Chapter 478 Rest and Fight Again
The Huns retreated, but they did not leave their camp outside the city not far away. This was to reorganize. After all, Attila had no intention of retreating casually. No one dared to compete with him here, so he could rest on Roman soil with dignity.
"It seems that they have run out of stones and are in urgent need of replenishment." Andrew pointed to the soldiers operating machines outside the Hun camp opposite. They were grinding stones so that they could deal the most fatal blow to the enemy without damaging the catapults.
The first battle made Lujia feel unprecedented pressure. A thousand people died in the battle, and many wounded were hiding in the dilapidated houses and struggling. Because of the backward medical care, many of them died silently. In this situation, the number of soldiers was getting smaller and smaller without knowing it.
"We can't get hung up on fighting for the city wall with them." Luca went on to say, "They are too strong. With the suppression of archers and catapults, we can't even raise our heads, let alone defend the city!"
"But there are fewer and fewer bows and arrows in the city!" Andrew pointed out the current situation, which made Luga feel troubled.
"Then we don't need archers!" Andrew's eyes widened at Luca's decision. He couldn't believe that Luca would say that. He didn't need archers. He said it so easily. Didn't he care about the burden behind him? "Luca, you must be crazy. How can we stop the Hun army?" Andrew asked hurriedly.
"I didn't say we were going to stop it!" Luca's next reply left Andrew speechless. He didn't know how to answer. He could only stand there quietly and see what Luca had to say.
"Bring all the kerosene and other oils that can be collected from the entire city, and also bring all the pottery jars and other things. Remember, it's from the entire city!" Under Luca's orders, Andrew didn't understand what this meant, but since it was the order of the supreme commander, he had to obey it.
Soon, all the intact jars that could be collected in the city of Thessalonica were piled up in front of the entrance of the meeting hall. According to Luca's instructions, all the jars were filled with oil and then cloth strips were soaked in the oil and hung on the jars.
"What is this?" This action aroused Areobinders' curiosity. He came to the door of the meeting hall and looked down at the full earthenware jars placed under the steps. His doubts must be the same as those of the soldiers around him. What was the idea of melting all the oil together? He hurried to ask Luca, who did not explain in detail, but told Areobinders that he had a way to defend the city!
"Oh, I hope so, Lord Luca!" Areobinders seemed to sneer at Luca's weird ideas, and he responded with a cold attitude.
"Maybe, Lord Areobinders!" Luga responded in kind, saying that he had disliked him for a long time, this coward, who had been fanning the flames when the first battle took place. If it weren't for the fact that they were former comrades-in-arms and Areobinders was a member of the Senate of Constantinople and other prominent social status, Luga would have killed this damn bastard long ago.
Areobinders just took a few glances and left the scene without saying a word, leaving Luca to direct the soldiers.
Attila was not in a hurry to attack. He sent cavalry to roam around and keep a close eye on the movements of Thessalonica. They were very familiar with Luca, and they obviously wanted to see if there was any panic in the city because of the siege. But this time they were disappointed, because Luca closed the city gates tightly, and there was no mutiny or citizen flight as Attila wanted.
But after waiting for half a month, Attila did not see any reinforcements from surrounding towns, nor did he see any unrest in Thessalonica. In fact, Thessalonica was completely dispensable in his eyes. He just wanted to make Basileus, the Eastern Roman Empire, lower his head through constant destruction and massacre. And for the Romans who broke the contract, he just wanted to get back the 6,000 pounds of gold he owed and the annual tribute.
At this time, the curtain of the tent behind him was drawn open, and a Roman who looked completely different from him stood behind him. He saluted Attila's back and called out softly, "Attila, my king!"
"Oedites, you are finally back!" Attila turned around and looked at the Roman in front of him, "My loyal diplomat, tell me, what have you brought me for the arrogant Basileus in Constantinople?"
"I'm sorry, my king, I don't bring any good news." Oedites said, and then bowed and said, "Theodosius did not surrender to us so easily just because we massacred the Thracian province. It seems that compared to the province, the comfort of the soft bed in the magnificent palace of Constantinople is what he is most worried about."
"Ha, you are worthy of being a god, the supreme god!" (Before this, the Roman envoy had compared Theodosius II to a true god and Attila to a lowly barbarian king, intending to humiliate Attila.) Attila laughed, his tone and expression full of sarcasm. After a while, his whisper stopped abruptly, and his whole person became gloomy. He had a fierce look in his eyes, gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "Since they are unwilling to accept the conditions, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"The Huns! The Huns are coming!"
Early that morning, the tranquility was broken by the screams of the soldiers on guard. The panicked guards woke up the soldiers who were still sleeping and asked them to get up quickly, fasten their armor, pick up their weapons and go to their battle posts.
On the city wall, the soldiers saw an army with flags flying that stretched for several kilometers. This time it was the full strength of the Huns. Attila finally lost his patience and launched a general attack!
In the city of Thessalonica, soldiers were busy placing cans of kerosene and other oils on the roofs of buildings and arranging soldiers on standby.
The dilapidated city gate was blocked with rubble and mud, which did not make Attila hesitate for a moment. They reinforced the siege vehicle and installed a bronze sheep's head on the head of the siege cone.
On the city wall, Roman archers climbed up the wall. They placed the few arrows at their feet, took them out and held them tightly in their hands, waiting for the Huns to attack.
"Luga, Luga!" Andrew ran up to Luga and said to him, "Everything is ready, just waiting for the Huns' attack!"
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"Okay!" Luga nodded repeatedly, but after he finished speaking, he raised his head and looked around, wondering in his heart, so he asked, "Where is that old guy Areobinders? According to convention, he should be here to make sarcastic remarks, so why is he not here this time?"
"Maybe he's ashamed of his cowardice." Andrew explained with a laugh, "This old guy should have been like this a long time ago. What he has done recently is totally incompatible with his position!"
"I hope he can be as you said, Andrew." Luca said without thinking much.
Let me explain here. I mentioned Tenaia's son Maximus in the previous plan for the unification of the empire. At that time, Tenaia had just become pregnant and did not have the opportunity to tell Luca, so Luca did not know and it was not a cuckold.
(End of this chapter)