Steel Empire
Gathering Soldiers

Baron Guntrum von Kitzbuhel was currently sitting in his seat of power in his palace, drinking from a glass of water. The man is currently fasting as a sign of his devotion to God and, therefore, chooses not to consume anything other than natural fluids. Kneeling before him was a man from the Berengar region who had rode all night to inform Baron Berengar's decision. The envoy handed the letter to Baron Guntrum with a worried look on his face. He did not know how Baron would react if declared war and certainly did not want to be executed for delivering such a message.

Baron Guntrum read the contents of the letter with a serious frown on his face, which he read more and more.

"Honey, Baron Guntrum von Kitzbuhel

I've received word that you have unlawfully seized my shipment to the Count of Steiermark, and as such, I assume you are nothing more than an ordinary Brigand. By stealing from my people's labor, I'm entitled to compensation, and as such, I've decided that I'll take your life, and your family's, as well as your entire domain in retaliation for your unlawful acts. From then on I Berengar, Regent Barony Kufstein was appointed by my father Baron Sieghard von Kufstein; publicly declared war on the Barony of Kitzbuhel and House von Kitzbuhel. May God have mercy on your soul, for I will not do it!

Really, really,

Regent Berengar von Kufstein"

Baron Guntrum glared at Berengar's envoy angrily as he finished reading the message before thinking hard.

"This boy is really going to fight for something as trivial as seizing small shipments of steel and textiles? Verily he is a descendant of Satan and must be cut off for the greater good."

After which, the man stood up from his seat of power and walked down the stairs. He was a short and thin man with long gray hair. He was almost the same as Berengar when he reincarnated into this world. However there was a strong expression of determination in his steel blue eyes as he stared at the envoy.

"You may go back to your master and tell him that he was a fool for declaring war on me, and I will return the favor by taking his sinful life!"

The envoy quickly nodded his head and spoke to the angry Baron.

"I'll do as you say to me, My Lord"

after which, the man rushed back to the Berengar region as quickly as possible. On the other hand, Baron Guntrum called out his marshal, who appeared from behind a corner; he had listened to the entire conversation from afar. Guntrum quickly gave his decision to the Marshal.

An evil grin spread across the Marshal's face as he replied excitedly.

"Yes, we will!"

Thus, Baron Guntrum sat back in his seat and let the Marshal take command of his troops, the, where he would meet Berengar's forces on the battlefield before he had the ability to besiege the heart of the Baron's dominions.

...

Berengar was currently sitting on the ground near the blazing bonfire, the full strength of his militia had been deployed to the border all night. They were a force that could quickly gather; however, the same could not be said for his father's entire feudal army and the vassals who led them. Now, only half of the Barons' army had arrived. They were mostly equipped with a mixture of brigandine and plates while armed mainly with spears.

While marching alongside Berengar's highly advanced militia forces, the army looked like a mix of medieval, renaissance, and early modern forces. It was truly a unique army in this world. Camps had been set up on the border between Kufstein and Kitzbuhel, and Berengar was just waiting for the arrival of the rest of his troops which would take no more than a day. As he camped at the border, Berengar cleaned the sword in his hand, which had recently been made and equipped with his cuirassier; it was an example of a 16/17th century Dussack. It was essentially the renaissance equivalent of the famous sword, which would become famous throughout the cavalry armies of Europe and the Western World during the early modern period.

In the hands of his Cuirsassier, it was a deadly weapon and would wreak havoc on the many light-armored feudal infantry that they would definitely fight in the upcoming battle. Eckhard approached Berengar who was wearing militia-style renaissance armor with a rifle draped in his back. He took off the brass-trimmed Burgonet as he sat next to Berengar with an excited expression on his face.

"The remaining troops should be here before nightfall; what are your orders?"

Berengar nodded in response and began to smile at the news as he gave his orders.

"Let those people rest; at first light, we march into enemy territory. I want those people to behave decently, not rape or rob, and there is no unnecessary killing. We will soon rule these people, and I will not." "I don't want any useless revenge. Anyone who commits himself in such a way will be punished for war crimes and executed by firing squad, do I understand?"

Eckhard nodded when he heard those words; he actually grew old. With Berengar's orders and his ethics of how war should be conducted, the barbaric ways of mass looting and killing after a successful siege would soon be extinguished. The dawn of a new era of warfare was in sight, and the European feudal powers had to quickly adapt or bend their knees to the rising German Empire. Either way, the Medieval period was at the very end of its lifespan. The two men continued chatting for some time before parting for their tent that night. As dawn breaks, the Barony of Kitzbuhel will feel the wrath of a new era knocking down their doors.