While the Knights of Luxembourg had their orders to engage in scorched earth tactics to buy time for their retreat, the rebels had their own objectives, which were to prevent such actions from being carried out at any cost. Among these men were a few Jagdkommandos, but mostly, these were the rebels that Hartman had attempted to root out and destroy over the past three months. Unbeknownst to the Knight and his retinue of soldiers, various men clad in camouflaged clothing hid within the treeline nearby. Still, it was a calculated risk that Hartman had thought through, and ultimately was a necessary expense. To waste such a vast quantity of the explosive compound on scorched earth tactics would severely limit Luxembourg's ability to combat the enemy when they finally arrived at the capital. After all, the Austrian King's Triple Alliance had a stranglehold over the trade of saltpeter within Europe, and saltpeter was a critical component in the development of gunpowder. Such a substance was a rare commodity in Europe, especially in the hands of Berengar's enemies. The soldiers beneath his command struggled to bring forth the casks filled with gunpowder. I want this bridge brought to ruin before the Austrians arrive!" "Quickly, fetch the casks, and light them up. Thus, this Knight began issuing orders to the men at arms beneath his command, so that they would fulfill their obligations in these scorched earth tactics. Only by forcing them into the Capital City, and fighting them in brutal urban warfare, did his army have a chance of defeating the Austrian host. Truthfully, it was the best plan he could come up with, as his enemy had overwhelming advantages in all aspects of warfare. However, Luxembourg was a German Duchy, and thus Hartman knew his rival would not be so willing to waste the lives of a people he believed to be his own. If he was from any other Kingdom, this would be a foolish act, as the King of Austria had showed repeatedly his willingness to obliterate cities to spare the lives of his soldiers. His intention was obvious, buy enough time for all of his men to make it back to the Capital which they would defend to the last man. ![]() ![]() In doing so, he gave additional commands to destroy all valuable infrastructure to slow down the Austrian advance. Rather than face the enemy in the fields which would surely result in his army's destruction, the Bastard of Luxembourg had ordered a full retreat. It was because of this strategic importance that his liege ordered him to destroy it before the Austrian invaders could use it to cross.īy now, news had spread to the Capital of the Duchy of Luxembourg of Berengar's invasion of the Northern German States. ![]() This valuable piece of infrastructure acted as the only means to cross the nearby river. A Knight of Luxembourg rode on the back of his steed as he gazed towards the bridge in front of him.
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