Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 782 - 65 Opportunity_2

Chapter 782: Chapter 65 Opportunity_2 Chapter 782: Chapter 65 Opportunity_2 Every person who crossed the Floating Bridge saluted the military civil officer waiting at the bridgehead.

This fleet had been concealed by Winters for a very long time…

The key to defending Iron Peak County lay in defending the river, and the focus should be on defending the waterway, not the riverbank.

The water combat capability of the sheepskin rafts was pitiful; to avoid capsizing, those from Terdun would even kneel when riding them.

The small rafts would flip over at the slightest collision, while the larger ones, although stable, were unwieldy and most vulnerable to fire ships.

Speaking bluntly, Gold’s pirate ship, “Good Luck”, would undoubtedly be the overlord of Big Horn River were it to be placed there.

Did Winters have ships?

...

No, because the ships of Iron Peak County were all in Shovel Port, confiscated by the mayor, Botar.

But upon learning that the Terdun Tribe planned to launch a second offensive by taking advantage of the warm winter, he immediately ordered Samujin to start building rafts and small boats.

The navy was also of great use in Paratu—this was the painful lesson of the Fifth and Sixth Legions in the battle of The Styx, one he had never forgotten.

Yet Winters had never used this fleet.

During the fierce attack on Taltai Division, he deliberately used the rafts, while leaving the small boats idle.

After the Terdun Tribe’s main forces reached Big Horn River, he deployed defenses along the riverbank, giving up the waterway.

The Terdun people employed exhaustion tactics, disturbing the west bank more than twenty times in one night, pushing everyone to the brink of breaking. The command to “launch boats into the water” almost passed his lips several times, but Winters clenched his teeth and swallowed it back each time.

This fleet had always been hidden away, concealed with great difficulty.

Tonight, at last, he could show it to the Terdun people.

After confirming once again that the blue banner with nine horse tails was merely a bluff, and that the kindled fire was indeed his own advancing troops, Winters immediately ordered the units of Iron Peak County to withdraw from the river fortresses, to be replaced by Samujin’s “Valiant Squad” and the “Grown Soldiers”.

The city defense of Niutigu Valley, originally under the responsibility of Samujin’s “Valiant Squad”, was turned over to the “Stout Soldiers” hastily conscripted from Niutigu Valley.

By way of deception, Winters freed up a mobile force.

This unit was not very large, including himself, a total of six hundred forty-seven men.

There was but one criterion for selection—stay on the horseback without falling off.

Having seized nearly a thousand Herder horses from the Taltai Division, equestrian training became an urgent addition to the units’ training content.

This hastily assembled “Cavalry Division” looked very strange:

A small part of the men used the Paratu People’s long-stirrup saddles suited for melee combat;

Another part used the Herders’ short-stirrup saddles meant for mounted archery;

And yet another part didn’t have saddles at all, only binding a layer of padding on the horseback, making do with crude iron rings or wooden hoops as stirrups.

Among these men were both natural riders like the Dusacks, who had grown up on horseback, and foot soldiers forced into service, as well as able-bodied men conscripted from the towns and villages.

Andre and Tang Juan’s arbitrary removal of the cavalry squadron only added to the plight of Iron Peak County.

But Winters had never complained; he’d never fought a battle where everything went perfectly to plan.

Making do with the crudest means—sharpening a spear on both ends for use—was the norm.

If there were no warhorses, he would seize them; if there were no cavalry, he would train them; if there were no saddles, he would make do with blankets.

The “Cavalry Division” had already crossed the river, and Samujin began dismantling the Floating Bridge.

Winters stepped into the stirrup, his other hand on the pommel, and turned to look at the faces of the men—determined, calm, fearful, or weary.

Without any fancy talk, he cut straight to the point, “You all know by now, the Barbarian Chief’s personal troops have started to move. They might be moving north, to attack Shovel Port and Vernge County. If that’s the case, central Iron Peak County is temporarily safe.”

The winter night was very quiet, without even the sound of insects, only the heavy breathing of men and horses could be heard.

“But it’s more likely that the Terdun people will head south, for the further north they go, the more difficult it is to cross the river,” Winters analyzed the predicament of Iron Peak County calmly. “Heading south, they can cross from lower Iron Peak County and take the land route around to the back of Niutigu Valley—a brilliant flanking maneuver.

