Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Snare Operation (2)
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Although I won't encounter any enemies on the march to Helsman Castle, we're still isolated deep in enemy territory.
That means our army right now can't predict when or where a crisis might strike.
In a normal situation, I'd be regretting why I volunteered for a mission like this or living in constant tension, bracing for all sorts of unknown threats...
But even so, personally speaking, I'm far more at ease advancing into enemy lines with just the County of Kroitel's forces than tagging along with Count Schwein's army.
Because history proves that an incompetent commander is scarier to his own troops than the enemy.
The prime examples are Great General Won Gyun, whom Toyotomi Hideyoshi likely foresaw would fight the Battle of Chilcheolyang decades in advance; and Mudaiguchi Renya, the legendary hero of the Korean Independence Army who declared all Japanese people herbivores...
With commanders like those, even if we outnumber and outmatch the enemy, it's safer to desert on the spot.
As I felt grateful for escaping such an incompetent tormentor, Baldt approached and spoke up.
"Your Excellency, according to the scouts' report, we should arrive in Helsman City in two or three days."
"Really? That's faster than expected... I figured it'd take about four days."
"It seems Count Helsman paved the roads better than we thought. The wagons are holding up better than they did marching through the County of Nant."
As Baldt said, Count Helsman had built good roads across his flat plains to boost commerce in his territory.
They weren't as perfect as the Roman legions' paved roads still usable today...
But at least on these roads, we didn't have to worry about horses tripping over rocks.
"That's great news. The enemy won't have expected us to get there first and lay siege... That shortens their prep time for defense proportionally. And they'll lose out on stockpiling that much food too."
"Indeed. It'll make the siege a bit easier. I hear it usually takes half a year to a full year to take a count's castle. Lucky us."
Come to think of it, back in university, I'd researched medieval and early modern siege methods...
The most common were assaulting with siege towers, battering rams, and ladders to scale the walls; digging tunnels under the walls to breach them; or sapping right up to the walls and collapsing them with mines.
Or, to minimize troop losses, just starving them out by waiting for their food to run dry...
To show results and enthusiasm for a siege, we need to deplete their food supplies as much as possible first.
And the best way to do that is definitely...
"Baldt."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"We've got about two months' worth of hardtack, salted meat, beer, and pickled fish. Rationed carefully, we could stretch it to three."
Baldt whistled in amazement.
"Three months... Carrying food for three whole months. Back when I was wandering, that was unimaginable. Even dukes or kings usually only pack a month's worth, from what I hear."
"That's why I loaded up mainly on hardtack and salted meat. Hardly any moisture, so they don't spoil, and they're light. Baking fresh bread on campaign? You'd just end up with flatbread slapped on a hot plate. Hardtack's better."
Baldt's face fell into despair at the prospect of choking down hardtack and salted meat for months.
I'd said that, but honestly, I'd rather eat dough made from flour and water grilled on a plate than just hardtack.
At least that's warm and soft. Hardtack's impossible to chew without soaking it in water or beer first.
And salted meat? It's half meat, half salt—tastes like gnawing a salt block or raw paper...
Ugh, just thinking about fighting while eating this stuff is horrifying.
Of course, without prepping like this, we'd risk starving in enemy territory...
To distract myself from this grim reality, I turned back to Baldt trotting beside me and brought up the war again.
"So, has Count Helsman's army clashed with Viscount Nant's forces yet? If they have, and we're in position here, we should turn back for a pincer attack."
"I don't think so. The latest messenger from the Viscount says Helsman's outnumbered forces can't cross the river to attack first, and the Viscount's holding off too, since knights are vulnerable while fording. They'll likely glare at each other for days or weeks."
"In other words, they're waiting to see who gets impatient and attacks first. No need for us to rush in then. From now on, send messengers to every village along our route. Order them to hand over all their food timed to our arrival."
Baldt looked puzzled.
"Pardon? Not even looting, just demanding 'food'? For morale, wouldn't allowing some pillaging be better?"
The pillaging Baldt meant wasn't just taking money, food, or property.
It was the medieval—no, even modern—war crime: massacres including murder, rape, and arson, symbols of war's brutality.
In this world without human rights concepts, such acts against enemies were guilt-free necessities to 'boost morale' if needed.
But with my memories from Korea, even in war, I couldn't stomach massacring peasants uninvolved in the fighting.
Plus, slaughtering all the serfs would force a hellish siege where enemy blood barely covers our losses...
So, to warn the troops and single out Baldt, I decided to reprimand him.
"If Viscount Nant wins this war, this county becomes his. If I let pillaging happen here and kill off the serfs, he'd inherit a territory with no people. That'd be worse than gaining nothing. Cut the nonsense."
Baldt got the point, accepted the rebuke, then turned to the troops behind us and bellowed.
"By His Excellency's order, no pillaging in this campaign! Molesting women or killing village serfs for loot will be punished under military law."
I beckoned a nearby knight on horseback and gave orders.
"Mobilize the messengers attached to each company. Order the bailiffs or village headmen along the route to surrender all village food stores. If they refuse, warn them we'll loot instead."
"Yes, sir."
The knight spurred his horse back along the column to relay the command.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After marching all day, we reached a village where the headman greeted me.
"Welcome, sir. As you commanded, we've brought all our food..."
His words were polite, but his face showed resentment at losing a year's worth of stores.
Yet he quickly grasped what he had to do to survive, dropping to his knees and pressing his forehead to the ground.
"So please, honor your promise and spare our lives and families' safety..."
"I, Siel von Kroitel, swear on my name to guarantee your lives. You there, soldier."
The called soldier dashed up, saluted sharply.
"Yes, sir! Private First Class Meints!"
"How long for these serfs to walk to Helsman Castle from here?"
"About three days, sir."
"Issue them three days' rations then. We take the rest. As promised, we won't harm your village serfs—so get out now."
The headman bowed deeply in thanks, then hurried back to his people.
The villagers, stunned, received their three days' hardtack from our troops and headed for Helsman Castle.
Watching this, Baldt eyed me curiously.
"Why give the serfs enough food to reach the castle? You could've just sent them packing without rations and still earned praise for honor..."
"That's true too. But Baldt... I'd prefer if even one of them makes it inside unharmed."
Baldt looked baffled.
"They're people with arms and legs—they'll just bolster the castle's defenders. Why not chase them off elsewhere?"
"Look at them go, Baldt. Hardly any able-bodied men—just old folks, women, kids, and unfit males useless for war. They won't help much in defense. But they'll still eat the castle's food. So..."
"Already short on stores, more mouths mean less time they can hold out."
And refusing to pillage when we could—while giving enough food to reach the castle—makes great propaganda.
'Even enemy territory's serfs, I didn't slaughter them recklessly; I gave them food for protection till they reached safety.'
Spreading that would shift how other barons see me once the war ends.
Plus, personally, I don't want to kill more people than necessary.
"Stick to this policy going forward. Save as many serfs as possible, herd them into Helsman Castle to sap their war effort. No touching women if you value your lives—relay that order again."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"Now, eat, rest, then set up camp."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Over the next few days, we kept collecting village food stores as we marched, finally arriving near Helsman Castle.
In the end, we'd gathered enough to last our army eight months...
Meaning no months of just hardtack and salted meat during the siege.
The troops cheered when they heard.
Now to encircle the castle and build camps for the men...
As I rode lost in thought, a soldier ahead shouted.
"Castle in sight!!"
From here on, though no full assault planned, the siege begins—the cruelest form of medieval warfare...
We must weaken their war-making without heavy losses to return safely.