Dawn Delivery (3)
One day after Basilike Ethereia had swapped horses and plunged straight into battle. Nikephoros Ouranos proved why he was a veteran of a hundred wars by reducing over ten military outposts to ashes in a single day.
"Truly an exceptional man." Raiding a single outpost usually took half a day. Cavalry had high mobility, it was true, but that didn't make shrugging off enemy counterattacks easy. Yet Nikephoros moved with the precision of a modern blitzkrieg, charging freely in all directions. He could do this because he knew exactly when to attack and when to withdraw.
"He burns outposts with heavy enemy presence, intercepts from the rear against equals, and charges straight through lighter ones... And he actually pulls it off." The battle-hardened veteran Nikephoros Ouranos was putting military theory—straight out of West Point—into action. Thanks to him shaking up the battlefield like that, we were able to swiftly construct supply depots.
"Warehouse Seven is complete."
"Warehouse Eleven will finish construction shortly."
Reports poured in one after another. I headed straight to the warehouse construction sites. Soldiers bustled about, using the planks we'd brought for transport to erect temporary structures. As soon as I arrived, the adjutant began his report.
"As ordered, we're building them as quickly as possible to a height that won't collapse in the wind."
I nodded at the adjutant's report. In truth, these supply depots we were building were decoys. The idea was to trick the enemy into thinking they were real and lure them into an ambush. We'd scatter these fake depots and position Varangians around them to make it convincing.
"Are the supplies properly hidden?"
"No need to worry. We've placed Pechenegs and Alans in key spots for swift transport."
The supplies were arranged for easy cavalry handling and hidden in dispersed locations. The cavalry acting as delivery riders for each sector would respond immediately to requests from the vanguard. If rapid delivery left a spot short, riders from other areas would bring excess to refill it. Simply put, with outposts A, B, and C: if A requested supplies, its stocks would deplete, and B's would move in to replenish. It was akin to the Continuous Replenishment Program from logistics management—sustained inventory replenishment. Of course, without modern tech, it wasn't perfect.
We were fully controlling the river basin and laying out supply plans when Angelos, leading the left wing of the trailing forces, approached the supply unit.
The banner of Taghma Ton Ethereia visible in the distance. Before it stood Hoplétarchis Angelos, draped in a cloak bestowed by the emperor himself.
Spotting me, Angelos approached with the warmth of an old friend.
"Congratulations. I heard you won a great victory."
"I haven't the foggiest what you're talking about."
"Your exploits in the Hebrus River basin battle. Not Lord Ouranos's, but yours?"
"First I've heard of it."
"Megas Domestikos let it slip."
Angelos jabbed my side with his elbow to show camaraderie. Had we ever been this close? But since I owed him one, I let it slide.
"More importantly, your squire. Quite sharp, isn't he?"
He pointed to Alberto standing beside him. To smooth communications between the supply battalion and the left wing, I'd temporarily attached Alberto to Angelos's command. Thanks to Alberto's guidance, they'd arrived quickly without getting lost.
"Thank you for the kind words, my lord."
Alberto bowed politely. With a gesture, Angelos prepared to return my squire.
"Keep him until the battle ends."
"Using him as a messenger? You could just use cavalry for that."
In response, I gestured to our surroundings. Mangled corpses. Abandoned weapons. Anyone could see a fierce battle had raged here.
"Now that the enemy knows there's a supply base here, they'll keep coming. Only seasoned troops can hold the line."
Alberto was still a boy soldier, far from battle-hardened. He didn't belong in this brutal frontline.
"No, I'll stay with my lord."
The stubborn lad bristled—just like in Messina. I tossed him a dagger.
"If you can so much as scratch me with that, I'll let you rejoin your unit."
Alberto hesitated. I reclaimed the dagger and spoke firmly.
"Don't hesitate. This is a battlefield."
"...Understood. I'll continue carrying out my lord's orders."
Alberto finally backed down. Watching the exchange with interest, Angelos addressed me.
"Are all Vikings that rough?"
"This is me being as considerate as it gets."
Angelos shrugged instead of replying.
"I heard you swapped horses. Everything ready?"
"Protokentarchos!"
Calling the senior centurion, the adjutant handling horse management hurried over.
"You called, sir?"
"Are the horses Lord Angelos brought fully recovered?"
"All done. Ready for immediate deployment."
"Assist the cavalry of Lord Moselaph's left wing in swapping mounts."
Now that we'd done this a few times, the adjutant moved without needing further orders.
"Turning them into elite troops in that short time?"
"Brush up against death enough, and people change fast."
We chatted as I led Angelos to the command tent and guided him to the unfurled map.
"You've already mapped the entire area?"
"Not entirely. Still gaps."
While seizing the river basin, I'd deployed scouts to survey everything. That way, we could distinguish real depot sites from decoy ones.
"Impressive nonetheless. Is that why you begged His Majesty for veteran nomadic cavalry?"
"Exactly."
Nomad cavalry were hunters at heart—peerless riders and scouts. While Vikings held the river line defensively, the nomads circled the flanks, filling in intel gaps.
"I say it every time, but your talents are extraordinary. Multiple languages, combat prowess, tactical acumen..."
"Thanks for the praise. But that's not what's important now."
I pointed to the differently colored flags on the map.
"Red marks real supply sites. Blue are the fake warehouses."
"Got it."
"Memorize them. If you're in a pinch with shortages, I can't deliver instantly."
Angelos nodded. As I'd mentioned repeatedly, Taghma Ton Logistikos's main tactical goal was supporting the vanguard. His unit came second. Even carrying extra for the vanguard and advancing slowly, we weren't overflowing. Slower marches meant more consumption en route. His forces needed precautions against potential shortages.
"You're not seriously telling me to memorize by sight. You've made me a map, right?"
The sly remark drew a long sigh from me. I handed over the map from my bosom.
"Lose it, and the whole army's in jeopardy."
"I won't lose it. Don't worry."
Angelos snatched the map from my hand.
"So, how's the battle proceeding from here?"
Without hesitation, he replied.
"We'll follow Lord Ouranos's path and smash through the weak points relentlessly."
"Smash through?"
"Do you know whose command Taghma Ton Ethereia originally fell under?"
"...Lord Komnenos?"
"Correct."
"From what I know, Lord Komnenos's forces are..."
"Rome's strongest legion."
Angelos's face brimmed with pride. Clenching his fist, he continued.
"With Ouranos's vanguard breaking through, the enemy's lines are shattered."
Obvious, really. To stop cavalry burrowing deep on minimal supplies, enemies could only block ahead, encircle, or pursue. The Bulgarians, hit by surprise, couldn't block or encircle. So they'd pursued, wrecking their own formation.
"But against a slow-moving force like yours, they'll recover and respond."
Even with lines broken, they could handle Angelos's follow-up. Because Taghma Ton Ethereia was mostly infantry.
"Naturally. But if we strike here..."
"Even the slightest gap means their annihilation."
He began deploying wooden figurines on the map. Unlike the enemy's straight-line formation, Angelos's forces arrayed in an oblique line.