120 – Siege of Villa Hora (1)
A month later, the Medici Republic army divided its units and gave orders to attack castles in the Steyerman state.
Our mercenary unit, along with other mercenary units including the Red Rose Mercenary Unit, was organized into a unit under Viscount Canossa.
The number is approximately 4,000, which is neither very small nor too large.
“Platoon leader Otto, since Kötzvel is a small city, you won’t have much trouble? “Can you say that even after seeing this?”
“But from what I heard at a bar five years ago, I heard that it was a not-so-special city…”
“The city may not be a big deal, but I think 5,000 people would be comfortable if they were confined within the castle, right?”
At those words, Otto had no more words to reply and lowered his head while chewing his lips, but my tight stomach was not pierced.
“Ha, really. It’s definitely better than when we attacked Seriz Fortress under Baron Pappenheim. “It looks like this siege won’t be easy.”
There are soldiers, including mercenaries, regular soldiers, and serfs, standing around holding spears and swords all over the castle wall, which appears to be four meters high.
“Come up and have a look! “You weak fools of the Republic!”
Archers and wizards are stationed tightly on the watchtowers located throughout the castle walls, waiting to pour crossfire on us climbing the castle walls.
‘No matter how fast you try to climb up the ladder, you will definitely die in a heap.’
Some people will be injured or killed by arrows flying from the left and right sides of the ladder, and if the entire ladder is burned down by a single magic shot, as many as 4 to 5 people will be killed at once.
In addition, there will be various siege weapons, including catapults, inside the castle walls.
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When I saw this scene, I couldn’t help but sigh.
“Ha, it wouldn’t be normal to go over the f*cking castle wall. “Many of our mercenaries will end up dying.”
As I was sighing and waiting for the order to attack, someone hit me on the back.
“Someone has my back…”
When I looked back, Captain Dalton was standing there.
“Children, wrasse. “If there is a plan that looks good, talk to Viscount Canossa about it.”
At those words, I sighed and shook my shoulders.
“I am not the leader of a mercenary company, but just a centurion, so would you even listen to what I say? I hate to say this again, but I’m not a nerd like Pappenheim. “There are a lot of nobles who say mercenary captains are lowly and won’t even talk to them.”
Honestly, there are many cases where a mercenary leader has greater military power and strength than most knights, but knights have a strong tendency to look down on a mercenary leader simply because he does not have a ‘title’.
This appears even more strongly among nobles such as barons, viscounts, and counts, who command anywhere from a few to as many as dozens of knights.
However, even the majority of high-ranking people who look down on mercenary leaders in normal times may talk to them and treat them well during wartime, depending on work needs.
‘Some people say that if you talk to a centurion, you will become a lowly person, so what can you expect?’
Dalton laughed at my words.
“We’re at war right now, right? And people like you who have decent results are an exception. Honestly, if it weren’t for us, those red roses from the Medici Republic, they would all be dead.”
“That’s right.”
“Viscount Canossa also knows that it was thanks to you that we were able to do more than two people in the last battle. So, Martin, if there is an operation you have in mind, he tells me to come and report to him in person.”
Like Margrave Estelle, he is a person who evaluates a person’s worth based on ability, not status or position…
‘If you work under someone like this, you won’t be killed in this siege.’
“Is there any special strategy to come up with on the first day of the siege? Not yet. “I’ll tell you later when I remember.”
Dalton clicked his tongue and nodded his head.
“Well, what kind of freezing plan is this in this situation? “It would be strange if there was someone who came up with a plan on the first day after arriving.”
While the two of us were chatting like this, the commander of the garrison guarding Kötzvel, who was arguing with our Viscount in the center of the castle wall, spoke in a loud voice.
“I, Baron Alois von Kuttner, have no intention of giving up this Kötzvel Castle to you guys, no matter what happens! You Medici bastards who pretend to be noble while not even adding water to their coffee. How about understanding the situation now and running away? “Then your life will be saved!”
Viscount Canossa also pointed at him and cursed.
“I, Viscount Jolio von Canossa, give my final advice! Even now, throw away any thoughts of resisting by relying on those low walls, open the gates like a man and surrender! Then even you useless bastards will be able to save their lives!”
“Useless talk! If you really want to take over this castle, grab your sword and spear and climb up the castle wall!”
