Tyranny of Steel

Eckhard stood at the front of a formation of soldiers which belonged to the recently formed state of Prussia. These men were mere peasants a few months ago, and yet now they were armed and trained to the same standards as the Kingdom of Austria ’s Armed Forces.

Even though Berengar had granted an exemption to the Grand Duchy of Poland from participating in the ongoing unification wars, that did not mean that the fledgling state was lacking in military matters. Quite the contrary, as the greatest of Berengar ’s generals, Eckhard had ensured that a proper Army was established.

Especially when one needed to consider the conspiracies that surrounded him by the local lords who clung to an ancient past. Feudalism was dead, and Berengar had killed it. Yet these pompous fools continued to defy the new order, and thus, Eckhard was forced to act ruthlessly in his attempts to squash dissent.

Though he had an engagement to the daughter of the Margrave of Brandenburg, it was becoming clear to the aging General that his fiancee and her father were a couple of scheming devils. Thus, he had resorted to force to show an example of what happens to those who defy the crown of Austria.

With a grim expression, Eckhard addressed the Brigade of soldiers beneath his command. Currently, he only had 5,000 men, but with his wits and overwhelming advantage in military technology, it would be enough to bring the Margrave of Brandenburg to heel..

”A few months ago, you were mere serfs, tending to the lands of your masters. However, with Austria ’s conquests of these lands, you were liberated from your servitude to your ungrateful masters. Despite the age of feudalism ending, these nobles refuse to surrender the absurd privileges they have enjoyed for the past few generations.

Thus, as men of the new era, it has come to us to force these privileged fools into the submission of the Austrian Crown! Many of you may be in fear for your lives. After all, we are outnumbered. However, you have been trained for this! You wield weapons that the enemy has never even seen before! Go forth, men of Prussia, and conquer your former masters! ”