Since the war started two years ago, millions of troops have gathered near the Apocalypse Fortress, arrayed along the long border, and fought against the sweeping Canghong army.
Since the country's industrial reform, Crancia's various equipment has gradually become more complete, basically ensuring that every soldier can get uniform weapons and armor.
Marching boots, waterproof cloaks, tents, backpacks, water bottles, helmets, light mail, forged breastplates, sabers, daggers, and muskets, these materials are produced by various provinces and counties under the full operation of the state machine, and then continuously supplied
Gather to the front line.
On today's battlefield, although muskets have begun to be used, they have not become mainstream for many reasons.
First, the range is limited. The effective range of current smoothbore guns is only 100-200 meters, and the accuracy is not high. It often requires a dense formation to achieve lethality.
Second, the penetrating power is insufficient, and gunpowder technology has not yet reached the level of later generations. The propulsion generated by the original gunpowder is not large enough to shoot through those mid-to-high-level extraordinary beings wearing armor. In addition, reloading also takes a lot of time.
Third, manufacturing is not easy. If we say that we can produce 100,000 muskets, we can still do it in a short time, but it is still difficult to supply 2 million people immediately.
But this does not mean that muskets are useless, but in many situations, whether it is defense, testing, or killing a wave of people in front of the formation, they have good usage scenarios. For some ordinary people and low-level extraordinary people, the bullets fired by muskets
It is indeed fatal.
If you really want to deal with those mid-level extraordinary beings, there are thousands of magic crystal gun troops in the army. The magic crystal guns and enchanted bullets they use are third-generation craft products that have improved the skills of Frost Alliance.
It can effectively kill extraordinary beings of Sequence 5 and below, and also poses a considerable threat to the existence of Sequence 6.
The only constraints on them are the low output of magic crystal guns and expensive enchanted bullets.
If we want to use the past era as a metaphor, it would probably be the situation close to World War I. Melee troops such as lancers still existed as an organic system, and muskets began to be used as a means of auxiliary attacks.
In the Third Age, in 1696, the Canghong Empire launched successive attacks on Clancia. More than 2 million troops faced off against Clancia near the Apocalypse Fortress, forming a continuous and anxious front. The two sides began to engage in various combat power contests.
Among them are many of the glorious flags of the past. The gale cavalry coming from the west wind is like a white wave, washing away the enemy formations on the golden plain. Many well-known legions have also emerged on the side of the Canghong Empire, such as the Blue Longbow Army and the Bear Helmet.
The Heavy Cavalry, the Bee Blades, the Night Owl Assassination Team, and the White-horned Antelope Relief Order still played a significant role in local battles and greatly improved the situation.
At the same time, in the sky, the Baskar family's Dragons of Disaster were also constantly bombing and attacking large and small bunkers and fortresses near the Apocalypse Fortress, trying to cut off the wings of the fortress and turn it into an isolated city.
Fighting with them are the Sky Armored Dragon from the Chuyue Council, the Black Wing Air Combat Legion of the Wing Clan, and the Sky Sparrow from the Tixilan Mountains. Together, they form a front with clear divisions of labor, including reconnaissance, sniping, and siege.
Bloodwing red dragons to resist its bombardment of the city below.
As the war progressed into winter, several bad news came.
First, a surprise attack force passed through the Sighing Mountains, entered the back of the Apocalypse Fortress, and began to wreak havoc on logistics routes, burn down granaries, and block supply lines.
In order to provide Apocalypse Fortress with food and logistical supplies in a timely manner, the Clancia troops were divided into two groups. One group transported urgently needed supplies from the sea to the front line, while the other group mobilized elite troops from the army to hunt down this beast that entered the interior of Clancia.
Legion.
But the Canghong Empire also seemed to be aware of the plight of the Apocalypse Fortress. A large number of ships were mobilized from the country. Under the emperor's order, they went south along the coastline to the waters south of the Apocalypse Fortress to block the transport fleet.
The two sides engaged in a fierce exchange of fire at sea. Although the warships on the Clancia side had technical advantages, the Canghong Empire had the participation of elves. Its flexible elves in aerial combat could easily break through the blockade of artillery fire and land the warships.
In hand-to-hand combat, the technical advantages will be greatly offset.
In contrast, the fleet of the Canghong Empire was numerous and extensive. They lined up the sea surface and advanced layer by layer, surrounded Clantia's fleet and began to strangle them. If the fleet of the Young Moon Council hadn't arrived in time to support,
If they open a way out, Crancia's new fleet may be destroyed on the spot.
