Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 277 Commendation
The sentries on the watchtower saw a troop of cavalry galloping toward the gate from afar.

As the alarm bells rang, the soldiers carrying weapons rushed to the camp walls, while the civilians who were digging trenches outside the camp swarmed toward the camp gate.

This is a small fortified camp standing outside the town of Niuti Valley, no more than fifty meters long and wide.

The camp had two layers of earthen walls, with the main wall extending two meters above the ground and the secondary wall exactly one meter high. There were only two gates, one at the front and one at the back.

In an instant, the garrison troops wanted to leave and the civilians wanted to enter, making the camp gate completely blocked.

"Where did the Heds cross the river from?" Company Commander Tamas was frantic. He climbed onto the camp wall and shouted, "Don't block the gate! Let our men get out first!"

The civilians outside were eager to enter the camp, and no one paid him any attention.

Tamas stomped his foot angrily: "Get out of the way! Let them in first!"

The soldiers made way to the sides, and the crowd surged into the camp like a tide, filling the small encampment to capacity.

Tamas was frantic with worry when he heard a sentry on the watchtower shout, "Company commander! It's the banner of the Montagne military tribunal!"

Tamas looked at the newcomer and saw a blood-red flag fluttering on the tip of a spear, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.

The regimental company flags were blue quadrants, while the Herds used blue horsehair flags.

In the entire Iron Peak County, only one person uses a blood-red flag, a military flag brought back from the Great Wilderness, a unique personal military flag.

Tamas jumped down from the camp wall and began to calm the civilians. Before the sweat on his brow had even dried, he heard a thunderous roar from outside the walls: "What's going on? Tamas! Bart Sharing! Get out here!"

Winters arrived in Bullshoe Valley at noon the day after the ambush.

He was very dissatisfied with the situation at the Cowhoof Valley camp. From the time he heard the alarm bells until he rushed to the outside of the camp walls, a large number of civilians were still crowding at the camp gate and had not been taken into the camp.

With people crowding both the front and back gates, Tamas had no choice but to scramble over the wall and escape the camp in a sorry state.

"Where is Bart Sharling?" Winters asked the company commander with a stern face.

Tamas quickly replied, "On the riverbank, the Second Company is monitoring the barbarians' movements."

Winters pointed at the chaotic camp, suppressing his anger as he demanded, "If I were a Herd, would you still be alive?"

Tamas had no way to express his grievances.

Winters remained silent and rode his horse around the camp walls.

Tamas stood there, at a loss. Charles dismounted and patted the company commander on the back sympathetically.

Charles whispered to Tamas, "The captain is here to commend you. He's happier to hear you two won than if he had won himself."

"Why did the centurion come in person?" Tamas asked in a low voice. "What about Zhevodan?"

"Don't worry, Captain Mason is here."

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

“A hundred paces?” Winters asked.

"Yes!" Tamas replied with a salute, "One hundred paces in length and width."

"It's too small!" Winters jumped off his horse and pointed out the problem incisively: "It can fit two companies, but how can it possibly accommodate the civilians around here? Didn't you consider the consequences when you built the camp?"

Tamas stood there dejectedly.

Winters wanted to say a few more words of reprimand, but then he remembered that none of his company commanders had received complete military training.

The fact that they were able to build such a standard military camp with two walls and a moat is actually a testament to their exceptional ability after observing, learning on their own, and integrating their knowledge.

If we give them a few more lectures, we're afraid we'll destroy the confidence and dignity of these "unorthodox" commanders.

“Well done.” Winters sighed inwardly and took out a certificate of merit: “Have the fallen soldiers been buried? Where are the wounded? I brought Father Kaman with me.”

As Tamas held the certificate of commendation, tears welled up in his eyes.

……

Winters' sudden arrival caused a minor disturbance, but it was quickly quelled.

Tamas and Bart Sharing gave a detailed account of the ambush.

"We originally planned to wait for the warhorses to arrive before taking action," Bart Sharing said regretfully. "The barbarians on the other side are very cunning; they only send ten horses at a time. Our men are hidden under the riverbank and can't withstand a thorough search."

Winters stared at the map, measuring with a compass, and asked, "How many horses do the Heds have on the other side?"

"At least five or six hundred horses."

"Five or six hundred horses? That's really extravagant!" Winters threw away his compass, a little regretful: "Alas, I can't even gather a hundred horses right now."

"How could that be?" Tamas asked, puzzled. "Didn't we just bring back more than two hundred horses from Lieutenant Bard?"

Winters got a headache just thinking about it: "Lieutenant Cellini and Lieutenant A took them all away... without even telling me."

Military officers were blaming each other, and even a lowly company commander dared not say a word.

Andrei and Don Juan, with over a hundred cavalrymen and more than five hundred horses, headed west without looking back.

Winters silently accepted the decisions made by Andrei and Juan. This was not a war fought alone; everyone had their own responsibilities.

