In an instant, the huge roar of the salvo almost overwhelmed all the noise in the battlefield, and caused a moment of confusion and silence among the defenders on the city wall; then, the cannonballs roared through the sky. Although most of the shots were not far from the base of the wall, or were too high and crossed the city wall.
However, a small number of cannonballs that hit the upper part of the city wall still caused tragic damage and casualties. In an instant, the earthen ramparts and tiled battlements, the wooden parapets, arrow towers, and towers all over the city walls were almost competing to be bombarded, and they shattered and exploded one after another with screams and screams.
Fragments of fortifications and broken human limbs flying all over the sky were even thrown onto the river more than ten meters away in the billowing smoke that was dyed pink. And a row of swans that happened to be flying by in the sky fell down after being frightened by such a sudden attack.
Obviously, the defenders also deployed and hid a large number of soldiers and equipment on the battlements in the direction of possible key attacks. However, at this moment, they were disturbed by this pre-battle bombardment. So for a while, the city was full of disturbing figures running around and shouting.
Others hastily lit the cannons deployed on the city and fired slings and ballistae in an attempt to counterattack and respond. However, most of these scattered weapons failed to reach the Free Army artillery positions, and fell slumped in the river and mud halfway.
Obviously, the heavy equipment of these defenders pales in comparison to the power of the Free Army's more advanced new artillery and refined gunpowder. So while they were shouting and firing the city defense equipment, using this futile counterattack to embolden themselves, the artillery fort roared again.
This time, it was after the test firing. According to the types of different artillery groups, from the slowest loading speed and the most powerful mortar cannon, to the lightest mountain cannon with the fastest firing speed, to the field cannon with the longest range and the highest accuracy, The result of firing in sequence; therefore, the roar sounds a little sparser.
However, the threat and casualties caused by the imperial army on the city wall were even greater than before. Because, under this continuous calibrated sequential shooting, most of the roaring shells were hit directly above the wall and between the battlements; instantly knocking down and tearing apart the figures of the defenders running back and forth.
The devastated battlements were turned into a Shura field where blood and flesh were everywhere. And the positions of the cannons, projectors, and ballistae that were exposed due to the hasty counterattack were even more focused on. After being bombarded by several cannons one after another, they turned into flesh and blood and scattered fragments.
There were also several hidden artillery positions, and it was not known whether they were on fire due to chaos or due to panic and hasty operational errors; one after another they exploded at the top of the city, and several red and black fire clouds and smoke balls rose up. Come. However, for the defenders, their nightmare had just begun.
Because as the operation becomes more smooth and proficient, the intervals between continuous shelling by the Free Army are also shortened; while the shooting accuracy is gradually increasing. After an unknown number of rounds of radiation, some special shells also landed on the newly replenished dynasty army.
Some of these special cannonballs mixed with scorching-hot ball bullets can splash out large burning fire rains and flowing flames; some can explode like thunder, raking the surrounding flesh and blood with flying fragments. , instantly clearing the crowd of people who were hiding on the ground.
And Paulina was also looking at the scene of these cannons firing with dazzled eyes; she only felt that something was burning in her bones. This is what the Lord described, the power of steel and gunpowder that even mortals can rely on for salvation.
As for the overseas legions in Africa, most of them went on an unfavorable journey; a large part of them relied on the mountain artillery that accompanied the army and the light field artillery that accompanied the cavalry; especially those who roared like the wind, such as desert cavalry or camel riders, or In front of the tribal warriors.
A field phalanx with sufficient ammunition and artillery support is enough to become their biggest nightmare. The firing cannons and roaring cannons in the array were enough to crush and frustrate the charges and harassments one after another, and to contain the cavalry and shooting; it also drained their morale, spirit and courage.
Then, it was the turn of the well-prepared legionary cavalry hidden in the hollow phalanx, and began to rush, chase and entangle these enemies in groups; cooperate with the infantry who dispersed to pursue, turning them into Corpses and prisoners scattered among the desert oases.
Therefore, for the African Overseas Legion under Paulina, the mobile and flexible cavalry are sabers and whips, while the tenacious infantry phalanx is iron felt and chopping boards; and artillery is to open up the situation or reverse the tide of the battle, destroying the enemy's fortress And the heavy hammer of defense.
Relying on these three increasingly mature weapons, she continued to fight in the barren grasslands and Gobi, pursuing deep into the desert and yellow sand; in the strange and dangerous rugged mountains; facing waves of attacks from the natives. Those who persist until the final moment of victory.
However, all of this has a premise that cannot be ignored; that is, the kingdom itself, under the leadership of the chief, will spare no effort to provide for her at the cost of losing at least two or three ships every month due to wind and waves, running on rocks, enemy attacks, and encounters with sea monsters. Logistics supply lines transported across the sea.
