I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 351 Strikes hard
The vanguard players perished even faster than Chris had anticipated; they didn't last until after twenty minutes, and were wiped out after fifteen.

Suddenly, a cavalry unit from the Minisians entered the battlefield from the flank, braving the artillery fire from the Bagnian side, and launched a desperate charge against the vanguard players.

It was obvious that the Minieses had realized the danger. If they allowed the enemy's vanguard to continue grinding away, they would be unable to adjust their formation, and the consequences would be unimaginable when the Bagnian army truly pressed in.

Therefore, even though the commander of the Minissia could see that the enemy's vanguard was exhausted, he still did not hesitate to sacrifice a cavalry unit in exchange for a few minutes.

"That was decisive, what a pity..."

Chris watched through his binoculars as the vanguard players, numbering less than a hundred after the cavalry charge, were overwhelmed by the enemy's spearmen phalanx and a hail of bullets, and felt immense regret.

They could have held out for at least another ten minutes, until the players of the Second Army advanced, and then the two sides could have seamlessly connected, maintaining the offensive against the Minisians and not giving them a chance to catch their breath.

……

The massive body of the black and white bear stood like a mobile steel fortress, towering at the sharpest point of the Second Army Group... before the five hundred silent Han and Tang warriors.

Today, Monokuma was not wearing his magnificent Vermilion Bird Fish Scale Armor, but instead wore a simple, unadorned Tiger Head Mountain Pattern Armor.

Monokuma had a premonition that he might die in today's war, or at least that the armor he was wearing would be destroyed in the intense fighting.

His cold gaze pierced through the billowing smoke and landed on the hastily reorganized defenses of the Minisians in the distance.

Chris's regret behind the telescope was unknown to him, but Monokuma could clearly perceive the subtle changes in the battlefield situation.

The vanguard players' resistance was completely extinguished, giving the Minisians a brief respite, but also exposing them to an even larger and heavier anvil.

"Array..."

The voice of the leader of the charge today, Black Bear, was deep and resonant, like muffled thunder rolling across the battlefield, instantly drowning out the clamor at the edge of the battlefield. The two-and-a-half-meter-long broadsword in his hand pointed diagonally forward, its tip remaining perfectly still.

Behind them, five hundred Han and Tang warriors, like precise machines, completed their final adjustments in a dozen seconds, arranging themselves into three rows of not-too-dense horizontal formations.

The heavy fish-scale armor and intricately designed mountain-patterned armor of these Han and Tang warriors gleamed with a cold, hard luster in the dim light. When their face shields fell away, only pairs of calm, death-defying eyes remained.

Long-handled broadswords, two-handed heavy swords, and thick-backed ring-pommel swords were all held at an angle, forming a moving steel jungle.

There were no slogans, only the clanging of armored vehicles and the dull thud of heavy boots sinking into the mud.

"Enter!"

The black and white bear took its first step, its massive weight causing the mud beneath its feet to sink deeply, only to be firmly pulled up again.

Five hundred armored soldiers moved in unison, forming a horizontal line like a moving steel wall, and began to crush towards Jinsui City.

"Boom boom boom..."

Amidst the muffled "thunder," a sharp whistling sound suddenly swept overhead.

That was the artillery of the field artillery regiment of the friendly First Army in the rear. The shells, trailing the deathly echo, passed over the advancing Second Army and crashed heavily into the depths of Minicia and its city walls, stirring up patches of mud and severed limbs.

The earth trembled slightly beneath our feet. Almost simultaneously, a piercing shriek from the direction of Golden Harvest City tore through the air.

"Bombard...the left flank!"

A sharp-eyed samurai growled.

A solid shot, carrying devastating kinetic energy, grazed the edge of the Han-Tang warriors' formation and slammed into the main force of players following behind. The dull impact and the sound of bones and flesh shattering that followed sent chills down everyone's spine.

Before the shells, a bloody alley was plowed open in the dense crowd. Broken limbs, twisted armor, and splattered entrails mixed with mud were splashed everywhere, and the strong smell of blood instantly overwhelmed the smoke of gunpowder.

Several Han and Tang warriors who were close by were splashed with blood and flesh from behind. They swayed involuntarily, their armor plates covered with sticky scarlet blood, but their steps remained steady as they silently followed the black and white bear forward.

Advance, steadily and relentlessly. The distance is closing, and the dark gun ports on the Jinshui city wall and the line of flintlock musketeers regrouping below the wall are becoming increasingly clear in the field of vision.

As the horizontal formation advanced, more and more shells flew over the heads of the black and white bears, and the whistling sound of them cutting through the air became increasingly dense.

The officers in Miniscia clearly saw the terrifying pressure emanating from this silent, heavily armored line.

"Musketeer, take aim..."

