Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 394 Storm (seven)

  [Steel Castle·South Bank]

   Gonghe Street, the only road connecting the South City and the Old City, has been blocked.

  This long and narrow area between the mountain and the lake is now filled with all the obstacles that the South City Sheriff can find: carriages, furniture, boxes and barrels... Even the trees in the residents' yards have been cut down and dragged onto the streets.

  The militiamen in Nancheng District were all behind the barricades, anxiously looking at the old city.

  Although the spears and muskets were in their hands, anxiety and fear still flashed in their eyes.

  These "free people" with civil rights were awakened by the alarm bell in bed, found their weapons in the dark, ran out of the house in disheveled clothes, and hurried to Republic Street.

   After a lot of tossing, the Nancheng militia can still maintain a fairly good organization, and it is not easy to quickly build roadblocks according to the order.

   They have shown military literacy far better than ordinary people, but the immediate disaster is still far beyond their ability.

  The old town is now like a boiler on the verge of its limit.

   Thick smoke billows, and the flames around are blazing flames from the hearth; it boils to the sky, and the cries are like hot steam rushing through the night.

  The light and shadow are intertwined, and the spire of the Elin Cathedral disappears and appears; the cold wind is cold, and the road leading to the old city is like the **** mouth of a monster, waiting for its prey to fall into its own snare.

  In the face of such a doomsday scene, the power of the individual seems extremely insignificant.

   Even a free man who is usually respected and respected is like a lamb to be slaughtered at this moment, and he can only sit back and watch the situation deteriorate.

The    militiamen were anxious, and Nancheng Sheriff was even more anxious than Tler Renetal.

   This senior blacksmith and veteran, who had just climbed to the roof of a house facing the street, was concentrating on observing the situation in the old city.

   In a hurry to go out, Bitler's shirt was only buttoned three times, and one was buttoned in the wrong place.

   When the cold wind blew, the frostbite on his hand was surprisingly itchy. As he watched, he scratched the itch until his skin was open and his hands were covered in blood, and he didn't even notice it.

   There was a sound from the ladder, and the sheriff's assistant, Schler, panted and climbed to the roof: "Mr. Lenettal, I found a cloak for you!"

   Bitler twisted his head and asked in a rough voice, "Has the person who went to contact Colonel Bern come back?!"

   "Not yet." Schler carefully stepped on the tiles to Butler, unfolded his cloak and draped it over his boss's shoulders.

   Bitler tore off his cloak impatiently, crumpled it roughly, and stared again and asked, "What about the people who went to the old city to check the situation?"

  Schleier answered hesitantly, "Never came back."

   Bitler raised his eyebrows, like a vicious old wolf, staring at his subordinates: "Didn't come back? Or didn't send?"

  Schler complained bitterly: "I sent two people, but they haven't come back. No one will go."

   Bitler's eyes widened: "You can't go if others don't go?"

   "Don't worry." Shi Le put on the old sheriff's cloak again: "Let's wait for the person in front to come back and ask about the situation."

   Bitler was furious, raised his legs and walked to the ladder: "Okay! Then I'll go in person!"

   "Whoops! Mr. Renetal, don't be rude!" Schleier hurriedly stopped the old sheriff, not letting the latter go down the stairs.

It was only then that the deputy sheriff said what was in his heart: "I don't think this little riot will be calmed down for a while. Let's guard the Republic Street and don't let the thugs run into Nancheng! Don't think about suppressing the thugs. Don't worry about what's going on in the old city, let's talk about it after dawn!"

   "Little riot?" Butler pointed to the old town, his gray beard and eyebrows trembled in anger: "You call this a small riot?"

  …

   Riot, a word that is not unfamiliar to the citizens of Steelcastle.

  Where there are people, there is conflict, and Steel Castle is the most densely populated city in Mongolia.

   Conflicts can easily turn into riots in places where social contradictions are fierce, and there is no need to say much about the internal pressure of Steel Castle.

  496 years of the imperial calendar, the eve of All Saints' Day. An altercation between a blacksmith and a monk escalated into a fight over an unfair allocation of bunks for the vigil.

   Several blacksmiths who participated in the fight were outnumbered and were kicked out of the church, but the anger of the craftsmen who had been oppressed by harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes for a long time broke out completely.

