Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

The rider stood on the hillside, continuing to openly insult the Revodan officers and soldiers.

"Ignore him," Major Ronald ordered, "keep moving! At least we know he's not alone."

Lieutenant Adam was fuming with anger, "Ferenc! You rush to your death if you must! And damn it, gifting away three horses for nothing!"

...

At nightfall, the Revodan troops rested in a forest.

Their encampment had no defensive fortifications—soldiers were too tired and hungry to dig or to bring tools.

They each formed groups, haphazardly making beds with branches and dry leaves, and promptly lay down to sleep.

Apart from a few sentries, there were no additional defenses in the Revodan encampment.

But deadly threats were hidden in the still of the night.

This forest terrain was specially chosen by Major Ronald, not only because cavalry could hardly maneuver in the woods, but also because it offered a better layout for ambushes.

Using tree trunks as stakes, the Revodan soldiers strung up three layers of tripwires around the camp—they had no iron tools, but they did have hemp ropes.

The forest deep in the night was pitch-black, the tripwires hidden in the darkness.

All Revodan soldiers stood ready for action, quietly awaiting their guests.

"Come on, lad," Major Ronald gripped his weapon tight, leaning against the trunk of a tree, waiting for the sound of horse hooves.

He thought, "I'll show you that this old-timer still has some skills, let me give you a lesson..."

By the time Major Ronald regained consciousness, it was already daylight.

He sprang up, "When did I fall asleep?"

Of course, people don't know when they fall asleep.

The major didn't know, nor did the other officers and soldiers, because everyone was sound asleep.

"What? What's happening?" Lieutenant Adam rubbed the drool from his mouth as he woke from his sleep, "Has Montagne come?"

No, he hadn't come.

Nothing happened last night.

No night raid, no ambushes, no bloodshed; a calm night and everyone slept soundly.

Major Ronald could only force a wry smile.

The soldiers were happy there was no fight, but it meant they had to continue marching.

On the road just outside the forest, Major Ronald received a gift: three men, tightly bound.

Lieutenant Ferenc, another Centurion, and that messenger.

All three were alive, and even their wounds had been carefully treated.

An accompanying note read:

"They are no good at braiding straw sandals, best you keep them.

—W.M, Officer Stationed at Wolfton, Protector of the Eight Towns"

"Eight Towns?" A foreboding feeling surged in Major Ronald's heart, "Eight Towns?!"

"At least he sent back the horses! We just got three burdens returned!" Lieutenant Adam cursed loudly, "Damn stingy Vineta miser!"

...

The day after the failed ambush night, in the afternoon.

Gedani—the southernmost small village of Saint Town—was surrounded.

About conscription, Major Ronald amassed some experience: one must never take the main road, there are "watchpoints" in the villages along the main road, even an inconspicuous child could be a lookout.

If they see troops coming on the main road, the peasants could run away clean in the blink of an eye.

One had to take the back roads, detour through the forest, first encircle the village from afar, then slowly tighten the circle to ensure not a single person could escape.

But this whole tactical maneuver was too difficult for green soldiers, who had no ability to complete such a graceful strike.

Ronald had good reason to believe that if he dispersed his troops in the forest, at least half of them would disappear by the time they reconvened.

Luckily, Major Ronald wasn't striving for perfection; catching half or a third of the peasants was enough.

So, each squad was still led by a Centurion, forming a net full of holes that closed in on the small village of Gedani.

The battle plan was executed well, even better than anticipated.

Major Ronald was satisfied with his Centurions; the encirclement was closing, and the villagers of Gedani remained utterly unaware.

Even not a single person ran out.

Wait, not a single one ran out?

Lieutenant Adam charged towards the Major on his galloping steed, "Sir! There's not a soul in the farmstead! It's even cleaner than the previous ones we've come across!"

"Hmm," Major Ronald asked calmly, "As clean as the ones in Wolf Town, right?"

