I Reincarnated as a Prince Who Revolutionized the Kingdom

January 12th, 1693 – Mont Verdain, Corse

The sun had barely risen when a sentry atop Mont Verdain's eastern wall spotted movement on the horizon. A long, dark line of soldiers, wagons, and artillery pieces crawled across the plains below. Drums echoed faintly, accompanied by the steady march of boots and the rattle of iron wheels. The main force of the Republic had arrived.

Captain Vallier stood next to Prince Bruno on the wall, his spyglass trained on the advancing enemy. He could make out infantry battalions supported by cavalry detachments and heavy artillery teams positioning themselves near the ridge.

"They're wasting no time," Vallier remarked, lowering the spyglass. "Artillery teams are moving into range. They'll try to weaken the walls before sending in the infantry."

Bruno nodded, his gaze unwavering. "They'll find that we're not as easy to break as they think. How are our sharpshooters positioned?"

"They're ready, Your Highness," Vallier confirmed. "Fifty of our best marksmen are stationed across the towers and key defensive points. All equipped with scoped rifles. They'll target the artillery crews the moment they begin setting up."

"Good. Let's give them a warm welcome."

Captain Renoux strode confidently between the artillery units. Engineers and gunners worked quickly to position their siege cannons and mortars along the ridge overlooking Mont Verdain. The cannons, painted in dull gray to blend with the rocky terrain, gleamed in the morning light.

"Positions!" barked an artillery officer as crews wheeled the last cannon into place. Gunpowder barrels were unloaded, and rangefinders calculated the elevation needed to hit the fortress walls.

Renoux watched with satisfaction. "Prepare the first volley. Once the cannons fire, the defenders will scramble. We'll break their defenses piece by piece."

The artillery crews loaded the cannons, but before the first order could be given, a sharp crack echoed across the battlefield. One of the lead gunners fell to the ground, blood pouring from a clean shot to the head.

"What the—?" Renoux froze as another shot rang out, striking another artilleryman.

"Snipers!" a soldier shouted in panic. "They've got snipers on the walls!"

"Impossible! At this distance?!" Renoux gritted his teeth and ducked behind a supply crate as another gunshot echoed across the ridge. A third artilleryman collapsed, clutching his chest. The precision of the shots was unnerving.

"Where are those bastards firing from?!" he barked.

"Sir! The snipers are stationed in the watchtowers and along the fortified walls!" a scout called out, crouching beside him.

Renoux cursed under his breath. "Damn it! I thought this island was a backwater. Since when do they have advanced rifles?"

Another shot rang out. Renoux heard the sickening thud of a bullet striking an officer nearby. The man fell backward, his sword clattering to the ground.

"We can't set up the cannons under this fire, Captain!" an artillery officer shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

"Get the skirmishers forward! Deploy smoke grenades! I want those snipers blinded!" Renoux ordered. "Have the infantry form a screen to cover the artillery!"

The soldiers scrambled to obey. Skirmishers equipped with muskets rushed forward, firing sporadic volleys toward the walls while others lobbed smoke grenades across the open ground. Thick white clouds began to rise, obscuring visibility on both sides of the battlefield.

Corporal Léon Jourdain adjusted his rifle scope, his breath steady despite the growing smoke. He spotted a group of Republic skirmishers advancing under the cover of the haze.

"Visibility's dropping fast," a nearby sharpshooter muttered.

Jourdain ignored him and focused on a target—a soldier crouching behind a rock, trying to direct his comrades forward. He exhaled slowly and pulled the trigger.

Crack!

The soldier fell, and the advancing skirmishers hesitated.

"Keep firing! Aim for any flashes of movement!" Captain Vallier's voice rang out from the observation deck.

Jourdain chambered another round and continued firing, his shots methodical and precise. Even with the smoke, the sharpshooters managed to sow confusion and fear among the enemy ranks.

Renoux clenched his fists as he observed the chaos unfolding before him. Despite the smoke, his men were still being picked off. He knew they couldn't afford to lose more artillery crews before the first volley.

"Lieutenant Renault, get those cannons firing now!" he barked.

"We're still finalizing the range calculations, sir!" Renault protested.

"To hell with that! Just fire blindly if you have to! We need to suppress those snipers!"

Reluctantly, Renault relayed the order. Moments later, the cannons roared to life, their deafening blasts shaking the ground. Explosive shells arced through the smoke, crashing into the walls of Mont Verdain. Stone and debris flew into the air as the first impacts struck the fortress, but the royalist defenses held firm.

Renoux smirked as he heard the distant rumble of destruction. "Let's see how long they last under sustained fire."

The first shell struck the eastern wall, sending a tremor through the entire city. Civilians ducked for cover as dust and debris rained down. Engineers and artillery crews scrambled to reinforce weakened sections of the battlements.

Prince Bruno remained calm despite the barrage. He stood near one of the primary artillery positions, issuing orders to the crews.

"Maintain counterfire! Focus on their artillery emplacements. We need to disrupt their rhythm," Bruno commanded.

The royalist cannons thundered in response, their shells crashing into the ridge where the Republic's artillery teams were stationed. Several enemy cannons were destroyed in fiery explosions, further complicating Renoux's efforts.

"How are the walls holding?" Bruno asked General Berthold, who approached with a report.

"Minor damage so far, Your Highness," Berthold replied. "Their fire is spread out. They're trying to locate our weak points."

"Good. We'll give them nothing to exploit."

Bruno raised his spyglass, scanning the battlefield. Through the smoke, he saw disorganized clusters of Republic infantry retreating from the artillery line. The sharpshooters' harassment and counterfire had disrupted the enemy's coordination.

"They're faltering," Bruno said. "This is our chance. Order Vallier to send out a strike team. Target their artillery crews directly. We'll cripple their offensive capability before they can regroup."

Captain Vallier led a detachment of fifty soldiers down a concealed mountain path that flanked the Republic's encampment. Moving swiftly and silently, the royalist troops navigated the rough terrain, using the smoke and chaos as cover.

"Positions," Vallier whispered as they reached a vantage point overlooking the enemy artillery lines.

The royalists spread out, taking cover behind boulders and tree stumps. Vallier signaled for the attack.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

A coordinated volley of rifle fire tore through the Republic artillery crews. The gunners, caught off guard, fell in rapid succession. Explosions erupted as ammunition stores were hit, sending fireballs into the sky.

"Advance! Clear the line!" Vallier shouted.

His troops surged forward, firing with precision as they stormed the artillery positions. The Republic soldiers, already demoralized, broke and fled in disarray.

Renoux cursed as he watched the collapse of his artillery line. "Pull back to the secondary encampment!" he roared. "We need to regroup!"

By midday, the battlefield fell eerily silent. The smoke began to dissipate, revealing the full extent of the Republic's losses. Burning wreckage and abandoned cannons littered the ridge. Royalist soldiers stood triumphantly along the walls, cheering as the enemy retreated.

Prince Bruno lowered his spyglass and exhaled slowly. "We've won the first engagement, but they'll be back."

"Let them come," Vallier said, wiping soot from his face. "We'll be ready."

"No, this time we won't let them come. We will be the one chasing," Bruno said.