Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Siege of the Capital Oslo (6)
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From Major Augsburg's vantage point, the scene near Oslo's walls was clearly divided into hell and heaven, split right along the city walls.
Heaven was the camp where the Reich Empire's army—his own side—was stationed. Hell was that prison surrounded by walls about three meters high.
The Empire's soldiers were leisurely enjoying their happy situation, where every food was supplied without limit—except alcohol.
"To the great mercy of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, cheers!"
"No more, no less—just let it be like today forever!"
"Eat and drink while you can! The Major General gave permission, so today we just play hard. Oh, tomorrow too!"
And some Northerners rolled wagon wheels while roughly threatening the Stockholm captives.
A few looked on the verge of tears, sniffling away. But for those captured soldiers, the Northern troops personally approached to bolster their spirits.
As a result, they began fervently singing songs near the walls that evoked thoughts of their homeland in the Kingdom of Stockholm.
"Oh, by the blue river of the village, the peaceful watermill. That night, Katyusha's skirt fluttered like a single butterfly~"
"In the golden wheat fields, her beautiful smile rises before my eyes..."
"The dazzling morning sun, warm bread, my wife's smile—there, in our home."
The Reich Empire's soldiers clapped wildly and cheered at the song, drawing every gaze and attention from the Stockholm Kingdom's troops atop the walls downward to the base.
"Fuck, I wanna go home. Dragged into the army was shit enough—why the hell do I have to live like this?"
"Mom, Mom... I miss you."
"I wanna grope Riella's tits. Damn, why'd I blow off her suggestion to go to the watermill the night before enlistment..."
The kingdom's officers and nobles, hearing the Stockholm captives outside the walls sing of their homeland, watched as the wall guards grew listless and morale plummeted. They poured all their focus into rallying the troops.
"Recon battalion, now's the time. Hurry inside the city. Everyone bring the oil-soaked torches, oil-drenched straw, and oil barrels, right?"
At Major Short's question, the 150-strong unit—including the captives—quickly finished roll call and checks, then cautiously searched for the hole at the base of the wall.
Normally, they might have been spotted by the sentries on guard. But inside Oslo, every officer and soldier's attention was fixed on the song from the Stockholm captives.
Because of that, even though the sentries were on watch, they couldn't even properly detect someone passing below...
"Captain Holmes, found the hole yet?"
"Looking closely at the base of the wall, there's a hole big enough for one person to crawl through. And pressing my ear to the ground, I can barely hear faint footsteps—so no kingdom soldiers or civilians patrolling inside."
"Good. We're going in right now. Recon Platoon 1 first, then the captives, and the rest with me at the end."
As Platoon 1 began crawling in, Major Augsburg kept a tight watch on the captives.
Because if those idiots—no, fools—shouted or signaled, not only he but the entire 100-man recon battalion could be slaughtered.
'I'd love to leave these bastards behind and go solo, but if a few of those captives awkwardly "escape" and get caught, the Stockholm Kingdom's people and nobles will tremble at the thought of internal rebels. Still, damn, promotion's a bitch.'
"Listen up, you idiot captive scum—clean out your ears. Our Major General will absolutely keep his promise to you. So until we say it's okay to bolt, don't even think about running off on your own. Set fires. Kill if we say kill, or else..."
The major slashed his sword through the air threateningly.
"You and your families get branded traitors and die. Succeed, though, and buy a house with five gold, get married. We won't touch that."
Having dangled carrot and stick to control them through fear and reward, Platoon 1 finished infiltrating.
All 150 of the recon battalion, captives included, infiltrated safely.
"......Quiet. Too quiet."
"No one seems to have noticed. Listen around."
Major Short strained his ears for surrounding sounds.
No footsteps approached them. Instead, he heard officers berating Stockholm soldiers and the hurried steps of several people.
"His Majesty the King orders that if any bastards up top are bawling to that song, beat sense into them—even kill them! Set an example and calm them down!"
"Can't even sleep at night—what the hell is this? That Jaeger Major General bastard..."
"Quit bitching and move, unless you wanna see what happens if you're caught slacking."
Hearing the voices around, Major Short tossed off the black hood covering them.
Now, he looked just like a Stockholm Kingdom noncom—sergeant major level, at a glance.
"Ditch that damn black rag. From now on, act like Stockholm soldiers. Move in pairs of squads. Burn your assigned targets without fail, and on the way, kill any Stockholm troops or officers you spot if the situation calls for it."
All eyes from the 150 subordinates and captives fixed on the battalion commander.
"You've got your rank insignia, so record who kills which captains or below—officers or enlisted. For majors and above, bring back insignia and proof. Dismissed."
With that, Major Short led his ten—including three captives—toward his assigned arson target: the armory.
Unlike a typical infiltration, they boldly used the city's main streets, like regular Stockholm forces.
Then, some civilians, lost in the confusion of homeland songs, looked anxious.
"Everyone stay quiet and return to your assigned quarters! Anyone disturbing the city will be silenced per His Majesty's orders—killed."
Major Short chose the best way to act without suspicion here.
"Major General Jaeger's plotting to stir you up with that homeland song! All of you, shut up, go back to quarters, and sleep! Wander outside, and you'll face extreme punishment!"
His acting was spot-on; the Stockholm civilians, fearing death, scurried back to quarters.
Even real Stockholm Kingdom soldiers passing by mistook them for friendlies and let it slide.
Thus, Major Short reached the armory without issue and signaled.
He shook his right hand up and down three times. He and his men spread oil-soaked straw in prime spots for burning.
They piled flammables high and doused it with oil.
"Light it up."
With those words, flames erupted on the wooden armory, roaring to life.
The recon troops stifled cheers, trembling with joy. Major Short smacked each one's back hard.
"You idiot bastards, linger here and you're dead. Move out fast. On the way, torch any wooden shacks or temp barracks with torches. Execute!"
His ten—who'd strutted here boldly—now slunk through back alleys as stealthily as possible.
En route, they swiftly set fire to anything flammable.
As they fled hastily, good news came from a nearby main street.
"Platoon 1: armory! Platoon 2: regimental barracks! Platoon 3: temp camp! Platoon 4: with me to the palace now!"
"Fire! Fire!"
"......Someone's dead! Someone's dead! Reich Empire scum inside the city!"
Fires at multiple enemy key facilities meant other units succeeded. The bigger the uproar, the less attention on them—higher survival odds.
This was fantastic news.
"Burn everything like you're torching the whole city. Stockholm captives—you're free to go. No—run if you don't wanna die."
Unaware Major General Jaeger actually hoped they'd all get caught inside, the Stockholm captives bolted at the word.
Major Short and his 100 subordinates all returned to base safely.
And a few days later, King Christian von Basa of Stockholm proposed peace talks to Major General Jaeger.