October 19th, 1799

"My dear Laura. I have news to deliver.

Last time I wrote to you, I mentioned the plan Obermann and I developed, to invade the Ruhm Empire and take over their coastal country, Harmania. Well, it has been approved by our army's director.

Three of our five legions will be sent to the border. That's over 300.000 men in total.

One of them will be in charge of securing our position in the empire's lands by occupying the towns of Hepzburg and Latavia. Another one will move sappers to the Yves river, and take our equipment, weapons and men to the other shore through pontoon bridges. Finally, the last one will conquer the city of Patolovsk, one of the biggest in Harmania.

This simultaneous attack was director Neckel's idea, not ours, but it's one I fully support and believe in. After all, we do need to have multiple ways of getting to the capital – Petrovak- before winter, and by splitting up we have better chances of reaching it soon.

Because yes, that's is our biggest worry. Not the Ruhmnians themselves, but the snow. The cold. The lack of food and warmth.

We'll need to act quickly before the seasons change and disaster strikes.

But, on a lighter note, how are you? How is MM. and M. Laupin, and little Laura? Any news from the capital you wish to give me?

I'll write to you again once I'm safely stationed in Gontaut.

Please keep me updated as well as you can, and please take care of yourself. I love you, more than you'll ever know.

I'll see you once this madness ends.

-Yours truly, Francis Forestier."

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After writing this letter, the general picked up another piece of paper and wrote down the names and numbers of the higher up officers that would take part in the Ruhm Campaign.

He wanted to have everything on record, well documented, and safely stored with Laura. Just in case the directory tried to mistakenly frame them for something they didn't do, again:

"Ruhm Campaign – Conquest of Patolovsk:

Field Marshal Alexander Lugo (100.000 men)

         -Chief general August Linières (50.000)

         -Chief general Martin Chaumont (50.000).

Under Linières: Major general Obermann (25.000), major general Reynald Munsch (25.000),

Under Chaumont: Major general Marius Lindry (25.000), major general Alonse Marie (25.000)

These are the main leaders of our legion, which has been named Castigatio. Our task, as mentioned above, will be to invade and conquer the city of Patolovsk.

We do not answer for the crimes of the other two legions, Infensus and Cruentus.

We do not know which routes and strategies they will use to achieve their goals.

We are working on our own, to reach our own destination.

Let this be known; the three legions are independent of each other, despite serving the same purpose.

(Please Laura, do not destroy this note. Keep it safe with all of my other letters. Thank you.)

- Francis."

After the ink had dried, he snuck the paper inside of the envelop, sealed it, and gave it to his new secretary, Séverin, along with another letter he had previously written to Laupin, informing his friend about the same situation.

Then, he went to bed.

He'd have a really long day tomorrow, and he needed to be well rested.

It wasn't all that common to cross over the border of the Ruhm Empire, after all.