Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 429 The Great Alliance Marches Forward (Part Two)
[Newly Reclaimed Land Province]
[Border between County Vaughan and Maplestone]
As night fell, the army took a temporary rest on a hill between the provincial highway and the Dajiao River.

With tens of thousands of soldiers marching at breakneck speed, the marching column was inevitably stretched very long. While the soldiers at the front of the marching order were already setting up camp and feeding their horses, many troops at the back of the marching order had not yet arrived at their camp.

Colonel Bode casually sat down on a large rock by the roadside to rest, and asked the officers in front of him in a relaxed tone, "Still no movement from the Vaughan forces?"

“Yes, senior. The garrison in Vaughan County has not been mobilized.” Colonel Skull from Redgren County stood before Colonel Bode, answering cautiously.

"The scouts reported an hour ago that the garrison of Vaughan County is holding back, and the main force is still in Artemis. After the towns along the way discovered our marching column, they all chose to close their four gates tightly, and no abnormalities have been found yet."

Colonel Bode nodded as he pounded his aching knees.

……

For this expedition, the troops from Leiqun, Bianjiang, and Baishan counties first secretly assembled at Yuanhua Fort in Baishan County, and then crossed the Anya River under the cover of night to enter Tiefeng County and join forces with Winters Montagne's "garrison".

After continuing from Tiefeng County into Vone County, the allied forces of the four counties did not take the shortest route directly to Bazenaul, but instead detoured to the northwest for a while before marching north along the Big Horn River.

The reason is simple: the shortest route is also the most densely populated and heavily guarded route. For the allied forces of the four counties, time is their most powerful weapon and the resource they cannot afford to waste.

……

"The scouts at the rear have also sent back reports," Colonel Skull continued from memory. "Messers from Hammerhammer and Icebrook Valley sent messages to Artemis and Maplestone respectively today seeking help—they have been intercepted. Captain Loson has captured some men who were spying on our march, and I have ordered them brought in for questioning."

“When an army marches out, it’s like a herd of horses migrating. No matter how well they try to hide, they can’t be concealed.” Colonel Bode waved his hand dismissively. “Whether there are spies among them or not, we don’t need to pay them any attention. Just lock them up and make sure they don’t escape.”

……

When an army marches for more than sixteen hours a day, any officer who believes that his soldiers still have the capacity to build a camp that meets defensive standards will sooner or later be hanged by mutinous soldiers.

Therefore, the four counties' allied forces had no trenches or walls at their camp tonight. They simply set up a circle of barricades around the perimeter of the camp and then used wooden sticks and ropes to divide the interior into different areas.

The night, the weary soldiers, the camp lacking fortifications, the densely packed tents and supplies...

If you want to pinpoint the army's most vulnerable moment, then wait a few hours until it gets completely dark.

By then, a surprise attack by a hundred cavalry could completely destroy its order. And order is the key to an army's survival.

Fortunately, the commander of this army was more aware of his army's weaknesses than his enemies.

At this moment, thousands of light cavalry are patrolling and scouting around the main army, forming a net that is wide but not leaky, closely monitoring the marching route and the activities within a 50-kilometer radius of the camp.

This is also one of the reasons why the commander of this army chose the provincial highway on the east bank of the Dajiao River when planning the march route—marching along the river could reduce the workload of the light cavalry by at least one-third.

……

“Senior is right.” The bald officer standing next to Colonel Skull agreed: “We don’t need to pay any attention to them. We’ll just keep going. Even if we’re discovered, it doesn’t matter.”

The bald officer stood with his arms crossed, his right hand stroking the spiderweb-like scars on his left cheek, and smiled contemptuously:

"No matter how many scouts we have, we can't possibly stop all the scouts. Even if that kid Sandel is slow-witted, he can't possibly not realize that an army just walked past him. In the end, he's just pretending not to see! Fine, we're not expecting him to send troops anyway. He wants to sit on the fence? Let him continue sitting on the fence!"

The officers next to the bald colonel also laughed.

Colonel Bode felt some strength returning to his calves, so he supported himself on his knees and stood up.

He abandoned his relaxed and easygoing attitude, his tone becoming calm and authoritative: "Strictly order the rearguard cavalry to avoid any proactive contact with the Sandel tribe. However, if the garrison in Vone County dares to take a single step beyond Artemis, they shall be dealt with with the utmost decisiveness. At worst, we will take Vone County first, and then deal with Maplestone City slowly."

"Yes, sir!" The surrounding officers stood at attention and saluted in unison: "Commander."

