I think I am coming up with a way to get through this. I simply need to find something sufficiently horrible that it bothers even my protagonist.
At least Carteaux was happy to explain. “Berthier commands two more demi-brigades, just to our north. We will join them before Le Bete can maneuver close enough to threaten us.”
Major Legume frowned. “Even with them, the enemy will still outnumber us… ah. We are an enticement.”
“We are bait,” Joseph corrected him. “One small enough to make him tempted to offer a battle, but large enough to exploit a mistake. The other demi-brigades are in reserve, then?”
“Indeed, Citizen Représentant. Three to directly take Le Bete in flank, once he is committed. The other three will serve to harry the foe, once he has been broken in our pincers.” Carteaux shrugged. “Or they will be a final surprise, should the fight not go our way. We have twice Le Bete’s numbers for this campaign, Citizens. It would be a betrayal of the Revolution not to use them.”
“A risk, but worth it to slay Le Bete,” muttered Legume. Which was more spirit than Joseph expected from the man. Clearly having to abandon the field after seeing off the monarchists’ forces still rankled. “And the reward is worth the risk!” Legume went on, visibly brightening. “Le Bete dead, and the House of Bourbon with it. Cleared away, so that something new can finally grow in France’s soil.”
Its the French revolution. Hard to think of something more terrible than proto-Communists.