   A trivial matter - the exchange of bunks for the bribe of three small silver coins turned into a massive fight between clergy, nobles and citizens.

   After a night of scuffles, all the monks of Elin Abbey were expelled from the city. Three times after that, the armed citizens repelled the mercenaries hired by the Elin Abbey to retake the city.

   History called [All Saints' Day Riot].

   After another series of events, the riot in Steel Castle was presented to the Emperor's desk. In the end, the then Emperor Richard IV ruled that the people of Steelcastle should compensate for the loss of the monastery, while allowing them to redeem the ownership of the city.

  Steel Castle has since got rid of the identity of the bishopric and has become an autonomous city directly under the royal family. Only in obscure titles - such as the Parish Headquarters - there are still traces of the past. It is precisely because of this that many of the older generation of Steelcastle people still cherish the emperor's grace.

  The year 527 of the imperial calendar, the second year after the suicide of the Duke of Arlean the "Butcher" and the end of the First Sovereign War.

  A large number of Monta imperial veterans returned to their hometowns, and a considerable number of them were disabled for life.

  However, after the empire lost the Shannan provinces, its finances became increasingly stretched. Not only was it unable to give the disabled veterans the pensions they deserved, it even increased taxes.

   The unbearable Monta eventually rose up in rebellion—what the Empire called a rebellion.

That uprising also broke out from Steel Fort, and an insurgent army of veterans, farmers and petty citizens occupied the city hall, broke through the garrison and prison, released prisoners, publicly executed imperial tax collectors and officials, and swept the group within the next month. Mt., twice defeated the imperial army against the rebellion.

   However, because there is no clear appeal, and members of the insurgent army generally believe that "as long as your majesty knows the suffering we have endured, we will definitely try to eliminate the evils. All disasters are due to your majesty's advisors, who are corrupt and authoritarian". The insurgents finally surrendered on the condition of being "pardoned".

  The members of the rebel army who put down their weapons were immediately hunted and killed, and those who survived were either incognito or exiled in the south.

   Historically known as [June Rebellion].

  In 550 years of the imperial calendar, that is, ten years ago, the day before May Day.

   Thousands of apprentices suddenly gathered in the old city, frantically destroying and looting the shops, workshops and warehouses of foreign merchants.

  In the beginning, they were only apprentices of the Brewers Guild and Leather Guild, and then the blacksmith guild apprentices with the largest number also joined the ranks of smashing.

  The conflict between the people of Steelcastle and foreign merchants has a long history, but no one knows what the spark that detonated the powder keg was.

Some say it's because a Veneta businessman named Francisco da Baldi bragged in the tavern how he seduced the wife of a Steelcastle citizen; others say it was because of a group of loan sharks who were violently trying to get their debts Others say it was the sermons of the friar Berlin who incited the Montans to defend their homeland.

  In any case, the apprentices who have been at the bottom of the guild and the most bullied for a long time will vent their anger on the foreign merchants, and the chaos will swallow the steel castle in an instant.

  The rioters first smashed wine barrels in the neighborhood of St. Paul, where wineries were dominated, then went to slaughterhouses and meat markets to loot, and finally smashed and burned along the Rose River.

   Initially, their targets were limited to "foreigners", but soon they became "people who are not Solingen", and eventually they became robbing whatever they saw.

  The streets of the old city soon became a mess, most of the shops were destroyed, some shops were torched, some were severely injured, and some were thrown into the river.

   History called [May Day Riot].

  The chaos was not ended until evening when the garrison outside the city marched into Steel Castle to suppress the rioters and imposed a curfew.

  …

  Each of the riots, riots, and uprisings mentioned above was witnessed by the old sheriff Butler.

   As for other small-scale disturbances and chaos, it was not worth mentioning at all to the old sheriff.

   However, in this riot, Bitler smelled an unusual smell.

   is different from every previous time. This time it came too fast, the outbreak was too sudden, and the means were too intense.

  When the city faces a riot, everyone in it can feel the oppressive and restless atmosphere, and the old sheriff Butler feels this very keenly.

   But this time, Bitler did not have the sense of crisis that the mountains were about to come and the building was about to collapse.

