Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 304 Enemies

   On the Big Horn River, boats loaded with stones drifted down the river, heading for the downstream pontoon.

   At the same time, in the wilderness on the southern outskirts of Gervoudin, Dussak [Tulin], whose tail was bitten by the Terdun people, was galloping on his horse.

  Turin kept looking back and saw that the barbarian Hurd was chasing after him, and his boot thorns stabbed Malri with extra force.

  The warhorse [ink blue and black] was stimulated by severe pain, and exerted its strength like a madness, and its hooves hit the ground with a "dongdong" sound.

  Tulin stood up in the stirrup, minimizing the burden on the ink blue and black as much as possible.

   Inky blue and black legs are slender and powerful, with flawless hoofs and wrists. They are the blood descendants of the Shield River horses brought from the north thirty years ago.

   On weekdays, Turin cherished the ink blue and black so much that he seldom used his whip.

   But at this moment, the dark blue-black abdomen and ribs were already covered with sweat mixed with blood.

  The steeds of the Teldun people are short and short, and they are by no means an inky blue-black opponent in terms of speed.

   But the war horses of the Hurds are as tough as their masters, and they are chasing behind Mo Lanhei, but they will not give up.

  The battlefield seemed to be shrouded in mist, and both armies dispatched a large number of scouts to look for traces of the enemy.

  The scout cavalry Turin came across the Turin sentry unexpectedly. Seeing the crowd of barbarians, Turin resolutely retreated, but the Terdun people followed.

  The two sides crossed the wilderness, crossed the stream, and climbed one hill after another, chasing from the southern suburbs of Gervoudan to the territory of the town of Saint-Ke.

  The Teldun wanted to capture Turin alive, and Turin was also leading the Teldun into the ambush circle.

  Tulin galloped across a deserted farmland and across a country road surrounded by two rows of birch trees, and reinforcements finally arrived.

   More than a dozen Iron Peak cavalrymen flanked the Terdun people from the left and right flanks, and the leader carried a reddish-brown steed, which was the pony Anglo.

   "[Herde] is a bearded man!" Some people from Teltown could not help exclaiming when they saw the appearance of Laiqi and the iconic saber.

  Dussac has a beard, forehead hair, and silver earrings, which can distinguish him from ordinary Platonic people at a glance.

  The long-term war made the Hurd people extremely impressed by these two-legged people with superb riding skills and fierce fighting. The Hurd people even gave Dusak a nickname mixed with hatred and awe-"The Beard".

  Telden Hong Lingyu wanted to retreat, but seeing that there were not many cavalrymen surrounding him, he was a little bolder.

   He whistled and beckoned his men to move closer to him.

  The war horses galloped horizontally, the machetes whizzed, and Anglo led the Dussacks and the Terdun people to fight.

   Soon after, the fire roaster and the old interpreter learned about the small-scale encounter.

   The fire roaster's eyes were bright, and he questioned the red feather in front of him in a deep voice: "[Herde] The two-legged man's tent is in the town to the south? You saw it with your own eyes."

   "[Hede] is full of ruts and ruts, so I can't fake it." Hong Lingyu replied with a pale face and grinning: "[Hede] also has a lot of big beards!"

  Small-scale cavalry battles are about horsemanship and swordsmanship, and Dussack is best at this. Hong Lingyu lost half of her ear, and if it wasn't for the iron sewn in her sleeve, her arm would have been chopped off.

   The fire roaster rewarded Hong Lingyu with a gold medal, and promised to give the other two tents and slaves.

After    Hong Lingyu stepped back with gratitude, the fire roaster's face suddenly turned gloomy: "[Hede] has already reached the south? How could it be so fast?"

   The old interpreter pulled his beard and frowned: "[Herde] Taichi's followers may have turned ashes!"

   "How could [Herde] be?" The fire roaster was shocked: "[Herde] only how many days?"

   "[Herde] otherwise wouldn't be enough to explain why the other party's response was so quick." The wrinkles between the old translator's brows deepened.

  The fire roaster slapped his thigh, and his eyes flashed fiercely: "[Herde] came and came! It happened to kill them all in one fell swoop. At that time, you and I will loot here!"

