The collapse of the Ottoman right-flank mobile forces caught everyone by surprise.
Who would have thought that they would easily abandon their advantageous position to chase the enemy on horseback when the battle situation was slightly in their favor, only to be bogged down and completely routed by the Crusader forces that arrived later?
Without any instructions from Laszlo, Paul, with his extremely keen battlefield instincts, quickly led his army to relentlessly pursue the enemy attempting to retreat into the chariot fortress, and soon engaged in fierce combat with the Janissaries defending the side gate of the chariot fortress.
A small detachment of light cavalry was sent to the rear of the chariot fortress, guarding the Ottomans' retreat path, hoping to find an opportunity to kill Sultan Muhammad if he tried to escape from there.
On the other high ground, the Imperial Army's offensive was not as smooth.
The Ottomans stationed there, under the command of an experienced general, used the limited time to construct more temporary fortifications favorable for defense. The iron hooves of the Imperial Knights had to slow down due to the slope, stop due to obstacles, and then were precisely picked off by Ottoman archers.
In those years, thousands of Imperial Army soldiers charged the hill, only to be repelled multiple times by more than a hundred Hussite warriors led by Jan Žižka, suffering heavy casualties as a result.
Decades passed, yet the Imperial Army's broad and sweeping combat style remained unchanged.
Laszlo couldn't help but shake his head at this sight. Although the armies of these Imperial Princes were under the relatively unified command of him, their Emperor, when it came to actual fighting, there was virtually no coordination between the various factions.
While there was no coordination, everyone's tactics were coincidentally the same—you charge your way, I charge mine, and in the end, we all fail together.
Laszlo didn't know whether to laugh or cry; the Imperial Army loyal to him fought in such a disorganized manner. If the Imperial Princes were to unite against him in the future, their armies would likely be no different, which would reduce Laszlo's pressure considerably.
Of course, part of the reason for the Imperial Army's less-than-ideal performance was the commander. The Duke of Saxony was, after all, only a young man in his early twenties, who had received a standard Germanic military aristocratic education since childhood. His concept of war had always been straightforward—charging and fighting head-on. For him, war was nothing more than a test of courage.
Laszlo chose to entrust the Imperial Army to him rather than the other two commanders, the Elector of Bavaria and the Count of Württemberg, also to cultivate another Imperial general loyal to him and possessing certain military skills.
Of course, a more important reason was his lineage from the House of Wettin, being the Elector of Saxony's closest brother, and fostering good relations with Albrecht was part of Laszlo's grand strategy.
Regardless, the Imperial Army's strength was more than double that of the enemy they faced.
Although the first few waves of attacks were repelled, the Count of Württemberg soon led his Swabian army, also the most effective unit in the Imperial Army, to outflank the Ottomans on the high ground from the beach direction.
Under immense frontal pressure, and simultaneously being assaulted from the flank by elite infantry, the Ottomans could no longer hold their position on the hill and were quickly driven back into the chariot fortress.
As time passed, the Crusaders had clamped down on the Ottoman chariot fortress from three directions, employing the classic 'surround three, leave one' tactic, launching wave after wave of fierce attacks on the chariot fortress.
However, the asymmetrical confrontation created by the chariot fortress could not be entirely overcome simply by superior numbers and soldier quality.
Even though Crusader warriors had breached the chariot fortress in multiple places, they were ultimately driven out by the well-supplied Ottoman defenders.
By evening, both sides were still locked in fierce combat inside and outside the chariot fortress.
Laszlo even saw Giovanni, the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, who had led the charge into the chariot fortress, being carried out by his subordinates. He had been stabbed in the leg and waist by the Ottomans, but fortunately, his armor provided some protection, allowing him to survive.
The Janissaries lived up to their elite reputation, displaying formidable combat power whether maintaining almost continuous suppressing fire to hinder the Crusader advance or bravely engaging in close-quarters combat when their lines were breached.
Apart from the Imperial Guard, cavalry, and reserve units, Laszlo had committed all his forces but was still unable to break through the chariot fortress's defenses.
He looked up at the horizon; half the sun had already hidden behind the mountains, and it was getting late.
After a moment of hesitation, Laszlo slowly raised his hand. Beside him, Ester and William were awaiting the Emperor's command.
The Crusaders still had nearly ten thousand reserve troops. As soon as the Emperor gave the order, more fresh forces would immediately be thrown into the battle.
"Has Vlad departed?" Laszlo suddenly asked.
"Prince Vlad has already led the cavalry units you entrusted to him to bypass the enemy. Now the Ottomans have no way to retreat," Ester replied.
"Good, sound the horn, cease the attack!"
