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The target hit by the large matchlock bullets was not just a waste of time. One after another, the iron bullets smashed through the opponent's chest with overwhelming force. The solid iron bullets carried fragments of internal organs and bones, as well as a trace of splattered blood.

, and smashed through the second person's body again, creating two bloody transparent holes in succession, and there was still enough power to knock the third person to the ground!

If it hits the arm or thigh, the powerful impact force of the iron bullet will penetrate the flesh and tear the limbs off their torso. If it hits the head, the entire head will explode like a ripe watermelon!

Ten Varangians used this new type of matchlock rifle to fire a volley of shots, killing more than twenty night demons in the crowded and narrow street. The corpses were scattered all over the ground, blood flowed like a river, and broken limbs and flesh covered the entire street.

After one round of bombardment, the Varyag in the first row took their guns and axes and left, retreating to the last row to carry out a lengthy preparation for reloading. The Varyag in the second row had already formed a shooting formation and continued firing from the spot, then retreated back to the last row, allowing the Varyag in the third row to fire... After the Varyag in the original first row became the first row again, they had also loaded gunpowder and could continue firing.

The entire team retreated, extending their own shooting time and the distance between them and the enemy's charge, repeating this cycle. The endless sound of gunpowder explosions resounded throughout the universe and never stopped, causing these night demons to fall like weeds. The corpses of the half-man, half-goat creatures filled the entire street. They could shoot at the enemy from two hundred meters away, but the short bows of the half-goat men were only effective within sixty meters.

After finally rushing to a distance of 60 meters, the leading night demon suddenly opened his red lips and began to hum, using his throat to sing two or even more parts at the same time! While continuing a strong and heavy bass, he sang an impassioned and flowing melody, which was very magical.

What's even more magical is that, with the singing of the bard, the attacks of the night demons were actually enhanced, as if they were stimulated by the magical singing. The muscles in their arms bulged and veins emerged. Some of them were so strong that they almost broke the composite shortbows in their hands, and the arrows they shot were accurate and fierce!

What’s even more amazing is that their upper bodies are equipped with gyroscope devices for stability, just like bird heads. No matter how fast or fiercely their furry lower bodies run, their upper bodies are as steady as a rock, with hardly any shaking, while they rush at a high speed and shoot arrows at a high speed.

The Varyag Guards continued to shoot back without panic. "We are wearing helmets and chain mail. You guys in leather armor still want to shoot back at us? Shoot the one who's singing first!"

For a moment, arrows were like feathers and missiles were like locusts. The matchlock had no accuracy at all, but if the target was an army, the hit rate was still relatively considerable. It was just that it didn't hit wherever it was pointed. But the advantage was that it was powerful. A solid iron bullet could kill two or three people in succession.

The enemy's bows and arrows were superior in terms of firing speed. Even with this alternating firing method, the Varangian Guards could only fire one round in six seconds, while these goat men could fire two or three rounds in six seconds. The conical armor-piercing arrows were even shrouded in an invisible magical halo under the magic of the singing. Many arrows shot in through the gaps in the chain mail with enough force to penetrate the leather armor inside and pierce deeply into the flesh of the Vikings, splashing out bright blood flowers.

However, those who wore two layers of chain mail were better off and were not so easily penetrated by the conical armor-piercing arrows.

One by one, the soldiers fell under the overwhelming firepower, and continued to shoot in the smoke and rain of arrows. When the distance between the two sides was less than 20 meters, the Varyag soldiers in the first row stopped shooting, put their heavy muskets on their backs, picked up the giant crescent-shaped battle axes in their hands, and charged with roars! The three-meter-tall burly body moved over, and the giant axe flashing with cold light chopped fiercely at the head of the half-goat man, splitting the half-man, half-goat creature in half vertically with just one blow!

"Blood sacrifice to the Blood God! Skull sacrifice to the Skull Throne!!!"

A chosen one wearing brass armor let out a bloodthirsty roar and went into a violent state, causing his already exaggerated body to swell even more. He charged directly at the bard who had been singing! The goatmen swung their giant axe with great force. They abandoned their bows and arrows, drew their scimitars, and used their shields to block the attack, but they could not stop the brass beast at all. The crescent-shaped axe killed anyone who touched it, and injured anyone who rubbed it. After he had killed eight goatmen, he was stopped by an elite soldier who looked like a high-level warrior wearing breastplate armor.

