[Infrastructure] After being mistaken for a god

When the first group of Akkadians arrived at the city of Uruk, news of the failure of the ambush in two villages outside the city of Uruk also came at the same time.

In order to test the fighting power of the Akkadians, the warriors of Uruk, together with the local villagers, made preparations in two villages after sending the old and the weak, women and children into Uruk, and tried Luke ambushed at a place one day away to slow down the Akkadian attack.

But the ambushes in both villages failed, and many brave Uruk warriors were killed.

Those who escaped described the terror of the Akkadians in horror, saying that they had painted patterns on their faces and exposed their muscular upper body, riding on galloping bulls and rampaging through the village.

They threw torches everywhere in the village, and the smoke cleverly concealed their figures; but they could always accurately spot the figures of Uruk people in the smoke and fire, and they suddenly jumped out on the ox, giving the Uruk people Rook warrior with a fatal blow.

Under such a terrifying attack force, less than half of the Uruk warriors and villagers finally withdrew to Uruk.Almost all of them died more or less, and the women of Uruk led by the saints of the Inanna Temple formed a medical team to treat and care for them.

"It's really... very strong!" The Uruk warriors who escaped by chance told Gilgamesh what they had seen and heard.

Gilgamesh nodded, and comforted him softly: "When you get back, you can take care of your injuries and don't worry about it anymore."

His demeanor was calm, and when the soldiers saw Wang being so calm, all of them were really relieved to take care of their wounds.

Gilgamesh walked out from the wounded, found Inan who was overseeing the work at the last section of the city wall, relayed what the soldiers had said, and finally sighed slightly, saying: "The Akkadian—the former king Lugabanda, is indeed right. Look at them."

This branch of the Semites is indeed good at fighting.

Yi Nan only said, "The king doesn't need to be particularly worried, we have already done our best to prepare for the war."

Gilgamesh looked at the missing part of the city wall in front of Inan and scratched his head—this city wall has not yet been closed, and the preparations for battle have not been completed at all. How can it be said that it is "the best"?

But Yinan said confidently: "The Akkadians don't have logistical supplies, so they must grab wherever they go. Most of the villages near Uruk have already moved into the city, and the fields have been vacated. Fortify the wall and clear the field'. The leading Akkadian party will surely plunder as much as possible in those two villages, searching for food and valuables. They will not come so soon."

When Yi Nan said this, the city wall in front of the two of them was still under construction.

The foundation has been completely completed, and there is only a gap of about fifty steps between the two sections of the city wall.The craftsmen stood in a row by the wall to lay bricks. As long as they stretched out their hands, the ceramic bricks with the right direction would be handed up behind them.Building walls is like flowing clouds and flowing water, and the thick city walls are slowly growing taller, visible to the naked eye.

In addition, besides the gap in the city wall, another group of civilians are digging trenches as a safety measure in front of the last section of the city wall.

Just like in Amori, their digging trenches is also very ornamental. The shovels come one after another, and the earthworks packed in sacks seem to be lined up in a line, and the bags are sent out one by one.When the sacks were sent to the city, they were immediately sent to the feet of the craftsmen, and became the earthwork for their feet, so that the craftsmen could "stand higher" as the city wall "grew higher".

Gilgamesh nodded and praised, "I've always been the most at ease with what you arranged."

——Just now he was still secretly wondering in his heart, but now he had to put on a very "foresighted" appearance on the surface.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Akkadian figures appeared in twos and threes on the distant horizon—it was from the direction of those two villages.

Some of them rode on the backs of oxen, and many of them led the oxen on foot.These Akkadians approached little by little, and the horrible patterns painted with oil paint on their faces gradually became clearer.

Facing the enemy head-on, the craftsmen were slow to build bricks.The earthwork transported from the trench is also gradually disconnected. It used to be a line, but now it looks like a point.

Yi Nan raised his voice, and reprimanded in a deep voice, "Don't pay attention to it, and concentrate on the work in your hands."

The craftsmen are all shocked.

However, Yi Nan slowed down his tone and comforted him gently: "Don't worry, they are just leading the charge, so they dare not just go forward like this."

Gilgamesh immediately answered, "Yes, they dare not, with the king here."

Inan raised his face and looked at Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh: ...Did I say something wrong?

Yi Nan said decisively, "The king will accompany me out of the city to have a look."

She didn't allow Gilgamesh to refuse, she directly pulled Gilgamesh's arm, and pulled him out of the city.

Those who approached Uruk from a distance were indeed Akkadians.They did indeed plunder two villages as Yi Nan predicted, so the large group of people had no time to approach, and only the vanguard team came over now.They have no plans to attack Uruk immediately, they just want to check the situation.

The Akkadians were surprised when they first saw the huge and smooth walls of Uruk.