"Your Majesty, we still have ample strength to..."
"We need not make such attempts again, for the outcome of this battle is already determined." Laszlo's voice was low, yet filled with confidence and resolve.
Upon hearing this, William and Ester, who had been eager to fight, no longer tried to persuade him.
It would be dark soon; what more could be achieved by fighting on?
Fighting a night battle with torches? Who knew what would happen then.
The retreat horn sounded, and though reluctant, the Crusader soldiers who had been repeatedly thrusting swords, spears, and lances into the firing slits, and the warriors desperately seeking an opening to breach the chariot fortress, began to cover each other as they withdrew from the battlefield.
The Ottomans erupted in thunderous cheers. Both Janissaries and archers among the irregulars climbed onto the chariot fortress, indiscriminately unleashing fire upon the retreating Crusaders, hoping to kill more enemies.
Fortunately, the Crusader ranks were mostly composed of experienced veterans, so the retreat did not devolve into a rout. They returned to camp, each stewing in frustration.
Especially the Austrian pikemen, who had almost abandoned the chariot fortress themselves, never expected to be so utterly frustrated by the Ottomans' chariot fortress in Asia Minor.
By the campfire, several weary Austrian soldiers, their faces covered in dust and blood, sat together, hungrily eyeing the simmering meat stew in the pot.
The camp was filled with an enticing aroma; this was the Emperor's reward to them. Today, they could enjoy more fresh meat and bread.
Of course, this still couldn't silence everyone.
"It seems that even those renowned for their wisdom can make mistakes sometimes." Someone started, and everyone began to exchange glances. Although the words were subtle, everyone understood the implication.
"When we used this tactic before, we didn't feel much, only that war became much easier. Now it seems the chariot fortress is truly a terrifying tactic that leaves enemies helpless," a young soldier who had experienced the Swabian War sighed, not daring to continue the dangerous topic.
"A base, inglorious tactic." The squad leader's words immediately made the atmosphere awkward.
Everyone knew their battlefield commander came from a knightly family in Lower Austria; his grandfather had died in the Hussite Wars during the Second Siege of Prague. Therefore, he had always disdained fighting with chariot fortresses, considering it contrary to knightly conduct.
However, when the Emperor favored the chariot fortress, he had no choice but to try and understand it deeply—it was an important compulsory course at the military academy in Vienna Neustadt.
The second military reform carried out a few years ago made the Imperial Army gradually move away from its reliance on the chariot fortress, a trend that brought him temporary joy.
Of course, the introduction of Swiss-style pike squares dealt him a new blow, as if the fighting style of noble knights had become completely outdated and superseded by the times, while commoners of humble origins, after only a period of training, could easily beat noble knights in a square formation, which truly frustrated him.
Today's battle with the Ottomans further deepened his aversion to the chariot fortress. Those Ottomans, dark as rats, would hide behind tall, thick planks, occasionally peeking out to fire a shot through a loophole, taking the lives of charging warriors.
He felt utter contempt for the Ottomans, who didn't even dare to engage in a pitched battle.
"Chivalry can't win us battles. I just hope tomorrow His Majesty the Emperor doesn't make us charge to our deaths against the Ottomans' turtle shell."
Clearly, there was a significant divergence in thinking between the squad leader and his team members. Everyone was now more concerned about the upcoming battle.
If the Emperor still believed they could break through the Ottoman chariot fortress by piling up casualties, then tomorrow would undoubtedly bring another perilous and fierce battle.
"Enough talk, everyone. Eat your fill, get some rest, and tomorrow we'll go and kill all those shameless, cowardly Infidels."
The conversation, full of complaints and worries, ended there. The soldiers enjoyed the delicious meat stew, grateful to have survived another day.
At this moment, a sound drew their attention. They saw some auxiliary troops harnessing draft horses to their wagons, which had been placed at the rear to protect supplies, and dragging these wagons towards the outskirts of the camp.
Before darkness completely fell, a typical chariot fortress circular formation was completed, providing protection for the main army and reserve units.
The Crusader soldiers, who had been fighting all day, were curious about this but didn't pay too much attention, assuming it was just a measure taken by the Emperor to strengthen defenses against a possible Ottoman night raid.
As Laszlo had predicted, Mehmed II had indeed prepared a night raid plan, but its targets were not the Crusader forces on the front, but the Hungarian and Imperial armies that had seized the high ground on both sides of the Ottoman chariot fortress.
A quiet night passed, and in the early morning as dawn broke in the east, two groups of Ottoman forces quietly emerged from the side openings of the chariot fortress, heading towards the Crusaders occupying the high ground on both sides.
