343 – Attack on Veneta Castle (10)
After Peter Yeager’s final advice was given, the imperial soldiers immediately aimed their weapons at the women and entered a fighting stance.
If a woman or a child picked up a weapon in war, they had already been ordered to treat them as warriors, so they were young in everyone’s eyes.
Children who felt terrible fear burst into tears, and women and girls began to put down their weapons, realizing that if they resisted, they and their children would only end up being slaughtered.
“If you really surrender, you won’t touch our bodies?”
At those words, Peter Yeager sighed and thought for a moment.
‘Even in an army with proper military discipline, it is common for women to be raped when occupying castles or villages, so they probably say that. Ha, if we’re going to go to war, it should be limited to just soldiers fighting and killing each other. Why do such crazy things…’
Captain Jaeger sheathed his sword and answered
“As commander of the Reich Imperial Army, I have sworn an oath in the name of His Majesty the Emperor, and it will be kept. “Even if they resist with weapons, if we kill them all here, they will be killed, and there will be no such cruel incident as rape.”
With those words, the women said they would surrender to save the lives of themselves and their children, and Peter Jaeger ordered the battalion to follow behind.
“You will be divided into units by company. Then, take the women around the castle, go to the place where the battle is taking place, and recommend surrender through the women.”
The battalion commander wanted to build up his specialty by doing more work to deal with the remaining militia in the square, but if he violated the order, he would lose his major and all.
After saluting, he immediately began walking around the castle with the women and children of Veneta Castle.
Of course, the women and children had already surrendered, so I sincerely advised them to surrender, hoping that their husbands and fathers fighting as militiamen would not die either.
“Captain Jaeger, save the life of the person who surrendered! ! We were not raped, murdered or beaten!”
“I have to surrender and avoid being killed so I can feed my family!”
“What have the nobles done for us that makes you give up your only life for them? “Put down the window.”
The morale of the militia completely disappeared as soon as they heard their words.
The only reason they continued fighting was to protect their wives and children.
This is because it was not for the Duke and nobles, the monarch of the Duchy of Veneta, or to show loyalty.
Therefore, there was no reason to fight, and the militia, exhausted from the attacks that continued day and night for a month, put down their spears.
As the clanging sound of the steel falling to the floor echoed throughout the castle, the imperial soldiers and officers cheered with tears in their eyes.
“Long live Captain Peter Yeager! Long live the Reich Empire! Long live your Majesty the Emperor! f*ck, this siege is finally over!”
“No, you bastards! “It will only end when we shake off Duke Veneta’s head!”
“It’s almost over now. “It’s almost over, but it’s not completely over yet, so don’t relax just yet!”
At the same time, those who surrendered began to move to a specific area of the castle, led by imperial officers and soldiers.
During this process, we were careful because some might resist or try to run away, but the militia prisoners, who had no weapons and had low morale, did not offer any resistance and simply followed instructions.
“Follow me with both hands above your head and palms open! “If you put your hands down, they will see that you are resisting and will kill you right away!”
“If you just follow the instructions, you can see your children and wives again. “Use good judgment!”
“Because I don’t kill you and I don’t hit you. Just follow me quietly, for f*ck’s sake.”
A few unlucky people who were in charge of leading and managing the prisoners did get a little revenge on the prisoners out of disappointment that they had lost the opportunity to further develop their skills.
He led them in a gentlemanly manner, without going against rules and orders, and in the meantime, he made the noble officers of Veneta Castle lose their temper.
“You all come back! “Ugh!”
As the situation unfolded like this, all the noble officers who were obsessed with vested interests and did not surrender were killed by the imperial soldiers.
This war situation was conveyed as quickly as the wind to all the officers of the Reich Imperial Army, including Peter Jaeger.
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The imperial soldiers moved to the square as quickly as possible and took over the castle.
On the other hand, only gloomy news continued to pour in to Jacopo Tieplo, Duke of Veneta.
“Your Highness the Duke, the walls and gates on all sides have been completely breached!”
“Your Majesty, the women inside the castle have been threatened by the Reich Imperial Army and are going around every corner of the castle urging them to surrender. Everyone has already fallen into the hands of the enemy, except for those who resist in this ducal residence and square!”