Winters roused himself and asked the two company commanders, "How did you know the Heds were going to cross the river at Pangtuo Forest?"

"It was the Second Company Commander's suggestion to set up hidden sentries on the other side," Tamas hurriedly replied. "Otherwise, we wouldn't have won this battle."

Winters nodded.

Tamas and Bart Sharing were Winters' two most valued company commanders. The latter was quick-witted and always had some unusual ideas; the former was kind and gentle, and could win people's respect.

Winters' company commanders were all forged in blood and fire; all they lacked was a bit of systematic learning.

Winters drew a line on the map with a graphite strip: "The 11th and 12th companies are coming toward Cowhoof Valley. Reinforce yourselves."

"You're going to deploy four companies in Oxhoof Valley?" Bart Sharing asked in surprise.

“That’s right.” Winters drew a circle on Bullhoof Valley. “Your current camp is too small. I suggest you build a fortification around Bullhoof Valley and completely enclose the town.”

“You can just give the order,” Tamas said with a sheepish grin. “What’s there to suggest?”

“No, you are the frontline commanders. You need to make decisions based on the specific circumstances. I can only offer advice.” Winters took out two appointment letters from his pocket: “Four companies make a battalion. From now on—Tamas, you are the acting battalion commander of the First Battalion.”

Tamas sprang from his chair like a spring, his lips trembling as he didn't know what to say.

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

“Centurion!” Tamas suddenly spoke up: “I…”

"Hmm?" Winters raised an eyebrow 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 the Military Tribunal, or am I?"

"you are……"

"Then why are you spouting nonsense?" Winters threw the letter of appointment at the company commander. "Whoever I appoint, that's who gets appointed. Bart Sharling, you disagree?"

Bart Sharing hurriedly protested his innocence: "Centurion, this... how can it be that I'm not convinced? I didn't say anything!"

"Is it because you're not satisfied?" Winters looked at the company commander: "Mr. Tamas?"

Tamas silently picked up the letter of appointment and saluted. “I’m giving you reinforcements and two tasks,” Winters said, marking the map as he spoke. “First, evacuate the villages near Bullhoof Valley. Bury all food and valuables on the spot and gather all people, livestock, and wagons in Bullhoof Valley town.”

"You want a carriage too?"

Not a single carriage is allowed to be left behind!

Tamas and Bart Sharing nodded repeatedly.

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

"Then... we're just going to leave Tiefeng County alone?" Bart Xialing asked with a grave expression.

“As long as the Heds of Lower Iron Peak don’t cross the Torrent River,” Winters replied decisively, “ignore them.”

Tamas pointed to the map and asked, "There's another bridge over at Little Rock, what should we do?"

"I have already sent the Third Company to evacuate Xiaoshi Town, so you don't need to worry."

"Yes."

Winters looked at his men, a bitter feeling welling up inside him. He instructed the two men, "Their voyage is nearly a hundred kilometers from the Bullshoe Valley. The success or failure here will depend on the two of you. The Heds are poor engineers and their armor is inadequate. Their only advantage is their mobility. Be resolute and remember not to let them lead you astray."

"Yes!" Tamas and Bart Sharing saluted solemnly.

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

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

Under the watchful eyes of soldiers and civilians, a short soldier named Peter Bunier was the first to receive the award.

The new government was facing financial difficulties, so its incentive method was simple: to grant more land.

Peter Bunir was rewarded with an increase in his land grant from 300 mu to 600 mu (40 hectares) because of his bravery in battle, his being the first to charge into the enemy lines and kill an enemy Red Feather. This was a simple, direct, and doubling of his land grant.

Upon hearing the phrase "three hundred mu," the farmers and townspeople watching were already whispering among themselves—three hundred mu was enough to make ordinary farmers envious.

When the words "six hundred acres" echoed across the square, the crowd gasped in unison, their voices even drowning out the magically amplified sounds.

Even Company Commander Tamas was taken aback when he first learned of the magnitude of the reward. Although Peter the Short was one of Tamas's men, Tamas still earnestly advised Winters to think twice and exercise restraint.

To this end, Winters told Tamas a classic joke from the Army Academy: "It is said that the madman Richard once threatened Field Marshal Ned, saying that he would send an army of 100,000 to attack the Alliance. The old Marshal retorted calmly that the Alliance could also gather an army of 100,000."

"So the madman Richard said, 'Then I'll send two hundred thousand troops.'" Winters smiled and asked Tamas, "Guess what the old marshal replied?"

"Can the Alliance also muster an army of 200,000?" 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’ll each fire two shots.'”

After thinking for a long time, Tamas asked timidly, "I don't understand. Could you please explain it again?"

Winters sighed, and the second company commander, Bart Sharing, chimed in, "What the centurion means is that if everyone could take down a Red Feather, we would have won this battle long ago!"

