Eagle Byzantium

"Control your strength and avoid sacrifice. Then invite all lords to contribute funds and recruit engineers and blacksmiths from the entire pilgrim community to build siege engines. In addition, we must strengthen joint operations in the future." This is the core of what Count Blois put forward at the meeting Spirit.

However, many princes and counts standing around, especially Bohemond, did not comment on this plan. Because it costs money to make siege engines, and everyone was so conflicted about joint operations, Bohemond could only express his gratitude.

"According to the time I calculated, it is very likely that the entire Konya Sultanate's army is approaching the city of Nicaea. In the past two days, more and more people have been arrested at my siege post, although they are all insignificant. , a small person who doesn’t know the details of the battle plan, but this also indicates that a large number of enemies are not far away. I think that is the priority. The urgent task is not to build siege equipment, but to concentrate on defeating the reinforcements and completely besieging the city of Nicaea from the lake. Given time, even the strongest defense of the city will surrender." Everyone was silent. At this moment, Gawain came out and said this, which was tantamount to rejecting Count Blois's plan.

Everyone was in an uproar, and Bohemond laughed and said to Gawain, "Destroy the reinforcements. Is this the reason why your Dalian company remained silent when we people shed blood and died? Not only were the emperor's men drawn over by you, but also Trying to lend me the Holy Banner Cavalry Company, Lord Gawain, keep a low profile, because you are not the only smart person here."

"Everything I said is for the betterment of the entire war situation. I reiterate that it is not a good idea to attack the city with large-scale equipment now. It is better to first defeat the enemy's reinforcements, cut off traffic inside and outside the city, and then look for weaknesses. Gawain raised his hands and encouraged the others.

"However, it seems very impossible to surround Nicaea from the lake, unless St. George and St. Michael appear." Even Baldwin and others began to question, and Godfrey, who was sitting in his seat, Then hold your breath and say nothing.

"It's possible!" Amidst the noise, Gawain insisted, "I didn't have any hope at first. But after careful observation during this period, as long as we use a blockade wall that can be 'mobile' on the water, it will be fine. It’s a warship equipped with fire and bows.”

"Call your Saint Nicholas and use strong winds and clouds to transport all the big ships in the port of Chivite to Lake Nicaea! This lake doesn't even have a channel connected to the ocean!" Tancred roared and pointed. Gawain seemed to be thinking too much, and many Norman lords laughed and scolded him in unison.

But Gawain was not annoyed. He continued to elaborate, "In the city of Nicaea, the Turks do not have large ships. They do not have such technology and do not bother to fight by ship. Therefore, our focus should not be on capturing the water gate, but on sinking and blocking their ships. Up here, as long as their ships can't get out of the harbor, the city's strength will soon wither."

"Just tell me your strategy, Gawain!" At this time Godfrey spoke, and the lords and lords on the Frank side stopped making noise and began to look at the priest.

"Now I have twenty-two Slavic ships in my eastern camp. The person who questioned me just now may be wondering, how did I transport these ships? Yes, I used modified ox carts and horse-drawn carriages. Ships and equipment were brought from the land, from Chiwei to here. There are many such vehicles in the pilgrim camp, and the emperor's fleet also has a large number of small warships, such as Pamphylia ships. Our Pilgrim’s Hushe Boat (can Horse-carrying ships), regimental ships (round flat-bottomed boats, suitable for transporting large numbers of people). Most can accommodate fifty or even a hundred men fighting on them, and I have several companies of sailors who have no problem handling them. We mobilized a large number of manpower and vehicles, and asked the pilgrims to make a large number of hemp ropes and leather belts in a short period of time, transport them to the camp on the west side, and then across the lake to connect to my camp on the east side. In this way, Nicaea will surely fall. into my hands."

"No problem. I will negotiate with the various fortresses and ports regarding ship dispatching. His Majesty the Emperor will definitely agree and provide partial financial support." General Taticius also came out to cheer Gawain up.

"I have used this tactic in the Isthmus of Corinth, and I have annihilated my enemies. It is very effective!" Finally, Gawain concluded with these words, and hit back hard at Tancred, who had just mocked him. The opponent was about to have a fit on the spot. , but was stopped by others.

Among them was Tancred's uncle. Bohemond held his hand and said, "Don't insist on having your own way! The arbiter has the greatest interests at all times. If we Normans are too fierce, we will let the Franks take over." Get a chance for arbitration..." His words were obviously referring to the Godfrey brothers.

Then, before Godfrey could get up to make a speech, Bohemond suddenly walked to the center of the meeting, raised his hands and shouted, "I think what Grand Duke Gawain and the Prelate said is quite true. reason!"