"[Herde] If the opponent stabs his tail on fire, then there will be a fight. The opponent has just fought Taichi's troops, and he is tired and hungry, so he can easily crush them to death." Pacing inside the tent: "[Herde], but the other party stopped in the town to the south, and was not in a hurry to come back to help. If you push a bull onto a cliff, the bull will also push people, so you can't fight recklessly."

   "[Hedde] what should we do then?" the fire roaster asked impatiently.

"[Hede] foxes hide in the burrows, and if they want their fur, they have to be forced out." The old interpreter stood still and said firmly: "[Hede] The biggest knot on the rope is this small town. If the city on the south bank is in an emergency , the other party has to come if they don’t want to.”

   The fire roaster stood up abruptly: "[Herde] I'll send my troops to attack the city!"

"[Herde] can't fight too hard, but he must build up his momentum; since the other party's tent is in a small town in the south, then send a few hundred cavalry teams around the other party's side and kill their Ding Zhuang, Burn their grain carts; send troops to collect grain and gather scattered members..." The old interpreter added slowly.

   The fire roaster kept nodding his head. Although he called Laotong translated as Echige [father] on weekdays, the two were still masters and slaves after all.

   However, in front of the old translator at this moment, the fire roaster really looks like a son who has received his father's teaching.

   At the same time, Anglo also rushed to Winters' command post with Turin.

   Winters' troops assembled in the town of Sanke, and the headquarters was located in the church of the town of Sanke.

As soon as    entered the church, Turin anxiously reported: "Sir! Gervoudan has not fallen!"

   Because of the echo structure of the church, Turin's voice sounds extraordinarily ethereal, and the content is no less than gospel.

  The rest of the people in the headquarters were invigorated, and Winters, who was overlooking the map, raised his head abruptly.

  Gevodan has been surrounded by Teltown people, and the South Bank is full of Teltown sentries.

  The information transmission inside and outside the city was completely cut off, and the messenger who had passed the north shore had not returned. Turin was the first scout under Winters to break through the blockade.

Turin did not dare to betray him and take credit. He looked around the crowd and spoke loudly: "The barbarians are patrolling a lot, and their subordinates were not able to enter the city. They just glanced at the hillside in the west. But I dare to Guarantee, our blue army flag is still hanging on the city wall, not the barbarian's horsetail flag!"

Many of the clerks at the    command post were citizens of Gervoudan, and their families were all in the city.

   Hearing this, the clerks couldn't help cheering, and the haze that had accumulated over the past few days was swept away.

The sound of    spread outside the church, spreading the news that "Gevodan is still holding on".

  The soldiers and civilians who were building barriers around the town threw down their tools and shouted frantically, venting the pent-up emotions in their chests.

  In the sea of ​​frenzy, only one person remained calm and restrained.

   Winters tapped lightly on the table with his fingertips, and slowly asked Turin: "Is the city defense of Gervoudan still intact?"

   "Complete!" Turin replied without thinking: "The city walls are in good condition. There was no fire in the city. I also saw carriages and pedestrians walking on the bridge, as if carrying things!"

  Bard strode into the church, and as soon as he entered, he asked happily: "I heard that Gervoudan is safe and sound? The senior really has the ability!"

   "It's safe and sound. Since the senior guards Revodan, we have more choices." Winters unconsciously rubbed a knife with no grid and fell into deep thought.

  Bud signaled everyone to keep silent, and the church fell back into silence.

  Winters stood under the altar thinking, the sun shining on him through the mosaic glass on the church wall, mottled his figure.

   Subordinates and clerks watched this scene reverently, and some people prayed silently in their hearts.

   "Bud." Winters said word by word: "All people over the age of fifteen and under the age of sixty in Iron Peak County."

  …

   The green-flagged messengers ran in all directions, carrying two orders.

   In the first order, all men over the age of 15 and under 60 in Middle Tiefeng County and Upper Tiefeng County were recruited as militiamen; all those who participated in the war were given one acre of land, and three times the number of dead.

   The second order was circulated throughout the town of St. Ke while it was being transcribed.

  It has no official name, and everyone whispers its nickname—the Beheading Order with a hint of fear and trembling.

   That is, there is no distinction between men and women, young and old, soldiers and civilians in Tiefeng County. Anyone who has captured an enemy's head, and has a helmet and coat as a certificate, will be given to Tian Yiquan.

