Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 574 Siege (Twenty-Six)

The horsetail grenade is shaped like a goose egg or a water drop, with a pointed end and a round end. The round end is both the casting port and the ignition port.

The reason why it is called a horsetail grenade is because there is an extra small pull ring on the pointed side. A hemp rope comes with the grenade and can be tied to the pull ring, which looks like a ponytail.

At this moment, Tamas was holding the grenade body with his left hand and the end of the "horsetail" with his right hand.

He nodded to Peter Bunnier, who expertly lit the fuse with a flint.

Tamas then stood up from the trench and, swinging his arms like a slingshot, swung the horsetail grenade over his head three times until the heavy iron lump absorbed enough energy and began to make a whistling sound.

Tamas loosened his grip.

The horsetail grenade, dragging its hissing fuse, blended into the night and flew towards the positions of the federalists on the high ground.

Before he could ask for it, the company commander had already handed him the next grenade.

The horsetail grenade from the Gévaudan Arsenal is an iterative product based on the iron shell grenade that has already been improved once.

The original iron shell grenades all came with net bags because they were too heavy and could not be thrown far without the help of a slingshot-like throwing method.

Winters had used the old-style grenades many times in the Tanilia Islands and felt that they were inconvenient to carry and use. Sometimes on the battlefield there was not even enough space to stretch his arms, and he often had to rely on both hands to throw them.

When he was in charge, he asked the ordnance department to improve the old grenades.

Following Monsieur Montagne's advice, Bellion reduced the size of the grenade and compensated for the reduction in the amount of powder by making the iron case thinner.

That's why there was a new type of grenade that could be thrown by hand during the Battle of Hegu Village.

The horsetail grenade is made by cutting off the "tail" of the old grenade and then attaching it back.

  why?

Of course, it is to be able to throw farther.

Just as Tamas threw the second horsetail grenade at the breastwork on the high slope, a dull explosion, which was neither the sound of a gunshot nor that of an artillery bombardment, rang out in the Federal Provinces' position and spread in all directions.

The explosion sounded like opening a closed door and releasing something terrible. The same explosions began to sound continuously on the high ground, shocking both sides of the war, wondering what had happened.

Tamas had no time to evaluate the effectiveness of the horsetail grenade. He was concentrating on swinging the hemp rope, and the thought of "throwing as many grenades behind the breastwork in the shortest time" did not even occur to him.

The sling-like throwing method makes the horsetail grenade very dangerous to both the user and the person being thrown.

The window for throwing is only a moment. If you are too late, the grenade will be thrown into the sky. If you are too early, the grenade will be thrown at your feet. If you delay too long, you will be killed directly.

Tamas was concentrating on finding the right moment to strike, and the other soldiers in the trench were doing the same.

He didn't know how many horsetail grenades he had thrown, but suddenly he found that his hands were empty.

Tamas turned and looked at the captain.

Peter Buniel wiped his face, leaving two black streaks of ash across his cheekbones.

"The ammunition is all gone," Peter Bunnier said.

Tamas grabbed the dagger he found on the enemy, jumped out of the trench without a word, and rushed to the high ground.

Peter Bunnier was shocked and instinctively reached out for the battalion commander's clothes, but his hand was empty. He opened his mouth and wanted to shout something, but the next second he immediately clenched his teeth and made no sound. He used his hands and feet to climb out of the trench and chased after him.

Seeing this scene, the other soldiers in the trench were stunned at first, then they picked up their weapons and followed the battalion commander and the company commander to rush towards the federal position.

There were no whistles, no drums, no shouts of killing, only the sounds of footsteps and breathing. Tamas led his men and, in the style of the United Provinces, "silently" climbed to the heights.

Behind the breastwork, there was a mess.

The breath of hell filled the Federalist positions, and the smoke produced by the intensive explosions of horsetail grenades was thicker than the alchemical smoke released by the Federalists themselves.

A Federalist fell against the parapet. Although his arms and legs were still on his body, his eyes, nose and ears were covered in blood, and there were several expanding red spots on his clothes.

A matchlock rifle leaned limply against his knees, a horrific piece of shrapnel lodged in the butt.

When the federal man saw Tamas, he thought he was a friendly soldier. He raised his head with difficulty and made a gurgling sound in his throat, as if asking Tamas for help.

Looking at the equally pale and immature faces of the people from the Federation, Tamas vaguely saw Gosha's face.

But Gosha was dead.

Tamas gritted his teeth and plunged his dagger into the United Provincial's chest.

Is it to end the other person's pain? Or to take the other person's life?

Tamas didn't know, and he no longer cared.

