episode_0153

Arrows and shot put flying over the walls of Thessalonica.

-Pow!

The soldiers raise their shields to block them, but wooden shields are not enough to block the heavy shot put.

-Kwasik!

As the wooden shield shattered and the shot put fell on the castle wall…

-Pow!

[Ugh! Sa… save me!]

[Ah… it hurts! my legs! My legs!]

Although such a miserable scene is unfolding, William looks away as if he is indifferent.

Because it’s something he’s seen his entire life.

At that time, I saw a huge siege tower slowly approaching to the west.

“Send reinforcements to the western wall!”

As William gives instructions while looking at the enemy’s siege weapons in the fortress, Matthew gives orders to the commanders.

“Reserves! Send reinforcements to the western wall!”

At those words, the reserve units go up the castle wall, and the soldiers who were fighting on the wall exchange with the reserve units and collapse on the floor under the wall.

Enemy offensive for 4 hours.

They are somehow able to block it, but they are starting to get tired of the endless waves of enemies.

-Pow!

‘The enemy attacks without stopping.’

William is troubled by the war situation.

Fortunately, the enemy’s main force is quite far away and attacks in rotation, so I think it’s worth holding on as long as we manage our troops’ stamina well.

and…

Because he has a secret trick.

“Give an order to the Golden Knights! When the siege weapon approaches the castle wall, go out the castle gate and slaughter the enemy!”

Although it is the weakest gate in the castle wall, enemies cannot easily attack the gate.

That’s because there was a time when he deliberately opened the gate and slaughtered them with the Golden Knights.

Even if the gates were opened, they would have no choice but to be cautious.

At those words, Matthew goes to the knights of the Golden Knights and gives orders.

“Ready to attack! Hit and run quickly!”

At those words, the Golden Knights begin to wear shining golden helmets one by one.

‘Slowly… it would have been taken over.’

William has so far been controlling the enemy’s offensive as much as possible and focusing on managing the stamina of his allies.

Perhaps if Byzantion falls soon, the enemies will be in a position where it will be difficult to retreat or even fight.

William, who is waiting for that moment, looks at the clear sky.

I look at the brightly shining sun, slightly blocking it with my hand.

“Soon, is it still far away? Agrippa?”

***

I invited the Imperial Supreme Court Justices to the Imperial Palace today.

The method my mother told me.

Is there a problem with imperial law, and is there a way to prevent Devian from using tricks to stop it?

to confirm.

Seven men gathered in front of me.

Everyone is of different ages.

The youngest person is in his 50s, and the oldest person is in his 70s.

These are all people who were evaluated as honest and wise in the imperial court when they were young and became Supreme Court Justices for life.

These are the people who helped me and Debian get married.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, how have you been?”

Among the Supreme Court justices who bow their heads to me, the eldest person bows to me as a representative.

“Okay, I’ve been doing well so far. I have called you here because I have something to ask you who are reputed to be wise.”

The old man answers my words with a sly smile.

“Hehe, Your Majesty, do you have a question? Is it legal?”

“That’s right. From what I heard, when I heard about the reason why the Grand Duke can exercise the right of veto, I heard that it was a concept of borrowing the right of veto, which is the emperor’s right. Is that really true?”

Hearing my words, the Supreme Court Justices look at each other, look at each other, and speak.

“Kuhm… The right to veto is the Emperor’s inherent right and is a sacred right that cannot be violated even by the Imperial Diet. It cannot be exercised by anyone other than the Emperor, so if you look at the documents signed by the Parliament and His Majesty at the time, it is said that although it is vested in His Majesty the Emperor, the Emperor’s veto comes into effect when the Archduke recognizes that the veto is necessary. In other words, His Majesty’s right to veto can be seen to occur because His Majesty’s right to veto exists.”

I say it again to make sure I get the answer I want.

“Then, is there no problem with Jim exercising his veto?”

“That… That…”

When the old man hesitated and couldn’t answer, I urged him.

“Why can’t I answer? I’m asking because I’m curious what my Supreme Court thinks.”

“Your Majesty… that…”

Looking at the speechless Supreme Court Justice, I realized that my mother’s guess was correct.

also. My veto was alive.

Until now, I thought I didn’t have the power to veto.

It’s the Emperor’s unique privilege, but it’s not easy to understand that he and I can use it.

I thought my right to veto belonged to him, but…

That wasn’t it.

He was borrowing my right to veto.

“Why can’t I speak? Go ahead and say it.”

At my urging, the Supreme Court Justice fidgets and opens his mouth.

“The right to veto… is the inherent right of His Majesty the Emperor. No one can deprive you of anything.”

Those words make me smile without even realizing it.

“Do you all think the same?”

Other Supreme Court justices respond to my words.

“Justice Roger is correct. The emperor’s prerogative is not the right to argue in the Imperial Diet. It is a privilege that cannot be interfered with by the emperor, even in the Five Races Council, the upper body of the Imperial Council.”

