Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 432 The great alliance moves forward (4)

  [Maplestone City]

  [Michill]

  Cerber Carrington crouched in the wheat field, motionless, half-height rye submerging him.

  The blue wheat leaves rolled in the wind, and Seber was in it, like a reef that disappeared and appeared in the waves.

   In Seber's field of vision, the figure half a kilometer away was as small as an ant. Swarms of ants crawl slowly along the Provincial Avenue towards the Green Valley.

  Cerber watched the smoke rising from the road, and counted the flags flying in the procession with all his attention.

   The Red Rose troop that started from Maplestone City had too few light cavalry and the quality was not good enough.

  Although they are all wearing first-class military horses, their clothes are clean and neat, and their chests are full of new-born calves who are not afraid of tigers, but at first glance they are recruits who have just joined the army.

   In skirmishes, the light cavalry recruits are swept up in tatters by veteran scouts under Cyb Carrington's dwarf Heard horses.

   They are often chasing the enemy with their heads in high spirits one moment, and the next moment they suddenly find themselves being led into an ambush circle.

   Taking advantage of the terrain to fight two small battles, Major Seb Carrington easily captured the enemy's small half-horse, and also picked up a lot of new clothes.

   On the other side, the light cavalry recruits who were lucky enough to escape were completely frightened, and no longer had the courage to take the initiative to attack, and only dared to wander around the ranks of their own troops.

   The movement space of the enemy light cavalry was thus compressed within one kilometer on both sides of the column by Cerber.

   For an army, with such a small reconnaissance range, it is almost indistinguishable from the blind and deaf.

  Cerber has a few daring scouts, and even began to provoke and harass the enemy at close range.

   They rode the good horses they had just captured, and carried two reed guns. Once they saw the opportunity, they suddenly mounted their horses and rushed within 50 meters of the enemy column.

  The enemy light cavalry who arrived after realizing it, often only dared to chase a short distance symbolically, and did not even have the guts to cross the dirt bags on both sides of the road.

   As soon as the harasser disappears on the hillside, they will retreat and continue to linger beside the marching column.

   It is precisely because the enemy light cavalry has been completely suppressed that Cyb Carrington has the opportunity to approach the enemy within half a kilometer to scout, and at the same time not be detected by the enemy.

  …

   The marching column in the distance suddenly had some changes.

  Cerber noticed a rider who appeared to be wearing the uniform of a colonel coming from the front of the column.

  The rider, with several followers, galloped against the forward direction of the "ant colony", stationed the horse, and then called out a few "ants" from the "ant colony", as if they were asking questions.

  Cerber squinted his eyes unconsciously, and intuitively told him that the rider who was suspected of being a colonel was probably the commander-in-chief of this unit.

   He secretly calculated: the opponent marched in units of 100 troops, and the formation was deliberately kept compact, obviously to guard against cavalry raids.

   But... fast in and out, there is always a chance.

  The problem is that at this moment, behind the mound half a kilometer behind Seber, only twenty-four subordinates are on standby.

After returning from the    surprise attack on the Red Training Department, Winters did not choose to disband the more than 1,000 light cavalry he had assigned, but directly organized them into six light cavalry squadrons, and handed over four of them to Major Seber's command.

   At present, four cavalry squadrons of Cyb Carrington are scattered on the road from Maplestone to Green Valley, providing vigilance, communication and reconnaissance for the whole army. Another part was sent to Vaughnshire to monitor the Sandel department.

   For the vast new land, the sprinkling of a few hundred cavalrymen is like salt spilled into the sea, which is quickly diluted and cleansed. Therefore, four tents and twenty-four cavalrymen were all the troops that Seber could temporarily control.

   Although Seiber is famous for being "fearless to madness", he is not stupid and will not court death.

   Staring at the figure riding the purplish red horse under the mound, Seber thought regretfully, "You're lucky today, friend."

   Honestly speaking, for the unidentified enemy commander under the hillside, Cyber ​​has an inexplicable sense of sympathy.

   He admires the other's ability to endure - not sarcasm.

   In the face of all kinds of harassment and provocation, the other party didn't have any out-of-control or overreaction, and he was still calm and forbearing. Seber asked himself that he couldn't do it.

   Therefore, Seber tried his best to compare the figure and style of the other party with the classmates and colleagues he remembered, but he couldn't think of anyone who had the ability.

  Suddenly, there was a rustling sound behind him.

  Cerber vigilantly held the dagger and asked in a low voice, "Who?"

   "It's me, Major." A lieutenant with clean shaved hair and a blue-tinged scalp crawls beside Seber, bows his neck and reports in a low voice, "The prisoner has been recruited."

  Cerber put down his dagger and continued to observe the enemy's situation: "Speak."

   "The prisoners said they were from the Sixth Legion."

  Cerber turned his head sharply, his eyes glaring: "The Sixth Legion?"

   The lieutenant hurriedly explained: "It's not our Sixth Legion, it's the Sixth Legion reorganized by the Great Council, also called 'Kings'."

