Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 289 The Night Before
Where is Winters Montagne? This question also troubles Samukin.

As dawn approached, Samukin, who had been anxiously waiting all night, finally saw torches waving on the opposite bank. He immediately dispatched small boats to ferry people across the river.

Night battles are chaotic melees, with both sides fighting haphazardly based on courage and skill, without any discernible formation.

In such a situation, once the infantry is overwhelmed by the cavalry, only slaughter awaits them.

Therefore, Winters ordered that the garrison troops along the riverbank should only be allowed to cross upon seeing the signal.

Winters did not expect to fight a tough battle with the civilians he had conscripted. It would be difficult for them to do a good job of treating the wounded, cleaning up the battlefield, and gathering the stragglers and those who had been separated from their units.

"We won." Samukin arrived at the west bank by boat with boundless joy, but soon he was hit with bad news from Bart Sharing, leaving him dizzy.

“The centurion isn’t here,” Bart Sharing told Samukin in a whisper after dismissing the others.

"What did you say?" Samukin was startled.

"Keep your voice down." Bart Sharling's eyes were serious, and his face was tense. "Not many people know about this yet."

"what happened?!"

“I’ve searched all the battlefields on the west bank, but I can’t find the centurion.” Bart Sharling maintained his composure: “But Charles and Heinrich are not here either, so they should be alright.”

"Where is Tamas?" Samukin pressed.

"It's with me."

"He doesn't know where the centurion is?" Samukin roared. "What is he doing?!"

“He’s injured, quite badly,” Bart Sharling said in a low voice.

Samukin clenched his fists, looked around, and suddenly slammed his fist on his thigh: "Ouch!"

The situation on the west bank is currently extremely chaotic.

Last night, Winters fought seven battles and captured sixteen battalions in succession, breaking through all obstacles and routing all those he attacked.

The leaders of the Teldun tribe were unsure of the exact number of enemies, only seeing wave after wave of their defeated followers fleeing towards them. The thought of preserving their strength took precedence, and they all decided to flee first.

In the end, wherever the Winters banner went, the Teltowns were utterly routed.

Winters also suffered a large number of riders who fell from their horses and became separated from the pack. More riders were injured than killed in action.

After the sounds of fighting subsided, the situation became even more chaotic.

Some of the defeated Teldun soldiers roamed the battlefield like crows, looting the dead and stripping them of their clothes.

The fleeing Teldun leader, seeing an opportunity, secretly led his men back.

The wounded and riders from Tiefeng County were scattered along the riverbank; those who managed to reach the riverbank on their own and wait for the fleet to rescue them were considered lucky.

One rider broke his leg in a fall and was unable to move. If it weren't for the search and rescue team searching along the route, he would have been left to wait for death in despair—and he wasn't the only injured person in this situation.

“One of the wounded said… the centurion went to pursue the barbarian chieftain’s men.” Bart Sharing gritted his teeth. “I think that makes sense. Let’s gather the able-bodied men and send them to meet the centurion. What do you think?”

"Company Commander!" A scout galloped up, stopping just in front of Bart Sharling's nose. The scout dismounted, panting, and reported, "Sixty or seventy barbarians are coming this way along the riverbank!"

Upon hearing this, Bart Sharling's eyes widened like those of a hawk.

Samukin gazed at the chaotic scene at the makeshift ferry crossing: the endless stream of wounded being brought back, fathers and sons weeping over corpses, and weapons and armor haphazardly piled up on the other side, not yet ready to be transported...

"Let's put the Teldun matter aside for now!" Bart Sharing looked at Samukin: "How many men do you have who can ride horses?"

“There’s no need to go and meet the centurion.” Samukin made up his mind: “The centurion always says that everyone has their own responsibility, and victory depends on everyone fulfilling their duties. The tribunal Montagne has his responsibility, the company commander Sharling has his responsibility, and I have mine.”

"Don't fucking try to intimidate me with the centurion's words!" Bart Sharling roared in fury. "If something really happens... have you considered what would happen to Iron Peak County if something really happened to the centurion?"

“I’m handing over all the men under my command who are willing to fight to you.” Samukin looked Bart Sharing straight in the eyes: “We’ll stick to the original plan. You’ll intercept the barbarians who are trying to launch a counterattack, and I’ll clean up the battlefield.”

