1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 22 Rescue
On the western section of the Wall of Corinth, Ottoman soldiers shouted, raised their shields, and rushed forward with ladders.

In the rear, the Ottoman artillery had just stopped firing, and the musketeers were providing cover with a volley of fire.

The Black Legion and the Oak Legion participating in the defense hid behind the battlements, waiting for the Ottoman first round of shooting to be completed.

After a burst of gunfire, the Ottoman musketeers began to reload their ammunition. The defending soldiers raised their heads, some raised their muskets, some pulled their bowstrings, and some strong men simply picked up stones and threw them down.

On the city wall, artillery was being loaded in preparation for the next round of confrontation with the Ottomans.

Small catapults and ballistae were fired continuously, aiming directly at the Ottoman siege equipment.

On the city wall, Isaac also brought kerosene, lime and rusty iron tools from the rear, and when Osman approached, the strong soldiers threw them down.

In a war, the defending party has a great advantage. As long as the gap in combat power between the two sides is not too large, it is difficult for the attacking party to directly break through the city wall.

During medieval sieges, the general practice was to wait for the enemy to run out of food and supplies and then leave the city to surrender.

The enemy had about 5000 soldiers of average quality. Several teams attacked in batches, with firearms providing cover from behind.

Isaac also ordered the four troops to take turns to respond to the Ottoman attack in the best condition.

A day passed quickly, and the Ottomans saw that there was no hope of taking the city, so they called off their troops.

The civilians on both sides cleaned up the battlefield, picking up the corpses and damaged equipment.

The Ottoman side estimated that there were more than 500 casualties, while Isaac's side suffered a total of 109 casualties.

For a city defense battle, such an exchange is really embarrassing.

"Your Highness, it is obvious that the Ottomans are not going all out. They are not aware that we have increased our forces. They probably just want to send a small group of soldiers to contain them."

Knight Conte concluded after the game.

Isaac nodded. Judging from the fighting in the past few days, the main force of the Ottomans was not here, and there was not even a single Janissary Guards member.

"Order the soldiers to rest quickly and ask the nearby monasteries to send all the monks who know how to treat here."

"The seriously wounded and dead soldiers will be registered, and the soldiers who fought bravely will be recorded first. After the war, they will be uniformly compensated and commended."

"Send a letter to the port of Patras, asking Captain Fidel to transport a new batch of military supplies as soon as possible."

Isaac issued several orders in succession.

"Yes!"

The officers saluted and left.

As night fell, the Great Wall of Corinth looked like a giant beast crawling on the ground in the darkness, twisting its body restlessly in the light of the fire.

The soldiers sat around the fire in small teams, eating food from the pot with big mouthfuls.

The food was still plentiful, and after looting the port of Nafpaktos and the transport ships, Isaac now had no shortage of military rations.

The soldiers were somewhat silent. The ongoing war had taken the lives of their comrades today, and might take their own lives tomorrow.

For an army, morale is the most important thing. Once the morale collapses, no matter how many people there are, it will be useless.

That's why battle-hardened veterans are the treasures of an army.

They have become familiar with the cruelty of killing, accustomed to death and separation, and have begun to become accustomed to war and even enjoy it.

A team with one or two veterans is like having a backbone.

They could sit on fresh corpses and warm themselves by the fire, or lie in water of blood and fall asleep peacefully.

The new recruits nearby would involuntarily feel at ease when they saw them.

Among the four legions participating in the battle today, the Purple Guards were clearly stronger than the other armies and quickly made self-adjustments.

The other three armies were much worse.

Isaac, accompanied by several senior generals, patrolled among the soldiers.

From time to time he would sit down on the ground and ask the soldiers for food.

"Hakan! It's you! Bring me that bowl of soup!"

"Your Highness, do you remember me?"

Hakan, who was called, was a little surprised and handed the bowl of soup to Isaac.

"Of course... our Purple Guards' sharpshooters..."

Isaac swallowed the soup, which was heavily salted, and threw the bowl away.

"Eat more! Only when you are full will you have strength!"

Isaac patted Hakan on the shoulder and saw the short bow behind Hakan.

"Come here! Bring me my strong bow and give it to this warrior!"

The servant beside him took off the strong bow and handed it to Hakan.

Hakan did not refuse. He drew the bow to its full length, then slowly lowered it, veins bulging on his arms.

It is indeed a good bow.

Isaac gave a few more words of encouragement and left with the officers.

The surrounding soldiers were left looking enviously at the strong bow with the Palaiologos emblem in Hakan's hand.

