Iron Powder and Spellcaster

The howl of a light cannon might be drowned out by the beat of a drum, and the roar of a mortar might be confused with the sound of a gun.

However, nothing could cover up the roar of heavy artillery, not even the sound of war drums, bugles, shouts, or the sound of horse hooves.

Therefore, as soon as he heard the thunder from the other side, Colonel Scull immediately woke up: Sarnell and Chloe also dragged Maple Leaf Fort's city defense artillery onto the battlefield. Previously, whether they were creating smoke screens or attacking River Valley Village, All designed to cover the erection of heavy artillery.

Deafening thunder sounded eight times in succession, as if the gods threw eight giant hammers towards the earth.

"Eight gates." Colonel Skull calmed the restless horses and thought to himself: "Did Sanel bring out all the heavy artillery from Maple Leaf Castle? Or did the Kings' Castle transport them to him by water?"

There were still many questions in Colonel Skull's mind, but now was obviously not a good time to think about them.

Because just the loud noise of heavy artillery fire had already spread panic and uneasiness in the hearts of the soldiers in Leiqun County and Bianjiang County.

What's more, the source of the noise was almost at hand - eight roars rushed down the hills on the east bank, rolled across the bloody nameless river, and struck the chests of Skull's soldiers one after another.

The thirty-two-pound bronze cannons deployed on the hills on the east coast were bulky and heavy old guys, about the same age as most of the soldiers' fathers, and several of them had even served under Marshal Ned.

After the Sovereignty War ended, they enjoyed twenty-nine years of peace in Maple Leaf Castle. Except for a few gun salutes in the square every Victory Day, they almost never leave the dark and cold armory underground of Maple Leaf Castle.

People regard these antiques as relics of the past era, but when they roar again, all creatures on the battlefield will still tremble involuntarily.

At the end of the eight shots, the cannon fell silent for a moment. The sporadic gunshots in the direction of Hehe Village also disappeared, and the battlefield fell into an eerie silence.

The new recruits in Bianjiang County and Leiqun County were still looking around in panic, while the veterans were already desperately praying that the shells would not fall on them.

The emergence of cannons turned battles into a roulette game. Courage, skill, and armor were all meaningless in front of cannonballs. To a certain extent, this uncertain risk of death is more torturous than fighting in battle with real swords and guns.

Scull quickly inspected along the front line of the coalition's left wing. He confirmed that the left wing parties had not suffered casualties in the recent shelling, but he also observed the negative impact of the shelling on morale.

Colonel Scull knew very well that no matter how much training the recruits in Leiqun County and Bianjiang County received, they did not have the courage to face the artillery shells, and did not have the tenacity to ignore the bloody comrades.

The smoke screen persisted in dispersing, still covering the battlefield. The colonel could only hear the faint orders and shouts coming from the hills on the other side - the enemy gunners were preparing for the next round of firing in full swing.

After ascertaining the latest enemy situation, Colonel Skull made a decision.

He quickly summoned the commanders of each brigade and issued an order: "We cannot be exposed to enemy artillery fire like this. The entire army immediately turned - all parties retreated westward one by one. The city defense artillery of Maple Leaf Fort are all old-style cannons. We at least There’s still five minutes left.”

"Yes... wait, what did you say?" The astonished adjutant even forgot about the relationship between superiors and subordinates. He asked in disbelief: "Retreat? The puppet government troops are shelling Hehe Village!"

Facing the gazes of the six captains under his command, Colonel Scull raised his whip and pointed at the smoke-filled east bank: "That's because they can't find any other targets for the time being. Various signs indicate that the enemy's heavy artillery is on the hills on the opposite bank - we Directly in front of us. Once the smoke screen dissipates, those heavy artillery will turn their muzzles to bombard us."

Because the coalition's left wing had both troops from Leiqun County and troops from Bianjiang County, Colonel Skull's adjutant was Captain Sakasic from Bianjiang County.

Captain Sakasic had a fiery temperament and never obeyed Skull's orders like the Leiqun County officers. He retorted tit for tat: "But Colonel Bode's order to us is to hold on to the river bank! No enemy troops can be allowed to form an organized position. Cross the river!"

