Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 144 Ivan the Horseshoe
The battle at Tushe Field was over, and two Dussacs dragged the man, who wasn't quite dead yet and had an oval scar on his face, to the lieutenant's side.
“I’ll only ask once,” Winters said, sitting on a large rock polishing his sword without looking up. “Where are you hiding?”

Four captured bandits knelt trembling before the lieutenant, while Wolf Town residents, armed with crossbows, stood around the prisoners, glaring angrily.

Once the numerically superior people of Wolf Town are effectively organized, dealing with this gang of thirty or forty bandits will be a piece of cake.

Winters led his cavalry in a charge, and the bandits who had been so aggressive just moments before scattered like birds and beasts.

When Girard arrived with his rear guard, the battle turned into a full-blown chase and pursuit of the fleeing enemy.

The four bandits who survived were lucky, as they were captured by the lieutenant himself, who wanted to keep a few alive for questioning.

The other bandits weren't so lucky; the people of Wolf Town hated them intensely and would kill them if they were caught.

The seriously wounded bandits were not even given a quick death; they were left to go to hell in fear and pain.

Without Winters needing to torture them, the bandits had already witnessed the young officer's prowess and spilled everything they knew like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.

……

This was a premeditated ambush.

Every year, the various manors from Wolftown travel to and from Revordan in groups. While this makes them safe, it also makes them extremely easy targets.

The bandits and robbers had long coveted the caravan, but intimidated by the caravan's imposing presence and the reputation of Wolf Village Dussac, no one dared to make a move.

Until this year, this time.

According to the prisoners' confessions, they had been guarding Tushechang for half a month, before the Wolf Town caravan had even set off.

However, when the people of Wolf Town were heading to Revodan, they encountered rain upstream, causing the water level of the Tuo River to rise sharply. The convoy detoured through Little Stone Town, and by a twist of fate, they avoided an ambush.

But luck always runs out, and when they returned, they had fallen into the bandits' trap.

To be precise, this wasn't even a "band" of bandits; a small group of thieves wouldn't have been able to take down the Wolf Town caravan.

Several groups of bandits merged to form this large gang of more than forty people, and some even came from neighboring counties to join.

……

In the center of a secluded clearing in the dense forest, a small, dark iron pot was simmering over a fire.

A bearded man was stirring something in an iron pot with a long-handled ladle, while a thin man slowly peeled a radish.

There were a dozen or so simple tents around the campfire, making it look like a temporary campsite.

"Tommy! Haven't you finished peeing yet?" the bearded man shouted impatiently.

A young, dirty, blond boy, pulling up his pants, ran back from outside the camp: "Coming! Coming!"

The skinny man chuckled and said, "Lazy people poop and pee a lot."

The blond child suddenly stopped halfway through his run and looked behind him in confusion.

"What are you standing there for? Why aren't you coming over to help?" the bearded man shouted in dissatisfaction.

"I hear horses' hooves over there!" the blond boy shouted, pointing behind him.

"The sound of hooves?" The bearded man threw down his soup spoon and stood up abruptly. "That must be the boss coming back!"

When the blond boy turned around again, he only saw a black afterimage, and then a sharp pain came from his forehead, and he lost consciousness.

The bearded man and the skinny man tried to run away, but the sound of horses' hooves surrounded them from all directions.

A fiery red warhorse swept past the two men, and in the instant they passed each other, the old rider on the warhorse struck the bearded man unconscious with a club.

The skinny man was so frightened that he wet his pants and knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.

Another rider threw out a lasso, pulling the thin man down and dragging him along.

"Don't waste time, search!" Seeing that everyone in the camp had been brought under control, Winters, who was bringing up the rear, signaled to Dusak not to get entangled with the prisoners.

Sergei and the other Dusaks began to drag down the tents in the camp one by one.

"There are still people here!" Dusak shouted.

Sergei immediately jumped off his horse, grabbed the man in the tent by the collar, and demanded fiercely, "Speak! Who are you? I'll kill you if you don't tell me!"

"Don't kill me!" the man, whose hands and feet were shackled, pleaded repeatedly. "The bandits brought me here."

From afar came Dusak's exclamation: "There are people from Wolf Town too!"

……

At the bandits' hideout, one kilometer from the crossing point, the three bandits left behind were captured by Winters and Dusac.

They also rescued several kidnapped passersby—as well as the eldest son of the Benting family.

