บท 25: Chapter 25 Campaign Anatolia (Part 2)
Chapter 25 Campaign Anatolia (Part 2)
Waiting for less than 10 minutes... I can see my Garips fleeing toward me shooting arrows backward in a classic Parthian shot, whilst the enemies are flying at high speed as well shooting arrows at my men. Seeing this had me worried because my Garips do not have an armored horse so a well-placed arrow can kill a horse and then trample one of my specialized soldiers. I can allow such an eventuality to come to fruition, So I gathered my heavy horsemen in a new formation. A wide arrow formation, with my heavy cataphract Kapikulu Silahtar, ulufeci, and Sipah were also brought into the center because they are heavily armored as well. While the faster shock calvary our Sipahi will be on the flanks.
The quick formation was gathered together with haste, but it worked out well because my men are well trained and had some experience leading to more confidence. The heavy center consisted of 4,920 men and my flanks had 2,000 Sapahi each. Even though I want to save my men, I also wanted to win so I had to wait for the perfect time to charge because for charges to be successful they must be timed correctly.
Monitoring the distance... In less than a minute, the enemies have come close enough to my formation, that even if they try to turn and run it will be impossible even with their agile Turkish ponies. Exited to destroy my enemies in one go, I screamed "CHARGE!!!!! SHOW THESE BASTARDS THE OUTCOME OF THEIR FOLLY!"
*Rumble Rumble Rumble* Charging forward headfirst toward our men... Most armies would panic and believe their commander is crazed. But my men know what their brothers will do, and they have confidence in their training allowing me to complete such a cool-looking tactic. As we closed in our Garips ran from the enemy split their formation into two halves and each half ran to my formation's flanks, allowing my army to continue charging full steam not even having to steer out of the way. The only way to describe such beauty is to compare it to modern collegiate marching bands.
After passing by our men, we met the surprised enemy giving them no time to react we crashed head-on directly into their stretched-out formation. *Rumble Rumble* Crashing into the pursuing enemies, our lances pierced many a man knocking them from their saddles to be trampled... And some being impaled and hoisted into the air. While we charged headlong into the enemies, the faster more agile Sipahi arched around the flanks of the enemy shooting volleys of arrows into their formation, then after that, they would charge their flanks as well swinging their swords about.
Last but not least, the Garips were initially running away. Have turned about and are now rushing around the battlefield to reach the tribesmen's rear, leaving them nowhere to retreat. for about 10 minutes the fighting carried on fierce and bloody! These tribesmen tried many times to force an escape but to no avail, they were slaughtered to a man leaving no room for surrender.
After this fierce melee, I have to say I am exhausted, how does the king give a hearty speech after a battle? Anyways I carried on after catching my breath for a second, I said to my men "Aye! Everyone listen up, these tribesmen refused to surrender peacefully. So, they were destroyed instead... Now that their tribe is undefended isn't it our job to take care of our fellow Muslims and their properties? I give all you men here the right to take whatever you can carry from the city, all except the tribe and the people therein can be looted."
Watching my men run off with excitement in their eyes, I decided to just watch from a distance... Honestly, I still am not a big fan of terrorizing citizens or their property, this is just an American thing. But I must allow such things as these are the rules of the period, if a city or castle decides to resist then looting is just a given, so my modern morals will just hamper my army and make my men less capable.
After my men came back laden with loot, I led a small guard into the tribe these men will be stationed here until a militia corps comes to relieve them from their guard. This is one of my main reasons for this campaign, taking over tribes and their populations, and by doing this I get a mobile population I can move to anywhere in my lands as a workforce. Anyways I stationed a small garrison in the city as well as choosing a temporary leader until the campaign is over and an administration can be established here, this will be my process throughout the campaign.
Laden with plunder, we slowly marched toward our siege camp in Dursunbey. We finally reached the camp by nightfall, where we could rest our horses and our minds and bodies. In the morning I awoke ready to unleash my new engineer corps upon the enemy, they have no clue about the hell that awaits them. My engineering core is highly efficient and trained, these men are capable of constructing many siege weapons, and siege infrastructure like forts, battery defenses, and mines. My engineers set up battery platforms and defenses for my larger cannons set up near the north and south sides of the city.