So, is 600 acres a lot? Of course not. But for the lonely Peter Bunier, it's excessively much.

The onlookers were shocked, while the other soldiers who had made a kill were overjoyed. Only the short Peter Bunier showed no sign of joy.

He numbly accepted the commendation order, his movements like those of a puppet on a string.

Company Commander Tamas was so angry he wanted to hit someone. He gritted his teeth and yelled at his subordinate, "Hey Peter, who are you giving this attitude to? It's a thank-you gift!"

Upon hearing the company commander's words, Peter Bunier stiffly saluted the military militia officer.

"What, you're not happy now that you've taken over the land?" Winters wasn't angry, just a little puzzled.

“No.” Short Peter shook his head.

Winters raised an eyebrow: "Nothing? Happy? Or unhappy?"

Short Peter remained silent for a long time, then suddenly pleaded with a sob in his voice, "Lord Blood Wolf, you promised to help me rebuild my house, you must not break your promise!"

If they weren't in public, Tamas would have kicked him hard already.

The word 'blood wolf' is a major taboo, as all of Montagne's former men know. Tamas prayed in his heart that the centurion wouldn't be in a bad mood today.

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, for Tamas heard the Blood Wolf laugh loudly: "I'll build you an even better one!"

Just as Tamas felt a weight lift from his heart, it suddenly lifted again—because the short Peter Bunier stubbornly said, wiping away tears, "No! I want the original one!"

Perhaps the centurion was in a really good mood today, Tamas thought. He saw Winters Montagne take out his notebook, write down an IOU, and solemnly hand it to soldier Peter Bunier: "I'll build you a house just like before, and we'll swear it on a high five."

……

Over there, the commendation ceremony was in full swing. Meanwhile, in the dungeon of this camp, the prisoners of the Teldun tribe were being interrogated one by one.

If it were merely a matter of delivering a commendation order, sending a single messenger would suffice. However, Winters brought not only Father Carman with him to Bullhoof Valley, but also the lion cub.

With the little hunter Belle gone, the little lion is the only person Winters has who can speak two languages.

As his experience grew and his perspective broadened, Winters placed increasing importance on intelligence.

The battlefield was shrouded in mist, and passively acquiring intelligence was no longer enough for Winters.

Yesterday's ambush at dawn resulted in the Iron Peak County side gaining control of the battlefield. Of the more than one hundred Terdun people who crossed the river, nearly half were killed or wounded, and those still alive were taken prisoner.

The Teldenans, belonging to both the vassal and slave classes, were not particularly loyal. Without torture, a few scare tactics were enough to make them spill everything out like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.

Just as the lion cub finished questioning, Winters arrived with his men.

The little lion told Winters bluntly, "You have captured 'Urus,' just ordinary tribesmen. They don't know anything useful."

"How many people are there in total?" Winters frowned.

“Three Turu, more than three hundred riders, and some servants to attend to people.”

"Isn't this very useful?" Winters' brow slowly relaxed. "Who is their commander?"

“Beqi Tartai.” The little lion shrugged. “I know this person. He’s a relative of the Fire-Hotman’s wife, the Fire-Hotman’s ‘Nakor,’ that is, the Fire-Hotman’s close follower.”

"Close entourage?"

The little lion sighed and began to explain using gestures.

It's impossible to sort out the social hierarchy of the Hards in a clear and orderly way, because even the Hards themselves couldn't figure it out.

Take the relationship between the fire-maker and Tartai as an example: Tartai is the fire-maker's maternal relative, and their blood relationship is not as close as that of the fire-maker's uncle, Taichi;

However, Taichi was a semi-independent leader who could selectively obey the orders of the fire-breasteners. Tartai, on the other hand, had almost no independence; the fire-breasteners could even decide the marriages of Tartai's family.

"Independence" is a flexible indicator, not a rigid value. It changes as the balance of power, the closeness of the relationship, and the level of trust between the two parties change.

Simply put, the Teldun faction is a large faction, and the Fire-Bakers faction is the strongest small faction within that large faction.

The [Taichi Faction] and the [Fire-Baking Faction] are roughly equal in status, while the [Taltai Faction] is a subordinate branch of the [Fire-Baking Faction].

The Tartar faction itself was a small tribe, and the Tartars had their own guards, companions, subjects, and slaves.

Winters, too lazy to compile a family tree for the Fire-Burning People, asked directly, "With Tartai's defeat on the other side, the Fire-Burning People's control over Teldun will be weakened, am I right?"

The little lion tilted its head and thought for a moment: "Pretty much."

"Good!" Winters clapped his hands. "That's enough."

[Missed it again... Might as well redefine the update time...]
[The battlefield was too vast; Winters had to delegate responsibility to others.]
[Thank you to all the readers for your collections, reading, subscriptions, recommendations, monthly tickets, donations, and comments. Thank you everyone!]
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(End of this chapter)