   It is true that the unemployed workers stranded in Steel Castle are an unsettling factor; it is true that the crisis of the embargo order does not know how to get through it; it is true that the flour of Steel Castle is now more expensive by the day.

  The old sheriff shouted in his heart: "But it's not enough to burn everything to death!"

   You know, even in the May Day riots, the smashers were extremely restrained and did not set fire to much.

  Fire is the worst nightmare in the city. The bigger the city, the more afraid of fire.

   A misplaced torch is enough to turn a block into ashes; an accidental fire can turn a well-off resident into a homeless beggar in an hour.

   So every autumn, the old town of Steel Castle will impose a curfew until the first rain of the next year, just to prevent fires.

  So the Steelcastle brutally executed arsonists - tied them to the stake and burned them alive - as an example, and even gave those who verbally threatened to set fire to the equivalent of arsonists.

   However, the current situation in the old city is that someone is setting fire and looting without hesitation, as if tomorrow is the end of the world.

   Butler even began to wonder if it was because he was getting old and his consciousness was dull, and he could no longer accurately feel the pulse of Steel Castle, so he misjudged the situation.

   "What should I do?" Bitler struggled to make a decision and grabbed the frostbite on his hand more and more hard: "Stand on the South City? Is it watching the old city turn to ashes? Suppressing the riots? It's just me? What about the South City?"

   A rider rushed out from the dark street. The rider's hair and face were covered with smoke and dust. As soon as he reached the barricade, he asked loudly, "I'm Colonel Bern's messenger. Where is the sheriff of Nancheng District?"

   "Here!" Butler heard the words, pushed his deputy away, climbed down the ladder in three steps and two steps, and rushed to the barricade with a limping leg: "Where is the colonel? Where is the legion?"

The    rider glanced at the other militiamen and took out a letter from his arms: "Please take a look."

   Butler took the letter displeased.

The    letter was rolled into a roll, probably too late to seal it, but tied with a damaged ring—the Colonel's ring that Bitler knew of course. But he didn't say anything, just took the lantern and opened the letter with narrowed eyes.

   There were still traces of soot on the letter paper, and a few lines were scribbled.

   After reading it hastily, Bitler put the letter in his arms with no expression on his face, and asked the messenger, "Where is the colonel?"

   The messenger replied in a low voice: "With the troops."

   "How is the Legion doing now?"

  The messenger got off his horse, leaned his ear and told Bitler: "The troops are blocked at St. Paul Street."

   Butler nodded, the messenger's words matched the letter's content.

  What the old sheriff received was actually a letter for help.

  The only way for the garrison to enter the city - St. Paul Street - encountered armed thugs. The thugs' fighting will was unexpectedly tenacious. They built barricades and set fires, and the troops were entangled for a time.

   Colonel Bern asked the sheriff of Nancheng District to lead the militia out to attack the barricades from the rear, in order to defeat the main force of the mob. The colonel predicted that after cleaning up the backbone of this gang of rioters, other rioters would not be a problem.

   Butler did not hesitate to start ordering people immediately.

  The militiamen in Nancheng District, he did not know any of them. Which is good and which is not, he knows very well.

   Seeing the old sheriff's attitude of taking the initiative to attack, Shi Le panicked.

   "Mr. Lenethal!" Schler asked loudly, regardless of whether he was offended or not, "What the **** are you doing?"

The attention of the    militia was attracted for a while.

   Butler sank his face: "Go away, I'm the sheriff. I don't need to explain to you what I'm going to do."

  Schler's voice rose: "I am also an appointed sheriff! I am responsible for the citizens of Nancheng District! Are you going to take someone to the old city?"

   "Yes!" The old sheriff squinted at his deputy.

   "You took everyone away, what about Nancheng?" Shi Le asked aggressively: "What should I do if a mob flees into Nancheng?"

   Butler's face was ashen: "Who said I want to take everyone away? I will naturally leave enough people to defend Republic Street."

  Schler asked back: "If you take away all the good players, what can you do with the rest of the old, the weak, the sick and the disabled?"

   "Is it possible to watch the old city burn down?" Butler also asked loudly: "Ignore it?"

   On marching and fighting, the old sheriff is far more experienced than his deputy. But when it comes to debate, the two Bitlers can't beat Schler together.

