As the Ottoman launched their second offensive, Manuel, who had gained some insight, took the opportunity to observe the enemy's formation and siege patterns.
Just as he knew from his previous life, the Ottoman's military formation was still the typical 'Turtle Formation': auxiliary and conscripted forces of varying quality were placed on the outermost perimeter; flexible light and heavy cavalry were arranged on both flanks, used for luring the enemy rather than guarding; and the central position housed the Ottoman's most elite forces, such as the Janissaries, artillery, and heavy infantry.
According to his historical knowledge from his previous life, when the Ottoman encountered an enemy, they would usually deliberately allow the enemy to actively or passively collide with their central army, then use the central army's absolute superior combat power to directly crush the enemy, and then have the two flanks of cavalry, pretending to be defeated, close in to complete the encirclement of the enemy.
This is why, during this period, a single major battle by the Ottoman could completely wipe out a nation's main force, because under this formation, the bulk of the enemy forces that penetrated deep into the formation had no room to escape, and could only be utterly annihilated in despair under the Ottoman's scimitars and iron hooves.
It was not difficult to deal with such an enemy; this kind of formation was ultimately a test of national strength.
As long as the national strength increased, using stronger troops and firearms to achieve a 'victory for the brave in a narrow encounter' would win… win… win…
"Win my ass! Ottoman, I'll explain your horse!" Manuel roared in his heart, infuriated by the current state of Bosporus.
Financial deficit, debt increasing without reduce, manpower pool almost exhausted, morale and training far inferior…
"If it were a field battle, an encounter, or a decisive battle, I reckon I would have been dragged to Adrianople and executed by now.
My plan couldn't have failed…" He was quite depressed and momentarily lost in thought, almost being mercilessly sent off by a stone projectile fired from the enemy lines.
By the time he regained his composure and stubbornly resisted the Ottoman's second offensive, it was already that afternoon.
Taking advantage of this time, Caesar dispatched several suicide squads to risk checking the current state of Giresun's city defenses.
The result was unexpected: the Ottoman's day-long bombardment did indeed cause significant damage, but these were not irreparable in the short term.
If the Ottoman did not continue their attack that night, they should be able to temporarily restore the city walls to their state before noon that day.
"Is it because I intentionally or unintentionally took out the Ottoman's cannons last time?" After confirming this, Manuel couldn't help but continue the analysis that had been interrupted that afternoon.
"In other words, the Ottoman formation I'm facing this time shouldn't be a 'complete form' or anything like that." Risking being hit by arrows and bolts, he deliberately paced to the edge of the city wall to look down at the temporarily halted enemy forces, glanced at the enemy's deployment, and quickly returned to his original position.
The young Caesar realized that he seemed to have forgotten to consider the differences in the environment.
"Sure enough, upon closer thought, the situation faced in a siege battle is not the same as in a field battle.
In that case, perhaps it really can be done?" Subsequently, after a rough mental rehearsal, he found that his planned strategy had not failed; instead, it had reached its most critical moment.
To this end, he immediately summoned his generals present that evening for a meeting that would determine the course of this war.
For the next half month or so, in Giresun, both sides continued this seesaw battle of offense and defense.
The Ottoman, temporarily unable to receive reinforcements of new cannons, lacked the ability to breach the city walls and launch a direct assault, while the Bosporus Army also lacked the ability to sally forth and relieve the siege.
Both sides remained in a stalemate during this period, making no progress.
However, Murad was not in a hurry, because the Sultan knew that if he continued to drag it out, he would be the only one to win.
New large-caliber cannons were expected to arrive by the end of November, and he also had several other formidable legions behind him, with an inexhaustible supply of soldiers compared to the Bosporus Romans.
The Ottoman had the support of vast national strength; what did Bosporus, a newcomer, have?
Even if the petty tricks of these Goth Romans had occasionally angered him before, Murad couldn't even bring himself to be serious now.
The odds were too overwhelmingly in his favor; how could he lose?
Moreover, the subsequent developments surprised the Sultan even more, causing him to naturally relax.
One day in the latter half of this month, amidst heavy snowfall, the Ottoman for the first time ascended the city walls of Giresun—
The situation at the time was as follows: that day, the Ottoman routinely bombarded the city walls, searching for breaches.
But this time, to their surprise, the defenders did not desperately repair the breaches and fire arrows in retaliation as before, but instead retreated within the city walls, as if they had lost some courage.
Their displayed weakness did not cause the enemy to show mercy; instead, it ignited their competitive spirit.
Sensing an opportunity, Rom Pasha, who commanded the vanguard, immediately ordered the deployment of siege engines, such as scaling ladders and siege towers, which had been kept hidden until then, after consulting the Sultan.
He directly sent the most valiant nomadic militiamen to ascend them and launch an assault on the city walls.
As the number of scaling ladders deployed increased, the Pasha also ordered the Ottoman's Kapikulu Corps to participate in the siege, temporarily serving as supervisors.
Just as the defenders were in mortal peril, ceramic pots filled with Greek Fire were hurled directly from the defenders' positions, and oil-soaked flaming arrows were also ignited and shot from bows and crossbows.
Most of the scaling ladders and other equipment set up by the Ottoman were instantly destroyed under this assault, and the conscripts and soldiers on and below the ladders also perished.
A very small number of conscripts who made it onto the city walls were immediately cut down by swarming peasant soldiers, their bodies directly thrown down from the city.
The defenders' crisis was thus resolved.
Afterwards, the Ottoman, apart from wildly firing cannons and displaying impotent rage, did nothing else.
A major crisis for the defenders seemed to have been resolved just like that.
But the battle-hardened Murad keenly sensed that the Ottoman's opportunity was fast approaching.
According to past experience, if the defenders showed laxity once, they would do so countless times.
Normally, the besiegers would then gradually gain the upper hand.
Moreover, only half a month had passed, and the defenders were already showing signs of not being able to hold on.
To be honest, when he learned of the complete annihilation of the Black Sea Coastal Legion, Murad, amidst his anger and shock, was somewhat wary of these enemies.
But their repeated absurd performances finally made him "see clearly" that the Romans were still as useless and pathetic as ever.
Just as he naturally let down his guard, news of an attack on the rear supply route reached him.
This also reminded the Sultan that it was time to clear out the hilly areas occupied by Bosporus.
To this end, Caesar quickly made a decision that seemed very correct at the time: "They are truly annoying mosquitoes.
Very well, allocate 6,000 troops to me and retake Amasya!"