Colonel Bode took the reins, stepped into the stirrups, mounted his horse, and waved his hand: "To Montagne's camp."

……

Among the four counties' allied forces, the "garrison army" of Tiefeng County seemed somewhat out of place.

This is not only because the organization of the garrison in Tiefeng County is different from that of the garrison troops in Baishan, Leiqun, and the border counties.

Furthermore, the garrison of Tiefeng County never mixed with troops from the other three counties when marching; they always marched in their own separate formation.

When setting up camp, the garrison of Tiefeng County did not join forces with the troops of the other three counties, but instead set up a separate camp at a certain distance from the main camp.

Even the supplies collected by the vanguard were given to the Iron Peak County garrison separately.

The officers of Baishan, Leiqun, and the three border counties all knew why, and when the soldiers had doubts, they were brushed off with excuses like "the Tiefeng County troops are reserves."

But no matter what, the gap is an objective reality.

Fortunately, the commander of the "New Reclamation Corps" elected by the four counties' allied forces was Colonel Bode.

In terms of family background, Colonel Bode came from one of the oldest and most influential families in Palatine; in terms of military achievements, his appointment as the chief battalion commander of the Sixth Army Corps speaks for itself; and even in terms of seniority, Bode Gates was the highest-ranking academic officer among all the newly established troops.

In a sense, Colonel Bode was the only officer in the newly established territory who was qualified to bear the "crime of rebellion".

Using his prestige and personal relationship with Winters Montagne, Colonel Bode single-handedly united the "rebels" and the "government forces" under one battle flag.

With Colonel Bode mediating, the Iron Peak County Officers Corps and the officers of the other three counties temporarily maintained a "harmonious" relationship.

……

At the camp of the new army in Tiefeng County, a monkey who was nailing up a tent heard the sound of horses' hooves, looked up and saw more than a dozen dignified officers galloping past him.

He chased after them, his eyes fixed on the officers on horseback, until their figures were obscured by other tents. He said enviously, "So majestic! So handsome! The horses are handsome! The clothes are handsome too! If only one day..."

When Lu Xirong returned from chopping wood, he kicked the monkey in the backside: "What are you standing there for? Did you feed the horse?"

"Feed him! Feed him!" The monkey grimaced in pain, clutching his rump and complaining, "Sir, how could I not feed him? That horse eats six meals a day, better than I do! Since leaving Tiefeng County, I've only had two meals a day! And they're all dry, hard bread!"

“You carry the horse’s loads yourself, and I’ll make you eat six meals a day! I’ll make you eat twelve meals a day!!!” Old Lu Xirong, who had been officially appointed as a sergeant, glared at him: “After feeding the horse, go fetch water! And dry your foot bindings! If you really have nothing to do, go to sleep. Tomorrow you’ll only have to walk a longer distance than today! Don’t complain then!”

Having already reprimanded the monkey, Lu Xirong still had a stern face: "After this battle, when you enter the training school and come out, you'll be just like those adults."

After saying that, Lu Xirong carried the firewood to start a fire, leaving the monkey standing by the roadside.

The monkey stood there for a while, scratched its head, and went back to the tent, shouting, "Paco! Paco!!"

A voice responded from inside the tent, and a burly, honest-looking soldier with thick lips stepped out: "Captain, what's wrong?"

"Come on! Let's go fetch water!"

The thick-lipped soldier named Paco nodded: "I'll go get the bucket."

Paco carried two buckets, and the monkey carried one bucket. The two walked through the camp to the riverbank.

As Paco lowered the bucket with the rope attached into the river, the monkey patted Paco on the shoulder: "Since you've been assigned to my tent, I won't let you be bullied. If anyone dares to bully you, come and tell me! I'll deal with them!"

It sounded quite comical that the skinny monkey was saying these words to the burly Paco.

But Paco simply nodded and replied, "Thank you, Chief." After the Battle of Shovel Harbor, the Iron Peak County New Army absorbed many prisoners of war from the Potar tribe.

Therefore, the monkey's "tent" was divided between two former Shovel Harbor militia members. The monkey particularly liked the honest and strong Paco... With Paco, he had much less physical labor.

"Don't be afraid, just do your job well now that you're here." The monkey said smugly, "You're now Lord Blood Wolf's soldier! In a few days, after you've earned some merit, you'll also get land! It's a pity you missed out on a good time, back then... oh my! One hundred acres per person!"

Paco's shoulders trembled slightly as he lifted the bucket full of water ashore and set down another bucket: "Thank you, Chief Pot."

