Unknown Knight

The so-called hidden dangers are often only one opportunity away from becoming a serious threat. Once the opportunity arises, they will pop out and become a serious threat, dealing a fatal blow to people.

Axel had suffered this kind of loss before and almost lost his life. Now that he has the strength, he is no longer willing to leave such hidden dangers around him. He wants to leave enough absolutely safe areas in the place he controls.

It was with this idea in mind that, after a slight reorganization of the territory, the third attack on the city of Zion was launched. Aix even gave this attack a code name, called "Operation Sweeping the Couch."

For this operation, Aix had made sufficient preparations. The land alerts were spread out to 50 miles away from the Sweet Water Well Fort. He also organized a Bedouin patrol cavalry of more than 50 people to patrol the coastline near the territory day and night to prevent any sudden landing of enemies from the sea.

On the ocean, Aix had Mathilde divide the fleet into two parts. One part consisted of three cogs and five sampans as a blockade fleet, blocking all external contacts of Zion City at sea and launching auxiliary attacks when necessary. The remaining ships were scattered in the nearby waters, responsible for patrolling and guarding. Aix would not allow a surprise attack to happen again.

After arranging these measures, the Third Battle of Zion was launched with great fanfare. Compared with the previous two times, Aix was over-prepared this time. Not only did he have an additional Redemption Regiment than in the Second Battle of Zion, he was also equipped with five catapults, and the food and supplies were twice as much as last time. Obviously, the failures of the previous two times left him with a shadow, and he even prepared for the worst.

The nearby settlements of the Supreme God's believers were also mobilized, along with the militia mobilized in the territory. These reserve forces increased their vigilance and expanded their patrol range while maintaining a high level of alert, ready to support sieges and respond to emergencies at any time.

Logically speaking, facing such a powerful army compared to Fort Standstill, the City of Zion should have surrendered directly. However, the two previous "victories" had created an illusion for the big families in the city, making them believe that the army of Aix was nothing special. They were optimistic and believed that as long as they could withstand the enemy's initial fierce attack, they would be able to make the army of Aix retreat again.

Aix also had the idea of ​​completely eradicating the forces in the city. Even if these big families were willing to bow their heads and pay tribute, Aix would not allow it at this time. He could not leave a major hidden danger. When he returned to Tangquan Fortress, he had to leave a safe environment for the territory here.

The attitudes of both sides meant that the war started without any foreplay.

The first to attack were the five catapults that Aix had specially prepared for this time. The catapults of the territory were different from other ancient catapults as everyone imagined. Not only were they loaded with scaled lookouts, but the ammunition they fired was also incendiary oil tanks of the same shape and weight. The incendiary oil tanks were placed tightly in projectile baskets of almost the same size, without any shaking up and down or left and right. This made the catapult's projectiles very accurate, with the error controlled within about twenty meters.

Don't underestimate the error within 20 meters. This accuracy is already very terrifying in this era. Combined with the splashing range of the shattered oil tanks in the raging fire, once it starts burning, the target of the attack will almost certainly have no way to escape.

James was in charge of commanding the catapults. He first ordered the catapults to fire at the area where the siege tower was to be built. After burning a piece of white ground, he adjusted the target and fired another round at the defenders on the top of the city wall.

For a moment, the top of the city wall turned into a dragon of fire. The Zion defenders who were unable to escape screamed in agony. No less than a hundred people were burned to death or burned. Waves of disgusting burnt smell filled the city.

After the fire on the top of the city was extinguished, the siege tower came closer. After slowly setting up the planks, the Second Redemption Regiment, which was the first to attack the city, easily climbed up to the empty top of the city, and then prepared to use small battering rams to destroy the low wall that separated the city.

But something unexpected happened at this moment. The Second Redemption Group, which had climbed onto the top of the city wall, was beaten and screamed in agony before they could even prepare the battering ram.

It turned out that the city had deployed a large number of soldiers responsible for long-range attacks on the roofs near the city walls. They even set up high arrow towers in dangerous locations. When the Second Redemption Regiment climbed up to the top of the city wall and had not yet deployed their forces, javelins, stones, and arrows were all fired at them like they were free.

Arrows were still a minor issue, but javelins and stones thrown by slingshot soldiers were still very lethal at close range. Even though the soldiers were equipped with broad shields, they were still unable to withstand the overwhelming concentrated fire attack, and in a short while more than twenty soldiers on the city wall were killed or wounded.

Axe hurriedly withdrew his troops. He was extremely reluctant to see such casualties in a head-on fight. He ordered James's catapult to move forward. After some adjustment of the impact point, the fired flaming oil tanks quickly ignited the roofs and arrow towers filled with long-range attack soldiers, burning and injuring these enemies while driving away the threatening long-range enemies.

Without the harassment of long-range attacks, the Second Redemption Regiment and the First Redemption Regiment following them quickly gained a foothold on the city wall and began to methodically destroy the low walls with battering rams. In less than an hour, the soldiers of Fort Standstill broke through all the low walls and attacked the city of Zion.

However, the enemy seemed to know that once Aix's army captured the city, they would suffer heavy consequences, so they resisted fiercely.

There are nearly four thousand people still left in the city, most of whom are related by blood or have vested interests in the big families. Almost all the young and strong people who can be mobilized among these people have joined the war, about fifteen hundred people in total, which is equal to the number of siege soldiers organized by Aix.

In order to reduce bloodshed and sacrifice, Aix was not in a hurry to advance. Instead, he let the shield formation composed of broad shields go in front and clear out each courtyard and room one by one. He fought and shouted at the same time, forcing the enemies with weak resistance to lay down their weapons and surrender.

If they encountered an enemy who was determined to resist and dared to counterattack, even if their side had an absolute advantage in manpower, the soldiers would not rush forward to fight to the death. Instead, they would use shield formations to block the enemy outside as required, and then throw a few cans of flaming oil for close combat over to teach them a lesson.

Although this advancement was slow, it was effective and thorough. The city of Zion was not large, and it took most of the day to clear the outer city. In total, more than 200 enemies were killed and more than 2,000 were captured. The remaining more than 1,000 retreated to the inner city and continued to resist.

It was already late at this time, so Aix ordered the soldiers to stop the attack, blockade the inner city, eat and rest, and wait until tomorrow to fight again.

Although the attacks on land had stopped, the blockade fleet from the sea began to exert its strength. Mathilde led the fleet to fire all the incendiary oil that had been prepared last time, and the inner city was engulfed in a sea of ​​fire.

Following Aix's instructions, the blockade fleet would occasionally throw a flaming oil tank into the inner city, causing exclamations and commotion in the city.

This attack lasted all night long. Its original intention was to tire out and disturb the enemy, but it had a greater intimidating effect.

Every time a fierce incendiary oil bomb was fired from the ship, the people in the city trembled with fear. The screaming and crying of the women and the dejected wails of the men did not stop all night. Although Aix had not yet launched a formal attack, the remaining enemies in the inner city had already lost their nerve.