Chapter 107: The Fall Of Joltz

With Gerhard Hirschmann departing from the city, the Garrison Captain now held command of the defenders. Through this battle and the previous one, their numbers had dwindled to a third of their original number. They could not escape the monstrous rockets shot at them. The Garrison Captain knew that remaining on the wall was pointless. They could not reach the Luxenberg rocket frames with their cannons, so a different approach was needed. 

"Men! Get off the walls, let us prepare to fight in the streets. Let us paint them red with the blood of those Luxenberg dogs," The Garrison Captain yelled in a booming tone. Hurriedly the Joltz defenders descended from the wall and began to fortify the secondary defensive positions that they had set up in the street.

Seeing the walls being abandoned, Victor halted the continued barrage of rockets. It was wise to conserve their ammunition, so it could be studied and reverse engineered. Now that the walls were abandoned, Victor ordered his cannons forward, so that they may breach a hole in the thick wall of Joltz. 

Each shot from the cannon echoed throughout the area, the thunderous booming noise was deafening. For hours, the Luxenberg cannons pelted the eastern stone wall, not letting up for a moment. By nightfall, the wall had received a thrashing, yet remained standing. It would not be long until it was broken through.

The following day, Victor continued his onslaught of cannon fire towards the eastern wall. Volley after volley, the durability of the walls began to dwindle. Chunks of stone were being chipped away, it would be moments until the wall collapsed. 

A few volleys later, the stoic stone walls buckled and crumbled, emitting debris and dust into the wind. The sound of its collapse was tumultuous, the noise reverberated around the surrounding area. The gaping hole was a few hundred metres away from the gate of the eastern wall.

Victor with a pleased grin ordered 20,000 infantrymen to storm the breach and create a toehold, for another supporting 20,000 infantrymen. These men of the vanguard felt envigored, their artillery had made significant contributions to this siege already, and now it was their turn to chase the glory.

Military musicians began to play their instruments in synchronisation. The beat of the drums was used as the advancing infantry's tempo. With each beat of the drum, the infantrymen took a step. 

Soon enough they reach the pile of rubble where the tall and domineering wall used to be. Confidently the men traversed their way through the uneven ground of the rubble mound, each step carefully placed to ensure a steady ascent. 

A few of the men thought of the Siege of Archenshien. They thought of the Maldenberg soldiers who were in a similar situation during their siege assault. It was a massive probability that they would face fierce resistance as soon as their heads were piqued over the ridge.

As expected the first line of the Luxenberg infantry met a maelstrom of musketballs. The defenders of Joltz would fight tooth and nail to protect their home. Luxenberg soldiers were pinned down, every time they tried to descend the rubble mountain, their bodies were punctured with musket balls.

General Vandamme who was brandishing his pistol turned to Victor and asked, "My liege, let me lead the second wave of infantrymen. I will fight shoulder to shoulder with the infantry. In your name, I shall conquer this city and have its citizens submit to your rule."

Vandamme's enthusiasm and bravery impressed Victor. "If you are offering to take on this dangerous role, I can not refuse you. Take this city in my name. If you succeed in your declaration, I will make you a duke of these lands," Victor said passionately.

General Vandamme saluted and stormed to the head of the second wave of infantry. Turning to the 20,000 infantrymen under his command, the general addressed his men. "Soldiers of the Kingdom of Luxenberg, follow me into the jaws of death. Let us conquer this city in the name of our king and expel these mongrel defenders."

Impassioned by their general's speech, the soldiers let out a loud and powerful cheer as they charged towards the breach in the wall. Their muskets brandished, they surged through the breach, even when their comrades would fall beside them.

General Vandamme took a musket ball to the abdomen, nevertheless, he fought like he was possessed. His sabre was gleaming with the blood of his enemies. The combined soldiers of the 1st and 2nd wave overwhelmed the remaining defenders and massacred them, only losing 5,000 men in the process.

True to their nature, the defenders of Joltz fought to the death. Their numbers were eradicated, and even the Garrison Captain could not escape the clutches of death. He met his unfortunate end at the tip of a bayonet. His throat was pierced and he died choking on blood.

Vandamme and his men ran rampant through the streets of Joltz, slaughtering the remaining defenders. The citizens were cowering in their homes as the soldiers of Luxenberg fought their way into the heart of the city, securing key places such as both gatehouses and the Hirschmann Palace.

Within hours Victor and the main force of his army marched into the city. The people coldly glared at their new overlords. Many had lost siblings, fathers, sons and friends in the defense of the city. 

It was a gloomy and eerily silent affair, there were no boos or curses directed at the conquering army. Only cold and sharp stares were thrown at them. Their displeasure was adamant, they could not voice their hatred out of fear for what King Victor would do to them.

As the procession made its way through the town, Victor realised that the citizen's spirit had not broken. Hatred was pooling in the city, the people of Joltz omitted a murderous aura. It was alarming to Victor that this city was basically a cesspit of brewing rebellion.

In the Hirschmann Palace, Victor addressed his concerns to his advisors. "Gentlemen, I fear that this city will revolt within weeks. If today was any indication of the people's feelings towards us, then we can expect rebellion within months."

"General Vandamme, as I had said before your charge, if you take this city, I will make you its ruler. As the new Duke of Joltz, I leave it to you to manage this rising issue. Your corps will remain here with the assistance of General Tauentzien's 3rd Corps."

Both generals nodded, their task was clear but a tough one. Their combined corps totalled 50,000 infantrymen, 8,000 cavalrymen and 180 guns. They would need to quell the potential rebellion mustering under their noses.

With Joltz conquered, the Fontaine Faction suffered a major blow.