On the morning of the eighteenth day since Burgundy and Swabia officially declared war, Talburg was still holding out.
For these eighteen days, Geoffrey’s army had not launched another strong assault on Talburg, and the number of enemy troops outside Talburg had gradually increased. The enemy Soldiers wounded in the strong assault on Talburg twenty-odd days ago had been sent back to Biertun Fort for recuperation and treatment. Forty newly conscripted peasant Soldiers and fifteen craftsmen, along with their apprentices, were sent to the enemy encampment outside Talburg.
For the next dozen days, the enemy encampment outside the fort resembled a large carpentry workshop. Fifteen craftsmen led dozens of laborers, working day and night in the camp. Six long wooden ladders fitted with iron hooks had been completed, and a large trebuchet and a shielded battering ram were also largely formed amidst the craftsmen's hammering and knocking. They would be ready for use in another two or three days.
“It seems that fellow Geoffrey intends to take Talburg in one go,” Odo said, accompanying Art as they watched the enemy encampment below the hillside, which had been bustling for over ten days. He couldn't help but feel a mix of tension and worry.
The outer wall of Talburg, except for its stone-built foundation, was mostly a timber-earth mixed structure. Such walls could not withstand the strong impact of huge stones thrown by heavy trebuchets. Once the enemy's trebuchets were completed, a few waves of massive stone bombardment would inevitably cause the outer wall of Talburg to collapse. At that time, the defenders, stripped of the wall's protection, would face hand-to-hand combat.
Art looked at the enemy encampment on the hillside with a serious expression. Although he had guessed that the enemy would continue to besiege Talburg, he had not expected Baron Geoffrey to be able to construct such heavy counterweight trebuchets and shielded battering rams in such a short time.
During the nearly one month that Talburg had been under siege, Art had received an urgent letter from Glarus County through Angus’s squad, which was patrolling the surrounding area. Art learned that Burgundy County and Swabia Grand Duchy had entered full-scale war, and that Burgundy Grand Duchy to the west had also dispatched troops as agreed to assist Burgundy County. Since large-scale warfare had begun in the North, the pressure on the southern border should have eased somewhat, as this was not the main battlefield and more troops should have been sent north for concentrated combat. However, Baron Geoffrey seemed completely unaffected by the northern war, focusing all his efforts solely on Talburg.
Art came back to his senses and replied, “I never intended to defend Talburg to the death, because this place simply cannot be held to the death.”
Odo didn't quite understand what Art intended to do, and his worry hadn't lessened at all. “Sir, but I see their siege equipment is almost finished. I estimate they’ll launch a major attack in the next few days. What can we do besides fight to the death to defend?”
Art chuckled, turning his head to look at the man who was a few years older than himself. In the one or two months he had been stationed in Talburg, Odo had not only assisted Art in commanding battles but also trained Soldiers and managed miscellaneous affairs, causing his brown hair to begin turning white.
“Odo, are you afraid?” Art asked.
Odo answered without hesitation, firmly stating, “Sir, I am a lone man with no ties, and my head won't flinch if it falls. It's just that I think of having just established a foundation with you, and if we were to die in this abandoned military fort like this, I would feel somewhat unwilling.”
“It's good not to be afraid of death. Only those who are not afraid of death should live,” Art said, uttering a puzzling statement.
“Odo, light the wolf smoke to call Angus back, and then select fifteen agile and brave Soldiers. Geoffrey is losing his patience, so we will act tonight.” Art gave Odo a few instructions and then walked down the outer wall.
Baron Geoffrey had indeed lost his patience. Teblen County had twice issued orders urging him to either advance west within a month to occupy Glarus City, a strategic location on the southeastern border of Burgundy County, to pose a threat to the lowlands in the north, or immediately withdraw from Talburg and march north to support the Northern Army, which had already begun fierce fighting.
Baron Geoffrey certainly did not want to go North, where large-scale battles were occurring daily, resulting in countless casualties. Moreover, his wife and child were still imprisoned in Talburg's dungeon. Therefore, quickly capturing Talburg and marching west was Geoffrey's best option. For this, he did not hesitate to forcibly conscript all the craftsmen from the Bilton jurisdiction to the Talburg encampment to construct siege equipment, all in order to accumulate strength and capture Talburg in one fell swoop.
In a small cave five miles southeast of Talburg, Angus and the squad he led had been hiding for three days. The squad's eight members had been reduced to five.
