A Guide to Becoming a God Starting from a Monastery

Just opening it slightly, not to the extreme, would consume dozens of balls of divine power.

He sensed something strange within the domain. That sense of mutual counteraction... just like when he had fought the Wolf God.

"Domain!" Thor's voice rang out. For some reason, Thomas felt that his mind had become surprised, cold, and filled with malice. "You actually...actually...have already mastered the domain?"

"I just mastered it a while ago," Thomas explained. "I still don't know how to use this power properly."

"Use it?! Do whatever you want!" Thor sneered. "Young God, let's end our deal here," he said in a tone filled with disappointment.

Then the next second, Thor's thoughts disappeared.

Before Thomas could figure out what was going on, Thor never said a word.

Section 277 Judgment 1

Late summer evening.

Ferdinand stopped at the top of a gentle hillside and looked at the city of Smyrna in the distance.

This city has a close connection with him.

It had been many years since he first came here... At that time, he was still a newcomer to the Knights Templar, responsible for driving the boat here to spy on the movements of the Star-Moon Cultists.

In order to better complete the mission, in addition to patrolling the sea, he also found an opportunity to land.

It must be said that although the Rum Sultanate's navy was not strong, it was not without maritime trade. This also gave the Knights an opportunity to covet.

The Knights have coveted this city for a long time.

This idea didn't just come up after Thomas took office. It had been there all along.

It's just that Thomas found the best opportunity to make a move.

At that time, he witnessed the complete appearance of the entire city of Smyrna with his own eyes.

The last time he was here, he was the one who orchestrated the Battle of Smyrna.

He witnessed the entire battle from a distant cliff, ensuring that the entire course of the battle was within his expectations. And everything was just as he had predicted. The Byzantine army was defeated, and a prince who was a half-step protector of the country was killed by his own hands.

Although there were twists and turns, they were just insignificant discordant notes and did not affect the overall situation.

On that occasion, he also saw how the walls of Smyrna collapsed under the roar of cannons.

But the city now was completely different from the Smyrna he remembered.

It is neither the intact Smyrna nor the broken Smyrna. If the surrounding environment had not remained unchanged, they would be two completely different places.

"That's right there!" The Crescent-Star priest beside Ferdinand was extremely excited. "The Knights are entrenched there. They are a wicked sect of the Franks, the most brutal sons of the devil, and the most corrupt of his descendants!"

He kept on preaching to his entourage, but this propaganda was not deliberate, but because several Christian knight orders were all sworn enemies of the Crescent Moon Christians.

Of course, to Ferdinand, these were all just whispers. He was more concerned about the city's own defensive capabilities.

In this era, the bastion had not yet experienced the tempering of war, and its astonishing defensive capabilities were not yet widely recognized. But even so, looking at the city in the distance, you still instinctively feel that it is very difficult.

The energy and money invested by the Knights over the past few years have definitely not been in vain.

"My Lord, what do you think?"

"Cannon!" Ferdinand said. "It's hard to use!"

Cannons are recognized as siege weapons.

One reason for this is that the old city walls were not designed to counter enemy siege artillery.

The tall and thin city walls could not withstand the attack of artillery shells, and on the other hand, they could not install cannons.

Even if it is installed, it is just a small artillery with a range that cannot be compared with siege cannons.

So when the enemy's artillery bombarded the city, the defenders could do nothing because of the range and could only endure the attack.

The city walls were specially designed with bases for cannons, so long-range cannons could be installed.

As we all know, due to the height difference, the cannons on the city walls naturally have a longer range and more accurate firepower.

"But the wall is too low." As Ferdinand spoke, someone else beside him expressed his opinion. "It's easy to climb!"

For an old-fashioned city wall, unless it is a small city, you basically cannot climb it without regular siege equipment.

In Smyrna today, it feels like you can just get a ladder and climb up. Even the front of the city wall is a bit slanted!

There's no way around it. Humans instinctively assume that higher walls have higher defenses, but they don't realize that bastions are designed to defend themselves by using crossfire to injure the enemy.

It’s not about resisting the enemy, but about destroying the enemy!

At this time, Ferdinand was surrounded by a group of generals from the Seljuk army.

His current identity is that of a staff officer in the army.

Let’s take a look at the city’s defense situation first.

"What's the situation outside?" Ferdinand asked casually.

"The Knights retreated and evacuated all civilians in the periphery - except for a few loyal believers who stayed, all the pagans left. They also burned all the crops!" someone answered.

The work of clearing the countryside was done very thoroughly.

Ferdinand nodded slightly.

This Thomas does have something, at least he is very determined when doing things.

The elderly, the weak, women and children must have been sent to Rhode Island by ship, while the young and strong stayed behind to provide logistics as laborers during the war.

There was no doubt that the Knights intended to rely on this newly built city to fight the Seljuk army to the death!

I will never leave easily.

This may be bad news for the Turks, but it is undoubtedly good news for Ferdinand.

To be honest, if the Knights had just given up and run away, it would have been really troublesome for Ferdinand.

It is necessary to annihilate the main force of the Knights here, or at least eliminate a large part of the Knights' forces, before it is possible to attack Rhodes Island.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to build a navy without three to five years of preparation.

Of course, for him now, three to five years is not too long to wait. The life span of a national guardian is much longer than that of an ordinary person.

But… wouldn’t it be better to achieve your goals faster?

