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20240327 Crisis Post
echoes of a shattered legacy - XV

“Retreat.”

“Sire?”

Jiro glares at the blood coating his right arm, wishing all of his woes to be felt by his oppressors. As adrenaline course through his body, the stab wound he received from a very lucky man felt dull. The red fluid felt warm to his skin and Jiro felt like there was a lecture in there somewhere by his father, but he paid the nagging voice no mind.

He leveled a cool stare, just barely contained rage within, and spoke once more, “Order the retreat. We cannot win this fight anymore. We need to fall back.”

The random grunt visibly gulped, obviously shocked at the order. The indomitable Jiro Naganohara was issuing a defeat? For those uninitiated, this was very unexpected and unbecoming. But for those in the know, it was a calculated retreat. But it was also a gamble. A very risky gamble. Jiro could only hope those old geezers have their brain cells so deteriorated that they would fall into his palms and dance. But anyway, that is a problem for the future. For now, he needs to take care of his festering wound and fast.

A horn sounded, and it appears that most were left in shock. The signal didn’t come from the defender’s side. Instead it was from the attackers who was being led by Jiro Naganohara himself. Those men began to cheer and hurl insults. Some chose to run at those who were retreating. Most chose to stay and be grateful though. Another day that they would get to live.

Jiro watched it all, from the faces of his army, to the boosted morale of his enemies. Soon, they wouldn’t be laughing. With one last look, he hoisted himself up and left. IF only these were trained soldiers, then they wouldn’t be making the fatal mistake of letting your opponents run away peacefully. But no matter, that will be dealt with once he regains his power.

All around him, the men were in various moods of alarmed and discouraged. Such is the concept of a retreat. Ideas began to formulate once more, thinking of possible ways to energize his battle-worn and defeated army. A vacation? Well, if it were not in a civil war, it would be possible. More drill exercises would be unsuccessful, or even downright horrible. There was nothing he could think of in the moment that could seem plausible. It truly seemed bleak.

The next news, however, proved to be quite a challenge in making those ideas come true. Wonyu Kamimoto’s siege against the Fujiwara lands was also unsuccessful. A disastrous combination, one that would surely be a devastating blow to their own armies’ morale. And a disheartened army is not something to be taken lightly.

“This is bad.”

Wonyu, who could only be seen in a pensive mood after their defeat, sighed once more, “Perhaps we need a bigger push. After all, we are already near the finish line.”

“I suppose…” Jiro pauses, a wild thought forming in his head. Risky. Bold. But one that if successful, would bring them back into the fray. “I have an idea.”