And just like that, as the sun went down, the curtain came down on the siege that had lasted for a day. Both sides involved in the battle are exhausted. And, they were all surprised by each other's performance.

The Norman Empire is not to be said. Originally, the Norman engineers assessed that this line of defense would be able to stop the advance of a million-strong army. Even putting the Eastern Roman Empire, the strongest in continental Europe, on the opposite side of the garrison. In the face of such a brilliant defense system, it will not help.

However, the final result surprised the engineers who carried out the assessment. The Mongols were nothing more than a partial division. A group of slaves and a group of cavalry -- these cavalrymen are not all the core of the enemy, the Mongols! And the enemy didn't use any siege weapons!

This made the Normans feel a little pressure.

After the information reached Egil, who was leading the elite 125,000 Central Army and more local garrisons to Moscow, the emperor also exclaimed: "The Mongol cavalry is the strongest army in the world. And Subutai is also one of the few famous generals in the world. ”

The Norman Emperor used this to motivate his soldiers to be more courageous and harder. The Norman soldiers, too, were unhappy with what their emperor said about over-praising the Mongols. As a result, the morale of the army was high. The self-confident Norman army was eager to defeat the Mongols in the next war to prove that they were the strongest in the world.

And on the Mongolian side. In this battle, the Mongol army lost 50,000 troops. The 40,000 or so slaves were not taken care of. However, the remaining casualties of nearly 10,000 people cannot be taken lightly.

It was the elite Mongol army, and their allies. It is a brave and warlike, fierce steppe nomadic cavalry. Among them, there were even about 2,000 elite Mongolian heavy cavalry! In other parts of Asia, no matter what the situation and what kind of troops are facing, one against three, or even with one against five. And get the victory. However. In this campaign, in the battle with the Normans. Those Normans just spent some bows, gunpowder. and a small number of miscellaneous armies. and slew these mighty warriors.

Led by Subutai, this attack was declared a complete failure. He had to run back in dismay. Report this defeat to the ruler of the Mongols, the great Genghis Khan.

In other words, the other side not only has a strong city, but also a group of soldiers who are very good at fighting. as well as excellent. A cavalry unit that can even be compared to the Mongol warriors?" When Subutai finished speaking, Temujin hesitated for a moment, and then said something like this.

"It's hard to believe, but. That's what happened, Great Khan. Hearing Genghis Khan say this, Subutai buried his head even lower.

"I see...... Genghis Khan thought about it carefully, and then smiled: "Indeed, you have done a very good job, and you can't do it quickly." Don't be panicked or embarrassed. I don't think anyone can do better than you under those conditions. ”

"Thank you, Great Khan, for the compliment. "Hear Genghis Khan say this. Subutai finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Mongol generals next to him felt strange - they had been defeated in a previous battle with the centaurs. This time the attack on the Normans was again in vain. The generals thought that even if they were not enough to be killed, they would be severely punished. Unexpectedly, Genghis Khan not only did not blame him, but praised him. It's a bit of a stretch.

"You don't have siege equipment, and you don't have elite infantry. With only cavalry troops and a group of Persian slaves, it was good enough to be able to fight the war to such an extent. Genghis Khan continued: "But it doesn't matter. In these days. Craftsmen from Han and Persia. It has already arrived. And the craftsmen who originally accompanied the army also made a lot of siege machinery. The earth-shattering thunder transported from the rear was also stored. This time, we can attack the city in another way. The Normans couldn't afford to keep it. ”...,

At the same time, while the Mongols were planning a new offensive, the Norman emperor arrived in Moscow. And he carefully read the report on this battle - he was amazed by the fighting power of the Mongols. But at the same time, it also made him wonder.

"Indeed, the use of slaves to consume the material and vital forces of our garrison and to serve as sappers at the same time. to overcome various traps and obstacles. Finally, the main cavalry force was used to attack the city. Such a tactic does have merit. Coupled with the fierce characteristics of the Mongols...... However, it is still too strange. Egil shook his head: "It stands to reason that the Mongol Empire, which has occupied the Central Plains, will not lack craftsmen, but in the war against the Eastern civilization." They should also have a strong siege ability. It shouldn't be like an ordinary barbarian, using such primitive siege methods......"