  Land is Winters' capital, and Winters' only capital. But when it comes time to use it, Winters isn't stingy.

  …

  Mason also received a letter from Winters - the messenger who crossed the river through the town of Wangqiao finally arrived in Gervodin.

   "What is written here?" Mason sighed and handed the letter to Moritz: "Is it the special spelling of the Veneta?"

  The hastily created password is too simple to carry a lot of information.

   But the risk of being intercepted cannot be ignored, so Winters' letter was written in secret language.

   Mason couldn't read it.

  The listless Lieutenant Colonel Moritz took the letter, glanced at it and simply handed it back: "No."

  The lack of food left no one to make wine, so Moritz suffered from severe withdrawal during this time.

   At this moment he was playing with a small silver jug ​​containing the last of Gevaudin's spirits.

Lieutenant Colonel    observed every detail of the jug with all his attention, as if he could quench his thirst just by touching it.

  Only Mason knew that the Lieutenant Colonel kept the last spirits for battle.

   "What else did the Montagne tribune say?" Mason asked the messenger helplessly.

   "Said the tribune." The messenger replied: "Go to A and B."

  …

   Generally speaking, within the military, A refers to Lieutenant Don Juan, and B refers to Moritz.

  Don Juan has been missing for some time, but Mason knew there was an A, and this lady was in Gervodin at this very moment.

  Ms.A-Ana Navarre took the letterhead, frowned slightly at the garbled letters.

  Catherine also peeked from her sister's shoulder, but she was also confused.

   "Winters wrote it." Mason said embarrassedly: "I think only you can understand."

   Hearing the name of the bad thing, Anna's eyebrows stretched out, and she replied with a reserved and slightly shyness: "Then I probably understand how to interpret it."

   Then, Anna briefly explained the reason, and the more she explained, the more red her cheeks became.

  Because the letters written by Winters to Anna are always peeped, so when Anna joked about it, Winters told Anna a way of steganography.

"In ancient times, there was a commander who would move each letter of the order back a few places in order." Winters thought he was solving the problem: "In this way, the original sentence will become a jumble of letters. ."

   Katherine snorted softly.

  Anna picked up the letterhead and became puzzled again: "But this letter is a bit strange, it doesn't look like the steganography of the sequence... Why is there only ten letters? I... oh! I understand..."

Mason and Catherine on the side of    didn't know why.

Anna explained hastily: "This is another encryption method, which I only mentioned casually to M. Montagne...not ten letters, but one to ten. We need a book, M. Montagne mentioned. What kind of book was it?"

  Mason replied quickly: "He said to find A and B."

   "It must be a book that he also has, and I have, at least it's not difficult to find. B? What is it?" Anna's peripheral vision swept across the shrine, and she instantly understood all the joints.

   She smiled and pointed to the holy emblem: "It's a scripture."

   The contents of the letter were quickly deciphered after the "folio" was borrowed from the Cathedral of Gervodin.

  This is a complete military communication. Winters briefly and concisely described the process and results of the Battle of Pangtuohe, and calmly analyzed the current predicament of the army - the shortage of supplies;

   Next, Winters told Senior Mason his next campaign plan, and Gervoudan would not be supported for the time being.

  The grim emotion of the iceberg only shattered a corner at the end of the letter, and Winters wrote two words "I'm sorry, sorry" in pain and restraint.

   "What is there to be sorry for?" Mason spread his hands helplessly: "In war, anything can happen..."

   Mason's voice became quieter and quieter, and quickly stopped. Because he saw that Anna, who was translating the letter, had slightly reddened eyes.

   Soon, Anna sorted out her emotions. She smiled with grace like Mrs. Mitchell: "Yes, anything can happen in a war."

  …

   At the same time, on the Big Horn.

   Standing on the bow of the boat, Samukin could faintly see a glimpse of the pontoon.

  The pontoon bridge across the two banks is like a ribbon on the water, it looks so fragile.

  As a witness to the Battle of the Great Wilderness, Samukin witnessed with his own eyes the Hurds stormed the Styx Bridge with driftwood and rafts and destroyed half of it.

   Now the situation is completely reversed, and it is Samukin's turn to lead the fleet to storm the Telton pontoon.

