Re: Imperial Diet
Otto von Kassel, a little more tan than you remember him, walks into the Diet. After a short time listening, he rises to speak:
My lords, our Chancellor Sigismund is well on the way to turning Milan, if that nation can still be called that since the Reich rules the city now, into an island republic. We have had an impressive string of victories. Much of what was lost in the past is now ours again!
Yet any victory comes with a cost, our forces our spread thin in Italy and elsewhere. In Milan, for example, I am garrisoning the city with my own retainers and a depleted unit of peasant archers. I can hold down the locals, never fear, but if Milan is besieged I do not have enough men to defend it. Vienna is besieged by the Venetians, and while I believe they will be repulsed if they attack the city, Duke Leopold lacks the necessary cavalry and archers to mount an effective sally.
I must make clear that this is not criticism, we have kept the Milanese off balance with a brilliant series of hammer blows. I doubt they can mount an effective counter-attack themselves. With the entry of the Venetians into this conflict however, the scope and size of our war has widened. They are fresh, and probably chose this time to strike because we are entangled with Milan. They can strike where the Milanese cannot, as they have shown with their siege of Austria's capital. They could easily move on Milan, Innsbruck, Florence or Bologna.
Having looked at the latest maps, with what forces are we to relieve Vienna with? With what forces are we to defend Italy with, if Venice decides to attack there or Milan recovers? We must consider these questions, or I fear a lack of answers will come back to haunt us.
I would suggest, for the time being, that we redeploy some nobles and units from Franconia and central Bavaria, our only quiet fronts at this point, to reinforce Austria and Italy. I would also suggest that we begin recruiting heavily again at Innsbruck and Staufen. Innsbruck troops can deploy to Italy through Milan or into Austria, or they can even strike at Venice if needed. Staufen troops can reinforce our assault on Dijon or head into Italy as well. If paying for these new troops requires delaying new buildings, I suggest we prioritize recruitment.
As for any thoughts of fighting the Pope, look at that army he seems to be parading around northern Italy. Even if we collected all the troops we have in that front together, it would still outnumber and outclass our forces. Now is not the time.
The Reich is strong! But we are not invincible.
My lords.
Otto sits.
OOC: Edited to remove a mention to Bern castle, I failed to realize that it has been converted to a town.
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