Chapter 248
Chapter 248
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 248
Chapter Title: Siege of Griffino Castle (2)
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There is one rule of war that has remained unchanged from ancient times right up to modern warfare.
No matter who the enemy sends as an envoy or what message they bring, they must never be killed.
The custom of not killing envoys arose because, even in the heat of battle between bitter enemies, there needs to be at least some channel for minimal communication.
On the Europan continent where I live, killing someone attempting to act as an envoy and broker talks is considered a greater atrocity than massacring civilians in wartime.
As long as a man has the guts, even a four-star general like me can safely deliver a message and return unscathed.
"Well, if the Warsaw bastards were backed into such a desperate corner that they couldn't even think straight, they'd have gone berserk and tried to lop off a four-star general's head regardless of envoy status or anything. They wouldn't pull a stunt like this."
Plus, if Baron Spiegelmann—a mere noble of the Warsaw Archduchy—were to behead me, the Grand Duke of Warsaw might secretly rejoice,
but to avoid staining his own hands with such a notoriously dirty reputation, he'd likely exterminate the baron, along with his entire clan.
So, considering his own life and his family's, the baron couldn't just casually swing at my neck.
As I trudged along, I recalled how Laura and Anya had chewed me out under the pretext of a meeting because I was the commander.
Strictly speaking, subordinates giving opinions to their superior based on personal ties could be problematic, but...
Lieutenant General Werner, the deputy commander, had declared that "stopping the commander from taking reckless risks is an exception," and with a few officers chiming in agreement, it all blew over without issue.
Lost in such idle thoughts, I arrived near the Reich Empire army's lines and the moat of Griffino Castle, where I halted my steps.
Instantly, the attention of the soldiers and civilians atop the walls turned to me in unison.
"That bastard's back again, damn it. Probably here to spout more crap about surrendering."
"Filthy hypocrite who wrecked everything we built and now pretends to be nice—drop dead, you son of a bitch!"
"Yeah, come at us if you dare! We'll make this your grave!"
Various voices hurled curses and warnings at me, but based on my experience hearing enemy soldiers spout threats countless times...
There was a faint tremor in the voices of those on the Griffino Castle walls.
Shouting loudly with trembling voices meant they were desperately suppressing their fear of us storming in and massacring them.
So, just a little nudge now, and the gates of this castle under Baron Spiegelmann might swing open.
"I, Peter Jaeger, commander of the Reich Empire's expeditionary force to the Warsaw Archduchy, sincerely salute you for holding the walls to the bitter end in this hopeless situation."
It might seem ridiculous for someone urging surrender to praise how well you've fought so far,
but I genuinely wanted to applaud their courage.
And rightly so, because we could seize that castle whenever we wanted, and everyone inside who picked up spear or sword afterward would face mass execution—they knew that full well.
Overcoming the terror of death and holding out in there was no easy feat.
As a soldier of the Empire, I should praise what's praiseworthy, curse what's curseworthy, and exploit what can be exploited to the fullest.
"Yet I ask you again: do you truly believe you can win against our 100,000-strong army by relying on these low walls? If any of you are deluded enough to think so, out of respect for your courage, I'll let you know one final time."
Then I paused for breath and pointed at a few of them as I spoke.
"You there holding a spear, the old man in rags wielding a hoe instead of armor, the housewife clutching a stone, and you in the front boiling with patriotic fervor to defend your homeland! Not a single one of you armed will leave this castle alive. I, Count Peter von Jaeger, swear that those who resist with weapons will only exit as corpses."
Of course, if they didn't open the gates after hearing me today, I planned to lob a few boulders from catapults for a couple of days while urging surrender before heading back.
But to instill fear, you have to draw your sword and look ready to slit throats at any moment—make it as terrifying as possible.
That way, the enemy panics, unsure when this madman might charge, and hands over what you want in their frenzy.
With that, I extended a hand to Vincent, who was pulling a cart loaded with wine barrels beside me, and he handed me a goblet filled with wine.
Drinking right in front of the enemy lines made it taste exceptionally fresh and rich.
"Filthy looter scum! You call yourself human after that?"
"Fuck, fuck!!"
"......I don't want to die like this... please spare me..."
Some wailed they didn't want to die, others spat nothing but curses, and a few clung to ideals worthless in this situation.
Such varied reactions meant the mood was tipping our way—the officers could barely keep control anymore.
I ignored the officers up there barking, soothing, and cajoling their soldiers and pressed on.
"I just said this was my final urging, but there's something I couldn't say before, so let me continue. Your homeland, the Warsaw Archduchy, has abandoned you. Otherwise, with 100,000 troops bearing down, why order a mere 8,000 soldiers in a castle with such low walls—where even scraping together every man gives you barely 30,000—to hold out? Your country truly is trash, isn't it? Knights with titles might understand, but dragging citizens and serfs, who have no duty to fight except when conscripted, to their deaths!"
The reason I pointed this out was to shatter the soldiers' last pillar of resolve inside that castle.
The nobles in there, including me and the Empire's officers, all knew reinforcements wouldn't arrive before the castle fell.
Yet the officers and nobles sat tight because switching sides meant losing their privileges—and they'd been brainwashed their whole lives with loyalty to the nation, the Grand Duke, and his house.
Even irrational orders had to be obeyed.
But the commoners and citizens wouldn't buy dying for a Grand Duke they'd never even seen, who only took their taxes.
Holding Griffino Castle at least planted false hope that the Grand Duke's hundreds of thousands would crush Peter Jaeger's wicked Reich Empire forces.
"If my words sound like lies, ask those officers you've faithfully followed! Ask when reinforcements are coming."
With that, I took another goblet of wine from Vincent and drank.
Meanwhile, atop the walls, countless soldiers were grilling their officers, on the verge of outright mutiny.
Demanding proof that reinforcements really weren't coming, that Peter Jaeger was full of shit.
"Shut up! Any more questions will be seen as mutiny or attempts to lower morale—punishable by death! Back to your posts!"
"Don't listen to the enemy! Re, reinforcements will surely come!"
"Just hold out a little longer, and His Grace the Grand Duke of Warsaw will crush the Reich Empire army!"
The officers, terrified of dying themselves, couldn't calmly say "reinforcements are coming soon," and morale plummeted to rock bottom.
You idiots—at times like this, man up, lie through your teeth about when reinforcements arrive, and whip them into fighting to the end.
If even you're too scared to die despite steeling yourselves, lying to your own troops, who the hell would believe you?
Sneering at such nobles inwardly, I took yet another sip of wine and spoke.
"Your brave, loyal servants of the Grand Duke of Warsaw will all die here—how could I, as a knight, not pay my respects? So I've brought the finest wine to bid you farewell in this life! And lastly, I wish to speak directly with your commander, Mayor Spiegelmann. Open the gates at once!"
Having pushed this far, they had no choice but to comply...
The gates soon creaked open, and Baron Spiegelmann cautiously emerged.
"Come in."