Facing the old sheriff's rhetorical question, Shi Le did not respond directly, but waved at the other militiamen and shouted, "Why don't you tell everyone, would it be better to save the old city if the southern city was destroyed? Or do we do our best? It is our duty to protect Nancheng first! Protect our wives and children!"

   "You're stealing a concept!" The messenger couldn't help scolding Schler.

   "Shut up! What does the affairs of our Nancheng people have to do with you?" Schleer roughly interrupted the messenger, turned around and pointed at the militiamen with muskets beside him: "Which one do you choose?"

   The militiaman Nuonuo who was pointed out did not dare to speak, and finally stomped: "I listen to everyone."

  Schler pointed to another militiaman: "You said."

The    militiaman hesitated for a long time, then mumbled softly: "We must still protect Nancheng first."

  Schler refers to the next militia.

   "Yes, the South City is important, but you can't watch the old city be ruined..."

"I don't know what you're thinking yet?" Shi Le roared: "Your workshop is in the old city, you are afraid that your workshop will be robbed or burned, but have you thought about other people? Our homes are all In Nancheng. If the workshop is gone, it can be built again, and if the home is gone, there will be nothing left!"

  The messenger saw that Schiller had taken control of the scene, so he interrupted Schler's speech and asked Bitler aloud: "Mr. Lenettal, you are the sheriff! You have an idea!"

   Bitler's eyes swept over the militiamen, the firelight reflected weakness, selfishness and fear in the eyes of everyone, and the usual bravery and boldness had disappeared.

   Bitler was about to gnaw his silver teeth. Schler inspired the militiamen's instinct for survival and self-interest, but all those noble emotions were extinguished.

   Seeing that the old sheriff did not speak, the anxious messenger simply bypassed Bitler and sent an order directly to the militia: "On the order of Colonel Bern, the militia in Nancheng District..."

   "The militia directly belongs to the city council! It is not under the control of the legion!" Schler said, "Bern wants to mobilize us? Let him bring the mayor's warrant!"

   "You bastard! You are courting death!" The messenger pulled the reins and drew out his sword with a "swoosh".

  Schler also jumped on the barricade and looked directly at the messenger: "You dare?!"

   "Stop!" Butler shouted: "I have decided..."

   "Listen!" Some militiamen exclaimed in horror, interrupting the old sheriff: "What sound?"

   When everyone heard the words, they all listened attentively, and a clutter of footsteps stepped by many people clearly came from the direction of the old city.

   The sound was weak at first, then became more pronounced, and then loud again. Without pausing, getting closer.

  The sound of horses neighing, people crying, and the "crunching" turning of the axles was mixed with the footsteps and reached everyone's ears.

   Numerous figures emerged from the smoke and night, a team of "escapers". There were old men driving carriages, men carrying handbags on their shoulders, and women carrying children.

  Different from the people who fled to the southern city sporadically before, this time a steady stream of people escaped from the old city, taking all the possessions they could carry, and abandoning their homes in despair.

   "Fire! What a big fire!"

   "Mom! Where are you?"

   "There is no help!"

   "Send kindness!"

Behind the barricades, the militiamen were also stunned for a while. They set up roadblocks to stop the rioters who were beating, smashing, looting and burning, but they couldn't stop so many people who took refuge: "This... how to do..."

  Schler reacted very quickly and grabbed a musket: "Shoot! Don't let them come!"

   The muzzle flashed, illuminating the houses beside the street, and illuminating the expressions of the refugees, as if the door of a stove suddenly opened and then closed immediately.

"what!!"

"Help!"

   "Escape!"

  The evacuees who had maintained a certain order were instantly thrown into chaos, the frightened horses ran amok, and the people who couldn’t dodge screamed screaming.

  Someone ran out of the road and drilled into the houses and woods on both sides of the road. There are also people who set foot on the ice lake in a hurry, trying to bypass the obstacles of roadblocks.

   There was a long cracking sound from the crumbling ice layer, but the people behind continued to squeeze on the ice lake.

   "The thugs may be hiding inside them!" Shler yelled, "Don't let them..."

  The unbearable old sheriff slammed the **** of his gun on the back of Schleer's head, knocking his deputy to death.

