EP.404
I sighed heavily as I looked at the soldiers surrounding the castle.
It’s not that I’m particularly dissatisfied with the imperial soldiers under my command or worried that the expedition itself is going wrong or anything like that.
On the contrary, it is really nice to see them working together with a clear goal of exterminating every last one of the Warsaw bastards.
“This is the Marshal’s order to kill every single dirty Warsaw bastard! “The opportunity to avenge the family that went before has come!”
“Those guys who wouldn’t mind tearing off their limbs and killing them!”
“Long live the Reich Empire! Long live your Majesty the Emperor! “Let’s kill those dirty heretics!”
Since they are so motivated to fight, they will be able to take down a castle like this somehow.
“Marshal, what are you worried about?”
When I turned around, I saw Laura looking at me with a worried expression.
“If you are not feeling well, I will call a military doctor right away. After the examination, I will tell Charlotte to provide nursing care. “If the enemy gets sick, the morale of our troops will drop to the ground.”
“You don’t have to worry. “It’s not because I’m sick.”
“Is that so? “Then why on earth were you sighing so loudly?”
I laughed and answered those words.
“I feel like it would take unnecessary effort to capture this castle. We have to surrender this castle as soon as possible and invade the Warsaw capital right away…”
Although I often talk about annihilating the Warsaw bastards, to be honest, I do not want to annihilate all the Warsaw people.
The reason is not because I sympathize with them, but because if I kill all the Warsaw bastards here, the Grand Duchy of Warsaw itself will become empty land.
Then, since there are no serfs to farm this land, no taxes can be collected, and since taxes are not collected, if you think it is useless land and throw it away, people from other countries will sneak in without putting in any effort and eat it up.
If they grow their national power based on the land they have taken, they could become a force that poses a threat to the hegemony of our empire.
In the end, we would have to collect more taxes from the people of the empire, send soldiers to protect this place, and carry out large-scale development projects over several decades.
In that case, it would be much better to make the Grand Duchy of Warsaw an imperial territory, but keep the people of Warsaw alive, and make them pay for their sins for the rest of their lives by raising taxes and imposing many duties like a colony.
“Aren’t you in too much of a hurry? “Marshal.”
“is it?”
“Director Landel’s determination to seek revenge is good, but don’t be in too much of a hurry. Didn’t the Marshal make a promise to Lady Maria? “If I come back alive, I will take on the role of Austin’s guardian.”
The conquest of Warsaw was, in fact, a battle in which victory or defeat was already decided before the expedition.
However, what I’m focusing on here is how quickly I can occupy the entire Grand Duchy with as few casualties as possible.
As Laura said, even if I make some mistakes, there is virtually no chance that I will not return alive.
However, as she said, should we not be too impatient and take some time to relax at the speed at which we are strangling the Warsaw guys?
“I will report to you. The siege of the castle has been completed. Should I order the wizards to burn it all down with fireballs?”
“Bull those guys right now…”
At that moment, I saw a white flag hanging on the castle.
As long as this is a signal of surrender, I must not make any unnecessary sacrifices, even if it is just to take responsibility for my words.
“Order the entire army to stand by. The enemy may have surrendered. And contact the enemy and order a representative to come forward.”
Although I said it as if I was disappointed, the corners of my mouth actually went up on their own.
“Contact Captain Karl Anya and the Bastion Division and order them to come to the castle gate. We will hold the surrender ceremony there.”
“Yes, I understand.”
And I led a small group of soldiers to the front of the castle gate.
When I arrived, the gate opened and a man wearing blood-stained armor walked towards me carrying a wooden box.
When I saw that, I had a rough idea of what was happening in the castle.
That bastard is trying to surrender by personally killing their commander who was making a fuss about not surrendering.
The man in armor quietly knelt down in front of me and politely lifted the box with both hands.
“This is Major General Alexei von Tvanov of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. As the second-in-command of Kurshu Castle, I ask you to surrender to save the lives of the soldiers and people in the castle.”
