Iron Powder and Spellcaster

Daguan patrolled the river, and wherever he went, the people of Terdun cheered at the top of their lungs.

Just listen to the war cry from the other side, like muffled thunder, one after another, first from far to near, and then from near to far.

Residents of Oxhoof Valley ran out of their homes to find out what was going on, and when they found out what the "thunder" was, they were frightened out of their wits.

Some people even exclaimed, "It's the horn! The horn of the end of the world!" and crawled to the church to seek refuge.

"So this is Armageddon?" Winters asked Carman beside him with a smile on the church bell tower: "Isn't the scene too small?"

To be honest, even Winters felt a little insulted when he saw the chaos in Oxhoof Valley.

Kaman sighed softly, raised his hand to salute, and asked coldly: "The world is what mortals can see. Isn't this battle the end of the world for them?"

"Not if you can survive. But if everyone just wants to survive, then no one will survive. Bard separated men, women and children into camps, and the effect is remarkable. It can not only properly protect women, children and the elderly, but also allow men to give birth to children. The courage to fight.”

"Um."

"I need your help with this."

Kaman snorted lightly, conveying a certain emotion of contempt.

He stared at the fleeing people in the town square and replied without looking up: "Not helping you."

"Okay." Winters walked downstairs with a cane: "By the way, Bard has captured a prisoner, claiming to be some kind of 'Father Saul'. You can help identify him when you have time."

Kaman ignored Winters, but the Holy Emblem in his hand slipped inadvertently and fell straight to the ground.

…

At the door of the church, Charles and Heinrich had saddled their horses and were on standby.

Samujin was neatly dressed, holding his sword and saluting: "The volunteer brigade can ring the bell at any time to prepare for battle."

"Don't worry." Winters stepped on the stirrups and mounted his horse, with a relaxed look on his face: "Even if we fight in the afternoon, we still need to let everyone rest and recharge in the morning. What's more, there won't be a fight today."

"Then...what are you going to do?" Samujin was a little panicked.

Wen Tesla moved the reins and gently pinched the horse's ribs: "The monkey's butt and face are showing off their power over there. I'll go and see the excitement."

The war horse started to trot, and Samkin chased after him, shouting anxiously: "Are you just going to take Charles and Heinrich? Then you can bring a few more guards! Just wait and I will follow!"

Winters laughed loudly and spurred his horse out of the Cow Hoof Valley.

…

The large green horsetail banner marched on the west bank, announcing to both the enemy and ourselves that "Khan" was coming to the battlefield.

Winters lined up side by side on the east bank and followed until the horsetails on the other bank turned around and the war cries subsided.

"Look." Winters raised his whip and pointed to the other side: "The monkey's butt and face have turned back."

"Shall we go back too?" Charles asked.

"map."

Heinrich carefully took out the large map from his saddle bag and handed it to the military tribune.

Looking around, Winters found some landmarks that could help him identify his direction. He smiled and said, "Hey, we're almost at Forge Township."

Ciel exclaimed: "Forge Township? It must not be twenty kilometers away?"

"It's twenty-three kilometers." Winters marked it on the map: "A battle cry is a camp. That's why you two are counting."

"Camp? The monkey-butt-faced camp actually stretches for twenty kilometers?!" Ciel was even more shocked.

"The Hurd tribes have many livestock, and if they are not widely spaced, there is no place for the horses to graze." Winters rolled up the map, tapped his left tibia several times through his boots:

"Although the west bank is already scorched, the middle-level leaders of the Terdun tribe still dare not change the march route easily without the people warming up. But now that the monkey's butt cheeks are coming, the hungry wolves of the Terdun tribe are also ready to move."

Probably because the river was too cold, Winters' old injury on his left leg recurred from the day of the swimming raid on Tartai, and he had to use a stick to walk again.

"Go back now?"

"Don't be in a hurry. If you go further, you will reach Forge Township after passing this hill. Let's go and have a look."

Winters jumped on his horse and galloped away. Charles and Heinrich followed. The three of them climbed over the hillside and headed towards Forge Township.

…

In the large tent of Terdun Department, all the leaders, big and small, were summoned for discussion.

The skylight was covered with cowhide, and the light in the big tent was dim, illuminated only by firelight.

