novelraw Chapter 718 24: The Storm Approaches
Chapter 718 24: The Storm Approaches
Three days of preparation for war passed in an instant.
During these three days, more reinforcements arrived at Constantinople, but none were on a large scale.
Mostly, they were spontaneously assembled civilian militias. After the Crusaders' defeat at Varna, the enthusiasm of the Catholic countries for the Crusades had completely cooled. Even if His Holiness the Pope urged them, there was no action.
The largest contingent came from the vassal Candia Kingdom of Venice (i.e., Crete Island), including a Venice fleet of three large ships.
The crew consisted of Venetians and Greeks, and the ships were loaded with the necessary materials for city defense. Although there were no land combat personnel, the three large ships were sufficient to serve as the main force in the currently weak Empire Navy.
It is worth mentioning that although the Ottoman navy is large in scale, it originated from tribal chiefdoms and appeared as upstarts compared to the highly competitive Apennine city-states.
The Latin ships that came to aid the city, along with some small warships already owned by Constantinople, though still incapable of engaging in a naval showdown with the heretics, could rely on Golden Horn Bay for defense and maneuver against the enemy effectively.
Constantinople's original militia force of four thousand was expanded to as many as ten thousand.
Adding in the arriving Latin mercenaries and the contingent contributed by the Venetian enclave, the number could reach fourteen thousand.
The remaining civilian workers could also be armed and ascend the city walls in wartime.
Losa carefully selected a unit of 250 elite soldiers, whom he retrained as the Kheshig army. Originally, he had a quota of only one hundred Kheshig soldiers, needing to add one hundred each month until reaching a full capacity of 250.
However, in the simulated battle, the passage of time during this period was somehow flattened.
The 250 soldiers were transformed, mastering exquisite mounted archery skills and donning standardized armor, virtually a new miracle, which greatly boosted the morale of Constantinople's defenders.
Even those Eastern Orthodox faithful discontent with the Emperor had to admit one thing — Rome and its Emperor still had God's favor.
The reason for God bestowing such divine favor could only be for one thing — to resist the heretics.
This is God's will!
The hearts of the majority of defeatists were reignited with courage.
Because this meant their resistance was no longer "going against heaven" but was the redemption in accordance with God's will — the Roman Empire would never perish.
Losa's Sun King template was already inspiring, and coupled with the effect of a destiny leader, the previously scattered Constantinople was quickly consolidated into a unified whole by his iron-fisted methods.
However, courage could not make up for the disparity in combat strength.
The vast territories possessed by the enemy and the military forces they could mobilize were far beyond what the war potential of Constantinople, together with the enclave district, which was less than eighty thousand, could compare.
The Candle Knight looked somewhat confused at the city, walking at the front of the procession with the Priest holding a statue of the Holy Mother: "Even if we win this siege, so what? Do you think that in the Empire's current state, it could seize the opportunity to counterattack and reclaim its lost lands?"
"Why not? Our ruthless Mahmud II has eradicated all potential successors threatening his throne. If he were to be slain in battle, his dynasty would surely fragment. At that time, it would not be impossible to support Orhan as the King of the Ottomans and devour his legacy."
Losa's face was full of confidence.
In fact, he hardly considered the aftermath of victory; as long as they could win this siege battle, the task of the simulated battle would be complete.
"Sounds like the fantasy of a novelist."
As the Candle Knight wiped the silver longsword in her hand, she once found similar stories fascinating — if Rome had not fallen, if Brandenburg and Prussia had unified Germany, if the Thirteen Colonies' war of independence had ultimately succeeded, and so on.
"Things are achieved by human effort, aren't they? Don't you enjoy poetry? The most heart-stirring verses are always spawned from storms."
Losa said with a smile, standing beside the Saint Romanus City Gate and the rushing Lex River cutting through the city.
He wore the Holy Cross Plate Armor of Maximilian, although Constantine XI also possessed a set of armor, it was clearly not as magnificent as this holy object.
The sound of the Ottomans assembling a massive army was tremendous, and were it not for Losa's strict reorganization of the troops, many would already be harboring thoughts of surrender just by watching.
The composition of their army was as complex as Saladin's army once had been; the most elite part naturally comprised the Janissaries of Mahmud II and the Sipahi cavalry akin to the feudal knights of Europe.
Besides these, there was a vast force of vassal armies from the various Anatolian states and the Fire Worship Holy War Army hailing from the East. These assorted troops constituted the majority of the Ottoman forces.
The evening breeze lifted the platinum blonde hair of the Candle Knight as she donned her deer horn hood, appearing like an elf detached from the mundane world.
"Things are achieved by human effort..."
The Candle Knight softly repeated Losa's words, once again feeling the weight of responsibility on her shoulders. But unlike before, whereas she had felt suffocated and breathless, she now truly sensed the gravity of this duty.
"Captain, Viviana von Hohenzollern will win the ultimate victory for you with the candle and sword in her hands."
Losa looked at the somber expression of the Candle Knight and nodded with a smile: "Thank you."
Singing in unison, the soldiers and the civilian workers carried stones and timber up the city walls.
Not only the walls needed repair, but many towers and the arsenal on the city walls were also in disrepair, filled with cobwebs, with birds nesting in many places, and in some desolate spots, gnawed skeletons were scattered, taken from who knows which year's citizens by the demons inhabiting the place.