   "Don't let them go to the ice lake!" Butler shouted, ordering his militiamen: "Remove the barricades and let them in, but don't let them run around... Don't panic! Calm down..."

   Some militiamen carried out the order, but some militiamen could not hear what the sheriff said at all. A chaotic scene, a person's cry will be drowned under the sound of despair in an instant.

   Butler grabbed the messenger and shouted, "Go back and tell the colonel, tell him what happened here! There's no way I can help him! Tell him!"

  The messenger waved his whip angrily, and in another burst of exclamations and dodging, he rushed through the crowd into the night.

  …

   At the same time, North City, Constitution Street.

   The roadblocks built by the Beicheng militia were also under attack from the refugees, and the number of the Beicheng militia was far smaller than that of the Nancheng militia, but their response was much calmer.

"Men go to the right! Women and children go to the left!" More than a dozen riders patrolled in front of the barricade, rattan sticks swished loudly, and ordered: "Throw the weapon in front of the barricade, and carry the weapon into the Beicheng District to be punished for rioting! "

   The entrances on both sides of the barricade, and similar quarrels are heard from time to time:

   "We are a family!"

   "That doesn't work either! Men and women and children must be separated!"

   "Why?"

   "On the orders of Captain Berne! Your wife and children are with other girls, what are you afraid of? Go!"

   Another example:

   "This is my carriage!"

   "This sign hangs on the horse, you hold this sign, and come and fetch the horse after dawn!"

or:

   "You! What's hidden in your clothes?"

   "I, I, I... I'll throw it out of the barricade!"

"catch him!"

   "Don't! I didn't do anything!"

   "Tied up!"

   "What are you doing? I really didn't do anything!"

   "Oh, go and tell the sheriff! Lock it up!"

   According to Winters' experience, it is better to separate adult men from women and children in an emergency. If they are not managed separately, the safety of women and children will not be guaranteed, and men will not be able to exert their concentrated use of power.

   Therefore, according to the arrangement of "Captain Bern", the refugees who escaped from the old city were first divided into men, women and children, and then continued to be divided into smaller scales for management. Livestock such as mules and horses were all confiscated, and things like carriages became part of the roadblocks.

  The wooden stakes and ropes are pulled into simple fences, dividing the lake beach and the clearing at the foot of the mountain into separate rest areas.

  Winters rode his horse in and out of barricades, sorting out blockages, eliminating conflicts, and making sure everything was in order.

   When he gradually pushed this simple structure into the formal, an unexpected person came to him - John Servette Senator.

"Captain, some respectable ladies in the North City are willing to provide some blankets and winter clothes to the refugees, but because of your curfew order, please send someone to receive them." Senator Servetus still had a stern face: "Republic Street Residents are also willing to provide hot water and meals, and please send someone to help distribute it.”

   "No problem." Winters immediately called out some people and asked them to bring the seized carriage and go with Servetus's men to receive supplies to keep warm. A few more people were called out to help distribute hot meals.

  Servette silently watched Winters mobilize the militia, noncommittal.

   Waiting for Winters to arrange everything properly, Servette bowed and saluted: "Tonight, on behalf of Steel Castle, I would like to thank you."

  Although Winters has been wearing the helmet, he's not sure if Servette made his voice. But since the other party didn't break it, Winters just continued to play the trick.

   "It's my mission to serve the Republic." Winters is already very skilled and tactful when he speaks clichés. He touched the heel of his boot and extended his hand to Senator Servetus.

   Servetus was startled, raised his eyebrows slightly, and stretched out his hand.

After    handshakes, Servetus turned and left.

   "Mr. Senator." Winters called out to Servette: "What else are you doing?"

  Servette said rightfully: "I also have citizenship, so I am also a conscripted militia now. You don't have to worry about it, just order me like a normal militia."

   "That would be too wasteful." Winters stroked Changfeng's mane: "I want to give this to your command."

   "Me? Then what are you going to do?"

"I'm going…"

   A hail of hoofs interrupted Winters.

  Ciel rode a horse and stopped in front of Winters with a chubby guy in fancy clothes.

   The fat man in Chinese clothing just slid off the horse and vomited out with a "wow".