A desperate roar came from a hundred meters ahead, and the black and white bear could hear the undisguised terror in the voice.

"Target...heavy armor ahead, fire!"

"boom……"

A white wall of smoke instantly exploded in front of the Minisian front. The volley of hundreds of flintlock muskets created a deafening roar, and a dense barrage of lead bullets swept towards the Han-Tang warriors at the forefront like a storm of death.

In an instant, Monokuma felt as if he were being bombarded head-on by iron pellets. Countless lead pellets, like violent hailstones, slammed into his thick, specially made breastplate. Sparks flew wildly across his chest and shoulder armor, producing a piercing, dense metallic scraping sound and a dull thud.

The heavy impact came through his armor, like being struck by countless small hammers. Even for his superhuman physique, it made Monokuma stop in his tracks for a moment. He had to catch his breath before he could continue walking.

Behind him, the warrior formation resounded with a dense cacophony of impacts—the sound of lead bullets striking heavy lamellar armor.

At a distance of 100 meters, the flintlock musket was not powerful enough to penetrate the layers of heavy armor forged from steel by modern heavy machinery.

The samurai players' bodies swayed slightly under the impact of the bullets, like pine trees being blown by a strong wind. Their armor plates were covered with dents and cracks in the paint, and some fish scale armor was even blown off.

Occasionally, lead bullets would nimbly pierce the gaps between the armor plates, drawing out a trail of blood, but no one fell, no one groaned, and their steps did not falter in the slightest.

These 500 men were all veteran players. They were very used to enduring enemy musket fire and had even become accustomed to the pain. Even fatal wounds did not frighten them in the slightest.

The smoke of gunpowder obscured the view.

But Monokuma could hear suppressed gasps and fearful whispers coming from the direction of the Miniese soldiers.

They witnessed this unbelievable scene... Bagnia's heavily armored infantry continued their advance silently, resolutely, and unscathed amidst a hail of bullets.

"Load, load quickly, second...second platoon, ready..."

The Minisian officer's voice had completely changed; fear was spreading like a plague.

In the brief lull of the Minesians’ frantic attempt to organize a second volley of fire, another unique, chilling sound rang out from the rear of the Second Army Group… the sound of thousands upon thousands of gunpowder arrows being fired!

"ignition……"

With a command from the rear commander, a sharp whistling sound, like the flapping of wings of millions of venomous bees, suddenly rang out, and then the sky was dyed red.

A dense barrage of arrows, each with a small gunpowder propellant tube attached to its tail, shot up against the heavens like a burning meteor shower.

The orange-red flames spewed from the tail formed a rolling cloud of fire, emitting a piercing shriek and trailing long trails of white smoke. Like a cascading torrent of lava, it swept over the silent steel heads of the Han and Tang warriors, carrying the distinctive sulfurous smell of gunpowder, and descended upon the line of Miniese musketeers who had just finished firing, whose smoke had not yet dissipated and whose formation was exposed.

This is the Hundred Tigers Galloping Arrow. If any of the Han and Tang warriors turned around, they would see a hundred rocket launchers lined up in a row, frantically spraying flames and arrows into the earth and sky.

As the arrows fell to the ground, the sounds of burning gunpowder, the muffled thud of metal tearing flesh, and the soldiers' agonizing screams instantly intertwined into a symphony of hell.

Gunpowder arrows do not explode, and although their penetrating power is far less than that of lead bullets, their terrifying density and coverage are enough to create devastating chaos.

The Minisian line of fire was instantly engulfed by a sea of ​​fire, smoke, flying debris, and burning soldiers, and the attempt to launch a second volley was completely nipped in the bud.

"kill……"

Seizing the moment of chaos, Monokuma swung his Mo Dao forward with a fierce blow, unleashing the first true battle cry since the start of the war.

"kill!!!"

The five hundred silent warriors finally erupted with a deafening roar, like a long-accumulated volcano bursting forth!

The heavy footsteps suddenly accelerated, and the torrent of steel transformed into a destructive hammer. Taking advantage of the chaos and panic created by the rain of gunpowder arrows among the Minisians, it braved the sporadic lead bullets, whose power increased dramatically as the distance closed, and slammed into the Minisians' crumbling defenses.

Although warriors were constantly being hit in vital areas or joints at close range and fell during this process, it did not affect the ferocious impact of the Han and Tang warriors at this moment, which was no different from that of a tank.

The black and white bear, leading the charge, swept across with his broadsword as if smashing rotten wood, crushing a soldier wielding a spear and his shield, breaking his bones and tendons.

The warriors beside him wielded their swords with a dazzling light, their long blades forming a forest of blades. The sound of steel clashing with flesh and blood instantly drowned out all other noise.