Nayan and Kota sat in a circle around the campfire to show that the military discussion did not distinguish between superior and subordinate, and everyone could speak freely.

"We can't delay it any longer!" Uncle Tai Chi, the fire roaster's voice almost broke through the tent: "We must make up our mind to attack forcefully and make detours!"

Approvals came one after another:

"Tai Chi is right!"

"The little hay we brought has been eaten up long ago. The animals are now digging at grass roots to eat. Where can they get enough to eat?"

"Grass roots? The two-legged people were on fire, and the grass roots were scorched!"

A man with gray hair on his temples, Qing Lingyu, stood up and spoke: "The disciples sent a message saying that the defenses of the Two-Legged People upstream are very lax. Ganquan, Chuomahan and other sons have already crossed the river. Since the Two-Legged People are here to block the Well, then you and I should avoid them and go upstream or downstream."

There was another burst of approval in the big tent.

The Hud people have no psychological burden for "leaving without a fight". In the Hurd culture, there is no moral restriction on "escape".

If it's beneficial, you'll advance, if it's unfavorable, you'll retreat. If you can't defeat it, you'll run away. Is there anything strange about it?

But the actual situation is always more comical than the reasonable situation.

The Teldon nobles who appeared in the big tent at this moment were all leaders who had not been able to cross the river. They were unable to cross the river because there were defenders on the other side blocking their way.

Logically speaking... if you are blocking me downstream, can I just go around to the upstream and rob you?

But the Turdun nobles could not make a detour. They could make a small detour, but they could not maneuver in a large area of ​​hundreds of kilometers.

It’s not that they’re stubborn, unwilling to let go, or unwilling to take detours—in fact, they’re driven crazy.

For example Tai Chi.

When he heard that others had invaded new land and made a fortune, and then looked at his own oxen and horses that were getting thinner and thinner, Taichi's heart ached as if he was being pressed on a red-hot iron plate for frying.

But Taichi couldn't leave, because he had to stay here due to the military orders of the roaster.

The marching route of the Terdun people is not just as simple as "how to walk", but also a way to distribute benefits.

If Taichi went to rob other places, it would be like milking other people's goats.

Those who warm the fire agree on the marching route, and only those who warm the fire can modify it.

Whatever the Kota can decide, they will stick to their word; anything that the Kota cannot decide, any attempt to cross the line will result in the harshest punishment - the alpha wolf will not allow any member of the pack to challenge his authority, even if it is Neither can the alpha wolf’s biological uncle.

The Terdun nobles in the big tent looked forward to the stars and the moon. After waiting for three days, they finally waited for the one who was warming the fire.

Everyone is waiting for the fire roaster to speak, and then quickly leave the hard bone in front of them and go to a place where it is easier to eat.

The fire-warmer finally spoke, but his first sentence was a question: "Tartai is life or death. Do you know?"

no one knows.

Youkota told the fire-warmer: "There are no living people, and there are no dead people...the two-legged people dragged away the corpses."

"Leave all the Tartai people you are sheltering to me." The fire-warmer said gruffly, "I want to question them."

No one objected, after all, there were few living people in the Tartai department.

"What about Tartai's horses and goods?" Youkota asked.

"You can keep it for a while."

It turns out that if we just hand over a few people, there will be no objection.

The big tent became quiet again, and everyone was waiting for the fire-warmer to speak and talk about more important things.

The fire-warmer muttered: "You and me..."

"Great Khan!" The quiver man's urgent shout outside the tent interrupted the fire-warmer. A military meeting was being held inside the tent, and the quiver man did not dare to come in: "A messenger has been sent from the other side!"

"What?" The fire-warmer stood up suddenly, walked to the tent door in three steps, and kicked open the curtain: "Where is it?"

The big tent was also like a frying pan, and all the Keta stood up one after another, whispering to each other and asking questions.

"Shut up!" the fire-warmer shouted.

The big tent suddenly became quiet.

So the curtain was removed, the skylight was opened, and the big tent suddenly became bright. The person warming the fire returned to his seat, and the Kota sat on both sides, and everything returned to its original appearance.

The messenger was brought forward.

As soon as he entered the tent, the messenger fell to his knees and wished he could bury his face in the carpet.

