Eagle Byzantium

"These three days are the days when we will resist resolutely. Cobuha also knows that only by breaking down our defensive fortress can he gain the honor of a leader and completely trap the city of Antioch. Then not only can he join forces The great demand for Aleppo can also obtain more soldiers and assistance from the Turkic prince Durak of Damascus. In Kobuha's calculations, he always thinks that he has more food in hand than us. He will be able to hold on for a while longer than us, so he will have no fear to attack the camp where we are, while we will completely defeat his arrogant offensive, and then turn to a hearty counterattack. No one has to worry about anything. Fantasy, because the black battle flag of Kobuha has undoubtedly left the valley opposite the Acropolis and begun to move towards us, and there are tens of thousands of Turkic soldiers traveling with him. "

Hearing these words, expressions of either fear or perseverance appeared on the faces of all the generals. After the previous outpost battles, the Turks should know that at the Orontes River camp or the West Fort, there was fierce resistance. The number of Christian soldiers was actually only about two to three thousand, and their horses were even pitifully few.

So Gawain's eyes specifically stayed in front of the frightened people, "Persistence to the end is victory! Although Antioch is big, there is no way to retreat. Behind us is the Falfa River."

Before anyone could express their reaction, the military judge Giovanni presented the sand table map, and the Grand Duke began to point out the generals loudly: "Branas!"

"His Royal Highness the Grand Duke is here."

"You take all three hundred cavalry, detour from Rose Ridge and West Fort, carry dry food, and wait silently. I sent Muzafi'adin as the flag bearer to wait for the bonfire signal lit in the Orontes camp. Just take Ata City as the target, use all your strength to sweep and attack, and hit wherever you can without leaving any prisoners."

"Gregor, Bramson!"

"Your Majesty the Grand Duke obeys."

"You bring 1,500 lightly-armed infantry and are stationed behind the camp on standby."

"Giovanni!"

After receiving the reply, Gawain arranged, "It's still the same as before. You will be responsible for the command and control of all the fortress walls and gate towers, and I will stay by your side."

"No problem, I will not let you be killed in the slightest, His Highness the Grand Duke."

"Dim. Goliath, my standard-bearer, I leave the task of guarding the city gate to you."

"Yes, leave it to me."

"Desius, at the lower wall of the city, the most difficult task of resisting the enemy is entrusted to you."

Decius nodded, "I need corresponding rewards to exert my greatest combat effectiveness, Your Highness the Grand Duke."

"After this victory, I will entrust several castles in Syria Gate to you and Bramson." Gawain promised generously, "Not only that, I will reward all thirty towns to my subordinates who have made meritorious services."

Hearing this, Bramson, who had just received the mission, never imagined that such a good thing would happen to him all of a sudden. His eyes shone with joy, and he kept rubbing the sword belt and hilt with his hands. , almost uncontrollable.

"Mello! You continue to be stationed in the palace area. I will allocate the guards and messengers to you. You must shoulder the responsibility of negotiating and coordinating with other lords, sworn brother Peter, and the priest Ademar, as well as military procurement. The food is also entrusted to you.”

"As ordered by the Grand Duke, although I cannot go to the battlefield to fight, I understand that this kind of mission is still very important."

At this time, Prince Sven of Denmark, who came to help as a guest general, also walked out with emotion, "Please allow me to take the five hundred remaining soldiers with axes and swords to fight for you under the city. In order to our friendship.”

Gawain was very moved and pressed Sven's arm, saying "for friendship".

After nightfall, bonfires were burning in the camp. The soldiers shouted slogans and sweated profusely with the laborers as they repaired the chest strap wall and various sub-walls in front of the camp gate, including the wall at the gate tower. Precise modification work - and the engineering director Gedier once again showed his true character as a tyrant. He held a whip and patrolled everywhere, howling and scolding, fully demonstrating the technician's persistent spirit of "strive for excellence".

The so-called renovation means that the battlements of the Orontes camp have adopted completely different regulations than before.

At that time, the battlements in the east and west were all in the shape of "convex", with crenellations formed between them. Later, depending on the needs of the battle, "fences" were built to eliminate blind spots for shooting (the specific regulations of fences can be seen in the previous chapter of the Battle of Nicaea ). However, Gedier requested that the "convex" shape be changed to a flat-headed rectangle. A Juma sub-wall is a flat-headed rectangular wall to replace the previous battlements. The same is true for the city gate wall and the girdle wall, but the height is higher than the sub-wall. That’s all.

Then, the soldiers used chisels and other tools to cut out two rows of shooting holes on the flat wall, staggered with each other, always about three and a half Anna feet apart. The shooting holes were square and a little two Anna feet wide. Whether a crossbow was used It is very convenient to shoot with a machine or thrust out a spear or sword. In other words, the upper and lower rows of shooting ports are placed to facilitate the separate use of weapons. The upper row can be used for thrusting with spears, and the lower row can be used for the defenders to kneel down and shoot crossbows.

On the top of the wall, every four inches, five-foot-five-high thin logs were tied to each other with iron wires, and the heads were sharpened to form wooden fences. The soldiers called them "dog legs" - in this way, even if the enemy Fortunately, I climbed to the top of the wall, but I still had to climb over this "dog's foot" before I could come face to face with the guarding soldiers.

The whole project was in full swing and lasted until the second hour of the night. Everyone was tired and hungry. Gawain stood in a conspicuous position in the city gate tower, facing inward. After leaving 300 soldiers to defend the city as usual, all the other soldiers and laborers sat on the ground in the middle of the camp. Gawain ordered the daily food to be distributed to them so that they could eat their fill and wait for tomorrow's battle.

A perfect version in 16-9 Book Bar!

Gawain's figure, along with the illumination of the flames, was cast very long and fell on the wall. He specifically asked Muzafi Adin and Gregor to stand on his left and right.

He could see that the people eating below were naturally divided into two groups: Christians and soldiers in one group, and the Crescent Moon believers who were forced to serve in labor in their own group.

"You use the Turkish language, and you use the Saracen language to convey my meaning to them."

Then the two began to shout to the Crescent followers below, who were wrapped in turbans and robes, of course, all of which were the Grand Duke's intentions, "Please all of you, that is, those who believe in the scriptures, regardless of whether you are Saracen, Persian or Turkish, look at the Grand Duke's actions."

So all the Crescent followers, holding food in their hands, raised their eyes and looked at the tall Gawain on the top of the city. Then Gawain drew out the phosphorus sword and chopped down a wicker basket covered with a cloth curtain in front of him. Everyone was stunned. You must know that these baskets were loaded on boats and carts during the day. The rations were transported from the city, either wheat cakes or bread.

But under Gawain's feet and in front of the sword, there were gurgling all over the ground. People could see clearly through the firelight: except for one or two hard cakes, the rest were all stones and dirt. (To be continued ~^~)