Eagle Byzantium

At this time, the offensive and defensive battle at the mountain pass castle reached a fever pitch. The German pilgrims did not do any city defense work at all the night after capturing it. Armenian mercenaries pushed shield carts with copper hammers and Go up, without any obstacles, and soon approach the east gate of the castle (the gate here is smaller and weaker).

Therefore, many people who were unwilling to surrender could only brave the rain of arrows, hold up spears and axes, block the city gate and form a dense square formation, fighting against the Armenians who tried to break in. This fighting method was quite counterproductive. After several fierce battles, the Armenians couldn't stand it anymore. They pulled the shield cart and scattered back.

Then Pak'ad raised the battle flag given to him by the Sultan. After receiving the order, the Roma soldiers in the front group began to advance about half a stone's throw away, while the rear group continued to fire intensively at the city head without stopping. Anyone who interferes with their operations.

Soon, deadly arrow clusters made of fine iron and bone were shot out from the hands of the approaching Roma soldiers. The German pilgrims in front of the city gate suffered a tragic death blow, and a large piece of them fell. , but the spears in their hands were useless. The survivors lost the courage to counterattack or resist, opened the city gate, and fled into the castle one after another.

In this way, the Armenians belonging to the Sultan once again gathered in front of the city gate, poured kerosene on them, and burned the city gate.

"Put out the fire, put out the fire!" In a row of dark holes on the city gate, sand and water prepared in advance continued to pour down, extinguishing the flames.

But the Armenian mercenaries, who were obviously very experienced in sieges, came up again. Under the cover of shields and their own arrows, they dug a trench around the city gate, and then poured fierce fire oil into it. Then he piled all the shield carts and battering rams on top and lit a fire.

At this time, the sand pouring down from the dark hole could no longer contain the fire. The flames quickly rolled up along the exploding wooden shield cart and other equipment, forming a huge torch and engulfing the city gate.

Fire and smoke. They poured into the castle upside down. The remaining pilgrims guarding here could no longer bear this horrific and suffocating killing. They opened the gate on the west side and abandoned the castle, as well as all the women and children who could not move. , fled down the mountain.

"Boom!" The Sudanese army held up the big tree. After the fire was a little smaller and the city gate had been burned down, it was "finished" cleanly and completely. The remains of the flaming wooden door collapsed and shattered. Then Rohm's soldiers howled and pulled out the bent door. knife. Rushing in with fire. The injured pilgrim woman who was left behind did not want to be humiliated, so she threw herself into the deep well and committed suicide with a shrill scream. There were more and more corpses, so much so that the well was filled, and the rest had no way to commit suicide. They were pulled out from various hiding places by Roma soldiers, and the bearded men and wounded soldiers were beheaded. head, after the woman suffered unspeakable insults. Still unable to escape the fate of being brutally killed, murdered corpses were lying everywhere, and eventually the younger and more beautiful pilgrim men and women collapsed. They begged and expressed their willingness to give up their faith. They were willing to be the slaves of the Turks who vented their lust, and survived under the knife blade - about 200 men and women, the men were all beardless teenagers, being led with ropes by Roma soldiers, crying. , sent to the camp of Konya Sultan in the rear.

"Pakade, you have finally lived up to your expectations. Now I will return this castle to you!" In the camp, Giliki Arslan, who was sitting in the center, looked majestic. "Now I have fifteen thousand people." Incomparably powerful army, Master Maimon, you will arrange it. How are we going to annihilate this group of undisciplined bandits?"

The situation between the two sides has reached such a point that even Ibn Maimun, who originally held a cautious mind, could not contain the outpouring of anger. However, out of the idea of ​​being responsible for the country, he still begged the Sultan, "Great Nicaea. O Lord of the Capital of Konya, Protector of the Faithful on Earth, Most High and Great Su Dan, please put aside the thoughts that can burn the entire land and sea, and let the horse reins and scimitars of the believer warriors stop for the time being. Don't fall into the trick of the Greek emperor. If you really slaughter this group of unorganized pilgrims, , What is truly terrifying are the Frankish and Norman nobles who followed to avenge this group of people.”

But the vizier's words were completely suppressed by the angry rebuke of the group of generals and warriors under the Sultan's tent. Everyone had to break into the pilgrim camp and kill them all and take them captive in order to eliminate their resentment, " My family is short of slaves to call upon recently,” many people shouted.

"Provoke them, lure them out of the camp, and eliminate this group of ants and hybrids in the field in front of the canyon. No matter how many there are, the outcome will be the same." In the end, the Sultan ignored the vizier and instead talked with all the owners. The war faction issued this majestic and cruel order together.

