14th October 299, Tegrot City
This morning is not the same as the days before. The farmers didn't go to the farm, the merchants didn't open their shop. The marketplace seems like it was abandoned for years, absence with people.
The reason is there is an army standing on the east side of the side.
There are no soldiers on the west side, everybody knows this fact yet they didn't escape to the west side of the city.
The only direction the west side leads to is the Bishopric of Turtevekesia. Well, nobody with their sane mind will go there to become a lamb.
Count Gyalcakes stood on the wall seeing three towering structures being erect. The ingenious machine that makes his cities fall one by one.
"So that's the rumored trebuchets huh?", now he can understand why those cities fall. He felt alarmed by the presence of those weapons.
Not far from the wall in the direction of the southeast, he can see the flood of human gathering there.
Not as much as his soldiers, probably between 5,000 to 6,000 people. However, he didn't intend to take this battle lightly in spite of that.
"Commander, gather all the soldiers outside of the city", he begins to give an order.
"But milord, wouldn't it be safer to stay behind the wall?", the commander tried to argue.
"And then what?...Wait for the wall to collapse?", the count stares directly into the commander's eyes.
"....", the commander was speechless. He realizes just how stupid his questions is.
Without waiting for his answer, the count continues to give orders to his army.
"Open the city gate!!"
The Tegrot forces spilling out from the gate.
The count divided his infantry into three divisions with 2,000 people each and 1,000 cavalry at the end of each side.
As for Bideford forces, they also decided to divide the infantry into three divisions; 1,300 people on the left, 1,200 in the middle, 1,000 people on the right.
At both ends, 400 cavalry were assigned.
While all Tegrot's archers were put on the wall, Bideford archers were put on the middle and right side.
"They seemingly put more of their forces on the left side", the count commented on Bideford formation.
....
"50 artillerists will be put on each trebuchet, I want a supply team to fully cooperate with the artillerists. Make sure to keep hitting the same spot on the wall. That's the only job you have to do unless I ordered something else", Riz explains to the artillerists and supply team. He wants them to fluidly attack the wall continuously.
"Do you all understand?!!", he asked them just to make sure they know their role clearly.
"Yes, milord!!"
At noon, both armies start rushing toward each other and then a clash happens. The sound of sword slashing echoes the entire area. Not to mention the sound of horses stomping the ground.
All the people of Tegrot can hear it clearly.
In the midst of all the chaotic sound, the most fearsome sound starts to dominate the battlefield.
*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*
*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*
Count Gyalcakes who is watching the entire battlefield from the top on the wall could feel the wall shaking.
This majestic city wall suddenly felt like it was made from mud.
"Cavalry!!! Hurry up and destroy those things", the count orders his left cavalry to move.
"Intercept them!! Don't let them come near the trebuchets", Riz ordered his right cavalry.
Now, Bideford's right side and Tegrot left side have no cavalry. Riz took this chance and ordered the right infantry and archers to slowly retreat.
"Don't move! Don't move! Stay!", the count naturally sees what Riz is trying to do. He wants to lure the Tegrot left infantry away from the city wall.
However, his orders were delayed for a minute or two. By the time the order was received, more than half of the infantry had already been lured.
Once that happened, Riz ordered one of the trebuchets to aim at Tegrot left infantry. The previous battle has made the artillerists able to shoot the target with 80 to 90 percent accuracy.
The results were devastating. Words could not be used to describe the condition of unfortunate soldiers that were hit by it.
"Excellent!!", Riz shouts excitedly after seeing massive death on Tegrot left side. "Right division moves forward!!", Riz used this chance to try to encircle Tegrot force.
"Damn it, called the left cavalry back!! Don't let them encircle us", said the count. He chose to give up on destroying the trebuchets.
The cavalry hurriedly followed the order. As they attempt to return to their original position, Bideford cavalry is attacking them from behind.
