novelraw Chapter 722 28: Thunder of Cannon Fire
Chapter 722 28: Thunder of Cannon Fire
On the sixth morning.
A thin mist descended over Constantinople, obscuring the vast Ottoman camp below, which seemed as endless as the sea.
The expressions of the defenders became much more relaxed, chatting casually while trying to stomach their breakfast amid the pungent smell of blood in the air.
Conservative estimates suggest that just yesterday, thousands of corpses had been cast under the city walls.
The temperature had already warmed up, and the experienced mercenaries believed that today they only smelled blood, but in a few days, they would be smelling stench, and those who couldn't eat today would find it even more difficult then.
"Oh no, if you can't even stand a little smell of blood, you won't survive until then."
By noon, the fog gradually dissipated.
The massive siege camp once again came into view, and the laughter on the defenders' faces was replaced by oppression.
With a loud boom.
A giant solid stone projectile, carrying a terrifying momentum like a world-shattering storm, smashed toward Constantinople.
Boom——
The stone projectile struck the city wall, but the violent tremor transmitted underground in less than a second, and the wall hit by it remained solid, without even a crack appearing on the masonry.
Standing beside the giant cannon was Mahmud II, whose cold gaze swept toward the Hungarian craftsman nearby.
The craftsman named Urban quickly explained, "It's the power of magic, Your Majesty. The Greeks have embedded a magic array within the city walls, which is the reason Theodosius Wall has lasted since its establishment. But the magic array's power is limited. The Greeks haven't had a legendary mage for centuries, and the art of repairing the magic array has long been lost, so if we continue to bombard the wall, it will eventually be breached."
Mahmud II's icy voice responded, "Urban, I have given you my highest trust, treating you with ten times the salary of all Empire craftsmen. Do not disappoint me."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Urban hastily and fearfully knelt to the ground.
It took him a long while, assisted by a servant, to stand up again.
Looking at the familiar walls and the fluttering four β flag, he sighed with a complex expression. He had once served the Emperor of Greece, and Constantine XI had treated him with courtesy.
But poor Rome could not afford the terrifying cost of cannon forging, and his salary was also miserly.
But who could blame an Emperor who, even during his coronation, had fake gems on his Treasure Crown, and patches on his Purple Robe?
Sorry, Your Majesty.
He silently made a cross in his heart and then decisively ordered aloud, "Clear the barrel and prepare for the second round of firing!"
The test fire of Urban's giant cannon was just the beginning.
In the artillery positions of the Ottomans, hundreds of cannons began to roar, and the sound of artillery echoed once again beneath Constantinople's walls, now free of mist, filling the air with layers of acrid gunpowder smoke.
Though the magic array embedded within the Theodosius Wall protected it from attacks.
But everyone was anxious about how long the long-unrepaired magic array could last.
Moreover, the outermost battle wall, only 1.5 meters high, not counted among the three walls, established by the Moat to target enemies filling it, had no magic array. It quickly collapsed under enemy bombardment.
Once the enemy filled the Moat, they would eliminate a barrier to be overcome and could directly assault the city walls.
Aside from the cannons, the enormous catapult positions were equally intimidating.
Giant catapults began launching fiery shots.
But the Ottomans soon realized that after the fire projectiles struck the walls or exploded in the city, they quickly lost temperature, and the splintering sparks failed to cause any disaster. All the flames seemed not to scorch anymore and could ignite nothing combustible.
But this was just the only piece of good news among countless bad ones.
In the enemy camp, those massive Siege Towers, Siege Hammers, and even the feverish excavation of tunnels to fill the Moat with sacks of soil, exerted with abandon.
The days when the Barbarians were bewildered by the swift construction of fortifications and stone bridges by Roman legions were now reversed.
The vast lands controlled by Mahmud II's army, which inherited most of Rome's legacy and had summoned countless craftsmen to serve him, now openly demonstrated to the Christians that his assault would advance simultaneously by sea, sky, land, and underground.
The sounds of cannon fire were overwhelming, yet the flag with four β still hung high.
The Emperor, clad in a Purple Robe, rested his hand on his sword as he listened to reports from his ministers on the damage to various sections of the walls. As expected, the enemy's main attack was focused on the central section, where he personally stationed, and which was also the weakest.
"Any movement from the Genoese in Galata?"
"They claim to be under threat and have had to cut off the supply of provisions supporting us."
Just cutting off supplies?
Losa breathed a sigh of relief, as long as
Galata remaining neutral was the best scenario. Once Galata sided with them,
But it was conceivable, once facing heavy losses, Mahmud II would surely seek
Galata remaining neutral was the best scenario. Once Galata sided with them,
But it was conceivable, once facing heavy losses, Mahmud II would surely seek
The only reinforcements he hoped for, the Hospital Knight Order from Rhodes Island, had not responded.
Perhaps, like the Republic, they were caught in disputes.
Some trusted ministers privy to this news seemed unsurprised, comforting the Emperor instead: "Your Majesty, those Europeans are untrustworthy. Instead of relying on them, we should rather hope the heretics from Karaman will deploy forces at this time to contain the enemy."
He sighed inwardly; it's better to rely on oneself than others. John and Constantine, the brothers, had already done enough as far as seeking aid was concerned.
As for Karaman Bey, this country also used to be the biggest adversary of the Ottomans in Asia Minor and had backstabbed them multiple times during their campaigns in the Rumelia region.
Ottomans loathed Karaman for backstabbing their fellow nations and hindering the holy war endeavor.
Karamanians cursed the Ottomans for deploying heretics and slaughtering fellow believers.
Ultimately, it was impossible for two powers to coexist in Asia Minor.
But Karaman now has declined, with the Ottomans leaving enough troops on the border to guard against Karaman's rebellion.
Karaman Bey actually shares the same predicament as Constantine XI.
He indeed is better,
but he is powerless.
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