But it was of no use. The Chosen One of Khorne swung the giant axe in his hand and used absolute power to suppress the opponent. The crescent axe dropped from the sky three times in a row and hit the opponent's shield hard. Sparks flew from the shield. The left arm that was holding up the shield felt extremely numb. The warrior's legs went weak and he was knocked to the ground in the third attack!

The Chosen One of Khorne laughed loudly, mobilized all the muscles in his body, and suddenly threw the giant axe in his hand, making it spin, whistling, and flying in the air, cutting the singing bard in half!

"Boom!"

The upper body of the half-goat man fell to the ground, dragging a trail of blood. His steaming intestines and internal organs flowed all over the ground from his broken waist. The powerful and sonorous sound of the throat singing came to an abrupt end. He wailed, screamed, and cried. He dipped his fingers in his own blood and wrote seven "miserable" words on the ground before he died.

Chapter 246: Cannon Fire

After the death of the bard, the satyrs who had lost the strength of their singing were no match for the Varangian Guards. They were defeated by the attack of muskets and axes. After the port of Sevastopol, the gateway to the Black Sea, fell, the streets were gradually lost. The local defender was forced to abandon all urban areas and retreated to the castle defense with the last soldiers. He quickly sent pigeons to ask for help from the Crimean Khan.

Aenarion was in no hurry. He ordered the cannons to be unloaded at the port and transported to the vicinity of the castle in the city. He first played with Indrognir. The little princess was intoxicated with her newfound power. She circled and soared around the castle, facing the weakening rain of arrows from the satyrs, and continuously spewed out tri-colored dragon flames, which frightened the satyrs so much that they huddled in the castle and dared not show their heads.

When she had had enough fun and the cannons were brought in, Aenarion gave the order for the general attack.

This was probably the most intuitive and shocking place for the extremely backward Eastern European herdsmen, far away from the civilized world, to experience the power of gunpowder. When the artillery salvo began, the sky was turned upside down, the earth was shaking, and the sea in the distance was also rippling with waves of death in the roar and vibration of the cannons. This was a means of warfare they had never experienced before. One shell after another emitted a deadly scream, gradually smashing the stone castle that they thought was indestructible into pieces, bringing endless despair and death to the nearby soldiers and civilians.

Sometimes the shells destroyed an entire section of the stone wall, sometimes a part of it, sometimes a tower, or a breastwork. The castle, which was extremely solid in the hearts of the herdsmen, was easily destroyed by several rounds of artillery fire. The smoke and gravel rising from the ruins rushed into the sky. The defenders were dumbfounded and at a loss when they saw this scene.

The heavy shells fired from those 12-pound cannons even blasted through the entire stone wall and penetrated deep into the castle, destroying the kitchen, dining room, bedroom and other rooms with a devastating force, killing a large number of night demons hiding inside the castle, and turning the entire castle into ruins, dyed in blood.

The bombardment was very effective in destroying the stone walls and the Night Demons on a physical level, and the psychological impact on the defenders was even more severe and effective. The roar, smoke and vibration of the bombardment made even the half-goat men who had fought for their entire lives feel panic and fear. For those servants, this was more like a sign of the end of the world! Some people ran around like headless flies inside the broken castle, some knelt down and prayed for the blessing of Allah, and some were so scared that they fainted. The local garrison commander was in despair and raised the white flag to declare surrender.

Aenarion waved his hand and ordered his men to take over the city and use the wealth stored in the castle to reward the soldiers, but everyone was to stop plundering the people.

As for the group of Khorne lunatics in the Varyag Guard, I will notify them a few hours later and stop them. They love heads more than money. After they have killed enough and made the whole city fearful, I will take my men to stop them, scold them severely, order them to stop, and rescue a few satyrs at the same time, playing the good cop and bad cop game to enhance my deterrent effect.

Aenarion arranged for soldiers to rebuild the defense system, put out the dragon fire in the port, and restore order in the entire city as soon as possible. He sent Mongolian orcs to scout the terrain nearby, and then, holding the little snake Sisina, he personally met with the surrendered satyr commander.

