Outside Gunuo City, a motorcade was moving forward in the night.
The lantern hanging in front of the carriage kept shaking, and the copper pull ring made a small clashing sound. Its corners were also full of dents and were polished to a shiny finish.
It was already very late, and it was hard to imagine that such a team would be traveling at night.
There were many riders on both sides of the motorcade. They looked like escorts, but they were more well-trained and watched their surroundings vigilantly.
A burst of rapid horse hoofbeats came from the front, making the group of people nervous, and their hands unconsciously touched their waists.
But when he saw that the visitor was wearing the same uniform as himself, he relaxed a little.
This scout-like rider drove his horse to a carriage and stopped, panting heavily, and then reported the situation ahead...
"There is nothing unusual in Gunuo City. The legionnaires stationed there are still the same as usual. They are resting at this moment."
According to recent intelligence, of this 5,000-6,000-person regiment, 3,000 will generally be stationed in the camp permanently, with a small number of about 400-600 performing tasks in surrounding counties and territories, and the other 2,000 will be on vacation.
But it is hard to imagine that there would be a vacation phenomenon in this era, but this is also the product of the compromise that the empire had to make after learning from the reform of the military system.
In the past, most of the soldiers in the empire were conscripts during wars. Many of them had to pay for their own weapons and horses, and a small number were elite private armies raised by nobles.
After learning from the Crancia restructuring, the new legions established today are all professional armies. However, if such an army wants to have combat effectiveness similar to Crancia soldiers, it must undergo long-term training, and such a life is extremely difficult.
It's even painful, like being in prison.
Most of the people who join the army come from idle people in the society. It is difficult for them to adapt to such a life, because the essence of their joining the army is to make money or avoid crimes. It is okay for a short time, but it will cause various problems in a long time, and the empire lacks the means and experience to deal with it.
The officers also had to compromise and promised to take time out of the camp every month to allow these soldiers to take turns venting out of the camp, so that high-intensity military training and fighting will could be maintained.
And this is why Lorraine Hill thinks that the Empire has only learned the basics.
Behind the construction of a new type of army is actually a set of social mechanisms, which does not mean simply recruiting people for training. Solving ideological and spiritual problems is even more difficult than solving the problem of remuneration.
After listening to the scout's report, the figure in the carriage nodded, and the scout went on to report another matter.
"In addition, we found a mother and son on the road ahead who were traveling at night. In order to prevent the two from leaking military information, we have had them temporarily controlled."
"Did you hurt them?" the voice in the car asked.
"No, but the mother was emotionally unstable because her child had a fever and she was anxious to have her child go to the city to get treatment from a priest."
"She told her that she was from a village more than 20 miles away and had been walking all day."
"Where are they?"
"In the woods on the roadside about one kilometer away, there are now three riders guarding it."
"I see."
Immediately, the curtain behind the car opened, and a girl wearing a skirt with wide sleeves jumped out of the car.
At night, the long green hair showed a light blue color, which was very dreamy.
"You inform Commander Guhuas at the rear of the convoy of the information and let him lead the team temporarily while I rush over to take a look."
"Yes, Master Jialan." The rider then saluted, then rode his horse again, thinking about the convoy starting to move forward.
After getting off the carriage, Lorraine Hill glanced at the convoy that was still moving forward, nodded slightly, and then his body slowly floated up, and then suddenly disappeared into the air.
More than ten seconds later, Lorraine Hill slowly descended above a beech forest.
The pure white shoes stepped on the light yellow and green leaves on the ground, making a soft sound, and the skirts moved slightly. Several soldiers turned their heads when they heard the sound, and immediately aimed their muskets until they saw the still moving scenery at night.
The figure slowly lowered itself.
They stood at attention and saluted, and then were stopped by the girl's raised hand.
Beside the three of them, a mother was squatting under a big tree with her child in her arms, shaking nervously. Her rough hair was messy, mixed with grass clippings and soil, and the clothes she was wearing were also very shabby, exuding a smell.
The greasy smell of beef and sheep seems to come from people who often work on the farm.
Seeing the "vicious" soldiers in front of her move out of the way, she raised her head tremblingly and looked carefully, and then she saw clearly the young girl who had just arrived.
After meeting the mother and son, the girl discovered that ropes were tied around the other's ankles, seemingly to prevent the other from suddenly escaping.
"Sorry for frightening you. I heard that your child is sick. Can you let me take a look? I think I can help with the treatment." Lorraine Hill leaned down and spoke softly.
The mother seemed to be frightened by the girl's appearance. She leaned back and sat on the ground. The child in her arms threw herself into her arms in fear and did not dare to raise her head.
"You...you are...what...a ghost...a man-eating witch...the devil." For this mother, the girl's outstanding appearance frightened her greatly.
Such an appearance is not something a normal person can have. She has worked in the village all her life and has seen the same people, with rough skin and hands full of calluses and ravines.
