The commander of Fort Volks had been posted here for the past twelve years.
General Weingartner was that commander, a veteran 55 years of age.
Since being promoted to chief of staff at the age of 43, he had engaged the Belgaria empire and the neighboring nations of Germania in nurous battles, achieving victory each ti.
Under his skilful command, casualties were minimal. He earned the deep trust of the Duke and soldiers.
His hair was all white, and he looked 60 based on his appearance. Because of his attention to detail, he got up every morning at the sa ti, had the sa breakfast, did the sa inspection, and trained the sa way. The timing for these actions were known to be more precise than a clock.
He got up 15 minutes early one day, making the maids panic as they thought they overslept and the chef apologizing for being late.
From that day, even if Weingartner would only get out of bed when the hands of the clock hit 5am, even when he woke up earlier.
But his daily routine was changed by a report.
"The imperial army is attacking from the south!"
Fort Volks was filled with tension and excitent.
Many of the soldiers were boastful and arrogant because of the Fort's solid record, but the strength of the Belgarian empire was renowned.
If it mustered its troops from the various battlefronts, they would exceed 100,000 easily.
The preliminary reports indicated 2000 enemy troops, but from past experiences, no one in the command headquarters thought that this would be the entire force.
The flag of the Varden Duchy hung from the plain white wall, in a simple room with just a single long black table.
In this battle conference room, Weingartner and his 7 staff held a eting.
The new chief of staff read the report again.
"-- We will probably see the Imperial army tomorrow."
The young general stood up and said:
"Our Fort Volks is invincible! We will send them flying back ho!"
"That's right!"
"No matter how many thousands of soldiers the empire might send, they won't take a single step into our Fort Volks!"
Everyone was in high spirits too.
But Weingartner crossed his arms in silence.
He simply listened to his staff conversing.
After a while, he spoke:
"There were no reports of the imperial army mustering their forces. We didn't receive any intelligence about a massive overhaul in Fort Sierck too. From the scale of the Fort, it's impossible to raise an army over 10,000 in numbers. From the looks of things, there must be so issues in the empire. Probably sothing to do with the royals and nobles... We can't be careless... But there's no need to panic."
So that's how it was. The staff mbers nodded in agreent.
They felt uneasy because a strong nation was attacking, making them spout agitated words. But the old general cald them down with his speech.
The chief of staff asked.
"Commander, what should we do?"
"First, we need accurate intelligence of our opponent."
"Understood. I will dispatch a reconnaissance team. We will get a clearer picture in an hour."
"I leave it in your hands."
The chief of staff gave his instructions to his subordinate standing by behind him.
The others staff expressed their views.
"Conduct the inspection of the cannons that were scheduled for next week now."
"That's right."
"I will prepare the n for battle."
"I will check the walls."
With their roles assigned, the staff went about their task.
As the mbers started to take action, Weingartner asked one of the staff:
"What happened to the cavalry unit that went out a few days ago?"
"... There is still no news. They were probably attacked by the savages. We sent out a 500 n group to search for them twice, but we can't locate their bodies."
"Is that so... It's regrettable, we will send their families our condolences along with the death notice and the entitled payout."
"Yes sir!"
The staff stood at attention and saluted.
He pivoted on his heel to turn right and jogged out of the conference room.
Weingartner was left alone.
"..."
News of general Jero losing the duel at the end of last year and the 4th princess gaining actual command had reached his ears.
The black knight might be tough, but he was still the Margrave of the nation, there was no way he would point his blade at royalty. Things made sense when he thought about it that way.
Next would be this campaign.
Were the young and naive princess' ambitions driving this?
Or was it sothing else?
No matter the reason, he didnt think this campaign was better prepared than any previous attack he faced.
Weingartner got up from his seat and went to the dining hall as usual. The chefs served his al as usual too.
--The next afternoon--
The chief of staff in charge of reconnaissance charged into the conference room.
"The imperial army is here!"
"That's slower than expected."
"That's because they positioned the cannons in the forest..."
An explosion bood at this very mont.
Weingartner frowned.
He exited the conference room, passing through the cavern like passageway. He ca to the observation deck made by digging through the outer walls.
He watched through the crack of the boulders and surveyed the plains south of the fort.
It was a forest that had withered in the winter.
Because it was used for military training, it was now a barren land with almost no greenery.
The imperial army could be seen right outside the forest.
It was 42Ar (3km) away from the outer walls off the fort.
Fort Volks' cannons were the latest version purchased from High Britannia. With the advantage of being on higher grounds, it's range was much further.
But even so, that place was just out of range.
According to scouting reports, the imperial army seed to have prepared dium sized cannons.
The range was said to be 28Ar (2km). Both parties couldn't hit each other from this range.
"The bastards from the empire... What are they thinking, setting up their cannons at such a distance?"
They fired another round.
White smoke ca out of the cannon, and an explosion could be heard shortly after.
"Misfire?"
None of the staff could answer this question.
The other cannons emitted white smoke too.
Explosions bood once again.
The explosion was quite a distance from the fort.
Weingartner frowned.
"Did the reconnaissance team see anything else? Just cavalry, infantry and cannons?"
"Yes! There were huge amounts of food and supplies too."
"Supplies?"
"We confird a large amount of crates and large tents."
"Are they planning a long campaign?"
"That seems to be so!"
The staff felt uneasy over the unfathomable actions of the imperial army.
