From the second day after the operation began.
Around the royal capital, Rahator, carts and wagons that had been aimlessly roaming around started to be confiscated by the hundreds each day.
“Stop right there! We need to conduct a brief inspection. What’s in the cargo hold?”
“Excuse me? These are iron ingots to be delivered to the shops near the palace…”
“Iron? Steel? That’s military supplies! Seize everything immediately!”
“Excuse me? But where is this sudden law coming from?! Don’t treat fellow citizens like this!”
“Don’t worry, we’re not taking it all without compensation. We’ll give you a promissory note, and you can reclaim it later.”
Basic resources like iron, copper, and gunpowder, essential materials for survival,
“Wasn’t this road designated for food transport?”
“Yes. Since the quantity is enormous, they’ve even made a separate checkpoint.”
“Let’s seize the food and eat it ourselves. As for compensation, we can just take it from the royal family or the nobles.”
“How about making some alcohol too? It’s tasty if brewed with rice.”
“That’s a good idea. Make it strong for me later.”
Wheat flour, rice, potatoes, and other essentials for survival,
“What’s this, new recruits heading to the capital?”
“We are from the newly established Capital Defense Division, part of the Eastern Volunteer Army, along with our instructors. Where can we find the training grounds?”
“Ah! Volunteers! Welcome, comrades! The Revolutionary Army welcomes passionate warriors like you!”
“Excuse me? Revolutionary Army? What do you mean by that?? And why—”
Even the conscription of troops.
In addition, all kinds of reserve parts for weapons, luxury items like pottery and silk ordered by the upper class, and administrative documents sent from the provinces, among others.
Normally, these resources would have been claimed by the royal capital, but now they were all seized and put to practical use.
It was truly a situation where everything, down to the last drop, was being used without hesitation.
Even though we were at a disadvantage at the start of the siege, the situation was gradually turning in our favor.
“Has there been any report of something happening inside?”
“No, none so far. It seems like control is still being maintained. Strangely enough.”
Of course, the situation was worsening with time, which might explain why those trapped in the capital had started to make desperate attempts.
They had gathered a special forces unit, made up of the noble houses’ private soldiers, bodyguards, and remaining regular troops, and had launched several surprise attacks.
The most recent one happened just four days ago, on the 20th day of the siege.
“The kingdom’s brave warriors, strike with all your might! Sweep away those vile traitors!!”
“Do not fear death, charge forward! The goddess will protect us! Victory is ours!!”
That night was unusually dark. Thick clouds covered the moon, and visibility was poor.
The capital’s forces, seizing the opportunity of limited sight, rushed out in a mass and launched a surprise attack on our revolutionary army’s main camp.
With nearly 8,000 troops, they charged all at once, attempting to capture the command center.
Unfortunately for them, they didn’t even get close to the main camp and were torn apart in the process.
“Idiots. Does shouting and charging make a surprise attack effective? Musketeers, load your guns. Spearmen, kneel and set your spears forward.”
“Start firing from the front row! Let’s teach the scum of the capital what real combat is!”
We had fought countless battles in the northern snowfields.
Wearing white cloaks and pants, simply lying flat on the ground gave us perfect camouflage, with natural cover everywhere.
In such an environment, both attacks and defenses were difficult, and ambushes were surprisingly easy.
What was needed most in such a place to hold our ground?
Awareness.
The enemy’s peculiar behavior, subtle changes in the battlefield, minute shifts in actions.
We needed to reach a level of judgment where we could deduce conclusions from these vague and trivial circumstantial clues.
Otherwise, we’d die.
Not just me, but all my subordinates could die too.
From a single minor mistake.
“I can’t believe I’ve been fighting all this time, taking orders from these idiots… It’s truly… disheartening. Really.”
From that perspective, the attempts by the people in the capital to resist were the epitome of incompetence.
They prepared an ambush by reducing the number of daytime guards and cooking the evening meals unusually long. Isn’t that suspicious?
I had prepared for it just in case, and sure enough, they walked right into it.
We quickly set up a defensive line and positioned our forces, and they walked straight into the trap, dying in droves.
We had formed an interlocking fire net with cannons, mages, and musketeers, and they stupidly crawled right into the middle of it.
It was like they were begging to be killed.
After a quick tally, I think we captured about 4,000 of them.
