Chapter 121: Ch 119. The siege diet

To discuss the current situation, we all gathered in Valencio’s tent.

Both the allied command and my crew were standing at the table, looking at the map of the city.

“Currently, the enemy forces are no longer enough to oppose an assault from several directions.” Lord Commander put several figures around the city walls.

“They will also scatter some forces throughout the city to counter the rising resistance movement.” I put some of the red figures back into the city.

“If we repeat the same move of starting an uprising and swiftly attacking, then we should push the enemy back into the Old City with no problems.” Lord Commander faintly smiled, and carefully moved the figures on the map, making predictions of enemy movements in several scenarios. We worked out several options, but one way or another we couldn't settle on one way of performing the final attack.

“Lord Commander, unless we concentrate our forces in one place, it will be hard to take on the walls.” One of the officers started to move the scattered yellow figures to several locations.

“While that sounds like a plan, I think we would profit more from using the killzone tactic and drawing large forces into several key areas, like we did in the North.”

“Is that not the same…?” The officer looked at me.

“There is a difference between starting an assault and drawing attention. They should not be idiots, and by bunching up forces we’d achieve nothing. There is a middle option: scatter small groups, enough to attack the walls in several areas. Here and here. It will draw in the enemy, and the assault would be able to proceed.”

“No, no, no, and no.” Lord Commander grabbed the figures out of my hands.

“No matter how smart you and the plan are, this is a huge mistake. Assaulting a fortress requires large numerical advantage. Dispersing the forces to widen the area of an assault will only yield nothing. Tried and assayed too many times. Even with your assistance, the last attempt resulted in huge casualties.” I lowered my head, admitting my mistake.

“Instead of using several areas for an attack, it is wiser to have one main assault in one place, while putting lesser forces in the other areas far away from each other. While it makes reinforcing them impossible…” Lord Commander gave me a short lecture on the medieval sieges.

That gave me an insight, which I immediately put to use.

“There is one way to draw every bit of attention away from the main attack direction.

We will try to lure the enemy towards the main gates by attempting an assault there, together with the tank breaking through the front. Your troops will assault in other places with the goal of using this opportunity to get over the walls while the enemy is busy.

By creating those breaches we should be able to force the enemies to fall back to the Old City. My spies and the resistance would make it hard for them to assist each other during the assault, so for as long as there is at least one success, we might be able to make our way into the city."

“You suggest to bash our heads and search for a weak spot? At least one troop might make it through, causing the defenses to fall apart. Have I understood you correctly?” An officer asked.

“Essentially… yes.”

“Lads, do they have molten oil, or something of sorts on the walls?” Old man asked.

Everybody nodded.

“My idea is to use the GRU snipers to pin down the enemies at the main gates, making it so there will be one guaranteed breach for us.” (O)

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“A guaranteed breach for you. I am getting tired of having my men lose their lives for you!” Another officer shouted in fury.

"Sir! Imagine if the tank gets damaged from a pot of boiling s* poured on it! Don't you think your chances are million times higher if we're fine?!" Jester knocked the table, and was about to continue his unasked-for speach, but I tugged his sleeve before that happened.

“Face it, we do the work way more efficiently. This city would only fall if we either clean it all up, or you drown it in blood. Their and yours.

Our security aside, since GRU would be at the gates, then how about using aviation to break the walls for you here and here?” I was about to offer the option to ease the allies' burden, but...

“ABSOLUTELY NO!” Valencio shrieked.

“One broken wall would take months to rebuild, and you want to leave several holes all over the city?!” (V)

“That is the quick and brutal way. Well, the last option is to continue slowly eradicating the enemies with artillery, until they are softened enough to fall apart at the first sight of you.”

“How long would it take?” (V)

“Up to a few months, if we keep targeting military-only.”

“A-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y brilliant! In the end we are to sit here and wait out until all my treasury is gone and all troops die of bloody flux!” (V)

“Your Grace, I think most of us agree on the assault. We only argue how to do it.” (LC)

“Then settle on a date and get started!” Valencio plopped down on a chair, putting palm on his face.

“Valencio, calm down! Even we can’t do everything required within a day. While the artillery will keep the enemy happy, let us gather the forces in the key areas.”

“I was only being tired of this exchange. The last thing I want to have is a long siege.” (V)

"Neither of us wants to sit in trenches, Your Grace. Alright, people, colonel Mercury's knights will move over here..." The discussion continued, followed by the same debates of who goes where and gets supported by what. However, those 6 hours were worth it, as in the end the map got completely covered in marks, arrows, and banners of regiments.

“Do we agree on the current idea of the plan?” Lord Commander looked around the table, relishing in the satisfied faces of everyone present.

“First, all troops are to be prepared and starting from tomorrow are to be moved out. Make the siege ladders and repair the weapons.

Next, Captain Belov, I want those powerful friends of yours to focus fire on the obstacles of our troops. Preferably where it will yield the best results.

And the last, we start the assault the next full moon, at night. Does Your Grace agree with the plan?” Valencio livened up and nodded.

“Let the God bless us all, and help us win and live past that day. Dismissed.” (LC)

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