Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 163 Offense and Defense

  When the Hurd people built siege equipment overnight, another group of people was also busy thousands of miles away.

On the main island of   Tanilla Islands, upstream of the Gilded River, on the side controlled by Veneta, a small fort is under construction.

  The main island is divided into two parts by the Liujin River from east to west. The Golden Port, famous for its prosperity and depravity, is located on the north bank of the estuary of the Liujin River.

  Bounded by the Liujin River, Veneta and the United Provinces each occupy half of the main island.

   At dawn, the sun has not yet shown its tip.

   Winters on the west bank of the Styx is anxiously waiting for the next move of the Hurds.

  There is only sporadic torch lighting at the construction site of the fort. As far as the eye can see, hundreds of soldiers are digging trenches, and guards with live ammunition are vigilantly guarding the surrounding area.

   "Lieutenant Roy!" Lieutenant Colonel Evans, who was in charge of this mission, found his subordinates: "According to the original plan, you will officially enter after the walls are closed, remember..."

   A shrill whistle interrupted Lieutenant Colonel Evans' order.

   A figure jumped out of the open space not far from the fort without warning.

   The man roared: "Great Veneta!"

   More people got up from the ground: "Kazar!"

  The people on the construction site rushed to the weapons, and the sentries around the fort opened fire, but they could not stop the Veneta screaming and rushing through the trench.

  The Veneta soldiers armed with sticks hit anyone in the face, and only a few soldiers still remembered the order "don't hit the head".

   The attacking side came prepared, and the defending side was suddenly attacked. The Veneta people were like a broken bamboo and rushed all the way to the bank of the Gilded River.

   When Lieutenant General Serbia Ti arrived on the scene, the battle was over.

  Except for a few who escaped by swimming, most of the Union-provincial soldiers were captured.

   Union provincial soldiers with bruised noses and bruised faces were **** in a string and squatted in the trenches waiting to be dispatched.

   Lieutenant Juan, who directed the raid, brought a shark scabbard, an ivory handle, and a pearl-decorated saber and handed it to the lieutenant general.

  [Note: Lieutenant Juan last year has been promoted and transferred to the Third Army]

   "Well done." Antonio took the sword and ordered the captain: "Release the captives, and return the weapons and armor to them."

   "The captured weapons and armor will also be returned?"

   "That's right."

   Lieutenant Juan couldn't accept it, he stabbed his neck and said, "Sir, we are also dead!"

   "Captain, absolute mercy or absolute cruelty, there are only two options." Antonio explained patiently: "We and the province are still brothers and allies. Now that the purpose has been achieved, there is no need to provoke them any more. Carry out the order."

   Juan saluted and left without saying a word.

   Later, Lt. Col. Evans was met by the Serbian Army commander.

  Evans has lost his former graceful demeanor, and now looks disheveled and disheveled.

   Handed the luxurious little sword to the other party, Antonio said gently: "Mr. Lieutenant Colonel, I think you have crossed the line."

  Evans took the sword, avoided the sight of the lieutenant general, and replied with a muffled voice: "We have never crossed the border with you. This is the land of Tanilla Province now, and it will be in the future."

  Antonio didn't argue, he turned around and ordered the guards: "Let Lieutenant Colonel Evans lead a horse."

   "No! I have legs and I can go by myself." Evans was stubborn: "Sir, farewell."

   Lieutenant Colonel Union Province raised his hand to salute and strode into the queue of prisoners.

   Behind them, Don Juan's centurion entered the fort, picked up pickaxes and shovels, and continued construction.

  …

  The conflict on the banks of the Gold River has come to an end for now, and the two sides on the west bank of the Styx are about to meet again.

  In the morning light, the commander Alaric came to the camp gate again with his helmet on.

   In this meeting, neither side even got off the horse.

  Alaric asked directly: "Gentlemen, how are you thinking?"

   "It's still researching." Jesska smacked his lips and said, "But I think of a plan that doesn't hurt."

"Speaking."

"Follow the ancient etiquette and use an immediate duel to decide the winner. You can send the best warrior you can, and we will send him here." Jessica pointed to the second lieutenant Montagne behind him: "Look at this kid too. Not some burly man with big shoulders and round waist, is it a good deal?"

   Winters, who was accidentally named, was shocked.

  Alaric said nothing, sneered and rode away.

   "What do you mean?" Winters asked angrily.

   "It's impossible for him to agree. Even if he does, are you still afraid of losing? Are you not a spellcaster?"

   "When did you know..."