  Cerber snorted coldly and turned his back.

"There are more interesting things." The lieutenant licked his lips and continued to report: "According to what the prisoners said, they were recruited and trained in Xilin Province, and they had been stationed in Xilin Province before, and they just arrived in Maplestone City the day before yesterday. "

  Cerber asked without looking back: "A prisoner's words are reliable?"

   "They were all interrogated individually, and the answers were mostly the same, so it shouldn't be a collusion."

  Cerber gave a "hmm" and asked again, "How much do they know about the situation in Maplestone City?"

"They don't know anything." The lieutenant replied: "According to their statement, they never entered Maple Leaf Fort at all. They just stayed in Maple Stone City for one night and hurried on the road. However, according to them, Maple Leaf Fort gave them an additional one. The brigade, plus their original five brigade, a total of six brigades are currently heading to Green Valley."

  Cerber did a mental calculation and found that there were almost 3,000 people in the six brigades, which basically matched the information he had observed.

"That is to say, these people are not members of the New Reclamation Corps - reinforcements from the Grand Council have arrived." Major Cerber sighed and asked his subordinates: "Did you send someone to Green Valley to inform Captain Montagne of the latest enemy situation? "

The lieutenant    replied in a low voice, "No."

  Cerber turned his head, his eyes became sharp: "What do you mean?"

   "There is another piece of information, also explained by the prisoner." The lieutenant said slowly: "You need to decide whether to inform Captain Montagne."

   "Don't talk nonsense! Talk."

"There are only five battalions of the so-called Sixth Legion in this group of Great Council troops who traveled by land to Maplestone City." The lieutenant licked his lips again and said hesitantly, "According to the prisoners, the other members of the Sixth Army of the pseudo-government The five brigades came by boat..."

  Cerber's mind instantly exploded with countless possibilities: "Come by boat? When did you come? Where are you now?"

   "I don't know." The lieutenant answered honestly: "They only know that the other five battalions came to the new land by boat."

Cerber's head began to hurt, he emptied his mind, stared at his subordinates, and said coldly: "The information given by the captive... No, send the captive to Captain Montagne! Go now! You personally go!"

   The lieutenant was seen guilty, and quickly saluted and answered yes.

   "Don't go yet." Sebo stopped his subordinates and pointed to the purplish red horse colonel at the foot of the hillside: "Have the prisoners explained the identity of the commander of the enemy reinforcements?"

   "It is said that his last name is Felt, his name is Alder, and he is a major."

   "Old Felt." Seber frowned and chewed for a long time: "Why haven't I heard of it, it doesn't seem to be the name of a Palatine?"

   "It's not from us Paratus, it's from the Union Province." The lieutenant explained: "It was originally here to help the puppet government to train new recruits, and this time they also went on an expedition."

  Cyber ​​chuckled: "So that's it...Did you bring your soldiers?"

   "Yes." The lieutenant nodded heavily: "Four tents and twenty-four cavalry, all are waiting behind."

   "How many veterans."

"half."

   "Then let's try." Seb opened his mouth and moved his lower jaw vigorously, revealing two pointed teeth. He instructed his subordinates: "Leave your squad to me. Take the prisoners to Green Valley and report the latest military situation to Captain Montagne."

  The wind blew through the wheat field where the beast was hiding, but it made the figure of the beast more and more difficult to detect.

   "The provincial guy." Seb Carrington stared at the colonel riding a purplish red horse under the hillside, and spat: "You're out of luck today."

  …

   Behind is Maplestone City, in front is Maiqiu Town, on both sides are gently undulating earthbags, and at the foot is the dusty Provincial Avenue.

   In the face of frequent harassment and provocation, and the situation of surrounding enemies was smeared, Major Alder Felt could only choose to swallow his voice and bury his head on the road.

After he led people to run, he personally confirmed the loss of the light cavalry unit: less than a day after leaving Maplestone City, half of the light cavalry assigned to him in the squadron lost more than half, and the rest of the light cavalry were also full of fighting spirit. none.

   The honorary officer in charge of commanding the light cavalry looked ashamed, and stood in front of Major Alder Felt with his head bowed, not daring to say a word.

Major    Felt sighed, but in the end he didn't say anything harsh. Because he knew very well that the current situation could not be blamed on this honorary officer who had just been trained.

  The harassment of small groups of enemy horses continued, and hoofs and gunshots sounded from time to time on both sides of the road.

Major    Felt could only order to ignore it and continue on his way.

   There is no way, if he stands by or reacts violently, the marching speed will inevitably be slowed down, but instead the opponent's intention will be fulfilled.

   Major Felt took part in actual combat in Palato for the first time, and he immediately understood the difference between the art of war in the country of galloping horses and the densely populated and water-networked provinces.

   Fortunately, the town of Maiqiu is in front. Once you enter the fortified town, the harassment of a small group of light cavalry will be meaningless.

