Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 220 Galloping Horse
Gold was still very weak and could hardly sustain the long journey.

Winters was also injured and needed to find a place to catch his breath.

Just as Charles was stitching up Winters' wound, the three of them had already decided on their next step: to go to Wolf Town.

If the only purpose is to recover from an injury, it is best to hide nearby.

But they were unfamiliar with the land of galloping horses, and their accents alone would give away their status as outsiders.

They had no relatives or friends to provide them with shelter—except for the villagers of Wolf Town.

Winters couldn't seek help from Consul Veneta either, as the city was likely under martial law, and entering the city would be too risky.

Pursuers could arrive at any moment, so they must get as far away from the Kings' Fortress as possible.

Of course, there's another crucial reason: Winters wanted to visit Wolftown.

Without delay, the three changed their clothes and set off immediately.

……

Winters learned his counter-tracking skills from the giant bear in Wolf Town.

Instead of taking the main road, he entered the fields and first detoured to the northwest.

When he came across a stream or river, he would wade through it to eliminate the smell; then he would come ashore from the hard rocky beach so that he would not leave hoofprints.

Will these methods work? Winters couldn't guarantee it.

However, thanks to these measures, the giant bear once escaped the pursuit of the most skilled old hunter in Wolf Town, and it shouldn't be difficult for him to shake off a few militiamen from Kingsburg.

After nightfall, the three of them camped out in a wooded area.

Because Winters' wound was still bleeding and Gold needed rest, they did not travel through the night.

They rested until the following night, and only after confirming that no one was chasing them did they turn southwest under the cover of darkness.

The newly reclaimed land is located at the southwestern end of Palatour, and Wolf Town is located at the southwestern end of the newly reclaimed land.

The salami war between Palatine and the Hed tribes resulted in a fragmented control of their respective territories, with only a roughly 100-kilometer uninhabited buffer zone maintained between them.

Uninhabited areas are defined by natural boundaries such as mountains and rivers, and these boundaries are constantly changing.

However, because the Iron Peak County where Wolf Town is located is too remote, it is located on the northern foothills of the Golden Peak Mountain Range, so Palatul has never expanded his territory from this location in recent years.

Winters and his two companions traveled at night and rested during the day, eating dried meat and meat floss brought back from the wilderness, and avoiding villages and towns as much as possible.

If necessities need to be purchased, only Shire should be allowed to go and buy them.

After leaving the territory of Zhuwangbao and Xilin Province, and confirming once again that there were no pursuers, Winters and his two companions resumed their normal routine and returned to the main road.

Winters also bought a horse for a whopping forty Ducats, and it wasn't even a top-quality horse.

The price has nearly doubled compared to last year; with the outbreak of war, the price of horses has also risen sharply.

Winters desperately needed to buy a horse; there were three of them but only four horses, so they had to buy one, no matter how expensive it was.

At first, Winters was traveling towards Wolf Town with a sense of ease.

But the further he went, the heavier his heart became.

The destructive power of war on society was laid bare before him; there were no more caravans or farmers selling fruits, vegetables, and eggs.

The few travelers on the road saw each other, silently wrapped their cloaks tighter and gripped their weapons, only breathing a sigh of relief once they were far away.

Red rose flags have been raised in most cities, especially in the area south of the Jinliu River. They conscript laborers, build fortifications, collect supplies, block roads, and rigorously inspect passersby.

It is said that not long ago, the Blue Rose's forces crossed the Ember River and mercilessly swept through the areas loyal to the Red Rose.

Winters and his two companions had to be extra careful.

……

Newly Reclaimed Land Province, a village without a name on the map.

"We didn't find anyone alive." Charles jogged back and whispered, "We also didn't find anything to eat. There are a few new graves on the west side of the village. The villagers who were still alive must have buried the bodies and fled."

Winters nodded.

What lies before us is not a village, but the ruins of a small village.

This was originally a very small village, with only seven or eight households in the courtyard.

Perhaps there were men and women who cultivated the surrounding farmland year after year, living a difficult and tenacious life here.

But now it's all gone, only ruins remain after being burned by fire.

“Let’s go,” Winters said to Charles and Gold as he climbed into his saddle. “We’ll go to the next village and see if we can buy some food.”

The three rode away, and the charred ruins returned to deathly silence.

Winters was unaware of the suffering people were enduring, for he was simply on his way.

However, he had a direct impression that there were very few vendors on the road, but a great many robbers and bandits.

He found it increasingly difficult to buy supplies, and even the smallest villages kept their doors closed, refusing to receive strangers.

