Mining and Countermining

In siege warfare, mining involves digging tunnels underneath enemy fortifications to undermine their walls. The goal is to collapse the structure, allowing attackers to breach the defenses. Countermining is the defensive response, where the besieged dig their own tunnels to intercept and destroy the attackers' tunnels. This strategic back-and-forth aims to gain the upper hand; while one side seeks to weaken the enemy's fortifications, the other works to protect them. Both techniques require significant skill and resources, highlighting the complex nature of siege tactics.