Chapter 289: Calais Campaign (1)
Louis knew that a weapon utilizing the hard volcanic metal to shoot iron bolts would easily pierce standard leather armor, but Egbert had explicitly promised that this new machine would combine the gears with the explosive power of Ragnar’s black powder...
Egbert smiled a wide smile. He stepped closer to the bench and pointed his finger directly at the drawing of the iron bolt on the parchment.
Egbert began explaining that he will use it in the bolts. He told Louis that the iron bolts would not be solid pieces of metal. Instead, Egbert planned to forge the iron bolts with a hollow space inside the metal shaft.
He would pour a specific amount of the black powder directly into this hollow space and seal the back with a thin wooden plug. He explained that he would attach a very short cloth wick to the back of the bolt.
When the internal spring fired the bolt, the mechanical friction against the metal track would create a small spark.
This spark would light the cloth wick as the bolt flew through the air.
"When the iron bolt hits the shield of an enemy knight, the black powder inside will explode," Egbert stated with confidence.
"The explosion will break the shield into small pieces, and the force will push the broken iron directly into the enemy’s body! It will destroy their defensive lines instantly!"
Louis stepped forward, "Can you do it?"
Egbert gave a nod and pivoted back to the furnace.
"I’ll have the first hollow bolt forged before the sun sets," Egbert muttered, "Gutta is going to need a hell of a lot more than luck when the horns blow, and I intend to give it to him..."
***
January 3, 870 AD
The target was Calais. Calais is the French coastal city closest to England across the Strait of Dover.
The Strait of Dover is a narrow body of deep water that separates the British Isles from mainland Europe.
The distance between the city and the English coast is only about 34 kilometers.
Calais, along with the ports of neighboring Normandy and Picardy, served as a primary transit point between mainland Europe and the British Isles. The kings of France heavily taxed the merchant ships that traveled through these specific waters.
By controlling Calais, a ruler controlled the flow of silver, wool, and food between the two landmasses...
Ragnar knew that capturing this specific transit point would cripple the economy of Louis the Germanic and provide a permanent, safe harbor for the transport ships of the Iron Kingdom.
And with that strategic goal in place, Erik executed his orders. After navigating the freezing winter waters, and after nearly one week of sailing through dangerous storms and rough tides, he is finally on the beach.
Erik stood on the wet sand, wearing his iron chainmail and a heavy fur cloak. He looked down the long coastline and observed his massive invasion force.
He is on the beach with 4,000 men. They jumped out of the large ships and waded through the ocean water to reach the dry land.
They carried the heavy wooden shields and the long steel Pikes that Ragnar had provided them.
The pikes were fifteen feet long, designed to completely stop the charge of the heavily armored French cavalry.
Furthermore, hundreds of the soldiers carried the mechanical crossbows.
They also carried thick leather bags filled with the explosive black powder pots.
The beach was filled with the loud noise of shouting commanders, the crashing of ocean waves, and the heavy footsteps of thousands of armed men organizing into strict infantry blocks.
However, the most difficult part of the landing operation was not moving the foot soldiers; it was moving the heavy artillery.
The soldiers struggled to unload the Field Artillery Cannons from the transport ships.
Erik watched as fifty strong men used ropes to pull one of the cannons down a long wooden ramp.
The men strained their muscles, slipping in the wet mud and shouting commands to keep the heavy iron machine from falling into the ocean. When the large wooden wheels finally touched the beach, they instantly sank deep into the sand.
The soldiers had to push the wheels from behind while pulling the ropes from the front, exhausting their energy just to move the cannon a few meters forward.
Erik crossed his arms over his chest and watched his warriors struggle in the sand.
He turned his head to look at Kevang, "I wonder, did Ragnar realize just how heavy this cannon is, or was it by design?" Erik asked, a slightly annoyed smile appearing on his face.
Kevang laughed a loud sound from his chest. "I think the Iron King likes to test our strength, he sits in his warm room in England, while we pull his heavy iron tubes through the freezing mud of France."
Erik chuckled, shaking his head. Despite the difficult labor, Erik felt a massive thrill of excitement.
"It does not matter how heavy they are..." Erik said.
Erik walked forward, leaving the sand and stepping onto the harder dirt path leading toward the city.
He raised his hand, signaling to his generals. Harald Hardrada, Gorm the Old, Halfdan, and Leif Erikson.
The generals immediately began shouting orders to the 4,000 men. They organized the soldiers into tight defensive squares.
The men holding the long steel Pikes stood in the front lines, pointing their weapons outward to create a solid wall of metal.
The men holding the mechanical crossbows stood directly behind them, ready to shoot iron bolts over the heads of the spearmen.
The Field Artillery Cannons were slowly pulled into position at the center of the formation.
Erik commanded his army to march forward.
Inside the coastal city of Calais, the French guards standing on the high stone walls looked out toward the beach.
The local commanders shouted orders to close the doors of the city and called for their armored knights to mount their horses...
Erik saw the movement on the stone walls and smiled.