As Europe entered modern history, traditional European defensive architecture, such as all-stone castles and walls, was left behind, because these seemingly solid buildings were in fact only superficial. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

Artillery can easily shatter these solid and brittle stones, no matter what stone, can not stop the artillery bombardment, because the hard texture of the stone, is not at all the opponent of the harder solid iron bullet, will be easily cracked apart, turned into stones with countless cracks, resulting in the collapse of the overall defense area.

Therefore, after the modern era in Europe, the construction specifications of medieval castles and fortresses were completely abandoned, and instead there was a construction style similar to that of Eastern China, that is, the city walls were made of mud compaction.

Although the soil is soft and not hard, its ability to absorb the power of cannonballs is amazing, and even the walls built by compacted earth can withstand the bombardment of heavy siege artillery after a little widening, which is unimaginable for stone walls.

Therefore, when Levi was on the ship, the artillerymen belonging to the 24-pounder light cannon saw the construction method of the fortress on the island in the middle of the lake, and it was all made of stones, and they had already made a judgment on this fortress in their hearts.

This is a fortress that is destined to be destroyed, the difference is only how far Levi asked them to destroy this fortress, and even if they wanted to, they could do it around the clock, as long as the barrel allowed, and bomb this shoddy fortress into ruins!

There are no obstacles, because they themselves are from the Spanish Artillery Academy, and the courses they have studied have examples from the Middle Ages, as well as practical examples of how fragile the stone walls were in the face of artillery.

Just like now, the rumbling city wall that began to collapse and collapse can no longer be used as a defensive facility to continue to stand on the shore of the island in the middle of the lake, a large number of stones have begun to fall, a large number of city wall structures have begun to collapse, and even the arrow towers and guard towers attached to the city wall have collapsed because of the collapse of the city wall, and Hula has completely turned into a mess of ruins.

"Although they have been mentally prepared for a long time, the quality of the walls they built is too poor."

Wilmot's brows furrowed slightly, looking at the large amount of dust raised in front of him, his face couldn't help but show a little embarrassment, and he shook his head and said to Levi: "I really shouldn't believe in the construction level of those water thieves. ”

"They're just a bunch of water thieves." Levi also nodded, for the city wall of the fortress in the middle of the lake, it was so easy to collapse, and he didn't expect it to be so soon, looking at the artillerymen who were still cleaning the chambers in the smoke, he also instructed Wilmot: "But we didn't win this war." ”

"Of course, but the goddess of victory has appeared behind us."

A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and Wilmot nodded easily, but his expression was also suddenly solemn, and he turned his head to look at the artillerymen who were still cleaning the gun chamber in front of him, and at the same time brushing oil to dissipate heat from the artillery, and couldn't help but take a deep breath.

This was the first step in the conquest of the Spanish Empire, completely different from the previous defensive operations, this was a real attack, and it was also the first battle that made him careless, no matter what, Wilmot, as Minister of War, had to be completely cautious in everything, even the little things.

Looking up at the fortress in front of the island in the middle of the lake, the dust raised in the sky has gradually fallen, and the city wall, which was originally six or seven meters high, is now only three or four meters high, and the entire eastern city wall has almost collapsed!

The original watchtower and arrow tower have all collapsed with the collapse, and the figures of a few water thieves are still struggling to get up on the collapsed city wall, it seems that they are the lucky ones who escaped the collapse and survived, but except for them, the figures of the others have already disappeared into the pile of collapsed ruins.

On the soft mud ground under the city wall, the swamp crocodiles that were still lying there to rest had been smashed to death four or five, and the seven or eight meters long creatures that were like raging beasts were also frightened by the collapse and the roar of artillery, and they swam quickly under the water, fleeing into the distance, not daring to stay around at all.

"Deliver my orders and keep firing!"

But Wilmot showed no mercy, his hand waved slightly forward, and the herald behind him immediately responded, quickly conveying his order, and also made the eight light galleries in front of him firm in their faith.

Orders from the commanding generals are never wrong, as artillerymen they only need to obey orders, and the 24-pounder light cannon, which is already ready, continues to bombard, and with the roar of thunder, it crashes into the ruins of the city wall, and stirs up pieces of rubble, and the wall that has not yet collapsed is also crumbled.

