Chapter 687: Defending the City (IV)

When the first wheeled siege ladder successfully reaches its combat position, the battlefield immediately grows far more intense. The defenders' archers and crossbowmen keep shooting downward, trying to break the enemy's momentum.

The attackers use bows and crossbows to desperately suppress the wall, and many use slings to smash stones at the top of the wall.

But although slings can use a projectile arc to pass over the parapet, they don't have much power when they hit the wall.

They are far less vicious than what the defenders throw down from the wall.

In the end, the first wheeled siege ladder is blown apart by a ballista in the corner tower, but that is all it accomplishes.

Now nearly twenty siege ladders are already set against just one wall. As the attacking soldiers reach the wall through the siege ladders, the pressure on the forces behind them noticeably weakens.

Then the wheeled siege ladder also rests against the wall.

Heavy-armored soldiers carry battle axes and warhammers, stride quickly onto the wheeled siege ladder, and charge toward the top of the wall.

At this point, the ballistae can no longer afford to deal with the wheeled siege ladders, because the siege towers behind them have begun entering ballista range.

These huge war machines, more than ten meters tall and supported by dozens of wheels beneath them, have only begun to be built in recent years.

They are specially used to attack castles and other solid fortifications, and the ballistae mounted on them can effectively suppress the top of the wall.

It is useful, but it is too clumsy, and it is severely restricted by terrain.

It can be deployed here only because Cellarwine City sits on an alluvial plain. Otherwise, this huge thing would be hard to use.

As the siege towers join the battle, the heavy city-defense equipment begins shifting targets and prioritizing this equipment.

If they get close to the wall, disaster follows.

Even putting aside the planks the siege towers can lower, allowing the soldiers inside to rush onto the wall as if crossing flat ground, the fire points on the top level alone can create enormous trouble for the defenders.

This thing isn't a good target for ballistae. It is too large, and its defenses are also astonishing.

The ballistae now need to focus on the trebuchets behind the siege towers, because those can cause enormous damage to the corner towers and archery platforms on the wall.

The siege towers are mainly handled by the heavy trebuchets hiding behind the wall, while spotters hold their ground on the wall and risk their lives to pass target information downward.

By now, the trebuchet ammunition has already been changed to concrete stone balls filled with fire oil.

After the openings are sealed, they are immediately fired.

Why not stuff oil-soaked cloth into the openings, ignite them first, and then launch?

Because the ignition source might go out in the air, and the chance isn't low.

In addition, it is too dangerous.

This fire oil is flammable. If it accidentally detonates early, that would be trouble.

And this is a battlefield filled with fire and chaos. Between life and death, no one can guarantee every step will always be followed.

Once this kind of fire-oil projectile hits the target, the ballistae on the corner towers fire flaming ballista bolts ignited by special fuel.

They accurately strike the oil spill and ignite the target area.

Very soon, several huge torches appear on the battlefield. Many people whose bodies are burning with flames scream as they jump out of the siege towers.

Gradually, however, the attackers' trebuchets also enter their field of fire and begin pouring firepower toward the top of the wall.

Smoke rises everywhere. Flames devour bodies. Screams and roars fill the battlefield.

Taitlant, who has been observing the battle, frowns and says, "Your Highness, the mercenaries on the wall are about to fail. Let me lead my warband up."

Arius shakes his head. "It isn't time yet."

Taitlant says, "Your Highness, if we keep waiting, I fear the rebels will increase the pressure."

"Right now it is the garrison legions attacking. Once the situation on the wall worsens, the regular legions will be next."

"The Twentieth Legion has already begun forming up and assigning attack waves. They are waiting for the stalemate on the wall to last longer."

"Although the Twentieth Legion is a newly formed legion after the kingdom's military reform, its combat power is absolutely not weak."

"Once they rush onto the wall, the mercenaries will never hold them back."

Arius says calmly, "Wait a little longer. Wait until more of the mercenary guards die."

Seeing Arius's firm attitude, Taitlant can only give up.

However, Taitlant still goes down to prepare.

Once the mercenary guard regiment routs, he will immediately lead troops onto the wall and drive the rebels down.

Now, Cronin happens to be escorting wounded soldiers to the field hospital. Taitlant immediately pulls the old viscount aside. "Old lord, please persuade the little prince. That group of mercenary guards isn't useful enough."

"If this continues, the defensive system on the wall will collapse."

"Once we lose control of the wall, we will lose our greatest reliance. We won't hold for long."

Cronin pulls him into a corner. "The little prince is doing the right thing. Do you know what the hardest part of defending a city is?"

"Food and reinforcements. We have no shortage of either."

Cronin shakes his head. "No. The hardest part is preventing people inside and outside from colluding during a siege, with someone secretly opening the city gates."

"What the little prince wants now is for the mercenary guards to die. The more of them die, the better."

"These people won't be loyal to anyone. They will only be loyal to profit."

"The rebels outside can clearly offer them more profit. Once they are bought and cause trouble at a critical moment, that will be the greatest disaster. The city could fall in an instant."

"So the little prince is buying their lives with money, leaving them no lives left to sell."

"Once the city loses this unstable armed force, even if someone wants to do something, they will have no manpower they can use."

"The private soldiers of the powerful have already been pulled away by us and scattered into various units."

"Once the mercenary guards are finished, the city's greatest internal problem will be solved."

"Although I don't think highly of the serf legion, your warband and the little prince's warband are enough to rely on the city and hold for a long time."

"Henwell will soon arrive on the battlefield. By then, the situation will certainly change."

Taitlant nods softly to show that he understands. Then he says worriedly, "But Henwell only brought one legion. I fear relieving the siege will be somewhat difficult."

Cronin looks around and sighs. "To be honest, I am not confident either. I didn't plan to leave alive when I came here."

"I once taught Jonathan. He is too scheming and too good at enduring. That isn't suitable for a king, especially the current king of Vorry."

"As for Henwell, he is a man who creates miracles. On the road from his rise until now, he has forced his way through too many hopeless situations."

"And now, all we can do is hope Henwell forces his way through again and reverses the entire battle."

Albert, the commander on the wall, is calmly arranging troop movements while centurions keep coming to request support.

The attacking forces repeatedly rush onto the wall, only to be driven back again and again.

Casualties on both sides are accumulating at a frightening rate.

The situation looks dangerous right now, but Albert still has a thousand-man reserve battalion in his hands.

They were all selected from Peace Haven's caravan guard force. After a few days of simple coordination, they have become a qualified unit.

As long as this force remains in his hands, even if two sections of wall fall, he is confident that he can retake them in one wave.

He is also calculating the casualties among the mercenary guards.

It is almost enough.