Steel Empire
Commemorative
After a long night of bloody struggle, Berengar stood tall in front of his troops, who were now fully clothed in their battle attire, with rifles draped over their backs. Currently, the men consisting of his troops held a short memorial service for the people who died the night before, between 100-200 people were killed in ambushes from the previous night, he said, and while the enemy forces were almost annihilated by the Berengar army. ; Berengar felt nothing but sorrow for the lives of his fallen soldiers lost in the conflict.
Unlike most Generals, Berengar was very concerned with the lives of the people under his control and tried his best to reduce the losses. Any defeated soldier means that someone from his or her workforce must replace them, which lowers productivity. War is necessary for the expansion of a State, and thus benefits the Nation that upholds their demands in the long run. Short-term costs are something every leader should get used to. However, it is not an easy responsibility to bear. If Berengar deigned to remember his place in the world and sit in Kufstein and develop peacefully as he had planned before, then these people would most likely not lose their lives so quickly.
However, this low ambition could no longer resist Berengar's desire for power. As a man who had very little in his previous life in terms of authority and wealth, the moment he felt true power for the first time, his thirst for supremacy became unquenchable. Despite his relative virtue when compared to the kings of the past, Berengar was still a man. Like everyone else, he was inherently vulnerable to the corruption brought about by absolute power. In his old life, there was a saying, "Absolute power is really corrupt." While Berengar grows increasingly evil towards his would-be enemies. He is still compassionate to his loved ones and those he is responsible for. However, now was a time of war, and he could not give a warm speech about how great the people who had died the night before were. Nope,
we're going to lay siege to Schwaz Castle and expel the man responsible for this attack. I promise to behead him and whoever is held responsible, where their heads may be hung on a spear outside the ruins of their once mighty castle! God is with us!"
After finishing his speech, the people gathered before him, numbering in the thousands, all of them started shouting war cries over and over again.
"God is with us!"
"Now, pack up, and go to the city of Schwaz! Now is not the time to cry, now is the time to fight! May the Lord show mercy to our enemies, for we will not do it!"
With that said, the army began to gather their equipment and pack the siege camp; within an hour, an army of over 5,000 people once again marched; the town of Schwaz is nearby and has sparked the ire of Berengar and his army. Although Berengar would not harm unarmed civilians, those who resisted his conquest were considered enemy fighters and would suffer the same fate as the defenders.
No one expected Berengar to besiege Schwaz on his way to Innsbruck. Although this would give the enemy time to band together against him, it was ultimately fine, as the strength of the steel and fire were not something that these feudal soldiers could easily resist. It would take quite a while before his advanced weaponry became known to everyone and even longer before anyone managed to imitate him. For now, Berengar's forces will be the most dominant force on the European battlefield.
Schwaz was only the first of many battles to take place over the coming months when Berengar began his conquest of Tyrol. While his army marched into Schwaz, other troops marched towards Kufstein. Although it would take several weeks before they arrived, their intentions for Kufstein and his people were far more sinister than anything Berengar had in mind for his enemies.
As winter rages in the Austrian Alps, more than one army is marching, a war for Austria has begun, and time is crucial; fortunately for Berengar and his army, the, he has the power of gunpowder and can easily make the once mighty castle walls crumble in a matter of days. His 12-pound cannon gave him a huge advantage in terms of the siege war - something he would soon show the world.