Eagle Byzantium

As soon as Gawain returned to the camp, he learned that Giovanni had just won a battle.

Sure enough, at night, Kobuha sent out twenty warriors who were good at swimming, carrying impermeable skin bags stuffed with fire sickles and pine roots, and swam with all their strength in the pre-marked shallow water area to the Oo. On the right side of the Rontes camp is the pasture. This is a long and narrow land covered with grass and reeds. Many of the pack animals and war horses in Gawain's team will be grazing here during the day. Then according to the agreement, the warriors of Mosul untied their skin bags, lit pineapples, and danced towards the other side.

Almost at the same time, dozens of cavalry suddenly appeared in the riverside grassland illuminated by the pines. It seemed that they had laid an ambush in advance. This group of cavalry were all general cavalry in the company. They held scimitars in one hand and came at a gallop. The battle was very short - twenty Mosul Turks were beaten by fifty cavalry in half a minute. With sudden slashes and stabs, they were all killed in an instant.

Then, Cobuha soldiers on the other side of the Orontes River, many selected death squads, crowded on the bank, and were surprised to see that torches were raised in several areas on the other side - Giovanni ordered , the remaining fifty infantrymen were divided into five teams, and at regular intervals, they would raise fire randomly - three torches per person on a three-pronged wooden frame, to disrupt the enemy's deployment.

Amidst the noise, Prince Kobuha of Mosul hurriedly ran out of the tent with his upper body naked, Budakis followed closely behind him, and then Kobuha saw groups of soldiers he had selected during the day. A group of people, holding sheepskin bags that could float in the water, swam toward the other shore in a messy manner.

"Tell everyone to get back quickly." Kebuha ordered urgently, and then the long trumpet sound rang through the river.

But in the Orontes River at night, the undercurrent surged violently, and then the Mosul soldiers' shrill and desperate calls for help continued to sound. Even if they held their skins, it was of no avail in various deep water and turbulent areas, and the waves swept them away. Many people were killed, and even more people swam around in panic, and soon they were exhausted and sank. The soldiers in the camp took out various ropes and hooks in an attempt to rescue. Everyone's panic was shocking.

After looking at the white bodies of the soldiers in front of him, most of them were swallowed up by the boundless night and water-colored darkness, Kobuha was in great pain. He looked at the many raised torches on the other side swaying, carried by the wind, Like the mocking voice of an enemy, It was the prince of Mosul who hid his face and shed two lines of tears, "Ask my general Boesas to immediately draw out five thousand soldiers from tomorrow, bypass the bridge and fortress on the opposite side, and take the road through Ridwan. Tushi’s camp to reinforce General Amasa.”

Then, the prince of Mosul roared, "Durak Tutusi of Damascus, why hasn't there been any movement to the north so far! What on earth is he doing? Isn't he the most sincere ally of Yaqi who died?"

"Prince Durak's 20,000 troops have arrived at the valley border at the northern end of Tripoli. It is estimated that they will be able to form a blockade on the southern end of Antioch in three days." Budakis is responsible for intelligence and diplomacy in the entire army. The report went on, asking his new monarch and lover not to be overly sentimental, for "the arrival of Prince Dulac's army would have wiped out the small tactical success achieved by the pilgrims over the past two days."

In this way, Kobuha felt a little relieved. He began to complain about the two Tutusi in Aleppo and Damascus. , and then hoped that after several defeats, Amasa could calm down and temporarily defend his camp, waiting for the pilgrims to run out of food before launching an attack.

"After all, we have more food than the enemy. And another batch will be sent from Mosul soon." What Kobuha said and thought was exactly the same as Gawain's original speculation.

However, Gawain was not willing to wait at all. He knew that compared with Kobuha, pilgrims could not afford it - "Follow my original plan, we will attack on the third day." The next day, in the bright red After the rising sun, the Grand Duke stood in the camp, facing a column of The soldiers who lined up ready to go said this, "But make no mistake, this is by no means a rigid fight between trapped beasts, but a battle leading to a great victory. And the key to our victory lies in your hands." Behind you! Now you can watch and cheer."

As a result, about four thousand infantrymen mobilized by Gawain (they were already the limit that the city of Antioch could bear now) all turned back - behind their phalanx battle line, there were about a thousand cavalry. , carrying battle flags with various patterns and logos, because this group of people are all pilgrims, dear lords The elite battle formation assembled together included red-handed cavalry, Franks, Orleans, Flanders, and Apulians. The commanders were Count Hartmann and Count Werner. Their The war horses ate up the last reserves of food in all the frontline camps in order to prepare for today's attack.

"Seeing the spears, swords, and majestic horses in their hands, you should know that these warriors are arrayed on the second front and will continue to fight to the death. They are always behind you, so My children, are you still hesitant and timid?" Gawain shouted, his voice like a bell, and he waved his big hands.

"We are all children of the Grand Duke and the Purple Princess, and we have inherited all the courage and wisdom. We swear that today, the soldiers of the Red Hand Brigade, the Guardian Brigade, and the Gimages Brigade will never humiliate the leader and will never embarrass other fellow pilgrims!" All the soldiers responded in unison. Although the sound was not loud (saving energy), they were very resolute.

"My farmers are in Seleucia, and they will farm for me for a hundred days; today I ask you to fight for me for one day!"

"Swear by the Holy Benevolent, our loyalty is not worthy of doubt!"

Gawain nodded, took out the horseshoe-shaped token, and summoned Melo who had just arrived from the palace area in the city yesterday, "You lead all the infantry, holding infantry spears, out of the camp and march to the west. After spreading out, attack the seventh, ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth camps of Amasa. This will be the location of our main attack. I will light a bonfire immediately-Bra, who was lurking in the valley of Rose Ridge in advance, will be in the camp. Nas, and 300 cavalrymen will attack at the same time to support you. "

After Melo received the order, Gawain also invited Hartmann and Werner, two guest generals, to come, "After my camp manager and deputy general goes to the battle, you two will monitor all the cavalry and set up the second line. Once the enemy comes out from other camps to reinforce the target attacked by Melo, you will charge and kill them. "

After the arrangement, teams of infantry and cavalry beat drums and played flutes, walked out of the main gate and various side gates of the camp, singing songs of praise to the Lord, and everyone's face was full of death. (To be continued ~^~)