Iron Powder and Spellcaster

On the day they crossed the Styx, the baggage train camped at the bridgehead.

Late at night, the panicked night guard broke into Lieutenant Montagne's tent: "Sir! Wake up!"

The second lieutenant was confused: "Um...what are you doing?"

"Something big happened!"

No sleep at all, Winters jumped off the camp bed: "What's wrong?"

"Salt has fallen from the sky!"

Without even bothering to put on his clothes, Winters rushed out of the tent.

Looking around, he saw no salt, but there was an even more astonishing sight - thousands of catkins were swirling and falling from the sky.

This land rarely snowed.

…

Two days later.

An unnamed place west of the Culvalea River.

Andre and Winters rode side by side, chatting from time to time. The horse's hooves trampled on the muddy water, making a "pat-pat-pat" sound.

Snow exists in two forms for the Plato people: written records and thousands of years of snow on the main peak of the Jinding Mountains.

There is very little snow that you can actually touch.

The younger Dusak has never even experienced snowfall. Their concept of "snow" comes entirely from the descriptions of their fathers.

The surface temperature has not reached freezing point, and the snow that fell on the ground quickly melts into water. Only the snow remains on the distant slopes.

The meadow in front of me is still green, but the hillside on the horizon is covered with white snow. This strange scenery cannot be felt as real even if it is witnessed with one's own eyes.

But the people in the baggage train couldn't care less about enjoying the beautiful scenery. They had more troublesome things.

The winter meadow was originally relatively solid, but the sudden snowfall caused it to become saturated with water.

Once it is crushed by wheels, it will inevitably turn into mud.

The carts left muddy trails, and mud poured into the axles, making the wheels more difficult to rotate. From time to time, carriages got stuck in mud puddles.

Originally, the compacted ruts of the vehicle in front made it easier for the vehicle behind, but now it was easier for the vehicle in front, and the farther back the carriage, the harder it was.

After a day's trek, Lieutenant Colonel Jessica ordered the change to a double-column formation the next day, shortening the long queue.

However, the effect of double columns does not seem to be significant. Winters estimates that three columns or even four columns may be tried next.

"This fucking place!" Andre cursed: "You have come all the way to a place like this to fuck the Huds. Have the people above ever filled their heads with feces?"

It is often necessary to lack something to know how valuable it is. Compared to Veneta, which has a well-developed network of roads and waterways, the grasslands of the Hed tribes are indeed bad land.

The roads are difficult to navigate - there are no roads at all and there are few people. There are only trees except grass, and it doesn’t look like there is any output.

Brother Rhett on the carriage laughed twice: "You Venetians are full men and don't know hungry men. Even if the wasteland is used to herd sheep, it will still be productive. You think this land is not very good, but you don't know that every year the Hed tribe We have to fight over the pasture."

"That's because the Hittites are very poor." Andrei immediately retorted: "The Platuan people can't be poorer than the Hittites, right?"

"Red apples are easy to pick." The old monk said a Flemish proverb and asked: "Then no one picks green apples? Plato is so eager for land, and you Venetians are also responsible."

"What responsibility?" Andre was very unconvinced.

"The woolen textile industries of Forslander and Veneta need more raw materials, and Plato needs more sheep. The second sons, youngest sons, and illegitimate sons of the noble families of your two countries bring money to purchase land. Plato Then there are a large number of manors and manor owners. Don’t you understand?”

Andre was a little confused: "What does this have to do with it?"

"In the final analysis, it is the needs of your coastal areas that drive the Palatuan people to set foot here." The mendicant monk sighed, with a kind of pity for a fool in his eyes: "If the textile industry of Veneta one day does not need wool, Convert to the production of cotton cloth. Then the Palatuan people will slaughter the sheep and use the land to grow cotton. Do you understand?"

"We... don't want cotton now?" Andre asked timidly.

"This kid is stupider than you!" the old monk pointed at Andre and said to Winters.

"Don't involve me!" Winters fired back: "Veneta is responsible, but you are not responsible? Do you dare to say that the war between the Platons and the Herds has no religious reasons? Isn't it a crusade against infidels?"

The old monk laughed dumbly.

A rider came from far behind the convoy and ran to the two officers before pulling the reins.

It was Pierre. He nervously reported to Andre: "Sir! I saw a figure on the hillside to the north."

"Shadows? How many people?"

"On a."

"Then what? Decorate us?"

"No, it passed by in a flash. I couldn't see the man back behind the hillside."

