Eagle Byzantium

The mountains and passes to the east of Nishapur City have been completely occupied by many barbarians from the east. "They are everywhere like the vast desert sea."

The defenders in the city gathered tens of thousands of people. In addition, there were four thousand cavalry who set up fences to form horns on the outskirts of the city. They set up 300 ballistas and fifty catapults on the battlement towers to hold on to the death.

There are 50,000 barbarians outside the city, mostly from the Syr Darya Turkic tribes, Kangli Turks, Hezhong Turks, etc. Most of them still adhere to shamanistic beliefs. It is said that there are also a large number of Uighur Nestorians in the formation. Acting as siege infantry and weapon craftsmen, this group of people cut down almost all the trees in the Nishapur Valley and swept away the stones all over Nishapur to polish the materials needed to make siege engines. Noose and flying stones. In a short period of time, this group of barbarians and Nestorians actually built 120 five- and seven-top trebuchets, three thousand ladders, twelve battering rams, five siege towers and twelve gates. The catapult capable of discharging fire oil cans, together with the camps of all the siege personnel, approached the battlements of the outer city of Nishapur.

When the soldiers guarding the city saw the mountains of flying stones piled up on the enemy's position, they immediately felt frightened. However, flying cavalry soon rushed into the city and informed the Roman Emperor and the Sultan that hundreds of thousands of troops had arrived 20 kilometers west of the city. After setting up camp and dismantling the battle, the city immediately burst into cheers and morale was greatly boosted. Countless soldiers climbed onto the city wall and provoked the enemy by provoking and insulting Nestorian teachings.

"Although we need to defend Nishapur from the front, the strategy still needs to be surprising - I sent General Bramson to push the second-line brigade to the bottom of the city to resist defense, and the three-wing brigade was on the second line to provide support. At the same time, I selected a large group of cavalry from General Melo took control and detoured out of the mountains from the northeast of the city, attacking from both inside and outside to defeat the enemy. "

Based on this strategy, Gawain ordered scattered and concealed camps to be set up in the mountains, and then leveled the land in the flat areas ahead for the galloping of horses, horses and artillery. More than 100,000 soldiers worked together to complete all civil engineering projects in just three days. During this period, scattered barbarian cavalry continued to infiltrate, conduct raids, or scout for secret targets, but they were all captured and driven away by the emperor's experienced night patrols or cavalry scouts, making it impossible for the opponent to detect the true situation.

In addition, within the next three days, 50,000 barbarian troops began to swarm the city. The kerosene bullets fired by their trebuchets exploded like bright lotus flowers on the tops of the battlement towers. The plumes of oil and smoke that fell were all fatal. The ejected stones fell into the houses behind the wall like seeds sown by a seeder in a field. In a short period of time, one-third of the residential buildings in Nishapur were burned down and collapsed. At the same time, the infantry of the Uighur Nestorians held ladders and bravely filled up the trenches outside the city, and then stormed the most important gates, the Coroesta and the Camel Gate. According to eyewitnesses in the city later recalled, “There were people clinging to every brick. , every brick is soaked in blood.”

Four thousand Seljuk cavalry in the wooden fence in the south of the city attacked, but outside the fence they encountered 2,000 Hezhong Turkic cavalry who had been well prepared. The two sides cursed each other in Turkic dialect, and there was a melee. Soon, another two thousand barbarian cavalry came from the side. When the enemy arrived, the battle went from morning prayers to evening prayers, and everyone returned to camp regardless of victory or defeat - but the Seljuk cavalry's plan to attack the siege square positions and rescue the city of Nishapur could not be realized.

In such a fierce battle, in the face of waves of requests for help from the city, the emperor's camp remained calm. Gawain was quietly waiting for the pioneer scout cavalry to explore and guide the Merlot cavalry detachment.

The emperor's scouts were composed of Markianias and Zanji, members of the inner palace guard, together with the palace gatekeeper Muzafiad-din, commanding fifty royal uniformed cavalry and fifty guard light cavalry. Covering the shining armor with a black or brown-blue robe, quietly Passing through our own fortress east of Nishapur, passing through a rugged and sparsely populated valley, we arrived at Kushistan, where the enemy's right-wing camp was stationed. It was about a day's ride from Nishapur on horseback. Accessible areas include Tus and Mov in the east and Herat in the south.

The asphalt-colored darkness of the night was slowly burned and dissipated by the fire ignited by the rising sun. Markianias saw the barbarian camp in Kusistan under the hillside. Even though it was a guard position on the flanks, their number was terrifying enough. "There are no less than five thousand horses. Damn it, this is just a small guard camp in their vanguard." Muzafi'adin said angrily while lying on the saddle.

Markianias saw that the surrounding villages and towns were full of fires, and the smoke rising from the entire land was like a dense forest. "The civilization here has been completely destroyed!" Inside and outside the circular camp, there were groups of surviving civilians captured by the wild horsemen everywhere. They were working for the conquerors under the whip, building camps and making equipment. There were piles of severed heads beside the construction site. into hills.

"Well!" Markianias's heart suddenly ignited the fire of indignation of the knightly spirit, "It is unforgivable. If such a natural disaster is allowed to enter the Roman Empire, then what is our duty as soldiers to protect the Roman people? We must not let it Such a tragedy happened!”

Over there, Muzafi'adin was asking several cavalrymen to gallop back, telling General Melo, "The subsequent cavalry group can pass through this pass and directly launch a fierce attack on the Kushistan camp."

Over there, Markianias raised the Kantos lance, put on the helmet that was originally tied behind his shoulders, and shouted to Zanji, "Force reconnaissance is also part of the scout's duties. Under General Mero Before we come here, let’s rush down first to dampen the energy of this group of barbarians and gauge their strength - this is also in line with His Majesty’s requirements.”

Zengi was extremely angry and raised his lance to block the horse of Maxianius. "Wake up from your dream! Our mission is simple, which is to find out the enemy's position and the road to kill them. If you want to fight for the honor of Princess Helena, don't waste your strength in such a foolish and reckless worthless battle. Save it for the decisive battle between the cavalry!"

"But..."

"Do you still want to repeat the mistakes of the battle of Durazzo Monastery? If you do this, even if you are not dead or injured, His Majesty will never let you stay on the front line again." Zengi said fiercely, and then he looked at Maxianius, "I have advised you long ago that the life of Ghazi is more suitable for you, but if you are nostalgic for Helena, you must abide by the military discipline of the empire and stop worrying your mother."

Speaking of his mother, Prince Maxianius could only retreat in disappointment.

One day later, when the scouts sent back by Muzafiadin arrived at the emperor's camp, Gawain decided to divide his troops and attack.

Melo's Christian fish battle flag was flying, and he led a cavalry regiment drawn from three large brigades, mostly composed of Mosiac and Savaslav cavalry, with a total of 6,000 people, plus Tabo's 5,000 Seljuk cavalry. They rushed out from the mountain pass, attacked the enemy camp in Kusistan, and cut off the barbarians under the city of Nishapur. This was the emperor's surprise army.