chapter 119
119 – Coronation – 2
In the history of the Arcadian continent, Swadia has always been a country of knights. Knights have been deeply involved since the formation of the country, and it is still considered a country with the world’s strongest cavalry.
The geographical characteristics of Swadia play a role in the fact that Swadia has always been a country of knights. Swadia had everything to raise heavy cavalry. Pastures where high-quality horses can be raised, mines that produce high-quality iron, tremendous economic power that comes from high-quality land, and even wine that can give you a little courage. Swadia had everything a cavalry needed.
Swadia has always boasted the second largest national power in the world. That’s because the first place was the Arcadian Empire.
However, the Vinebian and Clodia provinces, the main provinces of the Arcadian Empire, were divided. In the current situation where the empire was split into three, it was none other than Swadia that was evaluated as the strongest in the world.
Of course, from the perspective of the Taspilia Kingdom’s soldiers, there were those who evaluated the Kingdom of Taspilia as the strongest, but in the world’s cold evaluation, Swadia was still number one.
But there was one thing that Swadia did not have. That was ‘high-tech’.
Swadia was a country that was internally complete. Even if trade with the rest of the world were cut off, they could maintain the country on their own. Because they had pastures, farmlands, and mines.
However, lack of need leads to lack of development, and even though they had everything, they could not keep up with the advancement of technology. Meanwhile, the Taspilia Peninsula was different. Looking at the map, the Taspilia Peninsula was at the center of the entire world, and the numerous scientific technologies developed by scientists who fled from the East Continent made the Taspilia Peninsula a home for fever weapons and artifacts.
That is why the Kingdom of Swadia coveted the Taspilia Peninsula. This is because by subduing this place, which is not united and is the center of the world technologically and politically, they could overtake the Arcadian Empire and become the leaders of the world.
Instead of the Arcadian Empire, which called itself the center of the world with Swadia, Kazan, Kronor, and Taspilia on all sides, it can call itself the center of the world with Cylonia, Illya, Arcadia, and Taspilia on all sides. This was another type of world depicted by Swadia.
Unification of the world, not a world divided into three parts. That was Swadia’s goal.
That is why Philip de Swadia of the Kingdom of Swadia did not hesitate any longer. He led 25,000 soldiers and 24 cannons and advanced towards the Taspilia Peninsula.
Meanwhile, it was the Republic of Salerno, the leader of the Taspilia Peninsula, that welcomed Swadia. They have already been at war with Swadia dozens of times and have been occupied several times in the process, but they did not give in and rose up to achieve the status of an independent nation. The Republic of Salerno was able to do anything for its status as an independent nation and was able to prevent invasions from the Kingdom of Swadia several times.
When 18,000 Swadia infantry and 7,000 cavalry crossed the border for the first time, Philippe de Swadia, king of Swadia, said: He is going to attack the Kingdom of Taspilia from now on, so open the way.
However, Roberto du Sancto of the Republic of Salerno was sympathetic to the hard-line Banswadia Parotaspilian kingdom, so he never listened to the demand. He said, ‘You can’t open the road, so kill us and go.’ To which Philip replied, ‘I will do it,’ the war began to escalate.
In this way, the Kingdom of Swadia advanced to the front of Salerno Castle, and Leonia, who heard the news, began to hastily organize reinforcements.
—–
“Well, because of the coronation, we were late in preparing reinforcements. “Maybe it would be good.”
Charles spoke to Leonia, who hurriedly put on her armor with the help of her maids.
“Your Highness, the Republic of Salerno is a strong army. “They will be able to hold out until we get there.”
Although it is a little unsettling to see so many enemy cannons, the Republic of Salerno was a strong army that had held out against the Kingdom of Swadia several times. So there was an expectation that they would not be easily defeated.
“Is that so? “My thoughts are a little different.”
“What if it’s different?”
“Philip is an unremarkable monarch, but his military talent is outstanding. He is, of course, limited to old-fashioned military skills. “He has such a strong army that the Republic of Salerno will have a hard time withstanding it.”
Charles thought. Philippe’s ability level in the game was not that high, but is he that great? And that’s it.
But there must be a reason for Leonia’s opinion. I thought it would be better not to look down on Philip too much.
