Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 278 Awards

   The sentry on the watchtower saw a group of cavalry galloping towards the gate from a distance.

The    alarm bell rang, the defenders with weapons went straight to the camp wall, and the civilians who were digging trenches outside the camp flocked to the camp gate.

   This is a small fort standing outside Niutigu Town, with a length and width of only 50 meters.

  There are two layers of earth walls inside and outside the camp. The main wall is two meters high, and the sub-wall is just one meter. There are only two doors in the front and rear.

   For a while, the defenders were about to go out and the civilians were about to come in, and the gates of the camp were blocked.

   "Where did the Hurds cross the river?" The first company commander, Tamas, was so anxious that he climbed up the camp wall and shouted, "Don't block the door! Let our people go out first!"

   The civilians outside were bent on entering the camp, and no one paid any attention to him.

  Tamas stomped his foot hard: "Back off! Let them come in first!"

  The soldiers retreated to the sides, the crowd poured into the camp like a tide, and the small camp was packed.

  Tamas was furious, but he heard the sentry on the watchtower shout: "Company commander! It is the flag of the military tribune of Montagne!"

  Tamas looked at the visitor and saw a blood-red flag fluttering on the tip of the spear, and he was relieved.

The company flag of the    regiment is a blue quadrant, and the Hurds use a cyan ponytail.

   There is only one person in Tiefeng County who can use the blood-red flag. It is the military flag brought back from the Great Wasteland. It is a unique personal military flag.

  Tamas jumped off the camp wall and proceeded to appease the civilians. Before the sweat on his forehead was wiped off, he heard a thunderous roar from outside the camp wall: "What are you doing? Tamas! Bart Shalling! Get out of here!"

When    Winters arrived at Cowhoof Valley, it was noon the next day of the ambush.

  The situation at the Oxhoof Valley camp made him very dissatisfied. From hearing the alarm bell, to when he ran outside the camp wall, a large number of civilians were still crowded at the camp gate and were not accommodated in the camp.

  The front and rear camp gates were full of people, and Tamas had nothing to do, so he finally jumped over the wall and left the camp in embarrassment.

   "Where's Bart Shalling?" Winters asked the Captain with a stern face.

  Tamas replied quickly: "On the river bank, Erlian is monitoring the movements of the barbarians."

   Winters pointed to the cluttered fortress, and asked with anger, "If I were a Hurd, would you still be alive?"

  Tamas is suffering.

   Winters said nothing, and walked around the camp wall on horseback.

  Tamas stood there, bewildered, Ciel dismounted and patted the company commander on the back sympathetically.

  Charle whispered to Tamas: "The captain is here to reward you. I heard that you two won the battle, and he is happier than himself."

   "Why did the centurion come in person?" Tamas asked in a low voice, "Where's Gevudin?"

   "Don't worry, there is Captain Mason in charge."

   During the conversation, Winters had circled the camp and returned to the main gate.

   "One hundred paces?" Winters asked.

   "Yes!" Tamas saluted and replied, "A hundred paces long and wide."

   "It's too small!" Winters jumped off the saddle and pointed out the problem sharply: "It's okay to pack two companies, how can it be possible to hold the surrounding civilians? Don't you think about the future when you build the camp?"

   Tamas stood dejectedly.

   Winters wanted to teach another lesson, but remembered that none of his company commanders had received full military training.

  The ability to build this standard military camp with two walls and one trench is actually a super-level performance after their observation, self-study, and integration.

   A few more training, I'm afraid it will destroy the self-confidence and dignity of these "wild road" commanders.

   "It was a good battle." Winters sighed inwardly and took out a certificate of commendation: "Have the fallen soldiers been buried? Where are the wounded? I brought Father Kaman here."

  Tamas held the commendation certificate, and the tears flowed out without holding back.

  …

The sudden arrival of    Winters caused a small riot, but the riot died down quickly.

  Tamas and Bart Shalling explained the ambush in detail.

"Originally, I wanted to wait for the war horses to arrive before starting." Bart Xialing regretted: "The barbarians on the other side are very cunning. They only send ten horses at a time. Our people are all hidden under the river bank, and can't stand careful search. ."

   Winters stared at the map, measured with a compass, and asked, "How many horses are there on the other side of the Hurd?"

   "Let's talk about five or six hundred horses."

   "Five or six hundred horses? How lavish!" Winters threw away the compass, and felt a little regretful: "Well, I can't even make a hundred horses now."

   "How come?" Tamas asked inexplicably: "Didn't I just bring back more than 200 horses from Lieutenant Bard?"

   Winters had a headache thinking about it: "All taken away by Lieutenant Cellini and Lieutenant A...don't tell me a word."

  The military tribunes complained to each other, and the small company commander did not dare to talk much.

  Andre and Don Juan, with over a hundred cavalry and over five hundred horses, headed west without looking back.

   For Andre and Senior Juan's decision, Winters silently accepted. This is not his war alone, everyone has their own responsibilities.

   Winters cheered up and asked the two company commanders: "How do you know that the Hurd people are going to cross the river in Pantuolin?"