The weakest point of the walls was the middle section between the Saint Romanus Gate and the Charisius Gate because the Lex River passed through here, running through Constantinople's city walls and into the city center.
Due to its location in the valley, the terrain at this section of the walls is lower, and the artillery positioned across the moat can easily attack the towers and the inner walls.
Surely, any spies who defected to the Ottomans knew this, which means that the middle section of the wall would be the most fiercely fought point, with the Emperor personally leading the Varangian Guard and the Kheshig army to defend it.
Moreover, there was the northeastern section of the walls bordering on Golden Horn Bay and the Brahna Palace, where the seaside walls were similarly vulnerable. This area was personally defended by the leader of the Genoese mercenaries, Giovanni Giustiniani, with eight hundred elite mercenaries.
Losa had divided the entire city wall into twelve military districts, each with five hundred to one thousand troops stationed. The northern four districts were overseen by Giustiniani, the central four by Losa himself, and the southern four were handed over entirely to Orhan, who had been transformed into a Dragon Blood affiliate.
In addition, there are two thousand mobile troops remaining, all well-equipped and elite, ready to be deployed into the battle when it reaches a critical moment.
Losa is very confident about the frontline battlefield.
Only behind Constantinople, facing the naval forces of the enemies coming from Golden Horn Bay, although there are iron chains across the river and our navy's defense, it should be enough to repel the enemy's navy.
But across the river, the Galata District is controlled by the Genoese.
Although there are Genoese in the current garrison, it does not mean that the Galata garrison will stand on Constantinople's side. If Mahmud II applies pressure or offers higher stakes, they may very likely
Historically, the Ottomans reached a secret agreement with the Genoese in the Galata area, using the method of "land navigation" to transport the fleet from the land into Golden Horn Bay, bypassing the impregnable Golden Horn Bay defense.
And once the Ottoman fleet breaks through the blockade of Golden Horn Bay, with the Empire's currently weak navy, there is no possibility of being able to contend with it.
At noon.
Losa and Viviana were having a meal on the city wall.
The entire city's military and civilians were dining together, and the soldiers' food was noticeably better, which was a reward for the brave.
Halfway through eating.
Losa suddenly felt something, lifted his head.
"What's the matter?"
"The storm is coming!"
Losa's expression was solemn, in the clouds, a vague breath that stirred his bloodline power was brewing, he looked far into the distance, and the image of a three-headed demon dragon was outlined in his mind by his immense spiritual power.
His dragon bloodline actually originates from this world.
Without the transformation of "bathing in dragon blood", his bloodline level after true dragon transformation would probably be far lower than this three-headed demon dragon.
"Storm?"
The Candle Knight quickly reacted: "Ottomans?"
Beyond the horizon, countless flame flags first broke through the skyline, riding warhorses, disorderly in formation, yet countless armored cavalry slowly approached Constantinople.
The guards on the tower quickly noticed this, blowing the horn to remind the enemy's arrival.
Many soldiers holding bread subconsciously stood up, looking at the endless, oppressive Ottoman army appearing on the horizon, they forgot to chew the food in their mouths.
The number of enemies was indeed too many, beyond what people could imagine.
"Why are you stunned, pass my orders, continue eating!"
Losa's order was passed down, seemingly lifting the petrification technique on the garrison, making them start moving again, quickly stuffing food into their mouths, and scrambling to prepare for defense.
After the enemy army moved onto the battlefield, they began to set up camp.
Until dusk, a large-scale camp had already begun to take shape.
In the camp, Losa, who had excellent eyesight, even saw the Ottomans' craftsmen unloading giant siege weapons from carriages, assembling them together. It would only take a few days before they could be put to use.
At this moment, a high-handed Ottoman general rode a warhorse, boldly approaching the walls of Constantinople.
"Listen, people in the city, tell your emperor. My master says that as long as he surrenders the city, my master will generously grant him a piece of land where he can continue being that so-called emperor."
He waved the riding spear in his hand, loudly intimidating: "If you resist to the end, on the day the city is breached, all those who have taken up arms to resist will be nailed to stakes!"
One person's intimidation is insignificant.
But if this person is backed by a terrifyingly numerous army that seems endless like an ocean, then?
He already saw the two Varangian Guards beside him, always praised for their courage and valor, starting to wipe the sweat off their foreheads, saying insincerely: "The weather is getting increasingly hotter recently."
Even the boldest person might feel cowardice upon witnessing such a large army that is impossible for any European country to gather.
Even the battle-experienced Losa was seeing such a large-scale army for the first time, roughly estimating that with laborers and logistical staff, there were at least two hundred thousand people, surpassing any army assembled by Saladin.
A Keshik soldier glanced at Losa, seeing His Majesty the Emperor nod slightly, decisively drew the bow and nocked an arrow.
This soldier was already known for his robust physique; at this moment, he easily pulled the heavy bow to a full moon, and fired the heavy armor-piercing arrow.
But the incoming was extremely cunning, positioned right at the limit of the arrow's range.
Though he could still be shot, the arrow was forceful but at the end of its strength, easily deflected by him.
"Hahaha, weak and incompetent Greeks, only dare to shoot arrows at the wall? Dare to send someone to fight me one on one."
The incoming mocked loudly, insulting the defenders.
The Candle Knight looked at Losa, winked: "I will fight."
Losa shook his head: "Why use an ox cleaver to slaughter a chicken."
"Pass my orders, send Orhan to fight."