Iron Powder and Spellcaster

The Hittites fled in all directions.

Black-armored cavalry surrounded an officer with a shining helmet and came to Lieutenant Colonel Jessica.

"In the end, it's me who's going to save your life." said the officer with the shining helmet.

The one-eyed lieutenant colonel did not appreciate it: "I would like to know what you do for food? How could you miss an entire team of thousands of people?"

"Overseas dispatching didn't cure your meanness." The other party laughed and said, "I really regret bringing you back!"

The officer jumped out of the saddle and took off his helmet, revealing a carefully groomed beard and a pair of wild eyes—it was actually Lieutenant Colonel Caster Roderick who went to Wolf Town to hunt down smugglers a few months ago.

Custer and Jessica looked at each other for a long time, laughed and gave each other a bear hug.

…

Everything turned around, and everyone was ecstatic.

The people who survived the disaster slaughtered pigs and sheep, drank happily, and temporarily forgot about death and pain, and celebrated.

The carnival ends with the aftermath.

Clean the battlefield, bury the dead, and hold a simple funeral.

There were many horses left in the Herd camp. Except for some of the horses that were replenished for Dussac who lost his war horse, the remaining horses and the captured war horses were all taken away by the black armored cavalry.

Other trophies follow agreed-upon rules: small items, such as swords, belong to private individuals; large items, such as armor, belong to the public.

Lieutenant Colonel Custer didn't like the armor, so he gave it all to the Jessica Brigade.

Saddles and other scattered items were sold directly to the merchants accompanying the team.

"Everything has a price," and businessmen's desire for profit amazed Winters.

The blood-stained boots and robes stripped from the corpses were bought; the armbands and silver jewelry of the Hud were also bought.

A businessman approached Lieutenant Colonel Jessica and packed up all the horse carcasses.

Horse hides could be sold; horse meat, cut into strips and pickled, could be resold to the army; even horse bones had their place.

There was even a businessman who bought the left ear of a Hedian man at a discounted price. The ear was brought back to Plato in exchange for a reward, and the soldiers could get the cash directly.

A day ago, these people were weak and bullied civilians, fighting with guns in hand to protect their property.

A day later, they turned into crows that feed on war, rushing to peck at the corpses of the Huds.

“The fastest way to create wealth is to build an empire, and the faster way to build an empire is to destroy an empire.”

Winters couldn't remember where he heard this sentence, but what he saw made it echo repeatedly in his mind.

…

Now that the way forward has been cleared, the baggage train must set off again.

Although the Jashka Brigade once caused a "lower to defeat the upper" incident, the lieutenant colonel did not mention it again, and the second lieutenants also kept silent. Everyone just pretended that nothing happened.

After many hardships, some businessmen found opportunities, while others did not intend to go any further and returned.

The wounded in the baggage train also returned to Plato with them, while some of the seriously wounded who were inconvenient to move stayed in Hexi to recover and recover.

Many businessmen were killed by swords and were buried in the wilderness without even a tombstone.

Their belongings were either divided up by others or brought back by loyal partners.

Some people get rich and some get unlucky, it's always been that way.

…

Winters stood guard at the west gate of the camp, watching the carriages slowly drive out of the military camp.

The length of the convoy was much shorter than when it had just crossed the Styx, and it actually seemed a bit empty.

A manned carriage passed by, the curtains of the carriage were opened, and Brother Red's face was in the window frame. The old magician smiled and waved to Winters.

Winters wanted Brother Rhett to follow the merchant back to Plato, but the old man used a poisonous oath to prevaricate him.

The old magician refused to return to Plato, and Father Carman also refused to return to Plato. So the two clergymen continued to accompany the army and set off with the baggage train.

Lieutenant Colin also came to see him off. He found Lieutenant Montagne and sincerely uttered one word: "Thank you."

Winters just shook his head.

The lieutenant saluted the second lieutenant and turned to leave.

Lieutenant Colin's centurions had basically lost their combat effectiveness, and Lieutenant Colonel Custer promised to help him ask the legion to send people to defend them.

All the double carriages of the baggage team left the Hexi camp, and Winters got on the saddle and prepared to set off.

