Aztec Eternals

The faint morning light gradually brightened, and the bluestone city walls became clearer. Looking from a distance, the city wall is covered with smoky charred black and the dark red of blood coagulation. Under the sun, the cold dew in the morning gathered on the top of the city into a drop of crystal water, which slowly meandered down. The water drops slowly turned crimson, and then turned into pitch black, falling silently to the soil. Following the traces of the slide, you can see the true color of the city wall, which is solid stone bricks of cyan and dark gray.

Staring at the unbreakable city wall, Xiulot sighed secretly.

The army went south and besieged the city in October, but was blocked by the six-meter bluestone city wall. It has been January now.

At the beginning of the siege, he was full of confidence, feeling that with the power of a great victory, he would go directly to the city and attack by force, and the Hekou Fortress would be within his reach. Now the prestige of the young commander-in-chief is high, and Bertard is recovering from his injuries on the north bank. At this time, it was Teacher Olosh, who had a special status, who gave advice, and Xiulot acted cautiously.

According to the suggestion, he first set up large camps in the south and east of the fortress, and built a water camp by Lake Quetseo. Then, send warriors to patrol and control all passages, and the river mouth fortress becomes an isolated city, cutting off all land and water. Then, under the cover of shield vehicles, the Otomi militiamen began to fill the moat in the east of the city and destroy the wooden fence outside the city. A shooting platform with a height of seven or eight meters was built more than a hundred steps to the south of the city for archers to climb and shoot. Until everything is ready, the next step is the official siege.

The estuary fortress has excellent terrain, easy to defend but difficult to attack. Surrounded by rivers here, the soil is watery and soft, so it is impossible to dig tunnels and collapse walls. The gates of the fortress were blocked, and there were not enough metal tools to break through the gates or dig the roots of the walls. If you want to conquer such a fortress, you can only rely on the traditional ant-attached city. Once the number of defenders is sufficient and the will to fight is firm, the damage to Ant Fudeng City will be too great to accept. As try these days.

Recalling the tragedy of the siege, Shulot shook his head slightly. This was the first time he had really faced Fortified City as the commander in chief of the army.

On the first day of the siege, the Mexica Northern Army mobilized its full force. Under the cover of the shield car, the crossbowman suppressed the shooting, and the catapult approached and threw it. Afterwards, the holy city warriors with high morale approached the city wall, set up ladders to climb up, and fell to the top of the city one after another. The brutal fierce battle lasted only a few moments, and five hundred warriors were killed!

The six-meter stone castle wall is not comparable to the three-meter wooden castle wall. Within twenty steps of the warriors, spears and stones fell like rain, piercing leather armor and helmets. Within five steps, lime sand continued to be thrown down, obscuring the sight in front of him. As soon as the ladder was mounted, the rolling logs and boulders fell head-on, causing tendons and bones to break.

What is even more troublesome is that the Tarascos imitated more than 300 Mexica longbows and more than a thousand Tlaxcalan wooden bows at some time, and they shot at each other outside the city and killed the approaching warriors . Under the strong bow, the warriors are as fragile as autumn flowers, and they wither as quickly as the militiamen. And when a few brave warriors climbed to the top of the city, they were confronted by the dense gun formation of the Tarascos, and they were soon besieged to death.

Xiulot watched the battle for a quarter of an hour, but failed to find any hope of breakthrough, so he resolutely blew the conch horn and ordered the troops to withdraw. The holy city warriors held up their shields and withdrew them in embarrassment, while the crossbowmen shot arrows at high speed, suppressing the top of the city. Afterwards, he briefly counted the number of people, feeling heartbroken. This is the most loyal holy city warrior, the most reliable force of the family!

The young commander immediately asked for the enemy nobles captured during the water battle, and asked about the source of the longbow in the fortress. These longbows were the first batch of new weapons brought from the capital in early September. If it weren't for the rapid southward march of the Mexica army, there would be a second batch of more longbows arriving in October.

"The Tarascos have already manufactured longbows on a large scale in the capital, and they have given priority to supplying them to the southern front. The fighting there must be more tragic. War is about survival, and it is really the fastest way to spread technology! After this water battle on Lake Yuriria I am afraid that spies from various states who spy on the gunpowder will swarm here like flies that smell fishy. Fortunately, the craft of gunpowder is relatively complicated, and there is no possibility of it leaking in a short time.”

Thinking of this, Shulot raised his head slightly, and his thoughts flew into the distance.

Olosh, wearing the gorgeous costume of the legion commander, strode forward. The head of the regiment was promoted to deputy commander, and he was in charge of the wooden castle on the north bank. He temporarily took over as head of the regiment, led the Holy City Legion, and fulfilled his previous wish.

"Your Highness, the warriors are ready. Is today still the same as the previous few days, feigning an attack to lure the enemy, long-distance consumption?"

