Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 437 The Great Alliance Marches Forward (Part 10)
Amidst shouts and rebukes, and the monotonous melody of war drums, squads of soldiers marched down the high ground where the valley village was located, following the paths where farmers went to the fields in the morning and returned home at dusk, heading to a battlefield they had not chosen.

As the coalition forces withdrew in an orderly manner, this peaceful little village returned to its former emptiness—but it failed to regain its former tranquility.

At the junction of the river and the village, next to the low wall used by the villagers to mark the boundary, two infantry battalions left behind in the valley village were racing against time to reinforce the fragile wall made of rubble.

Colonel Gaisa led his men into the villagers' houses and sheds, took away all the tools that could be used, and then ordered the demolition of everything that was no longer useful in order to obtain building materials.

Colonel Gaisa tossed his gold-trimmed officer's uniform to his orderly, unbuttoned his cuffs, picked up a shovel, stepped over the wall, and walked into the midst of the sweating soldiers.

He stood in the mud so deep that his boots could sink in, tirelessly filling baskets with heavy mud.

He effortlessly lifted the wooden beam, which was thicker than a plate, and carried it from one end of the village to the other by himself.
A soldier accidentally fell into the rapids and, in a panic, choked on several mouthfuls of water. He struggled as he was swept downstream.
Geza grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him onto the mudflat;
Another soldier, without checking the route, recklessly lashed his whip, causing the carriage to become stuck in the trench and unable to move.

Geza jumped into the mud pit, struggling to lift the wheel while cursing menacingly.

It must be admitted that Gaisa Adonis possessed a fierce drive. When he threw himself into the war, the weariness of a veteran, the mercenary nature of a merchant, and the Platonic cunning that usually clung to him vanished instantly.

He forgot all about the pain from his old wounds, the comfort of his mansion, and the treasure vault beneath it that would make any miser envious.

All that remained was a pure, unyielding, and relentlessly fierce drive.

It was this infectious and powerful emotion that inspired everyone around Gaisa.

Witnessing Colonel Gaisa Adonis leading by example and working like ten men, the officers left behind in the valley village, whether or not they were under his command, picked up tools and joined the ranks of the soldiers.

Even the cavalry waiting outside the village dismounted and volunteered to share the dirty work of digging trenches and building walls with the infantry.

In the village of River Valley, only two officers remained wearing clean gloves: Colonel Bode Gates and the little-known Lieutenant Woods Frank.

Colonel Bode surveyed the battlefield from the church bell tower, issuing orders through messenger cavalry;

Lieutenant Woods Frank was not slacking off; in fact, he was more important than Colonel Bode for the defense of River Valley.

Because Colonel Bode had a commanding viewpoint, he was always focused on the overall deployment of the army.

Lieutenant Woods moved between the mud and the walls—he was the only engineering officer in River Valley and likely the best defensive warfare expert among the three county troops.

"Remove the thatch from the roofs as soon as possible! Which houses? All the houses! Once the fighting starts, that dry grass will set the whole village on fire! Can't find ladders? If you can't find ladders, just rip the roofs off!"

"Who told you to pull down these fences? Colonel Geza needs them? Colonel Geza's order is 'remove anything unnecessary'! If you drive a row of stakes in the middle of this fence and this fence, wouldn't that be ready-made barricades?! Put the fences back in immediately!"

"All stone walls must be covered with soil! If there's no time to cover both sides, just cover the front! If the stone walls aren't covered with soil, a lead bullet will hit them, and the gravel will blind you! Find a shovel and get to work now! What? No shovel? If you don't have a shovel, use a plank! Use a ladle! Use your fingernails!"

"Stop! Stop! This hay still has a use. Who gave you the guts to burn it all? Did I give you permission? You bastards! When did I give you permission to set fire to the house? Take all the hay you've taken from the roof to the riverbank!"

Lieutenant Woods, like the most demanding overseer, patrolled the village with his cowbell-like eyes.

With each passing second, the lieutenant grew increasingly anxious and irritable. He relentlessly "whipped" all his colleagues and subordinates, trying to squeeze out the last bit of value from the valley village. His roars and curses echoed in every courtyard and every thatched hut of this small village.

It was out of complete trust in Woods Frank that Gaisa Adonis was able to devote himself wholeheartedly to those simple but arduous manual labors even before the great battle began.

The colonel wielded a pickaxe and personally dug trenches in the mudflats between the river and the highlands, making the slope leading to the village even steeper.

When Lieutenant Woods returned to the riverbank, the once loose stone wall was now covered with a thick layer of mud and hay.

Colonel Gaisa, leaning on his shovel, asked the lieutenant with considerable pride, "How was it?"

Lieutenant Woods dismounted and honestly replied, "A remarkable achievement."

“If it could be exposed to the sun for a few more days, it would be even stronger.” Colonel Gaisa looked at the open field to the east with a smile. “Unfortunately, we don’t have time.”

