77 - Fort Shi Part Three
After a week of not hearing from the Chakras, finally something started to happen. That same morning, John called on Raidon to ask to add even more traps. After Von's garrison withdrew, John and his squad have already started working hard to renew their traps. In addition, they have significantly increased the number of traps. Tripwires, pitfalls and even a landscaped swamp with pointed sticks hidden in them were made by the squad. On the off chance that they could, they have also created several places where an ambush might be carried out.
"Captain, is it possible to get an extra squad?" John asks Raidon, "I know no one should know that I have a higher rank, but no one would get to know that. My own squad is just too small to take advantage of all the opportunities that the traps offer us. With a second squad I can do a good ambush and maybe even catch the commanders."
Raidon starts laughing when the older man almost ran out of breath from his enthusiasm, "John, even without that whole explanation, I would have given you an extra squad for your ambushes. The day you told me you were making those spots, I already discussed with the sergeants that a squad had to be ready to support you."
John looks a little sippy, "so I could have asked much earlier. I’m here eating myself up to see if I could ask for help without reason. I thought you needed everyone to get the defenses finished on time."
"Both are equally important. The longer it takes the Chakras to come to us, the better our position becomes. In addition, I hope that you can eliminate possible siege tools or their engineers."
"Well we're definitely going to try!
As the evening starts, Raidon is suddenly called upon by one of the soldiers who had been assigned to John that morning.
"Captain! I have a message from squad leader John, the Chakras are coming."
Raidon immediately has his full attention on the soldier, "they’re almost here? How long before they arrive?"
"The squad leader thinks that without delay they can be here tomorrow at noon. With our traps and ambushes, we should probably be able to stretch that for another day or two, but it won't be much more."
"Right, so we should have a few more days to improve our defenses. We can make that work. Can you tell me what squad leader John is up to right now?"
"Yes captain, he has gone exploring with a number of men to see how many warriors are approaching. By counting the campfires, he thinks he can make a fairly good estimate. After that, he already has a first surprise for the Chakras in store."
"Then I will inform the sergeants that we can get an estimate of the number of attackers later in the evening. Then we can consider the steps we still need to take. Now get back to squad leader John, and tell him that I want that information tonight."
That evening John himself comes to the camp to tell what he has seen.
"It's about five thousand Chakras, Captain."
"What kind of armament do they have? And how many of them are cavalrymen and auxiliaries? And did they bring siege equipment?"
"Well, you don't have to be afraid of those siege tools, because they don't have them. None of my men have seen troops other than cavalrymen. So this is either the vanguard of a giant army, or Morris got them to go back."
"Let's hope it's the second. Without siege equipment, we have a chance to hold out, even though we are vastly outnumbered. The manuals indicate that you should be able to maintain a well-defended position if the opponent cannot pit more than ten men against each of yours. But that only applies if both the attacker and the defender have the same equipment."
Raidon still has to think about what the best option is. Despite the defenses they have built, the odds are still staggering. Even with their harnesses, it doesn't seem possible for him to hold their position for long. The Chakras can line up more than thirty warriors against each soldier of Raidon.
To be on the safe side, Raidon decides to send Ryker on his way with his ship to get extra soldiers.
"I think it's best to go to Centurion for help. At the border there are mostly warriors of the regular army, I fear that you will find no reinforcements there. In Centurion, meanwhile, Brandon should have completed the first training of the recruits we already had, and with a bit of luck he also managed to get enough harnesses."
"Are you sure Raidon? You can also choose to evacuate everyone now. When I leave, you have nowhere to retreat to."
"I know Ryker, but we have to take that risk. We won't find a better position than this any time soon."
"If that's your choice, I'm going to do my best to come up with reinforcements as soon as possible. I'm going to get everything ready to leave right away."
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Stolen novel; please report.
When Alyena and her entourage arrive at the gate of the academy, they are stopped by armed guards.
"Halt! The class season started last week, so who are you to come to our gate now."
Apparently, these so-called guards don’t even recognize the markings of the uniforms of the imperial guard.
"In front of you is Alyena, empress of the empire. So open this gate immediately and guide us to the marshal of the academy." Captain Cervik clearly has no patience for the incompetence of these guards.
Without blinking, the guards open the gate. Apparently, not recognizing the Empress and her entourage was part of the gate ceremony. Within seconds, a servant comes out of the building next to the gate.
"Welcome majesty, to the high academy of the art of martial arts."
"High academy? I was not aware that there is also a low academy. Can you explain that to me?" Alyena interrupts him with a small smile on her face.
With a pained face, the servant answers negatively.
"No, your majesty, that is just the name that the gentlemen of standing have given to our beautiful academy. We are still the only academy of our empire. This is still the best place for young men to learn the art of warfare." He says the latter in such a proud tone that Alyena can't resist teasing him again.
"If it's the only one, then it's also the best, isn't it? I don't think it's very difficult to tell you that you're the best."
With a red head, the servant leads them to the U-shaped building at the end of the driveway.
Once there, they are immediately led into the headmaster's office.
