Eagle Byzantium

This group of troops came down from the Iron Gate Castle and Morava River areas along the Prevensus River, and soon cut off the retreat of Fort Sophia!

This was Gawain's "back-up move". Even if he could not coordinate with the frontal siege team very accurately, in this medieval era, this tacit understanding of frontal roundabout attacks was enough to instantly kill the rest of the armies of the same era.

The outflanking army consisted of all the elites of Gawain - three companies of Italian veterans, plus the 300 Lombard infantry brought by Birel, which was actually equal to four companies (equivalent to four detachments of the Byzantine army). Among them, the military The commander is Birel, and the boat master is Andreev Yergo. Among them were hundreds of Pauline heretics and Cuman shooters who voluntarily joined in and took the principle of being enemies of the Byzantine Roman Emperor.

At that time, Andreev worked overtime in the shipbuilding camp of Iron Gate Castle and built a large number of simple canoes and rafts. After Gawain's messenger cavalry arrived. The supreme commander who stayed behind, Wesat Melo, organized and implemented this roundabout attack, which actually proved to be very successful.

At least that's what the several Byzantine soldiers in the fire tunnel on the top of the mountain thought. When the soldier holding a candle and sticking his head out to look at the path down the mountain shouted an alarm, the small, dark team came over. Throwing stones and arrows, the soldier screamed and dodged, and retreated behind the wall of the fire tunnel platform. A dense sound hit the wall and exploded: But this was It didn't help. Soon, several people wearing dark robes and armors jumped in from everywhere. Then the candle was knocked over, the cold light of the blade passed by with the screams of people, and there was a short fight to the death. , ended quickly in the dark night - more than ten of the half-column of soldiers guarding the fire tunnel platform were killed and wounded, and the leader's flag bearer was tied up, losing his function of commanding the small town below.

then. Isaac Komnenos, who had just mounted his horse in the small castle grounds, saw the shouts of killing from the top of the mountain, and the red-handed flags fluttering on it. The emperor's brother was immediately shocked, "Our The back was suddenly attacked by Gawain's despicable guy." Branas also saw it, gritted his teeth and pulled the bridle. Coming to Sebastokrat's side, "We must break out as soon as possible and wait until the enemy forms a formation to block them."

Isaac nodded, and then the blood genes of the Comnenus family began to awaken, "Gawain, you are going to humiliate me, the second most glorious person in the Roman Empire. It's still too early! After I return to Adrianople, you can Gather the team and compete with you! Don’t be petty! See the bravery and wisdom of Komnenos." Then, the horn sounded, and the gate to the east of the small town opened wide. Branas took the lead, holding a Byzantine oak spear with a small flag, and shouted with thirty or forty cavalry. They rushed out and formed a fierce attack formation. He rushed toward the muddy land at the intersection of the river branches.

The dozens of Paulists who stood in the front and ran around to set fire were immediately beaten to death and wounded by Branas. Among them, Branas stabbed two or three enemies to death with his own spear, and the rest fled in all directions. "Your Excellency Sebastocrat, follow us!" Branas raised his lance and shouted back to the cavalry team behind him.

"Well done Andronicus. When you get to Adrianople, I will report to my brother and crown you a nobleman with white robes and swords. The big medal will shine on your armor and lintel." Isaac said before the rest of the cavalry. Surrounded by people, riding whips were raised. He kept promising, "Other comrades, each will give a gift of twenty gold coins. I will never break my promise."

Then Branas, even more delighted, continued to charge forward with his spear. Before the river branch must pass, several small groups of enemy Italians used halberds and axes to launch an ambush-like attack on the cavalry around him. This group of soldiers had obviously received special training and could flexibly Use the surrounding shrubs and low walls to fight independently in groups of two or three.

A cavalry horse was cut and stabbed. After falling under the horse, he was immediately dragged away and killed. However, Branas continued to roar, and stabbed Gawain with the tip of his spear from the shoulder down. The chest of the subordinate standard bearer, and then Branas' horse head knocked him away, "The glorious Branas family is I won't give in!" As he said this, the young general still rushed to the front, threw down his spear, and heroically drew his sword, because while running rapidly, he saw a warrior wearing heavy armor. After landing from the ship, he held up a long two-handed halberd and headed straight towards him.

"Ah!" Branas swung his sword and slashed at the opponent, then the fire exploded, and his sword was broken by what the Italians called roncone (the hook of the halberd), and then the warrior shouted loudly, He directly used his halberd to break off the hind legs of Branas's horse! Branas threw himself to the ground in embarrassment in front of the fallen horse, but his relatively light cavalry armor allowed him to get up quickly again, and then pulled out his spare single-edged saber from his belt. The warrior did not pursue him - the cavalry behind Branas passed by one by one, constantly forcing him back with swords and spears.

Branas hurriedly wiped the dust and nosebleeds from his face with his hands, and continued to run forward and chop with his saber. Several Paulists and Schiavones rowing in front of him looked at his ferocious look. They all ran back to the ship and hurriedly Retreating, another cavalryman gave up his mount to him. Then Branas saw that his cavalry had successfully broken through and occupied the small sandbar that can cross the Prevensus River. Filled with joy, he got on his horse and faced the rear. Loudly waving his arms.

But he could not see anything. After rushing for about two Gustadias, he actually found that there were only about thirty people still accompanying him. At this time, the cavalrymen who were also puzzled also looked back in surprise.

Where did the royal brother and the hundreds of cavalrymen who guarded him go!

Soon, the dust raised on the flank of the town told Branas all the answers - after Isaac rushed to the river island area and successfully attracted many enemies to chase and intercept, he was extremely smart and issued a decisive order, "We will break out in the opposite direction!"

The so-called reverse breakthrough is to lead the cavalry in the opposite direction after the enemy sets up a blockade in front, making the enemy's interception futile. This is an extremely bold and unexpected tactic. In this empire, only a few people like Lord Sebastokrate, who are wise and brave, can come up with it.

Isaac's direction was to follow the southwest wall of Sofia, break into the complex terrain of the Rila Mountains, and then collect some ships and follow the Thracian River to safely reach Adrianople.

This was a circuitous breakout route that a character with Gawain's intelligence could not figure out, especially when Isaac saw that there were more and more enemy ships and infantry on the shore to block the way in the direction of the river island. (To be continued ~^~)