The fire-warmer said nothing. The old interpreter understood and asked in common language: "Who are you?"

When the messenger spoke, he spoke in Khedic. But his voice was as thin as a mosquito and couldn't be heard at all.

All the Telton nobles exchanged glances, but in the end Taichi couldn't hold back his anger: "Eggless gelding! Speak louder!"

"Tal Taitou! I am the servant of Tal Taitou's family!"

The one who commands is the slave. The ones who serve at home are the more favored slaves.

The fire-warmer's face darkened.

"Tartet?" The old interpreter narrowed his eyes and asked for the person warming the fire: "Is Tartai dead or alive?"

"No, no, no... I don't know."

"How did he cross the river?" the old interpreter asked the quiver escorting the messenger.

"On a raft."

"He's the only one."

"yes."

Taichi slammed the table impatiently and asked the messenger: "What does the two-legged man want you to do?"

The messenger trembled on the ground and replied in a trembling voice: "Send a message."

"What message? Tell me!"

The messenger's Adam's apple twitched and he did not dare to speak.

"explain!!!"

The messenger cried and stammered: "The leader on the other side... the leader Ronald wants to ask the Great Khan to cross the river and fight with him... He promises not to stop the Great Khan from crossing the river..."

…

A military meeting is being held over there with the Tertun people, and Winters is also holding a military meeting here in Oxhoof Valley.

Winters's meeting was smaller than that of Terton's, with five company commanders and himself, a total of six people.

"I found a prisoner and sent a message to Monkey Butt-face on the other side." Winters announced with a smile: "In the name of Major Ronald, I invite Monkey Butt-face to cross the river and fight me."

Company-level officers such as Tamas, Bart Shalling, and Samkin were first shocked, and then inexplicable.

Bart Xialing swallowed: "Then...will the barbarian chief agree?"

"I don't know either." Winters unfolded the map on the table: "Anyway, I promise Monkey Butt Face. When he crosses the river, I will never intercept him."

"Ah?" Tamas was shocked: "What if the barbarian really crosses the river?"

"Of course we have to hit the enemy halfway!" Winters replied matter-of-factly.

There was silence in the small room for a while, and then burst into laughter.

"Are you the chief who wants to anger the barbarians?" Samkin asked, blinking.

"If this can irritate Monkey Butt-face, it means he has not made any progress." A faint smile appeared on the corner of Winters' mouth: "I want to see how he reacts."

"What if the barbarian chief doesn't respond?"

"No reaction is also a reaction."

Tamas asked curiously: "Why use the name of Major Ronald?"

Winters looked out the window, with a bit of helplessness in his tone: "The hatred between us and Monkey Butt Face is really great. If he learns that the opponent is me or you, then what he will do next... it is difficult to guess with common sense. ."

The room erupted in violent laughter again.

"If you ask me, make a pot, melt some gold and pour it on it. Take it to the river and say hello to the barbarian on the other side." Bart Shilling smiled slyly: "I don't think the barbarian will do it when his brain gets hot. No matter what, they came over and killed them. Let’s take the opportunity to give them a blow on the head and knock them all to death on the river bank.”

Winters was noncommittal and glanced at the others: "You think so too?"

Someone nodded.

Tamas shook his head and whispered: "I think this is not good. The barbarian chief on the other side suffered a big loss at your hands last time. If he knows that you are here to control us, he will definitely be more vigilant."

"How can a barbarian be so smart?" Bart Shilling retorted.

Tamas fell silent.

"If you were monkey-faced and knew I was on the other side of the river, how would you make a decision?" Winters was interested in testing several subordinates at the school: "Think carefully, everyone has to answer."

Bart Xialing was quick-thinking and was the first to speak: "If it were a barbarian chieftain, I think he would kill him regardless. If it were me... I would avoid you and go fight elsewhere."

After Bart Xialing finished speaking, no one spoke for a long time.

Seeing that his subordinates were not enthusiastic about answering, Winters began to call the names: "Tamas, you are the first company commander, you go first."

"I..." Tamas muttered: "My words...retreat to the wasteland."

"Why?" Winters was confused.

Tamas's voice became smaller and smaller as he spoke: "...I don't dare to fight you."

