Chapter 1466: Chapter 31: Siege (Part 1)
[Kingsfort]
[Western Suburbs]
“We arrived late.” Woods Frank muttered, stroking his chin.
…
Gazing at the semi-independent polygonal fortress beloved by the United Provincials rising in the western suburbs of Kingsfort, he unconsciously started biting his nails.
Due to his outstanding performance in the battle of River Valley Village, Woods Frank Lieutenant received special comndation and was promoted; he is now an honored Captain.
In fact, Gessa Adonis originally planned to take advantage of the “reward everyone” opportunity to promote Woods by two ranks, allowing him to directly step into the office ranks.
However, because soone who made even greater contributions was only promoted by one rank.
So, not only commanders and fighters from Iron Peak County but also officers from White Mountain, Thunder Group, and Riverside County were innocently implicated. Besides those who died in battle, none of the surviving individuals jumped multiple ranks.
No wonder there’s gossip saying that it’s a ruse by the four-mber group to prevent rank inflation.
…
“Indeed,” Roson Jura Major resonated deeply, wiping “tears” as he sighed, “If only we could have arrived a month earlier.”
…
Although Roson’s blind left eye had its eyeball removed, the wound had not fully healed.
Father Kaman examined it and admitted his powerlessness, suggesting ti would have to heal it.
During the preparation of the Newly Reclaid Land Liberty Conference, Roson had been resting peacefully, and his eye injury improved.
But upon resuming horseback riding amidst these days, fluid started to frequently leak from his eye socket.
Thus, Roson had to carry several handkerchiefs to wipe it anyti.
So uninford West Forest citizens even thought Major was sentintal, otherwise, why shed tears so frequently?
…
“A month? Probably more than that.” Woods shook his head seriously, “I’d say we arrived at least thirty years late.”
Roson froze montarily, stopped wiping his tears, and then realized Woods was joking, which sent a shiver through him.
“I was worried—worried you’d be too anxious after seeing the United Provincials’ craftsmanship,” Roson had a complex look in his eyes, “Since you can still joke, it reassures .”
“You’re right, until today I was indeed very anxious, restless for fear of arriving late, giving the enemy too much ti to prepare, thereby missing the opportunity to siege,” sighed Woods Frank with a weary look.
The next mont, he said resignedly, “But now, my heart burden is dead, and the hope of entering the city easily is completely shattered, thus I’m not anxious at all.”
Upon hearing this, Roson frowned, “You an there’s no choice but a siege? The United Provincials did do a decent job, but they are fewer, is the siege the only option?”
Woods chuckled helplessly and retorted, “Do we have that many people?”
“More than the United Provincials, right?”
Explaining to the artillery intellectuals is no easy task with the cavalry muscleman.
But even if it’s difficult to explain, he had to, so Woods Frank clarified as concisely as possible:
“You’re right in saying we’d have nurical superiority in a plain battle.
“But siege warfare isn’t calculated this way; theoretically, siege requires more troops than field battles.
“Because the attacking side must simultaneously win a siege and a field battle against enemy reinforcents coming to relieve.
“Many examples show attacking forces winning sieges but failing in relieving battles, ultimately ending in failure.”
Discussing siege warfare, Woods’ eyes sparkled, counting on his fingers, “Marta, Vienna, then Belgrade—Oath Breaker’s brilliant victories against the Saracens were won this way!”
Hearing the junior ntion Pretender Emperor’s achievents irked Roson but he didn’t argue with the artillery bookworm, only gave a faint hum in response, “Well, that’s great, no worry over enemy reinforcents.”
No matter how slow Woods was, he sensed his senior was sowhat displeased.
So he imdiately stopped, attempting to end the conversation, “Anyway…there’s no way to attack directly now, and it seems the other side has no intention of surrendering. Just wait for General Gessa to decide.”
“Wait,” Roson raised his eyebrows, oblivious to his bullying, “You haven’t told why you think the siege is the only option?”
“Well…” Woods Frank, eager to end the talk, turned towards the city wall, avoiding Roson’s gaze, vaguely pointing at various batteries on the wall, and hesitantly said:
“Oh, don’t overthink it, I just feel…even without Minister Cornelius’ extensive fortifications, Kingsfort is still a tough nut…and the Minister has added many nails to this hard nut…an assault would be costly…so, I think, since we’re not in a rush, a slow siege with fewer casualties might be better…”
Woods spoke slower and slower, his frown deepened, his neck stretched higher, and his gaze focused more until he stopped altogether, intently watching the Riverheart Island upstream from Kingsfort.
From where Woods and Roson stood, the distant Riverheart Island seed like a small, indistinct blot, with tiny figures moving upon it.
“Huh?” Woods turned to Roson, “Senior, that’s Magit Island, right?”
“Where else?” Roson replied, puzzled.
Woods asked in amazent, “I thought there was only a nun monastery on Magit Island?”
“Oh, you an that battery!” Roson nonchalantly pointed the whip at the newly erged fortress on Riverheart Island, “The United Provincials built that. It’s said they dismantled the old Sumr Palace for stone materials…”
“I see movent on the island?” Woods cupped his hands as a tube, trying to see clearer, “Is it unfinished?”
“Not finished, still under construction,” Roson nodded, distancing himself from his shocked junior.
Fully aware of Woods’ thoughts, he sneered, “I may have lost an eye, but I’m not completely blind. I considered sneaking up on that unfinished battery and capturing it…”
“But it’s impossible,” Roson sighed long, “No boats, not even a plank. The United Provincials burnt all reeds by the river, leaving no sturdy twig.”
Roson pointed the whip behind him, “It’s not just River Shijian’s banks, within twenty kiloters around Kingsfort, few mature trees are found. Those woods I rember were all burnt, felled by the United Provincials…”
Roson sighed again, “Just wait, I’ve sent people to find wood.”
But Woods Frank didn’t wait there, he whipped his horse and darted straight towards the distant Riverheart Island.
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