As soon as these words came out, Godfrey could only hold the hilt of the sword again and sit back.

"How about this? I will lend the most elite Holy Banner Cavalry Company, along with my most combative nephew, to Lord Gawain." Bohemond raised a finger, and the whole scene was filled with surprise. Then he raised another finger, "But what the Lord of Blois said makes sense, so I am willing to take out 500 Byzantine gold coins from the reward given by the Emperor of Constantinople to recruit engineers to make siege equipment." Then, Bohemond raised his third finger, but found that he was shaking with great strength and couldn't raise it. A man next to him The attendant came over and helped the prince straighten his back, "Finally, I am willing to open the canyon passage to allow vehicles to transport ships."

After saying this, Bohemond looked at Gawain standing in front of him with his cold eyes like glass balls. Gawain also sneered at him, thinking, "Bohemond, the leader of the Normans, is really good at maneuvering. Now he has all three interests and reputation points of attacking the city, fighting for reinforcements, and transporting ships."

"After taking down the city of Nicaea!" Then, Godfrey, who was sitting, said this, making everyone quieter, "Half of the spoils will be given to the emperor, and the other half will be given to each dynasty The saints will be divided into two groups: the Apulians will get two, we will get two, Gawain will get two, and the rest of the marquises and lords will get four. Do you have any objections to my plan? If not, let's do it this way!"

After everyone reached a consensus and left the council camp, Bohemond followed Gawain and said, "Congratulations, Your Excellency the General Commander of the Army. Tomorrow, Tancred will take the most courageous cavalry company and temporarily be under your command."

Gawain turned around and said, "Thank you for your strong support, sir. If it weren't for your kindness and generosity just now, I don't know what to do. Convince everyone."

"Then Tancred and Patch Braid, the flag bearer of the Holy Banner Company, along with a hundred of the most honorable and elite cavalrymen, are entrusted to you, Your Excellency. I believe you will not let them take on meaningless or menial tasks, right?"

"Of course not, they will be the sword that determines the outcome of the battlefield."

"That's the best, otherwise, you can understand everything by looking at my eyes." Bohemond got close to Gawain, trying to look down and oppress him, but in the end he found that his height could only reach Gawain's eyebrows.

"I kissed a beautiful and lovely girl by the lake last night. She was in a state similar to you, the noble duke." Gawain said to Bohemond, who was trying hard to look up at him. At this moment, the lords were filing out, looking at the couple with strange eyes, and Tancred next to them was embarrassed.

"Really? That stupid girl from Lesbos? That's it! Tancred, let's go." Bohemond turned around and was about to leave. At this moment, Gawain suddenly pointed at the uncle and nephew, "But I must say that if the Holy Banner Company has any usurpation, sabotage, and disobedience to orders during its stay in my camp, I will kill everyone, including Tancred and Brad." Gawain made a gesture of cutting his neck.

"Okay, but if you, Lord Gawain, are defeated in the battle, all the soldiers of the Big Company who fall into my hands will be regarded as defeated soldiers and rapists and hanged." Bohemond made a hanging gesture and stuck out his tongue...

A correct version in 16191 book and 1 forum!

On the second day of the council, when the red sun rose, Count Stephen of Blois decided: the Normans and Franks continued to attack the city, while the Big Company and the Greek emperor's troops were responsible for the outside of the city.

As for the joint attack location, the pilgrims chose the junction of the west and north of the city rashly but without objection, because it happened to be the middle of the two camps, and opened up a forward field for siege equipment there. At the same time, many rewarded carpenters, blacksmiths and several engineers, most of whom said that they had inherited the skills of the ancient Roman era, began to transport wood, bolts, rollers, nails and other things from the camp and worked enthusiastically! After Gawain arranged the task, he also came to the high fortress on the northernmost side of the camp (where you can see the overall situation of the battlefield in the north of the city horizontally). Several military servants who were on guard here bowed and saluted, "What are you doing here?" Gawain turned around and said to Agnes, who was following behind him and had already pulled his crew as servants and held a red umbrella for her. "Don't forget, I'm the 'main character' you brought with you. If I don't stay with you, I'm afraid it will be difficult to hide from the eyes and ears of the camp over there. What's more, I'm here to see what kind of ugly siege equipment you, a bunch of fake barbarians who claim to be of Roman heritage, can make." Agnes talked freely.

Gawain shrugged and said it was up to you. He thought to himself, "Anyway, Anna has said that there is a way to deal with you and Samuelfa."

"Oh, what is that? It's so disgusting that it makes people want to vomit." At this time, Agnes was already complaining while pointing at a huge siege equipment that had just been built. (To be continued ~^~)