We came back tired, with dirty faces, each deep in thought. The look of every soldier after the battle, whether that soldier was a winner or a loser, revealed only one thing, horror. Of course, all that was completely obvious even now, especially since my platoon was made up exclusively of new guys - whom this was the first battle ever. I suffered too, although I have the rank of captain, I have not seen many similar battles, as today was. The same scenes of human despair kept recurring before my eyes. And then they were suddenly interrupted by a strange thought, a sentence I read a long time ago, at the Academy.
General in front of his army will not be general much long after the battle starts. You need to find a spot from where you will see, predict and command. Place where you can lead. That's the difference between a good and a dead officer. And yes, he was right. We lost generals every afternoon past weeks, in every skirmish, one of the Commanders, trying to impress the Emperor, led his detachment of soldiers chasing bandits and the enemy's advance. And each of them died. Only the smart ones survived, the ones that stay back. Soldiers were constantly arriving, from all over the Empire. It was difficult to get along with most of them, given the diversity of races that originate on our continent. The enemy was even more numerous, all the reports agreed on one thing - their numbers are endless.
I arrived at the front a month ago, but what used to be the front is now largely enemy territory. We retreated at high speed. I am not sure that it is written in the history of warfare that we have ever conquered the territory so quickly, nor lost it. This was unreasonable, incomprehensible, we lost people and resources with incredible speed. We also knew little about the enemy, but one thing we were sure of - they do not take prisoners.
I also know what awaits me when we get to camp. The dream will not come to my eyes for the next few days, I just hope that we will not have to retire during that period.
Despair, on all faces, only deepened while the gloomy music of the war trumpet got in the background.
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