Winters couldn't laugh or cry. He didn't have a cane. He picked up his cane and gave Tamas a slap: "Am I asking you to flatter me?!"

Tamas didn't dare to hide, so he took a solid blow from the stick and said stumblingly: "I want to say that I...I can't beat you, so...so I can't beat you or not..."

Before he finished speaking, Tamas took another stick.

Winters spoke slowly: "It is also a reasonable decision to retreat to the wasteland, accumulate strength, and fight another day."

"Yes, that's what I mean." Tamas continued happily.

Winters sighed heavily: "Samkin, you tell me."

Samkin, who was watching the excitement, felt as if he was struck by lightning. He thought hard for a long time before speaking: "I think we can leave a few people to contain you, and then go to sneak attacks in places where our defense is weak. We can also go to Warnie County to cross the river, and then leave Entering Tiefeng County by land."

The five company commanders each finished speaking, and the content was very similar, nothing more than attacking, withdrawing troops, and detouring.

"Do you understand what I mean now?" Winters leaned on his cane: "As long as the person being roasted knows that I am here, his decision-making process will change. In any case, it will be different from when he knows nothing. Special What are the advantages of Erdun people?”

"Strength." Bart Xialing responded: "They have many more people than us. They all ride horses, and their mobility is better than ours."

"Strength and mobility. Those are the two." Winters nodded approvingly and continued to ask: "Then what are the advantages of our army?"

"Terrain, we rely on the river to defend. As long as the river doesn't freeze, they won't be able to cross." Bart Xialing answered again.

"anything else?"

"Food." Samkin said softly: "We still have food. The west bank has been burned. The longer the Teldu barbarians delay, the less they will have to eat. The weather is getting colder and colder."

"Yes, time is also on our side. The longer it takes, the more uncomfortable it will be for the Teltown people." Winters nodded: "There is one more thing. Our army has an absolute advantage."

Bart Shilling thought hard and talked about "weapons", "tactics" and a lot of other things, but Winters shook his head.

Tamas said cautiously: "And you, if you command, we will have an absolute advantage."

Then the captain took another blow, and Winters hit him so hard that his cane was broken.

"Just wait." Winters slapped the broken cane on the table and said bitterly: "Next time I will bring a lead-filled cane."

Seeing that several people couldn't answer, Winters took out a box of chess pieces: "The Teltown people don't know our true and falsehoods. We know the details of the Teltown people - besides time and terrain, intelligence is our most important advantage. !”

He placed the chess pieces on the map, with the horse head chess representing the Telton people and the castle representing the Tiefeng County troops. The situation between the two sides was clear at a glance.

On the southern front, the Terdun people have already invaded Lower Tiefeng County and are wreaking havoc in the three towns of Langtun, Heishui, and Wumastiff.

On the northern front, the Teltowns failed in their attack on Shovel Harbor and began to turn to Wargne County.

In the middle line, the main force of Teltown led by Fire Roaster was blocked on the west bank of the Bighorn River.

The main force of Tiefeng County is stationed in Shengke Town, and at the same time, the troops are stationed in Niuti Valley, Xiaoshi Town and Forge Township.

There is not a single chess piece on the circle representing Gévaudan on the map.

Winters stopped smiling and his expression turned serious. Everyone knew that he was about to give an order, and they sat down solemnly.

"Take down my personal flag."

"yes!"

"Without my permission, combat plans are strictly prohibited from being communicated to the company commander or below."

"yes!"

"There is someone around the fire-warming person who can speak the common language, and all combat plans and unit numbers will be changed to code names."

"yes!"

"From now on." Winters punched the map hard: "The combat plan 'Tempest' is officially launched!"

[Due to Dianniang’s compression, if the map is too large, the annotations will not be visible clearly; if the map is too small, the annotations will not be fully visible]

[So the subsequent battle maps should be divided into large and small maps, with the big map showing the overall situation and the small map marked]

[The current labeling colors are tentatively as follows: Tiefeng County side [blue], Terdun Department side [red], battle history [yellow]. Please feel free to give your comments, thank you]

[Thanks to book friends for their collection, reading, subscription, recommendation votes, monthly votes, rewards and comments, thank you all]