It also includes the latest cannons and muskets, a steady stream of ammunition and spare parts; the latest military rations and concentrated cans, transport vehicles redesigned and modified for the desert Gobi terrain; and even to deal with abnormal phenomena and aliens. Squads of hunters and knights.
Therefore, just like what those with ulterior motives have persuaded, the speculation of using the five major provinces of Africa and one large region to be independent of the disputes between all parties in the kingdom is simply an outright joke. Unless she wants to be reduced to one of those nomadic chiefs who live by looting.
At this time, on the flanks of the siege position with the artillery base as the core, there was a sudden sound of large fireballs and continuous explosions, which slightly attracted her attention. It was a cavalry group that had secretly crossed the river from the upstream cordon at some point and was trying to launch a surprise attack.
It's just that the dress and fighting methods of these cavalry are obviously in the style of the Eastern Nomadic Khanate. Everyone wore leather hats and armor, bent bows and held spears, and their horses were crouched on their saddles; they were whistling or blowing scalp-numbing bone whistles, surging like arrows across the slopes of the city suburbs.
Then there was a barbed wire barrier deployed around the perimeter of the position, causing people to trip over the first batch; and then a new type of explosive firearm called a landmine was triggered and stepped on, which was placed between the trench and the barrier. With the roar of explosions one after another, they were blown over and knocked to the ground.
It also made the remaining war horses frightened and lingered in place; and this pause was enough for several muskete companies on standby inside to launch their attack lines and start shooting. Therefore, these nomadic cavalry's roundabout raids eventually left hundreds of corpses and retreated hastily.
But at this time, as the raiding nomadic cavalry retreated, new changes also occurred among the dynasty's army on the city wall, which could only be passively beaten. Obviously, the number and frequency of those special shells fired before were not high, but they became an undefeable god of death for the defenders at the top of the city.
Therefore, in the face of the flying bullets, the defenders were able to continue to hold their position; there were faint signs of morale collapse, and some even secretly turned around and escaped from the city wall. Then, they were intercepted by the supervising team lined up on the inside of the city wall, and they were screaming and entangled in a mess.
All of this was discovered by the hot-air balloon observation post currently hanging in the sky and turned into an emergency signal. The next moment, Polina also said to the little princess Suleim who was standing next to her in a small military uniform: "Take out my battle flag, I will personally lead the attack."
Then, with a nervous and solemn face, Su Lem quickly opened the box she had been keeping and took out an exclusive flag embroidered with the family emblem "Eagle Cross". Then, Hugo, another member of the Redemption Knights, also presented several sections of the assembled white flagpole.
When the flag was easily held in Paulina's hand, it immediately began to flutter automatically without wind. Seeing this flag raised, whether it was the soldiers who were building a camp, preparing their weapons and waiting for the attack, or the cavalry patrolling the outside, they all started roaring.
Then amidst the thunderous sound of drums and trumpets, groups of soldiers gathered towards the flag one after another; then closely followed by the figure in a conspicuous military uniform, riding on a white horse; loudly roaring and roaring passed by Several pontoons rushed to the city gate on the other side.
At this time, as if waking up from a dream, the remaining cannonballs, arrows and slings were quickly fired from the city top, sporadically hitting Paulina who was leading the way. However, these successive blows were all bounced away and deflected by invisible forces the moment they were about to approach her.
It was as if there was an invisible shield protecting her and the knights around her; she drove straight in and rushed to the bottom of the incomplete southwestern city gate. Here the defenders' counterattack and resistance became more and more intense, with rolling wood and rocks rolling down instantly.
This invisible shield has become more and more obvious, like ripples of water, constantly blocking threats from above; but it cannot cause the slightest damage or interference to Paulina who is holding the flag; she can only watch many knights, before her Under cover, they scrambled for ladders and rushed up the city wall.
In fact, she had some special gains during her journey in Africa. The white flagpole used in this flag is one of them. It is enshrined in the ruins of an ancient temple buried deep under the sand; according to the murals, it is suspected to be a relic of the Carthaginian war god Hannibal.
And when she was stationed at this ruin buried deep in the sand dunes, she unexpectedly discovered a collapsed underground gap on a whim while patrolling the camp at night. Then, after the fire killed the giant scorpions, snakes and insects hiding inside, the only intact spear was discovered.
It's just that the gold-inlaid spearhead has long since decayed, leaving only this long white pole made of unknown material. Although this is a pagan wonder, only when Paulina holds it in her hands will the faith and will of many soldiers gather together to produce an effect similar to an invisible shield.
The more soldiers you see on the scene, the more lasting the effect will be, and the wider the scope of the shield will be. Of course, what this shield can rebound and deflect is the threat of long-range projection. In addition, it can neither repel enemies nor block melee sword fights.
Therefore, it is more like some kind of auxiliary rare item used in war; and with the completion of Paulina, the overseas regiment's final journey in Africa. Then, following her series of battles in the kingdom, she became another spiritual symbol worshiped by overseas legions.
(End of chapter)