  Jesska snorted softly: "You can hide from the people, can you hide from me? Don't worry, it's a big deal, burn the bridge and evacuate to the east bank."

   "Just burn it now!" Winters demanded.

   "Burn a fart!" Jesska took the second lieutenant's whip: "There is only this pontoon bridge on the river, what if I burn the army in front of it?"

  The winter air is chilling, and the gust of wind suddenly rises. Hunting the westerly wind wrapped around withered grass, blowing people can't open their eyes.

   The sound of horns came from a distance. Heard barbarians pushing all kinds of wooden tools appeared on the horizon.

  In the barracks, Father Kaman and Brother Reid are leading the crowd in their final prayer.

  The old monk changed his usual way of laughing and scolding, and his expression was very solemn and solemn.

  Father Kaman dipped a small broom in holy water and sprinkled the people who were kneeling.

Due to the atmosphere, Winters in the crowd also knelt down on one knee.

   He stared at the portrait of Anna on the palm of his hand and the woodcarving of Athena, thinking to himself: "When people encounter something they can't do, they will instinctively ask for help. If you can hear my heart, Anna, I just want to come back to you."

  The prayer was over, Winters buckled the locket, put it lightly on his forehead, and carefully put it back on his neck.

   Thousands of miles away in the sea blue city, Ana Navarre woke up from a dream, and for some reason tears fell from the corners of her eyes.

  …

  …

   At noon, the third attack of the Hurds was repelled. But they didn't go far, they were just 200 meters away from the camp to repair.

   A dozen carts lie within thirty paces of the western wall of the camp, and the carts are full of bullet holes and arrows.

  The horse-rejecting stake on the west side of the camp has been pulled to pieces by the Hart cavalry with noose.

  The Hurds also dragged away all the stubs that were pulled out, not giving the Paratus a chance to reinsert them.

  The prefab house in the center of the camp was set up as a medical center, where the seriously injured Paratus were brought here for treatment, and the slightly injured Paratus were treated at the post.

   "Second Lieutenant Montagne!" Pierre shouted as he rummaged among the wounded and the corpses, "Second Lieutenant Montagne!"

   "What's the matter? Mr. Mitchell?" Father Kaman, who had just removed an arrowhead from a wounded man, asked the shouting little Dussack displeased.

  Among the people, only Kaman had received orthodox surgical training. Whether he wanted to touch the blood or not, he had to pick up the knife at this moment.

   "The lieutenant colonel asked me to find Lieutenant Montagne!" Pierre was anxious.

  Kaman was debridement and answered without raising his head: "Second Lieutenant Montagne has cleaned his eyes and has returned."

   By the camp wall, Lieutenant Colonel Jesska has personally found Lieutenant Montagne.

  The bloodshot-eyed Winters nodded repeatedly while listening to the lieutenant colonel.

   In the battle just now, a panicked musketeer had just put his gun over the second lieutenant's shoulder and recklessly opened fire.

   The second lieutenant was dizzy, and the flames burned half of the second lieutenant's eyebrows. Gun smoke even sprayed into the second lieutenant's eyes, making him temporarily blind.

  Ciel and Berrian immediately sent Winters to Kaman for treatment of his injuries.

   Fortunately, there was no trauma. After cleaning his eyes, Winters rushed back to the defense line as soon as possible.

   The carriage that was abandoned before by the carriage is now in the hands of the enemy. The Hurds nailed plywood to the trunk and filled the space between the plywood to shield the bullets.

   Relying on the cover of a simple rushing chariot, the Hurd cavalry changed into hard bows and heavy arrows and approached the Paratus people to shoot, causing a large number of casualties.

  The Paratus, with only three one-pound revolving guns, was helpless against the dirt truck.

  The officers were very regretful that they did not simply burn the abandoned carriage. Before, they still had the idea of ​​"recovering the carriage for reuse in the future".

"You have to burn those scooters." Jesska glared angrily and pointed to the carts outside the camp wall: "Let's go, bring more lamp oil and turpentine, I'll transfer the musketeers from other teams to cover. you."

   "Farewell." Winters laughed and put on his helmet: "I'm more worried about being killed by your musketeers!"

   The others around him roared with laughter.

   Winters is really afraid of being shot in the back by some idiot, but he has to look fearless, because "officers are not afraid, soldiers are not."

   Carrying the kindling, Winters rode out of the camp gate with a few Dussacks.

  The Hurds in the distance also noticed the movement of the defenders, and a group of riders quickly jumped on the saddle and approached Winters.

The    revolving guns fired first, and the solid shells flew towards the Hurd cavalry, only kicking up a few clumps of dust.

