Chapter 1008 - 231: Jochi’s Ambition

Chapter 1008: Chapter 231: Jochi’s Ambition

The overwhelming power descended upon Hades City, forming a translucent glowing humanoid figure. Losa, in the form of an avatar, appeared beside Jeanne.

At this moment in Hades City, the Double-headed Eagle and the Crusader Banner were already flying on the city walls.

The streets were in chaos, with fallen corpses and scattered weapons everywhere.

A rough glance showed no signs of resistance anymore.

Hades was not just a military fortress like Rahab, but existed as the main base for the western border guard of the Sassanid Dynasty. The land was fertile, and the water facilities were well-developed, allowing it to accommodate a garrison of tens of thousands.

"What’s the situation now?"

"The enemy collapses at the slightest touch. Only sporadic resistance remains in the city, and the situation has mostly stabilized."

Jeanne wasn’t surprised at Losa’s arrival. She touched his arm, a purely energy-formed avatar, with a somewhat unreal feel.

Today, the evaluation of Losa’s exclusive divine artifact has reached the level of ’Destiny’s Endowment’, granting a 100% bonus to all the abilities of the artifact. The avatar’s strength, originally only half of the main body’s, has been doubly enhanced.

Although it does not possess the True Dragon Body of the main body, its combat power should not be underestimated.

"The path to Baghdad is now wide open. The Sassanians showed rather mediocre combat power in this battle. I think if we push forward quickly, we can meet up with you in Baghdad victoriously."

Losa hesitated momentarily but still shook his head and said, "Let’s take a break first."

For this surprise attack on the Sassanians, the Overseas Empire used the pretense of holding a tournament in Aleppo to disguise their intentions.

From Aleppo to Hades, covering nearly 800 kilometers, Jeanne’s cavalry corps took only six days.

This long-distance march nearly exhausted the potential of the Crusader Cavalry.

It was only because Jeanne’s cavalry corps was composed entirely of special cavalry, excluding the "Winged Cavalry as Emperor’s Guard" and the Imperial Cavalry as mid-level officers, that they could achieve such a surprise attack.

Ordinary Crusader Cavalry would have long since perished on the road.

Jeanne raised an eyebrow: "However, we didn’t really suffer any losses. We are a bit fatigued, but after a night’s sleep and some blessing from the Monastic Knights’ holy light, we’ll be as lively as ever tomorrow."

The Kingdom-level title allows for 300 special cavalry. After Losa became Emperor, this number increased to 600, and with the ’Large Standing Army’ trait gained from successfully defeating Saladin in a Kingdom-level battle, another 100 were added.

Now, under Losa’s command, the limit of special cavalry has reached 700, and the infantry limit is 1,300.

In the past three years, Losa has also drawn two Cavalry Camp buildings. Under Jeanne’s command, these special cavalry now number 6,300.

Among these, the ’Armored Archers’, ’Iron Buddha’, and ’Keshik Cavalry’ form the Heavy Armored Archery Cavalry Corps, and the ’Templar Order’, ’Hospital Knight Order’, and ’Teutonic Order’ form the Monastic Cavalry Corps, which have been Losa’s long-standing troops.

In the Gun Cavalry Corps, apart from ’Sipahi Cavalry’, two new teams have been added: ’Hungarian Black Army Heavy Cavalry’ and ’Burgundy Gun Cavalry’.

The ’Black Army’ was established by Matthias I, King of Hungary, the son of Hunyadi, comprising Hungary’s standing mercenaries. The cavalry within it was mainly composed of light cavalry but retained a unit of heavy cavalry with charge capabilities. Being commoner heavy cavalry, their equipment was generally inferior to the noble Imperial Cavalry.

In the entire Black Army, their combat role leaned towards support, mainly assisting light cavalry in annihilating the Ottoman’s Sipahi Cavalry.

The Burgundy Gun Cavalry was formed by Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy, modeled after Charles VII’s ’Imperial Cavalry’, forming his own standing cavalry force. Their combat power was similar, though their tactics had slight differences.

All nine cavalry companies, totaling 6,300 men, were all Jeanne relied upon for this surprise attack.

"This surprise attack went smoothly, but that was because we happened to catch the enemy during their gathering at Tarsus. Now that our whereabouts are exposed, unless the Sassanians are a bunch of fools, they will surely prepare for defense."

Losa said in a deep voice, "Beyond Hades lies the heartland of Mesopotamia, where town and village densities will increase. By the time you lead your men to Baghdad, they’ve probably already shut their gates tight."

Should their retreat be cut off, even if he could lead his followers to support them anytime, heavy losses would be inevitable.

Jeanne frowned: "I’m concerned that if this war isn’t swiftly resolved with a thunderous force against the Sassanians, once the Tatar Nomadic Cavalry pass through the passes of the Persian Plateau and enter the wide-open Mesopotamia, it will be disastrous."

