Chapter 49: 3 Years In Syronnea

6 months had passed and it marked the 3rd year anniversary of Conrad taking over Victor's body. Many things had happened during those 3 years. Victor rose to become a Grand Duke, reunited with his sister and got married. He had fought bandits, mercenaries, assassins and a dukedom army. This was all done thanks to the assistance of the system.

Nothing of note happened during this period. The territory continued to improve steadily, and Victor Luxenberg's name was beginning to spread beyond the Bulgar continent. Victor's relationship with Clarisse flourished greatly, and they were as close as could be.

There had been no suspicious movements from the Grand Duchy of Maximillian which worked to Victor's benefit, but it would not be long until Osmund Maximillian sought to break the peace.

On another usual day for Victor nothing out of the ordinary happened, he did his work and interacted with his advisors. However, the uniform day Victor was used to would be disturbed by a letter bearing the seal of the Maximillian family.

Breaking the seal and opening the letter, Victor's face went dark. The letter may have been filled with glossy words that offered no real input but the message was crystal clear. The Grand Duchy of Maximillian and the Grand Duchy of Luxenberg were now at war.

Wasting no time Victor began to write letters and send messenger pigeons to the Sardia region and the capital of the Dupont Marquisate, Draysden. Marshal Soult began to prepare the army to move out. The rallying point for the Luxenber army was the crossroads, if the Grand Duchy was going to attack they would most likely go for Hannover rather than Sardia or Draysden.

In 1 and a half months the Luxenberg army had fully formed at the crossroads. They were fortunate they had not delayed any longer. The Grand Duchy of Maximillian's army was almost a week's march from the camp. 

While waiting for the entire army to assemble, scouts were sent out to find ideal locations for a pitched battle. One location, inside the Grand Duchy of Maximillian's domain, was ideal for a defensive battle.

It was a small abandoned farmstead with a long hill covered in trees running alongside it, but there was not enough time to get there and set up a defensive position. The terrain was not to the Luxenberg army's advantage in any other location.

Faced with a difficult choice Victor decided to push his army to reach the farmstead. For an entire day and a half the army relentlessly marched to the farmstead. Slightly fatigued the army made camp at the farmstead.

Victor's scouts reported that the Grand Duchy of Maximillian's army was 3 days away. They also found enemy scouts who were surveying the farmstead. Aware of the impending clash Victor got his soldiers to dig trenches and fortify the the wooden fences and walls of the farmstead. 

Victor also ordered the placement of a battery along the hill that could be hidden from the enemy. For 2 days, the soldiers of Luxenberg dug trenches and used whatever fauna they could find to hide many cannons.

Marshal Soult, who was the main commander began to devise strategies with Generals Rapp and Bertrand. The Luxenberg army had 65,000 infantrymen, 11,000 cavalrymen and 230 guns, compared to the Grand Duchy of Maximillian's army of 65,000 infantrymen, 10,000 cavalrymen and 200 guns.

The plan was to use the farmstead house and fences as the main defensive position with surrounding trenches. 130 cannons would be stationed with 7,000 cavalrymen and 55,000 infantrymen, while the remaining troops would hide in the hilly forest and ambush the enemy forces.

There was a glaringly obvious drawback of the plan which was the importance of the surprise element. If the force on the hill failed to keep hidden, the blindsiding manoeuvre would fail and potentially could keep the army forever separated during the battle.

In spite of that fact, it was a necessary risk. Victor wanted to not gain a mere pyrrhic victory that decimated his army's ranks. With a competent commander like Marshal Soult, Victor could trust the man who held the moniker, "Duke of Damnation."

Victor who was on the hill looked down at his men in the farmstead. 'Is this enough to defeat Grand Duke Maximillian's army? Should I have just stayed at the border and made our stand there? Should I have thrown away my pride and asked grandfather for military assistance?' Victor thought to himself.

He had done all he could to prepare for tomorrow's battle. Trenches and fortifications were built to a decent standard and the men had managed to get some rest. It now fell to Lady Luck to determine the outcome of the battle.

The day of battle had come, the night prior and the morning had been plagued with a dreadful downpour of rain but now only a drizzle remained. Victor saw this as a blessing, the enemy army would approach the farmstead through the valley which was now a slushy and slippery surface with light mud.

Using his spyglass, Victor, who was stationed on the hill with Marshal Soult and his elite guard battalion began to stare down the valley. The sight of red banners bearing the black raven crest of the Maximillian family was now coming into view. Disciplined and organised the Maximillian army was steadily marching to set up for battle.

Slightly out of range of the Luxenberg cannons, the Maximillian army began to form up. Mounted on horses Osmund Maximillian, and his eldest son Osbert, who was 2 years older than Victor, were in charge of the army. Surrounded by their entourage of adjutants and bodyguards the 2 Maximillians found a suitable spot to oversee the battle.

Generals Bertrand and Rapp were down in the farmstead doing their final preparations for the oncoming host of soldiers. They were composed and able to effectively issue orders. The men of the Luxenberg army showed no sign of fear or distraction. The generals trained them to be a well-disciplined force that would be the instrument of Victor's will.

Victor turned to Marshal Soult and asked, "Do you think we can defeat them, Marshal?" Turning to his lord the marshal confidently smiled, trying to reassure Victor and replied, "Of course, I think we can defeat them. Trust your soldiers and commanders, my Duke."

Feeling slightly at ease by Marshal Soult's words Victor turned to the valley once more. Bugles could be heard in the distance and all the Maximillian infantry began their advance. There was a kilometre and a half between the 2 armies and it would be a tough slog through cannon fire and almost anke high mud. 

Osmund Maximillian left his cavalry in reserve and ordered his cannons pushed forward to assist the infantry in their advance. With both sides in each other's range, the sound of cannon fire began to wrang around the valley.

Muttering to himself Victor in a sullen look said, "So it begins."