When the Golden Horn fell, news spread that the Norman fleet had entered the port area. The whole of Constantinople was in a state of panic. After all, that direction was one of the few loopholes in Constantinople. After that, the Normans would no longer have to storm the fortified walls of Theodosius. Turn to the north dock area and attack. And once the walls there were lost. Then Constantinople fell.

Such a strategy. It is equivalent to reducing the difficulty of capturing Constantinople by three-quarters! Constantinople has high cities and thick fortresses, and many towers. But I can't show it anymore!

August 1, 1014. Destined to be a sleepless night. After learning the news, no matter how generous people usually are, they can't sleep. From Her Majesty Queen Lilianu. Imperial Marshal Aetius, as well as the other Imperial generals, were all dressed as soon as they received the news. Summoning all the armies they could muster, they rushed as fast as they could, toward the northern walls of Constantinople.

While hurrying on this side, Lilianu secretly sighed: thanks to Constantinople, it did not cut corners when designing. Unlike some cities, the coastal side has no walls at all. Otherwise, you won't have to fight for a while. Forget it about direct surrender.

In this way, seeing the empress and marshal general slipping away and running towards the north of the city, many panicked citizens of Constantine also ran towards the north of the city with the current. They want to see for themselves, they want to hear the comments of some pundits. I want some comfort. Let yourself know that this Constantinople is still under the control of the Empire, and that it is still the best fortress that will not fall.

However, they were doomed to disappointment. When you see countless castle-sized warships, showing off their might in the Golden Horn. Countless large-caliber guns with thick mouths fired continuously, trembling the city wall on the north side. When they saw tens of thousands of Norman soldiers, they sneered. Barracks were erected in the ruined dock area. Assemble those monstrous siege towers...... When the soldiers and civilians of Constantinople saw this scene. All of them. From Lilianu to an ordinary citizen of Constantinople. They were all speechless in shock and panic.

"Don't panic! Hurry up and get ready, the other side is going to attack the city! Romans, I order you to cheer up. Don't panic! We haven't lost yet!"

Soon, Lilianu stabilized. Then she shouted at the soldiers and civilians of Constantinople behind her. Cheer them up: "Although not as strong as the walls of Theodosius. But this is still Constantinople, the strongest fortress in the world, as long as we work together to defend it. Then the other side will not be able to take this place! We have enough supplies and enough manpower. There is no need to be afraid !! at all."

When the Empress's voice fell. The soldiers and civilians of Constantinople roared loudly and cheered in response. Soon. The soldiers and the people climbed the city wall with their weapons. Cowering behind the pheasant, he nervously watched the Norman army in the dock area. Waiting for their attack.

Before that, however, they had to withstand the horrific and powerful broadside salvo of Norman guns. Just three salvos turned the entire harbor into ruins with firepower. This moment poured on the walls of Constantinople. Violent explosions, bombardments. Quite a few towers collapsed and became unusable. It also flattened part of the pheasants. Even the Greeks who were hiding behind the pheasants were blown to minced meat.

Such a scene is extremely shocking. Ordinary soldiers, even if they have killed people on the battlefield. After seeing such a scene - a person who was standing beside him just now, and the good man was blown into pieces in a blink of an eye. In any case, this is also unacceptable. Not to mention ordinary citizens who have never been to the battlefield.

Some people were shelled off by artillery. Shouting in pain. Others were smeared with burnt minced meat. Frightened mad and incontinent. Some people simply dropped their weapons and ran away. even fell directly from the city wall in a panic and fell to pieces...... Immediately afterward, a cannonball hit the city gates. The hardwood gates could not fully defend against such a bombardment like a masonry wall. All of a sudden, a hole was punched. The Norman soldiers, who saw this scene head-on, immediately cheered loudly!

"Bombard their gates! Bombard their gates intensively!!It is more valuable to do so than to bombard their walls at will!!" General Ushakov, who was trying to see this scene in the firelight with binoculars in hand, shouted excitedly: "Inform the fleet." Bombard their gates with a bang! Blasten those gates open, and we'll win!!"

