Eagle Byzantium

"Here, you can almost overlook the entire interior of Marash Castle." Under the True Cross and the Red Hand, Gawain held the reins and looked at the Marash Castle surrounded by ocher yellow stone walls on the dark gray hillside, and said to Many preparatory generals of St. Michael's College who followed him on the expedition pointed out, "Look, now All my armies are divided into three groups, namely General Branas's, Grand Count Melo's, and Old General Walter's, which respectively occupy the fortress and the Feramis River Navigation, Lavodela. Fort and Tubesena Fort, this is equivalent to surrounding the only remaining core stronghold of Feier on three sides. "

"In this case, in addition to building a tight blockade, the siege artillery must be transported as soon as possible." Several reserve generals responded.

"Yes, using the water transport of the Philamis River, in addition to directly building a bronze stove here, and casting additional fixed siege guns on site, this is also a successful experience in the Battle of Philomelon. Order all stonemasons to hurry up, Grind and reserve projectiles." Gao Wen breathed a sigh of relief and turned his horse. The whip was inserted back into his belt, and he ordered the Turkic army servants beside him, and then he asked the reserve generals around him, "You guys talk about it, the forces of Danish Mond, Aleppo and Samosata are about to Will they join the battle group, will they desperately reinforce Marash? How should they deal with it?"

A young academy reserve general raised his hand in salute, "General Walter's border troops have built a stronghold on the main road under Tubersena Castle to resist enemies coming from the direction of Greater Armenia and Samosata. Reinforcements; it is most necessary now What we need to pay attention to is the assistance from the Aleppo Turk princes in the Azaze Corridor. The Feramis River has a long tributary in the south. We should make full use of our shipping capabilities to build a defense line there to block Mara. Communication between Shi and Azaze.”

"Do you want to use the power of the Red Hand Brigade?" Gawain nodded.

"If that's the case, the troops besieging the city will not be able to hold the city tightly. I think it's time to mobilize the Gimakis Brigade." Another reserve general who was promoted from a veteran raised his head and looked at the chief guarantor and suggested. .

"It's okay to mobilize the Gimmegis Brigade, but what if Theodoro from the north takes advantage of the opportunity and dispatches from Amasya City to threaten our Caesarea or Angras? The military strength is somewhat stretched." Gao Wen said slightly. Lying on the saddle, he hesitated about the question, "Should we draw Afillon's Philomelon brigade over?"

Everyone present was silent. It was not impossible to continuously draw Western military power to supplement the siege of Marash, but if John and Theodoro launched a massive counterattack after the emptiness, the entire Western Front would be in a huge passive position.

Gawain also understands your concerns. Now the situation in Asia Minor and the Levant has once again fallen into a huge whirlpool after Baldwin ascended the throne. He has already deduced it many times before going on the expedition. "What I am most worried about is that if... new brigade After the regiment came to the east, John and Titicius joined Theodorus's army and attacked directly from Prusa to Doli Laem. Following the old path of the first eastern expedition, they marched directly through the plateau to Afillon, Philomelon, and I only have The newly formed border army would be unable to withstand the counterattacking imperial army; and if Afillon fell, the other new brigade 'Hierapolis' sent to reinforce the Brenus couple would be left alone. The sea and land routes will be cut off. Most of them are new soldiers, and their loyalty and combat skills are not very reliable. I am afraid that I will surrender in despair together with the Brenus couple. In that case, the richest area in Asia Minor will fall into John's hands. But that’s bad.”

"What if, according to what you just said, the imperial army does not advance eastward from the plateau, but moves southward from Paphlagonia and Amasya, targeting Fort Angras?" The Turkic servant thought that the enemy might There is more than one attack route.

"In that case, I don't have to worry..." Gawain said a very incredible answer, and then he straightened up and regained his confidence and determination, "No matter what, Marash must be the first. It was captured, and I tried my best to bring it down. , and then use it as the entry and exit hub to attack the Greater Armenia, Erzurum and Trabzon areas. After completely pacifying the eastern front, I can obtain sufficient soldiers and horses, and then sweep across the western front unstoppably. , conquering the great imperial capital Constantinople.”

Within the next three days, the original four border fortresses were transformed into solid and powerful bridgeheads, and also became logistics stations supporting the entire front line. The Army Academy coordinated everything, using various cities and towns between Tarsus and Adana. The inn station continuously delivers grain, hay, wine, medicine, wood, Khitan snow and other materials from Tarsus County, Sisi County, Seleucia County and several large and small frontier areas to this place via rivers and land routes for storage. stand up.

Several temporary workshops for manufacturing muskets and cannons were also built along the banks of the Feramis River. Boats of all sizes were constantly flowing on the river, transporting copper and iron into them. The entire Maras Fort garrison soldiers could see them day and night. Forging fireworks.

After the Jimmagis Brigade arrived, they took over the Red Hand Brigade's siege position north of Marashburg. Then the Red Hand Brigade rushed to the north bank of the southern branch of the Feramis River and began to build a new camp using wood and nails brought upstream by boats. All the soldiers were enthusiastic and tireless.

In the Sultan's Palace in Aleppo, Ridwan, who was holding a letter for help, was also in a state of confusion: Should he go north to rescue Fer, or go south to help Tancred? Because wars affecting the future broke out in both places.

The Grand Vizier Daura and the General Mabolo advocated going south to help Tancred. "The Ani in Marashili are too weak, but Tancred has the entire rich and powerful Antioch. The former is already weak." It’s to the point where it’s useless to help or not, and once the latter gets our help and defeats Baldwin and Bohemond, they will naturally be able to defeat Gawain by joining forces with them in the future.”

But the mercenary general Estu Jiangmo Bolduka of Muya Castle disagreed, “Marash is the thoroughfare to and from Syria, Mosul and Greater Armenia. Once it falls into the hands of Gawain, it will We are causing endless harm to Tancred and the Kingdom of Jerusalem on the southern front. King Baldwin's strength is not much different, and Antioch is a huge city and fortress. With or without our help, there will be no victory in the short term. It is better to save Marash first. Once Gawain is trapped by us, the city of Rome will naturally follow. The Holy See and the new emperor in Constantinople were holding him back."

After all, Esdu is just a foreign mercenary. Of course, Ridvan Tutusi still trusts his vizier the most. What's more, Tancred also offered the most generous reward conditions, "As long as you help me repel Bohemond and Baldwin's perverse behavior, I agree to give you 40,000 gold coins."

In that case, what if Gawain captures Marash? Ridwan thought so.