   "There is too little water." Samukin said in his heart.

   Now is the dry season in winter, the water volume of the Dajiao River decreases and the flow rate slows down, not to mention the large reservoir of Shovel Lake behind the pontoon.

   Can a boat with stones destroy a pontoon? Samukin can't guarantee it.

   Will the Teltown people rebuild after the pontoon is destroyed? Samukin didn't dare to think about it.

  If the pontoon can be intercepted at the first time in the process of erecting the pontoon by the barbarians of Teltown, the pontoon will not be built.

  Now the Terdun people occupy both sides, even if the pontoon bridge is destroyed, as long as they have craftsmen and materials, they can build it again.

  Samkin's heart filled with remorse and remorse, and the centurion of Montagne handed over the fleet to him and gave him great command right on the spot. However, he mistakenly concentrated all the ships in the battle of the Pangtuo River, and did not allocate a part of the ships to control the river.

  Samukin thought that the Teltown people had run out of cards, but this thought led to a big mistake.

   Winters didn't blame Samukin, Winters only blamed himself for not telling Samukin in advance, which made Samukin even more painful and ashamed.

   "The way to wash the shame." Samukin looked at the approaching pontoon and ordered the drumming: "Only destroy it."

   "Even with life." He gritted his teeth in his heart and added the last sentence.

  The Terdon men who were defending the pontoon found the boats down the river, shouting and running, running up the pontoon with long sticks with iron hooks—both sides learned a lot from the war.

  In the camp near the river bank, the masked captain abruptly stood up and looked towards the river like a falcon. He ripped off the scarf and put his hands in his ears to listen.

   The other captives looked at each other in disbelief.

   "It's the sound of a snare drum!" The captain's pupils dilated, and his thin body seemed to be injected with endless power: "Snare drum!"

   The other captives were also surprised, and the crowd couldn't help but shout.

   "Snare drum?"

   "Our people are here?"

"where?"

   "Will you come to save us?"

   "Quiet!" the captain yelled, and the prisoners instantly fell silent.

The captain    suddenly remembered something, and slammed a fist on his thigh: "Broken!"

   "What's the matter?" asked another captive.

Captain    didn't have time to explain, he stretched out his feet and ordered sharply: "Cut it off for me!"

  A pair of iron shackles were tied to the captain's feet, and the prisoners obviously had axes, but no one dared to use them. Because whoever helped the captain, the captain's fate is everyone's fate.

   The furious captain gave the order again: "Do it!"

   Still no one dared to move.

   "Do it!"

   Finally, another captive who struggled repeatedly stopped thinking. He shouted hysterically with a ferocious expression: "Fight! Are you willing to be slaves for the Heard barbarians for life?!"

   On the other side, Samukin played the drums himself, the oarsmen rowed hard, and the boat laden with stones slammed into the pontoon.

The   Telden people don't seem to be well prepared, just keep shooting arrows on the river bank. Samukin's fleet sailed in the middle of the river, as far from the banks as possible.

  Suddenly, Samukin saw a group of ragged people running out from the north shore, waving, shouting, and jumping at him.

   The drums rang through his ears, and Samukin couldn't hear what those people were shouting, but he could only see the other party waving his hands desperately.

   "Is it the captured brother?" Samukin thought bitterly: "But I don't have the energy to save you!"

   The prisoners on the shore were actually only shouting one sentence - "Don't come here!"

   However, the speed of the fleet on the river was getting faster and faster.

  The masked captain's eyes were blood red with anxiety, he picked up the axe: "It's too late! Come with me!"

   Having said that, he took the lead in rushing towards a Telton tent on the shore.

   The other captives hesitated a bit, but soon picked up tools and even stones, and followed the masked lieutenant and rushed towards the Teltown people.

   At the same time, with the sour winch turning, the oarsman of the leading boat saw a long snake jumping up from the water and blocking his way.

  No, not a serpent! Samukin saw at a glance what it was—a thick cable spanning the two banks.

  The rope is in a state of natural sagging, the rope near the shore is suspended on the water surface, and the rope on the far shore is half-submerged in the water.

The boat that started    was caught off guard, the bow hit the line and spun uncontrollably.

   During the rotation, the boat full of stones swayed like leaves and capsized violently.