The three buckets were quickly filled with water, and the monkey waved his hand: "Let's go! Back!"

Paco picked up two buckets of water and went to get a third.

"What?" The monkey raised its eyebrows and pushed Paco's hand away. "It's not like I can't carry it! If I let you carry it all, wouldn't that be bullying you? Let's go! Let's go back!"

After saying that, he carried a full bucket of water in both hands and walked laboriously toward his tent.

Paco, carrying two buckets of water, followed closely behind the monkey.

……

Meanwhile, in the stables of the Iron Peak County New Army, Colonel Bode and his men found Winters checking the hoofs of the horses one by one.

Colonel Geza dismounted, rubbed his bald head, and couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Where did this kid get so many horses? Sigh, I should have ripped him off..."

“Colonel.” Winters wiped his muddy hands clean and came over to greet him. “I heard everything.”

“So what if I heard?” Gaisa Adonis glanced at Winters Montagne. “You must have quite the influence to send three colonels to a meeting with a mere lieutenant like you.”

Winters stood at attention, saluted the three officers with perfect precision, and then looked at Colonel Bode with a puzzled expression.

"Alright," Colonel Bode waved his hand and joked, "He'd like to come into your camp and have a look. Are you willing to let him in?"

Gaisa snorted and looked at Winters. After a while, he muttered, "Senior Bode is just too biased towards you."

Colonel Gaisa Adonis may seem to be holding back a grudge against Captain Montagne, but he is actually subtly showing a friendly attitude.

In contrast, Colonel Skull, the highest-ranking military officer in Redfield County and who had previously joined forces with Iron Peak County, appeared rather taciturn.

In fact, from the moment he entered the Iron Peak County army camp, Colonel Skull had been carefully observing his surroundings.

From the soldiers' clothing and weapons to their morale, to the layout, discipline, and overall impression of the military camp, and even the quantity, quality, and condition of the horses.

What Colonel Skull saw made him even more alarmed and wary, who already took the Iron Peak County rebels very seriously, so he unconsciously became taciturn.

Interestingly, this was quite different from the infantry-based composition of the local forces in the various counties of the New Reclamation Army.

Winters Montagne's troops, on the contrary, exhibited a distinct "Platonic style": they placed great emphasis on mobility and were as lightly equipped as possible; they not only had an oversized cavalry force, but even the infantry had a large number of draft horses and pack horses to assist in transporting weapons and equipment—although most of them were small Herd horses.

If all identifying markers are covered, and a third-party officer is allowed to tour the barracks of the troops from Baishan, Leiqun, and Bianjiang counties, as well as the troops from Tiefeng county, then the third-party officer will certainly assume that the new army from Tiefeng county comes from Palatour, and that the garrison troops from the three counties are the reserve forces of the United Provinces.

The troops commanded by the true Paratus looked like the United Provinces Army, while the troops under the Venetians were more like the Paratus army than the Paratus army itself, a truly bizarre sight within the Four Counties Coalition.

……

Captain Bard, Captain Morrow, and Lieutenant Colonel Jessica stayed behind in Ghevodan, while Major Seber and Andrei were leading cavalry on patrol outside, so only Winters and Mason were in the camp at the moment.

Colonel Bode led the mid-level officers from the three counties to Winters' camp for one purpose only—to hold a meeting.

Winters sent for Mason, who was taking inventory of supplies, along with eleven officers from the three counties, two officers from Iron Peak County, and Colonel Bode, the Allied Commander-in-Chief who had been elected as the new commander of the New Reclamation Regiment. A total of fourteen officers then began a military council in the stables.

Unlike the "military conferences" in dramas and poems where generals engage in heated debates and devise ingenious strategies, the pre-battle meetings of academic officers have always been very simple: "accounting."

"After the expansion the previous year, General Adams's directly commanded troops numbered ten battalions. After the Maplestone Incident, these troops were all incorporated into the traitor Chloe's forces." Colonel Skull continued to act as the "ledger," speaking from memory: "General Adams also amassed at least four cavalry squadrons, which also fell into the hands of the traitor."

Winters placed ten "soldier" pieces on the map to represent ten battalions, and four knight pieces to represent four cavalry squadrons.

Colonel Skull added, “The New Reclamation Expeditionary Force—that is, Sanel’s troops—has at least four battalions and two cavalry companies.”

Winters then placed even more pieces.

