It's been the last days of winter, I and my troops are marching on the trails to Dusbensk Fortress, where my forces are holding against the Ruthian and Slyrian forces. There is still ice on the road, which creates many difficulties for me and my troops to maneuver. The camp followers have to use pickaxes to break the ice and the horses and mules have to try their best to carry the supplies and pull the cannons. I can see that many soldiers are affected by the harshness of winter and tremble in cold. More than
[ Polish First Division
342 camp followers
167 cavalries ( 42 Winged Hussars (heavy), 125 Hussars(light)
763 infantrymen ( 123 Polish Swordsmen (medium), 140 Polish Musketeers(medium), 500 Polish countrymen(light)
34 cannons]
"- My lord, The Dusbensk Fortress is ahead." A soldier yield with a joyous voice, which is followed by many voices that say finally they can find a warm place to sleep and eat warm food but not dry bread.
I look in the direction that the soldier is pointing, seeing a giant infrastructure that lies between two giant mountains, obstructing any passengers from the west, I see the white eagle flag flying on top of the towers and soldiers guarding on the walls, which enlighten me, the majority of the enemies was here, I had to send Marshal Kawasaki to Warsaw to gather any troops possible and come to aid here. Seeing that the Fortress still stands strong, I smile for knowing that this is the choke point to march west to Slyria and Ruthia.
Poland has no contact with the sea. After conquering Olumia, to the north of Poland is the kingdom of Aeglia, which as I know, has three cities and 5 fortresses. It is a relatively strong kingdom if not for the reason that the nobles inside it always want to piss others. To the west are Slyria and further is Ruthia, each of them has only one city so conquering them might be easier than Olumia. To the south is the Kingdom of North Saxe, where the feudal system is still dominating; as I know, people there see guns as weapons without honor so they limit using them. This kingdom always wages war against the Kingdom of South Saxe, I bet they won't turn attention to attack Poland, South Saxe is enough to keep them busy.
To the east lying Lithuania and the Roseryth Empire. 5 cities there used to belong to Poland, but after the Poland-Lithuania Coalition- Roseryth Empire war, they all fall to the Empire while Lithuania had to become a vassal state of the Empire. After finishing this war, I will surely improve my power and prepare for vengeance. I do not know how yet since the Roseryth Empire is a strong empire with a population of over one million. I will not go against them if I'm not confident of fighting more than 100000 soldiers.
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I'm welcomed by the garrisons when I reach Dusbensk Fortress. Kawasaki's son, Jan Kawasaki, a 27-year-old captain serving in the Second Polish Division meets me instead of him and guides me to my room, suggest me to rest since I've gone a long way and his father will meet me after dinner. Feeling a bit tired, I agree with him and go to bed; it is a pity that Abigail is not here, her beautiful figure and the imagination of our future children capture my mind whenever I go to sleep. And like other times, I dream of us riding horses on vast paddle fields again.
I am walked up by a servant and then guided to the dining room, where Marshal Kawasaki and the military captains are waiting for me to start the meal. I sit on the distinguished chair and then, the meal starts. First, I'm informed about the battles before I get here. Aside from the First Polish Division, the Dusbensk Fortress has 567 Holy Ordermen and 784 Polish countrymen. Three major battles have happened which the higher casualties always belong to the Vassal States Coalition. As my spies say, there are around 1800 soldiers of the Coalition camping 10 miles from here to the west and in this winter, they're recruiting more men.
The winter truce will be over in 10 days so we need to decide our tactics. The national budget can only support military action for about 5 more months; if it runs dry, I'll have to raise the taxes if the war continues, which I do not want, since it will affect Poland's economy a lot.
After three hours of debating and quarreling, we have reached an agreement. Only 100 soldiers will be left here as garrisons while 1900 soldiers will attack deep into Slyria, hoping that we can destroy 1800 soldiers of the Coalition fast so that we can lay siege to the capital of Slyria, Cassadora and take it in a month before attacking Ruthia. If everything goes well, the war will be over in 4 months from now.
However, how to destroy the army combined with Ruthians and Slyrians is still controversial. Some say attacking directly and destroying them with brutal force while others suggest catching their attention with a small group and then flanking them from other directions. After thinking for a while, I know that both ways, we will sustain large casualties. Flanking is not a good option since the position of their camp is by the river, they can withdraw through it at any moment.
I observe the map and realize that I have the third option. They can withdraw through Slyria easily so they chose to camp beside the river. However, I can utilize that, I point at the point of the map, where the river is separated into two ways.
- Where is this place?
- It's 30 miles to the north, my lord. If we want to go there, it'll take only around 3 days.
I smile, the land that the enemies camp is near the low land where the water flows into. When spring rains come, the water level will rise and it will be the ideal opportunity for me to get rid of them. I speak:
- Send 200 camp followers with 100 soldiers to this place, you can hire villagers nearby, too. Our objective is to block this way of the river. So that the water will flow into the opposite; however, we must finish it before winter ends or our plan will become useless. The enemies might relocate their camp at any moment. Jan Kawasaki will be in charge of this mission while others stay here and build as many boats as possible so that we can cross the water easily when flooding comes. Are you clear?
- Aye, Lord Wozniak.
- Good, captain Kawasaki. You have two days to gather the men and supplies. Remember that your mission is what decides the outcome of this war.
- I understand, my lord. I will not make you disappointed.