s judgment,” Winters replied softly, “but my opposition to the current siege of Kingsfort is not based on Brigadier Skur’s reasons.”
“Then what is it based on?” Mason couldn’t hide his curiosity.
Winters was silent for a moment, “I can’t bear to see my people die in a place like this.”
Mason, and Bart Xialing as well, both felt a tremor in their hearts.
Gazing into the darkness where Magit Island swallowed one vibrant life after another, Winters reflected, “So many warriors who journeyed all the way here didn’t need to sacrifice themselves here. They were meant to become the backbone of the New Republic army, the heart of the New Republic, not to be wasted in trenches.”
“Kingsfort is just a solitary fortress; there are obviously better ways to overcome it. What does it matter if we leave it to the United Provincials? As long as we capture Westwood Province, Eastern Forest Province, Northern Foothills Province, and draw more strength from the Kingdom of Galloping Horses, taking firm and steady steps — Kingsfort will be ours sooner or later.”
Mason lowered his head. He knew Winters wasn’t criticizing him, but the feelings of self-blame still overwhelmed him.
“In war, people die,” Bart Xialing said calmly, “We understand this, and your soldiers understand this, Centurion.”
“But right now, at this moment, in these unsuitable, inadequate, and unreliable conditions, launching a forceful attack on Kingsfort is not a military consideration, but because of damn politics.”
“Because Magash Colvin marches victoriously through the Northern Foothills Province;
“Because Gessa Adonis doesn’t want Magash Colvin to advance further, we have to capture Kingsfort before Magash Colvin’s triumphant return;”
“Because I allowed them to do so, allowed them to place their personal interests above the lives of others.”
For the first time, Mason saw “pain” on Winters’ face.
“Pain” he had seen many times. But “suffering,” it was his first time seeing it.
He realized that Winters was more self-reproachful than he was.
“I once thought I had chosen the right path,” Winters said sadly, “but now I regret it.”
“If you had chosen another path,” Bart Xialing calmly retorted, “people would still have sacrificed, possibly even more.”
“Are you making excuses for me?” Winters pursed his lips, “Bart Xialing.”
“No, I am your subordinate, I am not qualified to make excuses for you,” Bart Xialing’s expression was serious and solemn, “I just want to tell you that I have never blamed you. I wanted to say that no one blames you. But I don’t know what others think. I only know that I understand and accept my fate. I volunteered to fight for you, no matter where you lead us, no matter when death comes—even if it’s in the next second, I won’t regret it, much less blame you. So you don’t need to blame yourself, you just need to guide us.”
“Fate is not a thing,” Winters said.
“Yes, it is,” Bart Xialing’s attitude was as always, humble but firm.
Winters repeated, “No, it’s not.”
Bart Xialing remained silent, but it was clear he hadn’t changed his mind, just didn’t want to argue with the Blood Wolf anymore.
“Then,” Mason asked, “what should we do next? Should we withdraw the troops? Should we go south or west?”
“Even a poor strategy must be followed through,” Winters’ gaze had become resolute again, “A blind withdrawal, just as you said—it would mean all the blood, all the sweat, were in vain. Therefore, I need to land on the island first, go to the frontline, and see it with my eyes before deciding.”
“You may land on the island,” Mason became suddenly anxious, “but we’ve all agreed, you’re not allowed to fight.”
“Alright,” Winters nodded.
“Absolutely not,” Mason emphasized.
Winters nodded again.
Mason was almost on the verge of tears, “You can’t afford any mistakes now, why don’t you understand?”
“I understand,” Winters looked at his senior, “I promise.”
Mason hesitated to speak.
Winters turned to look at the second battalion commander, “As for your question… you’re right, I oppose the current siege of Kingsfort. However, I am convinced that my doubts and unease are not because I oppose the siege of Kingsfort.”
“That means the intelligence is indeed questionable,” Bart Xialing nodded decisively, “It must have been deliberately given to us by the enemy.”
This time, it was Winters who was left speechless.
“If it were Tamas, he would just say ‘yes,'” Winters feigned anger, scolding: “You rascal, no wonder you are the second battalion commander.”
Bart Xialing held his head high: “But only under your command could I become the ‘second battalion commander.’
Winters was utterly defeated.
After a while, he looked at the night over Magit Island and muttered to himself: “I don’t know how to explain it to you.”
“I don’t understand Jansen Cornelius’s command style, my understanding of him is as little as his understanding of me.”
“But this feeling is like a spot of ink on a blank piece of parchment, no matter how you try to erase it, it’s still there, making every inch of skin, every tendon, every bone itch…”
Hearing Winters’ description, Mason also felt a vague discomfort.
And Bart Xialing wore a serious face, nodding repeatedly.
As they spoke, a sentry from the River Dike stooped and jogged over from the south.
Seeing the sentry’s figure, Winters, Mason, and Bart Xialing all stood up.
The sentry’s steps were light, making hardly any sound, and he came to Bart Xialing’s side, whispering a few words.
Bart Xialing nodded, turned to look at the Centurion.
“The boat has arrived,” he said.