However, their every move had been observed by the Crusaders from above. The soldiers, ready for battle, easily thwarted the Ottoman surprise attack using their hastily constructed fortifications.
Originally, Mehmed II, to avoid wasting core combat strength, had not dispatched many Janissaries or even regular infantry for the attack. Although the Muslim irregulars from central Asia Minor had some fighting capability, they had not experienced much warfare. Their morale was somewhat high, but they struggled to unleash strong combat power in an offensive operation.
After a noisy disruption of the morning, the Ottomans left some bodies on the slopes on both sides and retreated in disarray to the chariot fortress.
The sun rose from the east, and this failed surprise attack also put an end to Mehmed II's unrealistic notions.
Next, the nervous Ottomans immediately began preparing to receive a new round of fierce Crusader assaults.
Something strange happened: not only was there no movement from the Crusader main army, which had set up a chariot fortress to counter theirs, but the Crusaders on the high ground on both sides also began to construct more defensive fortifications, showing no intention of attacking.
Not long after, news arrived that instantly plunged Mehmed II's heart into despair.
To the south of the Ottoman chariot fortress, on their retreat path, some terribly mutilated bodies appeared.
Someone had taken advantage of their inattention to plant sharpened wooden stakes along the road to the south. Impaled on these stakes were the bodies of unknown individuals, some appearing to be Ottoman civilians based on their clothing, and also some soldiers' bodies.
Among them, there was even an Ottoman Empire flag, impaling the body of an Ottoman soldier.
According to Mehmed II, there was only one person in the world capable of such psychologically devastating performance art—the man he had bullied since childhood, Vlad III, Vlad the Impaler.
Undoubtedly, their retreat route was no longer safe. Vlad had brazenly announced his arrival and had already massacred several villages behind the Ottoman army.
More critically, their only supply line was now also insecure, meaning the army's provisions were no longer guaranteed, and the advantage of fighting on home ground ceased to exist.
Seeing this situation, Muhammad immediately felt the urge to retreat. However, enemies from four directions were relentlessly staring at him and his chariot fortress. Once the Ottoman army left the chariot fortress, they would instantly become lambs to the slaughter.
The formidable Crusader elite were now waiting for this moment, eager to unleash the pent-up fury from yesterday's protracted battle.
At this moment, not many Ottoman soldiers realized they were gradually falling into a desperate situation. They were still waiting for the Crusaders to foolishly charge and attack their sturdy chariot fortress, only to be slaughtered at will.
As for the Crusaders' unusual calm, they simply assumed that yesterday's heavy casualties had made the Emperor fearful, and he dared not launch another rash attack.
Meanwhile, Muhammad, who had already anticipated the unfolding events, was enveloped in immense despair.
He had considered such a possibility, but he hadn't expected his old adversary, Laszlo, to have made a two-pronged plan simultaneously, digging a huge pit for him.
Now, he couldn't run even if he wanted to, and as for fighting? His army would surely be routed the moment they left the chariot fortress.
Even racking his brains, Mehmed II now had no solution.
It was summer, and the weather grew increasingly hot and dry. Every afternoon, a wind blew in from the sea, carrying a salty smell and bringing some coolness to the soldiers.
A week had passed, and the soldiers had gradually grown accustomed to the current standoff.
In the camp, apart from the sentries responsible for vigilance and observation, other soldiers were also ordered to be ready at all times.
They didn't hate this situation, because it was infinitely better than the brutal battle on the first day.
The only thing that wore down their patience was the scorching sun. They had to remain fully armed and rest in units of companies, and the hot weather made them irritable.
However, these were minor issues.
Another batch of supplies arrived from a nearby Ottoman port that had already been captured. The gradually perfected Latin Empire government now cooperated with the Emperor's personal merchants and allies to provide solid logistical support for the Crusaders—this was not difficult for the Crusaders, who completely controlled the Sea of Marmara.
The Genoese reactivated their trading post in Galata, and large quantities of provisions and military supplies were transported to Constantinople via their trade routes, then escorted by the Crusader Fleet to Asia Minor.
When necessary, the Crusaders could also acquire supplies locally; in fact, this was their most common method.
When did European armies ever need to consider a comprehensive logistical system when going to war? To trace it back, one would probably have to look to the era of the ancient Roman Empire.
Compared to the Crusaders, who had no worries, the Ottomans were in a much worse situation.
Izmit, besieged for over a month, was running out of ammunition and food. Laszlo had not detached many troops for the siege, which allowed the city's defenders to attempt a small-scale raid, but they were quickly repelled.
Afterward, the defenders continued to huddle inside the city, awaiting their Sultan's rescue.
