The Crusaders, armed with round shields, believed they could withstand the arrow volleys from Lin Tian's army. This was a naive assumption, demonstrating a profound lack of understanding of the situation.
Having already been outnumbered and failed in their initial assault, they should have retreated. Lin Tian's forces not only occupied a fortified city but also possessed superior numbers. Yet, these men of the Roman Empire stubbornly believed they could conquer Lin Tian's city and that their own army was mightier.
Despite being at a disadvantage, they refused to withdraw, insisting on continuing the siege. Their persistence was perplexing.
However, as the Roman Crusaders charged forward, Lin Tian's soldiers remained exceptionally vigilant.
"It's the Crusaders, the Crusaders are here!"
"These Crusaders possess considerable combat prowess, especially their weaponry and armor, which are more refined than others!"
"Everyone be careful, we mustn't get wounded by these Crusaders!"
Lin Tian's soldiers had faced the Crusaders before and had some understanding of their fighting capabilities. Although the Crusaders were not their equal, a moment of carelessness could easily lead to injury. Thus, as the Crusaders surged forward, the soldiers unleashed a relentless barrage of arrows, intensifying the pressure on them.
This barrage of arrows indeed made the Crusaders feel immense pressure, yet, paradoxically, it also stirred a sense of excitement within them. They interpreted the frenzied arrow fire from the Qin soldiers as a sign of fear, a fear that the Crusaders would breach their city gates and slaughter them without mercy. This thought filled them with renewed hope.
"Soldiers, charge forward! Their city gate is just ahead!"
"Withstand their pressure, break through their gate, and give them no chance to rest!"
"Victory is within reach! Do not hesitate! Once we breach their gate, our army behind us will follow suit and annihilate all the enemies within the city!"
"Yes!"
These words indeed ignited the fighting spirit of the Crusaders. They felt their general's words were true and saw a glimmer of hope for victory. Under such conviction, even with the immense pressure from Lin Tian's army and the hail of arrows, they pressed onward without hesitation.
Fueled by this belief, they actually managed to reach the gates of Lin Tian's city. Upon arriving at the gate, the Crusaders were ecstatic, more so than on their wedding day.
"We did it, we succeeded!"
"Hahaha! We've reached their city gate, we're close to their gate!"
"Those detestable monkeys, they thought their arrows could stop us, hmph! Just wait, once we break open their gate, we'll deal with them!"
Various shouts and taunts erupted as they neared the gate. The Crusader general then issued the direct order to attack:
"All soldiers, heed my command! The enemy's gate is here, attack and break it open!"
"Charge! Break the gate!"
The Crusaders imagined that breaking down the gate would be their moment of revenge. Thus, they began hacking ferociously at the gate before them, desperate to breach Lin Tian's city quickly. Under their relentless assault, the gate did indeed begin to yield.
Seeing a crack appear in the gate, the Crusaders grew even more excited. With a powerful shove, they pushed it open, their triumphant laughter echoing:
"Hahaha! The gate is finally broken! Your doom has arrived!"
They envisioned storming into the city and wreaking havoc. However, as they pushed the gate open and saw what lay beyond, they froze.
Beyond the gate, a vast multitude of cavalry awaited them. The sheer number of these horsemen was staggering, stretching as far as the eye could see. Their equipment was superb, nearly flawless, and more importantly, they exuded an aura of lethal intent. Their mere presence radiated the experience of seasoned warriors, imposing an immense pressure on the Crusaders. They stood frozen, hesitant to advance.
This hesitation puzzled the soldiers behind them.
"Why are you standing there? Charge in!"
"That's right! We've opened their gate, what are we waiting for? It's time for us to charge!"
"Don't hesitate! Our brothers behind us are about to charge, let's go in quickly!"
The soldiers in the rear, unaware of the situation within, were eager to advance. They even pushed against those in front, urging them forward. This shove jolted the front ranks back to awareness. Then, screams of terror erupted:
"Retreat, quickly retreat!"
"Don't go forward, don't go any further! There are terrifying enemies ahead!"
"Withdraw, withdraw now, if you don't, none of us will make it out!"
They clearly felt the terrifying might of Lin Tian's cavalry. These were not warriors they could contend with. Faced with such formidable horsemen, escape was their only option. Without a second thought, they ordered their army to flee.
Having said that, they frantically pushed to get out. Lin Tian's cavalry was too terrifying, so much so that they dared not linger any longer. However, their attempt to escape now was too late. The moment they breached the gate of Lin Tian's city, their fate was sealed.
Upon seeing the Crusaders, Wang Wu gave the order to charge.
"Kill! Leave no one alive!"
"Charge!"
Lin Tian's cavalry were battle-hardened veterans. Their killing ability and combat experience far surpassed those of any other force. As they thundered out, the men of the Roman Empire finally understood what a truly invincible army was.
...