So, with the order of General Ushakov, the fleet began to concentrate on bombarding the not very strong city gates. Although the accuracy of artillery of this era was not very high. And it's two or three o'clock in the morning. The darkest time of the day. But hundreds of artillery pieces hit the same bombardment as luck. There were a few shells that hit the city gates. At that time, wood chips were flying everywhere at the city gate, and several boards were torn off in pieces. A big hole has been exposed!

"Quick. Go and carry the stones. Seal the gates!" The Greek officers immediately gave the order in a fit of rage. The soldiers and civilians of Constantine were bombarded with such artillery, and the stones and timbers were immediately knocked down. and the stones that were originally used to defend the city were carried over. They were at the gates of the city. The gates of the city were sealed. The defenders breathed a sigh of relief.

And just like that, like a weak reed in a storm. The defenders of Constantinople were bombarded by the Normans' stormy artillery. Endured for about three hours. After three hours. It was only when it was already dark that the Norman fleet stopped shelling.

Three hours of shelling. In total, the Norman fleet fired thousands of projectiles. Although the final result was not satisfactory. No more than 1,000 Greeks were killed or wounded. But in terms of demoralizing the other side. This round of bombing was extremely effective. After such a bombardment, the tens of thousands of Greek soldiers and civilians on the city walls were almost all thrown into a state of chaos. And at this time, the sun also rose. The light becomes abundant. Norman's army units were also recuperated. Taking advantage of the fact that the Greeks were in chaos, they began to attack!

"Charge!!" the centurions and centurions roared, pushing the huge, freshly assembled siege towers towards each other. Holding a layer of iron sheets, the siege tower more than ten meters high weighs several tons. Although three rows of wheels are installed underneath, oil lubrication is also applied to the wheels. But the march was still not very fast - but it was enough.

Because on this side of the city wall, there is not much defense machinery. Catapults and ballistas were scarce. It is impossible to destroy these sturdy siege machines with a single weapon. It is also very difficult to burn it with fire.

Although after the accident, Empress Lilianus ordered that the large machinery that was not needed for the time being in the front, the inner wall of Theodosius on the west side, and the wall of Constantine, should be transported to the north side. But eagerly. This is completely impossible to do. Those precious mechanical weapons are still on the way to be transported. It cannot be transported.

"Concentrate the existing catapult and ballista fire and attack those siege towers!"

After the end of the shelling of the Norman battleships. The empress and some of the professional soldiers climbed out of the caves on the side of the city walls. Then rushed to the city walls. I watched as those hideous siege towers moved slowly but unswervingly towards their side. Empress Lilianu ordered.

But. With a dozen catapults and crossbows alone. It is completely impossible to break through these siege towers wrapped in iron sheets. They either missed. Or maybe it hits and bounces off the sheets. There was no way to stop the Normans.

"Damn it. Looks like we're going to have to get ready to fight. "Seeing these siege towers getting closer and closer. The Greeks gave up their intention to destroy them. When they got a little closer, some Greek soldiers tried to throw Greek fire pots at them. to destroy these things. But the Normans had already prepared a strategy to deal with it. Immediately, the fastest soldiers ran up to the siege towers with barrels filled with sand. Then a bucket was poured over and the flame was extinguished.

In this way, the soldiers pushed forward with a dozen of these siege towers, and finally approached the city walls. Immediately afterward, the Norman soldiers rushed towards the city walls. Norman longbowmen and crossbowmen armed with longbows and heavy crossbows also rushed to the bottom of the city walls, firing arrows and crossbows at the city.

On the walls, the Greek soldiers roared and fired back at the Normans with their projectile weapons. At the same time, they concentrated all the catapults and ballistae for the final round of bombardment. And the only Greek fire thrower was activated. In such a situation, they finally destroyed a siege tower. But this is completely useless. Below the tower, more, a total of sixteen siege towers have been opened. The Normans rushed to the city in impatience. A fierce struggle was fought with the Greeks.

"Attack!!! There are still most of the enemies in confusion. Unable to organize an effective defense, the Greeks launched a fierce attack. Axes and tomahawks slashed violently. Chop all the Greeks who came close to them to pieces. After accumulating a night's physical strength, the battle ** completely broke out at this moment. Formed a fighting force capable of destroying an empire!

(To be continued)