“Okay, I’ll capture you and make sausages out of your intestines!”
Then the Viscount turned his back and came towards us and gave an order.
“All-out attack! “According to His Excellency Dandolo’s orders, take over this Kötzvel Castle!”
As soon as the order was given, loud trumpets and drum sounds began to sound throughout the camp, heightening tension.
The Baekin University students showed signs of nervousness through actions such as breaking out in a cold sweat or clenching their hands tightly to avoid showing off.
“Ha, it’s a f*cking siege. “Do you think this might be a bit tough?”
Among the new recruits, there was one who tried to lose his mind because he was nervous after hearing that siege warfare was the most intense of all battles.
“f*ck, f*ck, f*ck… I want to go back…”
However, as always, such people were forcibly corrected by good seniors who tried to lead them on the right path by providing ‘appropriate physical therapy’.
Sometimes they were hit hard enough in the face that they fell to the ground with just one blow, and they threatened them by specifically reminding them of the whips that were used to punish those who broke the ‘discipline’ within the mercenary corps.
“You idiot, won’t you wake up? “If you’re scared and can’t move here, be prepared to die comfortably.”
“Instead of going to the siege, would you like to be whipped until half your body is crippled? “If I get hit 100 times, I’ll lose the use of my lower body, so I don’t have to climb the walls for the rest of my life, right?”
“If you don’t want to die, just don’t think about anything and follow orders!”
Personally, I prefer verbally reprimanding soldiers or imposing appropriate discipline rather than beating them.
‘Even the 21st century U.S. Military, famous for its lack of absurdity, is allowed to be beaten on the battlefield or shooting range?’
Especially in a battlefield like this, violence is the only way to bring crazy people to their senses, so there is nothing we can do about it.
“It’s the same whether it’s a siege or any other battlefield. “If you follow orders and kill the enemy well, you will receive a huge reward. If you fail to follow orders, you will all die with my sword.”
As soon as I finished speaking, this time an arrow with a sound was fired into the air.
As the arrow cut through the sky and hit my eardrums with a crackling sound, Captain Dalton’s order was given.
“Wizards and archers, pour out everything you have! “The wizards focus their fire on the bastards on the castle wall, and the archers pour fire arrows inside the castle!”
At the same time, the archers and wizards under Viscount Canossa succeeded in attacking a little faster than the enemies.
Magic that hit various parts of the castle wall and where there were people exploded, causing fire to spread in all directions or lightning to scatter, causing damage to the surrounding area.
Soldiers within that range were burned to death or electrocuted and turned into electric grills.
“Ugh! “f*ck!”
The wizards, archers, and soldiers under Baron Kuttner, who were trying to fire magic from the castle wall, lost momentum for a moment due to our troops’ lead attack…
“Martin is a hundred! Be prepared for enemy magic and arrows! “Spread out as much as possible!”
And orders similar to the one I gave were issued from various places, and the infantry, except for the wizards and archers, dispersed, keeping as much distance as possible from each other.
After everyone dispersed, dozens of magic bullets fell from the enemy fortress toward our allies.
As fire magic, including fireballs, poured down like rain, flames spread from the area where the magic fell as if a small bomb had exploded.
“Ugh, sh*t!”
Several allies within that range died in an instant.
I’ve fought in wars many times, but I still can’t get used to the power of magic and seeing those caught up in it dying.
“Hold on! “Don’t be shaken for no reason!”
Having said that, I first corrected my will.
‘If we falter here, which is just a preliminary battle, it will be the end.’
Then this time, the sound of an arrow cutting through the wind began to reach my ears.
“It’s an arrow! Everyone bow your heads! Trust your helmet!”
They told us to keep our heads down, but we didn’t monitor whether anyone had their heads down or not.
If I turn my head incorrectly, I could die too.
“f*ck, my heart…”
At the same time as I said that, I heard the sound of Tristan from our hundred team falling down.
‘Listen to me when I tell you to buy a breastplate, you idiot.’
Like this, we kept each other in check by firing magic and arrows at the opponent for about 30 minutes.
Then, when the enemy’s arrow attacks gradually subsided, the sound of Viscount Canossa’s shout was heard.
“Now is the time! Hang a ladder on the castle wall and climb over!”
With those words, I also gave an order to our hundred men.
“Everyone, grab your weapons and stand up! “We are the vanguard!”