Unbeknownst to them, the Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed II, on whom they placed great hopes, was currently facing a similar predicament.
In the Ottoman Grand Army's camp, as time passed, the army's morale continuously plummeted.
Inside the chariot fortress, Mehmed II patrolled everywhere, hoping to boost morale through speeches about faith and honor, but to little avail.
There was nothing he could do, for every night that passed, dozens, even hundreds, of bloody and terrifying 'human skewers' would appear on the Ottoman Grand Army's retreat route.
Now, on the road between them and the nearest city of Astacus, a 'landscape' eerily similar to the spike forest outside Giurgiu was gradually forming. It was likely that this area would be haunted by vampire legends for a long time to come.
It was certain that, right behind them, a Crusader special operations unit was wantonly burning, killing, and looting, and had cut off their supply lines, and they were powerless to stop it.
Thinking of the two pieces of news brought back three days ago by the small unit he had dispatched to secure the supply lines, a spark of hope reignited in Mehmed II's heart.
These two pieces of news were one good and one bad: the bad news was that a batch of baggage they were escorting was again ambushed by Crusader cavalry on the way, while the good news was that they confirmed that the nearby city of Astacus had not fallen.
This meant that as long as they moved quickly and swiftly redeployed before the Crusaders could react, they would have a chance to escape their current predicament.
However, the risks of such a move were self-evident.
Leaving the chariot fortress was tantamount to abandoning their foundation. If the Crusaders reacted quickly enough, his army, even if not completely annihilated, would likely suffer heavy losses.
If he wanted to preserve as many troops as possible, Muhammad knew he had to make a difficult choice.
When he arrived at the tent storing military supplies and saw that the provisions were almost depleted, Muhammad quickly made his decision.
Soon, the Ottoman soldiers received their latest orders, requiring them to prepare for the coming battle.
As the sun gradually set, the camp gates on the side of the Ottoman chariot fortress were opened, and thousands of Ottoman irregulars were sent out to launch another raid on the Crusaders occupying the high ground on both flanks.
This was an unexpected attack, but the Hungarians had been prepared for it and quickly held back the Ottomans attempting to break through their lines.
The Imperial Army on the other side fared worse; the sudden attack caused some disarray in their formation, and they even had a line of defense breached at one point. Fortunately, the second line of defense functioned, pushing the Ottomans back.
However, they noticed much later that the Ottomans had not opened two camp gates, but three.
The rear gate of the chariot fortress had been opened at some unknown time, and a large number of Ottoman troops began to evacuate from the chariot fortress. Leading the way were the Sultan's remaining thousand elite cavalry, followed closely by the Janissaries, whose main force was still intact.
The jihad warriors who had answered the call were placed at the very end. They still believed that the Sultan intended to lead them to clear out the enemy harassing their rear until they encountered an interception by Crusader cavalry.
On the narrow path through the hills, the Sultan's Grand Army was advancing at top speed.
Scouts galloped ahead, reconnoitering for any unusual circumstances, while cavalry constantly urged their warhorses forward at a quick pace.
The Janissaries protected the Sultan, moving swiftly. Although they had done their best to lighten their burdens, the armor they wore made their footsteps exceptionally heavy, sounding as if they would shatter the very ground.
Generally, when fleeing for one's life, one discards armor and weapons, but their destination was only a few kilometers away, and these elite warriors, accustomed to rigorous training, gritted their teeth and persevered.
When they saw the gates of Astacus in the distance, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
At the end of the two-kilometer-long marching column, the irregulars were still complaining about why the Sultan ordered them to advance so quickly, worried that they would not have enough stamina to fight if they encountered the enemy.
With fearful and heavy hearts, they passed through that horrifying spike forest, trying to force themselves not to turn their heads to look at their compatriots who had been subjected to extreme torture by the roadside, while also fearing that they themselves would experience such cruel execution.
As a result, they had not gone far before these soldiers were already very tired and suffering from the hot weather.
The generals in charge of commanding them kept urging them, hoping they could run faster.
Just then, a black line appeared on the hillside to the right of the column, raising thick dust, accompanied by the rumble of hooves like distant thunder.
Sharp-eyed soldiers immediately recognized groups of Crusader cavalry on the hillside. Before they could react, the heavily armored knights charged down the slope, cutting directly through the middle of the advancing Ottoman army.
The Ottoman irregulars, caught by the impact, had never seen such a formation. Forget about forming a defensive line; almost at the moment of contact, the soldiers were directly scattered. Some were trampled by iron hooves, some were pierced by lances, and others turned to flee, but were quickly overtaken and slaughtered by the pursuing Wallachian light cavalry.
"Enemy attack! Form ranks! Form ranks!"
