The Fall of Kadana Castle
The thunder of warhorses shook the earth as Kadana Castle fell. Dorgon, having secured a single bridgehead, issued orders for a slow advance.
James de Wintergard led the vanguard, marching straight toward the castle. It was the second-largest fortress in the Reilly family's territory. Named Kadana, it had been designed to repel nomads and was renowned as an impregnable stronghold.
"Taking down Kadana Castle was impossible from the start."
"If that fortress doesn't fall, won't the Reilly family and Darafont's mercenaries refuse to surrender?"
"Well, a prolonged war would be a headache for them, but they can't afford it."
Dorgon's grand strategy hinged on Andrea Wintergard, the figurehead championed by the Darafont and Reilly families. Their ultimate goal was for Andrea to enter the North and claim legitimate rule—victory for them. But that was impossible from the outset. Only one person had ever pacified the North: the founder of the Wintergard family, and no one else.
The problem was their genuine belief in it.
"That's why they can't hold out in a siege for long. They need to boost morale somewhat or put some pressure on the Northern army."
Dorgon ordered a further slowdown. They were nearly at Kadana's gates now—the walls just visible in the distance.
"Begin the siege. And keep the main force well back."
"A siege without the full army?"
"Yes. Say... 100 men?"
"Just 100? They won't breach the walls."
"Let's get started. Lord James, lend me your ear for a moment."
James heard Dorgon's plan. Sieging with a mere 100 was absurd. But they would all be bait.
Inside Kadana Castle, panic spread upon spotting the Northern main force. The vanguard mercenaries had entered, but not their full contingent. Holding with just Reilly soldiers was impossible. Six hundred elite Reilly troops faced over a thousand from the Northern main body.
"What do we do?"
"Kadana's a fortress. Shut the gates and hold—they can't win."
"Our rear is already all but wiped out. We need some kind of victory, no matter what."
Max, captain of the vanguard mercenaries, spoke up. Roger, legion commander of the Reilly family, felt the same. They desperately needed a win. Their current state couldn't sustain a siege.
"Supplies are low, the rear's a warzone. Holding out means eventual surrender."
"Hm... let's wait for the main force anyway."
The moment they opted for a siege, a messenger burst in: the Northern army had begun their assault.
"How many soldiers? The whole main force?"
"No! Just... about 100."
"A hundred?"
"Yes..."
Max and Roger were stunned. Toppling Kadana with 100 was laughable. It had to be a feint—the 100 were bait, the real target elsewhere.
"No way 100 can take this castle. So what's the actual objective?"
"What could it be?"
Another messenger arrived. They'd spotted the Northern main force's movement: bypassing Kadana. They knew they couldn't take it.
"Then we just sit tight..."
"Why bypass?"
"If it's not us they're after..."
"The main force coming from the rear?"
"Exactly. They're targeting our main body!"
Pin the vanguard and Reilly main force at Kadana, then annihilate their main army. With forces split, the mercenaries and Reilly numbered only 600. Defeat was certain.
"Ignore the 100 and sortie with all 500."
"Smart. Kadana doesn't need many to hold—it's not falling easily anyway."
"Then move out now!"
Excluding the separated 100, the Northern main force had 900. Attacking the enemy main would give the North numerical superiority.
"Sortie immediately!"
Five hundred troops poured from Kadana Castle. If they reached before the Northern attack, they'd crush them alongside the Southern main force.
"Full speed!"
They charged at breakneck pace toward the suspected bypass route. It would take a day to link with the Southern main at the prearranged bridgehead. Then the Northern main force would be annihilated.
But.
"Report! Report!"
"What is it?!"
"The vanguard hit an ambush!"
"Ambush?"
Roger and Max halted briefly, startled. Pushing on would take them deeper, but an ambush now?
"How many?"
"Can't confirm!"
"...Sh-should we turn back?"
Roger hesitated. Real ambush? How? Return to Kadana? But they needed a victory. Just 100 at the walls. The 900-strong Northern main was bypassing. No encounter possible now.
"What now?"
"Press on."
"What?"
"An ambush is just troops blocking the path at most."
Maybe. Roger stood at a fork. Advance, and what then? They could still retreat to Kadana and resume the siege. But what of the troops coming from the south?
"Lord Roger. We must go forward."
"...R-right. Yes! Forward!"
They chose to advance. Reilly vanguard and mercenaries ignored the ambush reports and charged ahead.
Forward! Forward!
"Report! Ambush!"
"Ignore it! Just path guards!"
Deeper. Deeper still!
Roger and Max's legions reached the front, where they finally spotted the ambush: barely 30 men.
Thirty...
"Break through..."
Suddenly, dust clouds rose from the army's flank. To the right—far off, but closing. Arrows rained down too.
"Ambush!"
"H-how many soldiers?!"
Before their 600, the entire Northern main force arrived. James de Wintergard's vanguard charged without slowing.
"Th-they're after us..."
"They targeted us from the start!"
James's vanguard slammed in unrelentingly. Screams echoed as flank soldiers' lines crumbled, skewered on spears.
"Hold formation! Square up..."
Shiiiik—!
Arrows blotted the sky. Without shields raised in time, they took the volley head-on. The flanked Southern army split in two under enemy pressure.
"Form square! Form the damn square!"
No matter how Roger bellowed, the troops ignored orders amid the chaos. The battlefield's din. Severed chains of command. Fear. The terror of death!
"R-retreat! Retreat!"
The Northern main poured fire. Cavalry drew swords, mowing down the fleeing soldiers. Command had collapsed.
"Back to Kadana! To Kadana!"
The Southern 600 scattered like ants after hitting the ambush, littering the ground.
Soldiers ditched spears to flee, some shedding armor in desperation.
"Annihilate them!"
James de Wintergard's order. As they mopped up the Southern army, they let the routed stragglers flee without pursuit. The objective was complete.
"Chase them down?"
"No. The war's over."
Three hours. Only three hours since leaving Kadana, and they'd lost nearly everything. Max and Roger abandoned their horses and ran.
If they reached Kadana, they could resume the siege.
"Huff... huff... Is my head still attached?"
"Couldn't say. Let's go."
As Kadana came into view, Dorgon blocked their path. The 100 sieging the castle stood ready, the Northern main having played ambush.
"Seize them."
"Yes, sir!"
Cavalry spurred forward, grabbing Roy and Max. They fled with backs turned but couldn't outrun horses.
As James predicted, one battle had crushed the enemy's momentum.
"These the commanders?"
"Yes."
"Execute them all for now. Demand Kadana's surrender. Tell them the castle stays safe if they yield."
"Understood."
Max and Roy were executed. The hundred guarding Kadana had no choice but to surrender. Holding out meant no guarantee of survival. Even a fortress couldn't last forever—better to secure their lives now.
"Now just scraps of Darafont mercenaries and Reilly troops left, right?"
"Yes. Probably... 600 to 700."
"And Darmian's forces are climbing from the rear."
"Yes."
The war would end here. No need for a desperate last stand.
"Rest briefly at Kadana, then strike at once."
"Understood."