Bart Sharing was about to say something, but suddenly pursed his lips and stared.

Samukin followed the other person's gaze and looked back. He saw two plumes of thick smoke rising from the southwest, one white and one gray—it was Xia Tiefeng County.

White beacon fires have been lit in Xia Tiefeng County before, and gray beacon fires have also been lit, but two beacon fires, one white and one gray, are unprecedented.

Bart Sharling suppressed his anger and gradually calmed down: "They're here."

"Hmm." Samukin looked at the two plumes of smoke: "They're here."

……

Ha Tie Feng County, on the banks of the Da Jiao River.

"Don't pour it all in!" Young horseman Anglu shouted, pushing the bellows frantically. "It'll go out! Burn it little by little!"

Burning oak wood produces white smoke, which turns into ash smoke when mixed with rotten leaves.

The men, their faces filled with panic, were running around two huge earthen stoves, eager to dump all the firewood and rotten leaves into the furnaces at once.

The unburnt wood and humus turned into thick smoke, which was collected by the two long chimneys and flew into the sky.

This outpost, less than a mile from the riverbank, had been hidden until today and was only used for the first time. Further north, there were many other hidden outposts with two beacon towers each.

There will only be one situation in which two beacon fires will rise – when the Teldun people “cross the river”, not referring to a small-scale crossing of a hundred or so people, but to the crossing of the main force of the Teldun Khanate numbering in the thousands.

"Ten riders! Something terrible has happened!" A rider rushed into the camp: "The barbarian light cavalry saw the signal fire! They're coming!"

Anglu threw down the bellows, grabbed the man by the collar, and angrily asked, "I sent you to check if the barbarian chieftain's banner has crossed the river! Has it crossed?"

"Passed! Horse-tail flags! There are at least dozens of them!"

Anglu released his grip and ordered the others, "Retreat!"

Anglu mounted Redmane, and the others rode off on their horses, which were already saddled, leaving the Teldun people with an empty camp.

……

Lower Iron Peak County, Wolf Village, Ronald's secret camp.

Major Ronald is talking to the mysterious Father Saul.

The old Hard slave known as "Bald Tail," who called himself "Brother Saul," was fluent in Hardese, Common, Old Language, and the Church's Old Language, and he was knowledgeable about the customs and traditions of Plato, the United Provinces, and even the Empire.

But aside from his holy order and the name "Saul," the old slave didn't mention a single thing about his order, when and where he was born, or who ordained him.

Even with a knife to his throat, he only answered, "The Catholic Church can prove my identity."

The officers did not believe that the old slave in front of them was the so-called "Father Saul," and continued to monitor him as closely as they would slaves and prisoners. The old slave did not object and accepted his fate.

Soon, the old slave proved his worth—a “Palatu” who knew more about Teldun’s inner workings than he did could probably not be found anywhere in the newly established provinces.

From interrogating prisoners and identifying enemy affiliations to the temperament of the Zhukotas and the common tactics of the Teldun tribe, the old slave Bald Tail knew everything.

The intelligence about the ambush on the Bald Dogs was provided by the old slave, and the process was just as the old slave said: although there were two other groups of Teldun people near the Bald Dogs' camp, none of them came to the Bald Dogs' aid.

Because "the Bald Dog was formerly a guard of the Fire-Burning People, and relied on their trust to act arrogantly and domineeringly, the other lords of the Terdun tribe were happy to see the Bald Dog die."

The old slave's status rose within Ronald's small unit, and people gradually began to call him "Father Saul," and even started having him preside over Mass.

“I still don’t quite understand,” Father Saul asked Ronald casually. “Why do you, Mr. Eppel, and Mr. Adam risk your lives for a bunch of peasants? Just hide in a strong fortress, and the Teltonians will leave once they’ve looted enough. That’s what the nobles of Plato did many years ago.”

“Monk.” Ronald was sharpening his arrowheads and answered without looking up, “There are no nobles in the Republic anymore. My father was an ordinary merchant.”

“When the Lord created the things, He did not create a separate class of people called nobles.” Father Saul held his rosary, his eyes lowered like a deep pool: “You were created to serve the government through violence. Not only to defend against external enemies, but also to suppress internal rebellions, this behavior is consistent with that of the nobles.”

