Eagle Byzantium

"Congratulations, General, the enemy has retreated." Many soldiers gathered around.

But Diogenes slowly knelt down and hung his head feebly. The soldiers then heard his sobs, where he kept saying "not to retreat, not to retreat... but to rush to meet the emperor." Your Majesty has fought... Gawain's cruel minions will harm your Majesty's throne... and Angras will be finished."

In fact, in the middle of the night two days before the capture officer said these words, the soldiers from the Guardian Brigade and the Caesarea Grand Frontier District had already withdrawn from the camp and were speeding towards the Philomelon area along the Iconium Trade Road. And go.

The Guardian Brigade has been on a forced march during this period. They first went from Angras to the north of Philomelon, successfully attracted the emperor's attention, and mobilized the emperor's 8,000 soldiers and the auxiliary camp of General Matthew, the commander of the orphan archers. After that, he returned to the original route and rode back to the city of Angrasburg - now he had to rush from the trade road to Philomelon, which was equivalent to a large inverted "U" shaped route.

In this era, such maneuvers are rare.

"All the border troops and Nikitas gang members will go south along the trade route with General Branas, meet up with the great patron, and fight the imperial army in a decisive battle. Don't fall behind!"

This was also Gawain's prior deployment, "Come to me from the inside and join the decisive battle sequence. Both Walter Sanzabal and Monomachus Sklerru must unconditionally obey the supreme command of General Branas." ”

Four thousand soldiers of the Guard Brigade, 700 Nikitas, 3,000 frontier troops in Cappadocia and Caesarea, and 500 frontier cavalry in the small frontier area of ​​the Cilicia Gate: a total of More than 8,000 cavalrymen marched like the wind along the so-called "inner line", that is, the Iconium Trade Road.

Branas wore a helmet and drove his horse to the front of the team. His horse was covered with exquisite cloth armor, a gold and silver bridle, and carried a golden-hilted general sword. He was waving his sword constantly and walked lightly on the road. The soldiers shouted, "The golden tangerine flag protects us, Caesar Tarsus protects us, fight for the beautiful Shahnameh, go on, go on, soldiers, we must go all the way Only by traveling can we catch up with the decisive battle that will last forever.”

Before the battle, the general mentioned Shahnameh in his prayers and expressed his willingness to be a true warrior and fight for her honor to the end against his enemies, even enemies who were also Orthodox Christians.

The soldiers of the brigade and the border army first wore armor and carried weapons, and walked fifty kilometers south of Angrasburg. After arriving on the trade road leading to Iconium, they began to put on armor, helmets, infantry spears, and various other weapons. The spears, crossbows, etc. were placed in the carriages of the baggage wagons, and then they were all lightly equipped and lined up in columns, sandwiching the vehicles pulled by the pack horses, and ran towards the south day and night. After driving for an hour and a half (three hours), they rested for a quarter of an hour (half an hour). Many soldiers were so exhausted that they fell asleep on the roadside, and were beaten with wooden sticks and whips by sergeants or centurions. After waking up, he was forcibly handed a drink, "Drink and you will feel better. Keep running."

It was already the morning of the next day when I saw the pale Cappadocia Great Salt Lake and grassland wilderness. Many soldiers were swaying in the queue, pulling on the hooks on the cloaks of the people in front, or the tails of war horses and pack horses. , the head is full of steaming sweat and the smell of alcohol, lingering, walking when I wake up, and walking when I fall asleep...

But even so, the 8,000 soldiers were still walking non-stop. Boots, vehicles, pack horses, and supplies had all been arranged perfectly and adequately by the great Earl Mero. This was also the prerequisite for completing such a terrifying mobile march. In the end, even the generals Branas, Walter and Monomachus were "sticking" to the saddle like the Huns. When they were tired, they would lie down and sleep, and when they woke up, they would command the troops to move forward.

The Iconium Trade Road was something that Gawain had previously spent a lot of effort to prepare. It is as wide and smooth as an ancient Roman military road, with a so-called "track road" in the middle. This road is only found here and in the mining area of ​​Sis County. , specially designed for large cargo vehicles to travel much faster than on ordinary dirt roads. As for the two sides, they are of course side paths for people to walk on. Next to the road, at regular intervals, there are "post stations" for caravans to stay. Post riders and Brotherhood officers have made arrangements here. Even the hermit Peter has mobilized many farmers and followers to help. Providing wheat cakes, water, cheese, horseshoes and other urgently needed supplies to the marching soldiers and horses. At night, all the inns were lit with torches, one after another, winding towards the south to provide direction for the entire team.

In the end, on average, Branas's troops marched almost fifteen to seventeen miles per hour.

This was created by the combination of Gawain's powerful deployment, the precise and diligent work of the Sixth Division and the Brotherhood, the proactive fighting spirit of the brigade and border army, and the outstanding and effective administration and infrastructure construction of the entire Tarsus Kingdom. Miracles of the Middle Ages.

Just as the Branas Brigade was about to complete the feat of the "March to Iconium", more powerful reinforcements continued to arrive on land and sea under the city of Seleucia: the "General Flag Bearer" of the County of Adana The army, including eighty warrior knights, commanded by Count Anselgibert, came to meet Andeo, the governor of Tarsus. Dart's army gathered together, with their flags connected, and their infantry and cavalry following each other, and began to officially roll towards the back of the Zahas siege camp; while on the sea, the big pirate Wenmoha and the ship commanders Andreev and Jarguba , leading the main fleets of Adana and Tarsus, also advanced to the water within sight of the Seleucia Tower.

On the mountain of the Grand Hospital, Agnes's Alamein Civilian Army and the Muttburg Civilian Army on the opposite side also successfully joined forces. A single "Fire Bear Cannon" was still set up on the top of the mountain, constantly attacking pirate fleets and land forces. Go up to the camp and launch a furious bombardment.

More and more pirates were frightened and ran away, and those who were lucky enough to board ships fled towards Rhodes Island. Many others were crowded on the beach at a loss, and some were wandering around in the reed wasteland or seaside caves, completely unaware of the dangers. There is no rules and order at all.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Navy, Asacidus, jumped on board the ship and fled to the Gulf of Atalia. He was intercepted by two vehicles and ships from Fort Alamein on the way, and almost did not save his life.

Zahas also took a boat in embarrassment, first escaping to Kyrenia, but was refused entry by Apsomates, and then fled to the Paphos area, where he was expelled by Apsomates again—— In the end, they could only escape to Rhode Island to gain a foothold, but the three thousand people they brought with them when they set sail There were less than 300 pirates who came back (a lot of them were kidnapped by Cyprus), and they even cost the lives of their son-in-law Mussetto. The former Emir of Nicaea was so angry that he cursed until he vomited blood, scolded the emperor, cursed Cyprus, curse the Imperial Fleet...

"Long live, long live!" At the gates of the entire Seleucia city, civilian soldiers jumped for joy, singing hymns and pouring in to celebrate with the city soldiers. Then the cavalry began to search for sporadic pirates hiding everywhere. Once caught, There is no forgiveness at all.

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On the tower, Anna looked at the thick smoke and screams below the city: the captured pirates who were tied to wooden frames in a row, wrapped in reeds and burned alive, quietly came towards the two men. Hertomia and Agnes, the royal ink officers, said, "Philomelon will definitely win." (To be continued~^~)