The Devil of the Rhine in a "safer" world (SOTTE x RTW)

Chapter 17

They reached the point of diversion of the Redwater river and Roland starts to make his defensive plan including an animal carried tank, Roland then also shows his plan to make a quick wall where the artillery would be behind, Lotus still doesn't understand how that will help the defenses but Leaf calmely says to trust him and she does help in the building of the defenses

The next day 

Var'ner runs through the top shouting 

Var'ner: Report! Everyone get ready for battle! 

Soldier 1: Yes! Where is the enemy? 

Soldier 2: They're not yet here. I can't even see their shadows yet. 

The enemy ships slowly approach, not because they are being carefull, but because their top speed is slow

The 203rd stayed at the top of the walls devided between the two sides to better use their explosion spells

Soon after the ships finally reached visual range, and proceeded to wait until they reach the cannons and guns range, and when they finally reach it, the cannons fire. destroying the enemy decks and everyone who was there, Sylvie who was using her ability to see the enemy ships close was shocked at the death and destruction, so much she almost vomited, but Roland then said that she could stop using the ability and she did so, at the same time Tanya activated her blessing and blew up an entire boat, the rest of the 203rd follow soon after damaging the other boats so much they started to sink

The survivors try to escape the sinking ships and go to the shores only for them to get shot by the first army

Roland: It's time for the reserves to clean up the battlefield. If their commander didn't die, try to catch him for interrogation. 

Axe: Understood! 

Roland: Sylvie, would you go with Iron Axe? I don't want anyone to slip away. 

Sylvie: Of course. 

An hour later

Axe finally comes back with all the captured, including the second in command of the invasion force

Axe: Your highness, these two are considered as their commander. 

Snake: I... I am sir Snake, your highness... Please allow me to send a letter to my family, they will give you a huge ransom.

Elvinshade: I am the second son of the north shield family, Elvinshade. Your highness, I am also willing to pay the ransom. 

Roland: So you're the ones leading the attack? 

Snake: No, the commander is Sir Vincent, but he was killed in action.Your highness, please let me go! Please show mercy! 

Roland: I don't need Ransom, just tell me everything you know about the purpose of your attack... And also Timothy's plans, and maybe I'll give you the treatment you deserve. 

Snake: This is... I'm sorry but I can't tell you.

Elvinshade: Yes! We have sworn oath to his majesty Timothy, I can't just break it. 

Roland: Is that so? 

Roland turns around

Roland: Iron Axe, I'll leave them to you. There is no restriction. I want to hear what I want to know. 

Axe: Yes, your highness. Take them! 

Soldier 3: Yes sir! 

Roland then talks again to Axe

Roland: Kill them after interrogation. 

After the interrogation

Roland: So those people were just Timothy's advance force? 

Axe: You've guessed before, it's Timothy's strategy, sending one militia army after another to attack the west. He also used this method to attack Garcia Wimbledon in clearwater port city. 

Roland: Are they all civilians? 

Axe: Not at all, there are also criminals, bandits, and all sorts of shady characters. According to the prisioners, aftyer Timothy conscripted those people, he promised them freedom, and then make them consume the first batch of pills. That way, Timothy can control them because they would want more pills to releive their pain and cravings.

Roland gets comprehensively made at that 

Roland: taking more pills are just trying to delay death. They didn't know that once they take the pill, there is no escaping death. 

Axe: Ideed, your highness, Timothy did not tell them about the side effect of the pills. Therefore these militiamen thought that they were fighting for the new king, and they would be granted freedom and rewards they had been promised.Snake also said that Timothy gave them another task. It was to divide the militiamen into several batches and attack the town to see how would you response and to measure your combat capabilities. I think... he should have noticed thagt the cavaliers did not return from the previous attack. 

Roland: And no one will return this time also. Since it was only aan advance force, do those two know anything about Timothy's next plan? 

Axe: Not much, but they said that the scale will be much larger than the previous two attacks. 

Roland then thinks how the just two attacks were mere cannon fodders and that he needs to quickly stop this bloodshed but he still needs to consolidate his power and opinions in the stronghold, so delaying the war is the only course for now

Axe: Should we send messengers or write him a diplomatic letter? 

Tanya: It would be useless, since he wouldn't listen

Roland: Exactly. What I want is to erase the idea of attacking from hid head. First we have to reduce the population he can search.Second, we must make him realize that the war of attrition is ineffective and that he should fear the west. The previouse methods of propagating the western territory took effect too slow and were too conservative. If we want to save the people from Timothy, we have to actively contact them like our last trip to the capital. Most importantly, the southern border has been repeatedly torn by war, followed by the northern part of the kingdom. The first army will need to be dispatched to execute the plan. As for the second point, we have to release the news by returning the captured civilians to the capital to let Timothy know the course of the battle. If he knows that his efforts have been futile, he wouldn't keep trying. 

Tanya and Axe get shocked at this 

Tanya: But this way they'll know about me and the 203rd. 

Roland: Well not exactly, they will only think that you are a part of the first army and nothing more.

Axe: But what about our artillery details? They'll also be exposed. 

Roland: Yes, but they won't know much about it, except for it's long range and amazing power, he won't know how it works or how to make it. And these people will also bring a warning letter to him. 

Tanya and Axe: A warning letter?! 

Roland: Yes, and I will announce the time of the attack in the letter and raid the capital on that day. 

Tanya looks dumbfounded at first on why would he annouce the day he would attack until she remembers that Roland had invented the hot air ballon and she grins knowing the attack will be an air raid made by the hot air ballons 

Roland: The raid will not be carried by the first army, but by witches, from the sky. Although the possibility of killing him directly is small, as long as we can shake his throne he sits comfortably on, it will count as a success. 

Tanya then shimes in 

Tanya: It might be possible then you think. If we also use the 203rd to give extra bombing raid using the artillery spell, we could kill him from anywhere he is, it would be a suprise if he survived that. The it will be a piece of cake taking over Graycastle.

Roland: We'll still have to deal with my sister Garcia and the church after that... But it is a great plan. 

(End of chapter, chapters 172 to 174, so here's a question would you want one of the Officers go to release that witch, to give Roland even more stratigical advantage, and if so, tell who would you like to see, anyways goodbye and until next chapter)