Isaac and Maruna walked with big strides, talking and laughing loudly. The content of their conversation was simple and attracted the attention of the soldiers along the way.

Mikhail behind him frowned.

Isaac would stop from time to time, call out the names of soldiers who had performed meritorious services on the battlefield, and give them swords or armor.

"Your name is Aiolos, right? Today I saw you behead an Ottoman captain. This sword is for you!"

"Leon! Look here! You've been hit the most by the swords today. Squire! Bring me my armor!"

Gradually, the soldiers became more active from the initially dull atmosphere and interacted actively with their Highness.

Isaac's strategies were different in different legions.

In the Guards, Isaac emphasized defending the country and aroused the patriotism of the Greek soldiers.

When it comes to the Purple Guards, Isaac emphasizes his personal charm, implicitly treating them as his own private army and expressing his preference for them.

As for the Oak Corps, which was mostly composed of Frenchmen, Isaac joked with everyone in French to build closer ties.

The Black Corps was on duty and did not go.

After turning around, Isaac was exhausted.

However, as he watched the military camp becoming increasingly bustling, Isaac felt that it was all worth it.

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that this was a political show, and the soldiers probably knew it too.

But they just buy into it.

Because it means that in the eyes of the coach, the soldiers are important and he is willing to humble himself to get close to them.

When the imperial authority was in tatters, Isaac could only ensure the cohesion of the army in this way.

Back at the main camp, Isaac fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, the Ottoman tactics remained unchanged and the troops were withdrawn at noon.

Just when Isaac and others were feeling puzzled, a messenger from the middle section of the Great Wall arrived.

"Your Highness! Archduke Thomas is asking for help! The Ottoman army has assembled in large numbers, with many siege weapons!"

Isaac looked at Conte and others.

"You go down and rest first, we will send reinforcements."

"Your Highness! You must hurry! His Highness Thomas doesn't have many soldiers, and there is no way he can handle a large-scale offensive!"

"Don't worry, I will definitely go."

As the messenger came down, Conte immediately asked in confusion.

"Your Highness, I have seen the terrain in the middle section. There are many obstacles. If the Ottomans want to attack here by force, it will cause heavy casualties. How could they be so unwise?"

Isaac was already ordering the horses to be saddled.

"No matter what, we must be saved."

"Mikhail, you and Maruna stay here and command the defense of the western section."

"Conte, Ibrahim, follow me!"

"Herald! Rally the troops!"

"Yes!"

……

It's noon in early spring and the sun is shining brightly.

On the parade ground on the western section of the Corinthian Wall, flags were fluttering and square formations were lined up, fully armed.

The soldiers waited here, in silence.

Suddenly, a young man riding a tall horse came from a distance.

The knights and horses were all wearing purple coats and shiny armor underneath.

A cloak covered his body, fluttering in the wind.

He looked at the soldiers, and wherever his eyes swept, the soldiers straightened their chests. He walked from west to east, and the westernmost guards were the first to hit the ground with their spear handles and shouted loudly.

"Wan Sheng!"

First came the First Legion of the Guards, then the Purple Guards, the Oak Legion, and finally even the Black Legion's mercenary brigade were infected and shouted "Victory!"

Isaac walked to the center of the parade ground, drew his sword, and raised it high above his head.

"Wan Sheng!"

The soldiers yelled.

Isaac nodded and glanced at the various legions.

"We will rescue our friendly forces. If you are willing to follow me, follow me!"

Isaac yelled.

There is no need for fancy speeches on the battlefield.

"I'll follow!"

Ibrahim rode out and stood with Isaac.

"I am willing!"

Mehmet rushed out of the legion.

"I am willing to follow Your Highness!"

Conti and the remaining French knights shouted and marched out.

Then, one soldier after another came forward and stood beside Isaac.

"We have enough people! Three hundred cavalrymen will follow me as the vanguard, and Ibrahim will lead the 800 infantrymen!"

"Just bring enough food for a week, no heavy weapons!"

"set off!"

The young prince took the lead and rode eastward.

……

Central Corinth, the command post of Archduke Thomas.

"Sir, the Ottoman catapults and artillery are too powerful! Our soldiers can't even raise their heads!"

Archduke Thomas looked at the situation on the Great Wall in the distance and felt very anxious.

The middle section of the Great Wall was the most stable, and was equipped with a lot of cannons and muskets. He also specially adopted the advice of his good nephew Isaac and built many anti-bombing facilities.

But his own army was too small. Among the more than 1200 troops, most of them were peasants recruited by Thomas from his own fiefdom. They were fine at ordinary times, but when they were frightened by the cannons, they hid inside the wall and began to pray to God.