Losa furrowed his brow, knowing Jeanne’s concern wasn’t unfounded. If the Sassanians deemed his threat too great, they might not bother defending the passes to the Persian Plateau, possibly even leading the Tatars in.

He had signed an agreement with the Tatars, whereby the Overseas Empire was supposed to obtain the whole Mesopotamian Plain, but the agreement was signed with the Tatar Great Khan, and now the western expeditionary force was led by his eldest son Jochi.

The Great Khan’s eldest son was using his father’s support to establish his own foundation, and a mere Persian Plateau would probably not satisfy the appetite of the Great Khan’s son who was qualified to reside in the "Golden Tent".

"If they really dare come, then let them come. We can just catch them like dogs in a trap."

"Moreover, aren’t the Tatars besieging Isfahan? That’s also a fortress city, gathered with the strongest defensive forces from the eastern territories of the Sassanids. It isn’t so easily breached."

The Tatars have incorporated craftsmen from the Liao Kingdom, Jin Kingdom, and Western Xia. The level of siege weapon manufacturing is unmatched by ordinary nomadic tribes. Losa doesn’t expect them to hold like Xiangyang did in his previous life for six years, but ten or fifteen days should be doable, right?

...

Persian Plateau, Isfahan.

Boom——

A giant catapult hurled a hundred-pound projectile, cutting through the morning mist, shrieking loudly as it slammed into the battlement of Isfahan’s city wall. The blue-gray bricks splintered like shattered bones, and the Persian soldiers hiding behind were reduced to a mangled mess, as if run over by a truck.

The swaggering Tatar cavalry tied the heads of the Persians to their saddles, driving the men and women they had captured from the suburban villages and towns towards the city walls, using them as human shields against enemy defenses.

Following them were the strongmen conscripted from conquered tribes and towns, wielding crude weapons and carrying cloud ladders and other siege equipment. These conscripts, known as "Contract Army," were often used as cannon fodder.

The forces sent by Ivan to Jochi’s command were technically Contract Army, but as volunteers who willingly pledged allegiance, they enjoyed better treatment than those conscripted from conquered subjects.

The Great Khan’s eldest son, Jochi, stood silently outside his Golden Tent, observing the battlefield like a silent statue.

After a while, he said, "It’s about time. Once the Contract Army retreats, let our elite troops engage."

Beside him, the vanguard general, Subutai, frowned and said, "Jochi Nayane, have you been too eager for success lately? If we besiege the city for three more days, let those Contract Army exhaust a bit more of the enemy’s energy, our losses will be much smaller."

Jochi couldn’t help but laugh, "How come you’ve learned to calculate? Didn’t you once told my father that you couldn’t even read a ledger, only command troops in battle?"

Subutai replied helplessly, "Jochi Nayane, I just can’t read ledgers, doesn’t mean I can’t count. Besides, don’t you usually prefer to achieve victory at the lowest cost?"

Jochi was silent for a moment, then spoke lightly, "Ivan Thousand Households has reported; Southern Fulin has signed an agreement with my father, and the entire Mesopotamia will belong to the Fulin people. If they seize this place first, we truly won’t be able to continue our western expedition."

"Are the Fulin people really strong?"

Jochi replied solemnly, "Yes, they’re formidable opponents. Not only does Ivan Thousand Households say so, Balshi thinks the same."

"Even that arrogant fellow Balshi considers them formidable opponents?"

"Indeed."

Jochi sighed, "Do you think my father doesn’t want me to expand my own power further? Why else would he sign an agreement with the Fulin people?"

Subutai shook his head and said, "Jochi Nayane, you’re overthinking it. I think the Great Khan just considers the Fulin people formidable foes, and worries you might not surpass them. Moreover, even if blocked by the Fulin people, it doesn’t mean we can’t continue westward; there’s still vast land to conquer west of the Ertis River."

Subutai is a typical Tatar general, he doesn’t believe a bustling city surpasses a pasture permeated with the scent of horse dung.

On the contrary, he thinks that compared to conquering nomadic tribes like the Kumans from the west, dealing with these farming peoples who prefer hiding in their shell is much tougher.

Jochi shook his head, "No, the Mesopotamian is rich with water and lush pastures; it’s fertile land. If I seize it, I’ll gain endless wealth and grain to support my army. I must claim this place."

Subutai wanted to persuade him, but then suddenly realized something and shut his mouth.

He realized that Jochi’s motive was to prove himself to the Great Khan, a rebuttal to Chagatai’s taunt of "Mie Erqi bastard," and also involved a deeper pursuit of competing for the khanate.

But such internal matters of the Golden Family evidently weren’t for him to comment on.

"I understand. Since Jochi Nayane wants to swiftly capture this city, once the Contract Army withdraws, I’ll lead the troops to storm the city myself!"

Jochi was silent for a moment, then patted the other’s shoulder, "Proceed cautiously, the Persians have a few capable members. I’ll have the Great Shaman provide cover."

Subutai grinned, "Don’t worry, no one born yet can kill me."