After leaving the direct jurisdiction of Kingsburg and the province of Westlin—the area under the actual control of the Red Rose—Winters encountered bandits almost every day.

Once he entered the newly reclaimed land, this frequency increased to twice or even three times a day.

Most of the robbers were terrified farmers; their hands, gripping pitchforks and machetes, trembled as they threatened Winters.

Many of the bandits were seasoned robbers and defeated soldiers who had taken in peasants who didn't even have shoes.

Winters couldn't bring himself to kill the former, only knocking their weapons away; as for the latter, he only took down those who were clearly habitual thugs.

"Get out!" Winters was at a loss for words. "Go home!"

The robbers scattered, but they will come back.

“Wolftown will be alright.” Winters told himself over and over again, “With Mayor Girard there, and Wolftown being so remote, it will be fine.”

He tried his best not to think about terrible things and hurried on his way.

……

The sun was setting in the west, and it was getting dark.

After crossing the Blackwater River and following the rammed earth road over two small hills, you will see the spire of the Wolf Town Church.

Winters knew this road very well, because he had walked it countless times.

Winters lived in Wolftown for less than six months, but for him, Wolftown felt like home.

He left this place as a spirited young man. The lads of Wolf Town sang songs as they followed him toward the war.

When he returned, the laughing and joking lads of Wolftown were gone; Winters brought back only wounds all over his body.

When he had gone through all sorts of hardships and once again stopped his horse on the hillside, he could not see the pointed top with brass nails.

"Did I go to the wrong place?" Winters asked Charles, his voice trembling slightly.

"That's right, this is Wolf Town."

"go!"

Winters spurred his horse on the flank, charged down the hillside, and galloped toward Wolf Town Square.

Wolf Town was right in front of him, but he didn't recognize it.

The church was destroyed.

The white-painted exterior walls were burned to charcoal, the clock tower collapsed, and the large clock was sadly half-buried in the ruins.

Only the original stone structure of the church remains. The stone walls stand alone, the wind whistling through the holes in them.

Old Misha's blacksmith shop is destroyed.

Archie's grocery store is ruined.

The town hall and police station have also been burned to ashes.

Many graves in the cemetery had even been dug up, with remains scattered around the tombstones.

“This…this…” Charles was shocked, angry, and grief-stricken; his hands gripping the reins trembled. “How could this happen?”

“It must be a thief,” Gold said in a low voice. “They dug up the coffin and stole the burial goods…”

Winters suddenly whipped his horse and galloped wildly toward Mitchell Estate.

He thought of the generous and magnanimous Gerald, the gentle and kind Mrs. Mitchell, and Scarlett, who was about the same age as Ella and like a sister to him, and who clung tightly to his arm when the Mitchells argued.

"Don't die," Winters prayed. "Don't die."

If there truly is a supreme being, he prayed to Him for the first time.

The once thriving Mitchell Estate has been completely transformed.

The tobacco fields that once covered the hillsides are now overgrown with weeds, and the fences surrounding the estate have collapsed under the wind and rain.

There were no people working in the fields, only flocks of birds fluttering and flying away.

Fortunately, Winters saw a wisp of smoke rising from Mitchell's mansion.

A glimmer of hope ignited in Winters' heart. He spurred his horse on, leaping over the damaged fence and into the manor, heading straight for the courtyard behind the oak tree, startling a flock of birds in his wake.

The people inside the house also heard the series of hoofbeats.

They calmly and deliberately ran inside and outside the house to hide their jewelry, poultry, and livestock.

A small, thin figure ran out of the house through the front door and headed towards the cowshed.

But when the small figure saw who was running towards them, she froze.

Winters reined in his horse at the steps, leaped off the saddle, and the small, thin figure cried as she threw herself into his arms.

It was only then that Winters realized that the thin, bony boy was actually a soft girl, Scarlett—the apple of Mitchell Plantation's eye.

“They say you’re dead.” Scarlett cried uncontrollably, “Mama! Mr. Montagne is back!”

Winters was at a loss for what to do, so he gently patted Ms. Little on the back: "It's alright, it's alright."

Mrs. Mitchell descended the steps; she had also become thinner, but her demeanor remained unchanged, and her posture was still upright.

Mrs. Mitchell smiled genuinely, but she couldn't be as unrestrained as her daughter.

She curtsied to Winters: "It's so good to have you back."

Winters nodded in return, saying, "Madam."

Charles and Gold were quite a distance behind Wintes, but they finally caught up.

They were both very happy to see that the Mitchell family was safe and sound.

“Mr. Charles,” Mrs. Mitchell bowed slightly in greeting, “Mr. Gold.”

"Madam." The two men removed their hats and nodded in return.