The shouts of the commanders were quickly drowned out by the sound of hooves. Some Ottomans who had fortunately dodged the initial impact frantically turned to face the enemy, trying to raise their spears and close their shields.
However, the chaos of the march allowed no composure; some could not find their positions, some were dragged down by fallen comrades, and others discovered in terror that they had enemies to guard against in every direction.
The spearheads, which should have faced the enemy, were twisted and crooked, and the hastily formed ranks had gaps large enough to accommodate more soldiers.
Such resistance clearly could not prevent the cavalry led by Vlad from carrying out a bloody slaughter of the Ottomans.
Scimitars, lances, hooves—each charge took the lives of many Ottoman soldiers. It was a completely one-sided massacre.
Meanwhile, the Ottoman troops who had set out first were already scrambling into the gates of Astacus. By the time the last batch of Ottoman soldiers entered the city, the Crusader cavalry had followed closely behind, giving chase.
Even facing a city wall that was not particularly high, Vlad could only regretfully stop his advance.
His cavalry unit was, after all, only meant to harass the Ottomans' rear, cut off supply lines, and disrupt their morale.
Even before he set out, the Emperor had already anticipated the possibility of the Ottomans fleeing. Since the numerical difference between the two forces was not a multiple, a complete encirclement in the open field was unlikely.
Therefore, Laszlo did not require Vlad to completely block the Ottomans' retreat—which would have been impossible with his less than three thousand cavalry—he merely asked Vlad to inflict as many casualties as possible on the enemy.
Facing the Ottomans who risked a breakout, Vlad, who was always adept at avoiding strong points and striking weak ones, quickly decided to let the Ottoman cavalry and Janissaries go, and instead attacked the conscripted irregulars, who had low organizational efficiency and combat effectiveness.
Ultimately, as expected, he easily crushed the Ottoman army's rearguard, slaying nearly a thousand and capturing several thousand Ottomans who had no escape route.
These Ottomans had originally fantasized that their Sultan would lead his army back to rescue them. However, until the very end, they did not see any advance troops returning to rescue them, and with no other option, they chose to surrender.
On the other side of the main battlefield, Laszlo, escorted by his personal guards, had arrived in front of the chariot fortress.
Several knights unchained the war chariots and collectively moved the chariot blocking the Emperor's path, clearing a wide road.
The chariot fortress was in disarray. The Ottoman soldiers responsible for attacking the two flanks of high ground, along with a small number of soldiers remaining to guard the chariot fortress, had all been routed, with many of them becoming prisoners and being held in the center of the camp.
"Your Majesty, Vlad the Great Duke reports that the cowardly Mehmed II has retreated with his main forces to Astacus port, several miles from here."
A messenger informed the Emperor and the generals of the latest intelligence.
"A very decisive 'severing the tail to save the body.' It seems Mehmed II is not as utterly incompetent as we imagined.
However, after this defeat, will he still have enough strength to continue to hinder us?"
Laszlo smiled slightly, not expressing regret like the surrounding generals about failing to annihilate the Ottomans in one fell swoop.
Mehmed's actions both surprised Laszlo and filled him with joy.
This Ottoman Sultan, almost in a desperate situation, chose to deceive the Ottoman warriors who followed him for jihad. He falsely claimed that he would lead the army to proactively break the blockade, but in reality, he swiftly turned his main forces and began to flee.
Most of these poor soldiers died in the battle to attack the high ground; they successfully delayed the Crusaders on both flanks.
By the time the Crusaders, personally led by Laszlo, began to attack the chariot fortress from the front, the Ottomans who had been repelled and returned to the chariot fortress, along with the small number of remaining troops, put up a final resistance.
Of course, the Ottoman chariot fortress, which had almost become an empty camp, could not withstand the Crusader attack from three directions and was quickly breached.
One Ottoman soldier even tried to use flammable materials to set fire to several chariots and then burn down the entire camp, but the fire was quickly extinguished, allowing Laszlo to take over a relatively intact Ottoman camp.
Although those who died were mostly conscripted irregulars, from another perspective, these people were previously the core labor force engaged in production for the Ottoman Empire.
Now, these soldiers became sacrifices for Mehmed II to preserve himself and his elite troops. This would undoubtedly greatly damage the Sultan's prestige and also shake the foundation of the Ottoman Empire.
In the past, the Sultan's call for jihad could raise an army of over a hundred thousand troops. Now, with only a few tens of thousands and having suffered such heavy losses, it is unlikely that the Ottoman Empire could gather more troops in a short time.
"Your Majesty, Mehmed II has retreated. His troops have lost at least several thousand, even tens of thousands. We should press on with the victory. If we can capture the Sultan, this war can be declared over."
