Chancellor's Report, 1362.

As a summary, it was a season of mixed news. Bologna was retaken, but Bruges fell. The French ignored the relief force at Dijon, but the Hungarians suffered an unexpected stroke of intelligence and drove us back at Vienna. Lord Becker assailed the Polish, lifting the siege of Prague, but the city is now once again infected with the plague, though Lord Becker's camp appears clean. Madgeburg sallied... and has immediately been taken under siege again. Two of our revered Cardinals passed away peacefully. On to the detailed reports:

The Office of the Exchequer

The financial situation is recovering quite nicely.



Another merchant was trained and put into the field in the Antioch region, he immediately opened a profitable business. I was able to make my own contribution to our finances by conducting a rapid night raid on Oslo, sacking the place for nine thousand florins and then selling that citadel, plague and all, to the Russians for another four thousand florins.

This brings our total available operating capital for the season to thirty four thousand florins.

The Physician's Office

I have instituted measures to maintain exact tracking on cities and armies which have yet to shake the plague. With that in mind I am opening this office by reporting that plague has returned to Prague. It appears the illness was spread by the Poles during Lord Becker's sally against them. May God have mercy on the citizens of Prague.

Further, my own army, and the armies of both Captains under my command remain infected. Captains Eusebius and Ruprecht will be kept isolated until the disease can be brought under control. Also affected is the ship on which I sailed north, but I see little further use for them and likely will dismiss them from service.

In Swabia Captains Gunther and Matthias continue to be affected, and both will likely be needed for the relief of Dijon, risking the spread to that much abused city.

In Bavaria Fredericus Erlach and his men also still appear to be affected. Additionally the French garrison of Genoa is clearly reeling under the effects of the disease, which is keeping them pinned in the city.

One last note of interest. Our spy in Krakow, Rainald von Bremen, sends word that he has somehow captured and bred rats which could be used to spread the plague within the Polish capital. I must confess even I am repelled by the thought, but there would be a certain justice in it, given their ill strike at Prague. Thoughts?



The War Office

The prior offensive season saw, in Bavaria the recapture of Bologna via a massive effort coordinated brilliantly by Duke Lothar himself, with the aid of Count Erlach and Prinz Dieter. Now the Byzantine Captain at Florence has seen fit to split his army, perhaps under pressure to produce some results, leaving Florence potentially exposed to a repeat of our treatment of Bologna. As before, every available resource will be put at the Duke's disposal should he wish to make a try for Florence. Prinz Dieter as soon as the operation in the Florence region is completed I will be asking you to march north to Franconia, which needs you desperately.

In Swabia Metz was taken under siege, and the French made no move to relieve it this year. Kaiser Peter or Welf von Luxemburg are authorized to capture that city at their discretion, using any nearby force they feel necessary.

It will be essential, I believe, to finally lift the siege of Dijon this season. Count Ruppel you have considerable resources at your disposal, though Captains Gunther and Matthias are still plagued. Hermann Steffen is also in the region, and could take on mercenaries and ride to your aid as well.

In a daring and brilliant move Huge de Cervole asked permission to coordinate an action with one of our spies in Swabia. As a result of his passionate desire to punish the French, we now have a man inside the lightly garrisoned city of Paris who can open the gates for Sir de Cervole at any time. Reportedly the city is held only by a single partial company of peasant crossbowmen, so I do not expect you will need any reinforcement or aid.

In Franconia the Poles were driven away from Frankfurt and Madgeburg, though they have returned to Madgeburg. Further north I conducted a night raid against Danish Oslo despite an incredible season of storms and wind, then sold that plague stricken citadel to the Russians, thus weakening our enemies and perhaps driving a wedge between them, as well as enriching ourselves.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


In Austria Lord Becker struck a mighty blow against the Poles at Prague. I have sent two companies of Teutonic Knights and a cannon from Vienna north to aid his further offensives, and he has my permission to hire any mercenaries he may come across. I believe there are some in the Prague region and even more in the Breslau region. Spend as you need Lord Becker.

South of Vienna my poor advice on the positioning of his army saw Count Johann Zirn and his brother outmanuevered by a Hungarian army, though they slew the commander before departing the field. This army will be reconstituted as soon as possible and made ready for offensive action.

Further south Duke Arnold is marching north to retake Zagreb, and the Venetians are dithering over Durazzo with the Byzantines shadowing them.

In Outremer the Turks have made their presence felt by sieging Adana. Fortunately our enemies squabble amongst themselves, and another Turkish army was intercepted by a Byzantine one northeast of Adana. God grant that they destroy each other utterly while Viceroy Matthias crushes the fools that dared siege Adana. The Byzantines also marched an army down to face off with Count von Salzgitter, but refrained from attacking. I wonder if their nerve fails them when they approach the blood soaked ground of the Iron Bridge.

In other news, a small Byzantine fleet was defeated near Palermo.

Recruiting Report:

Recruiting continued apace at most facilities, though the hiring of mercenaries expended a considerable chunk of florins. My focus was on Mounted Crossbowmen, whose flexibility and durability are a boon to any army. All specific recruitment requests were met, though for Count von Salzgitter I trained Mounted Crossbowmen rather than hire Turkopoles. You'll find they are already positioned to reinforce the Iron Bridge Count von Salzgitter.

The save is here (Org uploader seems to be having trouble):

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1362-1.zip

And the season is now open! Any questions can be directed to the Chancellor personally or in open discussion. I would have it known that I expect there to be engagements on every front this season. The first year of my Chancellorship was a banner year for military excellence, and I desire that things move only ever upward from here. Fortune favor you in the fields my Lords!

Fritz von Kastilien