In the blink of an eye, over a hundred of the Miniese musketeers, with ridiculous short knives stuck in their gun barrels and struggling in their death throes, were torn to pieces.

They were powerless to fight back, so naturally, the musketeers collapsed, throwing their flintlock muskets to the ground in terrified screams and running away.

At this moment, the officers of the Minisian Musketeer Company should have stepped forward to stop the fleeing soldiers, but they didn't... The guy who was shouting so loudly just now was killed by Monokuma two seconds ago.

As for the other lower-ranking officers... sorry, they are also turning their backs to the player.

Being routed by foot knights in close combat was not considered shameful by the other Minisians, and they wouldn't even be held accountable. The only problem was that the musketeers collapsed so quickly and completely that the swordsmen and shieldmen who were supposed to step forward to block the enemy's charge were also broken up by the attack.

This is a very critical problem. Sword and shield warriors are good at fighting one-on-one and taking on multiple opponents, but when facing heavily armored units like Han and Tang warriors, they also need a local advantage in numbers.

Now, the swordsmen and shieldmen, who had been overwhelmed by the fleeing friendly troops, collided with the oncoming Han and Tang warriors. Their collapse was only twenty seconds slower than that of the musketeers, and they died even more horribly... For the heavy weapons in the player's hands, plate armor and chainmail are actually no different from cloth armor.

Black and White Bear led the Han and Tang warriors and attacked from the front before the Minieses could react, breaking through the enemy's first line of defense.

Bagnia has over 20,000 people, and Miniscia also has over 20,000 people, bringing the total to over 50,000. For so many people to wage war, the space and venues required would be unimaginably vast for ordinary people.

Therefore, when the five hundred Han and Tang warriors successfully broke through the middle of the battlefield, it took the Minieses who were spread out on both sides of Jinsui City quite a while before they realized the unfavorable situation in the middle of the battlefield, thanks to the reminders from the flag bearers, horns, and messengers behind them.

The Minician commanders on both flanks of Golden Harvest City were frantic with worry. They witnessed the avalanche-like retreat of the central army and the unstoppable advance of the silent, heavily armored warriors into their heartland, their target the city gates.

"The central army can't hold on! Damn it!"

"Cavalry! Where are our cavalry reserves? Quickly send them to plug the gap!"

A left-wing general roared at a messenger.

"Sword and Shield Dalian, Spear Formation, move towards the center and block those tin cans!"

The commander on the right wing was also issuing orders at the top of his lungs.

However, giving an order is one thing, and executing it is another.

The Minesian forces on both flanks are under immense pressure from the main force of the Second Army!

Just as the black and white bear broke through, thousands of main force players following closely behind surged like a rising tide, crashing against the defensive lines on both flanks of Minicia.

The volleys of flintlock muskets echoed one after another, and white smoke rose from the contact line between the two armies.

Even more deadly were the tiger-squatting cannons mixed in with the players' formation. These lightweight cannons were pushed to the front lines and fired almost right at the noses of the Minieses.

The dense volley of shrapnel was like an iron broom, each blast creating a bloody, gaping hole in the shield walls or lines of Minissia.

Lead bullets and iron pellets, mixed with flames and thick smoke, swept down swathes of Minisian soldiers.

The counterattacks from the Miniese musketeers and artillery also struck these players, and even though they were generally wearing armor, they fell in droves.

However, the players didn't care; they played with increasing enthusiasm.

"Hold on! For the sake of the Sea God and the King, those who retreat will die!"

The junior officers in Miniscia brandished their swords, trying to regain their footing, while the rear guards reacted quickly, and under the king's orders, viciously hacked down the soldiers who tried to retreat.

The Minisian army on both flanks found themselves in an extremely difficult situation. On one hand, they had to withstand the fierce firepower of the Bagnian players and the ensuing melee attacks. The players not only had firearms, but were also equally zealous in close combat.

On the other hand, they were strictly ordered to align themselves with the central government in an attempt to plug the ever-expanding gap that was devouring their own vital forces.

The sacrifice of the vanguard players was worthwhile; their deaths prevented the Minisians from fully deploying their formation, leaving them in a dilemma.

This kind of "two-way tug-of-war" is a major taboo on the battlefield.

The formation inevitably became chaotic and disjointed during the forced movement, and the already weak battle line became loose, revealing more weaknesses.

The players in Bagnia have keenly seized these opportunities.

Some assault squads, under the cover of fire, like sharks smelling blood, fiercely pounced on these vulnerable flanks or junctions exposed during the movement.

"The left flank of that spear formation is now empty!"

"Charge with me! Tear them apart!"

In localized battles, the players' tactical skills surpassed those of Bagnia's regular army, and their combat instincts and keen sense of seizing opportunities could unleash astonishing effects amidst the chaos.

