Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 154 The Butcher's Road

   520 years of the imperial calendar, spring.

   A light rain fell from the sky, and it was expected that the spring would be cold to the bone.

   A tall, thin, serious old man was riding out of the Wuxuan Palace alone. Although the tiredness in his eyes could hardly be concealed, the old man still kept his waist straight.

   He is about to set off for the frontiers of the mountain, and is solely responsible for quelling the rebellion, eliminating the rebels, and restoring the authority of the empire.

   There he will face off against his former squire, disciple and vassal, Ned of Tormes.

  Only after being woken up by the thick smoke will people think: what was that little spark in the beginning?

   An insult? A slap in the face? A personal vendetta?

   Those are no longer important, the important thing is that the fire of rebellion has now become a prairie prairie.

   Not only the entire Duchy of Forsland is burning, but even the autonomous cities of the Duchy of Veneta are just about to move.

  The fire must be put out as soon as possible, or the territory south of the Shady Mountains will be reduced to ashes.

   But a problem lay in front of him: his corps was stationed in the northern border of the empire, while the beacon-filled piedmont was located at the southernmost tip of the empire's territory.

   Shipping was almost strangled. The galleys of the rebels set off from the Taniria Islands and ravaged the imperial sea lanes like mad.

   And the Emperor's fleet was annihilated in a decisive naval battle with the Sultan of Freiman two years ago, and has yet to recover.

   His soldiers could only finally see their enemy if they straddled the empire on their legs and climbed the towering shady mountains.

  …

   On January 12, 559, the imperial calendar, the Jesska brigade set off from the Shuangqiao barracks. At that time, there were only a hundred and ten double carts in the team.

   Six days later, the cargo team arrived at the border town of Matoupo, and the number of carts on the dirt road had exceeded 200.

   Fewer than half of them belonged to the military's baggage units, the rest were traders, brokers and speculators who joined the baggage units along the way.

  It is very simple to distinguish: the carriages use double-set four-wheeled carriages; while the folk carts are of various types, including two-wheeled, four-wheeled, mule carts, donkey carts... and even slow ox carts.

  …

  Logistics was defined by the Duke of Arleans as "the practical art of dispatching troops and getting them supplied".

   The two words "dispatch" and "supply" sound light and airy, but they are as difficult as the sky.

   In order to move his corps from the northern border to the Gulf of Cenas, the Duke of Arleans carefully planned a troop transport route, which was later known as the "Butcher's Road".

  The Butcher's Road starts from the northern fortress of the Empire, Rock Fort, passes through more than 20 important imperial cities along the way to ensure supplies, and finally crosses the shaded mountains through the Wankush Pass to reach the Gulf of Cenas.

  The Duke of Arleans dispatched craftsmen in advance to build camps, widen roads, erect bridges along the way, and set up supply stations according to the daily marching distance.

  The footsteps of army boots trampling on the muddy water, the sound of long guns bumping against each other, the tired soldiers marching in silence... Many old people still remember these things.

   Under normal circumstances, soldiers can travel 22 kilometers per day on the Butcher's Road, and those who are forced to march can travel 37 kilometers per day.

   During the two expeditions before and after, the empire dispatched more than 100,000 soldiers to the south via the Butcher's Road, and there was no attrition due to supplies.

   Countless military supplies were also supplied to the counter-insurgent army through this route.

   However, the biggest impact of the Butcher's Road was not the military, but the people's livelihood.

  Because it connects more than 20 large cities, and there are camps and supply points along the way, many merchants began to transport goods through this route.

  The road named "The Butcher" ended up bringing prosperity along the route, which is probably something its original planners did not expect.

  …

  Although the soldiers of the Republic are reluctant to admit it today, in fact, the tactics, organization, training and other systems of the Union Army were all learned from the "Butcher" Arlean.

   There is nothing to be ashamed of, being able to learn from an enemy is a respectable skill.

   For example, the current phalanx tactics were improved from the butcher's spear and halberd phalanx: musketeers were added to make up for the weak long-range firepower of the spear and halberd phalanx, and a small number of elite sword and shield players were retained to counter the clumsy super long spears.

  In 520 of the imperial calendar, the Duke of Arlean led an army to suppress the rebellion. At that time, the "Southern Rebel Party" was just a group of merchants, craftsmen and farmers - a mob.