   "Don't be lazy!" Major Felt stood on the side of the road and encouraged his soldiers loudly: "When you arrive at McCue Town, you can rest as much as you like."

The    soldiers responded to the major's speech with silence.

   Major Felt knew that he was not good at eloquence, so he waved his whip and rushed to the front of the queue.

   He had just turned a sharp bend at the bottom of the **** when he suddenly heard the sound of hoofs resounding like hail.

Major    Felt looked up, and a small group of cavalry leaped from the backslope of the hillside and charged straight at him like arrows.

  …

  [Gyeongho County]

  [Green Valley Town]

The troops of   Tiefeng County did not stay overnight in Green Valley Town, but found an open space outside the town to camp.

  The prisoners were also led outside the town and interrogated and screened one by one.

   In addition to the company responsible for guarding the north and south gates, only Ciel led the gendarmerie into Green Valley Town and seized the materials and property of the New Reclamation Corps.

   The frightened residents of Green Valley Town found that the "rebels" were far more peaceful than expected.

  The officer who asked the merchants in the town to purchase supplies spoke softly, with an amiable attitude, and used real money for settlement.

   The mayor of Lvgu Town consciously collected a batch of wine, meat and flour, and sent them to the camp outside the town with several town representatives.

   After winning the battle and having extra meals, the camp of the new army in Tiefeng County was filled with a happy atmosphere inside and outside - except for the large tent of the Chinese army.

   The large tent of the Chinese army was silent.

   The guards and clerks did not even dare to breathe hard, because Winters Montagne was contemplating the map.

   "Do you still need to hesitate?!" Andre couldn't bear the torturous silence any longer. He stood up, pointed to the map, and cut through the mess:

"Since the enemies of Maple Leaf Castle climbed out of the tortoise shell, they must not be allowed to retreat again! If you kill them, Maplestone City will be at your fingertips! The people of Leiqun County did not say, 'In the warehouses of Maplestone City, there are piles of grain and grass like mountains'. . The wealth that General Adams has saved will not be taken for free. They can use it, and we can use it as well."

   Winters is still weighing.

   On the map in front of him, an enemy army was heading towards Green Valley from Maplestone City.

On the other side of Yinque Mountain, it means that the troops of Baishan County, Leiqun County and Bianjiang County are still in Changhu Town and have not moved their positions for six hours—because the last communication cavalry arrived at six hours ago.

   If you count the time the communication cavalry took to travel, then at least ten hours ago, the main force led by Colonel Bode had already left Longhu Town and marched towards Snake Lake.

  According to the original plan, although the four-county coalition forces separated the Tiefeng County army to guard the back road, the troops of Baishan County, Leiqun County, and Bianjiang County would still have the advantage in terms of strength against the Sanel Department.

if only…

  Winters picked up a chess piece, rubbed it in his hand, and said to himself, "As long as the Sarnell department doesn't get reinforcements."

Yes, if Sarnell's corps does receive unexpected reinforcements, then the main force of the twelve brigades led by Colonel Bode will not be facing the "possibly ten brigades" of Sarnell's corps. .

   It is the Sarnell department that "has at least twelve brigades, and may even expand to fourteen".

   "If Sarnell is really reinforced by the castles of the kings." Winters raised his head, looked at Andre, and said coldly: "Colonel Bode may be in danger."

"Do you really believe that crying boy?" Andre was anxious: "Didn't he also hear the news of the good news? Who knows the truth? What if he deceives you? What if he is dead? How to do?!"

Winters repeated slowly: "If Sarnell is really reinforced by the castles of the kings, Colonel Bode may be in danger. If Colonel Bode's main force is defeated, the garrison in Vigne will definitely be dispatched. By then, we will have nowhere to go.”

  Andre's face turned ashen, and under extreme pressure, he unconsciously became extremely violent.

Andre's face was angry, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Since Colonel Bode is deployed like this, we can only trust him! Just like he trusts us! Or else? Support the main force? What about Green Valley? The back road of the army What should I do? Even if I really give up Green Valley and support Colonel Bode, maybe it's too late!"

   He slammed the table: "There are ten thousand birds in the forest, it is better to have one bird in hand! If you want me to say it! Hit Maplestone City!"

  Winters supported the marching table, and under extreme pressure, he became unusually quiet - as if the person who won the title of "Blood of the Wolf" was not Winters Montagne.

   He stared at the map and said nothing.

[This "face-to-face meat detective" tactic was not invented or imagined by me. Let's not talk about it from a distance. It is said that during the Peninsular War, the British staff will approach the French army's field of vision, but the guns can't hit the position. Blatantly detect and record the movements of the French army. The French army came out to chase, and they ran away. It is said that the British staff's riding skills were very good, so the French light cavalry was often thrown away by a few crossings. Playing like this...] [Thanks to book lovers for their collections, reading, subscriptions, recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, rewards and comments, thank you all]

   (end of this chapter)