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Anno Domini 828, August-7-8
''My strategos, about two hundred suits of armor managed to arrive from Crete. All the extra cargo was sent to the convoy of the basileus Rhōmaiōn, Theophilos. We are still working to have everything ready and fulfill the order'' said one of the merchants of my company, the same one who had made the journey between Crete and Antioch.
''That was to be expected'' I replied while reviewing the ledger I had asked him to bring, detailing his voyages. ''Still, two hundred suits of armor are two hundred suits of armor, and they will be enormously useful in the fight against the Sarakenoi. But tell me the most important thing… what were your ships loaded with? We need the granaries full when the final horde arrives from the north.''
''I focused on bringing as much dried meat and preserved food as possible, my strategos. It was not cheap, but I managed to fill my five ships entirely with provisions that can last a long time. Once they are unloaded in Rosos and transported, we should have enough food to feed your men for several weeks without any problem'' he replied with a restrained smile.
''Good… that is how I like it. Return to Crete, tell Lysander to give you more funds, and go back to trading. I know that affects your own income'' I said, closing the book and handing it back to him.
''A little sacrifice for the Empire is never too much'' he replied with a broader smile. ''Could you place your seal here to confirm that my books are in order after your review?''
''Of course'' I said, taking the dispenser of melted wax and marking the book with the seal of my ring.
''Thank you very much, my strategos. I will return to Crete as soon as possible'' he said before leaving.
Sigurd remained looking at the numbers over my shoulder. ''With this we have food for several months… at least for the garrison. But feeding the entire population is another story. We have nearly sixty thousand mouths to feed.''
''The population of Antioch is a problem'' I replied without taking my eyes off my estimates. ''There are too many. We may not be able to harvest the crops, and if the Abbasid army arrives before that, we will have to burn our own fields so they cannot harvest them. Even so, more merchants should arrive in the coming days. We have enormous quantities of salt, the fishing villages are extracting everything they can, and we are pulling food from everywhere. If we keep this up, we should have enough to hold out at least one more month… perhaps two, depending on how long the caliph takes.''
Sigurd frowned. ''At least most of those men you call warriors can now use a crossbow and maintain minimal discipline, but I do not think they will be of much use against the Sarakenoi in open field. I do not know how you plan to handle this siege.''
I glanced at him. ''You seem nervous. We are going to have a great battle, with thousands and thousands of possible violent deaths. I thought you would be more excited about a siege.''
''I do not like being shut in waiting for them to attack us'' he replied bluntly. ''I prefer to be face to face, ready to smash some idiot's face in, not spending hours watching them try to overcome the defenses you have put in place.''
''Meh… depending on the number of Abbasid troops, we might not even stay inside the walls'' I said more calmly.
Sigurd raised his head immediately. ''Ah? How so?''
''We have many horses and we will be harassing their logistics all the time. While they play at siege with the troops that remain in front of the city, many of ours will operate outside the walls'' I said as I spread a map over the table. ''Look, I had this requested. All the water wells in the area are marked. With them we can establish bases of operations, divide our forces, and strike supply caravans whenever they approach Antioch. We attack, burn what we cannot carry, and withdraw before they can react.''
Sigurd studied the map carefully and then smiled. ''Ah… I like that. That is much more interesting. But did you not say their cavalry was very dangerous and that we would have a hard time?''
''It will be'' I replied plainly. ''Their cavalry will be a headache, which is why I am asking our archers to learn how to use the Abbasid composite bow on horseback. Not to match them, but to be able to respond a little. We will move constantly, choose when to fight and when to withdraw. If the situation becomes complicated, we simply escape.''
I slid my finger across the map, following the marked routes. ''We will attack their supplies, burn what we cannot steal, and disappear. Again and again. Until we force them to send larger and larger patrols to protect the caravans, weakening their forces in front of the city. If we manage to cause famine, even better. Abbasid armies live off the land, especially when they launch long campaigns in Anatolia. If we take that away from them, anything can happen.''
''Oh… I like that. Blood will cover the Orontes River'' said Sigurd with a wide smile.
''That is exactly why'' I was about to continue explaining my plan when someone entered my room. He was covered by a hood.
He approached me, made a slight bow, left some papers on the table, and left without saying a word.
''The ones who work for Shimon, I suppose'' I said as I looked at the documents.
''What do they say?'' asked Sigurd as he stepped beside me, though he could not read Greek.
''Information I requested'' I replied as I began to read. ''The Abbasids reinforced the northern garrisons. Apparently men arrived from other places to bolster the defenses. Germanikeia, for example, now has twice the garrison, as do the nearby cities. The wālī of Aleppo fears us. He does not want to attack us and has recruited many people for defense. He also received several shipments of weapons from Baghdad, but his intention is clear: to wait for the caliph's reinforcements.''
I moved on to the next page.
''We will have better information on Aleppo in the next reports. Shimon went to the city personally and left a solid network of collaborators. The sewer system is poorly defended. According to him, there are only one or two guards and they accept bribes without much resistance.''
I moved on to another document and frowned.''Mmh… this is not good.''
''What happened?'' Sigurd asked.