"Lord Ferdinand, I heard that you were once a member of the Knights Templar?" A malicious voice said from the side.

"Yes." Ferdinand answered directly without turning around.

Since converting to the Star Moon Sect, he has faced this situation more than once.

I have enough experience and preparation to face all of this. This is also a situation that all converts cannot avoid.

Perhaps it was his current status, or perhaps it was his indifferent attitude that made the other person feel a little bored. So the words he said were no longer as targeted as before.

"So, what do you think of this city?"

"Give up something in exchange for something else," said Ferdinand.

"The walls have become shorter and thicker, making them more difficult to destroy with artillery. Long-range artillery has been specially installed on the city walls, using the advantageous terrain to prevent enemy artillery from approaching. This is a wall specifically designed to target enemy artillery!"

"Of course, the price is that the wall has become shorter, making it easier to climb! We don't need those large siege engines... small and medium-sized siege engines can scale the wall. There are gains and losses!"

"Master Ferdinand, don't forget the double trench in front of the city wall! Siege engines can't pass through it!"

Someone reminds me.

"But filling the trenches only takes time," Ferdinand said. "As long as we give it time, filling the trenches won't be a problem."

"You think so? But the defenders will definitely stop us from filling the trench. If we force it, it will result in heavy casualties!"

"We can dig trenches from a distance and then, at a suitable distance, dig out positions that can protect our artillery. In this way, we will have enough firepower to cover and ensure that we can fill the enemy's trenches with controllable casualties."

"And once the moat is filled... it'll be a low city! Siege equipment can easily be placed against the city walls! Even if siege equipment isn't suitable, tunnels can still be dug!"

Ferdinand said confidently, "City attack and defense are nothing more than these few points."

He came from a noble family (although he was adopted), so he was naturally proficient in such siege tactics.

This is also the difference between nobles and commoners. If it were him, he would never spend so much money to build such a city, and would rather expand the navy and army.

The army can move, but the city cannot move!

Section 278 Judgment 2

"But wouldn't it take a long time?" someone else asked.

"One month to dig out usable artillery positions," Ferdinand said. "One month to fill the trenches, and the remaining month for the actual siege!"

Once we get to the last step, it’s just a matter of time.

The Knights' forces were definitely not able to withstand this kind of seesaw battle. Even if the exchange ratio was one to two or one to three, the Knights would be quickly worn down.

Add to that the low morale that inevitably results from the siege, and it's a fair prediction that they'll hold out for a month.

"I thought Lord Ferdinand had some brilliant ideas," someone else said. "Isn't this a standard siege tactic?"

"Yes, a very common method," Ferdinand agreed. "But there is no solution."

"Is there no better way?"

"Yes, after completing the first stage and besieging the city, we can try to persuade them to surrender," said Ferdinand.

"Grandmaster Thomas is diligent in his military discipline and holds a high reputation within the Order. As long as he's determined to fight to the end, the Order won't give up!" the man said. "And don't forget, he holds the sacred banner that rocked the Mediterranean!"

"Yes, so Thomas must leave here," said Ferdinand.

He had never met the new Grand Commander named Thomas, but he knew from his battle record that he was definitely not an ordinary person.

But he knew about the other members of the Knights.

If it was the secretary Demetrios...given his temperament, there would be a chance of persuasion.

"How do I get him to leave? Will he leave?"

Ferdinand smiled and said nothing about this question.

The opinions I just expressed were all general statements, and anyone with a little military knowledge can easily see that.

So there is no problem in speaking it out and sharing it with everyone.

As for how to persuade them to surrender...that is a secret that cannot be disclosed!

If you want to gain credit or ask for reward by doing this, how can you tell others about it?

So he spurred his horse forward, but behind him he heard the voices of his followers.

"Sir, we can't go any further! The Knights' cavalry may appear at any moment!"

"Isn't this better?" Ferdinand chuckled. Now he wasn't afraid of a battle involving dozens or even hundreds of soldiers.

"Furthermore, the Knights won't attack! They offered absolutely no resistance from the perimeter. They even retreated as soon as our vanguard arrived. This shows they want a defensive battle, nothing more!" Ferdinand smiled again. "They have confidence in this new city!"

A group of people rode their horses forward and observed the situation on the city wall from a distance.

On the top of the city wall, you can vaguely see the dark muzzles of the cannons. But this is only the part visible to the naked eye.

It is hard to say how many are hidden behind the firing holes in the city walls.

With a quick visual inspection, you can see forty or fifty artillery pieces.

"I heard that the Knights purchased a large amount of weapons from Italy and Portugal... It seems that it is not a rumor." Ferdinand said.

He also quickly figured out what he should do.

The Turkic army was now in high spirits, so there was no need for him to express any correct opinions. Even if he did, they might not listen. Even if they did, they would not regard it as Ferdinand's credit.

Only when they hit a wall and are at their wit's end will their words be taken seriously, and they will be rewarded adequately afterwards.

This is the reason why the Dharma is not passed on lightly and the Tao is not sold cheaply!

Ferdinand looked at the closed city gate in the distance with contempt.

Today is the Knights' last chance for a field battle.

The main force of the Seljuk army had not arrived yet, only the vanguard, numbering no more than about 10,000 to 20,000.

Although the Knights are still at a disadvantage in terms of military strength, they can still fight with the help of artifacts.

If we can win, although it will not change the overall situation, it will be very helpful to the morale of the Knights.