"Aren't you a citizen?"

"Below citizens are slaves, and in this sense, the free citizens are also nobles. Their status is lower than some people and higher than others."

“What you said…may have some merit.” Ronald put down the arrowhead and picked up another broken stone arrowhead. “But as you said, we weren’t shaped by the emperor, the king, or the grand duke; the nation shaped us. So we are not loyal to the crown, but to the nation. As for what the nation is—is it the regime? The army? The people? I haven’t figured it out…but it’s certainly not the Hed…”

Footsteps sounded, and Lieutenant Adam came running up, panting.

"Smoke signals, two in a row." Adam, supporting himself on his knees, swallowed hard. "One white, one gray, they're here."

“Yes, it’s here.” Ronald sharpened the arrowhead repeatedly.

...Zhongtiefeng County, along the banks of the Pangtuo River.

Bud, in the refugee camp, also saw two plumes of smoke rising.

“Get everyone ready,” Bard said to Ish. “The Teldens are coming.”

……

The vast wilderness.

A dozen or so Terdon quiver soldiers galloped for their lives, whipping their warhorses without stopping for a moment.

A quiver soldier turned around in terror, then cried out in a sob, "[Herd] is still behind us, we can't escape! Burn it! Burn it!"

His words, mingled with the sound of the wind and hooves, sounded somewhat sobbing.

The lead quiver soldier yelled, "[Herd] Burn? There's no time for that! Run!"

The quiver soldiers had been fleeing for an unknown amount of time, from night until day.

These quiver-wielding soldiers were the guards of the fire-warmers; there were originally seventy of them.

There were only three pursuers. When they first appeared behind them, the quiver-wielding soldiers split off half of their men to intercept them, but they failed.

They split off another half of their forces, but the pursuers remained relentlessly close behind.

The quiver soldiers dared not fight any longer and fled westward with their heads down.

"[Herd] Split!" another quiver soldier shouted. "[Herd] Split into two wings!"

The lead quiver soldier gritted his teeth and nodded.

……

New Reclamation Land, Maplestone City, Headquarters of the New Reclamation Land Legion.

Colonel Chloe, the legion's administrator, had his office kicked open and Colonel Bode stormed in, his anger barely contained by the two burly guards who couldn't stop the somewhat frail, one-armed old soldier.

Colonel Bode, not bothering with pleasantries, barked as soon as he entered, demanding, "So what happened? Have you produced any results?!"

Colonel Chloe gestured for the two guards to leave, then said to Colonel Bode with a forced smile, "I just finished a military intelligence meeting and was just about to talk to you."

"Say!"

“Vorne County is a complete mess, sending twelve messengers a day for help. Mirror Lake County’s borders are also unstable…”

"Yes or no?" Colonel Bode slammed his fist on the table and roared, "One word, get it straight!"

"After the battle in mid-September, most of the conscripted garrison troops were disbanded and are still regrouping. The military command's intention is to proceed cautiously, sending troops from Maplestone City via the northern route. First, they will repel the Hed people of Worne County, and then advance to suppress Iron Peak County..."

"The garrison troops of Jiang County, Baishan County, and Leiqun County over there?" Colonel Bode's brow furrowed tightly. "You can't move, and they can't move either?!"

"If necessary, we can accept refugees from Tiefeng County. The tentative battle plan... remains to establish defenses along the Anya River." Colonel Chloe's expression was complicated: "Senior, the situation in Tiefeng County... is already like that. If the Hed people break through the Anya River and enter Baishan County... then it will truly be like having a knife plunged into the heart of the Hed people..."

Colonel Chloe lectured on her reasoning, while Colonel Bode remained silent.

In the end, Colonel Chloe stopped talking, and the two sat in silence.

“By the way, weren’t you going back to Kingsburg?” Colonel Chloe forced a smile and said to Colonel Bode, “The Legion has already arranged your carriage, guards, and credentials. Kingsburg welcomes you back and even said they want to invite you to join the new Army Council as a standing member, and they also want to promote you…”

"Hahahaha." Colonel Bode suddenly threw his head back and laughed, his laughter unusually joyful and carefree, leaving Colonel Chloe somewhat at a loss for words.

"You?" Colonel Chloe asked with some concern, "What's wrong?"

