So this is the next place we have to conquer, eh? Alice asked. She sat atop her horse, staring at the fortified walls on the horizon. Beside her, Suleiman had a solemn expression on his face. Alice raised an eyebrow when she didnt receive an answer, and she turned her head to face the Padishah. Right? This place here, you want to conquer it, yeah?
Suleiman retracted his gaze from the walls and gave Alice a small smile. Thats correct. This is Belgrade, the fortress that stopped my ancestor so many years ago.
Alice nodded. Do you want to punch down the walls again? she asked. She rubbed her chin and furrowed her brows. It looks pretty reinforced, but I think it shouldnt take more than seven hits to knock it down.
Suleimans lips contorted into a wry smile. Major General Lowenherz, he said and took in a deep breath. Quite frankly, I and my people are dumbfounded by your strength. I fear that if I rely on you, there will be certain unwanted consequences. I want to give my people a chance to shine, so Id like to request for you to stay behind this ti and fulfill your role as leader of the Janissaries.
You want to stick around and defend you? Alice asked with a slight frown. You wouldnt be using to my full potential if all I did was guard you. If you dont let break down those walls, how are you going to get through?
Major General Lowenherz, Suleiman said and stroked his beard. Even if I hadnt t you, I still wouldve pushed forward with this war of expansion. I have my ways.
Alice pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. Alright, she said. If thats what you wish, I wont lead the charge and guarantee a victory for your n.
A bitter expression appeared on Suleimans face. Please, dont say it like that Major General Lowenherz, he said and lowered his hands onto his horses reins. It truly is a little troubleso to have you lead the charge even though you do it very well. Certain unsavory rumors may spread about us.
No, no, I understand, Alice said and shook her head. Ill just stay in the back, letting everyone else charge forward into danger even though I can protect them.
Major General Lowenherz, Suleiman said before sighing. As the leader of my people, Ill be fighting on the frontlines as well, but only after the wall has fallen. I can tell you want to fight and make a na for yourself. Youll be able to do that while defending as well.
Did I say I wasnt going to defend you? Alice asked, raising an eyebrow. I said Ill stay back and defend you, so Ill stay back and defend you. Stop worrying so much.
Before Suleiman could say anything, Burc hopped up onto Alices shoulders from his position in a basket hanging off of her horse. The white cat licked his paw before nuzzling his face against Alices. Alice, he said and yawned. Youre awfully moody today.
Alice wrinkled her nose. Was she being moody? What does a cat know about moodiness?
Everything, Burc said. We invented moodiness. Humans learned it from us.
Alice stared at Burc before turning her gaze back onto Suleiman. I want to see how youre planning on taking down those fortress walls.
Suleiman gave Burc a grateful smile and nodded at Alice. Almost a century ago, my ancestor failed. He underestimated the strength of the walls and didnt bring enough supplies or people to conquer it. In siege warfare, the side who has the most supplies wins if the battle is drawn out. However, if one side has an overwhelmingly greater amount of people, they can gain victory through sheer numbers and sacrifice. However, thanks to my engineers, weve found a way to change that.
Are you talking about those things? Alice asked. The army had been transporting large, heavy objects underneath a cover, but judging from their shape, Alice could tell they were similar to the thunder shooters the dwarves made back on the eastern continent. However, she couldnt find the right word for her translation.
Suleiman raised his eyebrows. Are you curious about them? Its true that theyre going to be the main force for this operation.
Alice nodded. Siege warfare wasnt really popular back on the eastern continent. It was practically impossible to build impenetrable walls since an earth elental could simply remove the ground from beneath the walls any ti it felt like it. The thunder shooters that the dwarves developed were mainly used to shoot at dragons. If Suleiman could build sothing that strong, then wasnt it possible his enemies could as well? If she got hit by one of the projectiles, itd probably hurt a lot, maybe even taking her out of combat directly. Do the enemies have them as well?
Suleiman smirked. If they did, I wouldnt be confident in dealing with them, he said and shook his head. They have similar weapons, but none are as powerful as my bombard. Well outrange the enemy weapons and slowly whittle down their walls.
Slowly? Alice furrowed her brow. How long is that going to take?
I suspect itll take ten days at most, Suleiman said and nodded. If we undermine the walls by digging out part of its foundations, we can reduce the ti it takes.
Ten days, Alice murmured. How about you let go over there and punch the walls down. I guarantee it wont take even an hour. Think of how much ti youll save. She stroked her horses mane while maintaining eye contact with Suleiman. Dont forget. The more ti you save during a siege, the less supplies youll use up.
Suleiman gave Alice a wry smile. That certainly does sound very tempting, he said. However, theres sothing I have to take into consideration that prevents from deploying you as a fortress smasher.
What consideration? You ntioned it earlier.
Well, Suleiman said and stroked his beard. Youre a witch. The Holy Roman Empire has established a force to capture witches. If they discover Im recruiting witches, the whole empire will turn against .
Alice tilted her head. Huh? Didnt you recruit despite knowing I was a witch? Why does that suddenly matter now?
I didnt expect your abilities to be so flamboyant, Suleiman said. If it were a subtle ability like growing crops faster or spreading illnesses to my enemies, Id gladly let you use your abilities as you wished. However, having a witch punch down a fortress wall to conquer a kingdom is simply asking for the Holy Roman Empire to target .
Is the Holy Roman Empire to the north?
Yes.
Isnt that where youre planning on expanding?
It is.
Doesnt that an you were going to war with them anyway?
I was planning on it after establishing myself in this kingdoms lands.
Alice nodded. Well, since youre going to go to war with them anyway, let punch down the wall.
Suleiman sighed. Out of curiosity, he said, choosing his words carefully, do you get pleasure out of punching down walls?
Alices expression darkened. What exactly are you trying to say about ?
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