Grand Master Giovanni, still bearing injuries, was overjoyed by this victory and immediately offered his suggestion to the Emperor.
Apart from the heavy cost of several thousand casualties in the initial assault on the first day, the Crusaders' losses in the subsequent battles could be said to be negligible.
This time, the Ottomans were forced to abandon the chariot fortress, allowing the Crusaders to overcome their greatest obstacle with little effort.
The generals also expressed their support for the Grand Master's suggestion.
Laszlo glanced at the setting sun and the reddened evening glow, then turned to look at the soldiers around him who were clearing the battlefield and plundering spoils. He nodded and ordered: "Issue orders for Paul to lead his Hungarian army to form ranks first and advance towards Astacus to rendezvous with Vlad's forces. Be sure to guard against any Ottoman counterattacks.
The Duke of Saxony shall lead the Imperial Army to depart afterward, always ready to reinforce the front and respond to unforeseen circumstances.
All remaining troops shall advance with me. We must reach our destination before sunset!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The generals quickly began to gather their respective armies, following in order along the corpse-strewn road, pursuing the direction of the Ottoman army's escape. Only the Latin Empire's troops remained in the Ottoman-left chariot fortress, guarding prisoners, monitoring the situation in the rear, and always ready to support the siege forces at Izmit.
Just as the Crusaders led by Laszlo set out, intending to press on Astakus to annihilate the forces under Mehmed II, the Sultan on the other side had also considered this possibility.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he ordered his troops to empty the city's warehouses, then led his army out of the city without stopping, galloping west along the coastal road.
Vlad's scouts quickly discovered the unusual situation, but considering that it was already late and the Ottomans were retreating in an organized manner, Vlad, fearing an ambush, dispatched a small group of elite cavalry to follow the Ottoman army, constantly reporting their situation, and at the same time ordered someone to relay this news to the Emperor.
Midway to Astakus, Laszlo received the latest intelligence.
He immediately gathered his generals, commanders, and strategists to discuss the matter.
"Mehmed II has run away again," Laszlo announced the news to the generals in his tent, which was met with surprised expressions, "I'm afraid he's also worried that I will pursue him relentlessly, which is why he's unwilling to stay nearby and continues to flee deeper into Ottoman territory."
"Emperor, it's already very late. Has Mehmed II gone mad? You know, marching at night is an extremely dangerous act..." Ester, the commander of the Imperial Guard, found the news of the Ottomans' risky retreat somewhat unbelievable.
For many generals, marching in the dark was often more terrifying than the enemy, because in dark environments, armies were almost completely out of control, meaning that nothing strange would happen in such an environment.
If the army's morale was high and they were well-trained, the risk would be relatively smaller.
But the Ottomans at this moment were like startled birds. They had been defeated by the Crusaders before, and now they were defeated by the Crusaders again, and the manner of their defeat was very humiliating. They were not defeated honorably on the battlefield, but were forced to abandon their fortified chariot fortress because the Crusaders used a strategy of surrounding but not attacking.
This would certainly deal a considerable blow to the morale of the Ottomans—and one must also factor in the destabilization of the Ottoman army's morale caused by the terror Vlad created.
Under these circumstances, leading a large army to retreat at night, perhaps even facing pursuit from the Crusaders, who knows what would happen at night.
"Haha, I think Mehmed II has been scared witless by the Emperor's divine power. Now he's in a panic, only wanting to escape for his life as quickly as possible.
As for his motley crew, they might have already mostly dispersed halfway through their escape."
Grand Master Giovanni, who had steadily won this favorable battle by following the Emperor and performed excellently in this war, felt very pleased at this moment.
After this battle, the Crusaders' advance along the coast of Asia Minor would likely face no more obstacles.
Although the Grand Master did not believe the Emperor would push the front line all the way to the southwestern coast of the peninsula near Rhodes, as long as the Ottomans could be defeated, he could organize his own army to land and "reclaim" the lands that should belong to the Order.
At that time, their biggest enemy might not be the Ottomans, but the Genoese, competitors also from the Christian world.
It should be known that Genoa had bribed and incited the Pope to launch a Crusade against Smyrna as early as the last century, and since then had repeatedly tried to seize this important commercial port on the coast of Asia Minor.
Although in the end, the Genoese only occupied a piece of land a few kilometers north of Smyrna, where they established a strong stronghold and have held it to this day, now they had a full opportunity to realize their long-cherished wish: to control a key trading port in Asia Minor and complete their Black Sea–Eastern Mediterranean trade network.
