After finishing my dinner, I found myself with nothing to do. I decided to turn in for the night, but my attempt to fall asleep was met with difficulty. Normally, I would drift off with ease, but tonight was different. Earlier in the day, I had slept longer than usual, and it had thrown off my sleep pattern. I tossed and turned, shifting from one side to the other until the stroke of midnight, when I finally succumbed to slumber.

The next morning, I awoke to a long list of tasks that demanded my attention. However, before I could begin, an intelligence operative arrived, waiting for me outside. As a veteran of war, I was all too familiar with the significance of intelligence reports, and I knew that this one could not wait. I had just returned from a brutal conflict, and the last thing I wanted was to be thrown back into the fray. But as a king, I understood that my duty required me to face any challenge that arose.

I got up from my bed and made my way outside, taking a moment to prepare myself for what lay ahead. I carefully washed my face and ran a comb through my hair, striving to look presentable in front of my subjects. Once I had finished, I stepped out into the daylight and saw the intelligence operative waiting for me.

He stood apart from my guards, a lone figure in the vast expanse of the courtyard. His face was stern, and his eyes darted back and forth as if searching for danger. I beckoned him to come closer, and he did so with measured steps.

As he drew nearer, I studied him closely, looking for any sign of deceit or subterfuge. His clothes were plain, and his bearing was unremarkable, but I could sense that he was a man of great intelligence and skill.

When he finally stood before me, I asked him where he had come from and what news he had brought. His lips parted, and he began to speak, detailing the latest developments in the ongoing conflict. I listened intently, knowing that every word he spoke could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

As he spoke, I felt a sense of unease settling over me. The report was grim, and I knew that the time for action was fast approaching. But I also knew that I was ready, and that whatever came my way, I would face it with courage and conviction.

"My lord, when you sent us to find cities and kingdoms for you to conquer, I ventured up north. I traveled to many cities, some were grand and sprawling, but your army was still small and ill-equipped to conquer such vast and fortified places. So, I scoured each city to find the one that would be easiest to reach and conquer."

"And did you find such a city?" you asked."My lord, I did not find just one city. I found several small cities that could be taken with ease, especially now that your army has grown immensely. If we venture up north, we can conquer the whole region," I replied.

You looked intrigued and leaned forward. "Tell me, what do you know about the people of these cities? Are they loyal to their kings?"

I replied, "The people are living in a state of constant fear, my lord. Many are unable to procure proper food, while others who have the resources still live in terror of their kings."

"Why do they fear their kings?" you inquired.

I responded gravely, "The kings up north are ruthless and merciless. They indulge in blood sports every three months where they force their people to fight to the death for their amusement. In some fights, they throw a few people into a cage to fight a lion, with no weapons or armor to protect them. The people are so terrified that they dare not speak out against their rulers."

You looked disturbed by this news. "Is this the case in every city?"

"Yes, my lord. There are a total of five cities in the region, and they are all ruled by brothers. One of the brothers is a decent man, but his city lacks the resources needed to provide for his people. The other four brothers are cruel and merciless, and they will undoubtedly unite against us in battle."

You nodded thoughtfully. "So, we will be fighting an army of 18,000 soldiers, according to your estimation?"

"Indeed, my lord. But if we move swiftly and attack one city before the others can know about it, we can weaken their forces. That way, we will face only 12,000 soldiers, and they will not be able to send all of their soldiers to aid the other cities," I explained.

You looked pleased with my assessment. "Excellent work, my loyal advisor. Your knowledge and cunning will be invaluable in the battles to come."

"So, how are we going to do this?" the leader asked his trusted advisor.

"We will first attack one of the three brothers, who have a strong unity and will come together if they find out about the attack. After taking down one of the three, we will attack the eldest brother and take down his city. After that, we will go to the two brothers, who will have a combined army at that time. In the end, we will march toward the youngest brother's city."

The leader listened intently to the plan, weighing the options and outcomes in his head. It was a risky move, but if successful, it would give them control over all five cities.

"I heard the whole plan and began thinking about it. The idea was a little troubling, but I liked it. Combined, they have a strength of 30,000 men, but since they are not all together, 12,000 men in my army will be enough," the leader said with a sense of confidence.

"Very nice. You have brought some good news for me. You will be by my side when we go out to conquer these five cities tomorrow," he said to his advisor, giving him a nod of approval.

"Thank you, my lord," the advisor replied with a bow.

"Have you brought the map of the cities, and do you have any combined map that can help me figure out which city lies where and what is the distance of each city?" the leader asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes, my lord. I have brought the map for you, but I don't have the big map that you requested," the advisor responded, pulling out the map from his bag.

The leader carefully examined the map, his eyes tracing the outlines of the cities and the surrounding areas. He needed to know the lay of the land, the routes they could take, and the best way to approach each city.

"Can you create that map? Because I want to know how much distance each city has and where the cities of the three brothers are situated from each other," he asked, his gaze still fixed on the map.

"Yes, I can make that map. If you want, I can start preparing it right away," the advisor replied, eager to please his leader.

"No, don't do it right away. Right now, tell me what kind of weapons these cities have. Do they have siege weapons?" the leader inquired, his mind already racing ahead to the battles that lay ahead.

"My lord, only the eldest brother has weapons like that. He has catapults and ballistae. The others have a few of them, but you don't have to worry about them. The youngest doesn't have any siege weapons," the advisor answered, his voice steady and confident.

The leader nodded, his mind working through the strategy that would give them the best chance of success. It was a risky move, but if they played their cards right, they would be victorious.