"Continue attacking the wall. We are almost there!", shouted Duan, one of the three head artillerists. Duan saw the cavalry retreat as an opportunity that he should grab.
*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*
*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*
*Crack*
*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*
*Thud*
"Arghhh", people who are near the wall scream as the wall on the southeast side finally collapses. When Tegrot's soldiers saw this, they completely lost their motivation.
"Push forward!!!", Bideford's army starts to push forward fiercely. Right now, their motivation greatly increases.
"All infantry retreat!! Don't let the Bideford's forces enter through the gap!", count is trying his best to halt Bideford advancement.
"Artillery!!", Riz looked at Duan as he shouted as hard as he could.
Hearing Riz's shout, Duan can guess Riz's intention. This is not his first time working together with Riz.
"Shoot!!", Duan ordered the artillerists to aim at the Tegrot's forces near the collapsed wall.
Three large and nearly well rounded stones flying in the direction of a collapsed wall. At that particular area, Tegrot's forces happened to be there.
*Squish*
The blood from thousands of people turned the wall completely red. It splashes so much that a drop or two lands on the count's face.
".....", the count silently looks at the madness that happens below. Wail, scream and cry from both people and soldiers filled the entire area.
"Wave the white flag", the count solemnly ordered the soldier beside him.
"Milord?", the soldier couldn't believe what he just heard.
"Didn't you hear me? We lost!! Now wave the flag.", the count repeats his order.
White flag was waved from the top of the wall. A smile gradually forms on Riz's face, "finally!!".
Soon, the count sent a messenger to Bideford's camp. According to the messenger, the count wants to negotiate the term of surrender with Bideford.
"Tell the count that he needs to come here if he wants to negotiate with Bideford.", Roz said as he didn't want to risk his own safety going to the enemy's den.
Before long, Count Gyalcakes arrive at Bideford's camp. He was surprised to see Riz waiting for him, not Richard.
"Surprised?"
"I can't believe I was defeated by 14 year old kid in a war. I thought Richard was the one in command."
"My father let me handle things here because he has something to do on the west side of the city."
"West?", the count suddenly trembled in fear.
"....", Riz didn't reply. He just smiled at the count.
'Isn't that the direction my family escaped to?', the count panicked.
Silent envelop the entire camp. The count is trying to calm himself while Riz is trying to stall the time.
He doesn't have a tiny bit of intention to negotiate with the count.
He already win the war.
While both of them are staring at each other before someone suddenly enters the tent and interrupt them.
"Sorry, am I late?", said Richard.
"No, we're waiting for you, father."
"Looks like we won the war. Good job Riz!", he was impressed by Riz's leadership. Although they discussed the strategy together. Things don't always go exactly as planned in the real war.
The fact that Riz is able to adapt to the situation reassures Richard. This is the skill that a leader should have.
"Here, take this. It's really hard to catch all of them. I end up spending hours just to do so." Richard threw several sacks to Count Gyalcakes.
Count Gyalcakes opened the sacks and his mind went blank.
"Wh...Wha...What is this?", ask the count. Unknowingly tears come out from his eyes. In those sacks, there are severed heads of his wife and children.
The heads of every family member of Gyalcakes is in there.
"It's your family", Riz replies the count's question calmly.
"You bastard!!, what have I done to you?!!"
"Pfft... hahaha. You seriously ask that question? You kill my mother. Now I take everything from you.", Riz laughed. He finds count's question funny.
"Now, do you feel despair?", Richard added.
Count Gyalcakes looks at Richard and Riz. Both of them have a calm face but there is no light in their eyes, a pure black eyes as of he is staring at abyss.
After a moment of silence...
"Alright, I think we've let you live long enough. Let's send you to meet your family", Riz took out his sword.
*Slash*
This is the first time he killed someone yet he doesn't feel anything.
*Thud*
The count's head falls to the ground, separate from his body.
His death marked the end of Gyalcakes bloodline.
The end for this war.