Adding the losses from the previous ambushes, they’ve lost at least 7,000 to 8,000 troops.
Regardless of their unit types or affiliations, we’ve killed more than half of the trained combatants within the capital.
With the remaining forces, they won’t be able to turn the tide, no matter what. Not with those fools.
They don’t have generals like Alexander the Great or Napoleon.
But if they did, they wouldn’t have tried such a pitiful ambush like the one from the other day, right?
“Are we still broadcasting the message about offering leniency and ensuring civilian safety for those who surrender?”
“Yes! We’ve been sending people with amplification magic to announce it inside the walls every day.”
“Is it having any effect?”
“It seems to be causing some unrest among the people, but… it’s still not much…”
“Then keep doing it until it works. We must win over the people.”
Even with the ambush, the opening of the fortress gates allowed a few spies to infiltrate.
Mostly from the intelligence department, they’ve been sending me daily reports on the capital’s current situation.
Since the fortress’s defenses have gotten lax, they sneak in at night, either throwing reports into the barricades or shooting them with arrows to share information. Spying on the enemy is so easy.
“Only a little longer now.”
With the situation unfolding like this, I could sense that the moment of finality was approaching.
We’ve monopolized the supplies, and the gap in military strength has become insurmountable.
The only thing left now is the surrender.
“There’s no option left except for ruin or self-destruction.”
The only remaining possible solution, the reinforcement from outside, has now completely stopped as well.
“General Elan of the 19th Division has raised a point: are we really not going to be cautious of the approaching units?”
“Those? It’s fine. It seems like they still have the ability to fight, but they’ve lost the will to do so.”
The divisions I disrupted with confusion, along with the forces that came from the East and West, have apparently settled their internal conflicts.
They’re arriving one by one near the capital.
But instead of attacking us, they’ve camped out about two to three days away and are simply observing.
It’s almost as if they’re clearly showing they don’t want to get involved in this fight.
And I’m sure that’s exactly what’s happening.
“Their commanders already know. They know the game is up.”
When they reached the capital, what they saw was us, the Revolutionary Army, blocking all the roads and controlling the logistics.
They must have seen the capital’s lifelines being choked, but the high-ranking officials in the capital couldn’t do a thing to stop it.
So what do you think they must have thought? Oh, the outcome is already decided.
Getting involved now would only be a waste of time. That’s probably what they concluded.
“Besides, our cause—well, it’s not just any ordinary cause. If things go well, we might even be able to overthrow the kingdom and establish a new dynasty.”
“Did you want to be king?”
“Of course not. I was dragged into this by you all. I’m just here to restore the country to order.”
“…That’s enough. I have no interest in the throne.”
If they tried to attack us, the public opinion would surely stir.
There would be sympathy for the comrades who were unjustly forced to abandon the front lines, and fighting us would only demoralize them further.
Even if they were willing to endure those side effects, their own treatment would become problematic afterward.
“Anyway, they’ll stay put until everything is over. We’ll just reward them appropriately afterward.”
“…I don’t really understand. Reward? Suddenly?”
The high-ranking officials in the capital are scum.
Instead of rewarding loyalty, they resort to betraying and scapegoating people, forcing idiotic orders, and all kinds of disgraceful behavior.
It’s about as bad as the late French or Joseon kingdoms—on the same level.
Until now, it was not well known, but this time, the Queen’s diamond jewelry incident made the truth widely known across the nation.
What that means is, anyone who sacrifices their life to defend the capital only faces the blame of not stopping it sooner, having their accomplishments taken away.
I’m sure everyone realizes that now.
“We’re talking about a reward for those who are tacitly cooperating with us. Something like retaining their positions or supporting them with troops and supplies would be enough.”
That’s why they’ve chosen to watch and wait.
They won’t interfere, but they’ll send an unspoken message that they expect to be taken care of later.
They’re not asking for honors or positions, just to have their responsibilities removed and to ensure their military careers aren’t hindered.
If we guarantee that kind of treatment, they won’t say anything more.
“Got it. Go back and check on the soldiers’ condition. This siege should be over soon.”
“Understood.”
After this, we continued to block the supply routes into the capital, waiting patiently.
One week later.
“They’ll open the gates and let us storm the palace?”
Finally, a traitor appeared from within.