At those words, I smile and think to myself.

Don’t think that everything will ever go your way.

***

Clear out most of the remnants of the coastal fortress and head straight to Byzantion.

I say this while looking at the majestic height of the castle walls.

“Attack!”

The soldiers rush to the castle wall ahead of them in the formation they have already planned.

Siege towers and siege ships follow, and archers and crossbowmen provide covering fire from behind.

And then, a shot put is fired from a huge ballista towards the enemy wall.

-bang!

-Pow!

[M… Stop it! Stop the enemy!]

A fierce battle.

The enemy finds an area with weak defenses and orders an attack there, and a tedious standoff ensues as the enemy commander hurriedly blocks the weak spot.

It’s definitely a siege, so the enemy has a huge advantage.

There are about 10,000 enemies, but there are 40,000 allies.

If it were a field battle, it would have dealt a huge blow to the enemy, but there was a limit to how much damage it could inflict on the enemy stationed on the castle walls.

Of course, if we surround the enemy, supply will be disrupted, but that is not enough.

However, contrary to expectations, the enemy’s defense is strong.

“I want to avoid a war of attrition.”

If the war were fought for a week through attrition, the enemy would be defeated, but this side would also have to endure enormous casualties.

We want to avoid casualties in situations where we have an overwhelming advantage.

With both the gate and walls now strong, a tedious battle begins.

***

A shocking report came to the barracks of Ioanes, who was persistently attacking Thessalonica.

“What? Byzantine is under attack?! To whom?!”

-thud!

The messenger spoke urgently as he looked at Ioanes, whose complexion was turning blue.

“He… was a commander named Agrippa.”

Alexander comes forward and speaks.

“Ah… Your Highness! Speaking of Agrippa, wasn’t he the commander-in-chief during the last civil war in the Grand Duchy? I heard you are staying in the Grand Duchy until now?”

Ioannes had also heard the name Agrippa a few times.

Ioanes, I heard, was a commoner so talented that a young lion gave his sister away.

His head is a mess now.

‘Seo… Surely Byzantion has not fallen?’

“Ugh!”

‘What can I do? Should we turn our troops around and attack them now? Or should we take Thessalonica?’

Ioannes feels greatly embarrassed because he has never encountered a dead end since he became king of Nicaea.

Even if you want to retreat, you can’t at the moment.

‘Damn it… we’re retreating. That William won’t stay still.’

However, if we attack Thessalonica from here, we don’t know how much longer it will take.

Ioanes was annoyed when he saw William persistently holding on, but he steadily attacked.

Then I think I will be the one who wins.

But in the current situation, that prerequisite has been broken.

Alexander awakens the spirit of Ioanes, who is embarrassed and unable to do either this or that.

“Woo… We must save Byzantion first. If that place collapses, all of our units will be isolated.”

“How can we retreat? Surely, if we retreat, that cunning old man will attack us!”

-thud!

When Ioanes, slamming his fist on the table, opens his eyes blue and looks at Alexander, Alexander hesitantly speaks.

“That… That…”

‘Phew… There’s nothing I can do if I get angry now. First, we must return to Byzantion.’

“All commanders, listen, everyone, come up with a plan to retreat by tomorrow.”

Ioanes gets up from his seat and goes out of the tent.

***

One day, a few days later.

They are attacking the enemy’s castle without fail.

Pour boiling oil into a friendly ladder truck approaching the enemy and set it on fire.

[Boo…turn off the lights! water! Bring water!]

[you idiot! If the oil is on fire, pouring water will make the fire stronger!]

[Ugh! My… my body is burning!]

Be prepared for fire. Although the ladder truck was lined with water-soaked leather, it doesn’t mean much if you light it by shooting a fire arrow into boiling oil.

But the enemies are noticeably tired.

On the first day, I deployed a troop of giants, but I was worried when I saw that the enemies were better at blocking than I expected, but they seemed tired after attacking persistently.

I guess we’ll have to send in the giant troops soon.

So, he orders the deployment of the giant army.

“Insert the giants again!”

A group of giant soldiers who look like knights wearing thick black plate armor.

The tall men place their halberds on the ground, tear off the fireball scrolls, and throw them into the shot put.

Then he picks up the heavy shot put and throws it over the enemy’s wall.

-pop!

[Ugh!]

Seeing them throwing shot put quickly and accurately gives me hope for the siege unit.

Please… I need to succeed this time.

Did my wish come through?

-Howling!

[Help me! Haha!]

[fire! It’s fire!]

Suddenly, a large fire erupts on the castle wall… and the burned enemy soldiers begin to jump down from the castle wall.

“Siege troops should approach the walls as quickly as possible!”

Before we knew it, a ladder truck was installed on top of the enemy castle wall.

One by one, we reach the enemy’s walls…

“That’s it!”

As I watch our troops climb over the castle wall, I have a feeling that the war will soon end.