Mr. Benting had already succumbed to the torment and died.

Old Bentin went to Revodan with only his eldest son, and on the return trip, the two of them secretly set off ahead of time, but were unfortunately intercepted by bandits near Tushechang.

Upon discovering that the two men only had land deeds and no cash, the bandits gave Benting and his son a severe beating.

Young Benting survived because he was strong and healthy, while Old Benting was beaten to the point of near death and died that very night.

The capriciousness of fate is truly lamentable.

……

After cleaning up the battlefield, the convoy split into two groups at the Tuohe River crossing.

Mayor Mitchell led the main force onward toward Wolf Town.

Lieutenant Montagne led six dussacs and four wagons, carrying the bodies of prisoners and bandits, back to Gévodan along the same route.

When Winters finally returned to Wolftown, there were less than two weeks left until the deadline for submitting the militia roster.

In previous years, the town was filled with joy when the convoy returned, but this year it was exceptionally sad.

Mourning, funerals, and conscription had to be carried out simultaneously.

More than 20 drivers and hired workers in the convoy were killed or injured, and the seriously injured soon succumbed to their injuries.

In comparison, Dussac was indeed valiant; none of the Dussacs were killed, only six were wounded.

The various manors in Wolf Town pooled their money to cover funeral expenses and provide compensation for the dead and wounded.

The lieutenant only learned after bringing the prisoners and the bandits' corpses to the county garrison that many of the bandits who ambushed the Wolf Town convoy still had bounties hanging over their heads.

Especially the bandit leader with the oval scar on his face—that bastard was tough, surviving a knife wound to the back—he was a notorious bandit nicknamed "Horseshoe Ivan".

Ivan the Horseshoe's gang roamed the newly reclaimed lands, and seven out of the eight counties in the province had bounties on his head.

……

“Ivan Horseshoe was originally a Dussac,” Major Ronald told Winters.

He was kicked in the face by a warhorse while serving in the army, leaving an oval-shaped horseshoe mark, which earned him the nickname "Horseshoe".

Later, while drunk and causing trouble, he accidentally killed someone. Horseshoe fled to avoid punishment and simply took up robbery and murder as a way of making a living.

Because of his exceptional fighting skills and military experience, Horseshoe quickly gathered a group of thugs around him.

This guy is well-versed in military strategy and has a clear understanding of the ins and outs between the army and local authorities.

In the newly reclaimed province, only the military police of the corps had the ability to search across counties, but catching thieves was a local task.

Therefore, Horseshoe only robbed civilians and did not touch the army. If they couldn't stay in one county, they would jump to another county. The county governments had a great headache with the Horseshoe gang.

As Horseshoe's cases increased and his fame grew, his nickname changed from Horseshoe to "Ivan Horseshoe".

"The infamous Horseshoe Ivan," Major Ronald patted Winters on the shoulder, praising him happily, "finally fell into Lieutenant Montagne's hands, and captured alive at that. Well done!"

The capture of Ivan the Horseman in Iron Peak County was a great honor for Major Ronald.

Especially since he was captured alive, it meant there would be a "grand" public execution—something Winters didn't yet understand.

In fact, it wasn't just Ivan the Horseshoe who died; because it was a gang of thieves working together, several other notorious bandits also died by the horse's knife.

However, compared to Ivan the Horseshoe, the other bandits were nothing.

“It’s mainly thanks to Mayor Mitchell and Wolf Village Dussac,” Winters sighed. “Now that you mention it, I understand why they were just bandits and robbers, yet they were able to time their ambush so perfectly.”

Prior reconnaissance, repeated investigations, a surprise attack while the convoy was crossing the river, seizing the moment when the convoy's escort was dispersed...

If Winters hadn't returned in time, and if the lieutenant hadn't happened to be a spellcaster, Ivan the Horseshoe might have actually succeeded this time.

Major Ronald paused for a moment, then remarked, "Rebels are always more dangerous than bandits."

When someone with military skills turns to evil, the harm they cause far exceeds that of a farmer who takes a desperate risk.

In the imperial era, the most destructive bandits were often bankrupt nobles or down-on-their-luck knights.

……

Major Ronald left Horseshoe Ivan behind and ordered Winters to take the remaining seven bandits back to Wolftown.

