The sky is dark and raining pour on me and my men while we are trying to make our way to the border of Olumia, one of my vassal states. All of my vassal states have declared independence 12 days ago and gathered their troops in case I attack them.
I've fed Feliks my plans of attack Slyria first if they rebel since it is the weakest among the three. They will sure ally with each other and send their armies to aid Slyria while
trying to backstab me when I attack Slyria. They will not expect me to attack the strongest one, Olumia.
I look at the army marching behind me, 2000 people strong, but many of them are recruits that I call from towns and villages. They've been trained constantly from the day they joined the army, at least they know where to point their muskets and spears toward now. I use the system to check the status of my army.
[Polish First Division
200 cavalries (50 Winged Hussars(heavy), 150 Hussars (light)
1800 infantrymen (200 Polish Swordmen(heavy), 200 Spearman Militias(medium), 200 Polish Musketeers (medium), 200 Polish Musketeer Militias(light), 1000 Polish Countrymen(light)]
42 Polish cannons
I keep 300 Militias and 100 elite Polish Guard back in Warsaw to defend in case of anyone manages to reach it. 700 soldiers of the Holy Order, the army of the Church led by Pope Richard has agreed with me to go to the border of Slyria to defend there. I have helped the Church to spread Christianity among the people so the Church has a quite large influence in Poland now. The Pope has 900 soldiers in total, but 600 of them are recruited and trained by my military captains so I do not have to concern if he is ambitious. I asked 200 of the Holy Order to defend Warsaw.
And with that, I do not worry about the safety of Warsaw anymore. More than 100 cannons on Warsaw's walls are enough to destroy an army of hundreds. From the information I gather, my vassal states have around 4000 soldiers in total. And they need men to defend their territory; no way they can send enough men to take down Warsaw.
All of the cavalries have dismounted to keep their horses as healthy as possible. Of course, I and the generals are dismounted, too, although it is not necessary but showing that we are willing to share the hardness will boose the morale of the troops. More people and horses are needed to move the cannons because the rain has caused the road to be muddy. A scout rides toward me and speak:
- My Lord, we have reached the border, the Tuscany Fortress has come in sight.
- Good, lead the way.
I mount my horse and ride to a high place, the figure of a large fortification can be seen. In the war that Poland conquered Olumia, Tuscany Fortress has been razed to the ground by my father. However, it seems like they have rebuilt it after these years. The walls look new but not very strong, several volleys of cannons will be enough to break the gate, but as I can see, there are many canons on the walls, at least about 40. We are exhausted from marching, I don't intend to sacrifice my men to some canon balls just to take this Fortress.
Marshal Kawasaki ride to my side:
- My Lord, What's your order?
- Ready the artillery and let the infantry rest, we'll attack at nightfall.
- Aye, how about the horsemen?
- Let them take enough explosives to blow up the wall and be ready, I'll command them myself.
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Ian Lewiston, the general of the Olumian garrisons in the Tuscany Fortress comfortably watches the full moon fighting in the sky while filling his belly with wine and beef. He and his men have rebuilt this fortress from the ground for 6 years and now, although it is not as strong as it was when the Polish army attacked 30 years ago, it is abundant in food and military supplies enough for 2 years. He believes can hold any army with a number of no more than 3000 for at least a month. However, the news says Jan Woznial's army is heading West to Slyria, not South, so there is a low chance of this Fortress being attacked.
At the moment, he has ordered 100 soldiers to stay on guard while the rest of his army sleeps. He has a total of 500 soldiers under his command here, which is nearly half of the Olumian army. Count Francis II just ordered him to hold this Fortress in case the Polish attack. If not, Count Francis will lead the main army from the capital to here, and together, they will go aggressive toward Poland.
Suddenly, to the north of the Fortress, a signal flare appears in the sky. Polish cannons can be seen from a hill not far from that, and cannonballs are sent flying toward the walls, causing quake and killing several soldiers guarding it. Although being shocked, he reacted immediately:
- RING THE BELL, ALL GO TO THE NORTH GATE.
His bodyguards rush out of the room and in 5 minutes, the bell rings and wakes the Olumian soldiers from their sleep. They rush to the North Gate and Olumian cannons fire back. Ian quickly wears his armor and goes to the gate to command his troops himself. The Musketeers quickly get onto the walls and take aim, Ian also draws his pistol out and waits. He knows that the enemies' infantry is coming, there is no way they'll just rely on just artillery to take down a Fortress.
And his thoughts are right, about 500 Polish soldiers march out of the woods with their muskets aiming at his men. Volleys of muskets are fired between armies along with cannonballs flying over the place, crushing the soldiers from both sides. Ian smiles, if everything continues to be like this, he will win. With this number, the enemies certainly are not the Polish main army. They won't even stand a chance to defeat him on the battlefield, not to mention he is fighting defensively with the advantages from the Fortress.
All Polish cannons aim at the Fortress's gate and fire, which makes the gate collapses, revealing the defense barricades that Ian has prepared before in case the gate is breaker through. " everything is as expected" Ian thinks. However, a loud sound comes from the south gate, which even makes the ground tremble. And then Ian hears horse steps roaming toward his location.
The first ones that appear from the south are his soldiers who have thrown their weapons running desperately to save their lives, and behind them are the cavalries with the white eagle flags of Poland flying on their spears, which are taking the lives of Olumian soldiers. When the dish disappears revealing who they are Ian freezes in fear. Heavy armor, red clothes with wings on their back, he has seen this type of cavalries slaughtering his countrymen in the war 30 years ago. " The Winged Hussars" he murmurs, he doesn't know how they can break through the southern gate but he knows if he doesn't give his orders immediately, the Fortress will fall again.
But he does not have the chance, a bullet fired by a man among the charging Winged Hussars takes his life. Seeing their commander has fallen, the Olumians throw their weapons to run or surrender.
And like 30 years ago, the Tuscany Fortress of Olumia is under Poland's control again.