''They are stockpiling food in Aleppo. Everything points to it becoming the logistical node of the siege. From there they will send the supplies. They already know that everything to the north has been burned and that the wells were contaminated. They are preparing for what is coming.''
Sigurd slammed his fist into his palm. ''Then we can do what we did before. Go in through the sewers, take the city quickly, and kill the Sarakenoi. Whoever survives becomes slaves.''
I slowly shook my head. ''It is a possibility, but the wālī of Aleppo is not stupid. If he detects that we are approaching, he will flood the sewers with troops. We would not be able to get in and we would be trapped in hostile territory. I do not have a direct plan for Aleppo… and it is not necessary to attack with all our forces.''
I looked up and smiled. ''You only need to know where to strike. And do it properly. Do you know what is funny about Greek fire?''
''What? Some difference?'' Sigurd asked.
''It burns on water. And when you try to put it out, it reacts with even greater violence.'' I leaned over the table. ''A couple of jars inside Aleppo, thrown onto the granaries where the supplies are stored. They cannot keep everything inside the inner fortress, it is impossible. If those depots burn, the damage will be enormous. Too great for their war effort.''
Sigurd smiled. ''Then we should tell the spies to burn them as soon as possible.''
''No. Not yet.'' I shook my head calmly. ''If they burn now, they will try to replace them. The real blow must be struck once the siege of Antioch has already begun, when they are confident and with the maximum amount of supplies accumulated. That is when the granaries burn.''
I leaned back in the chair. ''They will panic. They will have to look for food where there is none, or withdraw. And with that, my friend, we gain months. Months for Theophilos. Months to finish the sieges of Cilicia. For the imperial army to be able to support us. And perhaps, when the decisive moment arrives, the Abbasids will no longer have enough men to face the sum of our forces.''
I took the tablet and began writing orders for the spies, along with a direct request for Greek fire to the fleet of the strategos of Cyprus, since none of my ships carried the secret mixture.
''A shame not to be there to see the result'' Sigurd said as he moved around my room, visibly satisfied.
''My strategos'' said one of my guards as he entered after knocking on the door.
''Report'' I replied, settling back into the chair.
''We have information that a large Varangian fleet has arrived at the port of Antarados. According to the messenger, a huge number of drakkars arrived recently and they are requesting an audience with you as soon as possible'' he said, lowering his head.
''My father'' Sigurd said without hesitation.
''Indeed'' I nodded as I stood up. ''It is great fortune that the Varangians I requested arrived before the siege. I will have to go personally to Antarados as soon as possible to see how many men your father managed to bring. I hope he made good use of the gold I gave him, considering that he departed with several ships fully loaded toward the Varangian kingdoms.''
''War and gold'' Sigurd replied as he followed closely behind me. ''Two things no warrior worth his name can say no to. There must be thousands of men coming, ready to spill blood.''
''We shall see'' I replied calmly. Then I turned to the administrators. ''Continue with all the work. Keep the scouts alert. If anyone detects movement from the caliph's army, I want to know immediately. They may arrive faster than our spies can warn us.''
Without wasting a second we headed to the stables and mounted our horses toward Rhosos. The sun was already at its highest point and the heat was suffocating for most, but a certain acclimatization was beginning to show among my men. Many had changed their usual clothing for garments more similar to those of the Sarakenoi, keeping their armor pieces on top.
Even the Varangians were beginning to adapt. Shorter beards, trimmed hair, almost complete abandonment of thick furs in favor of lighter clothing, always combined with armor. Unlike other soldiers, they preferred to keep their protection ready at all times.
Upon reaching the port of Rhosos we boarded the fastest ship available. Nothing less than a Varangian drakkar. Its crew, hardened sea wolves, began rowing without pause. The pace was so fast that a journey which normally took two days was completed in just one.
When we finally arrived at the port of Antarados, I understood the true size of the Varangian fleet that must have arrived a week earlier.
The port was saturated with Varangian ships. Drakkars lined up one after another, occupying every available space, with masts and carved prows dominating the view. The market was packed with tall, powerfully built warriors moving in groups, drinking, laughing, and filling taverns and inns as the city tried, without much success, to absorb the enormous influx of newly arrived men.
As I advanced toward the fortress I passed by the local therma. It was filled with Varangians bathing and training at the same time, trying to relieve the suffocating heat. It was clear that these newcomers had not yet gone through the process of adaptation that their brothers had long been enduring in these lands.
Upon reaching the gates of the fortress I observed how the Varangians of my army were speaking jovially with the newcomers. Laughter, backslaps, and exaggerated tales of past battles filled the inner courtyard. I climbed quickly and found Hakon, who was taking advantage of the wind catcher of Antarados to endure the heat, his clothes soaked.
''Who?... ah, Basil… what a fucking heat there is in these lands'' Hakon said as he slowly got up.
''Yes, the climate is brutal'' I replied with a slight smile. ''But I hope all the newcomers are ready. Soon they will have a great battle ahead of them.''
''Oh, all they want is to kill'' Hakon replied with a grin. ''That is what they were generously paid for. They came to these lands seeking war, and they are going to get it.''
''How wonderful'' I said, smiling in the same way.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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