As for the Knights Hospitaller, who were subservient to the Pope and also had close ties with successive Roman Emperors, they set their sights on Ephesus, south of Smyrna. It was one of several important holy sites for Christians, and if it could be recovered, the Order's reputation and financial situation would be greatly improved.
The port of Ephesus had become blocked and unnavigable due to natural causes, so it could not serve as a trading port to generate economic income.
However, as an important early center of Christianity and a base for Saint Paul's missionary work, it would undoubtedly attract a large number of pilgrims.
Even if one wanted to admire other styles of architecture, there was also the semi-ruined ancient Roman city, and the already damaged but still majestic Temple of Artemis, the latter of which would be hailed in the future as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
As long as the Knights Hospitaller did a good job of providing security and pilgrimage services, turning this place into a pilgrimage attraction second only to Jerusalem, they would certainly not lack money.
Under the various questionable actions of the previous Grand Master, Jacques de Milly, the Order was now riddled with factions and disorder. As the only Italian Grand Master in history, Giovanni wanted to change all this, and he had to achieve a feat that would convince everyone.
Putting away his visions for the future, the smile on Giovanni's face became even harder to conceal.
Laszlo agreed with the Grand Master's words. From every perspective, Mehmed II's only option now was probably to flee in a panic.
However, considering that he still had over ten thousand troops, if Mehmed II truly had some unknown scheme, he might pose a certain threat to the Crusaders.
"Emperor, shall we pursue?"
William, who had previously led his army to observe from the edge of the battlefield, was now eager to try. He clutched his reins, his eyes glinting, looking very much like he wanted to engage the main Ottoman forces in battle.
"Your Majesty has conquered Constantinople and decisively defeated the Ottoman Sultan on the plains of Izmit, achieving an unprecedented great accomplishment.
If we continue to penetrate deeper into enemy territory, our rear will be unstable, and our soldiers will be exhausted. Once the Ottomans find a weakness, I'm afraid..."
Ulrich Fugger, the Quartermaster General responsible for the army's logistics, pulled the Emperor's horse's bridle and reminded him with some concern.
The longer the front line, the greater the logistical pressure. Of course, the army's supplies mostly relied on sea transport, so advancing along the coast would slightly reduce logistical pressure, but the difficulty of coordinating and dispatching supplies would increase exponentially.
Now, Izmit behind them had not yet been taken, and there was still Astakus blocking their way, while the Ottomans had already fled in the dark under the Sultan's leadership. Catching up would be no easy task.
Laszlo was also somewhat conflicted at this moment. The generals in his tent were all eager to achieve greater military glory to gain fame and more rewards, which was understandable.
However, he had many more issues to consider.
The army was, after all, fighting deep in foreign territory, and had previously endured several months of siege warfare, their morale constantly worn down.
Now, they had finally managed to corner Mehmed II, who had personally led his army to their doom. As expected, with a military advantage of nearly ten thousand men and logistical support from the Latin Empire, they had crushed the hastily assembled Ottoman army, and the army's morale had reached its peak at this moment.
To stop and steadily capture one Ottoman city after another along the way, until they reached Bursa, was undoubtedly the least risky option.
However, this way, the advantage gained from this great victory would not be fully utilized, at most only deterring a few surrounding Ottoman cities to surrender voluntarily.
And Laszlo could almost certainly conclude at this point that Mehmed II was at his wit's end and had no choice but to become "Running Muhammad."
He had waited for Muhammad in Izmit for over a month, but Muhammad ultimately only brought out such a ragtag army, indicating that he and the entire Ottoman Empire had little strength left.
As long as Laszlo didn't foolishly lead his army deep into the plateau, those Turkic tribes probably couldn't cause him any trouble.
And the human and financial resources of the coastal areas had been almost completely drained by Mehmed II in the wars of the past few years.
Considering that Mehmed II was, after all, a master of operations, Laszlo really did not want to give him a chance to regroup.
If he escaped, who knew what would happen later?
Thinking of this, Laszlo gritted his teeth, a decisive glint flashing in his eyes, and he made up his mind to go for a big one.
"Mehmed II can, after all, be called a formidable ruler of the Ottoman Empire. Even if he suffers a temporary defeat, he has a chance to regroup and fight us again.
Now that he has been forced to retreat, his subordinates are bound to be disheartened. This is a rare opportunity for us, and if we miss it, who knows how much trouble there will be later.
I have made my decision. This battle is far from over. We have only one goal: to capture Muhammad, dead or alive!"
Laszlo declared his decision to everyone unequivocally, then ended the brief military council without waiting for further discussion.
Subsequently, Laszlo ordered the troops remaining in the rear to keep a close watch on the enemy in Izmit, and at the same time ordered the vanguard to capture Astakus as quickly as possible, then pursue the fleeing Ottoman army.