   "It was the second company commander who proposed to set up a latent post on the other side." Tamas hurriedly replied: "Otherwise, there would be no victory this time."

   Winters nodded.

  Tamas and Bart Shalling were the two captains Winters valued most. The latter is flexible in thinking and always has strange ideas; the former is generous and gentle, and can convince the public.

  The company commanders under Winters are all forged from blood and fire, and they only lack a little systematic learning.

   Winters used a graphite strip to draw the next stroke on the map: "The Eleventh and Twelfth Companies are coming towards the Oxhoof Valley to strengthen you.

   "Four companies are going to be arranged in the Oxhoof Valley?" Bart Xialing asked in surprise.

   "That's right." Winters drew a circle on the Oxhoof Valley: "Your current camp is too small. I suggest you build a fort directly around the Oxhoof Valley and completely enclose the town of Oxhoof Valley."

   "Just order it." Tamas said with a smile: "What else do you suggest?"

"No, you are the frontline commanders. You need to make an impromptu decision according to the specific situation, I can only give you advice." Winters took out two letters of appointment from his arms: "Four companies are one battalion. From now on— Tamas, you are the acting battalion commander of the first battalion."

  Tamas leaves the chair like a spring, lips trembling not knowing what to say.

   "Bart Shaling." Winters handed the letter of appointment to the second company commander: "From now on, you are the acting deputy commander of the first battalion."

   "Centurion!" Tamas suddenly said, "I..."

   "Huh?" Winters raised his eyebrows slightly.

   "Let Bart be the battalion commander..." Tamas lowered his head: "...I don't have the ability to lead a battalion."

   Winters threw the letter of appointment on the table, crossed his arms and asked, "Are you a military tribune, or am I a military tribune?"

"you are…"

   "Then what nonsense are you talking about?" Winters threw the letter of appointment on the company commander: "Whoever I let be, is who. Bart Shalling, are you not convinced?"

  Bart Xia Ling was in a hurry to complain: "Centurion, how can I be unconvinced by this? I didn't say anything!"

   "Is that your dissatisfaction?" Winters looked at the first company commander: "Mr. Tamas?"

  Tamas silently picked up the letter of appointment and raised his hand to salute.

"I'll give you two additional tasks," Winters said while marking on the map: "First, evacuate the villages near Oxhoof Valley, bury the grain and property on the spot, and bury all the People, livestock, and carriages are all concentrated in Niuhogu Town."

   "A carriage too?"

   "Not a single carriage can fall!"

  Tamas and Bart Xia Ling nodded repeatedly.

   "Second, set up beacon towers along the Pangtuo River to control the north bank of the Pangtuo River."

   "Then... it doesn't matter if you go to Tiefeng County?" Bart Xialing asked solemnly.

   "As long as the Hurds in Lower Iron Peak County are no more than the Pontuo River." Winters answered decisively: "Ignore them."

  Tamas pointed to the map and asked, "There is a bridge over there in Little Rock, what should I do?"

   "I've sent the third company to evacuate Little Rock, you don't have to worry."

"Yes."

Winters looked at his subordinates with an unspeakable feeling in his heart. He told the two of them: "Revodan is nearly 100 kilometers away from Oxhoof Valley, and the success or failure here will be borne by the two of you. A is not good, their only advantage is mobility. Be determined and remember not to be led away by them.”

   "Yes!" Tamas and Bart Shalling solemnly salute.

   "Okay, don't be so serious." A smile appeared in the corner of Winters' eyes: "I'm here to reward you."

   So a simple award ceremony was held in the square of Niutigu Town.

  Under the gazes of the soldiers and civilians, a diminutive warrior named Peter Bunir was the first to receive the award.

  The new government has financial difficulties, so the reward method is very simple, that is, to grant more fields.

Because Peter Bunir fought bravely, took the lead in the enemy line, and captured a red feather from the enemy, so his land grant was increased from 300 mu to 600 mu (Note: 40 hectares). times.

   Hearing the word "three hundred mu", the peasants and townspeople onlookers were already whispering - three hundred mu is enough to make ordinary farmers jealous.

   When the "six hundred acres" echoed in the square, the crowd exclaimed in amazement, and even suppressed the sound that had been amplified by magic.

   Even the first company commander, Tamas, was taken aback when he first learned about the strength of the reward. Although Peter the Short is a soldier under Tamas, Tamas still persuades Winters to think twice and restrain himself.

To this end, Winters told Tamas a classic joke from the Luyuan Academy: "It is said that the mad Richard once threatened Marshal Ned, saying that he would send a '100,000 army' to crusade the Alliance. The old Marshal retorted neither humble nor arrogant, saying that the Alliance It can also summon an army of 100,000 troops.”

   "So mad Richard said, 'Then I will send two hundred thousand troops'." Winters smiled and asked Tamas: "Guess how the old marshal answered?"

   "The Alliance can also assemble a 200,000 army?" Tamas asked tentatively.