Even a pirate like the old one showed Mrs. Mitchell the utmost respect.

“Mrs. Medellin,” Mrs. Mitchell called to the others in the room, “please boil some water and prepare a bath for the three gentlemen.”

A woman with a black veil tied around her head—meaning she was a widow—nodded and turned back into the house.

Gold scratched his head and laughed, "You're so thoughtful. Now that you mention it, I feel a little itchy too."

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Charles kicked the old pirate in annoyance. "Show some respect!"

"It's just taking a bath," the old pirate said, puzzled.

“Scarlett, take Mr. Montagne to his room and settle him in.” Ellen asked no further questions and calmly settled the three of them in. “I will arrange rooms for the two gentlemen. Granny, prepare dinner; I will come to help you in a moment.”

"No need, no need." The old pirate shook his head vigorously: "I'll stay in the servants' quarters with this kid."

"No, please come with me."

The hostess always managed to arrange everything perfectly, and everyone got busy.

The desolation and loneliness disappeared, and the place instantly transformed back into the vibrant Mitchell Estate.

Scarlett wiped away her tears, smiled, and took Winters' arm: "Come on, Winters, your room hasn't been touched. I'll clean it for you every day."

Winters felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had returned to Ocean's home, and in a daze, Scarlett's face transformed into Ella's face.

He was led upstairs to the second floor, back to the small apartment where he had previously stayed at Mitchell's house.

Nothing had changed; the setting sun streamed into the room through the west-facing window. It was still the same bed, the same twill bedding, the same oak table.

Winters stood at the door, hesitant to step inside.

Ella pushed him inside, laughing as she said, "You rest first. I'll call you to take a bath when the water gets hot. You're all sore all over, you need to take a good shower."

After saying that, Ella closed the door.

Winters slowly moved to the bedside and sat there blankly.

He smelled the familiar scent of soapberry, and Brother Rhett entered the room carrying a cane, explaining to him what "politics" was as if it had just happened.

Oh, right, Brother Reid is gone too.

He brought back Brother Rhett's ashes.

Winters carefully took out Brother Reid's urn and placed it securely on the table.

“Don’t worry, old man,” Winters thought to himself, “I’ll take you home, sooner or later.”

The east wind gently tapped on the windowpane, like an old charlatan laughing.

“Winters!” Scarlett called from downstairs, “You can come down and take a shower now.”

Winters took off his shirt, took out his personal belongings, and placed them one by one on the table.

A broken wine jug. One hundred and sixty-four unused wooden awls.

Erlun's knife.

Anna's locket and wood carving.

Finally, he reached into the hidden pocket of his jacket and found a small metal box.

Winters broke open the small tin box, inside which was a tuft of silver-gray mane.

He gently stroked Qiangyun, and suddenly tears streamed down his face.

After surviving his brush with death, he never cried again, not even once.

But at this moment, as if the dam in her heart had finally collapsed, Winters cried like a helpless child.

He leaned against the wall, slowly sitting down on the ground, crying harder and harder until he was almost wailing.

Ellen and Scarlett downstairs noticed something was wrong upstairs. Scarlett wanted to go upstairs to check, but Ellen stopped her.

Ellen quietly dismissed all the servants in the house.

Charles and Gold also returned to the first floor—Charles was also sobbing softly, and Gold sighed and led him to the courtyard.

Then, Ellen took her daughter for a walk.

Mitchell's mansion was left empty, with no one else remaining.

Winters came downstairs when Ellen and Scarlett returned from their walk.

His eyes were still red, but he was mostly recovered, and his appearance had returned to normal. Only his left leg was still a little weak.

“I can cry again,” he said.

“Tonight we’ll have my specialty, stewed chicken,” Ellen replied. “After you’ve taken a bath, please chop some firewood.”

……

It was another Sunday morning.

According to past custom, Catholics should go to the town church early in the morning to participate in the ceremony.

But ever since a group of defeated soldiers turned the town center into something unrecognizable, nobody went there anymore.

The church's gold and silver ritual objects were looted, Father Anthony died of anger, the church itself was burned to the ground, and even the dead were not spared by the fleeing soldiers.

The coffin was dug up, the burial objects were taken away, and the remains of the deceased were scattered throughout the cemetery.

The war lasted only three months before the tragic consequences became fully apparent.

"Just barely get by." That's what people say: "Live one day at a time."

In a corner of Mitchell Estate, a man is chopping wood.

He was shirtless, wearing only trousers, revealing shocking scars on his arms and chest.

With each chop, his muscles rippled like mercury.

He didn't seem to use much strength, but even a log as thick as a person's embrace was split in two in front of him.