“His Majesty the Duke, Viscount Ferrera, and Count Donacello have died! All of his units surrendered to the Imperial forces commanded by Peter Yeager.”
As Duke Veneta heard the news of continued defeat, he felt as if his mind was becoming increasingly blank and blank.
At the same time, he had the feeling that the sound he heard was coming from a very far away place, independent of him.
At that time, my vision instantly turned black and I stumbled from my standing position and collapsed into a chair.
The surrounding nobles saw the scene and quickly flocked to the Duke.
“Your Highness the Duke, your Highness the Duke!”
“Your Majesty is safe! However, it looks like you were so shocked that you felt dizzy for a moment!”
“But just in case, call a doctor! “What will we do if Your Majesty falls?”
The fact that they are taking such careful care of the duke’s health is not simply out of loyalty.
For them, only the square of Veneta Castle and the slightly fortified ducal residence were left, so defeat was already a foregone conclusion.
Only if the duke, the leader responsible for the defeat, is alive can they blame all of their sins on the duke.
This is because the probability of saving their lives safely increases even a little.
It was a sight that others, including Peter Yeager, would have laughed out loud when they saw it, but when their own lives are in danger, most nobles are people who are willing to throw away everything, including their honor, to save their vassals and families.
The duke, who knew this well, waved his hand at them and said.
“Don’t call the damn doctor. We’ve been pushed this far, so there’s no way for us to survive. “I need to prepare to surrender, what do you think?”
When the nobles heard those words, they shouted as if they were possessed by loyal subjects.
“Your Highness, it’s not over yet! “If you give me an order now, Baron Brahe will wipe them all out!”
“Isn’t there a secret passage? Evacuate through the secret passage and plan for later!”
“Please don’t say such terrible things as surrender!”
The Duke thought.
‘Those damn bastards are nobles of the Duchy of Veneta who have no intention of taking responsibility like me! Dirty things.’
Although it was dirty and disgraceful, Duke Veneta had no choice but to surrender as an option to reduce further sacrifices as the monarch of the principality.
He stood up, pulled out the treasured sword that symbolized his family, and spoke.
“As the Duke of the Duchy of Veneta, I can no longer tolerate useless sacrifices! So, everyone, prepare to surrender.”
At that resolute command, the nobles of the principality knelt down, wailing, but inwardly they felt relieved, thinking that this did not place any responsibility on them.
Some people shed tears as they felt relieved that their lives had been saved, thinking that from now on they would no longer be able to enjoy the luxurious life they had lived as those with vested interests in the Principality of Veneta.
Although there were some loyalists in the midst of this, it was of little significance now that surrender was imminent.
“Your Highness, the principality cannot be lost in vain like this.”
“Please forgive our incompetence.”
“His Royal Highness the Duke, His Royal Highness the Duke…”
And at this time, Imperial troops, including Peter Yeager, burst into the mansion’s conference room, armed with swords.
“If you don’t surrender, I will kill you all! “Please put down your sword and surrender!”
Hearing those words, the duke shed tears and handed over the treasured sword, symbolizing the sovereignty of the principality, to Peter Yeager with its scabbard.
Captain Jaeger gave an order after receiving the sword.
“Do not capture His Highness the Duke, but treat him with respect! Bind up all the remaining nobles and take them to the prison camp! And now that the war is over, declare victory and take over the governance and administration of the city!”
On this day, Peter Jaeger succeeded in breaking down the Venetian Principality and Venetian Union, which had a long history.
This is how the war that will be recorded in history as the Siege and Defense of Veneta Castle ended.
Reich Imperial Army dead 29,000, wounded 15,000, no prisoners.
The Duchy of Veneta lost 38,000 dead, 6,000 wounded, and everyone inside Veneta Castle was taken prisoner.
As soon as the war ended, Peter Jaeger ordered the reorganization of his troops and made a final plan to destroy the Venetian Confederacy.
The plan was to forge state records using the duke’s legally seized seal.
The forged content was as follows.
[The Reich Empire is in a corner, so the principalities belonging to the Venetian Union should quickly raise an army and come to support.]
And this plan worked well, so each principality hurriedly organized soldiers and provided support to subdue Peter Yeager, a dangerous force that could come at any moment.
They were all defeated one by one by Peter Yeager, who had been waiting for them.