I heard from the old man that people who are too beautiful are generally not humans, but demons from hell, who come to seduce people, especially their husbands, so be extra careful.
In the past, some strong men in the village went on a long trip, and when they came back, they were haunted. Later, they went on a trip again and never came back. I heard that they were fascinated by women with such abnormal looks.
Such a woman is fake and must be a devil, not a human being.
They are believers who believe in devils and demons. It's over, my child, it's over now.
The mother's body was trembling, her head lowered, her body kept retreating, her nerves were highly tense, one hand began to fumble for the rope on her foot, and she began to tear it desperately. She also muttered randomly and made all kinds of strange sounds.
"Don't move!" Seeing the woman trying to escape, a soldier pinned her firmly to the ground with one hand. In desperation, the woman began to bite the hand on her shoulder with her teeth.
"Okay, don't be afraid." Looking at this scene, the girl knew that words would be ineffective for a short time. She raised her hand, and colorless air currents suddenly stirred up in the forest, with dead leaves and dust flying up, and then again
Start swimming.
"We are not bad people, and I will cure your child."
Along with the words, faint emerald light particles danced in the forest, and then gathered to form a water-green ring wrapped around the girl's wrist. The brilliance flowed in it, and a feeling full of vitality and freshness rushed towards her.
Then the ring, with a little bit of fluorescence, flew towards the child in the mother's arms, and was submerged in the child before the other party had time to pull it.
A cool and gentle magic circulated in the boy's body, dispelling the heat, killing viruses, and healing various hidden wounds and scars.
Then, the light dissipated and the girl opened her eyes again. Her light blue pupils were like clear jade in the dark night.
"Okay, just rest for a while and you'll be fine." She wanted to step forward to comfort her, but seeing that the mother was still frightened, she could only shake her head helplessly.
"You guys just stay and take care of me. After tomorrow, the matter should be over."
"Yes, Master Jialan." Several people stood at attention again.
"Let's do this for now. Remember to find something to eat so they don't go hungry."
After finishing speaking, Lorraine Hill slowly floated up again and disappeared into the night sky, and in the corner of the horizon, a city with sparse lights could already be seen.
About 3 kilometers outside the city, the convoy stopped, and then a whistle sounded in the mountains, like some kind of bird song.
After a while, the "forests" on both sides of the avenue began to sway, and then a group of soldiers who had been waiting quickly walked down the mountain.
They arrived a few days in advance, came to this city in several groups, and only gathered here tonight.
If a large number of soldiers marched on the road, it would be too easy to be exposed, so the "Drywood" organization asked these thousands of soldiers to disperse and advance separately, and then meet here.
It has to be said that the implementation of such a plan requires a strong subjective initiative, but these soldiers with faith have indeed done a good job.
Under the command of the captains, they moved the wooden boxes loaded on the vehicle in an orderly manner, and then pried open the horizontal strips on the wooden boxes, revealing a handful of cold muskets.
After the rifles were distributed to the soldiers, they began to inspect them one by one, and then the captain handed the soldiers packets of bullet boxes wrapped in oil paper.
Most of the bullets in the territory today are produced by itself, but a small number are shipped from the sea by the Carites Chamber of Commerce. Compared with the locally produced bullets, these shipped bullets have been simply enchanted, and the gunpowder in them
It is also more stable and has stronger explosive power, making it suitable for use in decisive battles.
"Start counting!"
After sorting out the weapons in their hands, the noncommissioned officers began to organize their formation and inspect the personnel.
"1"
"2"
"3"
…
"14"
"15"
After one queue finishes reporting, the subsequent queues continue to start from 1, and so on.
"Report! The team is complete. 3112 people should be present, but 3106 people are actually present."
A sergeant chief stood at attention, then waited for the three members of the "Drywood" organization in front of him to give orders.
Gu Huas was also standing in front of the formation at this time. He was holding a giant ax in one hand and a special heavy firearm in the other hand. This was a deleted magic machine gun. The enchantment in it could make the firearm
Automatically reloading, and a large circle of bullets was wrapped around his body, looking extremely rough and violent.
As an imitation of Crancia's secret weapon "Resounding Organ" by the Carites Chamber of Commerce, although such a firearm does not have the terrifying lethality of the original version, it also has the advantages of lower cost and easier production. It "only" requires two people
It can be completed with the cooperation of high-level alchemists.
If you want to have the original lethality of "Resounding Organ", you need a complete industrial chain to support it, whether it is the smelting of alloy steel, the production of chrome plating of gun barrels, enchantment engraving, or the production of a large number of enchanted bullets.
It can be completed by a simple small workshop.
By this time, it was already past 2 o'clock in the evening.
After the preparations were confirmed, a magical firework slowly rose in the night sky, and then suddenly exploded in the night sky. Hundreds of sparks roared across the sky, leaving a long trajectory, forming a delicate flower shape.