Even if everything is developing for the better, it has to be said that the time for Clancia to settle is still too short. The Canghong Empire relies on a population three times that of the Starlight United, and all kinds of materials and personnel are crushed, just like an adult bullying a child.
.
On land, the cavalry of the Canghong Empire was finally chased after escaping several times.
In the wilderness, the National Knights of Clancia and the Blood Spear Knights directly under the royal family of the Canghong Empire faced each other. Pure white and bright red flags intertwined. Both sides were elites in the military and had high will to fight. In the first battle,
The blood flowed like a river when he was killed, and it was extremely cruel.
In the end, when both sides were close to exhaustion, the leader of the Blood Spear Knights suddenly showed his power, holding a long gun and entered the enemy's formation, slashing dozens of platinum wind flags, and leading a dozen people behind him to penetrate the front line in an instant.
Under his inspiration and leadership, this legion changed its formation again, constantly strangled its opponents, and finally won the victory.
Under such circumstances, the supply of Apocalypse Fortress began to encounter difficulties, and with the arrival of winter, the need for firewood and food was even greater, which made the situation worse.
Taking advantage of this weak moment, the Canghong Empire's army kept attacking, from day to dusk, from night to dawn, without stopping. After a month, the Apocalypse Fortress was covered with corpses and gaps, and the garrisoned troops were exhausted.
pole.
Seeing this situation, Crancia had to consider the need to retreat.
These two million-plus troops are the core and elite of the Starlight Alliance. If they are all destroyed here, I am afraid that the country will be destroyed.
For this reason, Crancia and the Hinazuki Council jointly launched a large-scale naval battle.
Thousands of warships gathered on the coast, attacked Canghong's ports and camps, and bombed many supplies for the front line, which also attracted the hatred of the Canghong Imperial Navy.
The two sides began a two-week tug and chase on the sea. In the end, the Canghong Empire's fleet was lured into the sea area with dense turbulence and complex ocean currents, and most of it was annihilated by Clancia and the Young Moon Council.
After this, the sea route was finally able to be barely open, and supplies and transfers to the Apocalypse Fortress began.
Spring of the second year.
The Apocalypse Fortress was in dilapidated condition due to continuous bombardment for nearly half a year and was not suitable for continued garrison. The troops there began to transfer one after another, and the Blood Spear Knights who had previously caused trouble in the territory were finally defeated by the Iron Sun Knights. Although its leader and
A few elites were not captured, but the logistics supply line on land was opened again.
In the Third Era, in April 1967, Crancia withdrew from the Apocalypse Fortress, shrank its defense line backwards, built castles along the way, and reinforced the city's defenses.
In June of the same year, the Canghong Empire once again sent an army of 1.2 million to support the Western Expedition. The leader was Edron, the twin brother of the current emperor. Together with the Red Dragon Duke, he would invade the hinterland of Crancia and conquer this vast land.
.
In August, the 3 million-strong army of Clancia and the Canghong Empire fought and retreated, and most of the land of Rulna was lost.
In September, the empire's army continued to advance westward, taking in all the territory of the former Rulna country.
In November, the imperial army arrived at Yubere, the former capital of Verga.
In December, after a month of bombing and siege, the empire occupied Yubere. As the weather turned colder, it began to renovate and prepare for the attack on Hoplaner in the coming year.
————
The Third Era, January 1968, Hopeland.
There was fine snow floating in the gray sky, which melted when it fell to the ground, moistening the cold stone streets.
The once prosperous city was now filled with solemnity, filled with Cranthian soldiers on duty and patrolling everywhere. They were dressed neatly in armor, holding muskets and halberds, and marched neatly in the wind and snow.
The open space near the city gate is now full of tents, and people who have fled are everywhere.
"Name?"
"DeBlan."
"Where are you from?"
"Liu Li Province."
"What did you do before and what skills do you have? If so, I can arrange a job for you so that your living conditions will be better."
"I understand this. My father is a carpenter. He learned a lot of related things when he was a child, and he can do some work now."
"Very good, take this sign and go to the station on the right to report."
There is a long queue in front of a table next to the city gate. These refugees from the fallen areas will be registered here and then uniformly arranged by local government personnel.
Personnel covered in wind and snow were waiting one after another. As the team slowly advanced, they registered, and then took their nameplates to collect food and find a place to sleep tonight.
At this time, a girl wrapped in a dark headscarf walked forward. She looked like she was in her 20s. She was wearing a simple cotton-padded jacket, and her headscarf was covered with wet snowflakes.
"Name?"
"Letis." The girl with a flushed face replied.
"Where are you from?"
"Liu Li Province."
"What did you do before and what skills do you have?"
