Zhu Bolin: Difference between revisions

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The siege was a grueling event from the start, it was clear the naval bombardment would not force the surrender of the fortress no matter how intense. Disgorging the land contingent on a nearby beach, Bolin now took on the role of general and ordered the circumvallation of Dun-Kurrengev. A crisscrossing network of trenches, tunnels and strongpoints were dug out by thousands of Polynesian slaves while siege towers were constructed and cannons brought to bear on the land walls. Zhu Bolin ordered consecutive attempts on the wall, with waves upon waves of slaves clambering upon the walls and being thrown back amid massive losses. For seven long months the siege proceeded with attacks through tunnels and over the walls, night assaults and attempts to pull down the walls with massive hooks. The climax of the siege came in November 1665 when news came of a large [[Kiravia]]n relief fleet under Alcibiades Verramar making its way from [[Æonara]]; only weeks remained to wrap up the siege.  
The siege was a grueling event from the start, it was clear the naval bombardment would not force the surrender of the fortress no matter how intense. Disgorging the land contingent on a nearby beach, Bolin now took on the role of general and ordered the circumvallation of Dun-Kurrengev. A crisscrossing network of trenches, tunnels and strongpoints were dug out by thousands of Polynesian slaves while siege towers were constructed and cannons brought to bear on the land walls. Zhu Bolin ordered consecutive attempts on the wall, with waves upon waves of slaves clambering upon the walls and being thrown back amid massive losses. For seven long months the siege proceeded with attacks through tunnels and over the walls, night assaults and attempts to pull down the walls with massive hooks. The climax of the siege came in November 1665 when news came of a large [[Kiravia]]n relief fleet under Alcibiades Verramar making its way from [[Æonara]]; only weeks remained to wrap up the siege.  


Impeded from advancing to the north of the island by a chain of fortifications, the only choices were taking the fortress or retreating by sea. With the army suffering from bouts of dysentery and plague and mounting heavy casualties, Zhu Bolin, his commanders convened a late night conference that included representatives of the soldiery. It was agreed on one final assault attempt on November 22th, if it failed the siege would be abandoned. During the early morning of the 22th a sustained cannonade finally cracked a hole in one of the northern walls, upon seeing this a general assault was ordered. [[Daxia]]n assault columns charged forth with mobs of pickaxe-wielding slaves running ahead to clear the rubble. The battle for the collapsed gap in the wall saw the most ferocious melees of the siege yet; two of the defenses chief lieutenants were killed there as was the mercenary leader Răzvala who lost an arm and was speared through the neck. Zhu Bolin charged into the battle firing a specially made crossbow from atop a palanquin carried by slaves. The fighting raged for hours but eventually the gap was choked up with bodies and the [[Daxian]]s began to pull back, with the dwarf leader being carried off after his palanquin was set on fire. The failure to take the gap mean the last effort was defeated, the Daxians burnt their siege camps along with the dead they had recovered before reembarking and sailing southwards; the siege of [[Dun-Kurrengev]] ended in a victory for [[Kiravia]].
Impeded from advancing to the north of the island by a chain of fortifications, the only choices were taking the fortress or retreating by sea. With the army suffering from bouts of dysentery and plague and mounting heavy casualties, Zhu Bolin, his commanders convened a late night conference that included representatives of the soldiery. It was agreed on one final assault attempt on November 22th, if it failed the siege would be abandoned. During the early morning of the 22th a sustained cannonade finally cracked a hole in one of the northern walls, upon seeing this a general assault was ordered. [[Daxia]]n assault columns charged forth with mobs of pickaxe-wielding slaves running ahead to clear the rubble. The battle for the collapsed gap in the wall saw the most ferocious melees of the siege yet; two of the defenses chief lieutenants were killed there as was the mercenary leader Răzvala who lost an arm and was speared through the neck. Zhu Bolin charged into the battle firing a specially made crossbow from atop a palanquin carried by slaves. The fighting raged for hours but eventually the gap was choked up with bodies and the [[Daxia]]ns began to pull back, with the dwarf leader being carried off after his palanquin was set on fire. The failure to take the gap mean the last effort was defeated, the Daxians burnt their siege camps along with the dead they had recovered before reembarking and sailing southwards; the siege of [[Dun-Kurrengev]] ended in a victory for [[Kiravia]].
===Fall from grace===
===Fall from grace===
===War of the Eastern Crag===
===War of the Eastern Crag===