“This kind of surrender process should be handled by the highest ranking soldier in the castle, but where is the commander of your castle? “We will not accept surrender unless the commander shows up.”
Director Tvanov hesitated for a moment after hearing what I said.
“So, make sure you bring the commander within 30 minutes. Otherwise, we will go to war with the Reich army and use that castle as a pillow so that everyone can die with honor. “You get to choose.”
Then I raised my hand and signaled.
“Death to the people of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw! Death! “Death!”
“Judge! Judge! Let them atone for their sins with death!”
“May the empire punish you!”
Tvanov trembled in humiliation as the menacing atmosphere completely killed his momentum.
Then he opened the lid of the wooden box and showed its contents.
As expected, it contained the fresh head of a guy who looked like a commander.
“Except for the commander of this castle, everyone in Kurshuw Castle had no intention of resisting the imperial army led by Reich Marshal.”
“Is that so? so.”
The guy kneeling in front of me continued to tremble and speak.
“So, in order to save the helpless and pitiful people and soldiers of Kurshuw Castle, I decided to cut off the commander’s head myself and surrender.”
Although his expression remained stern, I was internally cheering as I listened to his words.
That’s right, for me now, it is important to take bloody revenge on Warsaw, but it is also important to bring other countries that participated in the Allied Forces to their knees with fear.
If the rumor spreads that all the soldiers below the deputy commander who fear us have voluntarily surrendered after killing the commander who refused to surrender within the castle…
other countries will tremble at the majesty of the empire and feel even more fear.
Then wouldn’t the Reich Empire naturally be able to extort enormous compensation for terrorizing those belonging to the Allies without swinging the sword?
“so?”
I put a little more pressure and this time he put his head on the ground and begged.
“You can take my life. However, please spare the lives of all the soldiers and people in Kurshuw Castle.”
A guy with this kind of self-confidence would probably be able to use it well to break the morale of the enemy when besieging other castles in the Grand Duchy of Warsaw.
And if you treat this guy well, the Warsaw officers who think they have no chance of winning will surrender on their own.
It would be much better to surrender and spend one’s golden years comfortably while still being treated as nobles, rather than having oneself and one’s entire family die while offering loyalty to a country that is failing anyway.
“As an officer, I cannot possibly forgive your dishonorable act of beheading your superior.”
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After saying that, I aimed my sword at Tobanov’s neck.
“However, your desire to save the lives of the soldiers and people under your command is very admirable. Now, I have gone to war under the authority of His Majesty, and I have declared to you that I will spare your lives if you surrender before the castle is completely surrounded.”
Then Tobanov’s face straightened.
“As promised, I will guarantee the lives of all officers, soldiers, and people stationed in this castle. However, all soldiers and citizens must disarm, become prisoners, and follow our instructions. Anyone who refuses to do so will be subject to immediate disposition in accordance with imperial military law.”
“Yes, I understand!”
And I gave orders to my staff.
“Kurszow Castle is currently owned by the Reich Empire, so take over the castle completely. Additionally, if all soldiers and citizens within the castle do not comply with the control of the imperial army, consider them enemies.”
As soon as the staff received my instructions, they almost ran to their positions to carry out their duties.
Tvanov also tries to take off his armor to surrender.
“Please return your armor, change into your uniform, and follow me. “There is a lot of work ahead.”
“…… Yes, I understand.”
“It’s about saving the lives of the Warsaw people and soldiers, so don’t feel too bad about it.”
Tvanov and I are soldiers. He is also a soldier with a star.
So, in this situation, even if you don’t tell or explain what to do, you can tell just by looking at the person’s eyes.
“First, please inform the staff over there of all military facilities in this castle and the inventory of armor, weapons, and food it possesses. As soon as that is over, we will hasten our advance to the capital city of Warsaw. “I advise you to surrender at the castle you will pass through.”
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