  Servette frowned: "Mr. Mayor?"

   The fat man in Huafu waved his hand, finally straightened his waist, and inadvertently saw what he had vomited, and vomited it out again with a "wow" - it seems that he didn't eat too much dinner.

   Winters couldn't help frowning when he heard this. He carefully looked at the fat man in Chinese clothing, and it was actually Paul Wupper.

  Things are a little tricky.

  Because Winters knew that, from a procedural point of view, the vomiting fat man in Chinese clothes was the current supreme commander of the Steel Castle Militia.

   The identity of Captain Bern and the orders of Colonel Bern can overwhelm the sheriff, but arm wrestling with the mayor's authority is a bit underwhelming.

   Speaking of which, Paul Wupper was also unlucky. Seeing the fire in Esther House, Paul Wupper was afraid to go out. But the old Mrs. Wupper had a stern character, and as soon as she heard the alarm bell, she drove her son out of the house without a word.

  Paul Wupper had to wander the streets with a few servants, thinking that he could delay as long as he could, and was arrested on the spot by the patrol riders who enforced the curfew.

  The night was dark, and Paul Wupper was embarrassed to say that he was the mayor, so he wanted to stay in jail for one night. However, instead of taking him to jail, the patrol rider took him before the sheriff. Seeing that he couldn't hide it, Paul Wupper bravely admitted his identity.

   The sheriff did not dare to neglect, and hurriedly sent someone to find the captain. So by accident, Paul Wupper, who didn't want to show up at all tonight, was brought directly to the forefront by Charles.

   Just when Winters was considering whether to "hide" Mayor Wupper to prevent the latter from meddling in command.

  Paul Wupper finally spit out his supper and bile, raised his head, wiping his mouth and panting, and looked at Winters and John Servette with tears in his eyes.

   Then, without hesitation, he hugged Winters with tears in his eyes.

   "Captain Bernie, I'm just a **** who doesn't understand anything." Paul Wupper burst into tears: "It's all up to you tonight!"

   "This guy isn't entirely useless," Winters thought. "At least he's self-aware."

  …

  [Old Town, St. Paul Street]

   Burning flames, smoky streets, and continuous gunfire.

  Colonel Berne never imagined that it would be so troublesome to suppress a few petty thieves.

   No matter how far to the north and south lake shores, Steel Castle is essentially a city located in a river valley.

   She has only one land entrance and exit, the narrow road at the bottom of the valley on both sides of the Rose River.

   On the north bank, it is called St. John's Street; on the south bank, it is called St. Paul's Street.

   The terrain on the north bank is steep and it has always been difficult to walk, so pedestrians and horses mainly pass on the south bank, and the camp of the Solingen garrison is also located on the south bank.

   However, this spacious road on the south bank that can accommodate four carriages side by side is extremely difficult to walk tonight.

   Because someone built a barricade to stop Bern's troops.

The    barricade is as high as one person and built with miscellaneous objects such as carriages and wooden boards. It is not difficult to conquer, but the tactics adopted by the thugs guarding the barricade are extremely clever.

   They were not in close combat with Bern's men.

   If you are far, you will fire a gun, and if you are near, you will throw a grenade.

  The silent Monta standing legionnaire stepped on the gunpowder smoke and faced the fragments, and finally rushed to the barricade, but was thrown up by a torch, which instantly turned the barricade into a wall of fire.

  Yes, more than the barricade itself, it is the fire that affects the speed of the troops.

   There was fire everywhere, fire on the barricades, fire in the houses along the street, and even the bushes and woods on the south side of the valley were burning.

  Colonel Berne's troops had to put out the fire while advancing.

Colonel    ordered the houses on fire to be torn down along the way, but this caused the troops to move more slowly.

   After finally breaking through a barricade, there is another barricade waiting in front.

   St. Paul Street has the Rose River on one side and houses on the other.

  Colonel Berne made a decisive decision and ordered a centenary to cross the river and occupy the north bank, and would not continue to confront the south bank.

However, before the centenary who crossed the river reached the center of the river, a series of flames burst out from the dark night, the sound of gunfire echoed on both sides of the river valley, and then the whole barrel of gunpowder was pushed down the river - the person blocking the garrison was on the other side. Manpower is also arranged.

