Victory at Korce

"To attack a city, you need three times their number of troops to capture it," Will couldn't remember who said that phrase. But it made sense to him now.

At noon, Korce's southern gate opened, and more than 25,000 Fermion troops marched out. Not only did the Fermion troops have the numerical advantage, but they were also well-rested and well-fed. King Roland believed his cousin could hold Korce almost indefinitely.

With that belief, he didn't push his troops and marched them slowly to Guidon, where they rode the train to Gadreel. From Gadreel they marched on foot to Korce.

The Albanian soldiers were rushed to Korce, many were malnourished still from the famine. They looked gaunt. When Will banned food shipments to Albania, it resulted in the nobles' dissatisfaction with the sultan.

Fermion had recovered from the plague, famine, and Peasant Rebellion much faster. The kingdom was prosperous, while the transition to mercantilism was rough, there were signs of it smoothing out.

On the other hand, Albanian was still recovering from the plague, famine; and the peasants' revolts. Albanian was two steps behind Fermion.

Fermion's agreement with the peasants' demand spurred the Peasant Rebellion in Albania. At first, the Sultan agreed with King Roland's philosophy on mercantilism. Yet, the sultan was besieged on both sides. The nobles were upset at their lack of food, and the peasant about their way of life. The sultan was dealing with this, when he heard Lord vont Dervish fled Korce, allowing Viscount vont Ballard to seize the city.

The sultan who was struggling to deal with infrastructure, census, burying the dead, famine, and a fractured economy; now had to add the Fermion invasion to his list.

Thus, a coalition of soldiers was quickly sent to retake Korce. Only for the 9,000-strong army to be defeated in less than a week. With his back against the wall, the king agreed to noble, and peasant demands just to put together the 12,000 army.

King Roland was currently sitting inside the city walls having lunch. He smiled as he ate his traditional pre-battle meal of rye bread, tea, corned beef, and sauerkraut.

As he sipped his tea, his General entered and kneeled. He and Jing were best friends since the academy. They loved each other like brothers. Even though he told Jing not to kneel every time he sees him, he did it.

"Reporting to his majesty, the troops have moved out of the city," General Jing vont Smith said.

"Jing, You're the closest thing to a brother I have left in this world. Tell me honestly how do our troops look? What do our odds of winning look like?" King Roland asked.

"Your majesty, may I speak plainly?" the General asked.

"Of course," King Roland encouraged.

"Our men are well fed and rested. We control the superior location. Our army has heard stories of your cousin's triumphs and it's inspired them. Plus our enemy is scared, weak, and hastily assembled.

Our spies tell us theirs a shortage of rations in their camp. Their men are tired and hungry. Since arriving, already 500 men have deserted. While our men hear stories of how one man slaughtered thousands and cheer. Their men hear that same story and desert.

If we do not press our advantage and break their center by evening, I'll resign in disgrace," Jing said.

"You'll do no such thing! Old friend, come back alive. That's an order from your king," King Roland said lovingly.

"Yes, your majesty!" General vont Smith saluted.

"Bryson, bring Will to me. I want to watch the war together with him," King Roland commanded.

"As you command, your majesty," Bryson said, sending a steward to fetch Will.

Will woke up to a pounding at his bedroom door.

"Alright, I'm coming!" Will yelled. He had a splitting headache. How much did we drink yesterday? I don't remember drinking effort to be hungover. I hope I didn't embarrass myself yesterday," Will said.

Will opened the door to find Nisha and a steward.

"His majesty request you join him for lunch," the steward said.

"Lunch? How long have I been asleep?" Will asked Nisha.

"You've slept half the day. Your breath smells different too, like those poison berries in the forest. And you smell like Anne," Nisha said.

"Slept half a day? I smell like Anne and poison berries? Yesterday, we sat next to each other and drank to our holding out," Will said remembering yesterday.

"No, you smell like Anne, the same way you smell like Elizabeth after sleeping in the same room!" Nisha said.

"Are you saying we slept together? That's impossible, right? Where is she? Steward send Anne, the mercenary captain, to me at once!" Will ordered. He had trouble remembering last night's events.

"I can only tell you what I smell," Nisha said.