And while Leonia was raising her army and advancing on Salerno, news came.
“Messenger!!! Messenger!!!”
“What’s going on?”
Leonia asked the urgent voice that rushed over and shouted that it was a messenger. Something big must have happened.
“Salerno Castle… They say it has been captured.”
That’s right. Leonia’s assessment was never wrong.
Although Philip was an ordinary monarch in other respects, he was outstanding as far as his military was concerned, and he even had a strong army, so the Republic of Salerno could not endure and collapsed.
—–
Meanwhile, the Republic of Salerno three days ago.
The Republic of Salerno planned to somehow withstand the army of the Kingdom of Swadia. This was because it was certain that Leonia would come if we just held on.
But why did such a plan fail? If you ask that question, the answer is simple.
It was because of the cannon.
The Kingdom of Swadia had 24 cannons, and although all of the cannons were old-style cannons, old-style cannons were also scary in siege warfare.
If you make a turn, your troops will be overwhelmingly reduced to 25,000 to 10,000, and if you make a defense, the enemy’s cannons will become a threat.
“Mr Governor, please give the order. Is it rotation? Is that it or is it a water battle?”
In response to a question from a soldier under his command, Governor Roberto du Sancteau said:
“Our team… “Mercury.”
It was a conclusion that Roberto also came to after thinking about it for a long time.
Swadia was a cavalry powerhouse, and they thought there was absolutely no chance of winning in a round against such a cavalry powerhouse.
But in conclusion, the decision was a mistake.
The moment the Republic of Salerno entered Mercury, the enemy used 24 cannons and bombarded them all day long.
-Kwakwakwaang!!!
The stone castle walls scatter and the soldiers guarding them lose their ground and collapse.
At the sight of the floor collapsing and the soldiers flying through the sky, the other soldiers on the wall trembled, thinking that they would be next.
Such shelling continued for three days and nights. Now the walls were in tatters, with more broken parts than intact parts.
The soldiers of the Republic of Salerno, who thought it would be difficult to protect the walls any longer, also came down from the walls.
Accordingly, the Swadian army, led by hippo knights who dismounted from their horses, began to charge towards Salerno Castle.
And the Republic of Salerno felt it. The fact is that Swadia has not done its best so far. The fact that they have been able to repel Swadia’s invasion so far is because they fought sparingly with their knights.
The knights of Swadia, who dismounted from their horses, wore thick plate armor and wielded two-handed swords, were literally terrifying. Salerno’s regular soldiers had absolutely no way to stop such knights.
The Salerno army could not withstand the majesty of the Swadia knights who invaded the castle walls, occupied them all, and even penetrated the city streets, and collapsed in an instant, and Roberto du Sancto was captured by Philippe of Swadia.
The Salerno Republic collapsed after less than three days.
—–
The princess said that Philip’s military governor could not be ignored, and Charles said that the Republic of Salerno would hold off until reinforcements arrived.
As a result, the princess’s prediction was correct and Charles’ prediction was wrong. In reality, the Salerno Republic collapsed.
However, the princess still relied heavily on Charles. For the princess, Charles was like her pocket of wisdom, from which useful strategies could be drawn when times of trouble arose.
“Count Rochepol. “Is there a way?”
Charles thought about such a question.
Our army was exhausted from the rapid advance and only had 15,000 soldiers.
Of these, 5,000 were new recruits who had been training for less than a year.
It was clear that our troops’ thermal weapons were overwhelming, but that was also when their numbers were somewhat similar. The number of enemies is 25,000 and the number of allies is only 15,000.
So, it seems difficult for the friendly army to defeat the enemy. So, let’s take a step back and go to Mercury based on the number of superior cannons. That was Charles’ conclusion. But…
“Isn’t the enemy also tired?”
Leonia’s thoughts were different. The Swadian army was also exhausted from overthrowing the Republic of Salerno, and tensions would have eased due to the dramatic victory, so now was the time to attack.
Charles and Leonia had different opinions. And when there was a difference of opinion between the monarch and his subjects, they usually followed the monarch’s opinion.
Leonia pushed ahead with the battle, ignoring Charles’s opinion, and the battle between the thermal and cold weapons began.