Eagle Byzantium

When Tancred's troops rushed to the pass of the target mountain, the defenders on the mountain also rushed down to resist. Both armies were arranged in a long and narrow column, with towering and steep cliffs on both sides. There was no other way except this straight passage.

"The time to see the brave has come!" Tancred jumped off his horse directly, holding a sword and covering his body with a shield. He and all his comrades rushed forward shoulder to shoulder and rushed against the Mosul soldiers who came to fight. The two sides were like mice biting each other for food in a narrow bag. They could not swing their weapons to slash, but could only push and rub shoulders, draw swords and daggers and stab each other. Many people had been killed, and their clothes and armor were stained with blood, but the enemies and comrades around them stood too densely in this pass, and the bodies could not fall down, but could only be crooked among the constantly surging soldiers.

At this time, at the St. Paul Gate southwest of the Cobha camp, the pilgrims in the city, with a total of 25,000 troops, formed five square formations and walked out of the city gate in a mighty manner.

The first one was the honorable Hugh, who held the iris battle flag given by his brother, led all the brave warriors from the French Island, and hired Ligurian archers as the vanguard.

After him was Count Robert of Flanders, who was surrounded by Flemish halberds, followed by many combat-savvy infantry and cavalry, all covered in armor. The count had previously given his warhorse to his people, and his current mount was begged from a hot duck merchant, worth fifteen silver coins, and the count promised to return it after the war;

Later, the core of the command was Bohemond de., Duke of Apulia and general manager of the pilgrim army. Tever, he held a beautiful lance, wore a scarlet cloak, and a mighty chain mail, and behind him was the iconic square military flag with a gold border and a white background. Countless Norman knights swore to defend this flag to the death, including the Duke himself;

The fourth phalanx team was Godfrey Eustace, Duke of Lower Lorraine, who also had the same title as Bohemond and similarly powerful military strength. The Duke pulled the bridle, wore a sharp diamond-studded sword, held a gorgeous scepter, and was Behind them were fluttering flags with tassels. Many nobles and infantrymen from Alemanni, Lorraine and Swabia followed them in full armor. Most of the nobles rode inferior horses or even mules, donkeys and camels, but their fighting spirit was no less than before.

The last phalanx was led by Adhmar, the chief of the clergy. In the front were 600 Turkish prisoners who converted to Christianity. They held spears and quivers and swore to protect the great Christian church in Antioch instead of the mosque. Adhmar and the blind Bartholomew sat on the flag car in the middle surrounded by monks holding crosses and holy vessels. The two held the golden holy spears together and stood among the cheering fanatics. Most of them had very simple weapons, some only had a cross made of sticks, but they were full of enthusiasm for defeating the pagans and being blessed by the weapons of heaven.

The top of the city and the walls were filled with the crowds of people who were organized by the hermit Peter to send off and encourage them. They were mainly the elderly, the weak, women and children, and they kept shaking the small crosses in their hands, praying for a great and glorious victory for the Christian soldiers who walked out of the lower city gate.

Six hundred soldiers on foot were left in the key towers and churches in the city to monitor the movements in the city, especially the Crescent Church, which was still in large numbers.

After waiting to leave the city, the troops of Hugh and Robert, who came out first, deployed along the left wing, with their backs against the Orontes River; then the two phalanx teams of Bohemond and Godfrey went straight to the front of St. Paul's Gate, acting as the central army, relying on the stone fort and the mountains to serve as their right wing protection; Adhemar, who came out last, protected the precious Holy Spear of Longinus, and lined up with everyone in the back, acting as the second-line reserve. Then everyone shouted for battle, confronting Kobha's left-wing army from a distance, shaking the earth.

When the Holy Spear appeared in the vision of the left-wing Turkish soldiers, they were dumbfounded. On the northern front of the Iron Bridge, Baldwin's battle had already begun.

The two thousand Turkic cavalrymen who came down from the hill saw that Baldwin's front line was fully equipped with armor and shields and was heavily guarded, so they left four hundred veterans to guard the horses and flags, and the rest of them all dismounted and walked, holding scimitars and bows and arrows, shouting horribly, and approached Baldwin's front line like a raging wave, trying to use the advantages of light equipment and flexibility, and use proud hand-to-hand combat and archery to tear a few gaps in Baldwin's front line, and then the four hundred veterans behind would rush forward on horseback and drive all the enemies into the river to drown.

Seeing the Turks rushing towards him with swords raised, Baldwin waved his scepter. Amid the continuous and rapid trumpet sounds, several flags were erected between the shields of the front-line infantry. Rows of archers stood up behind him, including many Turks or Persians who had served Kobha a few days ago. They saw their former companions rushing towards them from all over the mountains and fields through the tops and gaps of their shields, and the arrows they were about to shoot were to pierce their throats and chests and take their lives. All this was like a dream.

But then Baldwin's rough shout rang out, "Front row, shoot!"

The archers in the front row, regardless of their identities, could only forget everything and follow the requirements of the Eastern shooting method. They pulled the bowstrings with all their strength, then calmed down and held their breath, and then released the bowstrings, shooting at the "enemy soldiers" rushing in front first, then at a distance.

The bowstrings bounced, making a sound, and rows of arrows flew over the heads of the heavy-armored knights in the front row, and flew into the bodies of the Turkish soldiers who rushed in.

The Turks who did not expect Baldwin to ambush so many archers behind the infantry line were caught off guard, and a group of people in the front row were shot down, but the soldiers behind continued to charge bravely.

"Middle row, shoot!" With Baldwin's second command, another wave of arrows rose up, covering the sky and the sun. This time it was "far back". The Turkish soldiers in the back row were immediately pierced and hit by the arrows thrown from a distance, and fell down in a mess.

The front and back rows were swept by the rain of arrows from Baldwin's army, leaving them in a mess of casualties. The Turkish soldiers charging in the middle immediately became weak and lost their courage. Many of them turned around and put their small shields on their backs, holding their weapons and fleeing towards the hill.

Baldwin chopped down his scepter, "Archers in the back row, rush forward and shoot, don't hesitate!" Then he urged his horses, and the drums sounded violently. All the knights and soldiers on foot in the front row pulled out their shields buried in the soil, raised their long swords and maces, took mixed steps, and rushed forward together! (To be continued ~^~)