Chapter 54: The rise of a regional power

Pov: Kapikulu Sipahi Commander: Omar

After we received reports the enemy truly entered the mountains, we launched small ambushes barely killing any enemies and slowly boosting the enemy's morale. As the sultan ordered we will strike when the time is right and we can gain tremendous benefits.

After analyzing the enemy army and watching them move through the mountains and defend against our constant ambushes we concluded that we could organize a large ambush tonight. Waiting outside the enemy's scouting range whilst they made camp for the night, we still sent small ambush parties to make the enemies feel at ease.

As night slowly crept around I felt satisfied with our prospects for achieving the sultan's goal! We split our forces into two groups, one for each side of the forest. The area they camped in was made just off the main route through the mountain, so just off the beaten path they cut down some trees to make their campground open and easy to secure.

The area where they camped is unusually flat allowing for our heavier cavalry to lead the charge into the enemy's fortified camp. Looking at half of the troops I lead and said to them "to all ottoman heroes here tonight, I want you all to know our sultan's orders are absolute and will always succeed! You can leave all your worries here... Because once we move on the enemies we are no longer mere men, but holy warriors who only desire death and to give death to those who desire life!"

Rounding up about five hundred men who had been prepared for the silent assault on the camp the remaining horsemen will wait for our signal to attack one the fighting begins. The same number of men should come from the opposite side of the forest as well, giving us two advantages one being the element of surprise and the other being mounts.

Slowly we moved forwards using the darkness as our cover and the whirling mountain wind to cover the sound of the hundreds of horses gliding across the land. The hooves of the horses have been covered with cloth to provide some help in quieting the noise the horses make when moving, but this is not the most effective in large numbers hence why we only brought a few hundred men.

The enemy guards were still not alerted even when we were within range to use our bows. Quietly I gave the order whilst running through our formation reforming our troops into a firing line. Once I noticed all the bows strung back and the arrow on the end sparkling with a firey light in the night I gave the order "LOOSE!"

*Thoink thoink* *Swoosh swoosh swoosh* Watching these special arrows fly toward the enemy's camp walls and their tents I smiled knowing the surprise they will feel just before death. With the few men next to me we loaded our bows and shot the men guarding the entrance in front of us. After they dropped I gave the order to charge the camp, and once the arrows explode a few more cavalrymen will rush to the camp with us.

But the remaining cav will surround the camp, killing all those who plan to escape our blades. Moving forwards rushing into the enemy's camp while being outnumbered by many tens of thousands I looked down at my warhorse who did not understand any of this but in his eyes, there was only excitement.

I also need no reinsurance, my sultan's orders being more than enough to get me to rush into the jaws of a dragon. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" My men and I screamed out as we got closer and closer to the entrance! Right before we reached the main entrance the explosions rang out *boom boom boom boom* I could even see through the entrance flames rising from the opposite side of the camp obviously being started by my troops arranged to attack that side.

Using our momentum we rushed into the camp, weapons were drawn some with swords some with lances, some still waving their bows about sticking an arrow in any man foolish enough to cross out path. I continued to lead the group forward rushing through the fastly spreading flames, cutting down lost and confused enemies left and right as I just kept leading my troops forward.

A few minutes into the raid and somehow the flames are moving just as fast as my cavalry if not faster, with the winds continuing to spread the fire faster and faster as time moves on. We still have not met any organized resistance, just killing men who are dazed and confused covered in soot from the flames coughing and wheezing before they eventually meet their end by being rundown or cut down by our blades.

After slowly losing our momentum and the flames spreading ever faster leaving no path forwards... I decided to retreat, ordering my troops to shoot multiple bright red fireworks into the sky notifying all troops to retreat. And after about ten minutes we retreated through the smoldering outskirts of the camp, no signs of life anywhere as we rode through the area once covered with tents.

As we ran into the forest I noticed flames trying to make their way onto the trees, but the moisture the tree still retains saved it from the sparse flames. After a few hours, we reached our destination, far from the flaming hell of a camp we left behind. And as every hour passed more and more of our spread-out units returned with their groups.

Once a large enough number of men returned I decided to call it a night, no need to wait up awake throughout the night waiting for incomplete information... But this morning I managed to compile all the information into an understandable timeline of events. By noon all the troops finally returned, and this allowed me to organize our return to Ragusa to get ready for the final battle as my job here is finished!

*** Pov: Mc

Today, was a good day when I awoke and made my way toward the pile of reports that sit at my desk... I was surprised by a messenger bringing me news of the cavalry I sent into the mountains had returned in the night and he handed me a report from commander Omar and an assortment of reports from spies in the mountains.