But they immediately saw that the city wall hadn't been finished, and there was still a short section of the wall that was not closed. The craftsmen were rushing to repair it, and the peasants seemed to be digging trenches to protect this gap.

This section is probably the only gap in this complete city.

The Akkadians who rushed here were somewhat moved, and turned to look at their leader.

If the city wall of Uruk is not yet finished, if you rush directly into the city from this gap, wouldn't it be a great achievement?

The leader of this small group of Akkadians looked at the large "construction site" under construction from a distance, and with a wave of his hand, the Akkadian soldiers "started up" one after another, and slowly moved towards this section of Uruk city. gap" close.

They counted on seeing panicked people, peasants dropping their tools and fleeing from where the trenches had been dug.There was a cry inside and outside the city wall, and people looked for hiding places to escape.

However, the situation in front of us is exactly the opposite.The craftsmen didn't stop for a moment, and the city wall was steadily growing taller.

The trenches were dug deeper and deeper, and sacks filled with earth were continuously transported out of the trenches.The peasants were all so busy that no one even had time to turn their heads to look at the Akkadians.

"Boss, do you want to rush over?" an Akkadian warrior asked.

The leading Akkadian hesitated, and waved his soldiers to prepare for the charge.

Only in front of the ditch stood two young men, one was tall and strong, the other looked thinner, but both were heroic and handsome.

Judging by their attire and temperament, neither of these two men could be artisans or peasants.But seeing the two of them standing at the forefront where no one was guarding them, they were calm and relaxed, without a trace of panic.The two even pointed at the Akkadians, as if talking about something cheerfully.

Only when you have prepared for all defenses can you wait for them to attack so firmly, right?

The hand that the leader of Akkad had already raised finally put it down again.

He decided to play it safe.

Yi Nan saw the situation on the opposite side clearly, and she was relieved when she saw that the Akkadians gave up attacking, but "laid cattle" on the spot and began to set up camp.

This "empty city plan" seems to be sung quite successfully.

Of course, these Akkadians were completely fooled.The people on this construction site were not prepared to deal with the incoming enemy, they were just told to repair the city wall as soon as possible.

As for why they were able to "not be afraid in the face of danger", it was naturally because Inan and Gilgamesh stood outside the ditch in such a big way-they all thought that the king and his friends were omnipotent and must have a way to resist this small force Akkadians.

In fact, Yi Nan really had no choice.She just tried the ancient tactics from the East with the courage to try out the false and the real, and the false and the real.

But the tactic worked, and it bought the Urukites an evening.

That night, there were torches everywhere inside and outside the city walls of Uruk, illuminating the construction site as bright as day, and everyone built the city overnight.Everyone knows it's a matter of success or failure.When the Akkadian brigade arrives, if this section of the city wall is still incomplete, then the city of Uruk will be at stake.

After rushing to work overnight, no one in Uruk thought of taking a rest.

The women waited in the rest area inside the city wall with freshly baked bread and freshly brewed beer. Once someone came off their shift, they were immediately given water to replenish their strength.The men finished their dinner in twos, without wiping their mouths, and returned to their posts as soon as they put the pottery cups away.

The wall bricks are still being passed up continuously; the trumpet of filling the soil around the wall is always ringing... The section of the city wall in front of me seems to have the energy endowed by nature, like a strong hedge, which is stabilizing ground, growing densely and tall to the height of the surrounding hedges.

The next morning, when the rising sun shone countless beams of golden light on the Euphrates River, the city of Uruk bathed in the morning light was already intact.

Riding on the backs of bulls, the Akkadians who arrived one after another couldn't help admiring the scene before them.

This is a city dyed golden by the rising sun, surrounded by tall and strong walls.Although the city gates are open, ditches have been built in front of the city gates.Over the ditch was a drawbridge made of rows of timbers, ready to be winched up at any time.

The walls enclose the city and extend to the Euphrates, where they end in two towers.Between the towers is the pier of the Euphrates River in Uruk.

This city wall makes the whole city look perfect.

The Akkadians even needed courage before they dared to verify whether it was really as indestructible as it seemed.

Inan and Gilgamesh stood on the newly built city wall of Uruk, looking at the Akkadian tents spread out on the plain outside the city, feeling heavy pressure in their hearts.

The tents are endless, and I don't know where they extend.

Yinan roughly calculated that there were at least 8000 adult warriors stationed in Akkad below the city—this number was much higher than the number of trained warriors in Uruk.After all, the most powerful people in Uruk are the people who are famous for their construction projects.

At first glance, there are no rules in the camps of the Akkadians, and even old people and children can be seen in the tents, as if they are really just a group of shepherds, driving cattle, sheep and livestock, living in pursuit of water and grass, and living in peace with the situation——

But soon, the people in the city saw what the people in the city looked like when they were training soldiers.