Lieutenant Adam hesitated, "Cleaner… cleaner than the farmsteads in Wolf Town..."

"The protectors of the Eight Towns? Including Saint Town?" Major Ronald heaved a long sigh, "Forget it, no need to waste any more effort, I'm afraid all the farmsteads ahead are the same as Gedani, all deserted. Head straight to Hammer Fort!"

…

"Here, this gun is for you," Winters handed a captured revolver to Little Lion, "Consider it a thank you for your help."

Little Lion and his four quiver bearers were also in Winters' cavalry — Little Lion had originally brought six guards, but two had gone back to the Red River Tribe to deliver messages.

"I'd be willing to fight the Paratu People even without a reward," Little Lion took the revolver with a playful smile, "Just don't send us on a suicide mission."

"Hmm, sure," Winters seemed unfeeling.

The lack of reaction from Winters left Little Lion quite disappointed.

"You learn quickly, aren't you using my brother's strategy now? Keeping them on the hook, not biting, nor letting go," Little Lion continued to tease.

But Winters still had little reaction.

"Hmm, you're right," Winters answered absentmindedly.

Little Lion, finding no amusement, went on to fiddle with the revolver by himself.

In fact, Winters' thoughts were already occupied with another matter, hence his apparent obtuseness.

"Strange," Winters kept recalling, "The shot Ferenc fired at me seemed to penetrate the Deflection Spell… Could it have been my imagination?"

He silently took out a small, black notebook and a tiny piece of graphite, making a few cursory notes.

…

St. George River diagonally divides Iron Peak County into two parts, roughly North Eight Towns and South Eight Towns.

South Eight Town is more desolate, while North Eight Towns are more affluent.

Revodan is situated on the St. George River.

If Major Ronald wished to reach Hammer Fort, there were only two routes across the river.

Either through Revodan or King's Bridge Town.

With Revodan no longer an option, Major Ronald had no choice but to lead his troops on a longer route, turning towards King's Bridge Town.

Hunger, fatigue, and an uncertain future.

These three formidable challenges nearly crushed the troops; even the officers could not effectively maintain discipline.

Some soldiers simply sat on the ground, refusing to go any further, no matter what was said to them.

Others just ran off into the forest, deserting then and there.

Under such circumstances, if the officers of Revodan's forces did not enforce military law, they could only watch as their troops slowly but surely fell apart.

If they enforced military law, the army would collapse immediately.

"We've already lost this war."

The officers of Revodan could see this truth confirmed in the eyes of their colleagues whenever their gazes met.

Numbly, they marched on, waiting for someone to draw a period at the end of their sentence.

Eventually, outside King's Bridge Town, they encountered the very people they least wanted to see, yet also most hoped to meet: the three companies led by Bard, Andre, and Mason.

Ronald led the remnants of his force to set up camp outside King's Bridge Town, gathering food, waiting for Winters' forces to attack.

But Winters didn't strike; he merely waited until evening to set up a few fires on the upwind, roast a few pigs, lay out baskets of freshly baked bread, and prepare a few pots of lamb soup.

He also shouted a few phrases like "Hammer Fort has already surrendered," "Surrender and you will not be killed," "There's food and drink here," "Ronald is a traitor," "The Sixteen Towns' protectors put down the rebellion."

The cohesion of the force Ronald desperately tried to maintain completely collapsed.

One soldier dropped his weapon and ran out to surrender, and then all the soldiers started running out, they rushed towards the bread, roasted pigs, and lamb soup, stuffing their mouths with the scalding meat and broth without care.

They were starving! Truly starving!

The Revodan officers with warhorses made attempts to break out, but not one managed to escape—their warhorses were even hungrier.

Andre led the cavalry in a decisive charge into the enemy's camp, seizing the military banner.

From Ronald down, all officers and soldiers garrisoned by Revodan were captured.

The following noon.

Winters Montagne rode his horse through the main gate into Revodan.

The elders of Revodan welcomed him on both sides of the street.