In the twenty to thirty days since leaving Talburg to form their own unit and harass the enemy, Angus's squad had killed or wounded eleven enemy Soldiers. However, the Swabia enemy, having established a firm foothold, continuously dispatched small groups of elite Soldiers to clear them out. During these twenty to thirty days, despite Angus leading everyone in constant maneuvering and hiding, the squad still paid the price of one killed in action and two severely wounded. The fallen brother had been buried on the spot, and the two severely wounded were secretly sent to Glarus County for treatment via a detour.
Inside the small cave, Angus and two Soldiers had lit a very small bonfire to cook meat soup. For the past ten-odd days, to avoid being discovered by the pursuing enemies, they had not dared to light a fire for cooking, fearing that the thick smoke from the bonfire would reveal the squad's position. Fortunately, the weather was still warm enough not to worry about freezing, but after gnawing on hard bread and dried smoked meat for over ten days straight, everyone's stomachs were rumbling with complaints.
In the last day or two, the enemy Soldiers had stopped their search and pursuit, allowing Angus to lead the remaining Soldiers to this small cave. Inside, they lit a small bonfire and cooked some meat soup with breadcrumbs.
Angus picked up the small copper pot and took a large, satisfying gulp of the meat soup and bread. He immediately felt a wave of comfort in his stomach. He then handed the copper pot to another Soldier by the bonfire, intending to go out and relieve Roen and Jason, who were on watch outside, so they could come back for some hot soup.
Just as he crawled out of the cave entrance, Roen came running back in a hurry.
“Sergeant, wolf smoke is rising from Talburg! The Lord is calling us!”
Angus quickly scrambled out of the cave entrance and followed Roen up to the top of the slope above the cave entrance. Looking at the two columns of wolf smoke rising high in the distance, he wondered if Talburg had been suddenly attacked.
“Roen, call Jason back to have some hot soup. We'll pack up immediately and prepare to circle back to Talburg.” With that, he turned and went back into the cave to direct everyone to start packing their weapons and supplies.
Inside Talburg's inner fort, Art had gathered several Commanders to discuss an important matter.
“Raid the enemy camp?” they exclaimed in unison.
“Yes, raid the enemy camp,” Art said firmly.
“The enemy's heavy siege equipment is almost complete. If we wait for them to use those machines to attack the outer wall, we won't even have the strength to retaliate.”
“But the enemy is already on guard now. Their encampment has high palisades, and sentries are constantly patrolling the camp. How can we raid the enemy camp?” Kazak questioned.
“I know, which is why I'm going to find Baron Geoffrey today to propose opening the gates and surrendering.” Art uttered the astonishing words “surrender.”
The Commanders were momentarily stunned into silence.
Art smiled, clarifying for everyone, “Of course, it's not a real surrender. Now that Baron Geoffrey has heavy siege equipment at his disposal, he must feel certain of victory. Surrendering now is the easiest way to make him believe us and the easiest way to make him relax.”
… … … …
After breakfast, the gates of Talburg, which had been closed for nearly a month, opened. After lowering the makeshift drawbridge, Art, riding a warhorse and accompanied by a Soldier carrying his Blood-Eyed Howling Wolf standard, slowly approached the enemy encampment, stopping an arrow's shot away from it.
Soon after, Baron Geoffrey, riding a black warhorse, exited the encampment and approached Art, accompanied by two attendants.
This was the first peaceful meeting between the two army Commanders since the attack on Biertun Fort.
“Respected Baron, I request a peaceful negotiation with you.” Art bowed slightly to Baron Geoffrey from atop his warhorse.
Baron Geoffrey was a true noble, possessing all the cultivation of a nobleman. Although he utterly detested this despicable fellow before him, he politely returned the bow. “Sir, I presume you have come out to surrender?”
Art glanced back at Talburg behind him, shaking his head. “No, no, I have come to negotiate with you. As you can see, Talburg still stands here like a rock.”
Baron Geoffrey sneered, pointing at the siege equipment in the encampment behind him. “Before them, Talburg is just a pile of sand. I don't need to negotiate with you. If you don't come out, I will certainly go in.”
Art, looking as if his little trick had been exposed, said with a hint of dejection, “Alright, I have to admit, before these behemoths, I can no longer hold this military fort.”
Art adjusted his posture and looked into Geoffrey’s eyes. “Baron, I have decided to return your Baroness to you in a moment. I swear to God, your Baroness has not suffered any grievances in Talburg.”
Art’s words touched a nerve in Baron Geoffrey. His most important goal in relentlessly besieging Talburg was to rescue his wife and child.
