Eagle Byzantium

After ruthlessly rejecting Gawain's peace request, the emperor's army accelerated the drainage and embankment construction project. According to Aksepokos's plan, the emperor's soldiers first used screws and can wheels to open up the river about ten feet. The water surface was drained, and then the sticky soil was moved into cubes (this kind of soil is abundant in Pamphylia), and an earthen embankment about nine feet high was built on it, and then the Bundles of reeds and seaweed were filled in on the side of the earthen embankment facing the swamp, until they were piled up to the same height as the earthen embankment - in this way, these reeds and seaweed could absorb all the rest of the water nearby and fill them up. Swell and tighten the rope to become stronger - if so, building such a dike of earth and grass can actually dissolve the swamp water surface of about twenty feet.

Alexios and John and his son worked together and commanded the army. They were busy for three days and filled more than 400 feet of water. The work efficiency was much higher than before, and they were not afraid of Gawain diverting water from the Alamein River to pour back: Because seaweed grass is particularly absorbent.

Alexios Komnenos, who was overjoyed, immediately ordered the promotion of Aksepochos to the rank of palace guard, promoting him from a slave to an imperial nobleman overnight, and he safely handed over the entire drainage project and camp operations to him. Coordinating management, "I will also allow you to learn Greek writing and rhetoric soon. You are not only a bureaucratic nobleman in my country, but also John's personal slave. Assist him well."

Gawain's entire army on the other side of the swamp seemed to have no good way to deal with it. They just continued to dig trenches for the siege of the great city of Alemanburg and strictly strengthened the discipline in the military camp. Military judge Giovanni led Gawain. The guards increased their daily patrols from two in the morning and evening to four. They not only checked for spies, but also monitored the mental movements of ordinary soldiers and military servants. If there were any plans to escape, they would be hanged immediately after interrogation.

But even so, the soldiers spread word of mouth privately, "The title of the Grand Duke has been stripped by the Emperor. Prince Ruben has also begun to attack our army in West Cilicia. Now we are attacked from both ends. It is said that His Highness the Grand Duke cannot bear it." We have to sacrifice and give up the eastern territory in order to draw the troops of the other two brigades back here."

"But other pilgrims, such as Lord Godfrey, have no idea of ​​​​reinforcing us?" Behind the trench fence, the soldiers lost interest in gambling with saffron copper coins, taking advantage of Giovanni's absence to patrol. In front of the camp, they were holding shovels and hoes, talking in low voices.

"I think it's impossible. You have to know that the opponent now is not Kallegos, but the richest and most powerful Emperor Komnenos in the world. It is said that as long as he spreads a little money, Yuk Xinghai and All the ethnic groups in the Holy Sea are willing to serve him." A talkative soldier surrounded the surroundings and analyzed in a serious manner. Then they saw a few guard soldiers walking towards them, and they completely fell silent and lowered their heads to work.

On the fourth day, the emperor felt refreshed. Surrounded by many ceremonial guards, he stood on the previously completed earth embankment with a riding whip in his hand. He stepped on it with his boots and expressed that it was very strong. The generals around him and his staff all responded with knowing and sincere laughter. At this moment, in front of the imperial capital, the great city of Alamein Castle was right in front of us. A few feet away, if he had a Turkic light arrow in his hand, he could shoot the arrow directly in front of Gawain's tent. The city top there was also filled with joy, and many Alamein citizens were holding sacred paintings of the emperor. Shaking and braving the fire from the siege, he loudly praised the emperor's wisdom and greatness, and asked Comnenus to save the city.

"After entering the city immediately, the army will not be allowed to carry out any robbery or other illegal acts here, because the people here are all my people." The emperor stood between two screw drainage trucks, facing the floating water from the swamp. The wet and heavy mist came, and he held the tip of the riding whip with great ambition, and turned to face all the people standing behind him, showing the majesty and magnanimity of the emperor, but inside, his imperial ink officer Melais Smiling slightly, "Actually, your Majesty's idea is to take this opportunity not only to repel Gawain's offensive and pacify Seleucia, but also to eradicate the power of the Kallegos family here. It's really just like what your Majesty just said That sentence - before long all the people of Seleucia will be your true subjects, they will pay taxes directly to you and will serve in your army or row on your deck for generations."

Just as the Imperial Ink Officer was thinking this, he suddenly felt that the voices of the people around him had stopped, because there was a dull thunder in the sky over the swamp behind the emperor, and then Alamein, who was still holding the riding whip, pointed at it. Fortress, five black dots of different heights suddenly appeared above the emperor's head, whose expression remained unchanged. They were projected into Melais's eyes and quickly rolled and grew larger. The "thunder" just now was caused by their friction with the air. resulting in, "is Stone bullets thrown by the enemy, Your Majesty!" the loyal Mo officer shouted, and rushed in front of the emperor in an instant. Alexios also quickly reached out to Mailai because of his instinctive alertness on the battlefield. there, so The other party pulled and pulled, and the emperor's body tilted back and forth twice. A stone bullet landed directly behind him, smashing the screw waterwheel with the straw shed into pieces. People were immediately smashed into pieces!

Five stone bullets thrown from the Grand Plani Cannon flew without any warning, and one after another, they smashed into flowers on the earthen embankment that was being built densely with the emperor's troops, including Alek, who was still in a state of composure just now. Everyone, including Hughes, felt that everything around him was shattered, and the entire section of the embankment was rolling and undulating, as if experiencing the most terrifying earthquake. Several equipment that was still pumping and draining water were destroyed. The frightened packhorse broke free from the shaft pole and ran around, knocking over and trampling everyone regardless of their identity. Many palace guards gathered around and started messing around in the crowd with sharp knives in their hands. Cut it and open a bloody path for His Majesty the Emperor and the Prince to fight. Rushed back to the relatively safe military camp - then, the large Pulani cannon erected in Gawain's military camp took turns to blast for half a day, almost destroying all the screws and tank wheels set by the emperor on the edge of the swamp. , broken wood and corpses of men and horses were floating everywhere in the puddles in the black mud.

At this time, the emperor who was snatched back to the military camp turned pale as if he had a fever. He slumped on his seat and muttered to himself, "It's really hard to do. What about the waterwheel? What kind of shot did Gawain use?" Stone Machine, why are the range and power so terrifying...why..." Then, The emperor slowly covered his face, feeling extremely painful, "I was attacked by Gawain. Compared with when he fought in front of the city gate, his tactics were even more secretive and ruthless. First, he gave me the illusion that everything was going smoothly. Then they secretly moved and concentrated the stone-shooting machines, destroying all the essence of the drainage on my earth embankment at once. "

"What should I do!" Then the emperor cried out sadly and indignantly, lowering his head heavily. (To be continued ~^~)