   Even the dullest officer has realized that the ambushers were well prepared. Not to mention Colonel Bern, whose intuition is sharper than ordinary people.

"These **** are sticking to us like snot." Witnessing the attacking Centurion being pushed back by the fire again, Bern's deputy [Lieutenant Colonel Thomas] punched in the leg and said bitterly: "We enter, they will Retreat. We retreat, they will advance. It is to hold us back and make us immobile. But not to fight us head-on, making us useless.”

Colonel Bernie clenched his fists tightly and said angrily: "Stop talking nonsense, am I blind? Can't I see it? The key is what to do!"

Lieutenant Colonel    Thomas was very familiar with the Colonel's stinky temper, so he didn't feel angry: "What else can I do? There are not many of them. As long as they can be dragged into hand-to-hand combat, a single charge can take them down."

   "Drag into hand-to-hand combat? How to drag?"

   Lieutenant Colonel Thomas sighed: "Then we can only hope that the militia in the southern city will arrive soon."

"Count on a fart! It's better to count on yourself! There is one in the steel castle, no one can be trusted!" Colonel Berne looked around the terrain on both sides of the valley and pointed with a horsewhip: "Remember my order, let the second and third The centenary assaulted along the beach; the fourth and fifth centenary returned upstream to cross the river and wipe out the musketeers on the other side, be sure to be quick."

   "That front..." Lieutenant Colonel Thomas hesitated.

   "Don't waste people's lives in vain, withdraw them all." Bernie said with a cold face: "Demolish houses, chisel walls, demolish and chisel one by one."

   "It takes a lot of time to tear down a house and chisel a wall."

   "It's better than taking people's lives and not being effective. My young man can't be wasted in such a place." Colonel Bern stared: "Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it."

   "What did you say?" Thomas spat: "Although you are a senior, you are still too disrespectful to me. Making decisions together is naturally a shared responsibility."

   The sound of hooves cut through the noise, and a rider came along the river.

   There was a series of gunshots on both sides of the strait, the lead was beaten into pieces, the ice was scattered, and the stones were flying.

  The rider sticks tightly to the horse's back, desperately urging the horse to run wildly, passing through the hail of bullets in a thrilling way.

   This daring and skilled rider ran all the way to Colonel Bern, raised his hand to salute, and reported in a low voice, "Colonel, the militiamen in Nancheng...will not be here."

   Colonel Berne took a deep breath and waved his hand: "Got it."

   "The militia from South City won't arrive?" Lieutenant Colonel Thomas asked suspiciously.

   "Yes," replied the messenger: "They are neither willing nor able."

  Thomas raised his hand and pointed in the direction of Steel Castle: "So, what is that?"

   Colonel Bern, the messenger, and everyone present could not help but look in the direction pointed by the lieutenant colonel:

   The sound of hoofs is like thunder, and the fire is like dragon.

  The iron horse came on the glacier.

   [Work hard to pay off your debts! ]

   [In order to reduce the number of chapters, we decided to write big chapters! (Not at all)]

   [Actually, I didn't finish it yesterday, but if I cut it off in the middle and released it, it wouldn't feel good...]

   [The three urban riots and riots mentioned in this chapter have historical prototypes. They were the Cambridge Riots, the Cade Uprising, and the London May Day Riots. Restlessness and violence are, to a certain extent, one of the main themes of civic life in the Renaissance era]

[About the crime of arson, there is no distinction between Chinese and foreign, the urban building materials are mainly wood and soil, and the large-scale use of stone is a modern thing (the same is true for Rome, but all that can be preserved are stones) (cement can be regarded as artificial stone) . Therefore, fire is the disaster that urban residents are most afraid of]

   [In Germany, arsonists were punished by capital punishment—burning to death, and those who threatened arson were also punished as arson. Because the fire is so terrible, so many gangsters use arson to extort money]

   [The song "We Are Guye's Black Legion" mentions, "Let the red rooster stand on the roof of the monastery". A red rooster is a sign of an arson notice. Premeditated arsonists would paint a red rooster on someone else's door beforehand, as a threat or warning to the homeowner]

   [Thank you for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, reward and comment, thank you all]

   (end of this chapter)