By then, we’ll be facing a pincer attack. The Terdun forces on the west bank will hold us in place, and the troops that have circled to the East Bank will smash us like a hammer. The noose is tightening, and our only chance is to strike the Terdun forces on the west bank first.”

“Though the Terdon Tribe is numerous, they are scattered along the river for a hundred miles; their generals are many, yet they are divided in heart, competing in secret schemes; their approach is fierce, but we too have the strength for one battle.”

“Some of you are soldiers recently granted land, some are Dusack warriors with generations of service, some are civilians conscripted, and some were captives just a few days ago. Who you were before doesn’t matter. From this moment on, you, me, he, we are all warriors fighting for our survival and our homes.”

Winters extended his hand toward a small boat on the riverbank, “Whoever lacks the courage to fight this battle, take the boat back to the East Bank—without any blame. Because I don’t wish to die with such a person—who is afraid to die with us.”

No sooner had these words been spoken than a deathly silence fell over the crowd; even the sound of breathing gradually subsided.

The tall, thin representative and the short, fat representative, who had argued outside the town hall, were both there because they knew how to ride and had therefore been conscripted as “able-bodied soldiers.”

Upon hearing that they could take a boat back, beads of sweat uncontrollably formed on the forehead of the tall, thin representative.

He had once mocked the “childish fight” combat report in the public notice that boasted “slain nine enemies, wounded numerous others.”

But now that it was his turn to go to battle, his heart was filled not with blood, but with liquid fear.

Realizing that one could actually die versus reading about deaths in a notice were two completely different matters.

He wanted to move his feet, but they seemed frozen to the ground. He couldn’t explain why he was paralysed—honor? Dignity? Not wanting to be laughed at by the fat man? The smiling faces of his daughter and son appeared in his mind, and the cries of his granddaughter in swaddling clothes echoed in his ears.

A hand grabbed the shoulder of the tall, thin representative, squeezed, and then let go—it was the short, fat representative.

The short, fat representative was also pale, but he nodded gently to the tall, thin one.

The eyes of the tall, thin representative became a little moist, and he nodded back. Decades of rivalry melted into a silent empathy.

“From this night until the end of the world, our bravery shall be forever remembered.” Seeing no one step out of ranks, Winters mounted his horse, “Advance!”

The tall darkey chestnut warhorse shook slightly and Winters sat firmly in the saddle, as if he had grown there, and spurred his horse northward.

The riders quickly mounted their horses and followed.

“Stick close to me, I’ll look after you,” the short, fat representative said hurriedly to the tall, thin one.

After speaking, he deftly hoisted his bulky body onto the saddle, smoothed the folds of his jacket, and then spurred his horse’s ribs and charged out. The scabbard of his cavalry sword swung with the rhythm of the gallop, reflecting a dim glow in the moonlight.

The tall, thin representative wiped away his tears and also spurred his horse to catch up.

…

The thundering sound of hoofbeats was like muffled thunder, impossible to hide.

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The cavalry rode fast along the west bank, while on the eastern shore, the beacon towers, watchtowers, and Dangbao lit fires in succession, both as a salute and a measure of distance.

Winters rode swiftly at the very front, with his standard-bearer Heinrich holding high the military flag behind him.

Many who had just learned to ride didn’t dare to sit up straight; they pressed themselves tightly against the necks of their horses, occasionally someone fell off.

The riders had to be vigilant not only for potholes in the road but also to avoid trampling fallen comrades.

Some warhorses carried two people—one who could ride and one who could not, with several lead horses tethered to the saddle.

In everyone’s heart, there was only one thought: Keep up with that flag.

When the Terdon people were most ferocious, they harassed twenty-three times in a day and night, with the two furthest river crossings nearly sixty kilometers apart; during several attacks, they even managed to land small groups of light cavalry on the shore.

The garrison of Iron Peak County was exhausted from constantly responding, but at the same time, the camps of the Terdon people were becoming stretched thin.

However, as the tides of war change, once the attacker-defender roles are reversed, a rare opportunity arises.

It was Winters Montagne’s duty to not let the opportunity slip away.

Winters keenly observed that the number of beacons on the watchtower on the opposite shore had changed from one to two.

“Spread out!” The agreed signal appeared, and Winters drew his cavalry sword, “This is the place!”

As they crested a hillock, a small Terdon Camp came into view.

Winters charged down on his horse.

The cavalry shouted and followed.

And those warriors who had just learned to ride dismounted, drew their weapons, and charged with feet flying towards the scattered fleeing Terdon people.