But more than that, it was the solid cannonball that directly crossed the gap in the collapsed city wall, and bombarded the city wall heavily, and the thatched houses that seemed to be inhabited by the thieves of the Ketuf River were all blown away.

Destroying is always easier than building, and artillery has a unique way of destroying, at least any building that stands in front of the solid iron ball will be reduced to shattered wreckage, and even the stone ground will be smashed apart because of the solid iron ball that has been slammed down, splashing gravel in all directions!

"What's going on? What's going on? ”

In the fortress of the island in the middle of the lake, all the Ketufu river thieves were running around in panic, but they couldn't find a place that could show safety, because with every bombardment that fell, not necessarily anywhere, a cannonball with a scream would fall, and the unlucky ghost who couldn't dodge would be smashed to pieces!

They were all looking at their surroundings in horror, and they couldn't even find a way to fight back, even if the troops organized by the baron's personal guards were hiding in a safer place, they were already panicking.

Because the eastern city wall has completely collapsed, the ruins have even made many people unable to dodge, and the water thieves who are resting in the thatched huts are covered alive underneath, and no one wants to rescue, because they are covered by so many stones, even if they want to save people, there is no way.

It was a completely collapsed wall, and they didn't think about why the wall they had worked so hard to build two weeks ago had collapsed in just a few moments.

Everyone was gasping for air, not even knowing what to do, so that the panic in their hearts could be calmed down, for they were already afraid, especially since the swamp baron had not appeared until now, which made their hearts even more suspicious.

Their suspicions gradually turned into discussions, and although they did not dare to speak loudly, many of them had their own circles, talking about the battle in low voices, with fear on their faces, and already with fear and thoughts of fleeing in their hearts.

"What are you talking about? Do you want to feed the crocodiles? ”

But those swamp baron's personal guards had ugly faces, they were the backbone of the fortress in the middle of the lake, and they were also the loyal dogs fed by the swamp baron, how could they not know their thoughts when they saw the frightened looks of the water thieves around them?

This group of scoundrels, executioners, and thugs of the Kertuf River Bandits, although they are murderous to civilians and merchants, but once they encounter a setback, or any setback in their actions, they will become timid because of this character, and sometimes these seemingly outlaws are more desperate than others!

Now that they have offended Grey Mist City and Samar City, they who belong to the mutineers don't care about betraying the Marsh Baron, and besides, the Ketuf River thieves are not without betrayers, as long as they flee far enough, even after leaving this island, even if the Marsh Baron's reputation is great, it doesn't matter if they leave this island!

So this group of water thieves already had a small idea, they had been in this rancid island long enough, and they had already had the will to break away from this soon-to-be-destroyed Ketufu River thief.

"Whew-"

A sharp scimitar slashed through the void, and one of the captain of the swamp baron's guard looked embarrassed, and at his feet, a head with disbelief was already spurting blood and rolling down to the side.

Then a headless corpse fell to its knees heavily, its smooth neck had lost its head, and its beating heart spurted blood everywhere, making the face of the captain of the swamp baron's guard more and more hideous, as if it were a hellhound from the darkness.

"The Marsh Baron's order is to hold this fortress in the middle of the lake."

He looked at the water thieves who were also shocked, and a sinister smile appeared on their bloody faces, raised his scimitar, and said slowly: "Do you know what will happen if you disobey the orders of Lord Marsh Baron?" ”

His actions completely suppressed this group of water thieves who already had ideas, and looking at the walls on both sides that had not completely collapsed, the captain of the personal guard also gritted his teeth and roared: "Pick up your weapons and defend his walls for the Marsh Baron, otherwise when the Baron appears on the city wall, you will all have to feed his beloved crocodile!" ”

Outside the walls, another round of artillery roared in, and eight heavy solid iron balls raged through the fortress, and no wooden or weak masonry structure could stop the bombardment of these shells.

But this group of water thieves, looking at the whistling cannonballs, also thought of the prestige of the swamp baron, they all subconsciously swallowed and spit, and after comparison, they also took their weapons, with that kind of desperate momentum, rushed towards the walls on both sides, as if they wanted to continue to garrison this doomed fortress! (To be continued.) )