Looking at the close teacher, Xiulot smiled and shook his head.

"The craftsmen have just built more than a dozen simple nest carts, which allow the archers to shoot closer. Today we will really attack again! Call Giova to come forward."

Ever since the first day of attacking the city, the young commander realized that attacking the fortress was a long process. If you don't want to lose too many core warriors, you can't rush for a while. He recalled the battles in history and made a new plan. First of all, we should try our best to consume the elite samurai defenders, and then gradually attack the morale of the militia in the city. When the morale of the defenders drops to a certain level, it will be the real land attack and water surprise attack!

Under this new strategy, the subsequent siege will be based on long-range consumption. Ottopan's warriors were responsible for the feint attack, making the gesture of climbing the city at all times, forcing the defenders on the city to stand up and defend. The next step is the crossbowmen shooting each other. The Northern Army will try their best to take advantage of the long-range, and occasionally throw burning paper fireballs. If the defenders on the city completely hide behind the shield platform at the top of the city, they will usher in a real ascent to the city and be forced to mobilize again.

As a result, life gradually turned into fuel, and at an exchange ratio that could be accepted by the Mexica Legion, it burned steadily under the collision of war machines. The morale of the defenders is also gradually declining, from the initial encouraging shouts to today's tired silence.

Soon, the head of the Ottopan Legion, Giova, hurried over. After the water battle, the fierceness on the face of "Coyote" was replaced by respect, and he knelt down on one knee to salute obediently.

"His Royal Highness, what are your orders?"

Xiuluo nodded, fixed his gaze on Giova, and ordered sternly.

"Giova, you did a good job in the feint attack a few days ago. Today, you will lead the brave Ottopan warriors to launch a real ascent! I will give you a batch of extra leather armor, so that the warriors will wear double armor , The crossbowmen will always suppress the city. You go to select the elite, inspire the army, and attack the city first when the drum sounds! You will never be allowed to retreat until the sound of the conch trumpet!"

Hearing this cruel military order, Giova remained silent. During the feint attack in the past few days, four or five hundred people of the Ottopan Legion have been killed. This time the real siege will only cause more heavy losses. After a while, feeling the young commander's attention, he bowed his head again and agreed.

"Your Highness, in accordance with your will, I am willing to die for you!"

Soon, as the military order was issued, the Mexiga camp really boiled. Thousands of warriors came out of the camp one after another, and spread out in front of the south wall of the Hekou Fortress at a distance of hundreds of steps. The Ottopan warriors lined up first, followed by the reserve Temple Guard, Qudsmen, and Lancers. Once Xiandeng can truly establish a firm foothold in the city, the subsequent legions will follow. And outside the east city of the fortress, there were also more than 2,000 warriors from the western city-states, carrying out a feint attack to divert troops.

Facing the large-scale mobilization of the Mexica Legion, the Tarasco defenders at the head of the city became visibly nervous. The warriors patrolled and scolded on the top of the city, loudly encouraging them. The militiamen worked hard to strengthen the large shield erected at the top of the city, thicken the earthen platform they built, and prepared all the wood, stones, sand and lime that could be thrown.

Shulot calmly walked down from the high platform, leaving the commander's banner there. In the dominant siege battle, he no longer needs to use the flag to encourage the morale of the army. Then, under the protection of the shields of his personal guards, he came to the front line more than two hundred steps away from the city, so as to better grasp the situation of the siege. Oluosh also put on a leather armor, holding a shield and a stick, guarding his side.

Not long after, the commanding flag of the commander waved ruthlessly, and the horn of the guard blew sharply, announcing the start of the siege!

Four hundred burly and strong temple guards looked fanatical, holding huge crossbows, and advanced to about 140 steps. There are dozens of small earthen platforms here, which are at the limit of the enemy's longbow damage. With the help of rope ladders, nearly half of the temple guards boarded the nearly eight-meter earthen platform and prepared to string the crossbow. The Tarascos at the head of the city were unable to make any counterattacks, so they could only desperately strengthen the shields and earthen platforms, and hide their bodies behind the shelter.

After a while, the chilling horn sounded again, and the crossbowmen fired violently. "Swish, swish!" Hundreds of crossbow arrows were fired from a superior height, and they were nailed to the top of the city in a slightly falling arc.

In an instant, several shrill screams sounded, and more than a dozen poorly guarded militiamen were shot in the body. The arrows pierced through the fragile bodies of the civilians, knocking them down instantly. The lucky militiaman was hit by an arrow, without a trace of struggle, and died on the spot. The unfortunate militiaman was nailed to the wooden sign beside him, shaking in place, struggling with his limbs, and blood was flowing vigorously from the torn wound.

The "crocodile" flag fluttered in the wind, and the Tarasco warriors who supervised the battle did not hesitate. They swung their daggers and executed the screaming and seriously injured militiamen, giving the opponent a relief and avoiding continuing to affect morale. Dead bodies were thrown out of the city to prevent it from rotting inside. Only lightly wounded militiamen can get simple bandages, so as to continue to serve as firewood in the defense of the city.