"In the end..." Colonel Bode laughed heartily, "...you guys are all ambitious but lacking in magnanimity, all vision but no talent. You're not even as good as that one-dimensional guy, Alpad!"

Colonel Chloe was taken aback.

"I don't need your carriages, guards, or identification." Colonel Bode stood up and straightened his appearance slightly. "Give me three horses and a bag of rations, and I can walk by myself."

after an hour.

The drawbridge in Maplestone City slowly descended, and a one-armed old soldier rode his horse out of the city and rode away.

……

Around the same time, far, far west of Maplestone City—in the winter pastures of the Teldun tribe—a similar story was unfolding.

The Hede people call their winter pastures "winter nests," which are usually located on low-lying riverbanks or in valleys surrounded by mountains.

In short, go wherever it's better to spend the winter.

As one of the three major tribes, the Teldun tribe naturally occupied one of the best winter pastures. Therefore, their winter pastures were adjacent to the Jinliu River, probably the lowest-lying and warmest place in the wasteland during winter.

Winter came a little late this year, but it has finally arrived. As far as the eye can see, the overwintering grasslands are all withered and yellow, with not a trace of green in sight.

In this yellow-green sea, there is an inconspicuous little hill, with seven felt tents pitched on the leeward side of the hill, and a circle of horse-drawn carriages surrounding the tents.

Seven felt tents, dozens of cattle, a hundred or so horses, and several hundred sheep—that's about the size of a "small tribe" in the Hart society.

These micro-tribes are usually maintained by blood ties, supporting two or three full-time warriors. They belong to a small family of a large tribe and can bring out dozens of subjects and slaves when war breaks out.

Because they overwinter in scattered locations, the free people in the tribe do not live here, but are distributed across grasslands within a radius of more than ten kilometers.

But at this moment, there were hundreds of horses grazing quietly on the hillside, far exceeding the size of a herd that a family with seven yurts should have.

In the camp, people were slaughtering sheep and burning stones to prepare food: fresh lamb meat was put into sheepskin bags, a little water and salt were poured in, then hot stones were put in, and finally the sheepskin bags were tied tightly.

More than twenty corpses, both men and women, lay silently outside the camp.

A man walked down the hillside, muttering curses under his breath.

The wind was blowing hard, and the man was wrapped up from head to toe, with only his handsome face showing.

The man ripped open the tent flap, his delicate features contorted with rage: "Damn it, I'm fucking peeing blood! Are we there yet? Do we have to go any further west?"

Another tall man sat inside the felt tent. He was shaving with a military knife and didn't answer.

"What's so great about it!" The handsome man snapped, "Who are you trying to impress? Does anyone even care?"

"Today." The tall man put down his military knife. "No need to go any further west."

"Great!" The handsome man was overjoyed. "Do you know where we are?"

"I don't know." The tall man took off his ill-fitting robe, carefully took out a hussar uniform from his saddlebag, and meticulously removed the dust and smoothed out the wrinkles: "We'll see where we end up."

When Lieutenant Andrea Cellini stepped out of the felt tent, he had already changed into a full hussar uniform.

The melody of the bugle call echoed down the hillside as cavalrymen assembled and lined up from all parts of the camp.

Later that day, nearly a hundred cavalrymen rode away, and a fire rose up from the hillside.

……

Winters did not return to the banks of the Big Horn River until the battlefield on the west bank was cleaned up.

A slight smile finally appeared on Samukin's tense face, and the invisible boulder pressing on his chest suddenly shattered.

Before Samukin could report the results of the battle, Winters, exhausted to the point of collapse, pulled a large wad of bloody, wool-like stuff from his saddlebag and threw it to Samukin: "Get someone to clean it up."

Samukin looked at it several times before he could figure out what he was holding. His eyes widened suddenly: "This... why did you snatch this..."

Before Samukin could say anything more, Winters on horseback had already fallen headfirst.

The crowd helped the official up.

“Two beacon fires, one white and one gray,” Bart Sharling reported. “The main force of the Teldun has bypassed Tiefeng County; they are coming.”

"it is good."

People only heard the military tribunal utter a single word before they realized he had lost consciousness.

[Thank you to all the readers for your collections, reading, subscriptions, recommendations, monthly tickets, donations, and comments. Thank you everyone!]


(End of this chapter)