Unification War (3)
A cluster of soldiers gathered in the forest. In their midst stood an elderly general.
"Revenge against East Rome!"
"Revenge against the oppressors!"
"Blood for blood!"
The Bulgarians, gripping their weapons in fury. Leading them was Nestoric, the famed Bulgarian commander.
Nestoric had survived the empire's relentless pursuit. The reason he lived was thanks to the East Roman nobles.
During Basil II's reign, East Roman soldiers had hounded him without mercy. As he prepared for a final stand in the mountains, a letter arrived from one of the nobles.
A letter from the East Roman noble Keroularios. Its contents offered a chance for revenge against Basil II and Rogerius.
Nestoric could scarcely believe it—a letter from an East Roman noble, no less from the great Keroularios family. But disbelief wouldn't stop the pursuing soldiers. With nothing to lose, he replied to Keroularios's message.
No sooner had he sent his response than the encirclement miraculously unraveled. Mercenaries hired by the Keroularios family soon arrived, concealing not only Nestoric's identity but that of his Bulgarian brotherhood as well.
Thanks to them, Nestoric preserved his life until Basil II's death.
Afterward, at Keroularios's suggestion, he formed an independence army. In exchange for helping the nobles eliminate Rogerius—not the whole of Bulgaria, but a portion of their old territories would be returned, with independence guaranteed.
Independence was one thing, but the chance for revenge against Rogerius was enough on its own. Nestoric zealously recruited soldiers, amassing a force of two thousand.
Now, nothing remained but vengeance. In the forest depths, he steeled his resolve.
Then an official approached him. Seeing the Keroularios family bureaucrat, Nestoric welcomed him warmly.
"You've finally arrived. We're fully prepared."
The bureaucrat surveyed the high-spirited Bulgarian soldiers at Nestoric's words.
"They look ready to overturn mountains. The Magistros will be pleased."
The soldiers beamed at the praise for Bulgarian valor. With morale piercing the heavens, Nestoric questioned the bureaucrat.
"When do we cross the Bosporus Strait?"
"His Excellency will send word soon. Please wait just a little longer."
"Wait here longer? Rogerius might catch on to us."
The bureaucrat eyed Nestoric as if he'd said something absurd.
"Do you think Rogerius's eyes reach across the strait to here?"
"Normally, no. But that bastard... he could."
Nestoric had clashed with Rogerius multiple times during the Bulgarian War. He knew the man's strengths better than anyone.
The ability to grow stronger with every battle. What started as deficiencies were swiftly corrected once identified through combat.
In truth, Nestoric had overwhelmed Rogerius at first—even in personal combat, dominating the young warrior. But Rogerius had studied and mastered his signature kicks.
In their final clash, Rogerius unleashed a perfect counter-kick, felling Nestoric.
A terrifying knack for absorbing enemies' strengths. Knowing this, Nestoric assumed Rogerius had overcome his one glaring weakness from the Bulgarian War: poor intelligence operations.
"Still, to keep schedule, you must move now."
Under the bureaucrat's urging, Nestoric grimaced but relented. Defying Keroularios's support was impossible.
Thus, Nestoric and his Bulgarian soldiers followed the bureaucrat, oblivious to the eyes secretly watching from nearby.
"This means the Bulgarian army will join the battle."
"Georgia's forces are also mustering in large numbers to reclaim lost Lazica lands."
Reports poured in. Angelos nodded and turned to me.
"Just as Your Majesty predicted—the enemy stirs. I am awed once more by your foresight."
His praise bordered on excessive. I instantly knew Angelos was toying with me again. I wanted to retort, but the tent was crowded, so I held back. I'll call him aside later, I thought, shifting topics.
"Any word from Lord Asakios?"
Ioannis rose at my question. From the Komnenos family, he bridged our forces and his brother Asakios, the southern powerhouse.
"Lord Asakios sends a thousand infantry."
A fitting contribution from our ally. A thousand infantry would more than hold Georgia's forces.
"Lord Ioannis."
"Your command, Your Majesty."
"You will lead the thousand infantry from Lord Asakios, alongside five hundred Turkopolos cavalry under Lord Arslan, to block Georgia's army."
The Turkopolos were a new unit from our cavalry reorganization. Originally, the term referred to Turks who surrendered to East Rome and converted to Christianity. I selected those skilled in mounted archery—Parthian shots, specifically—and formed a horse archer unit.
Unlike standard horse archers, I equipped them with heavy armor, for several reasons.
First, light armor enabled swarm tactics but offered abysmal protection. Low defense meant failing to counter enemy attacks, costing lives. Horse archers were precious assets, hard to replace—a massive drawback.
Even Mongol horsemen used light cavalry early on but shifted to heavies later for this reason.
Second, light armor lacked breakthrough power. Swarm tactics fatigued foes for a counterstrike sounded invincible, but it was half right, half wrong. Countering required penetration, impossible for lightly armored archers against heavily plated Georgians.
For these reasons, I armed the Turkopolos with chain mail and straight swords, boosting defense and charge power.
Thus, the Turkopolos were born: mobile units that screened with infantry and hammered in pitched battles.
Paired with foot soldiers, they packed devastating punch—perfect for smashing Georgia.
"Your aides will be Lords Arslan, Bachana, and Alton."
All three were cavalry specialists. While Ioannis built defenses with infantry, the trio would intercept foes.
"I obey Your Majesty's command."
Now to divide forces against Bulgaria and the nobles from those assaulting Optimatoi.
"Lord Angelos."
Angelos stepped forward. No finer field commander existed, forged in countless battles. His specialty: rapid offense-to-defense shifts. Few could attack aggressively yet pivot to defense seamlessly.
"I grant you two thousand infantry. Lead them across Optimatoi to strike enemies crossing the Bosporus Strait."
Ideal for holding Bulgarian infantry. I assigned him two thousand foot to block the nobles' troops.
"Lord Himerios will command the fleet to support you."
Insurance against surprises. Numbers alone, Angelos's infantry sufficed. But I added Himerios because the Bulgarian leader was likely Nestoric.
Nestoric's erratic tactics. If stalled against Angelos, he'd surely exploit the imperial navy.
"To prevent the enemy using our navy to strike our rear?"
Angelos grasped my intent, as expected from a longtime comrade.
"Precisely."
A cunning Nestoric would turn to sea for rear attacks if blocked—or land at Optimatoi to hit our main force. Either way, catastrophic. Preemption was key.
"Thus, I appoint Lords Himerios and Halvar as your aides."
Norman Viking Halvar and imperial navy veteran Himerios—our best in naval combat. Any landing attempt met Himerios's blockade; if they forced ashore heedless of losses, Halvar's coastal assault expertise left no escape.
Only the main body remained. Seizing Optimatoi was the war's linchpin. Without it, we'd be pushed back inevitably. Victory hinged on speed.
"I will lead the main body myself."
Critical tasks demanded my hand—not mere vainglory. We faced short numbers, mostly mercenaries, after detaching troops against Bulgaria and Georgia.
Low-quality mercenaries couldn't be handed to Angelos or Ioannis against elite foes.
Angelos and Ioannis understood, stepping forward to protest, but I raised a hand and continued.
"My decision stands."
They reluctantly withdrew. Stubborn as they were, they'd corner me post-meeting—but that was for later. I turned to Chaur.
"I appoint Chaur as my aide."
"I shall be Your Majesty's sword and sever the enemy's heads."
With units assigned, only war awaited.