The fleet of the Ayyubid Empire consists of thirteen battleships, namely four fourth-level ships, two third-level ships, six troop transports, and a flagship located in the center of the T-shaped formation.
At this time, located on the bridge of the flagship, an old man wearing a turban and a goatee was looking at Lone Rock City with a monocular telescope.
The commander of the flagship came to his side and said loudly: "Lord Latib, all naval guns are ready and can be fired at any time."
The old man known as Latib still looked in the direction of the city and asked: "Approximately how many people are there in the garrison on the mountain behind Lone Rock City?"
"About three hundred people."
Latib put away the telescope and laughed: "Those God's believers will never think that we have reached their rear! Listen, three hundred people, what can three hundred people do? A single charge can kill them.
Destroy them all!"
The commander reminded in a low voice: "Sir, those three hundred people occupied a mountain pass, and the terrain is very dangerous."
Latib stared and patted the battleship beneath him: "Do you think these artillery pieces on the ship are just decorations? Give me the order to go down and aim at the defenders on the back hill and hit them hard!"
"I obey your orders!"
The commander turned around and shouted at the flag bearer: "Target, the garrison camp on the hill behind the enemy city, adjust the scale! Single-gun correction! One salvo!"
The flag bearer on the bow raised the small five-color flag in his hand. After a series of actions, all the warships fine-tuned their course and loaded their ammunition.
After a period of silence, the loud noise from the salvo of artillery fire shook the entire battlefield.
Nearly a hundred solid artillery shells were like a storm of steel, completely sweeping through the mountain road behind Lone Rock City. Small trees as thick as a bowl were smashed in half, and rocks as big as millstones were broken into pieces. From a distance, it appeared that after the cannonball attack,
The location is a mess.
Taking advantage of the opportunity for the gunner to reload, an army staff officer approached Latib and whispered: "Look, the emperor of the empire still has not captured Lone Rock City."
Latib snorted coldly: "Traitors who gain the throne through betrayal and conspiracy will surely be punished by God sooner or later!"
The staff officer smiled apologetically and said: "Sir, your troops have wiped out seventy-eight percent of the reinforcements, and that man still can't take the city after so many days... So, there are often rumors in the country that Saladin used his troops like a god. I don't think so.
Nothing more than that.”
Latib stretched out his hand to stop the staff's next words and said: "Saladin does have some skills in warfare. This is an undoubted fact. The reason why he has not captured the city until today, I guess it is because the enemy will be strong."
Part of the troops gathered at the main gate, blocking his progress. But this is just right, I can take the lead in attacking the city without any effort..."
The staff officer continued what he said: "As long as you, my lord, can be the first to invade the city, it means that we, the old members of the Abbasid Empire, have made a great contribution. In the future, as long as we can slowly increase our influence
, it is definitely not difficult to restore the Abbasid Empire, welcome back the royal family, and regain power."
Latib, who was stroking his goat's beard, had uncontrollable pride on his face. He shouted to the commander: "Send the order and order our troops to break through the defense line of the three hundred people and directly attack Lone Rock City."
!”
Two hours later, the flagship commander walked up to Latib anxiously and whispered: "Sir, our troops launched three charges, but were repulsed by the enemy..."
"What did you say?!" Latib, who was originally very ambitious, was so shocked after hearing the commander's words that he accidentally tore off a few beards.
He walked up to the opponent and shouted loudly: "Repulsed?! How could we be repelled?! Four thousand people! We have guns and cannons! How could we be repelled by a group of farmers holding wooden bows and pitchforks?"
?!"
Sweat broke out on the commander's forehead: "According to the news from the battlefield, there are twelve knights in black armor guarding the only road leading to the city. Our soldiers are unable to perform operations on the narrow mountain road.
The attack pressure caused by the formation and guns was also reduced by the complex terrain..."
"A bunch of cowards! Even the mice in the fields are braver than you!" Latib, who was furious, pointed at the city on the mountain and shouted: "Order all warships to aim at the enemy troops on the mountain behind and give them to me.
Beat them hard until they dare not show their heads!"
On the seventh day of the Battle of Lone Rock City, compared to the silent front, on the battlefield on the hill behind Lone Rock City, the roar of guns and the cries of soldiers shouting to kill lasted for a whole day and night.
When the sun rose the next day, Latib's army was still firmly blocked at the foot of the mountain.
Latib, who had not slept all night, looked at the report from the front line, his face turned red, and in anger, he tore up the document in his hand and threw it into the sea.