Soon, a fire broke out in Gunuo City, and there were shouts and shouts, the sound of people running, the sound of musket shooting, the shouts of soldiers, and the sounds of panic and cries, one after another.
The small team that had previously sneaked into the city began to take action, preventing fires and blasting in residential areas where nobles gathered. One of the warehouses where the legion stored gunpowder was even set alight.
The loud noise of the explosion woke up the entire city, lifting many roofs, and the firelight illuminated the glass on both sides of the street.
Many residents in the city woke up in surprise, and then watched a group of strange soldiers suddenly appear on the street. These people had light yellow and white silk scarves wrapped around their arms, holding muskets in their hands, and began to attack the imperial soldiers patrolling the city, and
Start setting up defenses to block.
Under such an attack, many imperial soldiers got up from their beds in panic, then quickly put on their clothes, picked up their weapons, and ran out amidst the officers' curses and shouts.
They started exchanging gunfire with these unknown enemies on the streets.
The sound of pulling the gun bolt sounded from time to time on the street corner, sparks suddenly lit up and then went out in the dark night, and then there was the sound of bodies falling to the ground.
Although in the early panic, these members of the "Drywood" gained an advantage, as the enemies gradually gathered and became overwhelmed by numbers, the advantage began to disappear.
At this time, they began to retreat step by step according to their previous plan, gradually retreating to the predetermined location outside the city.
However, these people did not stop talking during the battle. Some specialized personnel took the opportunity to publicize the cruelty and ugliness of the empire. Some of the misdeeds about the city lords and legionnaires were so vivid that they seemed to be true.
Hearing these people publicizing their scandals in recent years, several senior officials of the empire in the city were obviously unable to sit still.
"Presumptuous, they... how could they... be... so... shameless." For a moment, he couldn't find the words to describe it, and the fat-bellied noble could only slap the table like this.
"Reorganize the army and kill all those who try to resist. Let's see who dares to spread rumors." This nobleman with a royal background has never been so angry. He is not always flattered by people wherever he goes. Now he is managing this remote place.
This small province is actually being cursed like this.
"How dare they? I am the provincial governor under royal orders, these damn untouchables!"
Therefore, under the supervision of the governor, the officers had to direct the urgently assembled legionnaires to go out of the city to meet the enemy.
Anyway, there are only more than a hundred people on the other side, so they can't make any waves. However, searching the mountain in the middle of the night will probably take a lot of effort.
No matter who you are, you won't be too happy if you wake up from a deep sleep in the middle of the night.
But what can be done? The governor next to him has a higher status. Although he is also the commander of the army directly affiliated to the royal family, I am afraid that he does not have the right to speak in front of His Highness the Regent.
About 3,600 legion soldiers began to gather out of the city. They were cursing and walking, their eyes scanning the night from time to time, looking for enemies hiding in corners.
Such a sparse team, walking on both sides of the road, holding torches, spread to the mountains on both sides, sparsely.
And when they gradually arrived more than a kilometer outside the city, a burst of exclamation rang out in the night.
"There are enemies!" Before he could finish his words, a burst of gunfire rang out.
Several soldiers in the front row fell down, and the soldiers in the back hid nervously behind the trees. Then they gathered under the order of the officer and walked up the hillside step by step.
The clouds in the sky gradually dispersed, revealing rows of dense arrays under the cold night. These enemies were not hundreds, but thousands. They raised their muskets and were not aiming at this moment.
The distance is not enough, and it is difficult for such shots to kill the enemy.
"Step together, move forward!" With an order, these soldiers began to move forward step by step under the slogan of the non-commissioned officers accompanying them.
It can be seen that they are also very nervous, but because they are surrounded by teammates and companions, and because of the previous training, they can only relax their minds and mechanically repeat the past actions.
Seeing these people lining up stupidly and moving forward, the commander of the empire felt a sense of amusement, and his originally nervous heart relaxed a little.
This group of barbarians didn't know where they got their weapons, and they were still marching in line so stiffly. They probably took command after reading a few military books.
Well, I forgive you country folk for being ignorant and not knowing how to use weapons even if they have them. Maybe they don’t have so many bullets at all and they are just pretending to scare people.
The corners of his mouth raised slightly, and the empire's army commander also began to issue orders.
"Arrange in three columns, cross fire!"
After hearing the order, the originally nervous imperial soldiers quickly executed it. They trotted and arranged themselves into roughly three rows, and then formed two fronts to aim at the advancing enemy on the middle road.
The sound of musket firing sounded from time to time, short flashes of fire flashed from time to time, and bullets flew out one after another.
Unfortunately, at a distance of more than 500 meters, the accuracy of shooting was really worrying. Most of the shots hit the ground or in the air, and only a few enemies fell down.
