The true strategy of Berig

The raid by the cataphracts and Soul Watchers had been successful. As they entered the imperial camp, the varangians and other military personnel cheered for their successful mission.

The only one who looked miserable was Gadaric, who still looked like he was badly wounded.

"Did you have any difficulties?" Berig asked.

"No difficulties. Just met one naive and stubborn king...." Gadaric said and walked forward.

He passed by Markus who was smiling.

"Want something to say?" Gadaric said with an uninterested tone.

"Not really. It seems like you met Rufus. I can tell since his divine aura still smells on your clothes," Markus answered back.

Gadaric stopped walking.

"You also have something insulting to say , like your prince?" Markus asked.

"Can you tell me about this Rufus?" Gadaric asked.

Markus looked baffled and then smiled.

"It seems he has used his divine power on you as well," Markus said and smiled.

"What do you mean….?"

"I do not feel anything if I kill someone. For me, it is even less than stepping on an ant. It feels as natural to me as breathing and walking to you. I do not care even for my own men or so-called friends. They all are alive just so I can use them. Rufus is though different."

"How is he different?"

"To him, I wish honestly no harm. For when I have to fight him, I struggle. He has made enemies many times his friends who are ready to die for him. That is his second divine power. And it also has worked on me"

Gadaric face could not be seen from under his mask. Markus still knew his words had gotten to him. He then left Markus leaving him smiling.

~~

The raid had brought terrible consequences to the alliance army. Not just many soldiers and warriors had perished, but many of the Etnian commanders and leaders had been assassinated by the Soul Watchers.

There was still a silver lining with the raid. With Junez dead, the leadership of the entire army fell onto Rufus's shoulders. The imperials had thought they could force the allied army to crumble but were mistaken.

Still, the main strategy of Berig was not yet revealed.

So far, the imperial army had refused to give battle. This strategy baffled everyone since the imperial army was as large and better organized than the allied army. Many thought that they could win a battle on an open field most likely but still refused to give battle.

They had burnt down villages and farms instead. Destroyed villages and towns created large clouds of smoke that the alliance army followed, hoping they would be able to catch them.

Rufus, Yosef and Doreen road to a town that was still intact and not destroyed. As they rode closer the people started to throw rotten fruits and vegetables at the royal soldiers who were getting closer. One rotten apple was about to hit Rufus but was caught by Doreen's spear.

"Leave this town now! You will only bring destruction!"

The villagers yelled slurs and insults at the royal soldiers. Soon some officers of the city-state that the town belonged to, tried to approach the walls.

"What is going on here?" the officer asked.

The magistrate of the town came to the wooden walls.

"Please leave now! You will only cause more trouble to us if we let you in!" the magistrate yelled.

The officer looked confused.

"I am an officer of the Cordob city and you are our people. What you are doing is treason. We just want to leave some of our wounded here who are part of the Cordob city-state," the officer yelled out.

"We will not allow this! We are now part of the Heian empire and will not work with the enemy!"

Everybody looked confused.

"The imperial forces spared us since we gave our allegiance to them. If we would have decided to disobey, they would have burned down our town and killed everyone!" the magistrate added.

Rufus with his royal soldiers rode away from the town.

It was now clear what was the aim of the imperial army. They were literally conquering the land of their enemy before they had even beaten them. This way they closed their own people from the army, destroying the motivation of everyone in the alliance.

Berig wanted to make as many moves as possible before the final battle. He wanted to give himself the best chance possible and refused to play with high risks if he had a chance to somehow make his victory more probable.

"We need to do something. We need to have some kind of win against them to prove they are beatable," Rufus said as they rode away.

"Easier said than done. The Soul Watchers are guarding the army's flanks when it is camped and moving. It is impossible to attack them with our main force and when we send a small force like we already did, the Soul Watchers would strike at them," Doreen explained.

"So we should attack them from a distance then, like with our cannons?" Yosef asked.

"We are not able to move our cannons in place in time before the army has moved out of place."

"I think we can manage that problem…..." Yosef said with a smile.