I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1164 Cyprus Changes Hands
The province of Cyprus, with Salamis as its capital.

Located about 10 kilometers north of Famagusta naval base, this place has been the heart of Cyprus since it was founded by Tose, a hero of the Trojan War, in the 12th century BC.

At that moment, Governor Desimus Brutus of the province was having lunch when a soaking wet and terrified messenger was brought in by guards, bringing devastating news that struck like a bolt from the blue.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, something terrible has happened!"

The messenger almost collapsed to the ground, howling hoarsely, "Famagusta... Famagusta port... has fallen to the Han army!"

"what?!"

Governor Desimus's silver cup clattered to the ground. He jumped up, glaring and shouting, "Nonsense!"

"Famagusta has Marcus's five thousand garrison! Plus fortified fortresses and a fleet! Who could easily take it?"

"You don't mean to say it's the Han army that barely has any ships, do you?!"

The messenger's face was extremely grim: "It really is the Han army!"

"They...they have a giant ship that spews thunder! They blasted the fortress to pieces from thousands of paces away, and our ballistae couldn't even touch their shadows! The ships in the harbor were either sunk or looted, and Captain Marcus's fate is unknown. Brothers...brothers, we simply can't hold them off!"

"You mean thousands of steps?!"

Governor Desimus's face turned deathly pale. He staggered, barely managing to steady himself by grabbing the edge of the table. Destroying a fortress from over a thousand paces away? This was completely beyond his comprehension of warfare. Weren't the Han army only equipped with devastating land-based weapons? How could they have such terrifyingly large warships at sea?!
"Where is that ship now?" Desimus's voice trembled uncontrollably.

"They...they've taken over the port and are landing! Lots of soldiers, and those fire-breathing boats, are coming along the coastline! Their target...their target is very likely Salamis, Your Excellency!" The messenger was almost in tears.

Panic washed over Desimus like ice water. Famagusta was the gateway to Salamis and the defensive core of the entire island of Cyprus. With the port lost, the island's most elite garrison and fortifications would be mostly destroyed, and the remaining towns would be utterly useless against weapons capable of destroying fortresses from miles away.

"Quickly! Summon all the dignitaries! Issue an order to the entire city! Mobilize all soldiers immediately and close the city gates! Send men by fast ship to Rhodes and Byzantium to plead for His Majesty's aid! Tell them that the Han army has demonic warships at sea! Cyprus is in imminent danger!"

Desimus shouted incoherently, and the governor's mansion was thrown into chaos. Some people even started packing their belongings and trying to run away.

At this moment, a capable Greek advisor stepped forward and reassured the crowd:

"Don't panic, everyone! The most dangerous time hasn't come yet."

"Don't forget, His Majesty has chosen Cyprus as the base for the naval assembly. As long as we hold the city, a steady stream of troops will arrive soon!"

"No matter how powerful those Han Chinese devil ships are, they can't possibly be a match for our hundreds of warships!"

"Yes...yes! You're right!" Governor Desimus grabbed his advisor's arm as if grasping at a straw. "We still have hope! His Majesty's army is gathering. As long as we hold on, there is hope!"

With the Greek advisor's reassurance, the governor's office temporarily restored some order and began to make full preparations for defense.

However, bad news always travels fast. News of the Han army's lightning-fast capture of Famagusta Port spread throughout Salamis in a short time, and panic quickly engulfed the ancient city.

"The Han army is attacking! Run!"

"They will summon thunder; this is God's punishment of the Romans!"

In the chaos, the Christian and Jewish residents of the city were the first to become agitated, and rumors about the "Messiah of the East" and the "Scourge of God" spread like wildfire. Many local Greek and Syrian residents also panicked and began packing their belongings, attempting to flee to the mountains of the island. The Roman garrison and officials tried to suppress the unrest, but the panic was like a flood that had burst its banks and could not be contained.

"Open the door!" "Open the door now!"

"Let us out!"

Countless rioters stormed the city gates, scrambling to escape. The centurion guarding the gates was unable to suppress them and dared not kill anyone, so the north gate was forcibly breached by the rioters.

The city of Salamis was immediately thrown into chaos.

"Close the door quickly!"

"Send men to block the city gates!"

"Trespassers will be killed without mercy!"

Upon hearing this, Desimus immediately ordered a crackdown, attempting to regain control of the city and rebuild its defenses.

However, the Han army did not give them any chance.

boom--! ! !
A deafening roar suddenly came from the southeast, like the divine power of the heavens in their rage.

The chaos in Salamis was instantly frozen by the loud bang. Whether it was the fleeing rioters, the soldiers suppressing the rioters, or Desimus in the governor's mansion, everyone instinctively stopped what they were doing and looked up at the source of the sound. In the sky to the east of the city, a thick plume of black smoke rose into the air, accompanied by flying debris and wood. The corner tower of the east city wall that they had been using as a shield had been blasted down by a single cannon shot!
"It's over!"

"The Han Chinese's devilish behemoth is coming!!!"

A soldier pointed towards the near sea and shouted in a trembling voice.

The terrifying "Dingyuan" warship had somehow entered Salamis Bay. Its massive form resembled a floating fortress, with a row of cannons on its side pointing directly at the city, still shrouded in the lingering smoke of gunpowder.

Even more terrifying, several wheeled boats had already approached the shore like ghosts, and the Han soldiers on board were quickly setting up small tiger-squat cannons and crossbows, aiming them at the chaotic city gate area.

"Your Excellency! A breach has been blasted in the east city wall! Refugees and fleeing soldiers are pouring into the city through it, and we can't stop them at all!" A centurion, covered in dust, tumbled into the governor's mansion, his voice trembling with sobs.

Governor Desimus rushed to the window, and the sight before him terrified him: the city streets were a chaotic mix of panicked citizens and fleeing soldiers, running in all directions like headless flies. Soldiers who should have been holding their posts, overwhelmed by the terror of the "Thunderous Punishment" and the city's out-of-control chaos, also joined the torrent of escape. The city's defenses were now merely a facade.

"Hold on! Hold on!" Desimus drew his sword and roared hoarsely, but his command seemed so pale and powerless in the face of the immense panic.

Just then, the Greek advisor who had previously calmed the crowd approached, his face pale, and whispered, "Your Excellency, the situation is hopeless! The Han army possesses unfathomable power, and the city is already in chaos. If we hesitate any longer, I'm afraid... I'm afraid we will all become prisoners!"

Desimus's hand gripping his sword trembled violently. He glanced around and saw that the officials and guards in the governor's mansion were all pale-faced, their eyes darting around, clearly devoid of any will to fight. Outside the city, the Han army's cannons roared intermittently, each loud bang accompanied by the collapse of a section of the city wall and even greater chaos and screams within the city.

Finally, he let out a long sigh, as if all his strength had been drained, and his sword clattered to the ground.

“Raise the white flag,” Desimus’s voice was hoarse and desperate. “We… surrender.”

A moment later, a huge white flag slowly rose from the colonnade of the Temple of Apollo, the tallest building in Salamis. The city gates were laboriously reopened by the remaining defenders, and Governor Desimus, having removed his official robes and donned plain clothes, walked unsteadily out of the city, accompanied by a few officials who had not yet fled, carrying the governor's seal and the city keys.

On the shore, Su Yao disembarked under the protection of a squad of elite guards. He looked calmly at the ancient city that had surrendered without a fight, and at the Roman governor kneeling on the ground, trembling.

"Your humble servant... Governor Desimus Brutus of Cyprus, on behalf of all the soldiers and civilians of Salamis, surrenders to Your Majesty the Emperor. We humbly beg Your Majesty... to forgive our offense."

(End of this chapter)