Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 541 - 319: Taking the City

Damietta.

These days, a lot of bad news has been coming in.

The Eastern stronghold of Tinis fell in less than a day, and Gasilab Castle, Tannenbourg, Sahel Castle... those fortresses with garrisons of only a few hundred couldn’t hold out for long either.

Everything indicates that the Crusaders are not just an army skilled in field battles; they are also adept at sieging fortresses.

These messages have further lowered the morale of the city’s defenders.

While patrolling the city walls, he seemed to hear the whispers of the soldiers talking about their families in occupied areas; a few days ago, when the city gates were not yet closed, their friends and family fleeing to the western Manufiya Province...

Every day, nobles, loaded with property and wealth, are fleeing the city by ship.

Even Governor Iben is secretly relocating his family and relatives. Senmut can understand Governor Iben’s predicament, but while the governor and the nobles can relocate their kin, what about the ordinary soldiers defending the city?

Perhaps on normal days, Governor Iben can ignore the thoughts of these lower-ranking soldiers because his most elite force has never been those farmer and citizen recruits but rather the Mamluk army represented by Senmut.

But Damietta is a large city, and to defend it, relying solely on the remaining few thousand Mamluks is absolutely insufficient.

"I heard that after the Franks captured Sahel Castle, aside from hanging the local chief and some other notorious leaders, they didn’t kill a single civilian."

"Moreover, they redistributed the confiscated land to the poor."

"The price of bread in the city has risen again. My father spent all his savings to buy this armor for me so that I could survive this war, to the point where my family can hardly afford to eat now."

The whispers sounded again behind Senmut.

He turned back to look, and every soldier was busy with what they were supposed to be doing: patrolling, guarding, moving equipment, lighting bonfires... everything was orderly, as if those whispers were just his illusion.

Senmut let out a bitter smile, stopped dwelling on these issues, and stepped down towards the city.

The towering towers behind him still stood tall, yet this fortified city no longer gave him any sense of security.

"By this time tomorrow, the Franks should be at the gates."

Senmut muttered to himself.

"By the Holy Fire, may we win tomorrow and defeat the minions of the infidel demons."

He clasped his hands together, facing the direction of the Eastern Holy Land in prayer.

...

As night fell,

Senmut, returning from his patrol around the camp, lay on his soft velvet couch, tossing and turning, as if weighed down by a huge stone in his heart. His head was heavy and tired, yet he couldn’t sleep.

He simply donned his armor again, taking two personal guards with him, and climbed back onto the city wall.

After patrolling, he didn’t notice anything unusual.

Not even the soldiers who would often sneak off or doze off were seen.

Instead, Senmut’s ominous feeling grew even deeper.

"Stay vigilant tonight. Don’t forget, those Franks also possess secret drugs that allow them to see in the dark."

Senmut instructed the night watch soldiers all the way.

He looked up at the sky. Tonight’s night was especially somber, as if the bright moon above also sensed tomorrow’s incredibly bloody battle and hid in the clouds in fear.

After patrolling several sections of the wall, Senmut slightly exhaled, preparing to turn and leave.

Suddenly, he heard a slight sound.

"Did you hear something?"

The two personal guards stared in confusion, shaking their heads.

Senmut patted his head, smiling bitterly: "I’ve been out of it these past two days."

Just as he was about to turn and leave,

He suddenly remembered something, took the torch from his guard, and slowly leaned over the wall.

At this sight, the calmness on his face instantly turned into thick fear.

At the foot of the wall,

Suits of iron armor were reflecting a cold and sinister light.

As far as the eye could see, it was unclear how many enemies were lurking in the darkness.

He opened his mouth wide, just about to shout.

An arrow whizzed by with tremendous force, piercing through his mouth, nailing him together with his body to the tower behind him.

"They’ve been discovered, act immediately!"

A Woodland Archer whispered urgently. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Arrows flew out from the dark again, shooting down the guards who had just started to ring the alarm bells.

Soon, the defenders on the eastern wall were wiped out.

The soldiers lying in ambush at the foot of the wall waited silently, and shortly afterward, the tall city gate slowly opened from the inside. They immediately stopped concealing their movements and flooded into the city.

...

Governor Iben woke up in shock, even somewhat at a loss.

"The Crusaders have infiltrated the city?"

"How is this possible?"

"Where is Senmut? Call Senmut to come and command my personal guards. No matter what, they must cleanse the city of the intruding enemy!"

The Jewish courtier, Maimonides, let out a bitter smile: "General Senmut went to patrol the east wall... most likely, he’s now gone to embrace the Holy Fire."

"Senmut is dead?"

Governor Iben sat down on the ground.

Maimonides reached out to help Governor Iben up: "Flee, Lord Iben, leave here by the ships docked at the port."

Governor Iben paused for a moment, grabbing Maimonides’ hand: "Come with me!"

"No, no."

Maimonides hastily waved his hand. He had already struck a deal with Losa, not intending to leave. It wasn’t out of greed for the wealth he had accumulated over the years but because of the manuscripts and the books he had collected, stored at his residence.

"The Franks aren’t demons who kill on sight. They won’t do anything to me. But based on their past actions, they absolutely won’t spare you."

Governor Iben hesitated no longer. He shot Maimonides a deep look, then rushed out of the residence with his Mamluks.

The wealth he accumulated had already been slowly transported out of the city along with his kin. Now, on the run, he traveled light and fast.

He hadn’t gone far from the residence before he heard the sounds of shouting and killing.

Governor Iben’s face changed dramatically: "The Franks have already breached this far?"

The shouts of "In the name of God" echoed like sharp whistles, resonating so clearly even from such a distance to reach Governor Iben’s ears.

"You two, take the governor and leave!"

The Mamluk guards urgently urged as they unsheathed their weapons and led several hastily gathered Mamluks to confront the approaching Crusaders.