“It's good that you're sensible. If you release my wife and child—” Geoffrey paused.
“You don’t intend to release my son?!” Geoffrey demanded.
“Baron, I am not so foolish as to leave you with no concerns whatsoever. If I had no shield in hand, how could I confidently turn my back to the enemy?”
“Shameless!” Baron Geoffrey spat on the ground.
“Baron, let's discuss terms. I have already decided to abandon Talburg. The two wolf smokes you saw were to inform Glarus County that Talburg has fallen, so they can prepare to face the attack of Swabia’s army. My sincerity is abundant. If you can consider my terms, you will occupy Talburg without losing a single Soldier, and then march straight into Glarus County—” Art said with an earnest expression.
“Terms? My trebuchet and battering ram behind me are the best terms!” Baron Geoffrey had already relaxed mentally, but he wouldn't be foolish enough to immediately negotiate with Art.
“Baron, please calm your anger. Of course, I fear the siege engines you have constructed; even the strongest castles cannot withstand their destruction. However, you might pay for it with the lives of many Soldiers. Moreover, this will also affect the safety of your only son.” Art reverted to a rascally demeanor.
Baron Geoffrey felt a knot of anger in his chest. After a long moment, he squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: “State your terms of surrender…”
… … … …
Odo listened as Art, who had returned from “negotiations,” stated the terms and raised a question. “The enemy retreats twenty miles to let us safely withdraw with all our supplies, and they have to give us twenty thousand fenny as ‘mobilization funds’—isn't that condition too outrageous? The enemy currently holds the advantage; they won't agree to this condition, will they?”
“They certainly didn't agree. Instead, they demanded that I hand over the money ‘looted’ from Biertun Fort.”
Art said with a smile, “It's normal for the enemy not to agree, but it would be abnormal if we didn't propose it. The more avaricious we appear, the more the enemy will believe that we genuinely intend to surrender.”
“After some contention, Baron Geoffrey agreed to first lead his army to retreat ten miles to the east. After we hand over thirty thousand fenny to Geoffrey, we can safely withdraw with the remaining supplies. As a condition, I promised to return his only son to him safely tomorrow morning after our withdrawal, and to ensure that all of Talburg's defensive fortifications, including the flanking platforms, are handed over to him intact. This way, he not only avoids losing another Soldier but also gains a fully equipped military fort. He has no reason to refuse such terms, so the enemy will gradually pull up their camp and retreat this afternoon.”
Art stood up from his armchair and commanded, “Odo, call all officers from Combat Squad Leader upwards, and the fifteen selected elite Soldiers, to the inner fort to inform them of my plan, and strictly order them not to disclose it. The remaining Soldiers and peasant Soldiers are to continue holding the defenses. Tell the laborers to prepare to pack their belongings, making it look like we are retreating. Talburg here is entrusted to your responsibility. You must not only create the appearance of an imminent retreat to dispel the enemy's doubts, but also guard against the enemy playing tricks and launching a surprise attack on Talburg. We can use underhanded tactics, and so can the enemy.”
Odo nodded in affirmation.
“Tuba, go bring Baroness Geoffrey out of the dungeon. Let her take the thirty thousand fenny in gold coins back to Baron Geoffrey’s encampment. Also, remember, you must make sure the Baroness sees the preparations for packing and withdrawal in Talburg.”
“Bass, tonight's night raid will be led by you, Kazak, and me. All fifteen selected Soldiers will be issued a set of leather (or padded) armor, and each will carry a jar of lamp oil. After dark, use ropes to secretly exit from the rear wall. All participating Soldiers must wear a white cloth strip on their left arm to prevent accidental injuries during the night raid.”
“Kazak, go to the rear wall and see if Angus and his group have returned. If they have, shoot this note over to them.” Art said, picking up a small piece of parchment from the table and handing it to Kazak. The note briefly outlined Angus’s squad’s mission during the night raid.
The few men left one after another, showing no unease whatsoever about the impending scheme.
It was no wonder; these people were originally from the lowest strata of society. In their eyes, the honor and etiquette of nobles and gentlemen were not worth even a light arrow in battle against the enemy. This was for the best; if his subordinates had been a group of noble lords, Art's completely untrustworthy actions would undoubtedly have been seen as a great disgrace by his subordinates, potentially even causing them to defy orders.
Art sat back in his armchair, tapping the table with his right hand, quietly pondering how to perfect the impending scheme.