Where did this great flood come from? Obviously, it came from the 'moat' that Theodore had filled. After noticing the Crimean Army's unusual movements, Manuel prepared two units: one for ambush, closely following the enemy engineers' movements, numbering around five hundred men; the other was a 'suicide squad' whose purpose was to quickly reach the 'moat' when the Crimean Army penetrated through the tunnel, dig open the emergency drainage channel, and release the great flood to inundate the tunnels dug by the Tatars. To guard against possible enemy interference, this unit was entirely clad in excellent armor, numbering about 150 men, composed of heavy infantry and engineers.
According to Manuel's expectations, in order to successfully win this tunnel battle, the Theodore defenders would inevitably have to be prepared to fight the Crimean Army outside the field. For this reason, he specifically had the remaining garrison troops prepare to confront the Crimean Tatars head-on, and he himself was mentally prepared for considerable casualties.
The result was—
"Why do all my enemies like night attacks so much? And not only do they launch night attacks, but they also don't set up support units? Every single one of them, do they really think their plans are flawless?" Manuel couldn't help but think with a mix of amusement and exasperation as he reviewed the battle report.
According to the battle report, Theodore killed at least six hundred Tatars this time, and according to optimistic estimates, even seven hundred, and all of them were strong and vigorous nomadic warriors. On Theodore's side, apart from three unlucky individuals who died from crowding and trampling and one who was accidentally hit by an arrow from his own side, there were no other deaths.
"Haha, I wonder if Crimea will give up now?" Manuel thought with interest, "But based on my impression of him, he should continue to launch attacks. And after releasing so much water, that 'moat' is almost going to lose its function." Thinking of this, he regretfully gazed at the Crimean Army camp in the distance.
The battle report from Crimea would only be available the next day, that is, on the morning of the eleventh day of the attack on the Isthmus. When Giray received this vague battle report, his whole face turned green with anger, "Annihilated?! By Allah, how is that possible?!"
Meanwhile, Beijin Xilin Darhkan, who was helping him with military affairs, fainted directly after confirming the authenticity of the battle report. To gain military merit, he had personally mobilized three hundred young and strong tribesmen! These were the elites of Shirin! As soon as he thought of how miserably these warriors under his command had died, and that his leading position among the three major tribes was about to be lost, the aging man immediately collapsed on the ground with lifeless eyes.
When Ali Muzhals and Mustafa Balin in the army heard about this, they were very glad that they had not sent many men to participate in this night attack. Klier, on the other hand, shook his head in annoyance, expressing his regret from the bottom of his heart.
If there was any positive effect from this night attack by the Crimean Khanate, it was that the water in the 'moat' in front of them had almost been drained to flood the tunnels. Now it was just a trench with shallow water, making it easier for the Khanate to cross it.
Although for this, the Khanate lost more than seven hundred men.
Next, the Crimean Khanate honestly spent another three days crossing the original 'moat', instead of seeking a tricky method like this time. Of course, under the furious bombardment of Theodore's crossbows and cannons, the casualties would naturally not look good.
"Now, there should only be that earth wall left, and the watchtowers and fortresses behind it," Giray forced himself to think positively in his tent after breaking through the second 'trench', or rather, the original 'moat'.
"No, Khan, in my humble opinion, there should be more formidable defensive lines behind the earth wall," Klier, on the side, mercilessly poured cold water on him.
"These damned Christians! By the way, General Klier, do you have any insights on breaking through the earth wall?" Giray looked at him with hope, as he had noticed that Klier's previous suggestions and warnings had been very beneficial.
"Hmm," Klier pondered for a moment and said cautiously, "Borrow a few loans from the Jewish people, and quickly buy cannons to bombard the earth wall, or quickly transfer a few from the northern front. In fact, if the original five cannons were still usable, there would be no need for this now."
Giray felt his face turn somewhat unpleasant, but after some thought, he finally decided to adopt his suggestion, to borrow a few loans from the Jewish people of Crimea, and incidentally, send people to transfer the remaining stock of cannons from the north.
The next five days were a period of futile attrition, with Crimea and Theodore constantly harassing each other back and forth along the Tatar Isthmus defense line. But as time went on, war weariness gradually appeared in the Crimean Army, and some chiefs of smaller tribes began to advise Giray to withdraw from here and instead continue to fight the Golden Horde, "Khan, Theodore is but a minor ailment, but the Golden Horde is a great threat. As long as we defeat the Golden Horde, these Christians are essentially just lambs to be slaughtered."
As these remarks grew, Giray had no choice but to convene all the Darhkans of the army to discuss whether to withdraw.
"Withdraw? Withdraw from what? Withdraw without reclaiming anything? Absurd!" At the meeting, Mustafa Balin, one of the chiefs of the three major tribes, angrily accused the chiefs of the smaller tribes. The main forces of their three major tribes were closely related to Northern Crimea. If they were not recaptured in time, their power and even authority would be at risk of decline.
Deep down, Giray also did not support a withdrawal. In addition to a series of military and political reasons, it was also because his family, old and young, were all in Bakhchysarai, the isolated capital. Out of selfishness, he was unwilling to return empty-handed like this.
Ultimately, the withdrawal proposals of these presumptuous chiefs of smaller tribes were suppressed by the major tribes and Khan Giray himself. However, dissent can be suppressed, but not the hearts of men.
And on the same day that this meeting ended, the people sent to transport the cannons arrived at the military camp along with the cannons. But as he counted the cannons and the number of people, Giray was puzzled, "Weren't there three more cannons in stock? Why were only two brought?"
The leader of the escort replied, "Khan, the Golden Horde Army is almost attacking the Tians region, and the other cannon was lost in battle because of this."
"It seems we need to act quickly," Giray stroked the corner of the table, frowning and shaking his head.