After reading through all of the new reports, where my commander Omar and the spies both concluded the enemy army took a huge hit from the raid by my cavalry forces. Supposedly almost all the enemy's food and supplies were lost in the late-night blaze. They also lost as many as twenty thousand soldiers, but some spies concluded that the real number is between ten thousand and fifteen thousand...

Most of the losses were due to the chaotic atmosphere in the camp, leading to many men killing their fellow brothers in arms. Some men were burnt to death by the fire while some were lost due to running away in a panic resulting in them being separated from the army. While the biggest reason was my cavalry that surrounded the camp killing any stragglers that ran out defenselessly.

So the enemy army still retains the majority of their original eighty thousand-man armies, but a loss in the tens of thousands is still a major loss. As not all of the soldiers killed were just peasant conscripts but professional soldiers and crusaders... Then add on the fact that this must've sapped the enemy's morale greatly, and then the loss of food and supplies leading to large-scale dissatisfaction their army is going to implode on itself.

I just need to defend against their attack for at most a week before the enemy falls apart all by itself. I just do not see them able to feed the army without large-scale support from his vassals and having the full backing from his people... But Stefan has neither of these so I mainly focused on his supply lines, so his ability to secure edible food was already poor let alone now after taking such a loss.

Many of the soldiers who ran decided to run away and either successfully or unsuccessfully attempted to loot from their own camp before dashing away... Leading to a huge loss of funds by the crusading and Serbian forces. But with the fervor for god burning in their souls and will to clean up the heathens residing in Christian lands they will most likely still attempt an attack on MY NOW FORTIFIED RAGUSA.

After a long day's work, reorganizing my cavalry and dividing them up and into my defensive structure as a whole I went to bed. After another day of similar work, I once again rested, leading to this morning... This glorious morning watching the Christian rats move to attack the trap of fortifications I created just for them.

Walking away from the balcony overlooking the lands outside, I was met by many assorted commanders... Dammit, I forgot I called a meeting, looking at my commanders I said "Well my commanders now that the enemy is here I just want to say a few words to motivate you in the days to come... I just want to let you all know that an army's strength lies not in the numbers of men, but in Allah's help, and its weakness lies in being forsaken by Allah.

-One day all of you here will look back at the most difficult times of your lives and you will smile about how you got through them and how you grew through such experiences... But Allah knew from the beginning that you were able to get through it as he promised to not test any of us beyond our abilities. Remember these words as you combat the infidels outside our walls, remember you can overcome all obstacles in your path through your faith in Allah."

Breaking up the brief meeting I moved toward the main fortification outside the city's curtain walls, This fort is located directly in front of the entryway to and from Ragusa and into the mountain range. This semi-stone and timber fort was arranged in the famous 17th-century style star fort design. I had the cannons arranged throughout the many layers of this quickly assembled fortress, allowing my forces to bombard our attacks into oblivion...

Once I arrived at the fort that is actively defending against the enemy, my guards forced the defenders to open the gate and pay homage to their sultan as well... Blah blah same old stuff soldiers always do, but once I was in the fort I could see the lively atmosphere inside. Many soldiers moved large crates filled with projectiles used as ammo for the cannons.

At the highest part of the fort, there were a few very large cannons that fired off every so often, there were also Hwacha located up at that level as well. Moving up to this high part of the fort where my battlefield viewing room is located, I walked into the very sunny room and took a seat in the large and comfy seat I had brought here.

Once I was seated and comfortable I took a look down at the active battlefield. What I saw was actually beautiful, many enemy soldiers were using hastily built makeshift defensive shields to ferry their ladders and themselves to the walls safely... Though this may have worked against my bowmen practically well and was worth the efforts of the soldiers as they could've protected themselves whilst also achieving their tasks.

But what they faced was something similar to a ww1 battlefield style defense, I had many skirmishers placed outside the fortress in trenches. Built with wooden defenses around it allowing my troops to fire directly into the enemy's formation and hide when any skirmishers fire back at them. While also receiving the devastating cover fire from cannons and large artillery on the walls bombarding the already downtrodden enemies.

As I sat in my comfy seat watching the enemy rats run through the trap execution fields I created for them, I moved my fists forward and backward punching the air... I said whilst doing this "One two, one two, one two" happy about my own one-two combination working out there on the battlefield right now.

<Notice: Lord has elevated the *Commander trait* as you have far excelled in the act of commanding men on and off the battlefield>

-Sorry for the long wait, I was extremely busy lately... Kids' easter egg hunts, family parties, and even forced business outings during the recently nice weather so I am sorry for the wait once again I hope you all enjoy it.