Andre thought for a moment, frowned and asked, "You're not a sheep herder again, are you?"

…

There have been jokes before about shepherds.

On the first day after entering the buffer zone, some militiamen noticed that there seemed to be people following them on the ridges of the hillsides on both sides.

The nervous Andre thought it was a Hud scout, and immediately led his cavalry to kill him.

The knights brandished their sabers, howled and screamed strangely, and charged all the way to the opponent, only to find that they were just a few shepherds.

The Hurds didn't catch them, but they frightened some sheepherders half to death, making Andre very angry.

During the days of marching in the buffer zone, we encountered several groups of shepherds every day.

Andre, who had been deceived by false alarms several times, no longer bothered to pay attention to such reports. Instead, Lieutenant Colonel Jessica took the trouble to send Andre to contact the shepherds.

"Second Lieutenant Cellini!" the lieutenant colonel likes to say: "Go and have a look! Bring your things and go!"

On the one hand, the lieutenant colonel's purpose was to gather information - but Andre thought it was pure lies. It seemed to him that the Lieutenant Colonel's real purpose was for the mutton, goat's milk, and goat's cheese.

The shepherds of Palato mainly graze the famous Merino sheep, which are famous for their soft and smooth wool. Even Veneta people like Winters and Andre have heard of it.

Merino sheep are considered a controlled substance in Plato. Since ancient times, the flow of sheep seeds has been strictly prohibited, and offenders will be killed without mercy.

There is another, less famous Jura sheep, whose wool is not as good as the Merino, but its meat and milk are far superior to its cousins.

Especially Jura goat cheese, Lieutenant Colonel Jessica liked it very much.

Shepherds wander in the wild all year round and live a miserable life. So I am happy to exchange sheep and milk for consumables such as tobacco, sugar and alcohol.

The lieutenant colonel called Andrei's name and asked him to come back in exchange for meat and milk.

There was fresh meat and milk every day, and everyone in the officer class was very happy. Except for Andre, who was bored to death. The lieutenant colonel named him to go, and no one else could do it for him.

[Note: The officer class includes officers, clergy and professional doctors. The brigade will not be assigned professional doctors]

…

Hearing Lieutenant Cellini's question, Pierre scratched the back of his head and said, "I don't know if he is a shepherd, but that person waved to me."

"Didn't you see the costume?"

"It's too far away to see clearly."

"Take your roommate to have a look." Andre ordered: "Go there with the trumpet, but don't make a fool of yourself like yesterday."

Yesterday, the first day after crossing the "River Styx", Andre received a report again: There was someone on the ridge.

Crossing the River Styx is the sphere of influence of the Hedians. This can't be wrong, right? Andre ordered all his men and rushed over with murderous intent.

But he was tricked again. He was still a shepherd, and he came over on the pontoon a few days ago.

Wherever the flag of Plato goes, there the shepherds go. There was rock salt necessary for sheep on the west bank of the Styx, and after the army crossed the river, the shepherds followed.

According to the shepherds, the nearby Hed people had already moved westward, and the place where there was fighting recently was a hundred kilometers away to the west.

In order to avoid the front of the Plato army, the Herd people's herds, tents, cattle and sheep were all moved away. Now only the Palatine shepherds roam the land.

Pierre received the order, saluted and prepared to leave.

"Wait a minute." Andre stopped him, hesitated, and said, "I'd better take the people there, and you go to the back and report to the lieutenant colonel."

Pierre saluted, pulled the reins, pinched the horse's ribs, and ran away.

Winters pulled out the spring gun from his gun bag and threw it to Andre: "Take this with you."

In order not to reveal the identity of the spell caster, Winters also specially purchased a double-barrel spring-loaded short gun in Maple Stone City, in addition to rarely using spells in public.

He felt that in this case, even if there were rumors that he could fire a gun without an open flame, he would just think it was a spring gun.

"No need." Andre smiled and waved his hand: "A few sheep herders will be a burden to take care of this heavy guy."

…

Andre ordered a group of riders and ran towards the north hillside.

He was very reluctant to call these Dusak cavalry, because in his opinion, these people could only ride horses and could not be called qualified cavalry.

The captain who led the team was named Asta, a thirty-four-year-old "old" Dusak - compared with those underage Dusak, the native of Blackwater Town was an unlucky guy who was chosen by lot.

The remaining ones in the same room, Shego, Kriuch, Maengote, Rasov and Karp, were all underage Dusak.

