Chapter 28: The Art of Harassment (rewrite)

The Art of Harassment

As Vortigern observed the situation, he suspected that King Uther might be planning a counterattack or preparing for a retreat. "I have a feeling King Uther is preparing a backup plan. We might face some issues behind us," Vortigern said to his subordinate.

The subordinate, though reluctant, asked, "Should we withdraw?"

Vortigern shook his head. "No, increase the attack."

The subordinate nodded and carried out the order.

Lott, navigating the muddy roads, grumbled inwardly, Do people in this era not build roads? Or has Vortigern already planned for this? This grudge will be settled.

Morgan, riding beside Lott, chuckled at his complaints. The rain had turned the roads into a quagmire, making it difficult for horses to traverse. Lott found himself leading Morgan's horse to avoid her getting bogged down.

Morgan listened to Lott's complaints and thought, To ensure smooth troop movements, roads are essential. I'll make sure to prioritize road construction when I become the queen of Camelot. She mentally noted this plan for future governance, pushing Lott's complaints aside.

Despite the adverse weather, the rain concealed Lott's army as they moved past several of Vortigern's strongholds. After a full day and night of marching, they finally arrived at Vortigern's base camp.

The appearance of Lott's forces caused panic among Vortigern's soldiers. They had not anticipated an enemy force arriving from the sea. Fearful and confused, some speculated that the Romans might be attacked while they were engaged with King Uther.

Lott's troops captured a messenger, gaining valuable intelligence about Vortigern's situation. Lott and Morgan seized this opportunity, using the cover of rain to simulate an impending attack on the city. They sent out more false messages to confuse the defenders.

The Tactics of Deception

Merlin, wielding his sword, dealt with Vortigern's scouts. As the enemy tried to gather intelligence on Lott's movements, Merlin made sure none of them returned. "We've taken care of thirty scouts. They likely won't dare to send out more," Merlin reported to Lott.

Lott examined the fallen scouts and commented, "Yes, it's not easy to continuously send scouts back and forth."

Morgan, peeking out of her tent, called out, "Lot, come inside. It's freezing out there. Merlin, you can stay out for now."

Lott and Morgan understood her meaning. Lott quickly entered the tent, leaving Merlin outside.

Inside, Lott was shielded from the rain by the tent's modern construction. Morgan was preparing hot water, reflecting her meticulous nature. She was a stickler for cleanliness and health, ensuring that even in adverse conditions, her troops could maintain their effectiveness.

Lott watched Morgan pour a cup of hot water and savour it. I'm glad to see that even in this era, Morgan values drinking hot water. It's a good habit. He thought that encouraging her helped keep the morale high.

Morgan, puzzled by Lott's comment about the era, handed him a cup of hot water. "Drink up. It will keep you warm."

Lott drank the water and noted that it was the same cup Morgan had used. This slight embarrassment was dismissed as Lott continued to focus on their strategy. "Morgan, we should keep sending troops to harass the enemy."

Morgan asked, "What's your plan?"

Lott explained, "We'll use harassment tactics. By increasing our perceived threat, Vortigern's forces will be compelled to defend against us. The more we harass them, the more they'll believe an attack is imminent, increasing their need for reinforcements and making it easier for us to manoeuvre."

Morgan agreed and supported the plan.

The Psychological Toll

The psychological impact on Vortigern's men was significant. The uncertainty of their enemy's identity and the constant harassment led to increasing anxiety. The sound of horns at night, the unending rain, and the fear of an imminent attack created a sense of dread among the defenders.

Despite the impressive siege equipment of the Romans and their well-planned defences, the constant harassment tactics employed by Lott's forces contributed to a growing sense of unease and instability within Vortigern's camp.

As the defenders waited anxiously for a real attack that never came, their morale began to wane. The psychological toll of the relentless harassment tactics made them increasingly vulnerable, setting the stage for a potential breakthrough by Lott's forces.