   After eight years, the "madman" Richard went on a personal expedition, and the enemy the Mad Emperor had to deal with was already a real army.

The logistics system of the    Alliance Army is naturally the same as the butcher’s apprenticeship. We learned two main points:

   First, supply as much as possible on the spot;

   Second, set up camps along the supply line.

   Also learned a lesson: don’t let idle people wait for the camp.

  Like the war between the Republic of Palatu and the Hurd tribes, the quartermaster will collect materials from the Hurd people as much as possible, and the transportation from the rear to the war zone will be handled by both the army and private individuals.

  The military's cargo team has limited capacity, and as far as possible only carry guns, gunpowder and other materials that are difficult to replenish in front.

   For materials such as flour, salt, and non-staple food, the quartermaster would be happy to buy them at a high price from the merchants, and pay them at a discount with the loot, and sometimes even "advance" the land quota.

   Often, a businessman can make a lot of money with just one trip. Even land indicators can be easily resold.

   So every time the military cargo team sets off, there will be a large number of traders, brokers, and speculators. They followed the baggage team not only because of herd mentality, but also in the hope of getting some protection.

  …

"Listen! You are responsible for your own safety! All risks along the way must be borne by yourselves!" Tomorrow is about to cross the boundary river, and Winters is preaching the policy to the idlers and others with the team: "Any non-laden carriages are not allowed to mix into the queue! We walk in the front, you follow behind. If you can keep up, you can follow, if you can't keep up, there is no way to fall behind..."

   The second lieutenant stood on a rock, speaking dryly. The people in front of them listened silently, and everyone knew these rules.

   After saying a lot of ugly words, Winters put the good news at the end: "But Lieutenant Colonel Jesska allows you to enter the camps along the road to rest! It is strictly forbidden to enter the baggage camp when you are camping, and those who violate the order will be punished by spying!"

  The mood of the crowd had some ups and downs. Few of the officers in charge of the baggage team liked these civilians who were under protection. In most cases, they were strictly forbidden to stay overnight in the camp for safety.

   It is rare for an officer like Lieutenant Colonel Jesska to allow stray people to enter the camp.

  …

   Saw Winters coming back, Lieutenant Colonel Jesska asked casually, "Have you finished talking to them?"

   Winters nodded.

  Because he had the experience of escorting the Wolf Town team to and from Revodan, Winters was quite capable, so Lieutenant Colonel Jesska let him do anything.

   "It's useless to talk. Those who dare to follow are either bold or greedy. Most of them have both. You have to clear up a few **** who want to fish in troubled waters to shock them."

   "Then why don't you just keep them out of the camp?" Winters asked rhetorically.

   "Let them enter the camp to better control them." Lieutenant Colonel Jesska replied: "Besides, they are not easy. Take care of them as much as possible."

  …

   The days are short in winter, so we must hurry up and march.

   The sky was just getting bright, and the ten commander who was watching the stars rang the bronze bell vigorously.

   Berrian had woken up before the bell, and he had bought goat milk and eggs from the town the night before.

  While Winters put on his uniform and opened the tent, Berrian brought in hot goat milk, bread, and hard-boiled eggs.

  Berion is now the second lieutenant's orderly, and the Dussacs who were originally with him have transformed into cavalry, so the second lieutenant simply kept the blacksmith beside him as a guard and orderly.

  The originally silent barracks came to life, and the militiamen climbed out of the tents tiredly, stretched their waists and started to get food.

  Industrious people cook some hot soup to drink, and those who are too lazy to move just eat cold bread.

   I have to say that after Berian became an orderly, Winters' food conditions were greatly improved. Even Bud and Andre benefited, and the two were now looking for Winters for dinner every day.

The    brigade was still busy, and Andre and his five cavalrymen were ready.

   With gold bars sponsored by a friend, Lieutenant Cellini lavishly ordered a uniform of a Palatine Hussar officer—from the finest tailors in Maplestone.

   Don't look at a "Japanese sheep guy", but Lieutenant Cellini likes the fancy hussar uniform very much.

   Winters and Bud are still wearing the uniforms of the students of the Luyuan Academy, and Andre can't wait to change into the Palatu uniform.

   "Cavalry, you can't say you're going to die that day." Second Lieutenant Cellini said: "Isn't it a loss if you don't dress better?"