Charles and another man supported each other and ran out of the camp, shouting and chasing the ensign.

"What are you doing here?" Winters frowned: "Stay here and recover."

In the brutal battle for the western camp wall, Ciel's right leg was penetrated by a heavy arrow. Fortunately, no arteries or bones were injured, but he was still unable to move and was classified as a casualty.

"I will go with you," said Charles.

"No." Winters didn't expect the militiamen to go to the battlefield at first. He couldn't bear to bring Benway's brother to a dangerous place again.

"If you don't let me go, I will follow you."

"Nonsense! Is there a good place ahead?"

Ciel raised his neck, obviously determined.

"I don't want to stay here either." Another wounded man with his head bandaged whispered.

It wasn't until another person spoke that Winters recognized it as Wahika.

He was hit hard on the back of the head, whether he was beaten to death or knocked unconscious, it all depended on his fate.

Vashika was lucky enough not to die, but the laughing and playful young man had been killed.

Winters wanted to refuse, but he suddenly remembered the old magician's saying that "good fortune and misfortune depend on each other."

He thought serving in the militia was a good thing, but instead brought many Dussacs into the River Styx. Destiny is a bitch, who knows what the future holds?

Winters sighed: "Must you go?"

Ciel and Vashika nodded.

"If you find a big car to sit in, just say I'll let it go." Winters thought for a while and added: "Washika, go to Lieutenant Bader and ask him to help you get a Hed war horse."

"Yes!" Ciel shouted happily.

Vashika supported Ciel and quickly chased the cart.

After eating and drinking along the way, the carriages in the baggage team were not fully loaded.

Therefore, the lieutenant colonel also began to allow the militiamen to put their weapons in the car and take turns to rest in the car.

Also setting off were the black-armored cavalry. Lieutenant Colonel Custer divided three squadrons to pursue Hurd's defeated troops. He personally led a squadron to escort the baggage train. This was a small benefit for his old friend.

Lieutenant Mason's swine team also joined the baggage train.

More than 400 militiamen and coachmen, 300 pigs, more than 100 carriages, more than 50 labor prisoners, five officers, two clergy and a lion set out from the Hexi camp.

…

The official designation of the black-armored pistol cavalry is the Fifth "Plateau" Regiment, the Second Cavalry Regiment, and can also be called the Custer Cavalry Regiment.

Facing the Herd's light cavalry that came and went like the wind in the wilderness, dispersed garrison supply lines would involve a large number of troops, and they would be easily defeated one by one.

Therefore, passive defense has never been considered by the Plato military.

Using rangers to defeat light cavalry and kill the enemy's mobile forces is the consistent strategy of the leadership of the Plato Army.

The Custer Cavalry Regiment rushing to support the Hexi Camp is such a ranger unit.

This unit usually pulls nets and patrols along the supply lines, and will quickly gather support once police are present.

The entire cavalry regiment has four squadrons, with a rated number of 720 soldiers.

However, when fighting against Hed's Thousand Troops, the cavalry regiment only had more than 500 people. There are now less than 450 cavalrymen who can continue to fight.

This is because cavalry is difficult to replenish and often becomes less and less the more we fight, so cavalry units are always understaffed during wartime.

In addition to the four combat squadrons, the Custer Regiment also has a reserve squadron in its organization. The reserve squadron is responsible for recruiting, training and supplementing personnel.

This is a truly elite standing cavalry, with twenty-six officers alone.

In comparison, the number of militiamen and coachmen in the Jashka baggage company was close to 600, but there were only four officers in total.

Plato has been rich in fine horses since ancient times and has a profound tradition of cavalry.

Cavalry only accounts for 10% to 20% of Veneta's standing army. For example, the Third Army only had a cavalry brigade of 600 men. When we went to the Islands, we didn't think it was a waste of transportation capacity and we simply didn't bring it with us.

More than 40% of Plato's standing army is cavalry, and the Fifth Army has three cavalry regiments plus several cavalry squadrons.

The country of galloping horses not only has more cavalry, but also puts more emphasis on cavalry.