However, the Empire was not in a hurry and began to reload the ammunition, switching between the personnel in front in turn.
In this way, the members of the "Drywood" side faced the flying bullets and moved forward step by step, without anyone stopping to fire.
In the dark night, one member after another fell down, blood spattered on their clothes, and teammates fell at their feet. They still strode forward, as if lining up to die, and some even sang songs to cheer themselves and their teammates up.
The loud singing voices were in unison, and they moved forward step by step along with the sound of footsteps, making the hands of the imperial soldiers tremble unconsciously, and even reloading became a lot of panic.
Seeing these people being so brave and unafraid of death, the empire's commander also frowned, feeling a sense of abnormality and uneasiness. When did these rebels become so organized and disciplined?
However, at this time, it was too late for him to retreat.
The distance between the two sides was getting closer and closer, even the nearest was only more than 60 meters. At this time, loud military orders sounded in the military formation.
"Stop, raise your rifle!"
The sound of raising guns in unison was shocking. About two thousand muskets were raised at this moment, and the black muzzles were suddenly aimed at the imperial soldiers who were close at hand.
Faced with such a scene, most of the Imperial Legion were still reloading. Even if a few people opened fire, they were extremely nervous and their aiming efficiency was extremely poor.
Before the imperial army commander could give another order, an order echoed through the night sky from the opposite position.
"Fire!"
The dense fire suddenly exploded, illuminating the roads and woods at night. Under such close-range aiming and shooting, the imperial soldiers fell one by one, blood spattered, and a large number of casualties occurred instantly.
The strong smell of green smoke and blood filled the battlefield.
"No..." Looking at the scene in front of them, the empire's legions murmured in disbelief. They were obviously about the same number, but the final result was so disparate.
After the soldiers in front fell down in rows, facing the densely visible gun barrels in front of them and the neatly arranged enemies, these soldiers could no longer suppress the panic in their hearts and began to retreat and escape.
The crowd crowded together, cried and howled, and ran into the depths of the night without any courage.
"No escape!" The officers drew out the sabers from their waists to supervise the battle and chopped down several retreating soldiers. But soon his side became empty and he was exposed to the enemy's shooting range.
There was another burst of intensive shooting, and in the short burst of fire, the Sequence 4 officer was directly beaten into a sieve, and fell unwillingly.
Seeing this scene in front of him, the commander of the army behind him had no choice but to shout loudly.
"Withdraw! Withdraw! Withdraw! Withdraw to the city." They began to retreat actively.
However, when they were about to leave, they discovered that at some point, two groups of soldiers rushed down from both sides of the mountain road leading to the city. They occupied the hillsides on both sides and kept firing at the fleeing imperial soldiers, like dotting the mountains in the night.
of stars.
The more than 500 meters away from the city gate became a road of death. A panicked and confused imperial soldier did not know how to deal with it and fell down in a daze.
"Damn it! Charge me and kill them." Seeing that his retreat was cut off, the legion commander finally became furious and commanded the two hundred elite cavalry beside him to rush to the mountain road aside, preparing to ambush the few people.
Kill them and cover the remaining soldiers.
Compared with the infantry armed with muskets, these elite cuirassiers obviously had better resistance to muskets. Under their cover, the remaining people began to retreat step by step towards the city.
"Haha, your uncle Guhuas is here." A tall figure smashed into the city gate from the sky, blocking the way of these people, and then the repeating machine gun in his hand began to shoot, shooting at the approaching enemies one by one.
Faced with such an obstacle, the empire's army commander finally took action. He drove his war horse to accelerate, and the saber in his hand emitted a bright red light in the night, swimming like a snake.
The war horse neighed, and he jumped up, and then the crimson saber slashed down instantly, splitting the magic machine gun in Guhuas' hand into two pieces.
Seeing that the toy that was not warm to the touch was destroyed, Gu Huas's eyes turned red and his anger soared.
Throwing the broken gun away, he pulled out the giant ax from the ground and swiped it with a sweep.
The heavy sound of the ax tore through the air, causing a dull whistling sound. The opponent knelt down to dodge, and then the saber slashed hard at Guhuas' thigh, leaving a bloody gash deep enough to show the bone.
The saber stuck on the bone, like the sound of gold and stone. Guhuas took a sullen breath, took his thick palm directly to the opponent's neck, and pressed down on the opponent's face while he was dodging.
With his vision unclear, the officer relied on his instincts and swung the knife again, stabbing the opponent directly in the abdomen.
The sharp tip of the knife broke through the golden-bronze belly, like piercing into the steel skin, making a stabbing sound. Then before he could stir or pull it out, Guhuas's big ax finally fell, knocking this man out.
The legion commander stopped him and cut him off.
At this point, the morale of the imperial soldiers completely collapsed, and the remaining soldiers either surrendered or fled, like scattered sparks gradually extinguishing.