Lieutenant Woods also looked eastward, but instead of gazing into the distance, he scanned the mud-covered stone walls and the trenches below the hill:

Colonel Geza focused on strengthening the defenses of the "apex" of the river bend, digging the deepest trenches and building the strongest breastworks there; he even adapted to the local conditions by reinforcing two existing livestock pens and converting them into bulwarks extending into the river.

However, the stronger the riverbank defenses that the colonel worked to repair, the more anxious Woods became.

Regarding the enemy's direction of attack, Woods and the colonel reached the same conclusion—both agreed that "the apex of the river bend is the easiest position to breach and must be the enemy's main direction of attack."

Besides, the two men's judgments were completely different.

Lieutenant Woods nervously bent his riding crop, his speech unconsciously quickening: "Sir, forgive my bluntness, but I still believe that defending the riverbank is pointless! We can't hold out!"

The lieutenant tried to keep his voice down so that the soldiers next to him wouldn't hear what they were saying: "But we can take a step back and turn River Valley into an ambush site. We can use every house and every wall to first slow down the enemy's offensive, force them to retreat and regroup, and then cut off their tails and eat them up bit by bit."

Colonel Gais listened to the lieutenant's advice without saying a word, glanced at the four-quadrant flag fluttering on the church bell tower, turned to his most trusted subordinate, and replied casually but undeniably: "No, Lieutenant Woods, we must keep the enemy at bay on the riverbank."

“If you’re worried about Colonel Bod’s safety, then leave a flag on the clock tower and have him move to outside the village to take command,” Woods pleaded. “Wouldn’t it be enough to make the enemy think that Colonel Bod is commanding from the village church?”

Gaisa Adonis couldn't help but burst into laughter, laughing so hard he was doubled over and panting.

After laughing, he wiped away his tears and patted the lieutenant on the shoulder: "I'm going to be stationed on the southern battlefield. Once the fighting starts, you'll be all alone here, Lieutenant Woods."

"Hold the riverbank," Colonel Geza said.

Lieutenant Woods hesitated for a moment, then finally raised his hand in salute: "Yes, sir."

Colonel Gaisa silently returned the salute to his subordinate.

“Since we’re going to defend the riverbank,” Woods said, no longer as anxious as before. “Then the defenses on the other three sides must also be strengthened—we must be prepared for an encirclement. If the enemy fails to break through from the front, they will most likely try to flank us from both sides.”

"You decide. From now on, you are the commanding military officer of the First Battalion of Baishan County and the First Battalion of Leiqun County."

"I hope to get support from the cavalry."

“Okay, I’ll go and communicate with Colonel Bode and Colonel Skul.”

Lieutenant Woods thought carefully for a moment, deciding not to make any further requests. He raised his hand in salute again: "Good luck, Colonel."

"Good luck," Gaisa replied cheerfully and lightly. "Frank."

Above them, the sun was high in the sky, and the dust clouds in the distance were becoming increasingly clear. The sounds of drums and bugles swept across the hills and the river, carried by a warm, comfortable breeze, reaching everyone's ears.

The soldiers stood up straight, their bodies stiff and numb, and looked up in the direction from which the sounds of war were coming.

"Don't stop!" Colonel Bode stepped forward, his roar drowning out the approaching drumbeats: "Every shovelful of dirt you dig now saves you a drop of blood today!"

Three riders appeared on the horizon, the one in the lead holding a green flag.

The allied light cavalry, with white silk ribbons tied to their shoulders, immediately went to meet them. Without engaging in battle, the allied light cavalry surrounded the enemy messenger and rode straight toward the valley village.

Colonel Geza stared at the green flag, his eyes narrowing. "Go and fetch Colonel Skul," he ordered the messenger.

……

The small river outside the valley village has never had a name, and no one has ever cared what its name is.

Perhaps many years from now, people will give it a commemorative official name because of today's battle. But for now, it is still an "unnamed stream".

The open land on the north bank of the nameless creek was cultivated many years ago, where countless crops grew and countless generations of children were fed.

Under the scorching midday sun, the wheat field, already ripe but yet to be harvested, was shrouded in mist.

Three Paratist officers stood in the middle of the billowing yellow dust, silently waiting for their classmates, their old friends, and their enemies.

In the distance, two riders dressed in officer uniforms appeared at the edge of the hills. Like the three officers waiting for them, they were not accompanied by guards.

The two men slowly made their way toward the three people in the middle of the wheat field.

This might be a golden opportunity to easily eliminate the enemy commander—for both sides.

However, neither the ambush nor the assassination attempt occurred, and the two officers loyal to the Great Council arrived safely before the commander of the three-county coalition.

"Senior Bode." Colonel Sanel was the first to remove his military cap and bow in greeting.

Chloe Torrill also silently removed her hat and bowed.

Colonel Bode simply nodded, showing that he wasn't particularly close to the two men.

"Isn't Lieutenant Colonel Matthias from Bianjiang County here?" Sanel asked with a smile.

“Matish is from the ninth class,” Gaisa replied indifferently. “He doesn’t want to get involved.”

