103 Why would they?
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Observing the absence of villagers and farmers in the farmlands, Count Bernarnt couldn't shake the sense that something was amiss. Rather than rushing in blindly, he made the decision to establish an encampment and take a step back to reevaluate the situation. Bernarnt understood the importance of caution and patience in such a delicate state, and he knew that waiting until the next day would provide him with a clearer perspective. Prioritizing safety over risking the entire campaign at its inception was the wise choice, and he was determined to proceed with prudence and care.
As the evening drew near, the army began to make preparations for a night of rest. Count Bernarnt and his loyal knight Godfrey took a moment to enjoy a private conversation over a meal and a glass of wine to satiate their hunger. The flickering flames of the nearby torches cast a warm glow on their faces as they spoke in hushed tones, discussing their plans for the coming days. The night air was filled with the sounds of the camp settling down for the night, and the two companions took comfort in the sense of camaraderie that surrounded them.
''So tell me, Godfrey, why do you think the rebels evacuated the people from the area?''
"My lord, it is difficult to say for certain why , there could be many reasons . However, if I had to speculate, it may have been to avoid any threat of innocent farmers being executed as threat to open the wall in case of siege. Although this would have never caused the rebels to surrender, it would have likely lowered the morale of the army. Alternatively, the rebels could be preparing an ambush and moved the people to prevent them from sharing information with us. Regardless, I am not really convinced on these, as there must be a clearer reason for their actions." Godfrey resoned ''What we know is that the rebels had a hand in the disappearance of the farmers. Since there was no sign of fighting, it seems that they evacuated the area , stripping the land of food and denying us resupply. Every option points to the preparation of a siege , but why is that?'' We have a clear line of supply, so it would be disastrous for them'' said the count to his knight , prompting Godfrey to hypothesize a reason ''Maybe they are looking to gain time , hoping that an army to support them will arrive'' said Godfrey, while playing with some bread in his hand .
''The only army that could support them would be that of the boy in northern Italy; however, it is unlikely he will desert that frontier to arrive here in the south since it would mean leading all his allies to certain doom.''
''Maybe they are waiting for the other regions to rebel and encircle us '' .
Godfrey suggestion that the rebels were hoping to gain time and potentially expecting other regions to rise up and surround the French army, made the count shiver with a bit of fear.
''It is highly possible, it is not a secret that we are currently deeply disliked by the locals. Maybe we should prepare some men for such a case.'' suggested the count and offering a countermove for such an eventuality, hoping that having an army behind them would discourage such behavior.
''Very well then , we should order 2,000 infantrymen to be left behind so as to guard our backs and have them stationed in Potenza, for if the city fell we would be forced to look for supplies further back in the reign, extending the time between a supply bag and the other, overextending our campaign'' Suggested Godfrey , while continuing to divide the bread in little pieces and throwing them on the ground , a habit he had since he was a child.
Count Bernarnt saw the wisdom in Godfrey's words and ordered a small detachment of infantry to be left behind, tasked with guarding the rear of the army and monitoring the city of Potenza.
This way, if for some reason the army failed to win the city from the rebel forces, the French army would have a safe location to retreat to and replenish their supplies, reducing the risk of being cut off from their supply line . The Count also recognized the importance of maintaining control over the local population and instilling confidence in their rule, and he hoped that the presence of a French presence in the region would serve to deter further resistance.
''Now for the second issue, continued the general of the army, organize for an envoy to transport this letter to his Majesty, informing him of what is transpiring in the south; after all, it would be totally foolish to move without informing his Majesty of what is going on''.
With the possible presence of a rebel army threatening their campaign, it was essential for the Count to maintain communication with the king and his own allies. He knew that a swift and coordinated response would be necessary to suppress the rebellion, and a steady stream of information was critical for ensuring that the troops could act accordingly once the king's orders were received. ''Well, I suppose we have discussed everything that was due to you. I suggest you sleep with your armor on, for we do not know if they will try anything tonight. If the worst case scenario happens, it would be better to be ready, suggested the count to his knight ''I don't know your lordship I think that they will not try anything after all; they have already announced their presence with their little preparation around us. If they planned on ambushing us during the night, I think it would be in a better area, there are only plains around us and no forest or hills to ambush from , if they wanted to ambush on open ground they would have left the surroundings untouched so as not to give away hints of their presence, even at the risk of having a farmer rat them out.''
Nevertheless, the Count's suggestion to keep their armor on during the night was probably the wisest course of action, as it would minimize the damage if the rebels decided to attack under the cover of darkness. After all was it not best to prevent than to suffer the consequences?
The Count and Godfrey engaged in a thoughtful discussion regarding the current situation and devised strategic plans for their army. Following their meeting, they parted ways and the Count retired to his private tent for the night to allow his body to recuperate. The rebels' looming presence and evident preparations had left him feeling drained and anxious. His loyal knight heeded his liege's advice and slept in his mail armor to provide added protection. Both fervently hoped for a peaceful and uneventful night, but they were acutely aware that they could not afford to lower their guard with the enemy so perilously close.
The night passed without incident, as Godfrey had predicted. The rebel army wasn't planning a nighttime attack; however, the count was right to remind the knight of the importance of always being ready.
Even though the army was currently safe, it was best to be prepared for any eventuality. Even though the rebels didn't attack , the Count and Godfrey knew that they couldn't let their guard down and must be ready to act if anything unexpected happened. It was better to be cautious than to risk a possible surprise attack that could endanger the entire campaign.
As the sun rose and the air cooled down, the army broke camp and prepared for the next leg of the march. Scouts were sent ahead to check for the presence of pro-Hohestaufen troops and assess the situation with the farmers and local inhabitants. The scouts claimed that there was no sign of soldiers or farmers in the area, indicating that the rebel army had left in a hurry. The army was still in the dark about the reason for the sudden disappearance of the villages and farmers in the region; nonetheless, their job was not to know but to obey , so ignorantly they marched ahead as ordered by Berarnt de Baux.
After hours of marching, the Provencal-French army reached the walls of the city of Cosenza. The Count ordered the army to take no unnecessary risks as they approached the city. Once they came closer, they could see that the rebels had already taken control of the city and were preparing for a siege. It had been their plan all along to force the army into rebel territory, making it impossible for them to secure the support of the local population or supplies. With the rebels already in control of Calabria and Sicily, the Count knew that the army was now deep in hostile territory, facing a potential siege and the need to find a way to conquer the city, continue their advance toward the rebel base, and stop any other attempt to undermine French control over the kingdom .
Cosenza was the first and foremost region where the conflict between Conradin and Charles' forces would begin, and the streets were ready to be stained with the blood of those who fought for the glory and future of their respective kings and nations.
The stones were set, and the first battle was about to commence. It would be a fight between two armies, both fighting for a leader who was not present with them but that was equally fighting in northern Italy.
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