As the general sent to butcher a region and then was executed for doing what he was actually asked for.

His fate was obvious from he beginning but he went there with such impediment that's quite strange he's stil' breathing.

Ok I understand and I think I agree.

My question is how this relates to the words “The Prince” ? Is that a reference to Machiavelli? Or Prince Myshkin from Dostoyevsky or some other Prince? A novel, a poem… I just want to know what in particular the words “the prince” refer to here?

In Machiavelli's The Prince, he gives an advice on how to extinguish a rebellion in a province while making a point and example for the other provinces.

He advices the Prince to secretly send a general there and execute everyone in some cities without exception.

Then he advices him to execute the general for being "rogue", overly zealous, and punish him for what he did.

The Prince is strong, so there can't be a rebellion. The prince is just too, he can't allow bloodbaths against his beloved subjects... etc.

I don't know for sure what the heck they're doing there, but this man doesn't seem to be aware of being a pawn.

They can say later that it was a deception whatsoever but he's still a pawn.

Probably a reference to Erik Prince (the founder of the private military company Blackwater).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Prince