Yi Nan understood: her previous estimate was too conservative, and the combat power of the Akkadians was far more than 8000.Their old men and their young men are formidable warriors—all men are soldiers, which is the most accurate word to describe the Akkadians.

Everyone in Akkad is both a predator and a producer.While looting and plundering the villages and city-states they passed through, they can also take care of their own livestock, milk cows and goats to make cheese, and slaughter livestock to satisfy their hunger at any time. "Strengthening the wall and clearing the field" has little effect on them.

When Yi Nan was standing on the city wall, he met a figure who looked like a leader, and with two or three followers, he was riding a bull and was patrolling the city of Uruk.

He came to the ditch below the city gate as if no one else was there, looked down at the ditch, then raised his face and looked into Yinan's eyes.

Yi Nan was shocked instantly: those were a pair of eyes full of longing and greed.

Needless to say, Yinan can understand.The wealth accumulated in Uruk for many years, the city's population, women, children... are all the spoils that the Akkadians most desire.

They are naturally warlike, and have always used plunder as a way to expand their strength.It has nothing to do with morality, it's all about strength.

At this moment, Yi Nan only felt lucky: fortunate that someone had the foresight to let the people of Uruk build the city wall at all costs.Otherwise——otherwise, this city, like the two nearby villages, may have fallen into blood and fire, fragmented and incomplete.

Gilgamesh probably saw Inan's shocked expression.The man stretched out his hand, pressed Yi Nan's shoulder lightly, and said softly, "Don't be afraid, the king is here."

"The king will protect the city, and he will protect you."

Inan nodded.

Ordinarily, for her, the Uruk people and the Akkadian people are both her observation objects, and there should be no bias.But at this moment, after she confirmed the eyes of the Akkadian leader, her heart has become more firmly on the side of the Uruk people.

Civilization is fragile and needs protection.

There are too many civilizations that stand at the pinnacle of glory in history. Once they are trampled by ruthless iron hooves, all that is left to future generations is blood and tears.

Inan didn't want Uruk in front of her to become a teardrop of regret in the pages of history, so she took a deep breath, turned her head to Gilgamesh full of pride and said, "I will also protect this city and you. !"

If this was in the past, Gilgamesh would have laughed it off when he heard such a big talk.

But after all the past, Gilgamesh knew how important the little girl in front of him was to him.

"I can't ask for it!"

Gilgamesh bowed to Inan and placed his right hand over his heart.

It was the first time that the arrogant Wang bowed his head to a woman, and at the same time admitted in his heart that he could do without her.

But in the eyes of outsiders, it was just an ordinary communication between Wang and a thin close friend or aide.The leader of Akkad under the city wall looked at him from a distance and sneered, then turned to check the situation of the city defense of Uruk.

Uruk, because it has a complete city wall, is impenetrable - but it is not invulnerable.Its weakness is that the Uruk people have not had time to dig a trench, or moat, around the entire city.

Only the seven gates and the last section of the wall that had just been built had deep trenches dug, but the trenches gradually shallowed on either side of the gates until they were level with the ground.

In these places the Akkadians could easily approach the walls.So a leader of the Akkadians came under the city wall, reached out and knocked on the surface of the city wall.

I only heard the sound of the wall creaking, making a "clang clang" sound, almost like knocking on metal.

The leader had just kowtowed, only to hear the exclamation of the subordinates behind him. He knew that the people on the city wall had launched an attack, and he moved quickly to the side, trying to avoid the heavy stones thrown from above—who knew that? What poured down on it turned out to be boiling hot water.

The leader of the Akkadian screamed and slammed his fist hard on the wall.The face of his fist was bloody immediately, not only failed to punch a hole in the city wall, but injured his own hand.

More Akkadians rushed up to rescue their leader, only to hear a loud bang from above, and a huge log fell from the sky, and amidst the screams of the Akkadians, smashed the heads of the people below. flow.

The team that Akkad came to test, together with the leader who was almost cooked, were immediately rescued by others.The first confrontation between the invading enemy and the people defending the city ended with the Uruk people having a slight upper hand.

The people standing at the head of Uruk couldn't believe their eyes.

Before that, the Uruk people built the city wall because the king asked them to build the city wall.The city walls are magnificent and beautiful, giving people an inexplicable sense of security—but until today, they finally knew where this sense of security came from.

There is a city wall to rely on, and it is too much to take advantage of condescending defense.

The Uruk people on the top of the city immediately turned around happily and told the compatriots in the city the most intuitive feeling.

"We've won!"

Immediately, the city of Uruk was filled with joy—although this was only a small, insignificant little bit of victory.But they have since realized the meaning of the city wall to them.

