Chapter 622: Lithuania's demise
"Your Majesty, we have been attacking Kaunas for a month. This place is really strong, and we have tried every method to break it."
After conquering Vilnius, the Russian army attacked Kaunas, but they still underestimated the local defense strength. Coupled with the command of Vytautas and others, the defenders were all very brave, and the Russian army could not take any advantage.
"It doesn't matter, just take your time. I don't believe that Vytautas can stay behind the city wall for the rest of his life."
Mihai knew that the battle to attack Lithuania had entered the final stage, and the two sides were now fighting to the death. Everyone will try their best to fight, otherwise they will die.
The archers who defended the city aimed at the charging siege team. The arrows shot through the air and accurately passed through the gaps in the armor. One by one, the soldiers fell down. The tight defense made it difficult for the siege team.
Vytautas and a dozen Lithuanian nobles were commanding the battle in the castle in Kaunas. They sat around with solemn expressions, and the atmosphere seemed a bit depressing.
"Everyone, I would like to remind you that although Kaunas has not fallen today, the defenders' psychology has reached its limit. I think this will cause a lot of trouble to them, so I hope everyone will take good care of them when they go back! "
"I have sent additional soldiers, Grand Duke, don't worry." the commander responsible for defending the city responded.
"We have been holding on to the city for a month! Why haven't we seen the arrival of reinforcements? Is it true that the Polish army has been defeated by the Romanians, as some people say?"
Many people trembled unconsciously when they heard this. This was the issue they were most afraid of mentioning. Vytautas tried to comfort everyone: "Poland has a hundred thousand troops, with the king as its commander, and so many allies, how could it possibly suffer a disastrous defeat!"
The long-term pressure caused some people's spirits to finally collapse. "If Wladyslaw's army had not failed, then where were they? Couldn't they have escaped?"
"Don't talk nonsense! Don't believe these rumors, but these rumors also tell us that Poland is leading the army to attack Romania!"
Many nobles accepted this explanation, but some others refused. "Why attack Romania instead of directly rescuing this place? Is Wladyslaw confused and forgetting where his hometown is?"
"Now that Poland is surrounded on three sides, Wladyslaw must have wanted to find the fastest solution. Stop complaining."
Although they are not complaining, they are indeed in danger. The Russian army did everything possible and even threw corpses and fireballs into the city. For a time, there were heavy casualties in the city. The people were crowded in the remaining areas. They couldn't eat well, sleep well, and were in a bad mood. Some people got sick and could not get good treatment and never recovered.
In order for the defenders to have the strength to defend the city, they had to deprive the citizens of supplies. But this aroused their resistance, and the whole city became more chaotic.
On the streets of the city, you can see filthy vomit and soldiers lying on the roadside everywhere. The square is even more crowded with people. They ignore the pungent stench and the flying mosquitoes and flies and insist on seeking medical treatment. The heartbreaking coughing sound almost echoed throughout the city.
The plague spread in Kaunas, and the defenders became increasingly unable to cope with the situation. Seeing that the opponent was showing signs of decline, the Russian army accelerated its attack.
The Russian army's attack on the city was widespread and violent. All the troops under the command of many nobles went to the city to defend it. There were no extra reserve soldiers around, so they had to quickly withdraw from the troops defending the city.
They finally used wood to break open the city gate. The soldiers roared excitedly and swarmed into the cave entrance. They wanted to kill all the enemies.
But unexpectedly, the Lithuanian army launched a charge and once caught the Russian army by surprise. But this was also the final attack, and they were quickly overwhelmed by the Russian army.
Vytautas did not personally lead the soldiers to charge. He waited outside to hear the cheers of victory, but what was waiting was countless soldiers with frightened faces and desperately fleeing back. He shouted desperately to dissuade him, but to no avail. On the contrary, under the influence of these defeated soldiers, other soldiers still outside the fortress also fled together, and the loud sound of the Russian military bugle sounded, making the defeated soldiers escape faster.
Vytautas led the army roaring and charged at the opponent. Since the final outcome was at stake for both sides, the battle was fierce from the beginning.
But after a fierce battle, the Lithuanian army, mostly light infantry, gradually became exhausted. Some people arrived and attacked their flanks with wooden clubs and paddles. They had to retreat to the castle.
At this time, many nobles gathered in the castle. They were all noble families that had existed since the founding of the country. Now they are all sitting lonely in various places, which is really sad.
"I think back then, we resisted the Mongols and the Teutons, but now we are destroyed by the weak Russia. But forget it, any race and force must go through the process of from weak to strong, from strong to weak. Today it is us, always One day it will be their turn."
Their faces are yellow and thin, their faces are covered with dust, and their clothes are in tatters. They have no trace of the magnanimity they had in the past. Vytautas looked at them, feeling sad for a moment, and finally announced their end.
"Light the fire and leave nothing to them. Let everyone know that there once was a great country called Lithuania."
As if they were waking up from a dream, the soldiers threw their torches at the castle that had been splashed with oil, and a raging fire broke out in an instant.
A nobleman suddenly got violent and smashed the statue of Jesus next to him. "Damn Jesus! Damn God! Damn Lithuania! Go to hell!"
The crazy laughter and the screams of the nobles and soldiers after they were covered in fire became the last echoes of the fire. From the establishment of Lithuania in 1253 to its current demise, Lithuania has been a state for 166 years.
The fire burned quickly, and other places also burned. Some people who were unwilling to obey Russia chose to commit suicide. The local bishop and 200 believers locked themselves in the church and burned themselves. Some defenders were still making their last stand, while some people took advantage of the chaos to flee in other directions. It wasn't until the third day that the whole city became quiet.
After the fall of Kaunas, Lithuania had no important fortress that could resist the Russian army. The estates in the countryside were even more unavailable. Michael announced that Lithuania would be included in the Russian provinces, and together with the previously occupied Livonia, it would be divided into four provinces. The coastline was suddenly extended several times, which can be said to be the biggest gain.