Chapter 11: First system city (Part 2)

As we see the oarsmen slaving away and going full steam, the ships move forward quickly. This is thanks not only to my oarsmen's hard work but also my skills, The speed is still boosted by the system leading the ships toward the docks at least 60% faster.

I sometimes still find myself underestimating such a cheat, we will always have a 60% speed bonus leading to an advantage over any enemies we may encounter... When I could see the faces of the citizens panicking on the docks and the small portside market, I got a notification from the system that made me smile because this is one more small advantage.

<Notice: Attacking Walls +2 (Activated) command skill is now 6 in total>

*Boom Boom Boom* Amid the roaring cannons and zipping cannonballs I attempted to scream to my men but was forced to settle for the firework command structure at this time screaming to my bodyguard unit "Send the appropriate signal all men onto land and form proper ranks as quickly as possible we make our move on the gate as planned under the cover of cannon fire GO!" After sending the signals, we slowly arrived on the land forming our ranks and getting all men into a solid formation.

By the time our horsemen were in on the land and organizing a formation our elite infantry has already sprung into action led by the Varangian guardsmen, guarding all possible ambush points to protect our slowly organizing horsemen. Once in formation, a small group of 10 led by my bodyguard captain has begun galloping toward the enemy's gate which is truly in a dis repairable state, leading me to have more confidence in the black powder bomb blowing the gate to nothingness.

Then I said to the troops during a small moment of silence "What's to worry you, men? When courage and manliness were handed out by God's angels...our foes were last in line! Lord preserves us! I do believe the Romans do no service to the land of Macedonia.

Rarely have I smelt such a rank odor. Surely such a nation of traders would be able to afford fresh linens! These Romans provoke a wrath in me that I cannot contain! From crown to soles a Roman is an abomination. His taste in whores alone is enough to make a man wretch! I am glad that such creatures are our enemies so that business and pleasure can now mix."

I decided to heckle our enemies to boost our morale and confidence leading to the cheering of my men! *Yaaah! Yeah!* Then slowly being drowned out by the cannons again. Soon everyone's focus was drawn to the men now placing the bomb down at the gate.

Three men were focused on placing the bomb while the rest were guarding against pieces of wall and random arrows shot by some brave men on the walls attempting to put a stop to whatever these men were doing. After setting the bomb they mounted their horses and rode as swiftly as possible back to the formation... *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

After the bomb went off, I could not see anything mostly smoke and debris. This new bomb is stronger than even I suspected, the university and alchemist guild collaborated to create this smaller and lighter version of the gate buster bomb. This new bomb is somehow able to allow more black powder to be compacted into a smaller metal casing.

But this explosion I am sure damaged the walls, but we will see soon because I cannot lose our momentum after an explosion like that we can rush through the smoke and crush all our enemy's spirits easily! I gave the order to send the firework to signal the ships to stop bombarding the walls.

Then I screamed "All horsemen at the front we charge through the opening and rush into the city killing anyone holding a weapon spare no combatants and do not kill anyone with green headbands they are our insiders. NOW MY MEN WE CHARGE!" Then I signaled my horse, and we led the charge forward.

After a brief run, I was already rushing through the smoke screen followed by guards, we saw our first combatants forming a spear line but too little too late my armored horse trampled at least two men in the front and my lance splattered a man's insides.

They couldn't even form up properly before being smashed so they attempted to fight in vain and were scattered and slaughtered fairly quickly. But soon we were under direct fire by the bowmen and deadly crossbowmen still on the wall... *Spink Spink Spink* Missile after a missile was bounced off our metal shields, Some Sapahi's bowmen lost their mounts and hid behind their shields waiting for the infantry...

While the rest of the sipahis began to return fire to these lightly armored skirmishers with some success, most of them just hid behind the various defenses on the walls. I then led the horsemen to continue into the city with the sipahis in tow laying down various scattered defenders along the streets trying to make my way to the battlefield near the main gate.

Over 45 minutes later we are arriving near the main gate and to my surprise, there is no battle there are a few tied-up defenders who look to be skeleton crews used to guard the main gate we faced more defenders at the port gate than here...

I asked my spy who is on the scene leading the locals to capture this gate and he gave me the information he has received that the governor/commander has positioned the majority of the troops on the wall surrounding the palace and had bunkered down there, abandoning the city and moving to the final bastion of defense without even a fight this is a strange strategy.