He just glanced at the other person, and the satyr immediately fell into a daze, as if Aenarion's eyes were like the vast and ethereal abyss of Slaanesh, an endless purple ocean in the chaotic storm, stirring up turbulent waves that chose its prey!

[Fourth Ring Psychic Power: Domination]

The satyr general was instantly defeated by Aenarion's mental magic and became a puppet in his hands. Aenarion had an idea, and without even a word, the general told him all the information he knew.

The entire Crimean Peninsula, covering an area of ​​approximately 2.55 square kilometers, is home to more than Tatar citizens and herdsmen. The number of slaves of various types is estimated to be three to four times this number. Excluding the urban population, there are as many as nomads.

At the command of the Crimean Khan, one-fifth of the population, or 50,000 cavalry, can be mobilized to join the war. All Tatar herdsmen grew up on horseback and are excellent archers.

The Crimean Khanate also has large territories in Eastern Europe, with a land area about four to five times the size of this peninsula, but the number of herders is less than half of the peninsula's population.

The number is indeed terrifying, but the quality is beyond belief. Let alone the Janissaries who are only qualified to go to the battlefield at level 4, one-fifth of the population is being sent out to fight? Even if you are nomads born on horseback, the quality of this Khanate's army is probably not as good as the elite phalanx soldiers selected and trained from the peasants.

Through this battle, Aenarion discovered that these people's weapons and armor were quite outdated, and their overall combat effectiveness was expected to drop. The number and mobility of this cavalry were a bit creepy.

What impressed and coveted Aenarion the most was the island itself. The Crimean Peninsula had fertile land and a suitable climate. It was probably the most densely populated place on the Black Sea coast, and it covered an area of ​​2.55 square kilometers.

The area of ​​Attica province is only 0.44 square kilometers, and the area of ​​Thessaly province is larger, but only 1.4 square kilometers. The two provinces combined are not as large as Crimea. If they were to conquer them, the area of ​​their territory would double.

After fully developing this peninsula and vigorously developing farmland and pastures,

There is no need to worry about food problems - there is really not much food that can be grown in the mountains of Greece.

"Convene the staff to discuss the next step."

Aenarion summoned his staff team and began to plan the next step of the war. In fact, they had already planned how to fight this war in Athens. Now they just had to tell all the staff the detailed information of the Crimean Khanate and conduct a secondary deduction.

In the end, the result was not much different from the last time, in short, there are two points.

1. Avoid field battles with Tatar cavalry on the Crimean steppes, and use the advantages of navy and artillery to fight naval battles and urban battles.

2: First capture the three cities of Sevastopol, Kaffa and Amiansk.

Sevastopol is the gateway to the Black Sea and the port city closest to Constantinople and the Mediterranean Sea, but it has been captured by themselves.

Kaffa is the largest port city and the largest slave market of the Tatars. It is closest to the Ottoman northern sea border. Occupying it can cut off the Ottoman Janissary military source.

And Amiansk is a hub city connecting the Crimean Peninsula and the Eastern European continent. As long as it is captured and the navy blocks the sea, no matter how large the territory of the Crimean Khanate in Eastern Europe is or how many troops it has, they will not be able to come to reinforce, and the Khanate can be split in two.

Chapter 247: The Bard

Aenarion left a thousand phalanx soldiers stationed in Sevastopol and led the army straight to Ammiansk without stopping.

They moved too quickly, and the army was accompanied by warships and transport ships. On the first day, they captured Sevastopol, and on the second day, the fleet arrived near the coast of Amiansk.

Indrognir transformed into a three-headed dragon, playing and having fun at will, which was completely different from the reserved and elegant Roman princess in human form. She was like a well-behaved baby who had been pent up. She released her playful nature in the battle, causing half of the city to burn in dragon fire.

In this city, Aenarion once again witnessed the power of the Tatar bards. When they started singing, they could increase the fighting power of the Tatars on the entire street. A Tatar civilian even stabbed a level 2 Varyag to the ground with a dung fork!

Aenarion used identification to see that a level 3 bard was shouting to boost morale, which could increase the attack and damage of all nearby friendly forces by +5!

[Poet's Chant·Boost Morale]: Grants all friendly forces that can hear your song +1 Attack and +1 Damage.

(Expertise: Word of Allah): Doubles the effect of your chanting.

