Directly attacking the city would naturally result in heavy losses.
However, upon considering the possibility of a nation behind Lin Tian's army, they became exhilarated. If Lin Tian was backed by a wealthy nation, those who received the intelligence first would surely be richly rewarded. Not only would their current armies be enhanced, but their own positions would also be greatly elevated. Many among them might even be transferred to significant cities to become their lords.
With these thoughts, the lords and generals became incredibly excited. Who wouldn't desire promotion and leave their humble positions? What was a little sacrifice for a chance to advance?
Fueled by such aspirations, the others, after a moment's hesitation, immediately agreed to the plan to attack the city. Thus, not long after arriving outside Lin Tian's city, the large army launched its assault. The charge of forty to fifty thousand troops was something no one had anticipated.
"What are they doing? Attacking the city directly? Isn't that too aggressive?"
"I thought they'd have some formidable strategy to battle our army, but their approach seems entirely different from what we imagined!"
"An army of forty to fifty thousand directly assaulting the city? Are there truly such foolish generals? Could there be an ambush?"
The actions of the Roman Empire's forces were clearly perplexing to Wang Wu and his men. Their reckless charge made Wang Wu and his subordinates suspect an ambush. Or perhaps, was there an even more powerful army behind them? Otherwise, where did they find the confidence to attack so directly?
However, at this moment, they were unable to ascertain the situation outside, so they remained ignorant of any potential reinforcements. Moreover, with the Roman Empire's army advancing, they could not easily sortie from the city. All they could do was rely on their archers.
"Pass down the order: archers, do not spare your arrows. Once the enemy approaches, unleash your volleys immediately!"
"At the same time, reinforce the city gates and prevent them from breaching them easily!"
"If our gates are breached, we must immediately organize a counter-attack and repel the attacking army without allowing them to enter the city!"
"Yes!"
Wang Wu issued his commands, and his subordinates promptly began to execute them. Afterward, Wang Wu turned to Lin Tian and inquired, "Your Highness, what do you think of my orders?"
"Good. Very steady. Compared to before, you have truly grown a lot!"
"Haha! I've learned it all from you, Brother Tian. After so many years, I've only grasped a fraction!"
The Roman Empire's force of forty to fifty thousand troops truly failed to pique Lin Tian's interest. Therefore, he directly handed over command to Wang Wu, allowing him to gain battle experience. Wang Wu's decisions were akin to those of a seasoned veteran. While such tactics might not swiftly defeat the Roman army, they offered a stable path to victory, which was beneficial for his soldiers. Thus, Lin Tian praised Wang Wu's actions without reservation.
This praise brought a blush to Wang Wu's cheeks and bolstered his confidence. Since Lin Tian affirmed his decisions, he was certain they were without fault. With this conviction, Wang Wu continued to command his soldiers from the high platform. His pursuit of stability, however, caused considerable trouble for the Roman army.
They intended to assault the city, but their siege engines were not particularly formidable. All they possessed were siege ladders. While these ladders offered a chance to scale the city walls, the appearance of Lin Tian's archers rendered them vulnerable. A relentless hail of arrows rained down, creating immense pressure. Many soldiers fell beneath the archers' shafts, while countless others died even as they charged forward. Few managed to get close to the city.
Within a mere ten breaths, the Roman army suffered thousands of casualties. This loss was undeniably devastating for an army of only forty to fifty thousand. If they continued their assault, they risked losing over ten thousand men, and this was before even reaching the city walls. The thought sent shivers down the spines of the Roman soldiers.
"Hiss! Their arrows are too powerful, and they have far too many archers!"
"We've already lost so many troops at the very beginning. How are we supposed to fight them from here on?"
"No, we must change our combat strategy. If we don't adapt, we will suffer catastrophic losses!"
Their numbers were already limited, and they could not afford such heavy casualties. Therefore, the army quickly adjusted its approach.
"Deploy the Crusader Army! The Crusaders are equipped with round shields; with their shields, they can easily withstand the arrows!"
"Yes, in this situation, the Crusaders should lead the charge. They can carve a path forward, and then our army can follow behind them and scale the enemy's walls!"
"We definitely need to change our offensive method, or our losses will be too great!"
At this point, everyone suggested that the Crusader Army should charge at the forefront, as their shields could offer some protection against the enemy's arrows. Once they withstood the arrows and breached the city gates, taking the city and defeating their enemies would become a simple matter.
The general of the Crusader Army heard these suggestions and began to ponder. The Crusader Army was under his command, and its soldiers were essentially his own. Any loss among them would weigh heavily on him. Therefore, he would not willingly expose them to unnecessary danger. However, the current situation clearly demanded their involvement; only they could break the stalemate.
After careful consideration, the Crusader general stated, "We can advance, but I expect the Crusader Army to be recognized as the first to achieve victory once the city is conquered and the enemies are captured!"
Upon hearing this, the other lords exchanged glances. Then, gritting their teeth and stamping their feet, they agreed to the Crusader general's demand.
"Alright, if you capture the city, you shall be credited with the first victory!"
"Good, it's a deal!"
"Then the Crusader Army will advance!"