I commanded my troops to notify the infantry near the port gate to leave a few men to garrison the gate and everyone else form up with my group to lead the final attack on the defenders. This battle could get tricky or could last awhile if this governor and his troops are willing to fight to the last man, figure these 600 men guarding a small section of wall can continue to change out their men so they don't get tired or move the injured to be treated as they don't need many men to guard against our attack... Well, if we did not have cannons and the walls around the palace shouldn't be made to withstand artillery or gate bombs!

After sending the messengers to my infantry I brought the tribesmen into the city to guard our backs, garrison the city, and keep the city under martial law not allowing any dissidents whilst we are dealing with the governor's palace. Then I decided to order a special weapon we have yet to use in actual battle just yet as I planned to use it as a defensive weapon, but this is a perfect opportunity to test its ability in battle. So, I called for another messenger and said "gather some men a bring the hwacha to the palace, it is perfect for a situation such as this."

Inside the palace, the captains of the defense garrison are speaking with the governor in the throne room of the palace one captain stepped forward and said "My lord we have told you the regent can't send us reinforcements.

He is for one a few days march away and also trapped in Constantinople they have no way to travel through Thrace with an army without fighting their way through a horde of Turks, he may even be attacked by the former regent it is just no hope of getting reinforcements we either win the battle, fight to the death, or surrender these are our only options... Holding out is not an option!"

These captains have been saying this since the Turks were first spotted taking fortresses and moving continuously toward the city. This Governor just didn't care to listen to the council, alienating and exasperating his army's leaders. There is a high chance these men either mutiny or surrender their governor for securing rights for themselves from the enemy they face.

Another captain stepped forward with a frown on his face and said in a solemn voice "Lord governor there is a chance we can at least make it back to Constantinople, I am no coward but I am no idiot who sacrifices himself in a situation with no good ending. Even if we all fight to the death what do our families gain, even what does the country gain they just lose 600 troops and one of their main cities! If we surrender we can at least live to fight another day or secure certain rights for the Romans living in the city!"

The governor just put his hands to his brow looking very frustrated and has been like this every time the captains bring forward any suggestion, he is indecisive and also attempting to salvage a situation where there is absolutely no hope...

He stood up from the throne and said "Call all men to the walls we will defend as long as we can no turning back we must fight or we will die!" After saying this he just walked out of the throne room toward the balcony to watch the situation down on the walls and the attackers arriving and forming up...

It took us a few hours to bring the cannons and hwacha to the palace near the middle of the city. After everything was properly set up I gave the order for all men with a bow to launch our special exploding arrow at the enemies within the walls just make sure that arrow falls either on the wall or behind it to cause maximum damage with these explosions.

After they all stepped up and lit their arrows then let the volley fly toward the walls *think thoink* you could hear the releasing of hundreds of bowstrings at once very disciplined volley fire, causing the enemies on the wall to raise their shields if they had one or shrink behind the battlements.

A few seconds later a series of small explosions were heard from the battlements and within the walls... Followed by many screams from the men inside the palace walls. This attack is pretty scary even if the arrow doesn't hit you, you will still take some damage eventually there is no running from something you don't expect to hurt you.

The next step was the hwacha whilst the men on the walls scramble around like ants when you pour water on their colony. When I decided to bring the Hwacha I brought along a few skilled men who were capable of loading and aiming these odd war machines, and this they did very well they had the hwacha ready to fire within a few breaths.

There are four hwachas here, but these are a little different from the smaller ones firing only 100-200 arrows these hwachas are firing 600 custom arrows that are made to wreak havoc amongst enemies hiding behind a wall. well, now that this has been explained we can now see the men lighting the fuse strip and watch it light up and spark...

Then you hear what can only be described as tiny missiles launching into the air *Swoof Swoof Swoof Swoof*! The accuracy is decent the arrows will tend to group up in small areas so the unlucky men in these areas are currently being pelted with hundreds of arrows and are probably not living anymore.

After 3 rounds of the Hwachas launching their arrows, we moved the cannons into place and aimed them toward the gate of the palace, and readied them to fire... But as they were about to be lit, we see the palace gates opening, and several men dressed in golden armor and riding horses walk out from this palace gate. One of these golden armored men had a lavishly dressed man prisoner next to him on a separate horse, this group continued to walk toward us holding something like a white flag. soon the men arrived near enough to my location that my sipahi archers stopped them with bows drawn saying "Stop right there state your identities and your purpose in leaving the fortress."

These men dismounted their horses and gave a slight bow in my direction then one of these men stepped forward and said " We are the captains of the men guarding this city, this man here in our custody is the governor of the city Heraclius Cantacuzene. We want to surrender, we have taken enough damage and wish to surrender ourselves to the lord here"

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