   One of the cannonballs even passed in front of Winters, sending the ensign into a cold sweat.

   One-pounder guns are the equipment of the Colin Centuries in the garrison of the main battalion.

   Lieutenant Colin did not have a full-time gunner, nor did Colin come from the artillery department. The three small cannons are purely decorations, and I never thought of using them in actual combat from beginning to end.

When    came to the side of the scooter, Winters realized that Barbarian Hurd was not stupid.

  Each scooter has been watered with water, not only does the wood absorb moisture, but even the soil between the plywood is wet.

   "Barbarians are the most cunning!" The second lieutenant couldn't help cursing.

"How to do?"

   "Burning!"

   Winters slapped the **** of the forcible, and the horse looked back at the master and ran to the camp gate consciously.

  The location is too close to the wall, it is better to go over the wall and go back through the camp gate.

   Lamp oil and turpentine ignite at the touch of a touch, but wood that absorbs enough moisture cannot burn alive.

The   Hard cavalry rushed to the vicinity, and the musketeers and crossbowmen behind the camp wall shot.

The    trolley was within thirty paces of the camp wall, and the Hurds did not dare to approach it easily. They stood in the distance, shooting arrows at several people beside the scooter.

   The arrows of the Hurds were fast and accurate, forcing several people to lie on the ground to avoid them.

  The second lieutenant watched the flames on the car get smaller and smaller, but the anger in his heart was getting bigger and bigger.

  Winters patted Dussack next to him: "Withdraw!"

   Several people ran behind them together, jumped over the ditch, climbed over the camp wall, and returned to the safe area.

   "Water was poured on the car." The second lieutenant took off his helmet and explained breathlessly.

   "It's fine." Jesska frowned, but didn't mean to blame the second lieutenant: "Let's think of a way."

   "I have a way!" Winters desperately controlled his breathing rhythm, his eyes were red: "Give me an iron bomb!"

  Iron bombs are iron cans filled with black powder and are extremely bulky. However, it often has miraculous effects in the attack and defense of the stronghold, and there are also reserves in the battalion.

  The second lieutenant wanted an iron bomb, but the people in the camp didn't know why.

   "Give me an iron bomb!" The second lieutenant was almost roaring: "And a shovel!"

  His soldiers hurriedly fetched several iron cans wrapped in ropes.

  The second lieutenant held a shovel and carried four iron lumps weighing 20 kilograms together. Amid the exclamations of the crowd, he turned over the wall again.

   Not only the people of Paratus, but even the people of Hurd were dumbfounded.

   The Hurd cavalry had already retreated, but halfway through, they saw a soldier jumping over the wall and had to turn back again.

   Winters swung a shovel and dug through the dirt between the plywood.

   The Hurds dismounted and shot arrows, relying on the strong armor, but Winters ignored them. Musketeers behind the camp walls and on the firing stand also opened fire for cover.

   Yin and Yang are wrong, the opponent does not hide or avoid, but Heard's archer misses a burst of shots, always a little short.

   The burly Heard who led the way shouted angrily, jumped off the saddle, and pushed the other archers away angrily.

   "Bow!" Chief Hull yelled.

The red feather cavalry next to    took out the iron ridge bow and presented it respectfully.

  I saw the leader of Hurd standing still, and with a loud shout, he opened the iron ridge recurve bow like a full moon, the bow body creaked, and the bowstring was stretched to the limit.

  Herd leader focused his attention, and at the moment when he was blessed, he released the buckle.

   This arrow, like a divine aid, flew towards the Palatine Armor in the distance, hitting the opponent's helmet.

   With a crisp sound of gold and iron, the Palatine soldier fell off the carriage.

   "Koshihazi! Koshihazi!" Hurd's horsemen cheered and shouted in unison the name of the man who shot this amazing arrow.

  The Platoons behind the camp wall were silent.

  Koshihazi—a burly man raised on mare’s milk laughed, threw the iron ridge bow to Hong Lingyu, turned and walked towards the war horse.

   That iron spine bow has been deformed.

   Suddenly, the Hurds stopped shouting, but the Platoons behind the moat cheered loudly.

  Koshihazi turned back and was shocked to see the soldier climbed into the carriage again.

   "[Mainland Chinese] Go. You. Mom!" The soldier threw off his gloves and made a friendly gesture.

  The roar of the armored warriors pierced through clouds and cracked rocks, resounding across the battlefield.