"For those black-armored knights among the enemy, swords have no effect on them, and lead bullets can only make them pause for a moment. Even the night is as bright as day in their eyes, and sharp weapons can be drilled out from under their armor.
Spikes can kill people in an instant..." Latib roared: "You all listen! In order to shirk responsibility, what did these cowardly bastards say? It's all nonsense!"
The staff officers and generals on the ship looked at each other, but no one spoke.
Just when Latib was furious, the sentry on the watchtower issued a warning.
"To the northeast, a small ship is rapidly approaching the fleet."
Hearing this, Latib stopped roaring and took out his telescope to look. A small sailboat with a strange shape and black body appeared in his field of vision.
Latib looked at his men and asked doubtfully: "Strange... have any of you seen that type of ship?"
Someone guessed: "Fishing boat?"
"How can a fishing boat travel so fast?!"
Someone else speculated: "Is it possible that it is a new type of arson ship by the enemy?"
Latib frowned and remained silent.
The sentry on the watchtower shouted again: "The boat is still approaching, and the speed is getting faster and faster!"
Latib made a prompt decision and ordered: "Order the two warships at the rear of the formation to deflect and sink the ship!"
"yes!"
The two fourth-level ships in the Imperial Fleet's T-shaped formation raised their anchors, raised their sails, turned their bows, and began to face the direction of the small boat's attack, attacking from both sides.
The black warship, which was similar in length to a fourth-class ship, did not slow down at all when facing the incoming enemy ships. Instead, it broke through the wind and waves and faced them directly.
The two Imperial fourth-class ships were five hundred meters away from the black warship, with half rudders at 45 degrees, and crossed diagonally forward of each other. While the black warship entered the encirclement circle, the two ships
The imperial reconnaissance ship opened its gun doors and conducted a test cannon at a distance of about 450 meters.
As the two cannonballs roared down, two huge water splashes splashed near the black warship.
Based on the results of the test cannon, the imperial warship adjusted its angle again. At a distance of 400 meters, the ten cannons on the side fired simultaneously, and twenty solid shells struck the black warship.
"Okay!" Latib, who was always observing the naval battle situation, looked at the arc of the falling shell, and shouted happily: "Hit!"
Sure enough, one of the twenty cannonballs hit the bow of the black warship.
There were no sawdust flying as expected, nor flames soaring into the sky as expected. To everyone's surprise, the moment the shell touched the "black ship", a crisp sound of metal collision spread throughout the battlefield.
The powerful solid cannonball was actually deflected by the streamlined hull!
"Wha...what?!"
Latib stared at this scene dumbfounded, with a few more beards of his own in his hand. What was happening in front of him was completely beyond his understanding.
After a brief period of consternation, the two fourth-level ships ordered to meet the enemy launched a second salvo at a distance of 230 meters from the black ship.
This time, two shells hit the black ship, one on the right side of the ship, and the other directly on the deck.
The shell that hit the side of the ship did not cause any damage and was still bounced into the sea; as for the shell that hit the deck, it caused a circular depression the moment it hit the deck, and then also fell into the sea.
The consequences of driving. Moreover, the most bizarre thing is that the dent on the deck seemed to be alive after a few seconds, repairing itself to a smooth appearance.
At this time, the two fourth-level ships wanted to launch a third salvo, but the distance between them and the black ship had been shortened to 120 meters.
The side deck of the black battleship revealed two deep gaps, and six cylinder-shaped objects were thrown horizontally into the sky.
After a brief period of calm, the tail of the column sprayed out blazing flames, three to the left and three to the right, each heading towards an Imperial fourth-level ship and flying quickly across the sea.
The Imperial crew, who had no idea what it was, watched the six "missiles" getting closer and closer. The final result was that a fourth-level ship was hit in the belly by one of them, and another was hit by one.
One hit the bow of the ship.
Boom, boom!
Two loud noises!
Two "small mushroom clouds" formed by flames and explosions appeared on the sea surface. The violent shock wave pushed the seawater outward layer by layer, forming a small giant wave.
Even the imperial flagship, which was hundreds of meters away, was shaken by these two explosions and was shaking in the sea.
Latib fell to the ground, holding on to the side of the boat in shock, and the white scarf wrapped around his head fell to the ground.
With his eyes widened and his mouth wide open, he watched two of his own warships on the sea turn into pieces and fly all over the sky. There was a heavy sound in his throat, but he could not utter a single word.