"It's a win!" He gained the upper hand in the first encounter, and such enthusiastic voices quickly ignited the enthusiasm of other people in the city.Cheers came and went.

The leader of Akkad outside the city heard such a cry, and stretched out his hand to cover the wound on his head and face, but a ferocious smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.There are not many people who can make him so embarrassed, but the city of Uruk has aroused his interest.

Over the next few days, the Akkadians tried various methods of attacking the city.

They first thought of using cattle—tied red ropes to the horns of the cattle, and drove them loudly behind the herd, letting them collide with the city wall of Uruk in formation.

The Uruk people on the city wall held their breath, watching the cattle rushing towards the city wall, galloping and dusting the sky.They wondered whether the city wall could withstand the impact of this large herd of bulls.

Unexpectedly, the bulls rushed forward, and when they saw the city wall, they turned first by themselves—the Akkadians behind them tried to stop them but couldn't stop them at all. They could only watch the proud bulls run away freely.

Niu is not stupid, and he will not ask for trouble if he has nothing to do.

Then the Akkadians found a huge log from nowhere, carried it by a dozen people, and rushed towards the tall and thick city wall, wanting to test the stability of the city wall.As a result, the city wall was not damaged at all, and there was not even a hole on the surface, but the Akkadians were shot into hedgehogs by the copper cluster arrows shot from above.

There are too many such examples to list them all.

After several rounds, the Akkadians seemed to have nothing to do with the walls of Uruk.They have not even had any means of threatening the gates of Uruk.The people of Uruk are also more and more confident, believing that the king of Uruk led them to build this city

However, the people of Uruk cannot close the gates forever.

Residents from nearby villages or small city-states continued to flee to Uruk carrying food and belongings.From Sipar below, many villages and small city-states along the Euphrates River were attacked by the Akkadians, and they were forced to leave their homes and come to the city of Uruk.

The safest way is to go by water, after all, the Akkadians are not good at sailing on water.

However, there are limited ships on the water, and the docks along the way were destroyed by the Akkadians, so going down the river to Uruk has become an extremely dangerous journey.

So some people took the risk, took the land route, passed through the area controlled by the Akkadians, and defected to Uruk.

The people of Uruk are very generous. As long as they are lucky enough to reach the city of Uruk, they will put down the suspension bridge, take these civilians into the city, and lead them to a small hotel or the camp of the peasants. They only need to pay a small fee. These "refugees" can have a shelter.

On this day, someone came to report to Gilgamesh that nearly a thousand villagers and hunters from the Sipar area had thrown in. They were desperate and were gathering at the gate of the city, begging the people of Uruk to open the gate and give them a shelter. .

The soldiers guarding the city felt compassionate and determined to let them enter the city, so they ordered the three city gates to be opened at the same time.But behind the refugees are the Akkadians who are eyeing them.The Uruk guards guarding the city immediately decided to go out of the city to meet them, guarding behind the refugees and escorting them slowly into the city.

Gilgamesh and Inan were together when they heard the news.Inan heard the king's personal guard report to Gilgamesh, and asked curiously: "More than 1000 people? Arriving in Uruk in three ways? Is this how the Akkadians watched them come?"

She and Gilgamesh looked at each other, and suddenly they both jumped up at the same time.

Yi Nan: "No, I fell for it!"

Gilgamesh picked up a spear, without saying a word, quickly rushed out of the garrison, and rushed to one of the gates pointed by the guards.

Inan followed behind him, but instead of going out of the city like Gilgamesh did, he rushed straight up the wall, looking nervously into the distance.

At her feet, refugees from afar were rushing into Uruk along the drawbridge over the trench.In the chaos, some people were squeezed off the suspension bridge, and the suspension bridge became even more chaotic.

Farther away, the warriors of Uruk were standing ready in case the Akkadians made a surprise attack.

Yinan immediately summoned all the archers in charge of defending the city, asking them to be on alert at all times and prepare to support the guards below the city.

But at this moment, Yi Nan suddenly felt that the ground under his feet began to tremble.There was a flame in the distance.

In the flames, countless strong bulls with red cloth tied to their horns rushed towards the city wall of Uruk without hesitation, as if their eyes were red.

And these bulls are the source of the fire.

Their tails were soaked in oil or some combustible material was tied to them. The bulls' tails were all on fire, so that each of them was running hard, without knowing the direction, just trying to escape from the hot purgatory behind them.

Yi Nan decisively ordered all the archers to throw down their bows and arrows, take ropes instead, and hang the ends of the ropes down the city wall.But judging by the speed at which the bulls were coming, she felt that this last remedy might be too late.

The Akkadians presented a great gift to the proud city of Uruk - the Fire Bull Formation.