"The enemy situation has changed, and the deployment must also change." Colonel Scull frowned and glanced at the other captains: "You can have questions, but you must first implement my orders."

Not daring to delay any longer, the captains raised their hands to salute and rode away.

Captain Sakasic waited until the end, and when the other lieutenants had left, he warned angrily: "Colonel, if we give up the river bank, it will be equivalent to completely exposing the flank of the valley village to the puppet government forces!"

"The lesser of two evils," Skull replied coldly.

Sakasic could not refute this reason. He made up his mind and took the initiative to ask for a fight: "Please let me lead my troops across the river to fight!"

Skull glanced at the captain: "No."

"Why?" Sakasic was extremely angry: "The enemy's heavy artillery is right under our noses! We have every chance to destroy them! Or even capture them!"

"Don't underestimate Saner!" Skull completely lost his patience and yelled: "Just because we regarded him as an incompetent person like Xingjin, we have paid a heavy price! Since he dared to put the cannon there, he I’m not afraid of you attacking me!”

Colonel Scull pointed to the newly harvested wheat fields on the east bank: "Did you see that open space with no cover at all? The enemy walks through there, and they are our targets. But when we step on it, the place will also change. Become our slaughterhouse! Want to die? Then go yourself! In this battle, not a single soldier can be wasted!"

Sakasic's face turned blue and white after being scolded. He raised his hand to salute and left without saying a word.

I don't know what special raw materials were used, but the smoke screen released by the Grand Council Army dissipated more slowly than the thick smoke produced by simply burning wet firewood; it would not rush up to the sky with the thermal airflow, but would float on the surface for a long time, flowing with the wind.

Therefore, it was not until the eight heavy artillery pieces on the hills on the east bank were loaded and another round of round bombs was fired towards the valley village that the smoke covering the battlefield was thin enough to blur the scene on the other side of the river.

Upon seeing this, the artillery commander of the Grand Council Army immediately ordered the reloading of shotgun shells, and turned the muzzle of the gun to the west direction, just waiting for the rebel left wing troops to appear in sight.

However, when the east wind finally removed the veil covering the earth, the deployment of the two armies was exposed without any cover. The artillery commander of the Grand Council Army was surprised to find that the rebel left-wing formations had retreated at least half a kilometer.

The artillery commander of the Grand Council Army reluctantly ordered to fire. The walnut-sized lead balls passed over the hillsides, rivers and fields, and were scattered within a few dozen meters wide. In the end, only three or two unlucky ones were defeated, and the expected killing effect was not achieved at all. .

The artillery commander of the Grand Council Army ordered the round artillery shells to be reloaded - although the enemy retreated half a kilometer, they were still within the effective range of the heavy artillery.

However, the troops on the retreating left wing of the rebels began to change their formations. The phalanx gradually thinned out into a rectangle, and the distance between the soldiers also widened. Obviously, the rebel commander was not prepared to retreat anymore. He retreated all his troops to the edge of the effective range of the heavy artillery, determined to use a loose formation to withstand the bombardment.

Just as the artillery commander of the Grand Council Army could see the strategy of the rebel commander at a glance, the rebel commander seemed to also know the thoughts of the Grand Council Army very well.

Both sides are well aware of each other's tactics and ways of thinking, and are doing their best to use their knowledge of the enemy to their advantage.

The artillery commander of the Grand Council Army walked up to the cannon and tried to touch the barrel.

After just three shots, the outer walls of the eight heavy cannons were already hot enough to fry an egg. Even through a layer of gloves, you can feel the huge heat accumulated in the thick bronze.

The gunner who originally belonged to the New Reclamation Corps was cooling the cannon. A whole barrel of rapeseed oil was poured into the muzzle of the cannon. After a while, it was poured out and refilled with cold oil. The whole process required repeatedly raising the gun body, so that the gunners were sweating and panting from exhaustion.

