Chapter 608: The Castle

Boom!

It seemed as if the gods had unleashed their wrath. The giant serpent triggered an earthquake, and the entire Howling City trembled in terror.

Baron Terry and Baron Wilford nearly fell off their startled warhorses in disarray, their eyes wide and ears ringing.

Watching the terrifying red flames spewing from the wooden cannons onto Howling Castle, causing dreadful explosions, even Tanna was stunned.

“What is this?”

They looked at Wu Ming together: “A terrible weapon from the devil of hell?”

“Good effect! Keep firing!”

Wu Ming looked at the wall with a breach and commanded again.

After arriving in this world, he developed industry and farmed for several years. Naturally, he had come to understand the most basic rules of physics and chemistry. It was reasonable that he had produced similar explosives.

However, due to varying explosive power and the scarcity of iron, pure iron cannons could not be cast. However, wooden cannons were still sufficient.

These wooden cannons were made from sturdy tree trunks such as camphorwood, elmwood, and willowwood. The trunks needed to be sufficiently thick, with the centers hollowed out to create a round hole. A thick iron tube was inserted inside and tightly bound with several iron hoops on the outside, further reinforced with thick iron wires wound around. Finally, a wooden hole was drilled at the rear for the fuse.

Although these were primitive methods and the firing was slow, in this world, they were still unquestionably deadly weapons.

The wooden cannons designed by Wu Ming were eight feet long with a half-foot inner diameter. Each could load over ten pounds of gunpowder and thirty to forty pounds of scrap iron. When launching, the muzzle was sealed tightly with cotton and other materials. Within effective range, even city walls could not withstand them.

Moreover, the most important advantage was the simplicity of manufacturing. With the existing materials and a few carpenters and blacksmiths, they could be produced continuously.

However, the probability of the cannons exploding was also significant. Wu Ming spared no expense and, after losing many personnel, gradually figured out the optimal proportions. Now, the risks had greatly decreased.

Even so, the wooden cannon operators still required specialized training and were given generous treatment, with substantial compensation for the families of those who died in action.

“Pity… with the wretched foundation of this world, without a hundred years of industrial upgrading, the glorious scenes of massed musket volleys and big guns on warships are unthinkable. It might be barely possible to painstakingly handcraft a few matchlocks.”

Putting aside his thoughts, Wu Ming continued shouting: “Aim at the castle gate and the soldiers on top! Don’t hold back on ammunition. Blow them away!”

These wooden cannons not only had tremendous destructive power but also produced a sound loud enough to scare people to death.

In fact, even his own civilian militia, who had been well-prepared, were greatly alarmed. For ordinary soldiers who had never seen the power of cannon fire, it was an absolutely terrifying nightmare.

“This is a divine gift!”

The Archbishop looked at the scene, his eyes seemingly ablaze: “These are sacred flames bestowed upon our king to reform the world!”

Tanna took a deep breath, her ample bosom rising and falling. The look in her eyes toward Wu Ming was filled with uncertainty and surprise.

As she calculated how much it would cost to buy the entire church, she shook her head and began seriously considering the possibility that these priests might actually speak the truth.

This was the limitation of the times. Even the greatest genius would be constrained by it.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The thunderous sounds continued. Amidst the fierce explosions, the thick wooden door of Howling Castle finally could no longer withstand a direct hit and exploded into a cloud of blood mist.

To increase the destructive power, besides solid iron cannonballs, the wooden cannons also fired a large number of iron nails, scrap iron pieces, and other debris. Once these exploded among crowds, the results were horrifying.

After all the wooden cannons had roared, the once mighty Howling Castle was now riddled with holes.

The gunners immediately moved forward to inspect the barrels and reload.

Each time after firing, the reloading process was cumbersome, the biggest drawback of wooden cannons. However, since this was a siege and their side had a significant advantage, this minor flaw was negligible. Even if in open battle, if this wooden cannon unit could deliver one round of bombardment to scare the enemy soldiers, Wu Ming would already be very satisfied.

“Jack, Awa, lead the military police forward!”

Wu Ming fixed his gaze on the direction of the castle gate, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“Protect the wooden cannons and the gunners!”

A unit armed with crossbows immediately advanced, forming a wall of swords and shields.

“For the honor of the Wellington family!”

Indeed, as the military police moved forward, a knight squadron charged out at an astonishing speed, their leader shouting loudly, his voice echoing across the battlefield.

“Trying to destroy my wooden cannon unit?”

Wu Ming watched the scene with a cold smile.

“Fire!”

Jack roared, and the military police pulled their triggers. The crossbows formed a fan-shaped hail of arrows, completely locking down the narrow space ahead.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sound of crossbow bolts piercing flesh continued unabated, blood spraying everywhere. In an instant, the squadron suffered heavy casualties.

