Chapter 287 – Siege of Fishtail Town
Chapter 287 – Siege of Fishtail Town
The artillery shells of Arda’s army were like heavy hammers, hammer after hammer hitting the walls of Fishtail Town.
The hastily repaired walls were obviously not very solid, and shook after enduring nearly two hours of bombardment from the Navy’s 12-pounders.
The defenders initially hid in the towers, but these towers, which could defend against ordinary arrows and crossbows, were not strong enough to withstand the power of the artillery, and would collapse after receiving a few shells, so except for a small number of men who still clung to the wall, most of the men ran in fear and nestled in the roots of the wall below the city wall.
Fishtail town defenders crossbow counterattack at first let Alda Navy officers and men panicked for a while, in order to be able to accurately bombard the target and to avoid the consumption of kinetic energy of the shells, the Navy’s battleships docked at a distance of 200 meters from the city wall within the place, the distance on the defenders equipped with ordinary bows and arrows can’t help them, but the range of the crossbow cannon can be reached.
For a long time they had relied on long-range firepower to crush the enemy, and had yet to encounter this phenomenon.
But soon they soon realized that the crossbows were not enough to be feared, firstly because the accuracy was too poor – both because of the equipment and the quality of the personnel, and secondly because the number was too small – there were only four of them.
So the navy’s warships poured fire on Fishtail with confidence and boldness.
Most of the defenders were moved to the north of the town to defend against the upcoming landing of Alda’s army, and with this much firepower, Viscount Carter thought that the opposing side would make a breakthrough from the north.
At the west gate of Fishtail Town, there was only a small group of soldiers guarding it, and the sound of shelling coming from the river in the north terrified them.
However something that made them even more panicked happened, an army suddenly emerged from the forest directly to their west.
“The enemy army is attacking the western city gate! We need support, go inform the Viscount!”
The officer stared with wide eyes and ordered his soldiers loudly with a trembling voice.
Although the northern side of the river was fighting happily, it was only a feint by Alda’s army, Schroeder’s strategy was “frontal feint, flanking”, the two infantry battalions that had already landed in the west quietly approached Fishtail’s western gate through the cover of the forest, and after the navy shelled the town for two hours, they launched their attack.
Solo Carter, who received the report, was in a state of hesitation, he did not know which place was the main direction of the other side’s attack ah.
Just as the Viscount was caught in hesitation, the 2nd and 3rd Infantry Battalions suppressed the defenders at the west gate with their platoon guns – there were too few defenders on the wall, and even fewer equipped with bows and arrows. Then the artillery pushed their guns right up to only 20 meters from the gates, where the lack of a moat made it easy for them to move.
A few cannons blasted the gates of Fishtail Town, and the Aldar soldiers swarmed in.
The expected possible street battle didn’t happen, the defenders were able to hold out for a bit when there was a thick wall to provide protection, but after the attackers rushed into the town, the morale of the defenders collapsed in a flash.
Five consecutive rockets whooshed up into the sky and burst. This was the signal the Army sent to the Navy – the western gate had been captured.
Schroeder, who was holding up his binoculars, saw the Army’s signal, and his usual seriousness broke into a rare smile, then ordered the Navy to stop shelling.
He did not order the Navy’s sailors to go around the West City Gate to provide support for the Army; according to intelligence, there should be no forces within the town that could withstand two infantry battalions.
After continuing to wait for about an hour, silhouettes appeared on the walls along the river, followed by the hoisting of the Gladman family’s flag, and the water gates were soon opened.
According to the plan, Jarman stayed behind to command the fleet, while Schroeder and Tirpitz led 100 sailors into the town of Fishtail via the watergate in skiffs.
He landed at the dock of the waterway in the town, there was not a single person on the street, the residents had evacuated the area, no one dared to stay in their homes honestly under the attack of [Thunderhammer].
On the contrary, there were quite a few collapsed houses, that was caused by the naval shelling, many shells crossed the city walls and hit the residential houses within the city. Schroeder and Tirbitz met with the two Army battalion commanders, “Congratulations, the operation went very well, how were the Army casualties?”
The commander of the 4th Infantry Battalion – Baron Andrew from Bairdine – said proudly, “No one was killed or wounded, the defenders on the wall surrendered as soon as we blasted open the western gates, and as we pushed on to the northern sector we encountered enemy reinforcements, and after a round of volley fire they were routed.”
This was the first time his unit had taken part in an Arda army operation, and he was thrilled that it had gone so well.
Schroeder nodded in satisfaction, then asked, “Other directions?”
“People have been sent there, but it’s not always possible to intercept Solo Carter, we’re not a siege after all.”
“It’s best if we can intercept him, but even if he runs away, it doesn’t matter much.”
……
Surprisingly, Viscount Solo Carter didn’t run away, and when Alda’s army found him, the Viscount Lord was leading a large group of people who had gathered in the church in the center of the town to pray.
The people in the church were horrified to see the soldiers barge in, but bayonets and gunfire quickly silenced them, and the officer leading the group succinctly stated the discipline of Alda’s army, promising that he would never harm their safety or rob them of their possessions-provided they were honest.
Schroeder led the officers to the church and found Viscount Solo Carter, who was kneeling in front of the holy image, his eyes closed, whispering a prayer, oblivious to the arrival of the crowd.
Schroeder: “Lord Viscount, you have failed.”
Solo Carter is still motionless – except for the mouth that recites the prayer – and the priest in the church stands awkwardly to the side, looking at his lord for a moment, and at Schroeder for a moment, sweating with impatience.
Andrew droned, “Solo Carter, face the truth and get your family and territory to stop resisting.”
Hearing a slightly familiar voice, Viscount Carter then opened his eyes, stood up and stared at Andrew, being the same Northwest Bay noble, the two of them knew each other.
“Dip Andrew, didn’t realize you were here as well, also, Baildin joined the alliance against the Duke Lord.”
Andrew advised him, “For the sake of your family, it’s better to surrender, following the usurper won’t end well.”
Solo Carter straightened his clothes, “That’s just it, since you’re here, surrendering is fine, but it’s in my personal capacity, my family will not surrender. Besides, I will only surrender to you, who is also a noble.”
“You!” Claude and Tirpitz who were standing at the side were so angry that their noses turned crooked, it’s this time, why are you still pretending?
Schroeder stepped in to stop the two who were about to have a seizure, and said with a bashful face, “That’s it, Lt. Colonel Andrew, it’s up to you to accept Lord Viscount’s surrender.”
Although Fishtail Town was captured, but the Carter family’s territory is not only here, there is still something to fight for in the back.
Shame on me, I’ve been addicted to a novel lately and delayed updating, I’m sorry for everyone’s recommendation and monthly votes ah ……
(End of chapter)