The eight heavy guns of Fort Maple Leaf are all old-fashioned cannons that are extremely difficult to maintain. Although they are powerful, they are also accompanied by many problems - heat dissipation is only one of them.

Therefore, every shooting opportunity is valuable.

The artillery commander of the Grand Council Army looked at the rebel left wing units that had formed a loose formation in the distance. After briefly assessing the possible killing effects, he decided not to waste precious shots on tickling the enemy.

The battle flags were waving, and the sound of military drums sounded like a torrent at the same time all over the east coast. With the help of smoke screens, the Grand Council Army arrived at the attack position and launched a frontal offensive.

The various phalanxes on the left and right began to advance towards the opposite bank. Looking down from the top of the hillside, they looked like small light brown squares slowly moving on the ground.

Even the central phalanx—the various units of the New Reclamation Dispatch Army that had suffered setbacks in the previous storms—were regrouping and preparing for the next round of offensive.

"Adjust the position." The artillery commander of the Grand Council Army aimed at the small village on the high ground on the other side: "Continue to bombard the rebels' central army."

Although the eight heavy guns failed to cause a large number of casualties to the rebel left wing, they successfully forced the rebels to withdraw from their positions along the river and achieved the expected goal. Compared with the rebel left wing units located at the edge of the effective range, the defenders of River Valley Village were still a target that was close at hand and easier to hit.

The artillery commander of the Grand Parliamentary Army personally checked the firing angle of each artillery piece, and at the same time he did not forget to give repeated orders: "Pay attention to me! No one is allowed to shoot at the church. This is Colonel Sarner's order! Aim at the river bank and destroy them." Defense line!”

A moment later, the loaded heavy cannon opened fire again. The veterans who had served under Marshal Ned roared and fired thirty-two pound iron balls. If they were not weapons, they might feel pain.

At the same time, on the river bank north of the valley village, Captain Sakasic stared at the cotton-like smoke spraying out from the hills on the opposite bank, and couldn't help but clenched his fists.

Every time there was a muffled thunder on the other side of the river, a cloud of gravel and sand would fly up from the valley village on the captain's right. Farmers' houses collapsed with groans, and thick smoke rose from the ruins.

Several thick tree-like objects were also thrown into the sky, spinning to the ground. The captain had no time to identify it, but he felt that it was a severed human limb.

Beside Captain Sakasic, more than 500 musketeers from various brigades were crawling behind the embankment along the bank, about one meter apart.

The field embankment they were on was only over one meter high, made of gravel and soil, with some low shrubs planted on top to stabilize the soil.

This field embankment is not only a field ridge used to draw boundaries, but also a short embankment to prevent river flooding during the rainy season. However, at this moment, it is mainly a breastwork for the musketeers of Leiqun County and Bianjiang County.

Captain Sakasic cleared the bushes and watched soldiers in light brown shirts walking down the hillside in rows to the beat of drums.

The densely packed gun shafts resemble the aerial roots of a banyan tree, and the blades of the spears shine in the sunlight. The military flag with the horse drawn on it was stretched out from the helmet and gun barrel, and the flag bearer was protected in the center of the array.

Judging from the military flags, the troops attacking the coalition's left wing came from the "Reorganized New Reclamation Corps", which was the troops that originally belonged directly to General Adams.

Because Captain Sakasic used a flag similar to theirs, with only slight differences in details.

Although he was unwilling to admit defeat, the captain had to admit that Colonel Skull's judgment was accurate.

The enemy deployed six infantry brigades in front of the artillery position, with cavalry on both wings.

If Sakasic really made a desperate move and crossed the river to storm the artillery position, then the newly harvested wheat field on the east bank would be his slaughterhouse.

But at this moment, it was not Sakasic's men who stepped into this killing field, but the soldiers of the Great Parliamentary Army in light brown shirts.

Taking advantage of the range of artillery, the Grand Council Army successfully forced the "rebel" left wing units to withdraw from the river bank defense line. Seizing the opportunity of the "rebel" left wing units to retreat, the right wing formations of the Grand Council Army began to advance forward.

