The Pen and the Sword (Destiny's Crucible Book 2) (21 page)

“We’ll
reward clans coming over to us with lands and spoils, but we need to move
quickly to finish the remaining major resistance. Whether we go after the
northern or southern clans next would be decided at the time, though I believe
the southerners are the biggest threat, and knocking them out would almost
certainly bring a quick resolution to the entire mission.”

Zulfa
uncovered a diagram of troops units. “When we move on Moreland, the force will
consist of five thousand infantry in ten standard five-hundred-man blocks—each
block composed of two hundred pikes and three hundred muskets. Such an emphasis
on pikes wouldn’t be advisable in a mainland campaign, since pike formations
have become obsolete and are being deemphasized in favor of increased muskets. If
our units were back in Narthon, they would have converted by now. In our case,
the High Command believes the expected opposition here on Caedellium will be
mainly horsemen with minimal to nonexistent infantry and artillery support. Since
the pikes are the traditional solution to holding cavalry at bay while muskets
and cannon fire work on the enemy, we don’t foresee a problem.

“The
force will have twelve 12-pounder batteries of five cannon each—a total of
sixty cannon. The troop blocks and cannon batteries will be the main instruments
to break the Caedelli. Light cavalry will scout and screen during force movements,
and when we bring the Caedelli to a field engagement, the cavalry will protect
both flanks and the supply train to the rear. We’ve planned on three thousand
cavalry in two groups, one composed of fifteen hundred Eywellese and the second
of a thousand Selfcellese, plus five hundred of our own heavy cavalry. If the
situation warrants, the heavy cavalry will be available to break up Caedelli
light cavalry groupings, in addition to stiffening the Selfcellese. The three
thousand cavalry will also be available to encircle or ride down remnants of
any islander forces, if proper conditions exist.”

“Meaning,
the Selfcellese still can’t be trusted,” groused Erdelin, ever ready to claim
unspoken and unearned credit for the Eywellese he oversaw as being more reliable
than the Selfcellese overseen by Metan, whom he considered a plodder.

Metan
flushed and was about to snap back when Akuyun jumped in. “The Eywellese have
always been more enthusiastic about the alliance than the Selfcellese—or,
should I say, more gullible? Colonel Erdelin has done a good job in controlling
and using them. The Selfcellese have been a more difficult challenge, but I
have full confidence that Colonel Metan is bringing them along as well as
possible until our position here is more settled.”

Metan
relaxed with an appreciative nod to Akuyun and a studied ignoring of Erdelin.

“True,”
said Zulfa, who returned to his seat, closed one folder, and opened another. “We
believe any potential problems with the Selfcellese will be stabilized by
having our own cavalry acting with them. Anyway, that’s the rationale for
composition of the two divisions of cavalry in the force structure.

“Moving
on from the general action plan, now let’s review preparation issues, and by
this I mainly mean the infantry. This is an area I tasked Colonel Ketin to keep
a close eye on. Colonel?”

Thus
prompted, Ketin opened a folder of his own. “We have two interrelated issues regarding
infantry readiness. First is the quality of these troops. As you know, we were
assigned a mixture of experienced and raw troops. We can be honest with
ourselves that neither of these is among the best quality for a campaign
against a significant enemy. The experienced troops are not quite the dregs of
other commands, but neither did commanders make any effort to give up their
better people when levied to fill out our rosters. Many of the rest of the
lower-grade troops are from various peoples the Narthon Empire has conquered in
the last decades and have either little to no experience or have experience
other than in the Narthon army. General Akuyun procured a good cadre of lower-level
squad and platoon leaders, but I wouldn’t want to use the bottom ranks against a
Fuomi or Iraquinik army. The situation has improved markedly in the last two
years, as the men have been integrated, trained, and, in the worst cases, disciplined
severely enough that I believe the troop blocks are of acceptable quality for
the foe we face here. Naturally, nothing is certain until their first real
battle, but with the better men dispersed among the blocks, I believe they are
as ready as they will be without coming under fire.

“The
second issue is the lack of maneuver experience. The needs of our situation
here on Caedellium have necessitated that much of the time the infantry had
been relatively dispersed as garrisons, putting down minor revolts, building
fortifications, and assisting the settlers brought in. Whatever training has
gone on has focused on the smaller units, squads, and platoons, with only
minimal time working in complete five-hundred-man blocks and no training
experience at all in multi-block movements. 

“This
needs to be rectified as soon as possible. The total force we will move out
with will be eleven thousand—five thousand infantry, five hundred of our own
heavy cavalry, a thousand artillerymen and engineers, two thousand support personnel
accompanying the combatants and trailing back into Eywell, and twenty-five
hundred total Eywell and Selfcell light cavalry. When we gather the force
together, and before we seriously engage the Caedelli, we need intensive
training to achieve an acceptable level of unit coordination. Since it is
impossible to assemble the entire force for joint exercises full time, I have
suggested to Brigadier Zulfa that we start immediately with exercises involving
smaller numbers, something like two or three infantry blocks, plus a few
artillery batteries and some cavalry. Then, as the date to initiate the move on
Moreland approaches, we can consider larger assemblies, leading up to the full
gathering in the last sixdays.”

Ketin
finished his presentation and looked at Zulfa, who said, “I agree with most
details of Colonel Ketin’s assessment, and we will implement these actions as
he has outlined. He and my staff will send more details on training schedules
in the next day or two. As for when to start assembling the force for large-unit
training, I think we can wait and see how the training with fewer units is
progressing after, shall we say, the first two months? Normally, I would prefer
more maneuver training as a total force, especially with relatively untried
units, so let’s press the training vigorously in the time we have left.