After dozens of breaths, the second wave of crossbow arrows roared in. This time only three or four militiamen were taken away. When the enemy keeps dodging, the shooting at this time does not kill much. The crossbow bolts used by heavy crossbows are more expensive, and the crossbowmen keep shooting at long intervals, which only have the effect of suppressing the city.

Following the firing of the second round of crossbow arrows, thousands of longbow warriors pushed more than two hundred small shield chariots and slowly approached the city. The warriors looked stern, with murderous intent in their hearts. When they stepped within ninety steps, the longbow on the top of the city began to fire immediately. The feathered arrow of "咻咻" was condescending, and was deeply nailed on the thick wooden shield. Occasionally, two or three feathered arrows would be shot through the shooting port on the shield, and the longbow warrior behind would immediately be hit by the arrow in the chest, lose strength and fall down.

At this time, the simple but sturdy shield car will stop for a moment. The remaining warriors bowed down to check their teammates on the ground, which was the order of the marshal. If a teammate dies, keep pushing the cart forward. If there is still rescue, stop on the spot, simply bandage, and shoot at the head of the city here.

Most of the shield chariots approached to about fifty paces before they all stopped. This is a few meters above the city, the limit of the Tlaxcala bow breaking through the leather armor, the distance measured with life. Only then did the warriors draw their bows and arrows, and let out a hail of arrows coldly. The dense rain of arrows across dozens of steps, accurately pierced the eyes, mouth or throat of the Tarasco archer, and then penetrated several inches into the head. Several enemy archers who were shooting from their heads died instantly, and a dozen militiamen also died silently. Shooting at such close range, an arrow could mean death.

The battle flag at the top of the city was waved, and at the request of the noble commander, the Tarasco warriors in preparation did not stop. They quickly picked up the precious longbow and continued to shoot at the city, but they were more careful to cover their bodies.

When the longbowmen began to suppress further, a dozen simple nest carts carried nearly a hundred archers, pushed forward by two hundred militiamen, and focused on suppressing a section of the city wall on the left.

This is the latest siege equipment designed by Xiulot. It refers to the ancient building carts and nest carts of the Chinese Dynasty. While maintaining the carrying and defensive functions, it simplifies the process and shape according to the processing capabilities of this era. This kind of nest car is relatively simple, just two rows of eight solid wood wheels, a stable base, and a reinforced vertical log on each side. Between two tall logs, at a height of nearly ten meters, a platform that can accommodate six or seven archers is built. The sides and bottom of the platform are reinforced with wooden planks to withstand bow and arrow shots. At the rear is a hanging rope ladder for the warriors to climb up, thus replacing the complicated and fragile tensile structure.

At this moment, more than a dozen nest cars gradually approached to the sixty paces, and the archers above began to shoot continuously. "Xuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu" Relying on the advantage of height, the feather arrow crossed the shield and earth platform of this section of the city wall, and shot mercilessly at the Tarasco warriors who were the backbone of the defense. Under the fixed-point targeted shooting, nearly ten warriors who supervised and commanded the battle were shot at the same time, and low-pitched screams rang out continuously. The militiamen lost their suppression and command, and there was a sudden panic on the city wall here.

The thundering drums finally sounded at this moment! Giova let out a ferocious howl, and the long-awaited Ottopan warriors shouted in unison. Wearing double armor, holding shields high, and carrying dozens of seven or eight meter ladders in the center, they rushed towards the city head at high speed. Accompanied by the sound of fierce drums, more than a thousand archers and crossbowmen fired at the same time from the earthen platforms, shield carts, and nest carts. The dense rain of arrows brought a shrill howl, and instantly nailed the rising Tarasco archers to death. Then, the ferocious rain of arrows did not stop, and tried its best to suppress all the living creatures on the top of the city. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhss", the sound of arrows entering the wood is like a movement of death!

The Ottopan warrior quickly entered within a hundred steps of the city, and began to be shrouded in the shadow of death. Giova, who was the first to charge, howled again, and the warriors bent down and ran, striding forward. At top speed, they rushed over increasingly dangerous distances. Tarasco's longbowmen also fought back desperately. The feathered arrows of "Xu Xiu" fell directly into the crowd of warriors without aiming, and those hit by the arrows fell to the ground immediately. The surviving warriors were bleeding and struggling powerlessly on the ground, but no one cared. Regardless of serious injury or death, the outcome is the same at this time.

A few hundred steps away, Xiu Luote had a cold face, staring at the battlefield in front of him. He watched the Ottopan warriors begin to die in groups, and his heart was as hard as a stone. Because this is just the beginning.

When the Ottopan warriors finally rushed within forty steps, the real killing opportunity finally arrived!