Although the central earthen rampart and an accompanying watchtower of the Isthmus defense line eventually crumbled under the Crimean Army's fierce assault, the Crimean Khanate also suffered heavy losses.
More than 70% of the cavalry sent to storm the rampart were killed or wounded, and the 4,000-strong army that had gathered majestically today lost over 1,800 men to the Theodoro Principality's defenses.
"What is the point of such a victory? Besides dragging the Theodoro Principality into the fray." Klier, who participated in the war from the military camp this time, finally pondered with concern after receiving the casualty report.
Unfortunately, as a guest General, he had no way of deciding the Crimean Khanate's strategy; even if he offered his opinions, they were either refuted by seemingly reasonable arguments or failed to achieve the expected results due to the Khanate's unfamiliarity with the terrain.
"Oh well, I'll take it one step at a time. At worst, I'll surrender and pay a ransom to return home," Klier comforted himself.
In the current era, except for the Crusaders, Jihad, or Great Holy War, captured Generals and soldiers on both sides were generally spared to be exchanged for ransom.
The Serbia region where Klier was from and the Ottoman Sultanate he served were naturally no exception, so he was not worried about his personal safety.
While Klier was contemplating a retreat, Manuel urgently summoned his Generals to the tower of the Tatar Isthmus defense line to discuss their next course of action.
"The Tatars have truly breached the earthen rampart, Your Highness. This is quite troublesome now," Vladimir said worriedly and urgently.
"The time has finally come to test us, gentlemen. Now is the time for us to work together," Manuel said solemnly.
"It's alright, Your Highness. This time, I want revenge! I can't wait to cut off the heads of the Tatars and those ignorant Janissaries!" Posadas said with excitement, his towering body filled with the urge for a fierce battle.
"Don't be so hasty," Manuel quickly suppressed the agitation of the early-battle faction, led by Posadas. "We still have the fortress."
"But Your Highness, this fortress was converted from a tower previously built by the Tatars, and its construction was rushed. I'm afraid it's not as solid as we imagine…" Tukharovsky said with concern.
"Tukharovsky, based on your experience, what type of troops will the Tatars send to deal with us next?" Manuel's eyes sharpened as he asked this question.
"Nine times out of ten, light cavalry. Wait, Your Highness, are you perhaps thinking of…"
"Indeed," Manuel smiled gently. "This is a highly effective tactic I learned from the Eastern Dynasty."
That night, while the Crimean Khanate's military tents were reveling in their victory, Theodoro was urgently dispatching "suicide squads" to transport sand and special iron road barriers from the tower to the road behind the breached earthen rampart.
These "suicide squad" engineers first painstakingly laid out the "new" iron road barriers somewhat evenly on the road under the sparse moonlight, and then buried their traces with sand.
Although the technology of the era limited them from achieving a completely seamless concealment, the combination of Roman tradition and experience gained from several wars made the camouflage effect quite noticeable.
While these "suicide squads" were working diligently, what were the Crimean Army scouts doing? They were probing around the defense line, rather than seizing the opportunity to assault the central part of the collapsed earthen rampart.
As for why they dared not approach the earthen rampart that had been breached today, one only needed to look at the watchtower still lit with torches and the patrolling Theodoro defenders above.
If these scouts approached rashly, they would inevitably be killed or severely injured by the arrows or stray bullets of the alert Theodoro defenders.
People cherish their lives, and moreover, the Khanate was merely a loosely knit alliance; they naturally did not want to lose their lives for such terrible consequences.
Furthermore, to ensure secrecy, this "suicide squad" consisted of brave warriors who laid out the fortifications without bright torches.
Under such precautions, the scouts sent by the Crimean Army naturally could not know about Theodoro's arrangements.
The next day, the sixteenth day of the Crimean Khanate's attack on the Isthmus defense line, Giray felt an unprecedented sense of elation as he looked at the nearby fortress and the watchtower behind it, seeing victory within his grasp.
Similar emotions were shared within the Crimean Army. To atone for past mistakes and to turn the tide, Darhkan Beijin Xilin, the Shirin tribal chief, proposed that he personally lead light-armored horse archers as the vanguard to besiege the fortress.
When faced with skepticism from his colleagues, he loudly responded, "Allah is above! I am the Khanate's Vizier and also the Darhkan of my tribe.
If I do not lead the charge on behalf of the Khan, how else can I atone for my previous mistakes? Khan, please allow me to go forth for you and for Allah!"
Finally, Giray accepted his proposal with joy and caution, and suggested that cavalry from other tribes also join his ranks, but he flatly refused, "There is no need for the Khan to worry; I alone am sufficient for this matter."
"Old man, you're afraid others will steal your credit, aren't you? But that's right, to restore his status in the Khanate, this is indeed the optimal solution," Klier thought, nodding from the side.
However, due to his extensive military experience, he keenly sensed some potential danger and suggested to Giray that his 50 Janissaries also participate in this battle.
Faced with the experienced Janissaries General's voluntary participation, Giray gladly accepted his proposal, and due to Klier's status as a guest General, Shilin also did not object to his suggestion.
Ultimately, Shilin personally led his remaining eight hundred elite horse archers and 50 Janissaries as the vanguard, launching a major offensive against the fortress on the Isthmus defense line.
The attack took place that morning. Since the central earthen rampart and its accompanying watchtower had been destroyed earlier, the defensive accuracy of the Theodoro defenders had decreased significantly.
The Tatar casualties did not exceed double digits until the Crimean vanguard was about to pass through the earthen rampart.
"Haha, it seems these infidels have run out of tricks!" Shilin excitedly rushed to the front, striving to lead his troops to shoot down all the Theodoro defenders.
Confident in his cavalry archery skills, he was not worried about the enemy's potential archers or artillerymen.
"If these soldiers are unarmored or lightly armored, we can shoot them down on the spot.
If they are heavily armored, then we can lure them out and then retreat with our forces intact.
In short, our Tatar warriors will not fail!" Shilin thought with great confidence.
But after they charged into the road beyond the earthen rampart, Shilin, who was galloping at the very front, felt that the undulations of the road were somewhat strange.
Before he could react, his mount stepped on something, immediately became frantic, and threw him off his horse.