   "That's impossible, the Alliance can't mobilize 200,000 troops. The old marshal said..." Winters patted the company commander on the shoulder: "'Then we will each fire two shots'."

  Tamas thought for a long time, then asked timidly, "My subordinates don't understand, can you explain more."

   Winters sighed, and the second company commander, Bart Shaling, interjected: "The centurion means that if everyone can kill a red feather, we would have won this battle long ago!"

   So is it more than 600 acres? Certainly not much. But for the lonely Peter Bunnier, it's arguably too much.

   The onlookers turned pale in shock, and the other warriors who had captured the battle were elated, but the little Peter Bunir had no trace of joy on his face.

  He took the award numbly, acting like a marionette.

   First company commander Tamas was so angry that he wanted to hit someone, gritted his teeth and scolded his subordinates: "Short Peter, who are you showing your face? Thank you!"

   Peter Bunir gave the military tribunal a stiff salute upon hearing the company commander's words.

   "Why, aren't you happy with the land?" Winters wasn't angry, just a little weird.

   "No." Short Peter shook his head.

   Winters raised his eyebrows: "Nothing? Happy? Or unhappy?"

   Peter Dwarf was silent for a long time, and suddenly pleaded with a crying voice: "Lord Blood Wolf, you promised to help me rebuild the house, but you must not break your promise!"

   If it weren't for the public, Tamas would have kicked it hard long ago.

   The word 'blood wolf' is a big taboo. The old department of the Montagne centurion knew that Tamas desperately prayed in his heart that the centurion would not be in a bad mood today.

   Perhaps the prayer was fulfilled, and Tamas heard the blood wolf laugh loudly: "Build you a better one!"

  The big stone in Tamas's heart just fell to the ground, and it suddenly lifted up again-because the little Peter Bunir said stubbornly, wiping his tears, "No! I want the original room!"

Perhaps the centurion was in a really good mood today, Tamas thought, when he saw Winters Montagne take out his notebook and write an IOU, which he solemnly handed to the soldier Peter Bunier: "Just as before. Build a room for you, and I will give you a high five to swear."

  …

   Over there, the award ceremony is in full swing. In the dungeon of the camp here, the prisoners of the Teltown Division are being interrogated one by one.

   If it is only to send a commendation order, it is enough to send a courier. And Winters came to Oxhoof Valley with not only Father Kaman, but also the little lion.

  The little hunter Bell is not here, and the little lion is the only person around Winters who can speak two languages.

  With the richer experience and the broader vision, Winters pays more and more attention to intelligence.

  The battlefield seems to be shrouded in mist, and passively obtaining information can no longer satisfy Winters.

   In the ambush battle at dawn yesterday, Tiefeng County finally controlled the battlefield. Nearly half of the more than 100 Terdun people who crossed the river were killed or injured, and the others were captured and captured.

   The Terdens of the tribal and slave classes had little loyalty. Without torture, after a few frights, they vomited out like beans poured out of a bamboo tube.

   Waiting for the little lion's interrogation to end, just in time for Winters to bring someone over.

  The little lion told Winters straight to the point: "You are all captives of 'Ulus', even ordinary people, and they don't know anything useful."

   "How many are they in all?" Winters couldn't help frowning.

   "Three Tuurus, more than three hundred riders, and some servants who serve people."

   "Isn't this very useful?" Winters' eyebrows slowly stretched: "Who is their commander?"

   "Bieqi Tartai." The little lion shrugged: "I know this person. The relative of the fire roaster who is marrying, the fire roaster's 'Nake'er, that is, the fire roaster's personal servant."

   "Subordinate yourself?"

   The little lion sighed and explained with gestures.

  It is impossible to sort out the social affiliation of the Hurds in an orderly manner, because even the Hurds themselves can't figure it out.

   Take the relationship between the fire roaster and Tartai as an example: Tartai is the fire roaster's foreign relative, and the blood relationship is not as good as the fire roaster's uncle Taichi;

   But Taichi is a semi-independent leader who can selectively obey the orders of the fireboilers. And Tartai has almost no independence, and the fire roaster can even decide the marriage of the Tartai family.

   "Independence" is also a flexible indicator, not a hard value. It changes with the power balance, intimacy and trust levels of the two parties.

  Simply put, Teltown is a big faction, and the Fireboiler is the most powerful small faction in the big faction.

  [Tai Chi Faction] and [Fire Boiler Faction] are almost in juxtaposition, and [Taltai Faction] is a subordinate branch of [Fire Boiler Faction].

   The Tartai faction itself is a small tribe, and the Tartai also has its own guards, partners, subjects and slaves.

   Winters was too lazy to sort out the family tree for the fire roaster. He asked bluntly: "The Tartai on the other side loses the battle, and the fire roaster's control in the Teltown department will be weakened. Am I right?"

  Little lion tilted his head and thought for a while: "Almost."

   "Okay!" Winters stroked his palm: "That's enough."

   [I didn't catch up again...let's just redefine the update time and forget it...]

   [The battlefield is so big that Winters has to entrust the responsibility to others]

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

   (end of this chapter)