Small-scale breakthroughs continued to occur on the Minisian front on both flanks. Although they had not yet resulted in a major collapse like the one in the center, they were like countless tiny wounds bleeding continuously, severely hindering the reinforcements from both flanks to the center.

In the blood-red corridor in the center, Black and White Bear did not stop. After cutting through another phalanx of spearmen, he continued to lead the remaining four hundred or so Han and Tang warriors forward.

He knew that the momentum of the charge at this moment was his life. Once he stopped, he would be bogged down in the melee, surrounded by enemies surging in from all sides, and even the heaviest armor would eventually be swallowed up.

Although Monokuma's pre-battle mission was simply to launch a single attack, tearing a path through the enemy's frontal front, and then stop to wait for reinforcements, judging from the current situation, Monokuma has made his own decisions.

"Forward, target the city gate, break through them!"

Black Bear swung his longsword again, cleaving a low-ranking officer who was trying to organize resistance in two, sword and all. His massive body became the sharpest arrow, leading the steel torrent behind him, charging towards the gates of Golden Harvest City along the direction of the fleeing soldiers.

This "blood-red corridor," paved with steel, blood, and defeat, stretches continuously through the formation of Minicia.

The scattered forces that tried to block their way, whether they were regrouping musketeer squads or hastily arriving sword and shield reserve squads, all appeared extremely vulnerable in the face of the remaining four hundred heavily armored warriors forming an iron torrent.

Players' heavy weapons, such as two-handed giant axes, spears, long-handled broadswords, and horse-slaying swords, unleash terrifying destructive power at close range.

The armor of the Miniese soldiers was like paper before them; every swing was accompanied by shattering bones and agonizing screams.

The Han and Tang warriors silently swung their swords, efficiently reaping the spoils, their feet trampling over the corpses and dying cries of their enemies, resolutely advancing forward.

Their only goal was the city gate!

Once they break through the city gate, they can pave a direct path for the main force to strike at the heart of the enemy.

……

From the high ground behind, Chris held up his binoculars, taking in the chaos of the entire battlefield.

He witnessed the unstoppable advance of the Black and White Bears, and also saw the predicament of the Minisian flanks, teetering on the brink of collapse and caught in a dilemma under the fierce attack of the main force of the Second Army.

"Why... have these Minisians gotten weaker?"

Chris's voice sounded somewhat doubtful. When he originally instructed the players to launch an attack, he was prepared for a smooth early game followed by a weak mid-game and being forced to retreat.

The players' attacks are fierce, but such ferocity cannot last. When they run out of gunpowder and their tiger-squat cannons and flintlock muskets overheat, they have to stop.

When the player is exhausted, the First Army can step in and use concentrated firepower to cover the player's retreat.

But Chris hadn't expected that the Minisians were weaker than he had anticipated; they couldn't withstand the first wave of attacks from the Second Army.

These are different from the Minesian soldiers of the past. They used to be able to fight players all night long to seize a hilltop and not be at a disadvantage.

Chris was somewhat puzzled, and at this moment his gaze turned to the high ground in the southwest, which was called "Rock".

"Your Highness, an urgent report from Rock Heights!"

A messenger arrived at that moment, his face etched with gunpowder and urgency.

"Half of the twelve-pound cannons are ready and being loaded. As for the sixteen-pound cannons... the engineers are using gunpowder to blast open the mud pits and forcibly drag them out. At the earliest... at the earliest fifteen minutes, all three sixteen-pound cannons will be ready for test firing!"

"Fifteen minutes..."

Chris tapped his fingers on the hilt of the sword again.

Fifteen minutes is too long! Monokuma's assault team is like a lone army deep in enemy territory; the longer the time drags on, the greater the risk of being surrounded.

Although the Minisians on both flanks were tied down and weakened considerably, their organization had not collapsed, and the city's reserves could pour out at any time.

"Order the twelve-pound artillery corps!"

Chris's voice was resolute.

"Target: Jinshui City Gate area, extend bombardment!"
No need for test firing! At top speed, unleash the shells on the Minisians' reserves, suppress the flanks of the city gate area, prevent them from closing in, and clear the way for the Black and White Bear!
Tell the artillery regiment, "I don't care about accuracy, and I don't care about friendly fire; I want firepower density—use up all the shells in the shortest amount of time!"

"As you command, Your Highness!"

The messenger ran off again.

Chris's gaze returned to the chaotic heart of the battlefield. Monokuma's steel torrent was less than three hundred meters from the city gate.

But in that area, fleeing soldiers were everywhere, while on the city walls and behind the gates, the last remaining forces of the Minisians... elite heavily armored swordsmen and spearmen, were urgently forming ranks amidst the roars of their officers, preparing to block this last passage.

(End of this chapter)