Chapter 265
Chapter 265
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 265
Chapter Title: Griffino Naval Battle (3)
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When I ordered them to build siege ballistae, the generals started speculating about my intentions rather than asking me outright for the reason.
"A naval battle ultimately boils down to who boards the enemy's ship first to seize the advantage in close-quarters combat, or who lands the first solid hit with the prow-mounted ram—a tool for smashing through wooden gates like those on city walls—doesn't it?"
"Siege ballistae pack a punch, sure, but the standard for supporting boarding actions or long-range fleet duels is small ballistae—those heavy crossbows versatile for anti-personnel and anti-material use..."
"Commander Jaeger must have some profound strategy in mind, right?"
As they said, the Imperial Academy and Staff College teach naval combat just like that.
The basics of sea battles are boarding actions: slaughter the enemy on their decks and capture ships one by one.
Or ramming the enemy's hull hard with a ram to punch a hole and sink them outright.
Those are the paths to victory at sea.
Other nations run their navies by the same playbook.
So, to kill even one more enemy in boarding fights, it makes sense to load up on small ballistae and squeeze in as many troops as possible.
But with their fleet three times larger and three times more men to throw at us, sitting around waiting for boarding battles guarantees a loss.
"We'll avoid boarding actions as much as possible in this fight. We'll only use the prow rams if we have no choice. Why? Because the tactics we've used in naval battles up to now are known to them just as well as they are to me. To secure victory, our forces need to ditch those outdated plays and try something new."
Just as I said, orthodox tactics are the kind everyone knows inside out.
Fighting styles anyone can grasp perfectly leave endless ways to counter them—and in a situation where we're hopelessly outmatched, they're even easier to shatter.
When you're already at a disadvantage, why show your whole hand? Better to pull off some insane stunt no one's tried before. It'll boost our odds.
"To that end, our fleet will prepare siege ballistae for long-range strikes instead of gearing up for boarding. Since they're built for sieges, their power is immense. One solid hit will do wonders for breaking enemy morale."
Siege ballistae... in plain terms, giant crossbows for smashing stone walls to rubble.
Just hearing they're siege weapons might make you think they hit like cannons.
But no siege weapon powered purely by rope tension can generate that kind of force to pulverize boulders.
Hell, punching through a ship's thick wooden deck would be a stretch.
Still, if you nail a cluster of sailors huddled on deck prepping for boarding, you can drop a bunch at once.
When they close in for boarding, at point-blank range, unleash the siege ballistae. At minimum, you'll sweep away several; at best, a dozen or more—like bowling pins toppling before the ball.
That raw power and unfamiliar tactic will dull the Warsaw officers' judgment.
To maximize this edge...
"Now, I'll announce the revised battle plan. First, we'll engage the enemy with 40 ships fitted with siege ballistae."
Even siege models are lighter than trebuchets, which weigh over a dozen tons each. With smart placement, we can mount about eight per ship.
Four to port, four to starboard.
"In typical naval battles, fleets clash head-on like a formal duel where both sides know the rules. We can't afford that. Our forces will fight using ambushes to the fullest. Everyone, look at the map."
The generals' eyes snapped to the chart on the board, depicting Warsaw's coastal city and shoreline.
"According to the carrier pigeon reports, the enemy is mustering their remaining forces at Uczro Harbor, 50 km from Griffino Castle's port. That tells us they're banking on numerical superiority to crush us straight-on."
With a three-to-one force disparity, they're brimming with confidence—but the Grand Duchy's crisis has them rushing too.
I get why they're in such a hurry, deep down.
They need to smash the Imperial Army ASAP or their crumbling nation is done for.
But haste breeds blind spots and makes you bite at any bait.
In other words, it opens up gaps for me to exploit.
"So, I'll lure those arrogant fools coming to kill us right here, near Mielno Harbor."
"What bait do you plan to use, sir?"
"I'll dangle something they can't ignore. My flagship included, three ships will patrol as if scouting their path, then tangle with their scouts. When their main force turns toward us, we'll fall back toward our main body of 20 ships."
Warsaw's Commander Timo is more desperate for victory than anyone right now.
His country teeters on the brink of ruin from the invader Peter Jaeger. Lose this battle, and while the Grand Duchy won't fall outright...
They'll suffer catastrophic losses, leaving them crippled beyond recovery.
But beat me, and this 40-something upstart who clawed his way to fleet command grabs honor, wealth, and power as the nation's savior...
He'll charge with bloodshot eyes, hell-bent on my head.
"Once they spot our retreat, the 23 ships—including the flagship—will swing toward the waters off Elcondor Island near Mielno Harbor. The enemy will chase to annihilate our main force. When the Warsaw fleet of 120 ships passes the midpoint of Elcondor Island, the remaining 17 ships will loop around and envelop their rear. Our main body will pivot to seal their front."
Just like Admiral Yi Sun-sin's legendary masterpiece, the Battle of Hansan Island—surrounding them even in the most improbable circumstances.
Trapped front and back by our ships, pounded by siege ballistae hurling massive boulders they've never faced...
Their commander's judgment will falter. Panicked troops won't dare board; they'll just flail in confusion.
Like jaywalkers freezing in terror right before a car hits, even when a sprint would save them.
"Surrounded on all sides—fore, aft, port, starboard—the enemy won't gauge our numbers accurately. That's when we hammer them with every ballista we have, thinning their ranks and keeping them dazed. Of course, we can only scramble their wits for so long."
Humans adapt amazingly well. Stick around a foul stench for ten minutes—no, ten seconds—and your nose goes numb to it.
In war, no matter the chaos, as time ticks by, soldiers start regaining their senses one by one amid the din and danger.
Give it more time, and they'll all snap back, devising counters fit to face me.
By then, we'll have slaughtered hordes—but it won't offset their numbers alone...
"While they're still reeling, fishing boats I've requisitioned from Mielno Island will swoop in for support. Fishermen will crew them, loaded with highly flammable oil, oil-soaked straw, dry leaves, and kindling. While you're keeping them off-balance, these boats close with the enemy warships. Then their fleet—even on open water—goes up like a bonfire."
Even with chemical extinguishers, a building fire is hard to douse once it's raging.
These guys lack even basic firefighting know-how, let alone chemicals.
Warships, made mostly of wood kept 'dry' except below the waterline, burn like tinder.
No wonder the Age of Sail banned cooking fires in galleys during rough seas.
"Once the Warsaw ships catch fire, their fleet descends into chaos and loses all cohesion. That's our cue to commit everything and smash their 120-ship armada. Get to your preparations."
With that, the generals dispersed in small groups.
Meanwhile, I called over a local notable who'd been assisting with admin duties at the meeting.
"Round up some fishermen for me. I've got a favor to ask."
Now, all that's left is finding brave fishermen to set the enemy fleet ablaze.