"Have all the people who asked for help set out?"

Thomas asked the adjutant beside him.

"We have been on the road for a long time. I'm sure the reinforcements of His Highness Constantine and His Highness Isaac are on the way. We just need to hold on a little longer!"

Nevertheless, the situation on the battlefield was deteriorating rapidly, and some peasant soldiers had already begun to flee. The Ottoman soldiers took the opportunity to set up ladders, and some of them had already climbed onto the city wall.

Thomas gritted his teeth.

"Put on my armor! I'll take my guards and drive them away!"

But it was too late. The Ottoman squad had already occupied the advantageous terrain. Thomas's guards forced them to the edge of the city wall, but were still unable to completely drive them off the wall.

"The assault vehicle is coming!"

A sharp-eyed soldier shouted.

An Ottoman battering ram took advantage of this opportunity, broke through the artillery and Greek fire defenses, and crashed into a city gate.

thump -- thump -- thump --

Thomas on the city wall felt the vibration and immediately cried out that something was wrong.

I no longer have any reserve team.

If the battering ram broke through the city gate, he would definitely not have the strength to block the gate again.

He wanted to turn back to rescue, but was entangled by the Ottoman team in front of him.

Thomas cut off the head of an Ottoman soldier with one sword, but his eyes were full of joy before he died, as if he was mocking the incompetence of the Greeks.

bump--

The successive attacks completely destroyed the city gate. The Ottomans cheered, while the Eastern Roman side was shrouded in gloom.

The peasant soldiers blocking the door were chopped down by the Ottomans in a few strokes and retreated crying.

More Ottomans began to enter.

Suddenly, the battlefield began to shake, with the sound of hooves of war horses.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

The purple-clothed young man in the lead shouted.

The fleeing soldiers around him all fled.

"Soldiers! It's time to make achievements!"

"charge!"

Isaac rode up to a high ground, leaving the battlefield to Conti.

He would never do something as stupid as Władysław III.

The knights led by Conte charged forward on horseback, breaking through the Ottomans' hastily organized defense like a wedge.

Three hundred cavalrymen charged into the enemy camp, hacking and killing indiscriminately.

In order to pursue flexibility, the Ottoman vanguard did not wear armor and became human sandbags.

"Go and block the city gate!"

Isaac yelled at the remaining farm soldiers.

Inspired by friendly forces, the peasant soldiers also turned back, carrying stones and sandbags to block the city entrance.

Thomas also summoned up his remaining courage and finally defeated the Ottoman squad, which was fighting desperately.

The last stone was pushed into the gap and everyone cheered.

Then, Isaac's infantry and Constantine's reinforcements arrived one after another.

When Osman saw the reinforcements arrive, he knew that there was no hope of taking the city and slowly withdrew from the battlefield.

Thomas walked down the wall and punched Isaac hard.

"Good boy, if you hadn't arrived in time this time, I'm afraid your succession order would have moved forward one place, hahahaha..."

General Jan Yaroslav, sent by Constantine, also stepped forward and saluted.

This Yaroslav came from the Ruthenian Plain. He was originally the leader of a Ruthenian tribe and served Constantine as a mercenary.

"Yaroslav, why are you here? Isn't there any war in Constantine?"

Thomas was a little confused.

"Not yet, my lord."

Yaroslav analyzed.

"Thanks to His Highness Isaac for defeating the Ottoman transport fleet, we believe the Ottomans do not have enough military supplies to launch attacks in several directions at the same time."

Isaac's heart was filled with alarm.

The Ottomans were not the delicate Italians. Even without sufficient military supplies, they were still able to launch a desperate attack.

After all, that's what their ancestors did, fighting their way from East Asia, surrounded by powerful enemies, all the way to Anatolia.

"What should we do if the Osmans are reckless, kill their horses for food, abandon their weapons, and insist on charging?"

"How can the village militia resist the Ottoman attack?"

Knight Conte obviously thought of this as well.

After this speech, no one answered.

They looked at each other and saw deep worry in each other's eyes.

That night, news came from the east that the Ottomans took advantage of the darkness to attack the city walls.

The three Janissary legions abandoned their muskets, held scimitars in their mouths, and took turns attacking the city.

At night, the firearms of both sides became ineffective and the defenders were caught in a bitter battle in hand-to-hand combat.

Constantine personally took to the battlefield to boost morale.

The messenger soldiers arrived and requested to return to defend.

Isaac looked at the dark night and sighed.

War rages on.

(End of this chapter)