Andre felt that Asta was older and more reliable, so he appointed Asta to be the captain of ten.

Wangshan ran to death, and Andre led the six riders to run for a long time before reaching the edge of the hillside.

Standing high on the slope, the people in the baggage train seemed to be as big as peas.

The team was like a clumsy snake crawling on the wilderness, but only half of it could be seen, the other half was tightly blocked by the undulating terrain.

You often don't feel it when you are in it. Only when you stand at a high place can you find that the wasteland is not flat.

The undulating hills are like folds on a blanket. When you climb over a hill or around a mound, your sight is lost.

"There seems to be livestock over there, sir." Asta pointed to a ravine to the east with his riding crop.

"Go over and have a look."

The riders were riding on the ridge, and after going around a few bends, the sheep in the valley on the other side suddenly appeared in front of them.

Light brown sheep are scattered in the ravine, grazing peacefully.

The two shepherds noticed the cavalry on the top of the slope and waved their hats at them.

"Have you brought anything?" Andre asked the captain.

"Of course, sir." Asta patted the saddle bag: "I knew I was coming to exchange something."

Andrei exchanged meat, cheese and fresh milk with the shepherds, and the Dussacs who followed him would also exchange some goat milk for drinks.

"Go over and change." Andre said casually: "Same as before."

Asta whistled and led Kriuch towards the bottom of the ditch.

Andre yawned: "Damn it, besides mutton, it's goat milk. I almost smell like goat."

"Then I will share your worries." Little Dusakshego joked.

"Okay." Andre laughed loudly and lightly whipped Xie Ge with a riding crop: "I will discuss with the lieutenant colonel and find opportunities for everyone to improve."

"Thank you, sir!" Shego shouted happily.

"What the hell!" This was Rasov's horrified cry: "What the hell... Lord!"

Asta at the bottom of the ditch first leaned to one side lazily, then suddenly raised his hands and fell from the saddle.

Kriuch, who was going with him, had been dragged off his horse by the shepherd and was struggling and shouting desperately.

The sudden turn of events left the Dusaks stunned.

"Go down and save him!" Andre stabbed the horse in the ribs, drew out his saber, and rushed down the hillside first.

The Dussacs came to their senses after falling a few horses behind, and hurriedly followed up.

Taking advantage of the terrain, the cavalry rushed to the bottom of the slope in the blink of an eye, but this was also the reason why the opponent did not kill Kriuch.

Seeing the hussar officer rushing down the hillside, the shepherd immediately took out his horn and blew it suddenly.

In a flash of lightning, the shepherd's horn and his jaw were cut off by Lieutenant Cellini.

But it was too late, the dull sound of horns had spread across the ravine, and the sound of rumbling hooves returned.

At the edge of the hillside outline, first the tip of a spear emerged, and then the feathers of the helmet swayed.

More than a dozen fierce horsemen carrying spears and bows rushed out from the opposite slope of the hillside, howling and killing the Palatine cavalry at the bottom of the slope.

"Hudman!" Xie Ge yelled at the top of his lungs: "It's Hudman!"

It was a planned ambush, and Andre yanked on the reins and yelled, "Go!"

The riders turned their horses around and ran towards the top of the slope from where they came. No matter how much people care about horses, they are still trying their best to stab their mounts in the ribs with their spurs.

As soon as Kliuch got up from the ground, the Huds came to kill him. Little Dussac stood there stupidly, a spear passed through his chest and nailed him to the dirt.

Klucky did not die immediately, but no one paid any attention to him. Hurd's cavalry roared past, their target being the fleeing hussar officer.

The sound of the Hud's horses' hooves hit Andre's heart like hailstones. He kept looking back. He saw the thick beard, the gloomy face and the skillful riding posture.

"One of them is red, and the others are all white." Andre tried desperately to calm down: "That guy must be an official."

He saw the Hurd reaching down to pull something out from behind his legs.

"Bow and arrow!" Andre shouted: "Get down!"

Hearing the ensign's roar, the Palatine rider leaned on his horse and lowered his body as low as possible.

The arrow feathers followed behind them with a whistling sound in the air. The cavalrymen gritted their teeth, prayed, and whipped their horses hard with their whips.

Rasov let out a scream and shouted: "I've been hit by an arrow! I've been hit by an arrow!"

"Blow the trumpet! Warn the brigade!" Andre ordered the bugler Garp.