“Even knights are in grave danger when trapped in a confined space and bombarded by crossbows…”

Wu Ming watched the initial armored figure at the front. The man moved with extraordinary agility, carrying over a hundred pounds of armor as if it were nothing, charging straight to the front line.

Most of the crossbow bolts were easily dodged. Even when some struck him, the tremendous kinetic energy only caused him to hesitate slightly.

“But how many knights do you have?”

Wu Ming murmured softly, his eyes devoid of emotion.

“Surround him! Suppress with crossbows!”

Jack roared, similarly armored, charging forward fiercely. His greatsword, forged from blood steel, shimmered with a crimson glow.

Bang!

The armored knight hurled an axe, which collided mid-air with Jack’s weapon, producing a dull sound.

“Die!”

Jack charged ahead, blocking the knight. Fully armored soldiers surrounded them, crossbowmen aiming from a distance.

In such a formation, even a great knight surrounded would likely face a grim fate.

Crash!

After several crossbow bolts struck him, the armored knight hesitated momentarily. Jack seized the opportunity, swinging his greatsword and severing the knight’s arm.

“Kill him!”

The soldiers shouted, throwing a net and trapping the knight. Swords pierced through the gaps in his armor.

Puh! Puh!

After several strikes, a large amount of blood flowed from within the armor.

“He was a brave knight!”

Jack solemnly saluted the knight’s corpse, then glanced at the figures atop the castle, his challenge unmistakable.

In war, even knights could fall.

And charging alone, even Wu Ming would not dare to do so.

Seeing this squadron of knights perish, the castle erupted in chaos, with faint sounds of crying and cursing.

Then another messenger came, requesting negotiations and at least asking for noble treatment, but Wu Ming rejected all such requests.

After all, the fate of the previous Blue Mountain Earl served as the best excuse for him.

Now, his enemies were no longer the old nobility but traitorous usurpers and brutal murderers!

Against them, there was no need to adhere to noble codes of conduct.

Once the enemy broke the rules, he would do the same, fully justified in doing so.

Inside the castle, a deathly silence fell, as if its inhabitants had completely given up resistance, awaiting judgment.

“Tell the Viscount of Eagle Castle and the members of the Lion Wellington family, they have only one choice: unconditional surrender!”

Wu Ming looked at the setting sun and told the pale, trembling messenger: “And… I will only wait for them for two sandglasses!”

In reality, this was the time required for the wooden cannons to reload, not a moment wasted.

After the dispirited messenger returned, Wu Ming did not see a white flag raised as he had hoped. Instead, the defenders began desperately sealing the castle gate, preparing for a last stand.

“Very well, since they have made their choice, we shall send them all to hell!”

Without the slightest pity, Wu Ming immediately ordered once the wooden cannons had reloaded: “Attack! Target the enemy’s gate!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The cannons thundered. Those unfortunate soldiers and carpenters were torn into meat paste in an instant by the storm of metal, scattering in all directions, a horrifying scene.

Under such intense bombardment, Howling Castle suddenly shook, and a section of the wall collapsed.

“Order the infantry to advance, attacking from two routes!”

Wu Ming issued the command: “After entering the castle, search every room. I grant you unlimited authority to use swords and blades. Any human showing hostility can be directly killed!”

Howling Castle naturally needed a thorough cleansing.

Moreover, there might still be a group of noble prisoners inside, even the widowed countess and daughters of the Blue Mountain Earl. If used against him, they could become a troublesome issue.

Complete cleansing was absolutely necessary.

“Kill!”

Jack, Awa, and others had already grown impatient.

Upon hearing Wu Ming’s command, a group of knights, clad in armor, charged into the castle like vanguard war machines through the breaches and damaged gate.

The cries of battle soon turned into wails of agony.

For the soldiers defending the castle, watching its walls collapse dealt a psychological blow beyond comparison.

Wu Ming also understood clearly that the thousand soldiers posed no real threat to him. The only concern was the enemy using the narrow terrain inside the castle, hiding in every room and dark corner, engaging him in a war of attrition.

History had examples of armies breaking through city walls, only to be heavily depleted and ultimately defeated in street fighting.

“Prepare poison smoke!”

Thinking of this, he immediately made a decision: “Once the enemy disperses and hides deep within the castle, seal it shut and deploy the toxic fumes!”

Such a move, utterly devoid of chivalric spirit, immediately left Baron Terry and Baron Wilford staring in disbelief. Only Tanna trembled slightly, her eyes now filled with an indescribable gleam.

Swift as thunder, decisive as lightning—this was the way of a true king!