"My lord, she is with the army. I'm afraid I can't bring her to you," the steward explained.

"Did she drug and r*pe me?" Will asked Nisha.

"She's changed a lot. She's a woman that takes what she wants now," Nisha said.

After Will had dressed and washed his face. He and Nisha walked to the City Lord's manor.

When they arrived, a feast was prepared for them.

"You must have been tired. It took quite a while for my steward to rose you?" King Roland asked.

"I was tired. For two weeks, I only slept three hours a night," Will replied.

"Remember, you are still commander of this city. After you eat address your troops and let's watch the war together," King Roland said.

"Has General vont Smith already left?" Will asked.

"Yes, the troops line up this morning across the moat you constructed. If we defeat this army, there is no other army between here and the capital. I was wondering if you have a non-combatant way to sack the capital," King Roland asked.

Will ate and sipped black tea. It took a while before his migraine left, and he could think again.

"I may have a way, but it shall cost millions of copper coins," Will said remembering Mansa Musa, the great Mali emperor.

"Millions of copper coins? Would these coppers go to you or some else?" King Roland asked.

"You'd give them to the citizens of Tiana as a gift," Will said finishing his eggs.

"Are we ready to go, I believe I hear our trumpets sounding the charge," King Roland said anxiously.

They left and headed to the southern battlements. The Albanian mages chose to save their mana and did not shell the array last night. That allowed the array to recover to 50%.

On the southern battlements, Will gave his officers orders and told Bubba to find Anne. Only for Bubba to tell him Anne and her mercenaries were fighting alongside the army.

King Roland and Will watched as spells echoed across the field as they continuously bombarded the battle. The Fermion Mage Guild sent over 1,000 mages, mostly to earn the popular king's favor.

King Roland was popular. His infrastructure plan as Crown Prince, and engineering the kingdom's recovery as King, had endured him to the population. Moreover, he was the peasant's savior, releasing them from a life of oppression. To the intelligentsia, his book charted the kingdom's future course. To the nobles, he'd secured their advantage and status in the new political-economic system. Every group found something they enjoyed about him.

In a short time, the mage battle came a quick end. Albania's Mage Corps was soundly defeated. After losing the magic superiority, the Fermion mages and soldiers collapsed the Albanian center.

The Albanian army was routed, and the commander ordered the retreat.

"Let me be the first to congratulate you cousin, on your victory," Will bowed.

"You called me cousin!" Roland laughed.

They watched as Marshall vont Smith didn't give the Albanian's the freedom to flee. He ordered the army to give chase. He wanted to press his enemy to Tirana.

King Roland said goodbye to the officers before walking down the city wall. As he walked down, Will saw the cavalry was resting and the Royal Carriage prepared.

"Your bags have ready been packed. I want to hear your plan to conquer Tiana," the king said.

"Majesty!" Will bowed.

"Bubba get our soldiers ready to move out," Will ordered.

"Sire, the king has already seen to everything. Your soldiers are already on horseback, and the supplies were prepared yesterday," Bubba said.

"Very well, let's move out," Will ordered.

"You look like you want to ask me a question cousin?" King Roland asked.

"Your majesty, which noble did you leave the Korce's protection to?" Will asked.

"The castle is now under the command of Quartermasters. I believe they are your former classmates. You trained them well, they are quite resourceful," the king said.

"With the train, Korce is the perfect place to operate supply lines," Will complimented.

"Yes, it was your classmates' idea and I rather like it," King Roland laughed.

"Your majesty, what did you plan next?" Will ask.

"Of course, we must chase the Albanian army back to Tiana and siege the capital. Now tell me your idea about how to capture the capital," the king asked.

…

On the road to Tiana, General vont Smith never outran his supply line. He made sure to protect the king, and the caravan of rations and weapons.

With Sarah in Korce, and Grace with the army. The Fermion army had a steady supply line. Checkpoints and guards posted were constructed as they traveled southward.

King Roland shook his head as he looked out his carriage window, "they are already afraid, so why would they have the courage to continue attacking. If it happens as I expected, once we launch our final attack, they won't be able to set up any defenses, and running into the city we'll be their final option.