Sanel showed no sign of annoyance: "But as far as I know, Lieutenant Colonel Matthias stayed behind in Bianjiang County and did not go on the expedition with you all."

Gaisa raised his chin and stopped talking.

The last vestiges of tenderness between them vanished, and the rolling pale brown wheat field became eerily quiet.

It was Colonel Chloe, who had remained silent until now, who broke the silence.

Chloe looked terrible, as if she hadn't had a proper rest in a long time. Her lips were chapped, her cheeks were sunken, her eye sockets were sunken along with her cheeks, and her eyes were bloodshot.

At first glance, neither Gaisa nor Skul could recognize the haggard ghost before them, nor could they connect him with the once most kind-hearted and lovable Colonel Chloe Toril.

“Surrender, gentlemen.” Chloe rode forward, his voice hoarse like a rusted door hinge: “While there’s still time.”

Gaisa scoffed and spat at Chloe's horse's hoof, which served as his reply.

"That's what I told you both," Colonel Bode replied calmly.

Suddenly, Sanel, standing behind Chloe, spoke up: "Senior, your wife and daughter are still waiting for you at Kingsburg."

Colonel Bode's face gradually darkened, and fine wrinkles spread from the corners of his eyes.

Sanel said slowly and deliberately, “Please rest assured, your wife and daughter are safe and well taken care of. Before, when you were missing, Speaker Grove Magnus provided your family with a pension as if you were a general. Even after learning that you had returned home, the pension and condolences continued.”

Colonel Bode gave a snort, a disdainful and mocking smile on his face, and without a word pulled on the reins, spurring his horse away.

Without saying a word, Gaisa cracked his whip and turned to leave.

Skull's gaze lingered on Sanel and Chloe for a moment longer. He nodded slightly and followed his two colleagues toward the valley village where the four quadrant flags were flying.

Sanel and Chloe dared not linger, quickly glancing at the flags fluttering across the west bank before riding away.

……

In River Valley Village, Elno, a new recruit from White Mountain County, knelt behind the wall, clutching his musket, and gazed longingly at his officers as they parted ways. He asked the officer beside him curiously, "Sir, you are a learned man. Could you tell me what those gentlemen are doing?"

Lieutenant Woods, who was also watching the brief conversation in the wheat field, said calmly, "The negotiations are over. Today, this wheat field is destined to be watered with blood."

A sergeant and another soldier carried a brazier over, and Erno and the other musketeers gathered around, untying the hemp ropes wrapped around their arms and putting them into the brazier.

When the hemp rope soaked in salt water was lit, they immediately pulled it out and stomped out the flames, leaving only flickering embers.

Even musketeers who had never learned how to wield a sword received a sword today.

Erno leaned his sword against the wall, took a small wooden bottle from his belt, pried off the cap with his teeth, poured the gunpowder into the barrel, and then used a copper strip to press the gunpowder down.

He then poured out polished lead bullets from another copper pot, wrapped them in a small piece of dirty burlap, and repeated the process of loading and compacting.

Finally, Erno opened the gunpowder bath lid, poured the remaining gunpowder from the wooden bottle into the bath, and then tightened the lid again.

After doing all this, Erno leaned the musket against the wall and picked up the sword next to it.

Looking at the weapon in his hand, both strange and familiar, Erno felt a chill run down his spine.

He suddenly realized that today he might be plunging that cold, sharp steel bar into another person's arm, stomach, or chest.

He had witnessed the slaughter of livestock: deep red blood, pinkish-white flesh, wailing, screaming, soft entrails like sticky fish eggs... but he had never associated these things with his own kind.

Erno hurriedly placed his sword far to the side. But after a while, he picked it up again and put it back at his feet.

He picked up the musket and waited, praying as he did so.

Beside Elnor, Woods Frank remained oblivious to the turmoil in the recruit's heart, his eyes fixed on the hills across the river.

"The weather is favorable to our forces," Lieutenant Woods said, sensing the pulse of the battlefield. "But the wind direction is not on our side."

"Occupy the upwind position and release smoke to cover the operation," Woods thought. "Standard tactics."

Sure enough, the white smoke, like beer foam overflowing from a glass, clung to the ground and slowly flowed down the curves of the hills.

The smoke screen acted like a thin veil, blocking the prying eyes.

The bugle call to battle then resounded on the west bank of the nameless stream.

[Ah... I always say that today is until dawn, but I've really gotten confused. I thought tomorrow was the Dragon Boat Festival.]
[Luckily, I caught it in time this time (facepalm). I've had other silly moments before, like oversleeping and rushing out the door, only to realize something was wrong when I got to work that it was Saturday...]
[Supporting character in this chapter: Lieutenant Woods Frank]
[Woods Frank, a short, unassuming engineering lieutenant, was Colonel Gaza's confidant (and a major threat) (not really). During the first counter-offensive in Iron Peak County, Lieutenant Woods was responsible for building a bridge across the Anya River; after the Battle of Bloodmud, Lieutenant Woods served as Colonel Gaza's personal accountant and had a heated discussion with Winters about the pricing of warhorses.]
[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)