Everyone listened intently, then began to whisper among themselves, as Manuel's proposed strategy seemed far too risky no matter how they looked at it. Patniko was the first to ask, "Your Highness, what percentage of victory do you think we have with this plan?"
Manuel puffed out his chest and said with great confidence, "Less than fifty percent."
Oh, this…
Everyone fell silent.
But Manuel quickly added, "However, if everyone thinks about it carefully, when have our battles with the Genoa army ever had a success rate higher than fifty percent? If we hadn't made ample preparations and mobilizations, we wouldn't have been able to win from the start. If we feared failure, then we would have been completely crushed by the Genoese long ago, and we wouldn't be here discussing enemy strategies, would we?"
His speech boosted everyone's confidence somewhat, but several officers still frowned. Falero reminded him, "Then, Your Highness, do you have any ideas?"
Manuel smiled slyly and proposed a bold idea of his own: "Christmas would be quite good." After that, and a series of detailed discussions, everyone agreed and immediately set about making preparations. After the meeting, Manuel, who had gone back to rest, rubbed his still aching muscles and cursed bitterly in his heart, "I almost died. Whoever shot that arrow at me must be connected to the Genoa General on the other side. Fortunately, this time is enough to get my revenge."
Over a month later, the Crimean Peninsula had entered winter. During this time, the Theodore Principality changed its attitude towards Olstyn, no longer attempting to storm it, but instead cutting off the city's land connections with other parts of the peninsula from the outside, including water, supplies, and any form of personnel movement, making Olstyn a completely isolated city.
Yet Carlo could not order a retreat, because he knew that as soon as they temporarily withdrew some troops, the Theodore army would surely surge forward and eliminate their last stronghold in Crimea. Once he retreated to Matrega, he would certainly be removed by the Council, and his ambition of becoming a Marquis would likely be completely shattered.
Fortunately, the Genoa Navy still held an absolute advantage, and supplies could still be transported to Olstyn by sea. Although sea transport of military provisions was troublesome and expensive, and not as efficient, it was still better than being completely cut off from the outside world.
"But if things continue like this, it's definitely a dead end," Carlo gritted his teeth in anger, "at least for me."
To discuss a way out of the predicament, he decided to take the initiative, using his few advantages and potential information asymmetry to catch Theodore off guard. For this, he gathered his deputy Generals and the Navy General Elvin to discuss the feasibility of this plan. After receiving their affirmation, they began to formulate detailed tactical deployments.
Just then, the Adyghe Principality withdrew most of its forces targeting Matrega. After Carlo learned the details, he simply expanded the planned scale of the decisive battle, and after convincing the vice consuls of the two major split territories, he included their forces in the plan.
In the evening of mid-December, Carlo Merlo, who had made the basic arrangements, gathered all the relevant Generals for this war in Olstyn, including the two vice consuls, for the final large-scale meeting and mobilization before the battle.
After everyone had arrived, Carlo first quieted everyone down, and then began his motivational speech:
"Since our Genoa came into contact with Theodore, several decisive battles have erupted here in Olstyn. Its strategic significance and importance are self-evident. Because this place, from ancient times to the present, has been the gateway to guard the entire southern part of the peninsula. Therefore, for our most noble Republic, holding this place is even more significant."
"In those years, our Republic, starting from Balaklava, gradually encroached upon the coastal towns of these Goths heretics. The most decisive was the capture of Olstyn, making it one of the key towns of the former Gothia Captaincy. In early 1422, also in Olstyn, the despicable Goths, while we were preoccupied with the Black Sea, engaged in battle with the Kaffa Consul's jurisdiction and seized it a year after the war began, forcing us to compromise and abolish the Gothia Captaincy. This is the Republic's story here."
"And I, Carlo Dominus Merlo, from a young age was a resolute knight, genuinely serving my lord, and five years ago inherited my father's title, becoming a Baron of Corsica. Although my territory is small, it cannot hinder my service to the Lord and my honing of military tactics."
"Last year, when the rioters of the entire island of Corsica abandoned the Lord's way and became followers of Satan, all the lords, big and small, of Corsica were either defeated and lost their armor, or were forced to hold their manor fortresses without venturing out. Only I, Carlo Merlo, stepped forward alone, leading over 800 household soldiers, clearing out the rebellious mountain people in the central part of the island, and rescuing those noble gentlemen who were harmed by the rioters. It was precisely because of this that I was valued by the superiors in the Governor's Office and appointed to eliminate these wicked rioters. The result, as you can see, is that I was promoted from a Baron to an Earl and personally appointed as the General of this war by Governor Boccanegra."
"I don't understand why everyone is discussing Odoacer being trapped in Ravenna ①? As if this small Olstyn is like Ravenna for us, destined for misfortune, and even talking about the uselessness of holding out? Ridiculous, is this place destined for misfortune for us? Absolutely not!"
"Returning to the topic, last year, after being entrusted with heavy responsibility by the Governor, I led 4,000 troops to sweep across all of Corsica, sending all these rioters who had converted to heresy to where they belonged; and in the middle of this year, after capturing Olstyn, I led my army to sweep the east, attacking all the way to the city of Kaffa. I upheld the justice and mercy believed in by the Lord, and wherever I went, I had righteous priests spread the gospel, and the people welcomed it with open arms. Under the Lord's blessing, looking back now, this vibrant scene of all things competing seems to be right before my eyes."
"It's only been a few short months, could this bridgehead for the counterattack really become my burial ground?!"
"Regardless, the battle force is 8,000 against 6,000. The advantage is mine!"
Many were inspired by his speech, but only a few frowned. Gattuso, the Vice Consul of Tana, who had dealt with the Rus, quietly turned his head to Spinola, the Vice Consul of Matrega, and sarcastically said in Rus, which only the two of them understood: "Что за вздор, Как дурень." (Translation: What nonsense, what a fool.) (Russian cannot be typed with spaces)
However, Carlo quickly noticed his small movement and asked sternly, "Mr. Spinola, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Spinola said with a nonchalant smile, "The General's insight is profound!"
① Odoacer: The Germanic barbarian chieftain who deposed Romulus, the last emperor of the West Roman Empire, in 476, and established his own kingdom on the ruins of West Rome. In 489, Theodoric, the leader of the Ostrogoths, with the support of East Rome Emperor Zeno, marched into Italy and besieged Odoacer in Ravenna for three years. Odoacer eventually surrendered on the condition that Theodoric would rule with him, but in 493, Theodoric had him assassinated at a celebration banquet.