Volume Two: The Iron and Blood Baron - Chapter 154: The Battle of Nordenburg (Part Twenty-Eight)

The substance used to extinguish the fire was none other than the three massive cauldrons of boiling filth stationed at the gate tower. Having been roasted intensely by the raging fire below, their moisture content had decreased even further, rendering this foul mixture of solids and liquids remarkably effective for smothering burning grease.

Realizing this, Gamlin pushed aside any concerns about potential risks and hastily ordered his men to open the pouring chutes on the city wall. These chutes had been strategically constructed directly above the gate precisely to combat potential enemy attempts to burn it down, allowing for a swift response.

At the same time, these chutes could be used to unleash boiling filth, scalding oil, and other defensive hazards against enemies attempting to batter down the gate. Thanks to the extensive construction experience of Riano and his apprentice, combined with Belian's knowledge from another life, the chutes were ingeniously designed. They not only permitted the rapid discharge of vast quantities of liquid but also ensured that flames from below could not leap up through the openings once unsealed. Naturally, the curved design of these chutes also prevented enemies from shooting upward at the defenders stationed above.

Once the three cauldrons of filth were poured down, they successfully extinguished the blaze at the gate. Gamlin, his face covered in soot, broke into a wide grin of triumph, revealing a flash of strikingly white teeth against his blackened skin.

Yet no one paid attention to his gleaming teeth; instead, cheers erupted all around. The sight of the fire growing larger despite their attempts to douse it with water had truly terrified the militia soldiers on the ramparts. Although they had repelled the pirates' assault the previous day, they remained acutely aware of the vast disparity in combat prowess between themselves and the marauders.

They knew full well that once the gates of Norlandenburg fell, they would likely be slaughtered to the last man before nightfall. Having killed so many pirates yesterday, they had forfeited any chance of surrender or mercy.

As Gamlin extinguished the fire, the hearts of the garrison soldiers, which had been lodged tightly in their throats, finally sank back into place. They no longer had to fight with lingering dread and could focus entirely on defending against the enemy, now free from any fatal rear-guard anxieties.

Seeing that the fire was out, Barrett hurried over, threw his arms around Gamlin in a massive embrace, and then grabbed his shoulders, shaking him violently. "Quick, tell me, how on earth did you put it out?"

Gamlin shoved Barrett away, glaring at him with a resentful expression. "If you shake me any harder, my brains will scramble, and then how am I supposed to answer your questions?"

Noticing Gamlin's dizzy discomfort, Barrett promptly released him, wrapped an arm around his shoulder instead, and chuckled. "My good brother, Elder Gamlin, just hurry up and tell me. I am dying of curiosity."

Gamlin rolled his eyes at him and pointed a finger toward the three giant cauldrons. "Go take a look for yourself. The answer is right over there."

Barrett trotted over, peered into the empty cauldrons, and then looked down to see that the pouring chute had been unlatched, its opening coated with revolting, stomach-turning residue. In an instant, the truth dawned on him.

"Hahaha!" Overjoyed, Barrett burst into booming laughter. "I never imagined this filthy, stinking stuff could be so useful! Not only can it be boiled to kill enemies, but it can also put out fires. Tsk, tsk, simply incredible. I should keep a cauldron of this ready at home all the time; then I'd never have to fear intruders."

Barrett's remark instantly earned him looks of profound contempt from everyone present, including Gamlin. They simply could not fathom how their commander could conceive of something so utterly disgusting.

Meanwhile, Pino, standing before the main gate of Norlandenburg, was consumed by bitter disappointment as he watched the flames at the gate being extinguished. Clenching his right hand into a fist and slamming it hard against his left palm, the sudden, sharp burst of pain helped clear his mind completely.

They had already attempted several rounds of assaults. Despite the immense bravery of his men, who braved arrows, boulders, and boiling filth as they swarmed up the scaling ladders wave after wave, they had achieved no breakthrough. Furthermore, the plan to burn down the city gate—upon which everyone had pinned their hopes—had ultimately failed.

Though the gate had burned for a while with intense flames, it clearly lacked the vulnerability to be consumed entirely by such a fire. It seemed they would still have to pave the way with corpses if they ever wished to force that portal open.

As Pino pondered their next move, a deeply offensive odor suddenly drifted to his nose. Tracing the stench to its source, he realized it emanated from the gate. The three cauldrons of human waste, boiled to a high temperature and then used to smother the flames, combined with the lingering heat of the gate and the peculiar reek of burning grease, had fused into a uniquely repulsive miasma.

Borne aloft by the brisk autumn wind, the stench spread rapidly across the battlefield. The vanguard of the pirate force assaulting the gate bore the brunt of it, subjected to a catastrophic sensory experience that immediately sent numerous weak-stomached pirates into violent fits of retching.

And they could hardly be blamed; the odor was truly beyond description—the kind of overwhelming foulness that guaranteed anyone who smelled it would instantly vomit.

Fortunately, Norlandenburg's walls were tall, preventing most of the stench from drifting upward. While a faint foulness lingered in the air, keeping some distance from the gate allowed one to escape it, and the rest of the ramparts merely caught the occasional faint whiff.

Unable to endure this nauseating stench on top of their already catastrophic casualties, the siege pirates completely lost their nerve. They sounded the retreat and fell back.

This time, as they retreated to the base of the mountain, Asedan offered no reprimand. The leaders of the reserve forces refrained from mocking Commander Pino and the other two leaders who had endured the brutal fighting above, for they had witnessed the stubborn resilience and bravery of the Bricians. They knew it was impossible to breach the fortress in a mere day or two; they could only wear down the defenders gradually until the garrison lacked the manpower to hold the walls, presenting a genuine opportunity to storm the stronghold.

Of course, by then they had already exhausted several tactics devised the previous night, such as burning the gate. Though ultimately unsuccessful, it had left the Brician defenders battered and covered in soot while inflicting a modest number of casualties, which could still be counted as a modest success.

Seeing the pirates withdraw, Barrett and the others let out a collective sigh of relief. No matter what, today's crucible had been survived. Barrett and Gamlin slumped down against the parapet wall of the rampart, finally finding a spare moment to pull out their waterskins for a drink.

However, Gamlin discovered that his waterskin had somehow been punctured during the fighting, spilling all its contents. After taking a few hearty gulps from his own skin, Barrett handed it over to Gamlin so he could quench his thirst.

Gamlin accepted the skin with a knowing smile and began to drink. But after the very first mouthful, his eyes widened in shock. Staring at Barrett in astonishment, he lowered his voice and whispered, "Are you out of your mind? Didn't the Lord Commander explicitly forbid commanders from consuming alcohol during combat? How could you dare!"

Without answering directly, Barrett unhooked a second waterskin from his waist and handed it to Gamlin, telling him to taste this one instead. Gamlin took a sip and confirmed it was plain water.

Only then did Barrett explain, "The fighting is over now, so there's no harm in having a little drink. I never touch alcohol while battle is underway, you can rest assured of that."