Chapter 24

"Have the six-pounders starts firing on the gate. The 12 pounders will just have to fire after. they reach," Vladimir says, and an officer who is part of the general staff goes and gives the orders to the artillery.

Vladimir turns facing the wall and not realizing General Ivan and Lev are looking at him strangely. They both look at each other before General Ivan steps forward and bows.

"your majesty with all due respect is ok to start a siege over a little city guard. Surely there is another way to solve this issue," says expressing his thoughts.

"do you also have the same thought or question Lev?" Vladimir asks, and Lev nods in response.

Vladimir frowns but changes his expression of understanding where they are coming from. To them, Vladimir is a child, and it looks like a tantrum, but Vladimir is a college student from modern times in a child's body.

The frown didn't escape the two Generals and they almost immediately took off their bicorn hats with yellow, green, and white feathers got down, and kneeled "His highness as general we should not doubt the Tsar's words and should whole heartily carry out your orders" says Lev quickly.

"I agree with General Lev," says Ivan after. Vladimir shakes his head "stand my generals. You are dirtying your pants" He stands and is relieved that the Tsar is not upset.

"It may seem that it was a tantrum, but I assure you it was not. If I was really upset, then I would have the hussars use their cavalry pistols and kill that guard."

"then why the army, your majesty?" asked a general.

"I want to test the army's capabilities. If they cannot even siege and take such cities, then I might as well have them home and keep them home as decoration," Vladimir pauses and continues "also to give them so experience because I will use the elves and this kingdom as my stepping stones and expand the empire west and I can't do it with an army that hasn't even tasted blood yet," He says without hiding his ambitions. He is surrounded by his men, so will dare to leak it out.

The Generals understood and felt a little guilty for thinking Vladimir did this only for a guard but also excited because they may go down in Russian history as generals who led armies to take the first steps of Russian expansion.

A horse with a soldier soon came riding close. He gets off his horse and walks over to Vladimir, saying he has something to report. He comes over and whispers some to Vladimir. Vladimir nods and thanks to the soldier. Once the soldier leaves Vladimir smiles and looks at General Ivan "General Ivan there is another city to the south of here. Go meet up with the second army and after dividing the artillery go and take that city"

"Thank you, your majesty," he says and rides off. He understood what his majesty is also testing him on his abilities and also allowing him to gain some merit.

"General Lev I will leave this city to you"

"thank you, your majesty," Lev says after then rides off. He also knew what his majesty wanted to do and both men were excited. Without knowing Vladimir has brushed some more loyalty with them.

"don't you want to lead the army here your majesty?" a voice asks. Vladimir in turn shakes his head without looking behind him The voice belongs to Yuri

"Let the professionals do their job" HE understand that this isn't like the total war series especially Napoleon Total war which he loves to play. He can't zoom out to see the enemies' positions, he isn't willing to use canister on the enemy while his militia is fighting in the mile with them, he isn't willing to sacrifice his cavalry to buy the linemen time to reposition. He also understands this isn't like the game where he can just refill the soldiers by waiting for a few turns.

These are real men with families and lives to live. Most of all just because you read a few books, play games, or watch films doesn't mean you can lead an army. He rather watches now and learns.

In a village, the people are going about their day whether to work the fields or do other things.

A group of 200 men on horseback is on the outskirts of this village.

"Captain Danil, what are your orders?" asks a soldier to the captain who is in charge of them.

"we well talk to them first and take their food. If they resist, then we will kill. I will take half and if we start to attack this village, then you will move on to the next one," he says to an officer below him.

Captain Danil starts galloping on his horse with 100 other men on horseback behind him. He makes his way into the village and shouts out loud in the common tongue so they can understand, "Hand over your food and anything valuable!"

Many people were shocked because one this isn't the regulars lords and second is other from the food there isn't much to give. An old man comes over and says he is the village head. He agrees to hand over the food.

"smart," says Danil.

Unlike Danil's success, some villages refuse and as for the outcome? Ask the burning village, dead bodies on the ground with burning fields with groups of men on horses carrying loot while also beating and escorting people of different ages to the siege.