LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 161
The world is wide (2)
Pitter-patter!
“Out of the way! It’s raining!”
“Double-check the gunpowder! Check it again!”
As raindrops began to fall, the commanders quickly issued orders, and in response to these commands, the soldiers moved about busily.
Since the situation was expected with dark clouds hanging overhead, there was minimal chaos, and the main commander’s tent was already set up.
The rain started to come down harder, and the sounds of soldiers hastily erecting tents filled Yusuf’s ears.
“It’s raining.”
“Such a shame, Belgrade is just ahead.”
“A little rain won’t change anything. There’s no need to rush.”
The coastal regions of the Balkan Peninsula experience a Mediterranean climate, with winters being rainy and summers dry; however, rainfall in the interior is fairly consistent year-round.
It had been years since the Ottomans waged war in the Balkans, and they always anticipated the natural environment.
Yusuf, responding to Mehmet’s words, examined the map.
“Still, with the rain, it won’t be easy to march.”
The term “Balkan” itself refers to mountainous regions thick with forests. Initially, it referred to the northeastern mountain ranges spanning Bulgaria and Serbia, but the meaning has since expanded to encompass the entire peninsula.
When looking at the map, it’s evident the Balkan region is mainly mountainous, with numerous rivers, including the 2,860 km-long Danube River connecting the Holy Roman Empire to the Black Sea.
There are swamps scattered everywhere, making it difficult to march, which is why the Ottomans struggled in their campaigns in the Balkans.
“Unlike the territories we’ve traversed so far, the roads here aren’t properly maintained, which makes sense.”
“I’m worried about the carts loaded with cannons and supplies. If they get stuck in the mud, it could lead to significant delays.”
“There’s no way to transport all the supplies via the Danube River, so it can’t be helped.”
Water is a crucial factor for city growth, and it’s natural for various cities to develop along the Danube River, the second longest river in Europe.
This was true for the city they aimed to capture, Belgrade, as well as their final destination, Budapest.
Even small boats could reach the Holy Roman Empire, so there were supplies transported via the Danube.
“The reason roads in the empire are being laid down quickly is due to cement. Just ten years ago, the empire and Hungary were no different.”
While it’s been more than 20 years since cement was first introduced, it can’t be said that cement is solely an imperial technology now.
No matter how well it’s hidden, identifying the raw materials for cement isn’t that hard, so while there can be differences in quality and production capacity, others also know how to produce cement.
“News from Rhodes Island must have been shocking enough.”
The word that a castle was built in a flash at great expense of time led to rumors across Europe about heretical sorcery.
In any case, since Rhodes Island, interest in cement skyrocketed, and it’s natural that those with military ambitions would be covetous.
“Of course, even with cement, Hungary probably hasn’t connected the roads to the empire. Stay relaxed. This will be their last lucky break anyway.”
With just two days to spare, nothing would change.
Belgrade was about to meet the same fate as Rhodes Island, which had repeatedly thwarted the Ottomans.
*
As the white citadel suggested, Belgrade was bright under the sun, appearing white.
Surrounded by the Danube and Sava Rivers, the Belgrade citadel presented a daunting sight for occupation.
Before the citadel lay the Ottoman forces, who had arrived through the rugged terrain, and ships of the Ottoman navy floated against the current of the Danube.
“Your Majesty.”
“What is it, Mehmet?”
“If I’m not mistaken, it seems the enemy is few.”
“Your eyes aren’t deceiving you. It’s the Hungarians who are strange.”
Since they were barricaded within the fortress, guessing the number of soldiers was difficult, but counting those visibly atop the walls provided a rough estimate.
“There are probably about seven hundred, at most a thousand, if that.”
Despite the fact that defense is generally more advantageous than offense in siege warfare, there’s still a limit.
There’s no way you can overcome a disparity as great as a hundredfold.
‘Even the Knights of Rhodes couldn’t manage that.’
It would be commendable for them to just shut their gates and scream for resistance.
“Indeed, it’s Hungary. It seems no reinforcements have come.”
To summarize current Hungary, it’s a playground for the nobles.
