Chapter 19: Chapter 19
It's late at night, 5 Lithuanian warships are patrolling the riverbank. After the war is declared between Poland and Lithuania, they have been ordered to work 24/7 to notice any movement of the Polish army led by Jan Wozniak, who is believed to have left Warsaw about a week ago. Due to the lack of spy web inside Poland, especially in Warsaw. The Lithuanian War Counsel has no idea where and how many the Polish army is.
Thus, using warships to patrol the river is the best idea that they conclude at the moment. In Poland, there is no river large enough for the construction of building hangars for warships. Securing the rivers mean Poland has no chance of striking into Lithuania from the west. The only pathway they can move through is to cross the Impetuses, the mountain that promises death for every unlucky passenger. Trespassing that mountain will cause Poland to lose the war even before encountering Lithuanian troops.
Now on the ships most of the sailors are asleep, there are 1 on the watchtower doing guard duty and several couples of soldiers walking around to make sure everything is fine. On the largest ship, the Horn, a patrolling soldier suddenly hears a noise from the edge of the ship, he goes to the location to check. However, his mouth is covered immediately and the cold steel of a dagger thrusts his throat. His body falls silently to the ground.
About 20 black figures climb onto the ships. Several more guards are killed silently afterward while the black figures block the way from downstairs where the sailors are sleeping. Then, they light a small fire and 4 more fires can be seen from other ships. The group pulls back the anchor from the water and starts to drive the ships toward the riverbank. Under the cover of the trees lying the hiding Polish army.
The Polish Guards load their muskets and use ropes to climb on each of the ships, forming ranks against the door that the black figures have just sealed. There are noises that people are trying to bust the door open. The sailors have awakened from the shake of the ships when they landed on the shore. When the doors are busy opened
-FIRE!
Fire flash from the muskets and bullet shells fly toward the Lithuanian soldiers, catching them off guard. Many people drop dead or are wounded while the sailors try to move back downstairs but they are blocked by soldiers who are trying to go upstairs. There are shouting from the Polish ranks, calling their enemies to drop weapons and surrender.
The engagement continues for an hour. Lithuanian troops are tied down, some unlucky ones lay dead on the ground. The captured officers are dragged before a man wearing black cloaks with a huge sigil of a white eagle on it. The rest of the sailors are forced to drive the ships full of Polish soldiers to the other bank.
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(MC's POV)
- Where are Priam's forces? Which is the best path to Vilnius without encountering patrols?
- I don't know
The officer yield before getting dropped into the water by a Polish Guard. 8'm extorting information from these officers. With my special unit, the Black Eagles, 100 men strong specially trained for sneaking and assassinating activities. Although they stand no chances against my elite infantries, the Polish Guards in the open who knows what can happen if the battlefield is covered in the darkness with an environment that the Black Eagle can hide into.
This is the first time I give them a mission after the training. Surprisingly, they perform it perfectly. 5 warships, a quarter of the Lithuanian navy. With these ships, my Hussars have been sent to the other bank conducting scouting missions while the engineers start to build a simple bridge so that artillery and more infantry can get through.
A total of 247 Lithuanian troops are captured and some among them are nobles, which means I can use them in diplomatic negotiations later if necessary. The officer who refused to talk earlier is forced to rise from the water standing, coughing, and breathing heavily. I raise my eyebrow:
- Are you ready to talk now, sir? I believe I have no more patience
- Yes. Yes. Just release me.
I nod and the guard withdraws his arms tightening the officer's soldier. The officer spits out anything that he can remember about or what I think he does. Priam's army is marching toward Warsaw but only departed from Vilnius two days ago and most of this army is infantry and many are newly trained recruits so their marching speed is quite low. I get no information about the governor of the Roseryth Empire who is sent to administrate here. The governor can be quite troublesome since he will have several Empire units under his command. Eventually, I need to face him before crowning Christina.
I get on a ship to cross the river. Let's begin my campaign by uniting Poland and Lithuania.
March 5th 1653,
The Polish army led by King Jan Wozniak after a successful night attack gain control of 5 warships of Lithuania and match into its border. The army ignored the villages and under the name of Christina Cornubia, who they claim as the rightful ruler of the country, they launch siege to fortresses and cities along the way. Anyone willing to bend the kneel to the Queen is allowed to keep their titles, lands and must support the Queen through troops and military supplies. For hating Priam for his dishonorable actions and the harsh laws of the Empire. Many nobles open the gates and bend the kneel immediately after seeing the Polish banners flying high near their lands.
Worrying about this, the Roseryth Empire has mobilized the 17th Battalion and sent them toward Lithuania to aid Priam Cornubia, who has kept running from the Polish army and stationed his troops in a fortress northwest of Vilnius. Feeling confident from gaining 6000 men reinforcements, Priam marches with 8000 soldiers in total and faces 3400 men supporting Christina Cornubia, begins.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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