Weingartner fell into deep thought.
"... With their cannons, it's hard to draw near to scout them. Increase the n on the observation deck; be wary of night raids."
"Yes sir!"
"Also, send scouts to Sierck Fort periodically. They might be planning for the advance party to stall for ti while they plan a massive reinforcent."
"So, so that's it!"
The unknown was scary.
With the strange movent of the imperial army, the possibility raised by Weingartner was taken to be the only answer.
Setting up a base right before the fort while mustering their strength there. They were certain it was a strategy the formidable empire would adopt.
On the flip side, this ant that they were thinking optimistically that 'Fort Volks won't fall unless the opponents send an unbelievably huge army.'
"If the empire is planning a large reinforcent, we need to defeat the advance party before they link up with the main force. There might be a need to leave the fort for battle, make preparations."
"Yes sir!"
The staffs closed their feet in attention and saluted in response to Weingartner's command.
That was the first day.
On the third day of the battle--
The cannon fired nonstop throughout the night and day.
They couldn't hit their targets, but the explosions could still be heard.
The earth was also trembling.
The faces of the staff looked frail.
"So of the troops reported insomnia and feeling ill. There were also concerns that the tremors might cause the mines to collapse."
Weingartner shook his head and said:
"What nonsense, the mines were excavated by dynamites in the past, the caves wouldn't collapse with just this amount of shock... And the walls were actually hit by cannons in previous battles. How would cannon fires that couldn't even hit us cause it to collapse. Shut the mouths of those saying such nonsense. If they want to protest, throw them into the dungeons."
"Yes sir!"
The staff who held that view remained silent.
A different staff stood up.
"The scouts had returned from Sierck Fort. There is no signs of major reinforcents... Yet."
"Continue the reconnaissance."
"Yes sir!"
"Commander, let's attack! The opponents are just 2000 strong! We have more than 4000 troops! We will definitely erge the victor in an open plain battle!"
"... They have the black knight."
"What can one man do!?"
This hot blooded young man was nad Zechister.
20 years of age, a youth with curly brown hair. His eyes were deep black. He possessed the ability that matched his strong body and tough face.
In a skirmish with the neighboring nation of Beyerberg and was complinted by the Duke.
Weingartner squinted his eyes.
"I took part of the battle of Erstein... That was a joint campaign by the kingdom of St. Prussia, Kingdom of Sturmgart and us, the Duchy of Varden. The total force number 20,000 n, with a heavy cavalry vanguard 3,000 strong."
"I know but..."
"Then you should know he is not soone to be trifled with. The heavy cavalry was shattered by black knight Jero and his 500 riders, and that campaign ended in failure."
"But commander! We the green bronze knights are different from the useless St. Prussia heavy cavalry! And we have the silver lances bestowed to us by the Duke!"
The newly developed tal shipped in from high Britannia was evaluated to be as good as fairy silver.
Only royalties, generals and people related to the Belgaria empire possessed fairy silver weapons, so it was not tested against it yet. But there was no doubt the new tal was better than normal weapons.
Zechister was bestowed with 100 of these lances which were equipped by his subordinates.
Even Weingartner wondered if the achievents of the black knight were thanks to his powerful lance 'Le Cheveu D'une Da'.
But the cautious old general shook his head.
"The empire's cannons won't reach us and the outer walls are unhard. It is aningless to leave the fort. Isn't that the enemies' ploy?"
"That, that is..."
"Zechister, sharpen the lance bestowed to you by the Duke. It would be put to use soon."
"..."
The youth lowered his gaze.
'He is too young', Weingartner thought as he sighed.
The shelling continued through the 3rd night.
The morning of the 4th day--
With the constant bombardnt, even Weingartner couldn't keep to his sleep routine.
'Just lie down and rest even if you cannot sleep', Weingartner had told his soldiers. So he still laid down and rested even though he couldn't catch a wink.
The door was knocked loudly.
"Commander!"
"What happened?"
"The green bronze knights have moved out!"
"!?"
Weingartner jumped out of bed. He was still wearing his uniform, and he knew he wouldn't have ti to change in an ergency.
He opened the door without stopping and headed straight into the conference room to hear the report.
Half of the staff were gathered at the observation deck.
And of course, Zechister wasn't there.
The chief of staff pointed through the cracks of the boulders.
"They are clashing now!"
"Why did it turn out this way..."
Weingartner could only pray, hoping the green bronze knights could defeat the black knight Jero.
The cavalry charged through the cannon fire and survived the shots of the muskets. Zechister led the 500 green bronze knights and closed in on the imperial army.
"Wargghh--!!"
They were about 10Ar (715m) from the annoying cannons.
The black knight appeared there. Their opponents were 300 horsen.
He said in Belgarian:
"Hmmp... I was just getting bored. Do your best to entertain , moles of the Duchy!"
Because Fort Volks was originally a mine, so moles were used to describe those dwelling in that fort.
Zechister knew that too.
He retorted in Germanian:
"Hmmp! The black knight is just a rusty lance that basks in its past glory! I will take you down with my silver lance!"
"A mole out of its hole is worse than rats."
"Shut your trap!"
Zechister spurred his horse on.
He charged.
The green bronze knights of the Varden Duchy and the knights led by Jero clashed in battle.
Urging his horse forward, Zechister lunged his lance made from new tal.
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