In the face of a fierce attack by the Normans. The Greek military and civilians, still in a state of disarray, were completely unable to defend themselves. Soon the Norman infantry gained a foothold at several sites where they had climbed the walls. And little by little, advancing towards the rest of the city walls.

"Damn it! Hurry! Reinforcements! Put all your forces in. Knock those Normans back!!" Seeing that his army had been hit hard, he was at a disadvantage. Lilianu ordered in a fit of rage. And this time. The mechanical weapons transported from the western side of Theodosius' walls were not delivered. But reinforcements have already arrived. Unlike the other soldiers, who were frightened by the Norman artillery. They still managed to maintain a certain level of morale and organization.

After that, under Lilianu's orders, the soldiers quickly rushed forward. Push away the bewildered and overwhelmed allies. Assemble a tight array of shield spears on the walls to deal with the charging Norman army.

The Normans, with the assault infantry as arrows, charged the Roman heavy infantry array. The remaining Norman infantry drew their axes and threw them to inflict damage. Such tactics were extremely lethal on the narrow walls. Let the Roman legions suffer heavy casualties. However, it is still a little worse. Worse - the legions of the Eastern Romans were still holding their line. At the same time, those ordinary citizens, the militia. The army, which had been thrown into disarray by the shelling, was gradually recovering. And joined the battle.

Below the city walls. Close to the Constantinople side. The Greeks in the city concentrated all the long-range projection equipment they could. And aimed at the advancing positions of the Normans, frantically shooting and throwing. Various styles of bows and crossbows, long and short javelins, and stone projectiles shot at the Normans like a rainstorm. Some of these arrows, javelins and projectiles were not strong enough. There was a clanging sound on the armor of the Normans. Or they could have been hit in the limbs and the Norman soldiers could not move. A small number of them were also hit in the head, killing the Normans.

The most powerful javelins and crossbow bolts pierced the plates of the Norman infantry, inflicting even greater casualties...... In such a situation, under the attack of thousands, tens of thousands of projectiles, under the attack of stones, arrows and javelins like a rainstorm. The Norman army could barely move an inch.

Although the soldiers have already raised their shields. A defensive shield wall was formed. And protected the overhead - these more well-armed Normans, thus formed an array, similar to the Roman tortoiseshell array. However, this still did not guarantee that they would not be harmed by the Greek army on the inside. And more importantly, in such a situation. Although their defense has become stronger, their mobile surname has been greatly reduced. If you want to continue the attack, it is a little impossible to gain an advantage.

At this moment, the Norman army had sixteen siege towers, which were erected in sixteen places on the city wall. The total number of troops rushing to the city wall was no more than three or four thousand. The main forces were still waiting anxiously under the walls. If we don't expand our positions and put in more troops, we won't be able to take this wall over and take it into our hands.

In this way, if you don't make a defensive stance, you will be killed by the opponent's dense rain of bows and crossbows. But with a defensive stance, there is not enough strength to attack those enemies. In this way, there are two contradictions. Leave the Norman army in a dilemma. Taking advantage of the situation, the Greek army organized several counterattacks. Although it was not possible to completely drive the Normans down. But it also made the other party narrow its foothold on the city wall.

However, it was also because of this that the Norman array became more compact. The shield walls are next to each other. Warriors in plate armor stood by. Even the catapult attack couldn't hurt them too much. The two sides were at a stalemate. This stalemate came down. The Greek army was a little tired.

Generally speaking, the besieging side should have lost its morale at such a time and retreated. But the Normans still clinged to the walls like kraft candy. The army of the Greeks attacked several times in a row. All weapons, including Greek fire, were dispatched. In the end, they couldn't be defeated. This made Lilianu feel very uneasy.

"Damn it. If it continues like this, it won't be good...... "Seeing this situation, the Greek soldiers and civilians have a great headache. The two sides remained at a stalemate until noon. The Greek army began to recuperate in batches - and at this time. The Normans seized the opportunity to launch an attack. More than a dozen landing sites attacked together.

In such a situation. The Greek army was a little confused. They didn't expect to fight from the middle of the night to the present. The Normans, who had been fighting for ten hours in a row, still had such a spirit. Caught off guard, several Norman armies were captured. They struck violently. Killed the surrounding array of Greeks. Opened up a larger position.

