The Restoration of Rome: In the Name of Augustus

Chapter 125 The Great Victory of Beirut

In the darkest hour before dawn, the tranquility of the Port of Beirut was shattered by the first gasp.

The first to have an accident was the patrol boat at the port entrance.

The phosphorus-sulfur mixture in the gaps of the rudder chain quietly heats up under continuous friction and humid air.

Just after midnight, a wisp of pungent white smoke rose up, which was quickly followed by a bluish-white flame.

Although the flame was small, it precisely ignited the old cables piled up nearby.

"Fire on the port side!" the lookout exclaimed.

Almost simultaneously, on the lower level of the bow tower of the flagship "Raven," where grease and diluted Greek fire elixir had been poured, an oil lamp was blown over by the sea breeze and burst into flames.

The flagship and the two escort ships next to it emitted thick smoke and flames in similar locations, and the three core warships were engulfed in flames almost simultaneously.

"Enemy attack! There's a spy setting fire!" The experienced Adil rushed out of the cabin the moment the first unusual flash of light appeared.

He stood on the stern tower, billowing with thick smoke, his gaze calmly sweeping across the harbor.

Three key vessels caught fire precisely from the inside, and patrol boats on the outer perimeter also encountered problems at the same time...

This was absolutely a well-planned act of sabotage, designed to create maximum chaos!

It's a coordinated attack from within and without! There will be an enemy attack!

"Give the order!" Adil raised his voice as high as he could, issuing the command decisively, "All ships in the first and second detachments that are not on fire, weigh anchor immediately and assemble at the eastern exit of the harbor, ready to engage the enemy! The third detachment, focus all your efforts on extinguishing the fire on the flagship and escort ships. If the fire becomes uncontrollable, abandon ship immediately and transfer personnel to other vessels!"

"All ballistae and catapults on shore, turn towards the fan-shaped area outside the harbor and be on alert!"

His orders were quickly disseminated via flags and messenger boats.

The Egyptian navy was well-trained, and after the initial panic, the Emir and officers of all ranks began to try their best to control the situation.

However, the flames on the flagship "Raven" were sticky and difficult to extinguish, severely interfering with Adil's command and control.

Just as flames were raging and thick smoke filled the harbor, drawing attention to the internal chaos, Raymond's fleet appeared on the moonlit sea outside the harbor.

"Into firing range!" the lookout whispered back.

Raymond raised his right hand and then swung it forward sharply.

The ballista at the bow fired a giant crossbow bolt, as thick as a bowl and eight feet long, which flew in a high parabola straight toward the operating platform of a wooden catapult at the entrance of the harbor.

The giant arrow pierced the wooden structure, sending splinters of wood flying everywhere. The Egyptian operator, who was hurriedly adjusting the direction, was immediately thrown to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, light catapults on both sides of the Jerusalem fleet began to hurl large amounts of roughly polished, fist-sized stones.

The rubble, like hail, covered several small Egyptian warships near the port entrance, which were attempting to turn and were in somewhat disarray.

The rapid, crackling sounds of the hammering, though unlikely to directly sink the ship, caused terrible casualties to the sailors and soldiers on deck who were wearing light armor or even no armor. More seriously, it disrupted their operations of weighing anchor and raising sails, creating further congestion and chaos.

"Aim at the masts and sails of the enemy fleet that is gathering!" Raymond continued to give the order.

The second wave of attacks followed immediately, this time with rockets bound with oil-soaked linen and barbed light arrows specifically designed to cut sails and cables.

Countless streaks of fire flashed across the night sky. Although many rockets were deflected by the shields or fell into the water, a dozen or so were lucky enough to land on the sails of the target ship.

The dry sails caught fire easily, and although the sailors quickly extinguished the flames, they successfully delayed Adil's efforts to regroup the fleet.

The arrows that cut the sails also caused many ships to suddenly lose control of their mainsails or auxiliary sails, tilting them and greatly reducing their maneuverability.

Raymond consistently followed Leon's instructions, not seeking a decisive victory, but rather aiming to create as much chaos as possible, disrupt enemy ship maneuvers, and destabilize the enemy's command structure, thereby forcing the enemy forces to retreat.

He stared intently at the burning core warships in the harbor, hoping the fire would spread faster and cause greater panic.

At this moment, the fire on the Raven had spread to the middle of the mainmast, and the thick smoke made it impossible to open one's eyes.

Under the protection of his guards, Adil was transferred to a light warship, the Sarandi, that had come to pick him up.

He glanced back at his beloved flagship, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and rationality.

The attack methods outside the port allowed him to quickly determine that the Franks lacked heavy weapons capable of delivering a fatal blow, and that their aim was to disrupt and hinder the enemy. They were also likely not very strong, otherwise they would have already forced their way in.

"Your Highness! Enemy main force spotted at the eastern exit, attacking our assembled fleet with long-range weapons!" a smoke-covered officer reported.

Adil quickly grasped the situation.

First, there was an internal traitor who set fire to the ship, resulting in damage to the core warship.

Secondly, enemy forces were taking advantage of the chaos to harass them from a distance, intending to delay their assembly.

Third, the enemy chose the eastern exit as their main attack direction... So what about the western exit?

He immediately summoned one of his most trusted scout ship captains: "Take two fast boats, don't light any lights, and sneak out through the west exit to scout around the harbor. Pay special attention to whether there are any ambushes or the enemy's main transport fleet! Go and return quickly!"

Then he ordered: "Order all ships that are still maneuverable to abandon efforts to extinguish the burning vessels that are out of control. Retreat gradually towards the western exit of the harbor, in detachments providing alternating cover! Concentrate fire on the ballistae and remaining catapults on the ships and in the harbor to bombard the enemy ships on the eastern side of the harbor, covering our advance!"

"Notify Emir Tagudin on land that the navy has been attacked and the port may fall. Ask him to adjust the land-based siege strategy accordingly!"

This decision was incredibly difficult, as it meant relinquishing control of some warships and ports, but preserving the main force of the fleet.

As long as the majority of the fleet is preserved, the capital for a future comeback will be secured. Beirut is there; it won't grow legs and run away.

The Egyptian fleet began to regain some order from its initial passive defense; although still chaotic, it had a clear direction for retreat.

The ships began to fight and retreat, using the still-burning wreckage and thick smoke as cover as they moved westward.

The long-range weapons on shore finally put together a more effective counterattack, with stones and crossbow bolts falling on the sea near Raymond's fleet, forcing his ships to stay away.

As Adil's main fleet gradually withdrew from the port on the west side and disappeared into the dark sea, the resistance in the port quickly weakened.

The few small or damaged Egyptian ships that were unable to retreat or were abandoned either surrendered or were boarded and captured by Jerusalem soldiers.

The Egyptian navy’s blockade of Beirut port was broken, and Raymond’s fleet made its way to the port through the wreckage of Egyptian naval vessels.

He stood at the bow of the boat, looking towards the city wall.

The Beirut garrison on the city walls lit up their torches as signals, and the city gates slowly opened. Beirut garrison soldiers and citizens rushed out, cheering for the reinforcements.

"Send word to His Highness at Seaton that the night raid on Beirut was a great victory," Raymond ordered the messenger. "Then escort His Highness to Beirut to oversee the next steps in the defense."