War Against the Gyalcakes Part I
It's October 299 Paign Era
After a month and a half of making preparation, Bideford is ready to wage a war with Gyalcakes.
Offensive war in foreign territory required greater logistical and financial resources than defensive war. It's a high-risk, high-return situation. Luckily, Bideford is rich and has no problem gathering resources.
Usually, mustering the troop required a lot of time as the lord needs his messengers to travel the entire fief to recruit soldiers. Many factors also need to be taken care of such as provisions need to be gathered and weapons need to be purchased or refurbished.
In this case, Bideford has a significant advantage in terms of time because they can muster the troops faster than any other nobles since they only have one town and all the population was concentrated there.
Many are wondering why the Gyalcakes do not attack Bideford immediately after Maria's execution.
It is because they simply can't, the death of Maria is considered a just act based on solid crime and with the sufficient support of evidence. They cannot use that as a reason to attack.
Now, Bideford is ready to give them a good reason for war. On 1st October, Richard makes an official announcement that he will wage the war with the Gyalcakes on the basis that they had conducted espionage, deception and planning on a hostile takeover toward the Ryntum family.
The news then was spread to other fiefs by the travelling merchant.
At the same time, Riz decided to send Count Gyalcakes a gift as a token of gratitude for what he has done to him. Even if they're going to war, he still has some manners.
'I hope he likes my gift. I wasted so much money to prepare this gift', Riz is imagining a face that the count will make when he receives this.
....
Richard leads his army to attack his target, Mabadszent City, located southwest of Bideford. He is taking a detour that is slight to the south. However, he has time as he departs right away after making a declaration of war.
The route is slightly longer but at least they didn't have to go through the dense forest located between Bideford and Gyalcakes. He didn't want to face the possibility of ambush in the forest. Richard brings with him a total of 4000 people; 500 cavalry, 2000 infantry, 1000 archers, 100 newly trained artillerists and 400 people of the supply team.
Richard spent 5 days marching through flat grassland before stopping 800 meters away from the Mabadszent city wall.
It is noon, 5th October 299.
The wall is full with archers, all in the state of high alerts. Richard didn't conceal his movement or his strength at all, he basically walked in plain sight.
Just as they are confident to defend against him, he is also confident in conquering them.
Richard quickly told the artillerists to assemble the trebuchet. Riz already showed him the trebuchet work using a small-scale model.
"I can't wait to see the performance of this beast", Richard muttered.
....
On Mabadszent's side
"What is that?", asked one of the soldiers on the wall when they see the Bideford army is building some kind of tall structure.
"Siege tower perhaps?", replies his friend.
Yesterday, Mabadszent's scout already informed the mayor about the information on Bideford's strength. Hearing there were only 4000 people, the mayor, Lucas Jackson informed the count as he was ordered to.
However, he didn't bother to ask for reinforcement since he is very confident in defending the city. He simply can't believe that the town will fall.
"Did Count of Bideford is stupid? How can he think of capturing the town with such a small number", he speaks with a disdainful tone.
"But sir mayor, it looks like they are building something", said his commander, Levi Owen.
"It is probably a siege tower. What can they do with just one of it. You go prepare oil and fire, once the tower is closer enough, order the archer to shoot a fire arrow".
The commander heeded the order. Since the Bideford only gathers at the east side, he will put all the 1000 archers on the east. Another 1000 infantry will stand by. If that's not enough, he will just recruit more.
Mabadszent has over 7200 population. In the defensive war, as long as he can prolong the war, they will win.
He begins to arrange for the army. The commander is slightly tense but has confidence that they can win. Just like the mayor, he too thinks that it is impossible to conquer a city with just 4000 people.
The citizens in Mabadszent are doing their daily activities. They have no fear or tension at all as most of them believe this war will end soon.
By now, the news of Richard leading just 4000 people to war has reached the ears of many people. They are not optimistic that the result will lean toward Bideford.
The nobles are plotting to act toward the Bideford once they lose the war.
*Boom* *Boom*
Suddenly, a loud sound disturbs the people's activities in the town. The town suddenly becomes eerily quiet as they try to find the source of the sound. Most of them turn in the direction of the east wall and see the soldiers on the wall running around.
*Boom* *Boom*
Again, they heard the loud sound. This time they can see the wall is literally shaking. Panic started to befall them. Everybody stops what they are doing and starts to run away when they hear one soldier shouting "there is a crack on the wall!!".
Most of them tried to get out of the city through the north and northwest gates that led to Rafoldrod City.
"What the hell is that? How they can shoot from 500 meters away", Levi is dismayed by the unexpected situation.
*Boom* *Boom*
*Boom* *Boom*
This time, a portion of the wall collapsed together with the soldier on it. Spontaneous combustion occurs due to the oil and fire that were prepared beforehand mixed together as the wall collapses.
....
Richard and his army were outside of the city, watching the performance of two trebuchets bombarding the city wall. They were awestruck by its destructive power.
"What an amazing power, this thing will change the landscape of warfare for years to come.", Richard said.
Never in his life did he think the city could be captured so easily.
Usually, an army needs three or four times more soldiers than the opponent to lay a siege on a city before slowly capturing it by force or attrition.
As the wall collapsed, he ordered the army to rush into the city and take over the east gate. The Mabadszent force is unable to fight due to the panic that has not yet dissipated.
Richard took some of the soldiers and rushed toward the town hall to find the mayor and quickly gained control over the city.
When he arrives, Lucas is nowhere to be found.
"That bastard runs too quick", Richard wants to take the opportunity of the chaos to kill Lucas.
He is one of Count Gyalcakes' loyal retinue. He wants to cut down as much of his retinue as possible to destroy his influence and turn him into a beggar in the noble society.
By mid-afternoon, the Bideford soldiers had gained control over the city. Most of the enemies surrendered and were gathered in the square. One of his commanders gives him a report on the casualties which is nearly negligible.
"If I know that some of you plundered them, I will personally kill you and your family", warned Richard to his soldiers.
Under Riz's urge, Richard trains his mismatched soldiers to have a sense of comrade and cohesiveness as one army.
He then turns his attention to the surrendered citizens and assures them of their safety.
He comes here to rule over them, not to plunder them.
As for Csorvar town in the south that was ruled by his father-in-law, Baron Csorvar they have surrendered to Bideford a long time before he marches to Mabadszent, he has sent the letter to Baron Csorvar asking him to surrender.
Now he has successfully obtained Csorvar and Mabadszent. He decided to take a rest and resume his campaign tomorrow.
"I wonder how the progress is on the northern side right now", Richard is thinking about Riz.