Nobles who care more about their interests than their country don’t heed the king’s commands, and before them lies Belgrade, a product of that negligence.
The city that had become a beacon of hope for Europe after repelling Mehmet II’s unbeatable demonic army was now essentially abandoned.
‘No one living in these times could have thought it would come to this.’
Not even France, who was meddling in Hungary, nor Carlos V, connected by blood, or Ruyos II, who issued orders, could have imagined it would turn out this way.
Even the Ottoman commanders, who had made thorough preparations, could hardly believe the reality before them.
“…Could they be lying in ambush?”
“Ambushing would be less effective than just holding the defense. I understand it’s hard to believe.”
Certainly, it’s baffling that an experienced commander would say something so absurd.
It’s not like this was a sudden war.
They knew that killing the empire’s envoy could start a war, and the Ottomans had come out in the open with their invasion preparations.
Logically, it wouldn’t make sense for such an important fortress like Belgrade to have less than a thousand troops stationed.
It’s natural for commanders to be thrown into confusion.
“Forget common sense for this war. You may find it preferable.”
This war would be one where they would see more than they could imagine.
‘Although we have the upper hand, there’s little to gain by dragging it out. Given our failed mediation, Carlos will do his utmost to interfere.’
The distance from Budapest, the capital of Hungary, to Vienna is only about 200 km.
For the Holy Roman Empire, it felt like having a knife to the throat, making indirect means of obstruction through a peace treaty quite possible.
“Mehmet, what was the situation with Poland and Lithuania before you came down?”
“There’s been no special movement, but since they’ve plundered a lot to expand their cities, it’s not entirely out of the question they might intervene. I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“That’s not your fault. I ordered it.”
While it might be early for Poland and Lithuania to unite as masters of Eastern Europe, there was enough possibility for them to intervene through deals with Carlos V.
Beyond this, there was a great chance of other plots unfolding.
‘Carlos would have never imagined that Hungary was such a mess it couldn’t even buy itself time. Ruyos II, the main character, probably didn’t know either.’
Thanks to Hungary’s unimaginable setbacks, they could achieve their objectives without hurrying.
“Mehmet, Murad.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Each of you will take 20,000 soldiers. Capture the nearby fortresses around Belgrade.”
Dividing forces and giving up 40,000 leaves only 30,000 for the main unit, but that would be more than enough.
“I will take Belgrade.”
*
Three days have already passed since the siege began.
Mihály More, the lord of Belgrade, shook off his fatigue and raised his voice for the soldiers.
“Hold on! The enemy must be tired, too! Just hold on, and reinforcements will come!”
“Hang in there! We can withstand until reinforcements arrive!”
Watching his soldiers join the battle with courage from his words, Mihály bit his lip.
Although he mentioned reinforcements, if there had been any help to arrive, it would have come long ago.
‘Am I really going to die holding out here?’
Digging in the ground to make gunpowder, the Ottomans unleashed a staggering number of cannons for the siege.
On the bright side, the low number of their troops meant fewer casualties from cannon fire, but, conversely, the fortress was becoming a wreck.
The pressure from the Ottoman forces had halved their troops, but Mihály had a small glimmer of hope.
“They’re only human! They can’t keep attacking forever! Just a little longer!”
Thirty thousand troops is definitely a large number, but it’s still not enough to endure nonstop assaults day and night.
Even if they took turns attacking, they too would soon reach their limit, and when that point was reached, they could catch their breath.
As Mihály’s thoughts proved correct and the sun began to set, a huge drumbeat echoed across the battlefield.
– Dong! Boom! Dong!
“The enemy is retreating! Whoa!”
As the drum signaling retreat sounded and the Ottoman forces withdrew, the soldiers of Belgrade cheered.
Now, it seemed the enemy also wished to rest as smoke rose from various parts of their encampment.
Mihály caught the scent of food mixed with the smell of burning just as the sun fully set and issued orders to his commanders.
“Post minimal troops for sentry duty, and let the rest rest.”
“Understood…”
Just as they were beginning to think they could finally get some proper rest, they were struck speechless by a sound heard in the distance.