(Feat. Melody of the Heart): Increases the effect of chanting by +1.

(First-level spell: Sound of Inspiration): Attacks granted by boosting morale have a damage bonus of +1.

(Magical Item·Badge of Heroism): Attacks granted by boosting morale have a damage bonus of +1.

According to the magic stacking effect of multiplication and division first, and then addition and subtraction, this person actually stacked the bard's ability to boost morale from +1 to +5.

I didn't even have 2 hits when I was level 5! No wonder that civilian was able to kill his well-equipped Varyag with a dung fork.

The bard is a very versatile profession, fighting, casting, summoning, healing, and assisting, but he is not proficient in anything. He is not as good as a warrior in fighting, not as good as a warlock in casting, not as good as a druid in summoning, not as good as a priest in healing, and even in single-target assistance, he is not as good as a priest who can stack his strength to be terrifying.

However, this profession has a very powerful feature: that is auxiliary chanting.

When a priest casts buff magic on people, he does it one by one. As for group amplification magic, it can only be cast in a small area at most, and it would be good if it covers dozens of people.

But when a bard sings, he can increase the hit rate and damage of all friendly troops who hear his singing. A bard plus a megaphone can improve the combat capabilities of hundreds or thousands of people! This range is simply terrifying!

Ordinary people amplified by the Tatar's throat singing can kill Varyag.

Well, if I can find a way to learn the training methods of Tatar bards, or directly get their ready-made poets, add military musicians to my army, or even set up a military band, increase the strength of my Varangian and phalanx soldiers, can I kill the Janissaries?

If this thing amplifies the Dark Angels, then can that group of angels defeat the Janissaries from other legions?

What's more, this is just the power of a small level 3 poet. Is there no high-level poet in the entire Crimean Khanate? What is the singing ability of the Tatars?

"Indrognir, kill the bards first. The amplification of these Tatar singers is too terrible."

The three-headed dragon nodded, and also discovered that the amplification ability of these Tatar bards was quite powerful. Its tri-colored body flew directly over the heavy defenses deployed by the Tatars on the ground, and sent a sea of ​​​​flames that covered the sky and the sun to the singing goat men.

They just have strong amplification ability, after all, they are still level 3 professionals, and are vulnerable in front of Indrognir's dragon fire. The sonorous and passionate war songs turned into miserable wails in the sound of the burning flames, and finally turned into the silence of death.

As the chanting ended, the strength of the satyrs on the entire street dropped a level. From being able to fight Varyag on equal terms, it became a one-sided massacre. The Khorne Vikings picked up a giant battle axe and chopped it down all the way from the beach to the Governor's Mansion.

Blood was splattered all over their bodies, but no one blinked an eye.

By the time the Tatar Khan received the news of the fall of Sevastopol, Aenarion had already captured Ammiansk, cutting off the connection between the Crimean Peninsula and the East European steppes.

And when the Khan of the Tatars received the news that Aimiansk had also fallen and the Crimean Peninsula was cut off from the East European steppes, Aenarion had already left a thousand phalanx soldiers and some artillery stationed here, and then set sail with the fleet and the army towards Kaffa, the famous slave city, and rushed all the way!

Aenarion was full of confidence. He led two thousand Varangians, one thousand phalanx soldiers, and half of the navy of the Athenian Despotate towards Caffa, trying to use the speed advantage of sea transportation over land transportation to seize the last strategic goal before the Tatar Khan could react.

However, when this huge fleet was less than half a day's journey from Kaffa, some Genoese ships approached. The Jewish goblins waved their flags desperately, which, according to the sailors' interpretation of the flags, meant "We have no ill intentions, please talk to us."

Aenarion was a little confused and asked the Genoese ships to come over. Several Jewish goblins skillfully laid wooden boards and walked in front of him. Each of them was thin and had sharp chins and monkey faces. They saluted and knelt respectfully.

"Respected War Marshal of the Eastern Roman Empire, Despot of Athens, Governor of Thessaly! Our voices represent the most honorable Governor of the Aegean Sea of ​​the Republic of Genoa, Trade King Gallywix."

"Gallywix? What did he send you for?"

Aenarion asked in some surprise.

"Oh, my Warmaster, that's enough. Why do you keep on fighting? You even fought all the way to the Crimean Khanate."