However, if the commander of the right wing of the Grand Council Army thought that his enemy would give up the defense, he must not be familiar with Colonel Skull.

The ammunition had been loaded and the match ropes had been hung. The musketeers from Leiqun County and Bianjiang County were lying in ambush behind the field embankments and bushes, and could not help but hold their breath.

"No one is allowed to open the gunpowder pool without an order! Whoever fires randomly will be killed!" Sakasic warned in a low voice, with a fierce look. He pushed the musketeers on both sides: "Pass it down!"

At the same time, the six phalanxes of the Grand Council Army were approaching the river bank.

The soldiers in light brown shirts are arranged neatly, marching steadily, and their military appearance is majestic:

The tasseled sergeants holding halberds walked at the front of the phalanx, and the soldiers with muskets on their shoulders were distributed at the four corners of the phalanx. The spearmen in the first row were equipped with breastplates with iron skirts, and most of the soldiers in the back row also wore iron skirts. helmet.

But about fifty meters from the river bank, they encountered a head-on attack.

Sakasic took steady aim at a white-tasseled sergeant in front of the phalanx, quickly opened the gunpowder pool, and pressed the firing rod without mercy: "Fire! Shoot their halberd-wielding men for me! Shoot their double wages for me." Soldiers!"

Wisps of white smoke overflowed from the field embankment, like a pot lid lifted by water vapor. There was loud gunfire on the river bank, and many brown-coated soldiers in the front row fell down.

Sakasic had just finished firing a shot and had no time to confirm the result. He immediately took another loaded matchlock gun from the soldier behind him.

When he pressed the butt of the gun again, he found that the soldier Bai Ying who had just aimed at him had fallen to the ground clutching his chest. So he turned the gun and aimed at another "double-rate soldier" in the first row. He calmly opened the medicine tank and pressed the firing rod.

The same goes for other musketeers, one shot for another. Because their prostrate posture made it difficult for them to pour gunpowder into the barrel, they could only rely on their comrades behind them to help them load.

After two rounds of shooting, the gunfire on the west bank became sparse - the musketeers were busy reloading.

The Grand Council Army had already recovered from the brief panic of the attack, and the phalanx at the end of the battle line continued to advance, trying to outflank the river bank defenders. At the same time, the musketeers from all frontal formations quickly stepped forward and spread out.

This time, it was the east bank's turn to hear intensive gunfire.

Captain Sakasic was so suppressed that he could not lift his head. The lead hit the field embankments and bushes, raising clouds of dust and sending branches and leaves flying.

The captain laughed loudly and shouted to his men behind the embankment: "Where are those idiots aiming at? Branches? Mud? Boys, we can play with them here all day!"

Having said that, the gunshots rang out on the east coast were indeed denser and more rhythmic than those on the west coast.

However, just when the right-wing commander of the Grand Council Army thought that he had successfully suppressed the enemy forces in front of him and was waiting for the friendly forces on the flanks to outflank him, Colonel Sarnell, who followed the sound of gunfire and rushed to the artillery position, was almost blown away.

Perhaps because of the terrain, the frontline commanders in the farmland could not confirm the strength of the enemy's troops, but Saner, who was from a high position, could see clearly.

The left wing units of the "rebels" were still huddled at the edge of the effective range of heavy artillery. How could there be any enemy troops on the river bank? But some musketeers were stubbornly resisting.

Moreover, the "rebels" were hiding behind embankments and bushes, making it difficult for the parliamentary army's musketeers to effectively kill them. On the other hand, the soldiers of the parliamentary army stood stupidly in the newly harvested farmland, looking like targets.

The artillery commander who urgently replaced the round bullets with shotguns also felt a little troublesome - using heavy artillery to bombard the musketeers scattered behind the embankments was tantamount to a waste of ammunition; without using the artillery, he could only watch friendly troops being beaten. .

Without waiting for instructions from the artillery commander, the furious Saner had already rushed down the hill on horseback. He cursed the incompetent phalanx commander and ordered the latter to charge. At the same time, he mobilized the cavalry detachments on both wings to cross the river and outflank the enemy.

