eastern european eagle

Chapter 527 Attack on Smolensk

Vytautas was waiting for his cousin's army in Smolensk. He was looking forward to the two countries uniting to destroy Moscow, then defeat Rome and become the largest country in Eastern Europe.

"Why can't you come over? You should be here even if you crawl." Vytautas said doubtfully.

Unbeknownst to him, Wladyslaw had already led an army to Vilnius to retrieve what was left of his property. Even if the other party said that he had a reason, because he brought out all the troops himself, Lviv had been occupied by the Roman army. And it was still a bloodless Kaicheng.

Wladyslaw had an excuse and left quickly. Although I feel a little distressed about my father's expanding territory, there is nothing I can do about it.

Vytautas continued to wait, and finally two days later...

The troops from Moscow are waiting.

Mihai also found it incredible that the other party had stayed put in Smolensk for so many days. Is this God helping him?
"Surround Smolensk, and there will be enough people inside to keep Moscow safe for the next twenty years."

Mihai quickly asked the army to surround this place, for fear that the other party would escape. Vytautas also directed the defense of the defenders, as long as Wladyslaw arrived.

"Warriors of Lithuania, the heretics have come here, we will not let them go back alive, we will make them regret coming to this world."

The rain of arrows thrown in a high arc made the Lithuanians feel an even greater threat. There are not many defenders on the city wall, most of them are still inside the city. And those archers who stayed on the city wall were almost unable to launch an effective counterattack. The Moscow army pushing siege equipment quickly approached the city wall under the cover of its own crossbowmen.

The next day, Michael ordered the siege again.

The cries of the Lithuanian soldiers chilled the other Rus' soldiers. They were all Orthodox Christians, and they ended up being squeezed out by the Catholics. What did they do for that?

The Moscow army built a camp under the city. By dusk, they dug trenches, cleared weeds and trees in the camp area, and initially built earthen ramparts... The entire coalition camp showed an arc-shaped oval.

As soon as the siege battle began, arrows rained down from the top of the city. Some soldiers were shot over by arrows before they even got close to the city wall. Painful howls and shouts of death suddenly rang out. When the ladder was set up at the top of the city, , the defenders on the city even ignored the suppressive shooting of the archers below, one by one, they exposed their heads and pushed the ladder outwards desperately. From time to time, siege soldiers fell with the ladder, and some were shot from the top of the city with screams. The defenders fell from the city.

Attention! They are coming, everyone, get ready! "On the city, Yuri shouted loudly, holding the sword in his hand tightly. The soldiers who had been hiding behind the city wall quickly stepped forward, and the archers who had been waiting below also climbed to the top of the city and were ready.

That night, more than 100 Moscow soldiers fled Smolensk and brought Michael a city defense map. This was of great help to their siege.

Without large-scale siege equipment, Moscow's siege method can only be the traditional method of climbing the city wall. But the Lithuanian garrison was obviously much stronger than the army in the previous civil war.

"Archers and crossbowmen, line up and move forward. Focus on shooting at the city wall!"

The rain of arrows on the city wall and the occasional falling stones did not pose much threat to the Moscow soldiers.

Starting from the next day, the Moscow army began to use artillery to attack the city, but the quality and quantity were not at the same level as Rome, so it only caused minor damage to Smolensk. Both sides continue to waste time.

Seeing that the artillery was not working, Mihai used other methods. He asked several Orthodox priests to go to the city and pray for the Russian soldiers in the city in the language of Moscow. Some people burst into tears after hearing this. They want to go home.

Vytautas fought on the city wall with his sword. After five hours, the Moscow army still did not occupy the city wall, and Michael could only order a retreat.

When the opponent receded like a tide, there were cheers everywhere around Vytautas, and he relaxed the sword in his hand and smiled.

Although the battle did not last long, the fighting between the two sides was very fierce. Moscow lost more than 1200 people and Taizhou suffered more than 700 casualties. But for Vytautas, this was a good start. The battle damage was still within the range he could bear. What's more important was that after this battle, the new soldiers he recruited in the city no longer had the fear and anxiety before the war. Instead, they had more composure and perseverance. The speed of war tempers soldiers. It was fast, which further strengthened Vytautas' courage to defend Smolensk. "I hope Jagiełło can come soon."

In the camp at night, Mihai was too bored to eat. The location of Smolensk is too important, and I don't want to give up here, but at present, it seems that it is impossible to occupy it in the short term. How to do it?

"grown ups!"

A man walked into the camp, and Mihai threw the things around him angrily.

"I told you not to disturb me, don't you know?"

"is it?"

Mihai heard a familiar voice and looked outside. A familiar face appeared in front of him.

"Big brother!"

Mihai gave Peter a bear hug. The two brothers had not seen each other for two years. I miss this meeting very much, and the arrival of my eldest brother means that the Roman army is also coming.

"I already know what you have been doing in Moscow recently. You have done a very good job."

Mihai felt a little embarrassed when he heard his brother's praise, but he did not forget about business and talked to Peter about the situation in Smolensk.

"That guy Vytautas is so ruthless. It's no wonder he fought with Jagievo many times. Smolensk is like an iron barrel under his command. Even if there is a city defense map, it cannot be easily captured."

Mihai complained to Peter, and Peter said he understood. In order to comfort him, he told Mihai a message.

"Originally, Jagievo was supposed to go directly to Smolensk, but halfway through he suddenly changed direction and went north. I don't know why."

"North..." Mihai also thought about it. He wanted to attack Novgrod, but it was impossible. Jagievo didn't have the courage. Or use Polotsk to attack, this is still possible. But no matter what, the war here can no longer be delayed.

"Starting tomorrow, I will attack the city with you."

Mihai was pleasantly surprised. Of course, he also told Peter about his preparations to be crowned Tsar. After hearing this, Peter expressed support, but he suggested that the name of the country should also be changed. Moscow is too narrow.

"What's your name?" Mihai asked.

Peter pretended to think mysteriously, and then wrote two names on the paper in Romanian and Moscow language.

"Russia?"

Peter nodded: "Since the ancestor of Moscow is Kievan Rus, then let's use Rus as the country's name, add the spelling of the words, and use Russia as the country's name."

Mihai nodded, he couldn't wait to return to Moscow for the coronation. Tsar of Russia, this name is much more domineering than the Grand Duke of Moscow.

(End of this chapter)