Chapter 431 - A Day In The Life Of The Austrian Army (2/2)

General Arnulf stood alongside Strategos Palladius as the two men stood in the middle of the muddied trenches battered by the storm. If not for the hemp raincoats, which aided in repelling the water which poured down on them, they likely would have succumbed to the weather already.

Instead, the two men watched across the border of Granada and Portugal from a frontline position. The men beneath their command were huddled in their fortifications, waiting out the storm. Palladius broke the silence between the two generals as he spoke about the report he had read earlier in the day.

”Your Jaegers seem to have reported a mass sense of lawlessness within the borders of the Kingdom of Portugal. It appears that the men beneath the King's command have begun to desert en masse and ransack the country they were supposed to protect.

Do you think we will even face resistance when we march into their lands? Or will the Portuguese people think of us as liberators from the predators who roam freely across their realm?”

Arnulf scoffed as he heard this before presenting his gloomy outlook on the conflict that had yet to reach its climax.

”I think no matter what we do, the people of Portugal will resist us. After all, the Portuguese are devout Catholics, and the Pope has practically made King Berengar out to be the anti-christ. I would not be surprised if the people of Portugal blame us for what is currently going on in their Kingdom.

When the Reichsmarschall learns of the lawlessness that prevails in Portugal, I believe that he will personally lead the charge and fight through every village, town, and city until the people of Portugal have bent the knee to the Granadans, and by extension himself.”

Upon hearing this, Palladius had a smug grin on his face, which did not go unnoticed by Arnulf; as such, the German General quickly crossed his arms as he spoke towards the Byzantine Strategos with a sense of hostility.

”You don't agree?”

Palladius continued to smile as he shook his head before revealing his thoughts on the matter, the rain pouring down upon his weathered face as he did so.

”Not at all, though I may not have known your King for long; I believe I understand his character well enough to accurately predict his reaction to the ongoing chaos across the border.”

Upon hearing this, Arnulf got mildly defensive and shrugged his shoulders before responding to the General from the East.

”Well, go ahead enlighten me...”

The veteran Strategos continued to smile as he began to make his prediction about Berengar's upcoming actions when he returned from the Peace Accords in Aquitaine.

”I think your King has grown weary of this war; after all, it is not a conflict he wanted to be directly involved in, to begin with. I also know that he fancies the Granadan Princess. Thus, I think it is highly probable that he will retire to the Capital of Granada for the remainder of this conflict. Where he will delegate the training of the next generation of Granadan soldiers to us.

Once the Granadans have sufficient numbers, training, and equipment, he will dispatch them into Portgual with a minor degree of assistance in the form of artillery and reconnaissance units. For the most part, Berengar will begin to withdraw his forces back to Austria while leaving support units to continue aiding the Granadans in a war they will be by then capable of winning themselves.”

When Arnulf heard this, he believed it was an equally plausible theory; as such, he proposed an entertaining idea.

”Your theory is interesting; how about we make a friendly wager?”

Palladius chuckled as he heard this before inquiring about the details.

”What are the stakes?”

Arnulf smiled as he spoke about the details in a casual manner.

”Nothing serious, I assure you. How about we say whoever loses this little bet of ours will owe the other a favor in the future?”

Upon hearing these terms, Palladius scratched his beard in contemplation for a few moments before nodding his head in acceptance.

”Deal!”

With this, the two Generals had begun to gamble on which of their predictions were correct.

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