Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Arrows and lead shot rained down upon the Venetian soldiers in the moat like a storm, halting the momentum of the assault team.

"Sound the horn, signal retreat!" Antonio bellowed from the ramparts, and the trumpeter promptly sounded the horn for retreat.

Juan, the lieutenant responsible for the eastern attack, immediately led his soldiers to climb out of the moat and sprinted towards their own ramparts. Muskets and crossbows from the city walls struck down several men, but the majority of the hundred-strong unit retreated safely.

However, Captain Doria, who was in charge of the western assault, was unwilling to give up. His vanguard was less than twenty meters from the city gate, and the opportunity seemed too good to miss; maybe they could capture Tachi in one fell swoop.

He roared, "Advance! If the enemy opens the gate, we charge in! Victory is within reach!"

But the city gate didn't open, and the roar of cannons crushed his valiant dreams.

The cannons installed on the triangular forts were reloaded and began firing at the enemy troops in the moat. The triangular forts, which covered the city gates and spanned the moat, provided a ruthlessly lethal side fire to the besiegers.

The projectiles from the city walls were no significant threat to the Venetian soldiers in the moat, but those in front of the triangular fort's volley were utterly exposed.

A four-pound iron cannonball entered Captain Doria's left chest and exited through his back. Then it pierced the body of the soldier behind him, and then another soldier... With just one cannon shot, a bloody trench was ploughed through the moat.

Captain Doria was killed on the spot, and his hundred-man team were first bewildered as the soldiers behind the moat had no idea what had happened; they then completely collapsed.

First one soldier took the lead, then two, three, and finally, all soldiers started crawling out of the moat and running back.

The centurion "Big Beard" and another sergeant "Buck Teeth" lifted Captain Doria's body, attempting to take it back. However, they hadn't gone far when a thick, short crossbow bolt shot from behind, nailing Sergeant Major "Big Beard" to the ground.

Sergeant "Buck Teeth," holding the captain's lower leg, let go in a panic and ran towards the Venetian camp without looking back.

At this moment, the gates of Tachi creaked open at last.

In the midst of the noisy, chaotic battlefield, Antonio suddenly caught a hint of an unusual sound, and he shouted orders, "Musketeers! To the western parapet! To the western parapet! Guns at the ready, follow my command!"

Amid curses and warhorse neighs, over thirty Cavalry burst through the crowd, streaming out from the city gate. They leaped over the moat and charged towards the escaping Venetian soldiers heading for their own ramparts.

Lagging behind, Sergeant "Buck Teeth" heard the horse hooves getting closer. He gritted his teeth, turning around to fight back, when all he saw was a flash of cold steel. A saber, propelled by the speed of a Warhorse, cleaved through Sergeant "Buck Teeth's" shoulder, slicing him into two, flesh and bone, in an instant.

This terrifying clean cut didn't even slow the Cavalry's pace by a bit — the saber arced up over his head, and the rider continued his chase, slashing at new prey.

The soldiers who fell behind were cut down like wheat after a stormy pass, and Antonio watched intently as the cavalrymen from the Confederation reached the forefront, shouting sharply, "Hold your fire without my command!"

Above Tachi, Captain Kidd did not wish for the Cavalry to chase too deep. Seeing his own Cavalry had crossed the middle line, he quickly ordered the sounding of the horn for a recall.

As the horn sounded from the battlements, Antonio roared, "Now! Fire!"

On the ramparts, the musket fire erupted like popping beans, and a volley of lead shot targeted the chasing Confederation Cavalry.

The Cavalryman who had killed Sergeant "Buck Teeth" was at the forefront, thus many musketeers aimed at him. One lead shot exploded in his right shoulder, causing him so much pain he almost fainted. His Warhorse beneath him took four shots and died instantly.

The cavalryman screamed inhumanly as he was rolled under his horse, which also broke his left leg. He struggled to crawl out from under the warhorse.

However, his left foot was trapped in the stirrup, and his leg was pinned down by a six-hundred-kilogram weight; he was immobile.

A few other cavalrymen who had charged too close to the Venetian fortification walls were also killed on the spot.

The gates of the Venetian fortification burst open, and a troop of halberdiers rushed out with cries to aid their own soldiers.

Seeing that he had already killed many Venetians, the commander of the cavalry unit was no longer keen on fighting. He blew a sharp whistle, leading the remaining cavalry to retreat quickly.

The Venetian halberdiers pursued for a distance. When one of the halberdiers passed the rider trapped under the dead horse and saw he was still alive, he quickly ended the rider's suffering.

The cannons on the triangle and semi-circular forts began firing at the Venetian halberdiers to cover the retreat of their cavalry.

Several iron balls flew over, but they were not very accurate and posed little threat to the dispersed soldiers.

One cannonball flew at such a high angle that it even soared over the fortification walls of the Venetian army.

The walls constructed by the besieging force were between 400 and 600 meters away from the city walls, a distance already within the range of the cannon. But this was the first time the defending army fired at the walls, and they knew the threat at this distance was minimal.

Having seen plenty of bloodshed today and with the halberdiers having completed their mission, Antonio ordered the troops to withdraw. Your journey continues on empire

At the break of dawn, a horseman bearing a white flag approached the Venetian fortification wall, claiming to have a verbal message from General Serviati.

"I am Antonio Serviati. What do you wish to say?" Hearing that the messenger wanted to see him, Antonio, who had just lain down for a moment, hurriedly went up to the fortification wall.

"Honourable General Serviati," the rider proclaimed loudly, "General Kidd extends his highest respects to you. Following last night's battle, with much blood already spilled, General Kidd hopes that our side and yours can collect the bodies of the fallen without interference today, prepare them properly, and bury them."

Antonio pondered for a moment, then replied, "Alright, those who are in charge of collecting the bodies will tie white cloths around their left arms. If your side does not attack our people, then we will not attack yours."

When the messenger heard the reply, he removed his helmet, bowed deeply, and said, "Once more, my respects to you, General Serviati. With that, our sides have reached an agreement."

Having said that, he rode off without looking back.

"Huh, who would have thought that pirates and slavers could still possess a shred of decency," muttered Lieutenant Sara, who was on watch duty, as he watched the rider leave.

Antonio gave Lieutenant Sara an impassive glance and said, "Mr. Sara, do you think they are proposing to retrieve the bodies out of decency?"

Startled by the sudden attention from the legion commander, Sara was a bit flustered: "Yes! Sir! I don't know, sir!"

Antonio patted Sara's shoulder, saying gently, "Don't be nervous. As an officer, you should think more from the enemy's perspective. William Kidd's request to collect the bodies undisturbed merely aims to buy an additional day's time."

"Then... then why did you agree to it?" asked Lieutenant Sara hesitantly.

"Why? Because time is not on their side," Antonio sighed lightly, "Besides, if it means not leaving the soldiers to rot in the wilderness, then let him have the extra day."