The Thousand Year Dynasty
29. The City of Fortress
Two weeks later, the village of Dyms began to look like a military base. It was only a month after Lugwin announced his participation in the war.
A banner with the emblem of three circles above four transverse lines mounted fluttering in the central square of the village. It was the banner of the new Lugwin army. Outside the borders of the village there are already many campsites and battle practice sites.
Inside the village there are already many nobles and knights who passed by. Lugwin's inn has now been turned into a meeting hall of leaders and generals. To this day, Nata's whereabouts remain secret.
"It seems that the news about other job assistance is starting to have an impact, sir. Now some of the Barons in the Kotaraja region are starting to side with us. The strength of the opposing forces has begun to weaken" Matiu reported on their return to hold a secret meeting at Lily's house.
"All villages and small towns in the eastern region have been liberated" Nicko said. "The guerrilla strategy is very effective. And as the alleged soldiers sent to confront us are mercenaries with the amount we can still cope with" he added.
"That's because they concentrated their power on fighting over the city. With the weakening of support, the best way is to immediately occupy the city and then survive"
"And now there is only the city of Halmd from all this eastern region that we have not yet liberated. The largest city that had the most powerful fortress in this entire eastern region. Obviously the guerrilla will not be able to take it down" Nicko said.
"True Mr. Nicko. This city will not be influenced by guerrilla strategy" said Nata.
"The city stands in a valley. The west side of the city has high and steep cliffs. It's very steep for an army to pass through. That makes it a natural fortress of protection. Then the city's own sturdy fortress surrounded by a moat to guard from a Ram battering gate. The city was designed to be able to survive a military attack" Matiu explained later.
"Then how do we conquer this fortress, Lord Nata?" Ask Nicko.
Nata smiles. "That city doesn't have an army comparable to the soldiers you have today. They rested only on the walls of their fortress. So if without the fort walls they are nothing" he said then searched, "then all we need to do is do war in the city" he concluded later
"The battle in the city?" Sounds like Matiu can't believe it. Even they still do not know how to bring down the city fortress.
"We will use the trench sluice for the entrance" Nata said.
"Sorry Mr Nata, doesn't it mean that our troops have to move in small numbers because of the size of the sluice that is only as high as people bend? Not to mention the way is very vulnerable because on the other hand the opposing soldier must be ready to block. Our soldiers will be their easy targets.
"You are not mistaken, Mr. Matiu. Therefore we will install a fake army in front of the gate so that the opponent thinks our main troops are attacking at the front gate, while we will go through the trench into the city to join the slaves who have secured the other side of the trench door" explained Nata.
"Fake squad?" Nicko looked confused.
"The slaves?" Matiu also seems to not understand.
"We can use wood and straw to make a statue. We'll put on some soldier gear. Then we'll line up in front of the gate. Oh yes, before we'll make smoke to fool them. They don't have witches that can detect the existence of humans or that can create a protective field from magic right?"
"No, such witches only existed in the royal palace. But more than that can you explain her in more detail to our lord Nata?" Pinta Matiu seemed confused by what Nata was talking about.
"So first we'll burn the forest on the west bank of the city. I think the cliff wind will bring the smoke down when night falls. And when the smoke has covered the valley surface, we're gonna pin the wooden troops in front of the gate.
"Then some people would light torches, make noise, and start shooting arrows at the front gate fortress. Those who cannot see clearly because of the smoke will think it is our main force and begin to retaliate against the wooden troops.
Matiu and Nicko nodded and listened to Nata's explanation.
"While in the city the slaves will wreak havoc and help us secure the inner waterway. Then after that our main army will attack through the trenches in small groups and join the slaves to conquer the city from the inside" added Nata later.
"And about those slaves?" It appears Matiu repeated the question because he still did not understand.
"Oh that, about a month ago I had managed to infiltrate someone to enter the city and get in touch with the slaves" Nata explained later.
"really?" The look of disbelief from Nicko and Matiu.
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"Do you want to make those slaves Nat's soldiers?" Lucia asked Nata who was writing something in the living room, after dinner.
"Not princess. I will make them fight for their own independence" Nata replied.
"But after that?"
"Having a soldier who is a slave is very disadvantageous to the princess. Maybe if only to make them living shields is still quite promising. But other than that there is no profit" said Nata who this time looked at Lucia "They will come out of the sword field before the war is finished" he added, returning to write.
"Why?" Lucia sat in the chair in front of Nata.
"If they still exist after the war is over, then the morale of some noble warriors and knights will go down. Because they know the key to the success of this war is from the slaves. And if the slaves had to come back to this headquarters, they would most likely never be free again" Nata said.
"What about their fate after getting out of the city?"
"I've asked Mr. Matiu a little favor"
"And what is it?"
"Four trains, eighty pairs of clothes and three days of food for at least fifty people. Also Lily and Val will escort them all the way to the southern mainland border"
"Certainly that?"
"Why do you always underestimate me?"
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