  The temporary boats are all flat-bottomed boats. Although the draught is shallow, it is not shallow enough to float over the cable, not to mention that it is now fully loaded.

   "Go to the bank!" Samukin shouted with all his strength: "Go to the bank!"

Before the    voice could be heard, another boat hit the cable and capsized. The oarsmen of the other boats hurriedly turned and drifted toward the bank.

   The cables in the nearshore position are suspended from the water, and the boats have axes and swords that can cut them.

   However, the Tardon archers were also on the shore, and when they saw the fleet approaching, they opened their bows and fired arrows.

   The arrows were raining like rain for a while, and the baffles were not enough to cover them, and arrows from the paddlers kept falling into the water.

   What happened next made Samukin even more desperate—a second and third cable was raised in the river.

   Even if the cables are not iron cables, three cables are enough to destroy the entire fleet.

   "Retreat!" Samukin ordered through gritted teeth.

   At this moment, a mutation occurred.

   As if it suddenly lost its restraint, the first cable shrank suddenly, and then floated softly on the water.

  The masked lieutenant who chopped off the cable slashed to death the Terdun man who came up to him with an axe, and almost fell down himself.

   He propped up his body and yelled at his subordinates who were still alive: "Next!"

  Samukin saw the change in the West Bank and knew that someone was giving his life to help.

   "Don't let them down!" Samukin sounded the drum of war: "Paddle! Go!"

The    fleet returned to the original route, the oarsman shouted his horn and waved his arms, and the boat loaded with stones slammed into the pontoon.

  The people of Teltown were caught off guard, and the second and third ropes were also cut by the masked captain.

   There was the sound of hooves coming from behind, but the captain ignored it. He watched the boat rush towards the pontoon he built with his own hands, contented.

  Samukin on the boat noticed this strange man standing alone on the shore with his face covered and leaning on an axe.

  Samukin stood up and raised his hands in salute from a distance.

   A faint smile appeared under the scarf of the man with his face covered, and he solemnly returned the salute.

   More than ten boats broke through the barrage and resolutely crashed into the pontoon bridge. Some Teltowners can still stick to their posts, and many more Teltowners throw away their long poles and turn around and run.

   "[Herde] Your people are really clumsy..." On the river bank, a man watched the chaotic scene of people fleeing, turned around and said helplessly to the others: "[Ancient language] Help them... Fortunately, it's a dry season."

   Amid the rumbling of the war drums, the oarsmen jumped out of the boat to survive, and the first boat slammed into the pontoon.

  The pontoon tensed instantly, trembling slightly like a giant in pain.

   Several anchor cables fixing the pontoon were torn off, the boat overturned, and the pontoon rebounded greatly.

   "Okay!!" Samukin and the masked lieutenant shouted at the same time. Continue to hit, the pontoon can't bear it sooner or later.

   However, at this moment, the peacefully flowing Dajiao River made waves.

   It was just a few ripples at first, and the ripples increased into waves urgently.

   In the eyes of everyone on both sides of the strait, the waves are becoming more and more turbulent, and the waves are getting higher and higher.

   A riverboat with a flat bottom could not resist such large waves at all.

   "Fuck! This is..." Samukin cursed in anger. Before he could finish speaking, the boat he was riding in was overturned by a man-high wave.

  The pontoon bridge was also swayed by the "waves", and hit the water again, breaking more than a dozen anchor cables.

  The river water rolled people and broken boards into the water, and the aftermath stretched far and far. The waves are gradually lowering, and the raging river is gradually returning to its former calm.

  The people of Teltown witnessed these "miracles", and they fell to their knees and worshipped.

  The masked captain didn't have time to think, he threw off his clothes and plunged into the icy river water.

  Samukin can swim, but after choking twice, he only has the instinct to wave his arms wildly. Soon, he lost consciousness.

   Just as Samukin was sinking deeper and deeper, a pair of iron arms wrapped around him from behind and dragged him to the surface.

   Confused Samukin vaguely felt that someone was digging his mouth and throat with his fingers, and he felt the air urgently.

   "Breathe!" said the stranger quickly.

  Samukin instinctively took a deep breath, as if to burst his lungs. His body even curled up uncontrollably like a shrimp, and his consciousness became sober.