"Well... I know alchemy and have worked in a spinning mill before. Here is my previous work certificate." After saying this, he unfolded a crumpled paper certificate with the words Letis printed on it.
Blurred handwriting.
"Alchemy craftsmanship, are you sure you're not kidding?" The staff member raised his head and looked at the girl.
"Well... I do know how to do it. I can recite a lot of formulas and principles on the spot, and draw pictures. Yes, I can also draw design drawings." The girl said nervously.
"Okay, I don't understand what you're talking about." He lowered his head and was about to write something, but accidentally saw the palms of his hands full of work scars.
"You are a skilled spinner, but unfortunately there is no textile factory here. Maybe you can go to a clothing store to do some work. This will also make your life more comfortable without having to live in a tent with other people."
"I am willing, willing." Letis nodded and replied gratefully.
"Okay, take your nameplate and report to the right. Take a little rest these two days and then work hard."
"Although it is a bit hard, you are already lucky compared to those who died in wars and on the road."
"Um."
Holding the slightly cold metal nameplate, Letis carefully held it in her palm and walked towards the table next to it.
"Good boy, thank you for your hard work. Come and have some hot porridge. Then show me the nameplate and introduction certificate." An old woman stood behind the table and greeted Letis.
A slightly larger open tent was set up here, and hot porridge was being cooked inside. Some refugees were holding nameplates here to receive food.
Letis held the metal nameplate that represented her identity and showed it to the old man with some caution, and the other man nodded with a smile.
"Okay, don't be afraid. It's all over. It's a safe place now. At least you can have a good sleep this winter." She looked at the girl with loving eyes, then let her sit down in the tent for the time being, and sat down.
Serve a bowl of warm wheat porridge.
The cooked wheat porridge exudes a slight mushy smell. Although it is ordinary, it smells like the most delicious food in the world to Letis. It is better than the food she has eaten at the noble banquet in Mozwa.
A more attractive existence.
The warm liquid enters the body along the throat, with a faint sweetness, gradually warms the cold body, and settles in the stomach, and a quiet happiness slowly arises.
There seems to be nothing else in the world except this bowl of half-mushy wheat porridge in the palm of my hand.
It is the source of life, the happiness of warm winter nights, and the beginning of hope for the future.
The next day, Letis came to a clothing store.
Looking up, a colorful gradient outline of a mermaid is drawn on the signboard.
‘Mermaid at dusk’, she whispered in her heart, and then walked into it.
"Hello, is the shop owner here? I was just introduced to work here."
She walked into this seemingly ordinary store. There were various clothes hanging in the wardrobe. The colors of these clothes varied, but the styles were more classical and conservative, with nothing new. Perhaps this was the reason for the poor sales.
"Oh, is someone here? Wait a moment."
After a while, a middle-aged aunt came out of the back room. She was wearing a purple-red gradient fur coat, which looked very special.
She took the note from Letis and read it.
"So that's it. Because there have been a lot of people fleeing from the east recently, the city managers have informed them before that some of them will be placed in residents' homes."
"You have worked in a textile factory before, right?"
"Yes."
"That's just right. Help me get started. The weather has been cold recently. We need to make a batch of warm coats. The sales will be very good."
As she spoke, she led Letis towards the warehouse in the backyard.
"In the first half of last year, I went to the Lamia Chamber of Commerce to purchase a batch of Gufia grassland furs. I didn't expect to use them this year."
"It's a pity that my daughter is not at home. It's just me and an old woman who are busy in the store. The progress of this matter has not been fast."
As she spoke, she opened the door of the warehouse. Stacks of human-sized furs were bundled together, giving off a faint smell. It seemed to be a mixture of dry powder and the slight musty smell of the furs, which made people's nose feel a little bit...
itch.
Letis walked in carefully and looked around.
"Are there so many?"
"Haha, yes, because the trade route with the north has been open in recent years, the price of furs has become much cheaper. I took the opportunity to buy a lot of goods at that time."
"It's not easy to buy them now. After all, many of them will be used to make military coats and be used as military supplies."
"I will prepare a room for you to rest and sleep in today. Then you can learn to work tomorrow. Of course, you will still get paid."
"Um."
Letis nodded, and then followed the aunt to the other side. Then she looked back at the piles of furs in the warehouse, but she was thinking about another thing in her mind.
With so much fur, it would be too slow to sew manually.
Perhaps, I can try to make an alchemical creation to help with sewing, which should make it a lot easier.
With this thought in mind, she slowly lay down on the bed. The soft and warm quilt allowed the weather-beaten girl to quickly fall into a peaceful sleep.
The uneasy heart slowly dropped, and the anxious thoughts also stopped for a moment.