The chopped firewood piled up under the eaves was almost a small mountain.

But the man continued chopping wood tirelessly.

Gold quietly approached the man from behind. The old pirate hesitated for a long time, then finally spoke to the man's back: "Sir, you don't need to blame yourself."

Winters continued chopping wood without saying a word.

"The firewood you chopped is enough for the Mitchell family to live on for a hundred years," Gold said, sitting down on a tree stump.

"I can't speak either, but you just need to understand what I mean."

Think about it, if you hadn't come to Wolf Town, would the war have stopped?
If you don't come, who will lead the Wolf Town militia to be conscripted? Isn't that Mr. Mitchell?
Did Mr. Mitchell lead troops as well as you? Didn't he end up in an even worse situation?

Just like when I was a pirate, I told myself, "If I don't rob them, will they not be robbed by others? Damn it, they're going to die sooner or later. The fact that they ran into me means that God has a plan for them..."

As he was speaking, Gold suddenly spat and complained to himself, "Hey! What nonsense am I talking about... As long as you understand what I mean, there's no need to blame yourself. They're lucky to have met you."

“I don’t blame myself, Gold.” Winters picked up a piece of wood and placed it on the stump. “I’m thinking about other things.”

The wood was split in two with a "bang".

"That's good." The old pirate stood up awkwardly. "We can leave now. We'll leave the Wolf Town matter there and go back to Veneta."

“Gold,” Winters asked without turning his head, “why did you help me?”

“Me? I don’t know either.” Gold sat back down on the tree stump, thought for a long time, and then said in a muffled voice, “I… I’m the youngest son in my family. My parents are tenant farmers. They couldn’t afford to raise me, so they sent me to work as a sailor on a ship. Life on a ship is terrible. The captain bullies people, and the sailors bully people too. On the ship, I’m the lowest of the low.”

If the captain had treated me like a human being, I would have followed him to the ends of the earth, even at the cost of my life. If the other sailors had treated me any better, I would never have betrayed them. Later, when the ship was hijacked and the pirates asked if anyone wanted to join, I agreed without the slightest hesitation.

Anyway, that's how it is. I don't even know why I ended up here. Consider it returning the water you left behind.

Winters chopped wood in silence, while Gold sighed and turned to leave.

After Winters returned to Mitchell Estate, the news that "the Montagne resident has returned" gradually spread throughout the villages.

Many villagers came to visit him.

It was from the villagers that Winters learned about the suffering Wolf Town had endured in the past few months.

When Gerard Mitchell was mayor, only the villages east and west of the river and Dusa respected him, while the two Protestant villages often clashed with him.

When Girard was drafted and replaced by Big Benting, even the Protestants began to miss Mayor Mitchell.

First came the relentless pursuit of land and tax payments, followed by round after round of conscription and grain requisition.

Landless laborers fled in droves, and when the authorities couldn't find enough people, they forcibly took away the self-cultivating farmers.

The men dared not sleep at home and would hide in the woods at night.

In mid-May, an officer who came to conscript soldiers disappeared, and Big Bentin fled to Zhevodan overnight, leaving Wolf Town in complete chaos.

While important figures are fighting on the horizon, defeated soldiers are rushing into newly reclaimed land.

Without its mayor, Wolf Town was no longer safe, with waves of fleeing soldiers and bandits. The villages could barely protect themselves, but they couldn't protect the town, and the town center was burned to the ground during that period.

April and May are the lean months when crops are scarce and surplus grain has been swept away. Farmers are waiting for the winter wheat harvest in early June.

They endured the hardship until June, only to be met with an even greater disaster.

Three groups of people arrived at the newly reclaimed land and began to requisition grain and people.

What was even more terrifying than the requisition of grain and people was that they harvested the wheat fields before the farmers could.

If a farmer dares to show his face and obstruct the process, he will be conscripted on the spot.

The two groups would fight each other when they met, and many wheat fields were burned to ashes.

Farmers don't understand the difference between red and blue roses.

For them, it was just a matter of wave after wave of people coming to steal their food.

Even the self-sufficient farmers could no longer survive; some nailed up their doors and windows and fled.

Their sheds stood empty and open, and the dilapidated courtyards grew increasingly desolate, becoming a sight to behold.

The farmers who remained were unwilling to leave the land. They planted barley, prayed for the autumn harvest, and struggled tenaciously.

The war had not yet reached the newly reclaimed lands, but the devastation inflicted on the people of those lands did not diminish in the slightest.

Because they don't belong to either side, even fewer people care about them.

Winters grew increasingly silent as he listened to the broken stories told by the people of Wolftown.