   Then Samukin saw a face, a terrible face with no nose, no ears, half scorched.

   "Who are you?" Samukin struggled to get up.

   "Morrow." The disfigured man said in a low voice: "Denzel Morrow, Captain."

   "Bridge?" Samukin seemed to have found the anchor of his consciousness. He stood up at once and looked eagerly at the floating bridge.

   "The pontoon has a little damage, but it can be repaired." Captain Morrow said coldly.

Captain    was right, although the pontoon was damaged in many places, it was still lying across the river, as if mocking Samukin.

   "Fuck!" Samukin was suddenly dizzy, his knees went weak, he fell to the ground weakly, and beat the sand with all his might: "Fuck! Fuck!"

   "Save your strength." Captain Morrow just spoke, but did not extend his hand to stop it: "The search team of the Hurds is coming. If you don't leave, you will die."

  Samukin turned a deaf ear, and the iron man suddenly hugged his knee and cried bitterly.

"Why are you crying?" Captain Morrow couldn't feel Samukin's grief, he just sneered: "With your stupid method, it would have been impossible to completely destroy the pontoon... I have a better way, take me to see your superior ."

  Samukin raised his head sharply, like a drowning man who grabbed the last straw: "You still have a way to destroy the pontoon bridge."

   "Of course." Captain Morrow looked coldly at the pontoon bridge: "I built the pontoon bridge. I am always thinking about how to destroy it."

  …

   On the other side, Mason summoned the city councilor of Gervoudan and representatives of public opinion at all levels to read out part of Winters' letter.

   "The Montagne tribune has just fought hard, and it will take a few days to repair the assembly." Captain Mason concluded: "So we have no reinforcements during this time, and we can only rely on ourselves."

   There was an uproar in the council hall. Although the citizens' confidence was boosted by repelling an attack by the Teltons, the news of the lack of reinforcements still shook the will of the people.

   "Montagne tribune agrees if necessary." Mason paused for a moment: "Abandon South City."

   Another grenade was thrown into the chicken coop. The citizens of Gervoudan loudly agreed, the public representatives of the refugees were worried, and some people openly opposed it.

   "Quiet!" Old Mayor Priskin tapped **** the table.

   When the council hall was quiet again.

  Mason explained carefully: "Even if you have to abandon the South City, you must have a strategy. The supplies must be moved to the north, the old, young, women and children must be placed in a place, and the things that cannot be moved must be destroyed..."

   Mason speaks softly and softly, but there is a power in his gentleness and equanimity.

  The council hall became quieter and quieter, and everyone listened carefully.

   "You just say what to do!" The number one supporter of the Montagne tribune, the blacksmith Shaosha, was the first to respond: "We all listen to you. In front of the enemy, whoever doesn't listen! Just deal with him!"

  The crowd was in a commotion. Seeing this, Old Priskin simply said: "Those who agree with what Commissioner Shaosha said, cheer for Mason Tribunal three times!"

   Three cheers, each louder.

  Old Priskin dropped the hammer heavily: "Three calls to pass!"

   "Since you all listen to me." Mason stood up and said a little embarrassedly, "Then let's evacuate the women and children to the North Shore first."

  The evacuation is progressing quickly, as most of the women and children are already housed on the North Shore.

  After evacuating the women and children, it was time to remove the supplies.

  The men in the city of Gervodin—regardless of whether they were citizens or refugees, were organized into militia units and came to the south bank to move things.

  There was only one bridge on the river, and it was blocked for a while.

  Seeing this, Mason ordered to leave the necessary defense personnel on the north bank, and other militiamen and city guards gathered on the south bank to carry the supplies in order.

After the    bridge was cleared, Mason ordered the bridge to be demolished.

   did not use explosives—because gunpowder is precious;

   did not use lamp oil either—because fuel is precious too;

  Each piece of wood is carefully put away for reuse - thrifty and very Masonian.

   "I've decided." Mason stood in front of the panicked crowd and announced with a smile: "Never give up Nancheng."

   [I'm late, sorry, Orz...because it's a 7,000-word chapter]

   [Redefine Saturday and noon... The next chapter is still Tuesday]

   [Thanks to book lovers for their collection, reading, subscription, recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, rewards and comments, thank you all]

   (end of this chapter)