The total strength of the various forces of the Western Qin Kingdom this time was more than 350,000.
This is a terrible and terrifying number.
There has never been a war with such a large scale of troops in the entire history of Europe.
Constantine Many people in the castle were frightened and lost their minds.
Many ministers, nobles and generals had the idea of being invincible, and thought that Constantinople could not be defended no matter what.
Therefore, one by one, we try to find ways The only way out is to give up resistance and surrender to the Western Qin, or find a way to leave Constantinople.
But now in the entire Constantinople, except for the Sea of Marmara in the south, there are still some imperial ships barely guarding the gateway on the southern sea.
In addition, the other three sides are under siege, how can it be so easy to find a way out?
Besides, the Western Qin army from Egypt has attacked northern Greece near Thrace.
Even if they escape by boat, they will still fall into In the hands of the Western Qin Army.
On October 16, 802 AD, Zhao Ziliang led the main force of the Western Qin army to the city of Constantinople and set up camp on the east side of the strait.
After receiving the news, Wei Gao, the leader of the vanguard army, immediately left his deputy Geshu Jingye to lead the army.
He took his deputy Gao Chongwen across the strait to meet Zhao Ziliang.
"Your Majesty, Wei Gao Chongwen, pays homage to your Majesty, and I sincerely wish you His Majesty's peace."
When they came to the Chinese army tent and saw Zhao Ziliang sitting at the top, they immediately clasped their fists and bowed down on one knee.
Zhao Ziliang raised his hand and said: "Gu is very good.
Two generals, please get up and tell me the situation."
"Yes."
The two stood up.
Gao Chongwen looked at Wei Gao, indicating that he was the general and asked him to introduce the situation.
Wei Gao began to introduce: "Your Majesty, according to the information we have, there were originally only 10,000 soldiers and horses in Constantinople.
Leo V led 15,000 people to control the city and claimed to be emperor.
Later, he Some people who escaped from Asia Minor and Greece now have a total of 50,000 defenders.
After more than a month of reorganization, Leo V restored some morale of these escaped soldiers."
"The city of Constantinople originally had a population of six to seven million.
After this period of war, the people who fled and the original residents of the city, the total population of the city should have exceeded one million.
If Leo V had Selecting the best among these residents to join the army to participate in city defense should be able to mobilize about 100,000 people.
Although their combat effectiveness is not very good, the number of troops is here, which is not good news for us."
"Due to the influx of refugees into Constantinople and the number of troops retreating into Constantinople, Constantinople could only sustain its food reserves for two years for one year."
"The fleet of the Eastern Roman Empire on the Sea of Marmara is still resisting, but they can no longer fight against our navy and can only stick to their doorsteps.
The naval fleet of the Eastern Roman Empire on the Black Sea was originally comparable to our Black Sea Fleet. , but after our vanguard army arrived, they successively captured their ports and docks on the Black Sea.
After losing the support and supplies of the ports and docks, they gradually lost their combat effectiveness and were annihilated by our Black Sea Fleet in the southeastern waters a few days ago."
Zhao Ziliang nodded after listening to Wei Gao's report and asked: "Has the Theodosius wall to the west of Constantinople been besieged by our army, cutting off the connection between Constantinople and the Thracian Military District?"
Wei Gao clasped his fists and replied: "Back to Your Majesty, except for the southern sea area, the other three city walls of Constantinople and the sea wall are surrounded by our army or navy.
We have already cut off everything between Constantinople and the outside world.
Contact, people from the west They can't get in, and people in the city can't get out.
Many refugees have been coming to the west of Constantinople in the past few days, but they were quickly dispersed by our army.
These refugees learned that Constantinople has been besieged by our army.
He was in danger, so he fled westward in panic."
Zhao Ziliang instructed: "We must send more scouts and agents to the west to collect information, and we must prevent the military districts such as Thrace and Macedonia from sending troops to relieve Constantinople, even though the Egyptian Legion's attack on northern Greece has been brought by them.
They have put a lot of military pressure on them, but we cannot help but guard against them sending troops to aid Constantinople regardless of the crisis in their own jurisdiction."
"Yes, I understand."
Zhao Ziliang asked again: "How long will it take to complete the preparations for the siege?"
Wei Gao winked at Gao Chongwen.
Gao Chongwen stood up and clasped his fists and replied: "Your Majesty, all the siege matters have been completed.
Free novels bring you joy and joy ---> storyskyline.net
You can launch an attack at any time, just waiting for your Majesty's order."
Zhao Ziliang thought for a while and ordered: "Let the Silla Army have a good rest and provide more food for the logistics.
They will be the first to attack the city in three days."
"Follow the decree" When Gao Chongwen saw that Zhao Ziliang was about to announce the adjournment of the meeting, he immediately clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I have one more thing to report to Your Majesty."
Zhao Ziliang raised his hand and said, "Speak."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Gao Chongwen agreed, clasping his fists and saying, "Since our army besieged Constantinople, officials, ministers, nobles and even military generals have often sent us messages these days, hoping to surrender.
