Chapter 225
Chapter 225
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: Siege of the Capital Oslo (2)
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There's one story from Sun Tzu's Art of War that I came across years ago, and it still sticks with me to this day.
"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. Next best is to isolate them through diplomacy. Then, to defeat their armies in open battle. And the worst of all is to assault a fortified city."
I instantly understood why attacking a city is considered the absolute worst the moment I laid eyes on Oslo's walls.
The walls stretched over 18 kilometers in circumference and stood three meters high—a colossal fortress that discouraged any reckless assault. To make matters worse, a moat filled with water over 20 meters wide surrounded it, making it nearly impossible to even bridge with ladders.
And the soldiers atop those walls—or rather, the figures standing there—only one in every five even looked like a proper soldier.
The rest were boys and girls who didn't look a day over mid-teens, along with housewives and middle-aged men who probably never would have touched a spear if not for this desperate crisis.
"But even those ragtag defenders can pour boiling water or oil from such massive walls, hurling stones and logs. Our troops would drop dead by the hundreds. Damn it, sieges really are insane."
I let out a heavy sigh as I gazed at the walls from our army's main camp, then spoke up.
"Colonel Anastasia, how many prisoners do we have from those who defected to Ishtaven's side for the Stockholm Kingdom and got captured?"
"Around 300, sir."
"So killing ten a day would buy them about a month. What a mess. They never saw this coming when they followed Ishtaven and betrayed us. Would've been better if they hadn't betrayed and ended up here at all."
Those who betrayed us alongside Ishtaven would probably whine something like this if they heard me.
"How were we supposed to know? And when the chieftain defects, what choice do his underlings have but to follow?!"
I could understand their feelings and circumstances to some extent, but what could I do?
In the tangled web of war and politics, innocents often died, and those with even a shred of guilt got swept up and perished. It was just how things worked.
"Colonel Anastasia, bring the cartwheel and ten prisoners. We need to show those bastards on that damn wall what happens if they don't come out."
So let any of them who felt even a twinge of injustice curse me to their dying breath.
Not that I knew if Deus would listen or not.
The next morning, on the open field before Oslo's walls.
"The Lieutenant General has brought the cartwheel! Roll it out, roll it!"
"To think I get to do such rewarding work as an Imperial soldier! All thanks to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor!"
"My grandfather used to boast about this when I was a kid, and now I get to do it myself! Long live His Imperial Majesty!"
With those cheers, a soldier rolled out a wooden cartwheel about 80 centimeters in diameter, and the troops' roars grew even louder.
...Their reaction was almost as fanatical as when Louise showed up at the 7th Guard Division.
Following behind were the prisoners bound in ropes—soldiers who had served under Ishtaven. The Imperial troops pelted them with stones, mud, rotten food, and hardtack biscuits.
"You filthy traitors, worse than dogs or pigs! Die!"
"Kill them! Kill them! Kill them!"
"I love this northern custom. They round up all traitors and crush anyone taller than the cartwheel. His Imperial Majesty should adopt more of these fine northern traditions."
...Unlike in Korea, this era had virtually no proper entertainment, so public executions of criminals became major spectacles—fairs that drew crowds eager for excitement and diversion.
As a result, in Reichburg and other Imperial cities, royal or local authorities posted announcements a week before executions, advertising the date and time.
On execution day, vendors swarmed in, hawking snacks, beer, and wine, turning it into a lively little festival.
Some couples with peculiar tastes even included executions in their date itineraries. That said it all.
Our Reich Empire forces buzzed with festive energy ahead of the execution, but the citizens and soldiers watching from Oslo's walls must have been utterly horrified.
Because putting on this show for Ishtaven's followers was a blatant threat: You'll end up the same way if you stay holed up in there.
"Please, spare me! Just let me live, and I'll grovel like a dog! Bark if you want—just spare my life, Lieutenant General Jaeger! Please, my life, my life!"
Amid the jeers and insults raining down, the man's desperate pleas were pitiful, but I had zero intention of sparing traitors.
"Bring the cartwheel. If you're shorter than it, you live. Taller, and you die."
I ordered the ten prisoners and the cartwheel positioned on a platform clearly visible from Oslo's walls.
The soldiers chuckled darkly as they whipped the prisoners up onto the stage.
"Alright, here comes the cartwheel roll! If you're shorter than it, shout out quick! We'll let you go on the spot! Gotta keep things fair!"
No idea who picked him, but a soldier with a wicked sense of humor led a round of applause, and the entire Reich Empire army responded with thunderous cheers.
Normally, an executioner officer or soldier would behead them, but...
"Lieutenant General, here's the executioner's sword. You're really doing it yourself?"
"Executing common criminals might be lowly work, but this is about Reich Empire traitors. As a commander, it's my honorable duty."
I raised the sword high, then ordered the troops to quiet down.
Then, bellowing toward the figures on the walls about 300 meters away, I shouted.
"Open the gates and surrender now, or you'll end up like this! Those who yield will be treated as prisoners with respect—no execution. But those who resist to the bitter end will die like these traitors. Because you're traitors too, fighting under your dishonorable king's banner instead of coming out!"
A murmur rose from the walls at my words, but I ignored it and pressed on.
"You might feel wronged. But your king is a cowardly scum who seduced our Imperial chieftain Ishtaven to betray us without even a declaration of war! Huddling behind walls under that bastard's flag, trembling inside—you're no different from these rebels."
With that, I raised the executioner's sword and swiftly severed the heads of the ten Ishtaven followers, one by one.
Each head that fell and sprayed blood drew applause from our troops.
"They said our Lieutenant General's a Swordmaster—looks like it's true... Damn, how does he swing like that?"
"I heard even executioner's swords struggle to kill in one clean stroke..."
"...Khan Slayer! The righteous executioner who felled the wicked khan—long live the Lieutenant General!"
...It was an odd feeling, killing and getting praised for it, but the defenders watching from above must have had their morale crash through the floor—and into the bedrock.
After beheading all ten prisoners.
For a dramatic flourish, I shook the blood from the three-kilo two-handed executioner's sword using only my right hand.
My loyal Reich Empire soldiers—especially the northern light cavalry—cheered wildly in rhythm with the blood flicks, practically ecstatic.
"That's what it takes to slay a khan, damn it. Traitors who betray the emperor he serves deserve death!"
"Khan Slayer! Khan Slayer! Long live the liberator of the north!"
"Long live Lieutenant General Jaeger! Long live the Reich Empire! Long live His Imperial Majesty!"
I couldn't see the faces of those 300 meters away, but...
I could feel their terror as if it were in my grasp.
Fifteen—no, with Warsaw's 50,000, over 200,000 enemy troops—had fallen to the Reich Empire army. The dread of that unstoppable force now bearing down on them.
And Swedish armies marching from the north. The anxiety of an unknowable future.
If things spiraled to the worst and the capital fell, the fear that their own heads would roll by the hand of the enemy general—me.
All of it crashing down at once. Their morale would plummet.
No, it would sink so low that some might seriously consider opening the gates to surrender.
But worrying that far ahead was premature. Time was on my side.
"We've slain Ishtaven's captured traitors. Time for a feast. Let the guards have their fill of meat and drink—except those on watch. And eat where the Stockholm Kingdom troops can get a good look."