Captain Sakasic saw a school officer on the other side of the river galloping down the slope, and then the clumsy and slow enemy formation "awakened", and the cavalry on both sides of the enemy's battle line also took action.

Captain Sakasic knew it was time to retreat, but he couldn't help but want to take a gamble.

"Quick! Give me the gun! Hurry!" Sakasic stared at the figure wearing the uniform of a school officer on the other side of the river and urged his subordinates impatiently: "Give me the loaded gun!"

The musketeer behind him quickly pulled out the purge from the barrel and handed the matchlock to the captain.

Sakasic personally hung up the match rope, steadied the gun, aimed at the school officer in the distance who was waving his arms to give orders, prayed and pulled the trigger: "Let me end this killing! Merciful Lord!"

There was a flash of fire and the lead left the chest. When the smoke cleared, Sakasic saw with disappointment that the school officer was still sitting on the saddle.

At the same time, Colonel Sarnell touched his cheek, stabbed the horse in the ribs, turned and walked away.

Seeing the opponent running away, Sakasic punched the embankment and ordered: "Blow the trumpet! Retreat!"

The sharp sound of trumpets pierced through the noise of the battlefield, and the musketeers behind the embankment got up one after another and ran towards the phalanx in the distance. Sakashiqi also picked up his sword and ran toward the phalanx he commanded with long strides.

However, at this moment, the artillery commander of the Grand Council Army seized the opportunity of the "rebel" musketeers to leave the bunker and sternly ordered the artillery to fire.

The thirty-two-pound cannon spewed out thick smoke and poured a ruthless rain of lead on the fleeing figures.

The wheat fields on the west bank seemed to have been scratched with a comb, and suddenly there were many "scratches". Many musketeers suddenly fell down without warning while running and never got up again.

When he heard the thunder from behind, Captain Sakasic immediately shouted to his subordinates: "Disperse!"

But no sound came out of him, and the last command died in his chest. Sakasic was torn apart by walnut-sized lead bullets and his flesh and blood were scattered everywhere. He fell heavily into the wheat field and bid farewell to all subsequent killings.

The six phalanxes of the Grand Council Army rushed across the unknown creek with shouts, and the light cavalry also surrounded them from both wings, intending to kill all the "rebel" musketeers.

However, the various formations on the west bank also beat the war drums and waved their military flags. The six phalanxes of Leiqun County and Baishan County faced the six phalanxes of the Great Council Army.

At the same time, the Leiqun County cavalry hidden behind the high ground of Hehe Village came out diagonally and cut off one wing of the "puppet army" cavalry.

In the fields north of Hehe Village, the two armies collided.

[I was wrong (T_T)]

[Additional explanation: naming of artillery]

[The naming of artillery is the same as the "differences and connections between guns, spears, spears, and guns". It is a topic that is constantly being edited, confused, and troublesome.]

[In general, early artillery was not called "XX pounds". Because of the low casting technology, each early artillery had to use a special cannon, just like the wave sand and matching drums during World War II... Therefore, there is no naming method of XX pounds]

[So people at that time named cannons as they pleased. Some names had symbolic meanings, such as lizard cannon, falcon cannon, and snake cannon; some names were more practical, such as long cannon, short cannon, and cannon. Various countries, regions, and even different arsenals have different naming habits, which leads to extreme confusion in the naming of artillery]

[This is the same for the Chinese Dynasty, split mountain cannon, nine-section cannon, tiger crouching cannon, sub-mother cannon, big general cannon, second general cannon, third general cannon (really exist), various XX general cannons, and foreign red cannons The Yi cannon and the Fran machine are dazzling and baffling]

[Since the 16th century, European countries have successively adopted the naming method of XX pounds. It seems like it is just a name change, but it actually means that artillery has begun to enter the era of "standardization" - although it is still a thousand miles away from the standardization of the industrial era]

[But the old naming method has also been inherited, so you can often see the dual-track parallel nomenclature (the number of pounds represents the caliber, the name represents the type)]

[To avoid redundancy, this book will always use pounds]