"You arrested them, so you're in charge of the trial according to the law. I'll keep the horseshoes, but you can take the rest of them back to Wolf Town to be killed." Major Ronald specifically instructed, "You need to appease the anger of the families of the dead and wounded, and also make an example of them. Once this is over, I'll send the executioner to you."

The power of judgment—the power of a mere officer stationed in a small town to decide life and death—was a power that officers in the Republic of Venetia wouldn't even dare to dream of. It was no exaggeration to say that the Palatine army held a feudal lord-like position in the newly reclaimed lands.

The bandits' corpses were exchanged for silver coins in Gévordan, and Winters received the bounty on Horseshoe Ivan's head in Iron Peak County directly at the Gévordan garrison.

Major Ronald also generously paid in advance the bounties for Winters Horseshoe Ivan in the other five counties, in accordance with the wanted notices issued by the other counties.

With the bounty and seven bandits under his control, Winters returned to Wolftown.

Before this, no one would have thought that the newly built police station and prison would be put to use so quickly.

The old blacksmith Misha and his assistant Berrian had to work through the night to forge shackles.

Winters originally intended to leave the seven bandits to Major Ronald's trial, but he realized he had no right to deprive the victims' families of their right to revenge.

……

The conscription work in Wolf Town is progressing very smoothly.

The people of Dussa were overjoyed when Winters brought back the good news that "time spent in the militia can be credited towards one term of service."

Girard genuinely disapproved of "institutional arbitrage," but he did not publicly oppose it, leaving the choice to each Dusa family.

In the end, 32 underage Dusaks volunteered to apply, all of whom were between 15 and 20 years old.

The team of 100 has a maximum of 80 members, and the remaining 48 unlucky ones will be decided by lottery.

Pierre's name was prominently listed among the applicants in Dussac.

Although Mr. Mitchell strongly opposed it, the real power in the Mitchell family was not him, but Mrs. Mitchell.

Pierre eventually told his mother about his father's beating—he was so badly bruised and swollen that he couldn't hide it.

To Pierre's surprise, his mother, who had always doted on him, not only supported his father after learning the truth, but also gave him a lecture.

When it came time to decide whether to join the militia auxiliary forces, Pierre and Girard found themselves on the same side again.

Girard abhorred any act of breaking the oath, while Pierre would rather die than become a laborer.

But Mrs. Mitchell thought joining the militia was a good idea, as it neither violated the law nor her oath.

Gerard Mitchell and Ellen Mitchell had a huge fight, and Winters, who was staying at the Mitchells' house, could hear Gerard's roars and Mrs. Mitchell's sobs even from outside the mansion.

Scarlett Mitchell, the youngest unmarried daughter of the Mitchell family, hid in the gazebo in the backyard. She clung to the lieutenant's arm and sobbed, covering her ears tightly.

“It’s normal for couples to argue; I’ve seen it when I was a kid,” Winters had to reassure the terrified Ms. Little Cher. “Haven’t you seen it?”

Ms. Michal answered, sobbing, "They never used to argue... Will my dad kill my mom?"

"No... Don't worry, no..." The little girl's imagination left Winters speechless.

After a long while, the mansion quieted down, and Mrs. Mitchell returned to her usual gentle and quiet demeanor, though there were still a few tear stains at the corners of her eyes.

Winters quickly got up to greet him.

Upon seeing her mother approaching, Ms. Little Cher ran away as fast as she could.

"Second Lieutenant," Mrs. Mitchell curtsied slightly.

“Madam,” Winters nodded in return.

As soon as Mrs. Mitchell opened her mouth, she was on the verge of tears again: "Will Pierre be safe in your militia?"

Winters pondered for a long time before replying seriously and earnestly, "Madam, once you're thrown into war, no one is safe. I can't guarantee Pierre's safe return. If the war goes well, the chances of survival as an auxiliary soldier are far greater than those of a combat soldier. If the war doesn't go well, the auxiliary soldiers will be the first to be abandoned. I can't make any promises to you; war is a cruel and tragic disaster."

"If the war goes well, the auxiliary troops will be safer, right?"

"Yes."

“Thank you, Mr. Montagne.” Mrs. Mitchell bowed and left sadly, murmuring to herself, “Father, brother, I can’t lose my son too. They will understand… they will understand…”

When the lady of the Mitchell family made up her mind, Girard and Pierre's attitudes were irrelevant.

In the end, Little Cher still signed the roster with a lot of complaints.

……

The 32 candidates have been selected, and the remaining candidates will be drawn by lot.