Colonel Skul continued, "Both the troops that fell into the hands of the traitors and the New Reclamation Expeditionary Force are quite well-equipped and trained. The New Reclamation Expeditionary Force, in particular, is one of Grove Magnus's few decent elite troops, and Sanel is a key figure in the army that Grove Magnus has been trying to cultivate."

Colonel Gaisa spat viciously: "Last year when those barbarians from Hed came to plunder us, we were grateful that the Grand Council sent elite troops. But in the blink of an eye, the viper turned on us—that viper Grove Magnus! He's not trustworthy at all!"

"That is to say, the enemy has at least seven thousand well-trained infantrymen, one thousand one hundred qualified cavalrymen, and possibly artillery units." Colonel Skull calmly concluded: "In defending Maplestone City and Mapleleaf Fortress, they may also be able to recruit an armed militia of one thousand five hundred to two thousand men."

No one present objected.

"But their problem lies in their dispersed forces and low morale." After listing the enemy's strengths, Colonel Skull began to explain their weaknesses:

“Both Maplestone City and Mapleleaf Castle need to be defended, and Sanel and Chloe cannot send out all their forces. Therefore, their troops will inevitably be dispersed.”

"The troops that originally belonged to the New Reclamation Legion surrendered only out of inertia and would not willingly pledge allegiance to a traitor. According to intelligence, in order to fill the vacancies of junior officers, that traitor Chloe appointed a large number of 'honorary officers'—that is, guys who paid money to buy their officer status."

A few disdainful sneers rang out among the officers present.

"Morale is immeasurable, and we must be lenient in our assessment of the enemy." Colonel Bode turned his head and coldly reprimanded his juniors: "If we expect the enemy to lay down their arms and surrender as soon as the battle begins, we might as well disband now, kneel at the feet of the traitor and beg for his forgiveness, instead of wasting the lives of our soldiers."

The officers and lieutenants fell silent.

"Having settled accounts with the enemy," Colonel Bode said in a deep voice, regaining his composure. "Next, let's settle accounts with ourselves."

Compared to the accounts of the "Reorganized New Reclamation Army" and the New Reclamation Expeditionary Army, the accounts of the Four Counties Allied Army didn't even need to be calculated; the officers present all knew the answer.

The entire garrison of Baishan County was mobilized, consisting of six battalions—two more than last year.

Leiqun County and Bianjiang County mobilized a total of seven battalions to guard against the Red Rose Army of Beilu Province.

However, the two counties also contributed all seven squadrons of cavalry, most of whom were temporarily recruited riders, and a small number were elite cavalry.

And the Iron Peak County New Army, small but complete—according to the Alliance Army's calculation method—comprising four infantry battalions, 1,200 cavalrymen, and… three portable six-pound cannons.

In fact, after a winter of expansion, the new army in Tiefeng County had grown to five battalions and twenty companies, with a nominal strength of 2,400 men.

However, the newly formed Fifth Battalion was left by Winters to guard Ghevodan, so the force deployed this time consisted of four battalions.

The combined forces of the four counties numbered 8160 soldiers, 2460 light and heavy cavalry, and the Iron Peak County army possessed 3 cannons.

According to the figures on paper, even when facing the fully equipped "Reorganized New Reclamation Army" and the New Reclamation Expeditionary Army, the four-county allied forces held the advantage.

"Then there's only one thing left." Colonel Bode's eyes flashed with brilliance: "Is it to save Mirrorlake County?"

He planted his sword in the center of the map: "Let's fight Maple Leaf Castle."

[This! This counts as an extra chapter...]
[So it's uncertain whether there will be an update tomorrow.]
[Supporting characters appearing in this chapter]
[Broad Gates, Colonel. Formerly the second-in-command of the Sixth Army Corps, a senior army officer with extensive experience and connections. He was captured by the Red River tribe during the Battle of the Great Wilderness and lost his left arm in the process. He has now been elected by the Four Counties Allied Forces as the new "Commander of the New Reclamation Corps."]
[Skoll, Colonel. Garrison commander of Thundercrest County, who once led over a hundred hussars to aid Ironpeak County. He regrets Winters's decision to join the rebellion and is therefore wary of him; a strategist.]
[Gesa Adonis, Colonel. Garrison commander of White Mountain County, distinguished in battle, cheerful, enjoys bathing, and is bald.]
[Sandall, Lieutenant Colonel. Appointed as the garrison commander of Vaughan in a time of crisis, he obeyed orders from Legion Headquarters during the Battle of Bloodstain and did not send troops to support Iron Peak County. Faced with the overwhelming force of the four-county coalition, he temporarily chose to remain neutral and observe.]
[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)