Chapter 130: Right of Conquest (1/2)
Berengar spent the first shift of the night on watch, protecting the barriers of the camp as a sentry within the trenches. The use of a trench line supported by sandbags and barbed wire was an invention that would normally not exist until the late 19th century. However, with his past life's memory as a combat engineer, Berengar developed such a defensive system with ease.
Barbed wire had been used extensively in his fields to keep cattle and other domesticated livestock within the boundaries of the grazing land allotted to them. However, after the ambush on his previous encampment in Schwaz, Berengar quickly learned to utilize trench tactics. When he was resupplying in Innsbruck, he ordered a barbed wire shipment to his army.
The sappers in his army spent some time constructing such complex fortifications. Still, in the end, the encampment was so well defended that the likelihood they would suffer significant casualties from an enemy ambush was extremely low. Luckily for them, after seeing the odd defenses of the camp, the enemy did not bother to send a force to test it; it was already terrifying enough to suffer the explosive bombardment of the 12 lb cannons.
After staying on the watch for the first shift, Berengar returned to his tent and slept until the dawn, where he was among the first of his troops to awaken in the morning. Though he did not have access to coffee at the moment, he fully intended to establish a trade with the Byzantine empire in exchange for coffee when his territory grew to a significant enough degree that he could trade with Empire to the East with ease.
As for now, Berengar and his troops primarily relied on their own natural ability to awaken and stay awake. When the morning came, the armies gathered in the trenches, and those with the 1417/18 Rifled Muskets fired off shots at the defenders on the wall with a fair degree of competency. Though not every shot claimed the defenders' lives, enough of them hit their mark to permanently scare the garrison of Sterzing to keep their heads down.
While his troops utilized their advanced weapons to intimidate the enemy forces, Berengar was in discussion with his officers over his plans for the ongoing war effort. Like normal, Berengar drank from a pitcher of light beer as he continued his discussion about the operation to his officers and the Lords in command of the many units of levies that comprised their ranks.
”It will take another day or two before the wall comes down; as such, we will continue to bombard it regularly; when the wall finally crumbles, we will send the levies into the fray while the line infantry will be kept behind and fire upon the defenders on the wall. The Cavalry will stay and protect the encampment until a time arises where the enemy has been pushed back.”
Though the lords who had shown their support to Berengar were perturbed by the fact that their levies would be used to storm the gap, they could not very well decline. As for Berengar's officers, they were more concerned about the success of Operation Trident as a whole, and as such, one of them voiced their concerns.
”What about Eckhard and Arnulf's armies? How are they faring?”
Berengar slid the wooden pieces which represented the allied forces into position outside of the city walls of Schlanders and Meran and addressed the Officer's question.
”I have recently received notice that Arnulf and Eckhard's armies have begun to lay siege to the rebellious cities. Within a week, the majority of the resistance in the South will come to an end, and we will be able to march on the Prince-Bisophric of Trent, thus ending the rebellion within Tyrol once and for all!”