One reason Laszlo could make such a decisive choice was the very special terrain of this section of the Sea of Marmara coast. Apart from the coastal road, a little further inland lay undulating hills, unsuitable for large-scale troop movements and obtaining supplies.
Until the turning point of the coastal road near Cape Hersek, the roads leading inland were completely blocked by mountains, which meant that if Mehmed II wanted to safely retreat with his structured army, he could only race along the coast.
And what Laszlo liked most was the coast, because the sea was controlled by the Crusader Fleet.
As long as they stayed near the coast, the Crusader Fleet, constantly patrolling the Sea of Marmara, could maintain contact with them and even help them search for traces of the Ottomans from the sea.
Laszlo came among the soldiers, drew his sword, inherited from Emperor Sigismund, and shouted, "Warriors of God, the Ottoman Sultan has been scared out of his wits by your bravery! He is now hastily retreating to regroup his army and resist our attack again.
If we let him escape, we will inevitably have to pay a greater price to win this expedition. I do not wish to see more devout warriors perish in foreign lands, therefore I will lead you to pursue the Ottoman Sultan until he can no longer threaten our safety and the peace of Christendom."
"To Bursa, capture Muhammad alive!"
Accompanied by hoarse shouts, the already high-spirited Crusader warriors now wished they could immediately catch up with the Ottomans and kill them all, just as the Ottomans had done to the Christian armies resisting their invasion over the past hundred years.
Seeing that the troops were ready for action, Laszlo breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced at the setting sun and spurred his horse towards Astakus.
Since the Sultan had not only failed to protect the city but had also plundered it before fleeing with his army, Astakus, known as the "Great Port," surrendered directly when the Hungarian army arrived.
According to the Emperor's previously issued decree, cities that surrendered voluntarily would be exempt from plunder, but non-Christians had to pay a ransom, or they would be expelled or enslaved.
Of course, on-the-spot conversion was allowed, so as the Crusaders advanced, the previously Islamized coast of Asia Minor suddenly saw a large number of Christians appear.
Regardless of whether they were feigning conversion or would later regret it, Laszlo pardoned all these people who suffered in the war.
Now, he was recovering Roman ancestral lands, and his methods naturally could not be as cruel as in the past. Combining them appropriately with religious objectives could achieve good results.
After the city fell, Vlad and Paul immediately led their troops, carrying torches, to pursue along the well-constructed coastal road.
Following them into the city was the Imperial Allied Army led by the Duke of Saxony. They had intended to plunder the city, but when the soldiers learned that the Ottoman Sultan had taken all the valuables before leaving, they immediately set off in pursuit.
The main Crusader force, which arrived last, did not linger either. Laszlo left only about five hundred men to garrison the city, responsible for receiving the Crusader Fleet that would arrive later, and then set off southwest without stopping.
Over the next three days, the soldiers of the Ottoman Empire discovered in horror that they could not shake off the Crusader pursuit, especially the fast-moving Hungarian and Wallachian cavalry, who almost constantly harassed the Ottoman rearguard.
Mehmed II also did not expect the enemy to pursue so relentlessly. In Order not to be trapped in a dead end, he had no choice but to abandon one town and stronghold after another, allowing them to surrender to the Crusaders after their disappointment with the Sultan.
Now, he had only one thought: to return to Bursa. As long as he could reach that place, everything would still have a chance to turn around.
Just as the land pursuit was underway, the Crusader Fleet launched a surprise attack on the port of Hersek, across from their base, attempting to seize this important harbor, then block the road and completely corner the Ottomans along the coast.
Unfortunately, Mehmed II's caution ultimately paid off. This heavily defended port did not fall into Crusader hands, and he still had a glimmer of hope.
However, his forces had already been more than halved during the continuous flight and engagements, no longer reaching a strength of ten thousand.
Apart from the Janissaries and Timar lords who constantly accompanied him, the remaining troops were few and far between.
Moreover, a strong sense of crisis began to surround this suspicious Sultan. He now began to suspect and worry that his personal guards were conspiring to execute him, because he had suffered too many defeats.
In this tense environment, Muhammad could only constantly make promises to his subordinates, that he would lead them back to Brno to start anew.
As for finding a way to ambush and defeat the Crusaders, who he couldn't shake off behind him, Muhammad was not that mad.
Now the Crusaders' military might was even greater than after the Battle of Varna. Daring to turn back would mean certain death.
If he didn't want to end up in the Roman Emperor's tent to keep his unransomed son, Bayezid, company, then there was only one choice—run, and keep running.