However, they were hesitant about surrendering and were worried about surrendering.
After that, life and property could not be guaranteed, so there was no good communication between the two parties.
At present, the contact between the two parties is only at the communication stage, and there is no in-depth contact.
I think this should be a good thing for us.
As long as these people are willing to cooperate, we can break through The cost to Constantinople will be much less.”
Zhao Ziliang rubbed his chin, thought and weighed it for a moment and then gave instructions: "This is indeed a good thing.
Continue to maintain contact with them, but you cannot stop the planned siege plan because of this matter.
The siege plan after three days cannot be delayed.
These people want to surrender and submit, but they also want to raise It is understandable that there are some conditions to protect the safety of one's life, property and status, and we can also consider it, but there must be a bottom line.
When talking to them, you can give a general commitment, but it cannot involve detailed terms.
You can discuss the specifics yourself.
Then report back here."
Wei Gao and Gao Chongwen clasped their fists and agreed: "I will obey the order."
On October 20, the Silla Legion, the army of the Western Qin Dynasty, launched an attack on the Theodosius City Wall to the west of Constantinople.
Under the order of the commander Li Guangyan, a large number of Silla soldiers held shields in one hand and swords in the other.
Rushing towards the Theodosian city wall, rumbles of war drums were heard from behind the military formation, the flags of various ministries were being shaken constantly, and a large number of catapults in the military formation were also throwing stone bombs and kerosene bombs.
Stone bullets hit the city wall or inside the city one after another, killing and injuring not many people.
However, the stone bullets dropped, causing rubble to fly everywhere and houses to collapse.
The terrifying power brought by these bullets is not something that ordinary people can remain indifferent to.
Xiaohe's weak-willed defenders The soldiers were so frightened that they dropped their weapons and hid under the walls with their heads in their hands.
The residents in the city had to run around on the streets.
Everyone knew that staying at home was much more dangerous than being on the streets, so they had no choice but to run out.
Dodge the stone bullets that keep falling from the sky.
A large number of kerosene bombs flew and fell, splashing a large amount of burning kerosene.
The residents and soldiers who were splashed immediately burned.
Screams kept coming, and a large number of houses were set alight by kerosene. , which made the residents of Constantinople know what it means to burn the city in flames.
Constantinople is not big, at least it does not cover a large area, but it has a population of more than one million.
With such a dense population, a broom can sweep up a large area on the street.
After the kerosene bombs fall, The damage and casualties caused quickly turned the historic city into a living hell.
An area in the west of Constantinople near the walls of Theodosius was burning everywhere.
Thick smoke billowed into the sky.
Burning houses and other buildings were everywhere.
Residents were on fire everywhere.
The terrified residents ignored them.
All the people crowded towards the wall of Constantine, but the gates at various places on the wall of Constantine were closed.
The Eastern Roman residents who were trying to escape could not care so much at this time.
They gathered at various city gates and attacked the city gates.
However, they were quickly shot away by the ruthless Eastern Roman soldiers on the city wall with bows and arrows.
After the residents fled, A large number of residents who were shot to death or injured were left wailing at the gates of various cities.
Free novels bring you joy and joy ---> storyskyline.net
Many more residents were trampled to death.
Not only the city, but also the Eastern Roman defenders on the city wall were stunned by the overwhelming stone bombs and kerosene bombs.
In the past, Constantinople had been attacked many times by enemies, including Germans, Huns, Avars, Bulgars, Slavs and Arabs, even though the Arabs had more advanced Jinhe's sophisticated siege equipment has never made such a big splash when attacking a city.
This is the advantage and advantage of the number of troops.
The number of troops in the Western Qin army specifically responsible for handling siege equipment was 30,000 more.
In addition, there were tens of thousands of slaves captured from various places to help polish and carry stone bullets and other siege equipment.
The walls of Theodosius were in chaos.
The soldiers were stunned by the overwhelming stone bombs and kerosene bombs.
They were scurrying around like headless flies, hoping to find a place to hide from the stone bullets and kerosene bombs.
It's a safe place, but the city wall is full of people.
A stone bullet can kill and injure several people, and a kerosene bomb can burn a whole area.
At this time, the Silla soldiers responsible for attacking the city were about to rush to the city wall.
The generals guarding the city shouted anxiously and organized the soldiers to prepare for defense.
"The enemy is coming.
Their trebuchets will not keep firing stone bombs and kerosene bombs.
You all stop for me and guard your positions.
If anyone runs around again, I will kill him first."
Defend the city The general shouted while holding his sword.
Sure enough, in the Western Qin army formation, Li Guangyan, the commander of the Silla Army, saw that the soldiers were almost rushing to the city wall.
He was worried that the trebuchets would hit his own people, so he ordered: "Order the trebuchets in the siege camp to fire stone bombs and kerosene.
The projectiles extend toward the city and must not cause casualties to your own people."
"Yes, General":