"Is it a sign of weakness?" replied Artoria, who was sitting next to Egil, after hearing Egil talk to himself. On the march, Egil had already given Artoria all the information about the Mongol Empire and the Norman intelligence system had gathered. So the Norman queen also had a considerable understanding of this terrible enemy.

"Well, maybe. In addition to this, there should be some other reasons. Perhaps their main forces are still preparing. Or maybe they want to send some cannon fodder to test our power. However, in short, we can't really think that the other party's strength is nothing more just because the other party has exposed such power. Egil said, "Be more vigilant." ”

"I see. Artoria nodded, then asked, "So we can go out of the city and fight?"

"-No!"

That's pretty much it, although he said that he should pay attention to it, and he couldn't be careless, and he had to see the other party as the most dangerous opponent since his debut. But in fact, Egil, who had become accustomed to his invincibility in the world, actually didn't take Temujin seriously in his heart.

Of course, he had his own reasons for thinking this - for example, he was on the defensive, with a favorable location, while the enemy was on an expeditionary expedition. There is also the fact that he has the most advanced level of technology in the world, as well as weapons and equipment. It has the population resources of one-third of Asia, and the suzerainty of the other two-thirds of Asia, etc., etc......

But in the final analysis, the most important reason is still that one - it comes from the depths of Egil's heart, the pride of an emperor.

July 21. Egil arranged for a garrison of the second line of defense - 200,000 conscripts from Scandinavia, and the rest of the 100,000 conscripts from Eastern Europe, a total of 300,000 semi-professional militiamen, and a certain number of baggage troops, engineers. and the two new recruits of the new army of 10,000 people.

After the defense was fully worked out, the Norman Emperor took his Praetorian Guard, as well as the Knight Guard. Came to the first line of defense, which had just experienced a Mongol attack. Visiting and condolences to the wounded and disabled soldiers who have made meritorious contributions to the war, as well as the heroes of battle. A simple, but solemn ceremony was held.

In this way, Egil hopes to use honor to boost morale and redeem the impact on morale caused by the explosion of the lost fortress. And it turns out that in this era, in this era when there has not yet been moral degradation, and there has not yet been materialism. What the Norman Emperor did, was worthwhile and worked.

The soldiers beamed to receive the medals. There are different styles for killing more than five enemies, for killing an enemy officer, and for killing an enemy heavy cavalry. Obtained for manipulating artillery, city defense crossbows, killing a large number of enemies, and officers for commanding strongly...... These various and shiny medals are Egil's new medal system, which replaces the medals of a single variety, which were originally only available to the knight class, with more types, more ranks, and various medals. And the rank of the medal is increased one by one...... Even, if the soldiers have made enough meritorious deeds, they can also receive knightly medals that can only be worn by knights. ...,

Such a move did make the knights under Egil's command feel dissatisfied. Feeling insulted. However, for other more troops, such a reward is quite worthwhile, and it is worth their hard work.

After the award ceremony, looking at the soldiers who were beaming and had won the medal, as well as the soldiers who had been envious, jealous and hated next to them, and had not received the medal, Egil sighed in his heart: "Just one idea can control the honor and disgrace of 100,000 people, or even millions of people, and can control the rise and fall of a country, this is the so-called ruler, the so-called emperor...... Speaking of which, that's what I'm fighting for, isn't it......"

While sighing with emotion, Egil gave a loud speech to the beaming soldiers wearing medals: "Salute to you! Great soldiers! Defenders of the Norman Empire, and even of the whole of Europe, and of the entire civilized world! I salute you! Because you are the most admirable people in the world! Your status is noble, and what you have done is extremely righteous! No one can erase your merits! History, will remember all those who sacrificed their lives for this great war!!"

Accompanied by the cheers of a large number of soldiers, there are even scenes of people swearing allegiance to Egil in tears. The second Mongol offensive began.