The people of Wolf Town had been battered and bruised by round after round of taxation, but when they heard that the Montagne resident official had a leg injury, he brought them precious eggs, flour, and even the last piece of cured meat left in his home.

Winters could only repeatedly persuade the villagers to take their belongings back.

He remembered that on his first night back at Mitchell Estate, Mrs. Mitchell made chicken stew.

At the time, I only thought it tasted good, but now that I think about it, it was from the Mitchell family's laying hen.

Winters could only silently chop wood, chopping tirelessly.

He dragged logs from the woods, sawed them into sections, and chopped them into firewood; the chopped firewood was piled up almost like a small mountain.

He repaired the broken fence of Mitchell Estate piece by piece.

He wanted to leave money for Mrs. Mitchell, but did the Mitchell family need money? What use is money in this world?

……

Winters' new wound had scabbed over and the swelling had subsided, and Gold's body was also recovering rapidly.

The day of parting finally arrived.

Mitchell and her daughter packed Winters's belongings and prepared his food.

“I’m sorry,” Winters said to Mrs. Mitchell.

“Don’t say that, Mr. Montagne.” Ellen kindly straightened Winters’ collar. “Without you, Pierre wouldn’t be alive. You are the Michel family’s benefactor, forever and ever.”

Scarlett's eyes were slightly red as she stood reluctantly behind her mother, but she didn't say a word to stop her.

“I’m sorry.” Winters lowered his head.

Ellen gave the young Venetian a rare hug, then turned to her daughter and instructed, "Darling, go and bring Botayun out."

Scarlett was already prepared. She nodded and led out a cloud-white horse from behind the house.

“I’m so sorry about Strong’s fate.” Ellen didn’t need Winters to say anything; she understood everything when she saw Strong hadn’t returned and when she saw Winters’ cane. “Please take this horse back to Veneta. Don’t ride it on the road, and don’t tire it out. It’s my husband’s best stallion, and Girard would like to give it to you as well.”

“No.” Winters shook his head desperately. “I can’t have it.”

“You must accept it,” Ellen said softly. “She carries the blood of great fortune.”

Winters was completely stunned, his body trembling involuntarily.

Scarlett gave Winters a hug, then wiped away her tears and put the reins in Winters' hands.

Winters mounted his horse and left Mitchell Estate. He didn't dare look back, but just kept going.

Charles and Gold followed silently behind.

The three of them rode their bicycles in silence, just like that.

Continue until you reach the fork in the road leading to Hexi Village and Langzhen.

An old woman with disheveled hair stood at the crossroads, her body wrapped in a dirty rag.

She leaned on a wooden stick, staring intently at the road leading to Wolf Town.

“Let’s go, sir,” Gold said in a low voice. “He’s a madman.”

Winters recognized the old woman; she had sat by the threshing floor, carrying her granddaughter on her back, washing clothes while chatting and laughing, and watching the men practice javelin throwing.

Winters took out all the money he had, dismounted, and walked to the old woman's side.

The old woman, as still as a stone statue, suddenly reached out and grabbed Winters' arm. She stared at Winters' face as if she recognized him.

A glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes.

"Sir," the old woman asked, "have you seen my son?"

Winters burst into tears.

“Let’s go, sir,” Gold said in a low voice.

Winters thought of Hailan, of Cosa, of Antonio, of Elizabeth, of the Great General and the Little General.

He remembered Brother Reid's words: "This is the easiest and simplest path. I've already shown it to you. What are you still hesitating about?"

He remembered Anna's smiling face and beautiful hair.

He remembered everything about his hometown.

……

……

"Boom."

"Boom."

"Boom."

Three knocks on the door, and Scarlett, sobbing, opened it.

Winters stood outside the door.

“I’m not leaving,” he said.

Scarlett cried and hugged Winters.

A rider gallops toward Veneta across the plains, with two other horses strapped to his saddle.

The rider's name is "Good Luck" Gold.

His backpack contained four letters.

The first three letters were addressed to Kosa Serbiati, Antonio Serbiati, and Elizabeth Serbiati.

The fourth letter was addressed to Anna Navarre.

There is only one sentence above.

"I'm still alive. I'm sorry, don't wait for me."

[End of Volume Two]
[Volume Two is finished!]
[This chapter contains a portrait of Anna; please remember to check it out.]
[A difficult choice. Winters ultimately followed Brother Reid's wishes and chose the more difficult path.]
[Thank you to all the readers for your collections, reading, subscriptions, recommendations, monthly tickets, donations, and comments. Thank you everyone!]
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(End of this chapter)