1453: Revival of Byzantium

Chapter 87: Time Moves into March

The time marches into March as Antonius seats on a wheelchair unable to move at all.

The Ottoman siege prolongs, coming almost everyday with waves after waves of attack trying to tear down these walls or deplete the number of Roman defenders. But clearly, they have failed quite badly. Furthermore, on the Second of March, five hundred Venetians sailed into the Golden Horn landing in the port Of Neostrion as an reinforcement aid from the Doux of Candia, Benedetto Vitturi, as instructed by the serene doge of Venezia.

The leader of these five hundred warriors, a man called Giacomo Coco, is greeted by Antonius and George Sphrantzes. While since Antonius cannot perform much tasks because of his hand and arms condition, George Sphrantzes took over and did most of the job. Then the Venetians are placed into the defence of the Blachnarea walls where the battle is raging on with lots of bodies and injured being carried down to churches everyday.

Antonius is restricted by direct order from Constantine and Giovanni asking him not to approach the walls, his sole responsibility is to stay at the back and recover, while Abdullah, Abraham, Julian and Yuri are placed in charge of the defence of the walls.

A young maiden was put in charge of looking after this big man, she claims she is just an ordinary nun trying to help out with war efforts, but Antonius knows pretty well that this lady cannot just be an ordinary nun judging by her speech, manners, and behaviour. But he do not really care about it. In these free times the maiden even brought Antonius to watch Greek comedy plays and traditional music concerts put up by artists, play wrights and actors in the city to soothe the spiritual world of citizens. This is something Antonius has never done before, watching a few Pierrots dancing on the stage uttering things that he does not understand.

Meanwhile on the walls, a new special branch of weapons are finally placed into use, it is the mirrors. Using these mirrors Abdullah successfully blinded the eyes of Ottoman archers below with the strong reflection of the sun, which caused the Ottomans to not even be able to look up. The Ottoman climbers on ladders lost the suppressing fire of their friendly archers and went through a series of disasters as they climb. First it is the downpour of arrows and bolts, then follows the logs of woods rolling onto their heads. If the logs do not work, they pour a yellowish foul smell boiling liquid only god knows what it is.

Unfortunately for Abdullah he did not make himself into Archimedes the second as it is hard to start a fire over here when the snow are melting.

It has been a month already and Mehmed has made little progress towards taking this city.

The Ottomans got their new artilleries after a month's time. Two hundred pieces of artilleries manufactured and transported here from all over the Sultanate of various sizes. This means that the century old bronze icons, bells and cross in all churches across the monastery have now been removed, melted and forged into fire arms.

The Ottomans re-started their usual strategy of a massive bombardment sending three times more shells than last month onto those steady walls of Constantinople trying hard to blow it off again. Hoping that by a massive artillery operation they can force the emperor Constantine to yield and come out of the city raising his two hands.

Of course that doesn't work, after a day of massive bombardment the artilleries need time to cool down itself, as the forging technology at this age is still relatively not that advanced yet, the bronze gun barrels cannot withstand firing for too long or else it will develop cracks which is a potential safety hazard, can lead to disastrous results indeed .

Thus in the day the Ottomans pound the city walls over and over again with their big stick and metal ball, causing bricks to shatter and fall off the walls scattering all over the place. However most Romans in the city are already used to it, they would have some people on the towers safe guarding and watching preventing the Ottoman infantries from creeping onto the walls, while others will just take the time to doze off and replenish their energy in holes or shelters below the walls .

"I want all of these guns to keep firing at the present rate all days and night! Anyone gunners who stops firing shall be considered as a traitor to me!" Mehmed can be seen patrolling up and down at the back of the artillery yelling out orders.

"But my Sultan!" An officer of the artillery division protested. "We have already fired the canon for more than a day and night! If we do not cool the gun barrels down it might have cracks and"

Mehmed stopped him from continuing by giving him a slash on his face. "When I asked can you blast down those walls of Rumelia with all the guns of Rumelia, you said yes! And now are you trying to me that you are going to break your promise?"

" No, my Sultan." The artillery officer kneeled down with his head on the ground towards his Sultan.

Then what are you waiting for then! Go tear down those walls!"

"Yes! My Sultan!"

The officer replied, got up and ran back to his post. The Ottoman shelling of Constantinople increased under the supervision of their Sultan, firing with all their speed and efficiency without giving their guns a time to rest and cool itself.

The shelling continued for another day, there are already cracks appearing on some small calibre or more ill-qualitied canons, but no one in the artillery division dares to stop, as they know if they stop their heads shall be hang on the poles behind them tomorrow. Mehmed wants the city fast and save as less human loss at possible.

He has been in a status of shock and disbelief every time he reads about the papers telling him how many soldiers have lost the capabilities of combat today.

How is he going to face their families and his country men if he disappointed them?