“One
final topic I wanted to address before we finish,” asserted Zulfa. “You know or
have heard rumors that three of our men were executed on Colonel Erdelin’s
orders. This incident relates to general discipline. I have endorsed the colonel’s
actions and will ask him to summarize what led to this. Colonel Erdelin?”

Erdelin
looked unperturbed. “Three men under my command, all three among the newer
recruits, raped an Eywellese woman at a horse ranch, while their squad was
patrolling a forested region near the Moreland border.  She was alone at the
time, her husband providing local guide services to another squad. Based on
testimony from other members of the squad and the woman’s husband, I determined
there was no doubt to this breach of discipline. The three men were hanged in
front on their entire infantry block and the squad leader given ten lashes and
demoted for losing control of his men.”

“Again,”
said Zulfa, “I concurred with Colonel Erdelin’s action, as did General Akuyun.
The woman herself is of no consequence, but the loss of discipline can’t be
tolerated. The men had been warned to leave local women alone. That’s what the
brothels are for.”

“As
Brigadier Zulfa said,” Akuyun took over, “I endorsed the executions as
necessary. Not only was it a breach of discipline, but one inducement for clans
to come over to us is the promise of better treatment than if they are
conquered by force. The contrast between what happened to the Preddi and the
current status of the Selfcell and Eywell clans is a lesson we want the other
clans to take to heart. That contrast is lost if, as in this case, we promised
a clan their women will be left alone by our men and then something like this
happens. It’s the same if we tell a Selfcellese farmer he will keep his land,
and then we turn around and take it away. What incentives do they have
not
to revolt? While we can always destroy a people, if necessary, we prefer they’re
willingly integrated into the Narthon Empire.

“However,
while I agree with the action, in looking into the matter I found something
that may have created the climate where this discipline breach occurred. I have
spoken with Brigadier Zulfa and Colonel Erdelin about it, and the colonel acknowledges
that changes are needed in his staff structure.”

Erdelin
looked as if he had just bitten into a sour fruit and was slightly flushed but
didn’t comment.

“The
number of functional women in the brothel serving the executed men’s unit had
declined to where the number of visits per man was down to once a sixday or
even less. I also had one of my staff check elsewhere, and it seems a similar
situation is developing at other sites. This is one of those minor details that
have to be attended to. I realize no commander can be aware of everything
affecting his command, but that’s what staffs are for. In this case, a member
of Colonel Erdelin’s staff failed to recognize the problem properly and bring
it to the colonel’s attention. I’m assured the situation is being rectified.”

By
the time Akuyun had finished speaking, all present knew that one of Erdelin’s
staff was thrown under the wagon to save Erdelin’s face, and the other two
troop colonels and Admiral Kalcan would later that day be ensuring that their
staffs also checked into the issue.

“As
for the problem of staffing the brothels,” continued Akuyun, “this is something
all of us, including my staff, should have seen coming, because it has been a
year since the last major batch of women was added. We need to be alert to such
details. In this case, the problem should be solved as the incursions into clan
territories take captives and we make our move on Moreland.”

Sadek
Hizer observed approvingly from his seat. Part of his role as assessor for the
High Command was evaluating the command structure for performance. Akuyun had publicly
rebuked one of his sub-commanders in front of his colleagues, then pointed out
the same problem could be happening under their commands and emphasized a joint
responsibility, including himself. Erdelin might resent the public rebuke but
would accept it more gracefully than otherwise. Hizer had seen commanders who
humiliated subordinates so often, there was little loyalty returned. Erdelin
and his staff had been negligent but had acted decisively in the executions,
and he would be sure his staff was more attentive to the little details, as would
Akuyun’s other subordinates.

Very
well done, Akuyun
.

With
the initial main topics covered, the meeting continued for another hour, reviewing
the maps of the terrain they would encounter in their drive to split the clans and
going over training and supply details. Finally, they then enjoyed a socially
oriented mid-day meal and spirits. Akuyun believed such informal interactions
helped cement a feeling of unity among men, no matter what their levels, be it
unity among the lowest troop levels or the top commanders.

Preddi
City, Akuyun Villa

Akuyun
drew deep breaths, his heart rate slowing after he’d spent himself. He and
Rabia were still joined, her legs and arms around him. He stroked the top of
her head with one hand, then raised his head from beside hers to look into her
face and kiss her. She smiled. It was a well-practiced routine for them.
Whenever there was action about to take place, his libido was more active. She
thanked Narth that the times when he personally headed off to fight were over.
In those days, their coupling wasn’t just to satisfy his desires before leaving,
but also to allay her fears for his return and the possibility it would be
their last night together. Over the years, it evolved into one of their rituals.
Whenever he was sending men out to do what he didn’t do anymore or when a major
operational plan was finalized, they still kept this routine.

That
he still desired her after twenty-eight years of marriage and four children and
had never shown an interest in other women were gifts she didn’t take for
granted. They lay together for a few more minutes, then he rolled off to his
side, holding her in one arm as she turned to him.

“So,
you’re satisfied that everything is ready to begin the next phase?”

To
begin talking “business” right after sex might seem indifferent to some, but
they had been married long enough and well enough that any tender murmurings
afterward were by now assumed without being repeated.

“As
satisfied as I’m likely to be,” he answered. “It will be the first time for a
major Eywell operation. I think Erdelin can handle the details. While he’s not
the brightest of my subordinates, I still think he’s the right man to control
the Eywellese. They’ve taken well to integration, but their hetman is a hothead
and not the brightest light in the sky, though I don’t think he’s dumb enough
to cause Erdelin any problems. The son is another story. We may have to
eventually do something about him, since I don’t see him becoming hetman should
anything happen to his father.”