After that, more Norman soldiers climbed the walls along the siege towers. These new forces replaced the Norman army, which had been fighting continuously for some time. Then continue to maintain the offensive stance. There are two armies, and they are already on the verge of capturing one of the towers of the Greeks!

In such a situation, the Greeks could not afford to eat and rest. I had to grab the weapon around me and plunge into the fight again. However, in the case of organization and quality that are completely inferior to those of the Normans. Such continuous battles against the Greek defenders. Especially for the irregular temporary conscripts, the second-line troops of the local garrison, and the armed citizens of Constantinople. is very disadvantageous.

Without professional endurance training, a soldier cannot cope with hours of non-stop high-intensity combat. The Normans, who had been trained by profession, did not have this problem. So, soon, in the case of gaining the upper hand. That tower of the Greeks was lost. The Norman army took the tower by stepping on the layers of corpses laid on the ground by the Greeks. And the defense was quickly organized.

Although the second batch of siege machinery could not be delivered as soon as possible. But the Normans still came up with another way - the soldiers at the top of the tower threw down the thick and strong hemp rope. After that, the soldiers on the ground began to climb up with difficulty along the hemp rope. Crossbows take precedence. to fortify the tower's defenses.

It was so busy until the afternoon. The small tower was already overcrowded. In total, more than 300 longbowmen, heavy crossbowmen occupied the firing platforms on the upper floors of the tower, leaning on the pheasant moats to fire arrows at the slightly lower walls, as well as beneath the walls. And on the lower and second floors of the tower. It hoarded more than 600 Norman infantry and assault infantry. These soldiers took turns replacing the sides of the defensive towers, leading to the entrance to the city walls. Fight against the Greeks who are desperately charging inside, trying to retake the tower.

In this way, this small tower, which covers an area of less than 500 square meters, became the focus of the entire battlefield - several other parts of the Norman Empire, which did not move as smoothly as here. Of the remaining 14 sites, only six are still holding out. The remaining eight were all repulsed by the Greeks. Reluctantly left the city wall. Instead, he fought the Greeks on the top of the siege tower. And four others also retained only a small base on the city wall. It was as if the capture of a tower in this way never happened again.

"Damn it!"

Seeing the tide of their own army rushing over. and under the enemy's crossbow fire, under heavy losses. Blocked at the entrance by opposing soldiers. In the end, it was helpless, and it receded like a tide. Empress Liliannu became even more anxious. Seeing that day is coming to an end. She didn't even eat a bite of food. From early morning to late afternoon, he soaked in the battlefield and constantly commanded the army to fight. And in the end, it only got such a result. This is really unacceptable to her.

"I have also heard of the Battle of Jerusalem, where Egil Naza led the Crusaders against the infidels. Jerusalem was not as well defended as Constantinople. But it is also a rare fortified city. One of the reasons for the fall was that the Crusaders captured a tower and used it as a base to attack the infidels. In the end, this tactic worked very well. And this time, it looks like he's going to want to do it again......"

Indeed, in a sense, Empress Lilianu's guess was correct. Although the Norman Emperor did not directly command this line of battle at the beginning. It was not until noon, after lunch, that I took the battleship. Entered the Golden Horn. Fight with remote control. But after learning that they had captured one of the towers of the Greeks. The Emperor was indeed greatly excited. And tactical adjustments were quickly made. The next barrage of stubborn commands. It's all from the emperor's handwriting. It's not impossible to say that he wants to do it again.

However, knowing is one thing. But how to deal with it is another matter. Fought with the Normans for more than ten hours in a row. Although there was a break in rotation for a while. But the Greek army was still very tired. Massive loss of physical strength. It's a little unbearable to fight anymore. Lilianu knew that if she continued to fight, she would not be able to bargain. There is a possibility that the other party will take the opportunity to attack and suffer a loss again.

So, despite the reluctance in my heart. But Lilianu gave the order anyway. Tell the soldiers to retreat and rest. Leave the tower alone for now, and concentrate on driving down the rest of the Normans who had climbed the city. After that, there was a truce. Rest for the night and come back tomorrow to deal with them. Eat something for yourself and get a good night's sleep.

It's just that Lilianu was right. But that doesn't mean the Norman army should do the same - the thousands of Norman troops on the city walls are tired after a day of fighting. However, the Norman army waiting under the city was all a new force......

(To be continued)