– Bang! Bang!
The spine-tingling beat of the drums resonated in their chests, and Mihály quickly dashed towards the wall.
Piercing through the drumbeats, the cheerful music of the Janissary band reached his ears, followed by a thunderous cheer.
– Allahu Akbar!
– Allah and the Padishah are with us!
Seeing the Ottoman troops charging at them with swords raised, Mihály and the other soldiers were gripped by fear.
The approaching soldiers looked as if they bore no fatigue from the previous siege.
“Oh God, could they truly not be human…?”
Mihály’s words perfectly reflected the sentiments of those holding Belgrade, and the Ottoman troops rippling the red flag appeared devilish.
Despair settled over the citadel of Belgrade.
Through emotional insight, Yusuf gazed at Belgrade, raising his cup.
“We won’t survive today.”
In real history, those warriors had endured nearly a month even with a smaller force, but they were far too thin to persevere against the relentless assaults.
As Yusuf sipped his coffee, he took a deep breath.
The scent of coffee, reminiscent of burning when caught whiffing, filled his nostrils, invading even his lungs.
This was hardly surprising, as the scent of coffee pervaded the Ottoman camp, and Yusuf turned to the Grand Vizier.
“Have the soldiers had their fill of coffee?”
“Of course. Since it’s their first time for most, they will be just fine tonight.”
Unlike the officials who drank more coffee than water, the soldiers had no immunity to caffeine, so they would indeed have a sleepless night as the Grand Vizier said.
‘This is legal doping.’
By offering coffee not just to his servants but to the soldiers as well, Yusuf nodded in approval.
He didn’t bring coffee as supplies for no reason.
It was a luxury not available to those who didn’t produce the coffee themselves, and its effects were clearly showing.
Fueled by caffeine, the Ottoman troops relentlessly attacked the weary Belgrade, and just before dawn, their fate was announced.
“I am Mihály More, the lord of Belgrade.”
Including Mihály, the surviving soldiers were bound and brought to their knees, and toward this formidable adversary who courageously stood against the empire, Yusuf indifferently commanded.
“Execute them all.”
He had no intention of letting live a dog that bared its teeth.
*
The urgent news that Belgrade fell in just a few days sent shockwaves throughout.
Thanks to its solid record of holding off the Ottomans, Belgrade had acted as a psychological bulwark for Western nations alongside Rhodes Island.
With less than a thousand troops, Belgrade was still a place where they held onto some hope.
However, these hopes were dashed as mere fantasies, and the Ottoman forces quickly occupied the area around Belgrade.
“Belgrade has fallen! What shall we do?!”
Ruyos, now realizing that the nobles would no longer heed orders, panicked and rushed to Budapest first, and only then did the nobles finally send out troops.
Still, there must have been a sense of urgency with the Ottoman attack, as they managed to gather around 40,000 troops.
“Tomori Pal! What do you think we should do next?!”
Ruyos, with no military experience, asked the commanding officer assigned to lead the troops, and Tomori, after careful thought, arrived at a conclusion.
“Since there are mountains, we can reroute towards Transylvania and Croatia instead of heading directly to Buda. We must spread out our forces.”
“Since we already have troops stationed, we should additionally send 5,000 troops to both locations.”
“Alright. I shall abide by your wishes.”
Following the duo’s strategy, Ruyos dispatched 5,000 troops each to Transylvania and Croatia—territories he governed.
And shortly after, they learned that the Ottoman forces were advancing towards Budapest, having crossed the mountains.
*
“Your Majesty.”
“I told you it’s a wide world.”
Already at a disadvantage with troop numbers, dividing forces into thirds was a reckless act, yet at least that much was considered noble.
Watching the enemy’s army lined up on the plains, Murad made a brief assessment.
“How dare they challenge the empire on the plains without fear—it seems the king of Hungary has lost his mind.”
Whether it was the king, Hungary, or the world itself that had gone mad was hard to say.
“It does seem that he’s lost his senses.”
Yusuf and the other Ottoman commanders looked at Hungary’s army as if they were some bizarre creature.