Andre went to the Custer Cavalry for a tour, and when he came back he kept mumbling: "That's the real cavalry!"

The cavalry under Custer had at least three horses, a riding horse, a pack horse, and a war horse.

There are specialized gunsmiths accompanying the army who are responsible for repairing and maintaining firearms.

Many cavalrymen also have followers to take care of their daily lives - and followers also ride horses.

In comparison, the Dussac cavalry of the Jessica Brigade were extremely shabby.

Originally, Andre was pleased to be able to lead the cavalry, but he started to sigh after seeing the Custer regiment.

However, this cavalry unit relies heavily on supply lines and is somewhat slow in action. But their combat prowess more than makes up for any shortcomings.

…

The baggage train moved westward, and just as Lieutenant Colonel Jessica had predicted, the first three camps it encountered along the way had been burned down, and the food and grass reserves had been looted.

The third camp was even garrisoned by half a centurion. The terrain was easy to defend and difficult to attack, but it was still not spared.

But the fourth camp was safe and sound. This camp was small and pitiful, with only a ten-man team guarding it.

The sergeant in charge of the camp said that they had not seen the Hurd Barbarians. They only saw the beacon smoke in the west, so they relayed the message.

During the dinner at the fourth camp, the officers of the cavalry squadron and the baggage train casually chatted about the strange things happening along the way.

"The supply line is too long." Lieutenant Mason complained: "Everyone loses fat, let alone the pigs. After driving the pigs for more than a hundred kilometers, all the fat on the pigs has fallen off."

Captain Glee, a cavalry officer, replied: "There's nothing we can do about it. Hurd has always been like this. As soon as you hit him, he runs away, slipping like a loach. He has to be caught and beaten hard before he is willing to sign the peace treaty."

"I can't figure it out, why did the Hurds let this camp go? They captured all the more difficult camps." The enemy's behavior pattern made Winters confused.

Custer casually explained to Winters: "The Hurd barbarians lack the means to attack the city. They usually don't attack the camp. They only harass the convoy. If they are delayed - just like attacking your team of Hurd barbarians, we will wait for the tourists to They will bleed profusely as soon as the cavalry reaches them.”

Custer was deeply impressed by the officer stationed in Wolf Town, and was surprised to meet him again in the wilderness, so he was still willing to give Second Lieutenant Montagne a few words.

"With all due respect, with the strength of that thousand-man team, I'm afraid it won't be difficult to attack any camp." Winters said.

"This is the strange thing. The actions of the Thousand-Man Corps are so obvious that it is difficult to hide their tracks." Custer was surprisingly patient: "In the past, when the Herds attacked the supply line, the Centurions were the main ones. To be honest, I I want to see Hud Barbarian dispatch a thousand-man team.”

"Why?"

Custer replied with a sneer: "The barbarians gather in piles and kill them for fun. Chasing ten centurions running around on the grassland, how can it be as easy as annihilating a thousand-man troop in one breath?"

Lieutenant Colonel Custer spat fiercely and concluded: "I am not afraid of the barbarians coming, but I hope they will come more often."

…

after one day.

The fifth camp.

Custer, Jessica, Winters... everyone stood on the camp wall, stunned.

Outside the wall, countless Hurd cavalry were galloping around the camp.

The rumble of the horse's hooves made people's chest feel tight, and even the sun was blocked by the smoke and dust raised by the horse's hooves.

The small Palatu camp is deep in the Sea of ​​Hedrid, like a sampan in the stormy waves, it will be shattered into pieces in an instant.

This is far beyond the capabilities of the Thousand-Man Team.

After trampling around the camp three times like a demonstration, thousands of Hurd raiders headed east.

"How...how many is this?" Custer became a little stuttered.

"At least four thousand." The one-eyed Jashka also looked pale.

"What does General Janos do for food? Trash!" Custer looked ferocious and cursed: "How the hell can he miss four thousand cavalry?"

The other people in the camp have not yet recovered from the shock and are still frightened.

"It's broken!" Winters was horrified: "The pontoon!"

Thanks to book friends Da Yue Tao Zhu Gong Fan Li and TheRedButton for their tips, thank you both;

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