On the other side of the mountain pass, in the pilgrim camp, I saw that the fortress above it was captured by Suleman in less than half a day. The miserable wounded were carrying fire from inside, with terrible After the arrows escaped and all the women and children who stayed inside were massacred by the Turks, people were horrified and angry. This kind of irrationality in despair is absolutely fatal.

Relying on the large number of people, Forcher and Reinold asked all the people to come out of the camp to form a decisive battle with the army of the pagan Sultan of Konya.

But Walter, who rode here on horseback, firmly disagreed: We were completely betrayed by the Greek emperor. He withdrew the ships just to send us to death, and asked Suleman to destroy us and let the other party and all pilgrims If people make grudges, the emperor will take advantage of them.

The result was another fierce and meaningless quarrel. Under Walter's desperate insistence, the two leaders reluctantly agreed to stay in the camp here for a day to wait for reinforcements from the emperor or other pilgrims: but if no one shows up tomorrow , they can act freely according to their own wishes or those of most people, and are no longer subject to the control of Walter, the chief flag officer.

The setting sun was setting, and the remaining smoke in the castle was still tracing a lonely track. I immediately stood at the foot of the mountain, listening to the sound of horse hooves and footsteps everywhere in the valley opposite (Surreman, the commander of Konya Sultan's troops) (the sound of the sound), Walter, who immediately felt melancholy, felt extremely angry, "I hope Dorus Lambert can really call for reinforcements in time, anyone is good, as long as there is someone who can hold back the irrational military morale like a mad cow." .....”

In front of the city gate of Nicomedia Fortress, Dorus took off his heavy armor, revealing his pilgrim attire, and begged the defenders in the fortress to come to rescue the pilgrims in trouble. Most of them were The common people were completely defenseless against the arrows of the pagan sultan.

"Tomorrow is Christmas, and it is also the big day for His Majesty's daughter, Princess Anna. Now all the teams are abiding by the arrangements and are on vacation waiting for rewards. We will not be able to comply with your strange request." On the tower. This is what the commander of the garrison count said to Dorus.

Dorus felt seriously that continuing would be a waste of precious time, so he silently mounted his horse again, bypassed the fortress, and ran towards the coast.

What made him ecstatic was that under the setting sun on the seaside, he saw a brand new camp, there was smoke, and a large number of ships were approaching, it was the new army of pilgrims! Dorus then rode down the horse and galloped down, and soon appeared in front of Bohemond.

"All the soldiers have just landed on the coast and are not able to assist you yet. It is better to wait until everyone gathers in a few days to discuss it." But the words of the red-haired Norman leader were the same as his eyes. Cold and hypocritical.

This is because they don’t want to help at all!

"Time is urgent. Your Excellency, the Duke, is temporarily gathering people here. At the same time, I hope to provide you with a small boat to cross the strait at night and go to find all the lords who are willing." Dorus is a smart young man, and he did not cooperate with me. Bohemond resisted and made the request instead.

It seemed that Bohemond could not refuse, "Give the young noble's youngest son fifty silver coins and a ship to send him to Constantinople."

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Soon, Dorus, who was lying on the deck wrapped in a blanket, clearly felt that on the side of the strait near Europa, the cold sea wind was slashing at his face like a sword, and the chaotic whirlpool made the experienced veteran feel... The helmsman who arrived was also trembling with fear. His eyes looked at the huge city of Constantinople, which was like a white mountain range in a black sky, dotted with the eternal fire of the great lighthouse.

Soon, snowflakes also fell on his face, "It's still snowing here!"

In the city, the bells of the newly completed Holy Apostles Cathedral rang, as if they were intending to compete with the Holy Wisdom Cathedral in the old city, full of joy and pride. In the extremely gorgeous main hall, countless eunuchs and maids were carefully setting up the wedding table. Under the bright silver candlelight, symbolizing the sacred bread and salt, they were placed separately on gold-inlaid plates, full of precious stones. The wine glasses are separated among them, and the gold is so brilliant that it is difficult to describe.

This is all prepared for the wedding of the eldest princess. At midnight, Brenus, who is in the camp outside the city, will enter the city and come to the Cathedral of the Holy Apostles. He will hold hands with Anna and stand in front of the Patriarch. They made a vow, shared the food on the golden plate, and received the blessings of all their subjects to officially become husband and wife.

In Brachna's palace, Anna sat on a lonely chair. The maids sent by her father Alexios set up mirrors around her and dressed her carefully. Anna was A new serrated crown made of gold and a pendant made of white porcelain The beads covered her eyebrows on both sides, and the dress embroidered with circular icons covered her breasts. "Even if my mother doesn't want to see me, I still hope to clear up some things before getting married. Tell her clearly." This is Anna's only request now. (To be continued ~^~)