So, this is part of the plan? Facing Manuel's extremely brief explanation, Barbara spread her hands in disbelief. But the Ottoman are not fools, and Murad II has managed to restore Ottoman's strategy to one of expansion without showing any weakness. How could he easily relax his vigilance?
So the attitude of the Ottoman is not the most important thing. Manuel smiled. Whether they don't understand but are impressed, or they know but commit the act anyway, as long as they follow the plan, it's fine.
Is that so? Barbara looked at her Little husband with a complex expression. But we are acting like we're being chased around by the Turks. Isn't that too... lacking in dignity?
Dignity? What a luxurious word! Hearing his wife's question, Manuel smiled helplessly, a loud laugh. After a while, he slowly lowered his head. Ever since that time a few years ago when we were beaten like stray dogs by the Crimean Tatars, there hasn't been any 'dignity' to speak of. As for the current situation, as long as we can win, his eyes became extremely sharp as he spoke, I will do anything.
While Manuel was passionately addressing his wife and revealing a 'master planner's' sinister grin, the Ottoman, who had already garrisoned Ordu, finally completed their search of the city.
Sultan, just like in Samsun, there were hardly any living people left in Ordu. In the empty city hall, Rom Pasha reported the matter to his Sultan with utmost respect.
I know, Murad sighed softly, shaking his head. These dog-breed Romans really pulled this trick again.
Just as the Ottoman had discovered, not only was Ordu's population cleared out, but its buildings also suffered damage that would be difficult to recover from in a short time. At least as a fortress, this city is now completely unqualified.
The Bosporus Romans are really creating problems. Murad II tapped the table, his head aching. Originally, he had granted the entire Janik region to Emir Janik Bey as a temporary measure, a reward for his loyalty to Ottoman rule, with the intention of finding a reason to bring it under direct control later. Who would have thought that as the war progressed, Janik showed a tendency to be completely devastated. If they could collect tribute, then the original plan would work, but now that the manpower of several major cities has been depleted...
After much deliberation, Murad reluctantly abandoned the idea of direct rule and instead continued to let Janik Bey Emir be responsible for the governance of the region. Therefore, for a short period afterward, apart from Ottoman's military forces, he did not introduce any other forces such as administration or diplomacy.
With this as a premise, in the time that followed, Ottoman made no effort to restore towns like Ordu and Samsun, but instead focused its energy on conquering the Bosporus occupied territories and its own land. And the behavior of these Christian also conformed to the Ottoman's stereotypes; in just half a month, they had retaken the entire coastline of the Janik region, and their army reached Giresun, a border town near Trabzon.
So we're back in Giresun again, Dungar couldn't help but make a few sarcastic remarks from the Giresun city wall on a morning in early November, looking at the approaching Ottoman army. So what have we been fighting for!?
To make the Ottoman Sultan personally come down for us? Tukharovsky quipped.
What's so funny about that? Dungar painfully tugged at his hair, turning to look at Caesar's other confidant. Badars, why don't you say something?
Believe, Badars merely clasped his hands together, as if in prayer. Belief requires no reason.
Upon hearing this, the Western Europe general almost fainted on the spot. Lord, I'm numb!
Even so, in this critical moment, General Dungar still managed to pull himself together.
Around ten o'clock that morning, the large Ottoman army of twelve thousand men, led by Murad himself, finally gathered beneath Giresun's walls, preparing to conquer this border town. Before the official start of the battle, Murad even sent an envoy to demand surrender in an almost threatening manner.
According to the Sultan's thinking, if the envoy returned unharmed, it would surely strike a blow to the morale of the defenders; if he was executed by the enraged defenders, it would stir up the morale of his own troops. Regardless of the outcome, his trick would yield a result favorable to the Ottoman side.
But he had not anticipated that the other side would completely circumvent the issue: the Ottoman envoy was not even allowed to approach the city gate and was driven away by a volley of arrows from the enemy, who specifically used arrows without arrowheads, effectively making the sending party look like clowns.
So this is their attitude? After settling his embarrassed subordinate, Murad frowned and looked at the enemy army.
Not only are they not fleeing, but they intend to resist us to the bitter end? After a moment, having roughly drawn his conclusion, he stood in the center of the army with an extremely cold smile. Weren't they running quite fast before? Why aren't they running now? But this is also good. This time, by Allah's will, I will accept your boring provocation.
As soon as he finished speaking, the Sultan ordered the medium-sized bronze cannons from the army to be brought out and ruthlessly unleashed a barrage of artillery fire upon the opposing city walls. Incidentally, according to his original plan, this time the large cannons typically used by the Ottoman army should have been deployed. However, during the enemy attack in Samsun, the several large cannons that had been mobilized were all captured by the enemy and their whereabouts unknown, and it would take a considerable amount of time to bring new cannons from across the strait. Therefore, this time he reluctantly brought out the medium-sized cannons, which were originally intended for auxiliary purposes, to use for the siege.
The caliber and configuration of the artillery did indeed affect the Ottoman's siege this time. By noon that day, after the first round of bombardment, Murad was rather annoyed to find that the other side still had the energy to repair and complete their defenses during the lulls in the shelling. This greatly angered the Sultan, who had been invincible for years thanks to his superior firearms.
However, his enemies were not as relaxed as he thought. This is the power of bronze cannons. Fortunately, they are only medium caliber; otherwise, I don't know how long this old wall, based on old standards, could last. Looking at the constantly smoking city wall, Manuel, who was personally directing the defense from the city wall, couldn't help but think with lingering fear.
Most of the Bosporus's cannons are still iron castings of varying quality, and even with gunpowder of the most chemically ideal proportions, their full power cannot be unleashed. If only we had the national strength of Ottoman, to cast a few more bronze cannons... Just as he was contemplating this, the message that the Ottoman would launch a second offensive reached his ears, immediately interrupting his thoughts.