The Jewish goblin looked at Aenarion with a sad face.

"Guess why we Genoese spent so much money and resources to occupy so many islands in the Aegean Sea and even spent a lot of money to buy the Galatian district of Constantinople? Isn't it just to seize the slave trade in the Black Sea and buy the Aurora goods that came all the way from the Silk Road in the Ottoman Empire?"

"If it really doesn't work, let's do this. The Trade King is willing to pay you some protection money to protect our slave trade. He is willing to act as a middleman to mediate the conflict between you and the Crimean Khan. You can keep Sevastopol, but you must return Amiansk, the hub connecting the peninsula and the steppe, to him. We can even let the Crimean Khanate give you a war payment.

But don’t attack the Khanate, don’t attack the Crimea, don’t attack Kaffa, we still have to do business!!!”

Aenarion looked at the goblin in front of him speechlessly. He came to Kafa to destroy the slave trade, cut off the source of funds for the Janissaries.

The Ottoman Empire was not anxious yet, but you slave traders, the Genoese, were anxious first? No, whose side are you on???

"We are all devout Christians, right?"

Aenarion explained patiently, and the goblin nodded.

“We all hate the Ottomans, right?”

The goblin thought about it for a moment and nodded.

"If I conquer the Crimean Peninsula today, half of the Ottoman army will be cut off tomorrow. They will no longer be able to obtain a steady stream of white slaves from the steppes of Eastern Europe to train as Janissaries. This is good for everyone, right?"

The goblin thought for longer this time. He nodded first, then shook his head heavily.

"No, Warmaster, this will not benefit the Genoese. We have signed a large number of trade terms with the Ottoman Empire. This behemoth, like the Eastern Roman Empire, cannot die instantly. Even if it is really defeated by you, its death will be delayed to decades or even hundreds of years.

During this period, the entire Asia Minor, the second half of the Silk Road, will once again fall into the flames of war after the collapse of the Rum Sultanate, and during this period, Genoa's trade share will be severely impacted."

Aenarion also realized at this moment that the Genoese did not care who won or lost between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire. It would be best if neither side won and the war continued. In this way, he could sell mercenaries, slaves, and arms services to both the Romans and the Ottoman Empire at the same time and make money on both sides.

But it was really difficult for him to offend the Genoese and drive away this relatively reliable ally, causing the meeting to fall into an awkward silence.

“How about this, I will take a step back and postpone the attack on Kaffa for twelve hours. You go to Kaffa first and have your people fly the Genoese flag on the houses. I promise not to destroy any Genoese property.

When the war with Crimea is over, I will restore your slave trade as quickly as possible. In the future, don't sell slaves to the Ottomans. Don't the Mamluks also collect slaves? I can collect some of them too."

Aenarion stepped back.

“This matter cannot be discussed.”

The goblin stopped groveling and suddenly became tough.

"Let us end this mystery. The most honorable Governor of the Republic of Genoa has retired due to his age and lack of energy. Trade King Gallywix is ​​competing for this position.

He needs a lot of money to buy off, bribe, and win over everyone in the Republic. He will not allow you to cut off his most important funding chain at this critical juncture. "

Ai

Narion frowned, and the goblin turned and left, leaving behind the last words.

"Warmaster of the Romans, I am not here to negotiate with you. I am just a warning from the Trade King."

Chapter 248: Tatar Cavalry

As Genoa's warning faded, Aenarion's staff was somewhat undecided, and after some debate they split into two factions.

One group felt that friendship with the Genoese should be maintained, while the other group thought, screw Genoa. These Italians took advantage of the empire's misfortune and occupied half of the Aegean Sea. So if they wanted to fall out, they could have a falling out - besides, whether those merchants dared to fall out was another matter.

Aenarion fell into deep thought, weighing the pros and cons. Attacking Kafa would strengthen himself and weaken Osman, but he might also lose his ally Genoa.

If you don't attack, you won't be strengthened. The Ottoman Empire is still in its heyday, and Genoa will only provide mercenary services, which you still have to pay for with real money...

"Fight! Ignore those Genoese! They don't dare to quarrel, and even if they do, we are in the right. At the same time, send a messenger to contact Admiral Giovanni Giustinia directly! Damn the middleman, at worst I can sign a contract of employment with him directly and hire his fleet."