"Welcome majesty, what can we with our humble academy do for you? Maybe you want to come and take some classes? Our teachers are masters at teaching everything a noble lady needs to know in order to move in the upper classes. Both learning the art of embroidery and conversing are ideal for ladies of your caliber. Or maybe you would like some lessons in finding the right spouse to take over your burdens from you?"
"No thank you headmaster. While I'm certainly curious about what the ladies here are learning, I'm here mainly to look at the lessons the young men are learning to become officers. I am concerned about the quality of our officer corps."
Full of wonder, the headmaster replies: "But that's nothing for a noble lady like you, is it? I can guarantee you that the lessons for the ladies would suit you much better."
The disdainful speech of the headmaster starts irritate Alyena quite a bit.
"Headmaster, I know very well what I'm here for. And that's not, like you keep insisting, taking useless classes. So you can stop your attempts and assign me someone now who can guide me to some of the lessons. If you don’t, I will reconsider if this academy still continues to have the right to exist."
The headmaster seems to sink into his chair under the empress's fiery speech.
"Of course your majesty, my own assistant will guide you." The headmaster walks to the door and immediately calls his assistant. "Gerwald, you are going to show the Empress and her entourage around the academy. I think Master Jada is currently giving parade lessons to the third-year students, that’s where you can start your tour."
"Of course sir, your majesty, if you will follow me."
The assistant leads Alyena to an exit on the north side of the building. Immediately Alyena hears the rumbling of lots of horse hooves on stone. Indeed, a dozen young men ride black horses across a small square.
The assistant immediately walks up to the teacher, who is watching from the sidelines on an equally black horse.
"Master Jada, Master Jada! Her Majesty Empress Alyena is here to observe your lesson. Maybe you could explain what your students are currently doing?"
Master Jada is equally utterly bewildered. It is not often that someone comes to observe at the academy, and certainly not someone like the Empress.
"But of course, the gentlemen are currently engaged in a warm-up exercise. During the first year they learn to ride in step, after which we use this exercise for the warm-up of both the men and the horses. In a moment we will start working on a more difficult pattern."
When the parade lesson is finally over, Alyena and her entourage are escorted to the next lesson.
"I have to say Bremen, that this lesson was not that bad. Maybe it's not very useful for a war, but at least they learn discipline."
"You are right, your majesty, but I fear that you were sent to this lesson for a good reason. The parade lesson is one of the few lessons that are not completely useless. If you ask me, the headmaster has used this time to organize some lessons with which he can leave a good impression."
"Then tell us what lessons are normally there, and we'll see if this matches what we're going to see today."
"Of course your majesty," Bremen begins before being interrupted by the Empress.
"Bremen, enough with that majesty. Politeness is appreciated, but exaggeration is also an art. You don't have to use my title in every sentence."
"But of course maje-... But of course. As I was going to say, there is a distinction between the ladies and gentlemen who are taught at the academy. The ladies have several lessons that they must follow. The lessons you were offered by the headmaster are some examples of this. Despite these mandatory lessons, the ladies have more than enough time for themselves. The ladies have lessons at most three days a week."
"And the gentlemen?"
"With the gentlemen, the lessons are more non-committal. Not a single class is mandatory, instead they have to sign up for classes. If there are not at least three registrations, the lesson will not be taught."
"And what kind of lessons are available?"
"You have already seen the parade lesson, that is one of the lessons that is pretty much always taught. Most young nobles find it important to look good to impress the young ladies. There are also lessons in fencing and boxing. Also, fighting from the saddle is quite popular. Furthermore, a few immerse themselves in the management of their estate, but usually they have to turn to the library. The librarian gives lessons in management, but they often don’t take place because there are too few registrations."
"Those lessons sound pretty useful. Why do you say you didn't learn anything here?"
"Because these are the lessons that the others find useful. Yes, if you can handle your sword, that is very useful in a war, but I would also like to learn how to keep the men alive. There is no teaching in tactics or strategy. No one here has any idea what it's like to lead warriors. I think ninety percent of graduates would fall into the first trap or ambush that they encounter. The academy is really only good for social contacts, to party, and to finally have a piece of paper that one can use to immediately move on to a good position in the army. Probably three-quarters of the gentlemen are not even near the academy at the moment, but they are either in the city, or they are hunting under the guidance of a teacher."
The three classes that Alyena and her entourage attend the rest of the day don’t look much like the description that Bremen gave. Indeed, there is one lesson in swordsmanship, but the other two lessons are one in topography and one in the creation of the two empires.
Although the lessons themselves are not wrong, it is clear that the students do not get these lessons often. No one really knows what the teacher is talking about, and the questions that are asked have to be read from a piece of paper half the time.
When they drive back to the garrison, Alyena decides that she has already seen enough.
"Bremen, if you have no objection, I would like you to accompany us on the way back to Niroma. I think I can get enough information about the academy from you for my needs. In return, I will make sure that you will receive a decent education, with the chance of a position in the army afterwards."
"Your Majesty, it would be an honor for me. Thank you for this opportunity, I will not disappoint you!"