The Platonic people behind the moat burst into laughter, and followed the soldiers and shouted in unison: "[Mainland Chinese] Go. You. Mom! Go. You. Mom! Go. You. Mom! "

   The shouts of hundreds of people converged into one voice, echoing in the barren fields, and reaching the highest point in the sky.

   Even the waterfowl on the other side of the big river were alarmed, and they fluttered from the reeds in groups.

  The morale of the Platoons was at an all-time high.

  Koshihazi's face flushed first, then turned white, and finally turned blue.

   He couldn't understand what the other side was shouting, but the meaning was clearly conveyed to him.

Hong Lingyu next to    was anxious and angry, and he drew his sword and mounted his horse to fight with the armored soldier.

   "Don't go." The ashen-faced Kuoshhaqi grabbed Hong Lingyu: "That guy is waiting for you to go!"

   Winters buried the iron shell in the dirt between the carriages and refilled it.

  The lead wire of the iron shell is wrapped in hemp rope, so there is no need to worry about getting wet in a short time.

   He lit the lead and ran away.

After a few muffled noises, the carriage was blown apart. The interlayer of the fill was completely blown up, and the collapsed clods even flew into the camp.

  Although there are still car bodies and wreckage, it is difficult to use them as cover.

  Winters climbed over the ditch, over the fence, threw the deflated helmet to the ground, panting and roaring: "Come again!"

   He was on the verge of breathing in the full set of three-quarters sprinting back and forth. The reason why he insisted on not sitting down was because he was afraid that once he sat down, he would not be able to stand up again.

   "Okay, don't go." Lieutenant Colonel Jesska said with a cold face: "I'll arrange for others to do the rest of the work."

   "I'll take someone there." Bud, who arrived here, calmly volunteered, he thought for a while, and said, "If it's blasting, there's no need to use iron shells. You can just use a whole barrel of gunpowder to blast it."

   "Yes, just do it." The lieutenant colonel decided: "Let Lieutenant Montagne go to rest."

   The Jesska Luggage Team, the most important thing is gunpowder.

   Berrian and Heinrich mounted the centurion and walked towards the camp.

   Winters wanted to shake them off, but the arrow just now made him violently dizzy, nauseous, and unable to break free.

   Soldiers, militiamen, civilians, and merchants along the way gathered silently beside Lieutenant Montagne, reaching out to touch the Lieutenant's armor, hair, skin, and salute.

  The Platoons share the courage, will and luck of the lieutenant in this way, and also pay their respects in this way.

   Lieutenant Colonel Jesska smiled wryly and said to himself: "Is this brave or reckless?"

   Ciel on the side answered proudly and loudly: "Of course brave! Second Lieutenant Montagne is known as 'Blood Montagne' in Veneta, and he is Veneta's most courageous officer!"

   The surrounding Platoons exclaimed.

   "What the **** is a **** nickname? It doesn't sound good." Lieutenant Colonel Jesska shook his head and said casually, "It's better to call him a blood wolf. From what he looks like... it really looks like wolf blood is running in his chest."

  [Blood Wolf Montagne: WolfBloodMontagne]

   P.S1: Don Juan, Juan is another pronunciation of John. "Tang" was originally an honorific title before a name, but it was gradually abused later. As for Captain Don Juan, his name is Juan, and it doesn't matter if he is "surnamed [Juan], given name [Tang]". The name is the code, and the practicality is the main thing.

P.S2: Regarding the siege of friendly forces, Gouvion-Saint-Cyr said: "It is no exaggeration to say that in an engagement, the number of casualties in the third column is equivalent to a quarter of the total casualties of the battle. If the troops involved in the war consisted of recruits, the accidental injury rate should be higher. Napoleon found that many soldiers injured their elbows and arms, thinking that they were deliberately self-injuring to avoid the battle and preparing for severe punishment. After investigation, it was discovered that they were accidentally injured by soldiers in the back row.”

   The French "Regulations of 1791" stipulated that the third column of soldiers was not allowed to fire, and only loaded the rifles for the first two columns of soldiers, which was also frightened.

   Thanks to the book friends who have voted for the recommendation before, thank you all. Although I have never met, I have a strange intimacy when I see a familiar ID;

   Thanks to book friend peano, book friend 20180131202612860, fat dragon of doom, thank you;

   Thanks to book friend Li Bin, book friend 20180322215939719, a little distraction, Sirius in Canis Major will not be sauce, fat dragon of bad luck for the recommendation tickets;

   Thanks to the book friends who voted for the recommendation last day, the number of words in the "author's words" is limited, so write a note in front. There is not enough space, so I will not thank them all today, thank you, Bihart.

   (end of this chapter)