My artillery has been split into 3 distinct groups. We have the breaching batteries which I have built larger to shoot heavier caliber shots, and the field artillery which is made up of smaller and lighter cannons usually these will fire my half-hearted form of a grape shot these cannons are used against enemies primarily on battlefields hence the name. last but not least the mortars, which in my army are primarily used to shoot high arching shots at a long distance firing explosive shells onto enemies or structures dealing a ton of indirect damage, and sometimes direct damage but that is rare according to our tests.
Okay back on track, our engineers built these sections for our larger cannons to fire upon the walls and create a breach for our strike squad to kill their way into. oh yeah, the strike squad is made up of brave men from all of my army corps who volunteer to attack the enemies, these men will be heavily rewarded for their efforts, so we do not lack volunteers. Walking to my command platform made of wood, I sent the signals for the engineers to begin the shelling at once.
*BOOOM BOOOM BOOOOM* 15 large cannons fired at one time leaving everyone stunned. These cannons when they fire feel as if the world itself is tearing apart, and earthquakes are shaking the world about. This city's walls are too old, and just not built well enough to withstand our specialized cannon fire for more than a day, I truly doubt this siege will last long at all. Giving the next signal to the mortars to fire, their target is the battlements if at all possible but if not at least hit the town. *Boom boom* after the slightly less chest rattling mortar fire, I could see a few shells exploding and the fire and brimstone splashing upon the battlements, whilst the rest of the shells I won't know until we see some smoke behind the walls.
This process continued for a few hours, the defenders long abandoned their defenses on the walls for a safer environment in a tower, and some even went down the wall most likely hiding nearby. Seeing all the defenders hiding away like scared rats, I sent a messenger to the walls where he screamed to everyone on the walls to surrender and give up their arms... Stating all those who continue to be stubborn and defend the city shall be beheaded or enslaved for life once the walls fall.
Some men seeing a way out sprinted onto the battlement waving a white cloth and signaling their surrender... But these men did not seem to check with their compatriots as they were either pushed from the walls or executed on the spot by their commanders trying to restore order in their ranks. This did not do the trick and it seems this slaying of their brother-in-arms triggered a revolt by the soldiers, leading to a fight on the walls... But somehow, we aren't involved in the squabble at all, this fight is between the loyalists and the discontented a fight for survival is taking place here.
A few captains who noticed a fight near their side of the walls also sent a message asking what they should do. I decided to let the fight play out, we may be able to conserve some black powder and receive the city on a silver platter, considering at least a thousand men are guarding the city... The losses would for sure add up even with such elite soldiers as mine, so the best course of action is to let them fight without giving them a common enemy to rally upon.
In less than an hour, the city's gates were opened, and half the garrison came waltzing out without any weapons and a good bit of soldiers imprisoned among them. Still playing it cautious I sent 5 infantry units to secure these surrendered soldiers, and to my delight, there was no fight left in these men a full surrender of arms. Marching with a portion of my army into the city, we began to secure the city, inch by inch. Once it was confirmed the city is safe, I had my men loot the treasury and the garrison's food supply as well... This city shall be spared from looting as the defenders surrendered and saved me valuable time so I shall allow this city's citizens to be spared. Then I installed a small garrison and commander.
We decided to camp here for the night as it was pretty late already, so we will rest comfortably in a secure position. Waking up, we began to rally the men together arranged the army for a march and then headed to the next target! After a 6-hour march, we arrived near the outskirts of the castle, where we stopped the army and rested in a defensive posture whilst waiting for all the scouts to return.
Whilst waiting I began to think up my next order of action after securing Akhisar castle, which is the last stronghold of the Saruhan beylic. The real issue I might have on this campaign was never the Saruhan as they are a decentralized and loose confederation of tribes as is usually the case in these Turkish beylics. The real problem is the Knights Hospitaller, this fierce knight order has been in control of Smyrna since 1344, so having been in control of the city for well over a year, these men will be capable of putting up a bitter struggle. Having to siege a city like this, may slow down my campaign and only allow for just two beylics to be taken before I must return to Rumelia for the campaigning season.
I am not in doubt of whether or not I can take the city, as I am very confident in my siege capabilities... But if these men are dead set on a bitter struggle depending on their garrison size it can become a slugfest. I am now indecisive about exposing my naval strength this early, but my navy could help me subdue this city in no more than a week. But by having my navy participate, I am guaranteed to have a naval battle, crush the hospitaller navy, and successfully draw the ire of the catholic world. This may culminate in a crusade, but on the other hand, I am sure to draw a crusade my way once I take Edirne and move into the Balkans...
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