   But he deliberately chose a red belt and blue piping—the colors of the Veneta flag. It can be called "Palatu's uniform is worn on the body, and my heart is still Veneta's heart".

  Lieutenant Cellini, wearing a fancy jacket and a high leather hat, stood out among a group of miscellaneous militiamen, especially conspicuous.

After    greeted the lieutenant colonel, he led his light cavalry to set out to explore the path first.

   As a strategic attacker, the Palatine army currently uses a fixed supply route, with a fortified camp every ten kilometers or so on the road.

  Ten kilometers is the daily travel distance of the cart.

  A soldier can walk 20 to 30 kilometers a day, but a cart can travel 10 kilometers is the limit.

  The traditional four-wheeled farm carriage, the body itself is extremely bulky. The front wheel is small, the rear wheel is large, and the turning radius is large.

   There is no differential, no suspension, and no bearings, so it breaks easily. A carriage can also be fitted with a belt hanger, but a carriage cannot be used.

  Andre's duty is to find out the situation within ten kilometers and inform the camp ahead to prepare for reception.

   By the time the other militiamen had eaten, put away their tents, and got ready to go, it was already bright.

   Lieutenant Colonel Jesska didn't talk nonsense, and directly ordered the departure.

   Leaving Matoupo Town, the Jesska Brigade will cross the boundary river and step into the "no man's land". Everyone is inevitably a little nervous.

   Second Lieutenant Montagne took the lead, the two sets of carts drove out of the barracks one by one, and Second Lieutenant Budd ended up with a team of carpenters and a few vacant carts.

  Mapotou Town is a very prosperous town with hundreds of households resident. The baggage team passed through the center of the town, attracting many townspeople to stand on the side of the road to watch the excitement.

   Many of the men and women had smiles on their faces, Winters on horseback and the armed militiamen waving some kind of paper.

   "What does this mean?" Winters slowed his horse and asked the old stick in the car: "Walking paper? Is this a local custom?"

  Ridra opened the curtains and yawned, holding the lion cub and laughing: "How can there be such a **** custom? If you insist, it should be regarded as the custom of all the Paratus people."

  …

  The old pilgrim monk was riding in a specially designed carriage, equipped with a belt suspension frame, which was not bumpy at all. A charcoal stove was installed in the carriage, and felts were nailed to the walls. It was freezing cold outside the car, but warm and comfortable inside.

   It is too extravagant for a centurion to have two accompanying priests. Now Reverend Kaman and Reid have officially become the accompanying priests of the Jesska Brigade.

   I don't know where the old **** stick came from. Whether it's a civilian man, a coachman or a hawker who is under protection, he is now offered as a living saint.

   Winters estimated that if the old man died one day, the believers in the convoy would bleed for his body.

   But because of this, everyone has no objection to the old monk monopolizing a carriage. The old man was happy and comfortable, and Winters wanted to hide the little lion, and the two hit it off.

  …

   "What do you mean?" Winters asked, puzzled. "What Platonic custom? Why can't I understand it?"

   "You don't understand?" Brother Reid raised his eyebrows.

"don't know."

   The old monk smiled and asked: "Do you know what they are waving?"

   "What is it?"

   "Their wielding is the secret of the Paratus who have been able to beat the Heard clan to **** for three decades."

   "What do you mean by that?" Winters became more and more puzzled.

"Boy, that's a bond! War bond!" The old monk's smile was meaningful: "Your salaries, your weapons, the gold coins burned in this war... all come from here. If you lose, that's a piece of waste paper. But if you win, the waste paper becomes land, slaves, real money! They wave at you? They're expecting you to win!"

   Thanks to the book friends who have voted for recommendation before;

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Thanks to book friend Jiang Xue Diaoweng, book friend 20191007064305842, book friend 20181010005850390, No Human Rights in the Second Secondary School, Captain 95, Chen Xiaosha, agent12580, Qingfeng Hegui, Kun Kun, justice and purity are koalas, nothing is Xiaogao, sailing, Book Friend 120325172509365, WhisperwindW, Pants are a bit tight, Qi Fengwu H, Walking on the road of Yangyang, Smart Doom, Moonlight Frontier, Book Friend 20170306105908607, behere370, passing Wang, 92 sauce Mengmeng, Xiaoyue Qiufeng .

   (end of this chapter)