The second lieutenant shouted three times before Garp came back to his senses. Trembling, he took off the bugle from his neck, but he couldn't make a tuneful sound at all.

The Herd's horses were small in size, but their speed was not inferior to Andre's tall horse.

The distance between the fleeing party and the chasing party quickly closed, and everyone could clearly hear the Hud people shouting in their language.

The burly Hud with red feathers caught up with Andre and stabbed him in the back with his spear. The tip of the spear pierced the belt, diagonally piercing the back a knuckle deep.

Andre was not wearing the breastplate issued to officers, and he only felt a chill on his back. He waved his saber to deflect the second spear and let out a desperate roar: "I can't run away! Fight!"

Andrea stood up straight on her prancing horse and slashed at the back of the Hed who rushed past on the left.

He was surrounded, and a hart horse crashed into his black charger, nearly knocking it down.

Shego was the first to turn around and rescue, and a Hed man rushed him aside.

Xie Ge bared his teeth, his face looked like a dead man, and he slashed at the opponent like crazy, with no rules at all in his movements.

Bugler Karp did not look back and ran straight towards the direction of the convoy. But Maungot and Rasov, who had an arrow in his arm, rushed back after Shego.

The cavalry were huddled together on a small patch of pitiful mud, fighting and fighting. The Platoans were stunned with fear, but the Hittites were no better.

The swords clashed with each other, sparks flew, and they stabbed and slashed randomly. It was extremely fierce.

The horse was also frightened and did not obey the rider's orders at all. He ran around in a daze and fell to the ground in a daze.

Six Hurds surrounded Andre and wanted to capture him alive. Andre stood up in the stirrups, swinging his saber around on the saddle like a whirlwind with all his strength.

The tip of the spear cut a bloody gash on his neck, and he responded with a wound deep enough to show the bone. The cold light of the sharp blade flashed in front of his eyes, and he raised the knife to block it again.

A Hed man shouted in an unfamiliar language, and Andre used all his strength to chop the opponent's Tianling Cap with a knife.

The Hud screamed and fell off his horse, but Andre's saber was also blown away by the opponent's iron helmet.

He immediately snatched the spear from the hands of a nearby Hurd trooper and swung it as if he were on the training ground.

Several Huds used spears to force Andre away and rescued the Hud who had just fallen to the ground.

Only then did Andre discover that the Hed's iron helmet had red feathers.

The unconscious Hud leader was put on his horse and fled towards the north. The other Hurd cavalry stopped fighting and retreated with the leader.

A fallen Hud picked up another wounded Hud and struggled to escape into the ravine.

The Palatine cavalry did not pursue them, and as soon as they broke away from the contact, they ran straight towards the convoy.

Two groups of people who had not yet mastered the skill of killing similar people met by chance. They fought and melee with extreme fear, hacked and killed randomly for a while, and themselves were covered in bruises. Finally, they ran away. This is what happened just now.

Andre wiped the blood on his face randomly, and then he felt the pain of the wound on his body.

The lips of Shego and Maungote were trembling uncontrollably, and their clothes were stained with red blood.

The arrow on Rasov's arm broke at some point. His face was pale and he was shaky on his horse.

"Rasov! Hold on!" Andrei shouted while holding back tears: "There will be a doctor when we get back to the convoy!"

They ran along the mountain ridgeline and rounded a bend. The sight of the convoy gradually emerged behind the outline of the hills.

The convoy had been overrun by Herd's cavalry.

This is a battle in "Quiet Don" that I still remember vividly.

Thanks to the book friends who voted for recommendation before;

Thanks to book friends nanhaiNo8 and Chunfeng Yuhe for their tips;

Thanks to Shuyoutai Lens, agent12580, nnahaiNo8, Jiang Xuediaoweng, Xianxia Bookworm

, Yue Ye Zhi Feng, Qi Feng Wu H, Dark Earl, Kun Kun, thank you all for your recommendation votes; 0.

Thanks to book friend 20191007064305842, book friend 20181010005850390, Sky Lens, Spring Breeze He Who, agent12580, Kun Kun, Fairy Sword Private Contract h, 54 months, book friend 20180615100346839, the giraffe who is afraid of heights, Xiansen, Jiang Xue Diao Weng, black computer accessories, France Recommendation votes for Inner Madman, Moonlight Frontier, Calm Gray Pass, Book 20191007064305842, Lan Qingying, Captain 95, Sailball, thank you for the blow, Behart.