In previous years, the process of drawing lots for male offspring in Wolf Town was simple and brutal: one person, one lot; whoever was unlucky enough to be drawn would be chosen.

But this time, Winters Montagne, the resident official, devised a simple set of rules.

First, whether they were hired laborers, self-sufficient farmers, or estate owners, they all had to participate in a lottery.

Secondly, the families of militia members who died during the plague were exempted;

Third, only one child gets one visa while others get two visas—giving only children an exemption is too preferential, but some consideration should still be given.
Fourth, the other townspeople who were not selected paid money according to three categories: hired laborers, self-cultivating farmers, and manor owners, and the money was distributed equally among the members of the militia as compensation.

This is a very crude plan, but at least it's acceptable to the people of Wolf Town. Giving some compensation to the unlucky ones who are selected can also reduce the risk of desertion.

……

To Winters' surprise, after learning about the money, the young hunter Bell was the first to approach him.

"Sir? Is there money for joining the militia?" Bell asked the lieutenant impatiently.

It's worth noting that Bale wasn't among the 32 Dussacs who volunteered, but rather the young horseman Anglou was.

“Yes, I do have some,” Winters asked casually. “Are you short of money?”

Instead of answering directly, Bell asked eagerly, "I've also signed up for the militia. Could you give me an advance on the money?"

Winters couldn't ignore this now. He frowned and asked again, word by word, "Are you short of money?"

Bell couldn't help but shiver and nodded without saying a word.

"What to do?"

Bell remained silent.

"What are you trying to do?!" Winters raised his voice by three points.

"Pay off the debt," Bell said softly.

"What debt?"

"My father's debts."

“Sigh.” Winters sighed. “How much do you need? I’ll get it for you. You don’t need to join the militia.”

Bell stubbornly replied, "No, I can't take other people's money."

"What are you being so dramatic about? Do you still want the money or not?" Winters retorted.

Bell deflated like a punctured balloon, muttering softly, "I want..."

……

The little guy didn't ask for much money, but Winters was still worried about him.

Money wasn't important to him, but he had to make sure Ralph's son didn't go astray.

That night, he secretly followed Bell into the woods and tracked him all the way back to the hunter's lodge.

After the old hunter died, Bell was brought to live in town by Winters, and the hunter's cabin in the woods was left unused.

There must be something strange about the little hunter secretly returning to the old house.

"What are you up to, you little rascal!" Winters kicked open the door.

"Ah!?" Bell jumped up in a panic, trying to cover himself. "N-nothing..."

Winters' pupils contracted, his breathing quickened, and he pointed at the shadow behind the little hunter: "What's that!"

Knowing he couldn't avoid it, Belle muttered softly, "Cat..."

"Bullshit!" Winters laughed in exasperation. "Can a cat's paw be that big?"

As he laughed, a sudden flash of insight struck Winters, and he asked in shock, "That...that's...the lion's cub?"

Behind Bell, the little lion let out a soft, childish "woof".

——Cut——

Record of Strange and Exotic Animals

Written by Bai Ruisi
"...Cave lions typically give birth to one or two cubs per litter, and their habits are more like those of a tiger than a lion. The female raises the cubs alone... Reliable records indicate that cave lions were still seen on the northern slopes of the Golden Peak Mountains as late as 580 AD... However, with the continuous shrinkage of their population and habitat, this living fossil species eventually became extinct... Today, people can only explore the true nature of cave lions through legends and historical documents..."

If it weren't for the fantasy elements, I would have almost forgotten that this book is in the fantasy category (facepalm).

However, the cub and Belle were an original setup, not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Lions can have twins, and the old hunter was actually quite distressed to kill the cubs. If you pay attention to the old hunter's initial attitude, you can see that he was unwilling to kill indiscriminately.

Thank you to all the readers who voted for the book before;

Thank you to readers One Piece, Moonlit Edge, Wolf Seven Treasures, Void Ghost Fox, and Fighting Spirit Storm for your monthly tickets;
感谢书友behere370、社会人生路、莫西干的甘、月夜之锋、书友120325172509365、54月、种花家的黄兔子、无就是小高、理想三旬的某大叔、淡定的灰过、狼七宝、江雪钓翁、书友20191007064325842、虚弥鬼狐、天镜头、Aging、八云子墨、开普勒B22的推荐票，谢谢大家，笔芯。

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(End of this chapter)