Before the reinforcements from the Federal Provinces arrived, Tamas led his men to quickly clear out the high ground that was raining lead on the small fortifications controlled by their side, and collected the guns and ammunition that were still usable.

Before Tamas and his men could turn their guns and fire at the Federalists who were attacking their fortifications, the Federalists on the riverbank had already noticed something was wrong and withdrew from the battle.

A small group of United Provinces quickly regrouped and ran towards Tamas' location.

Tamas immediately abandoned his original plan. After throwing a few horsetail grenades at the Federalists, he led his soldiers to retreat from the high ground along the way they came, and then quickly moved south along the trenches.

Back and forth, real and fake, Tamas's small group of people actually made the federal provincials run around in circles. Without any hindrance, they easily broke into the surrounded small fortification.

The first and second batches of soldiers who landed on the island and are still alive are all in this earthen enclosure.

Reunion on the battlefield, both sad and happy.

One of the wounded soldiers, whose right arm was hit so hard that the bone was exposed, did not cry out in pain because he was afraid of upsetting his comrades. However, he burst into tears when he saw Tamas.

Tamas was also trying hard to hold back tears.

Just then, Peter Bunnier came over.

"Captain," Peter Bunnier's eyes were a little evasive at first, but gradually became firm, "You can't stay here. Take advantage of the peace now and go out from the south. I will send someone to escort you."

Tamas ignored the captain and gave orders to the others, "Hurry up and count the ammunition and wounded. Who still has horsetail grenades?"

"That's enough!" Peter Bunnier stood in front of the old captain, tilting his neck, and showed his toughness for once. "Don't worry about it! I can take care of it!"

Tamas said nothing, but just stared.

Peter Bunnell shuddered instinctively, but did not move his feet.

A shrill whistle sounded in my ears.

Below the high ground, the people of the Federation have regrouped and organized a commando team again. This time their offensive will be launched from both the left and right directions simultaneously.

Above the high ground, two more military flags were raised behind the breastwork. It should be that the federal troops from other directions were sent over to fill the position here.

Now, even if we want to leave, it's too late.

Tamas patted the company captain on the shoulder and walked towards the earthen enclosure.

Peter Bunnier wiped his tears and followed closely.

"Boom!"

"Dong dong dong dong!"

The rhythmic sound of military drums rang out on the battlefield, and Tamas finally heard the voices of the people of the Federation—not the kind of voices that sounded like screaming or groaning, but human voices.

“We’re Ned Smith’s black troops, hey-a-ho-ho;

"We will eradicate tyranny, hey, hey, hey;

"Spears forward! Forward, forward, forward!

"The red rooster stands on the monastery..."

A faint chorus came from the Federalist positions.

“Are they qualified to sing this song now?” Tamas frowned.

"What?" Peter Bunnier was very frightened. "You're asking me?"

The Union Army's military song was soon finished, and the Federal Provinces launched another attack.

Tamas clenched the dagger in his hand.

Just then, gunshots rang out.

Not from the front, but from the back.

A series of flames lit up on the river surface behind, and lead bullets passed through the water fence and flew towards the federal people on the river beach, ruthlessly reaping their lives.

Then another string, and another string...

"It's a ship!" a soldier shouted, "A ship is coming!"

It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from Tamas' shoulders.

He felt dizzy at first, and blood rushed to his head, making him a little unsteady.

"Lannis is here," Tamas muttered to himself. He looked around at his warriors and announced with relief, "Captain Lannis is here! Our mission is accomplished!"

Seven large ships emerged one after another in the darkness, sailing around the "horse block", and the musketeers on the ships fired deadly lead bullets at the Federals on the river beach.

The people of the Federation obviously did not anticipate this incident and they fled in all directions. The attack that they had organized with great difficulty collapsed again.

Inside the earthen wall, the soldiers of the Tiefeng County Regiment saw this scene and gave thunderous cheers and shouts.

Some soldiers jumped directly onto the wall, yelling and beating their chests towards the high ground where the federalists were, but they were immediately pulled down by the battalion commander himself.

"I'll go get an axe," Peter Bunnier said, wiping his tears, "and get rid of the 'horse-blocking post' and get the men from the Fifth Battalion in."

"No need," Tamas smiled and shook his head, "The fleet came to support us, which means Lannis has landed."

Just as he finished speaking, a deafening roar was heard from the island of Margit.

……

  [Lodwijk's temporary command post]

"What's going on?" Lieutenant Colonel William Lodewijk shouted.

……

  [Artillery positions of Montecuccoli’s troops]

"What?" Raymond Montecuccoli was horrified. "The Monastery of Domoncus is lost?"

……

  [East side of Margit Island]

Captain Leiden, who had just landed, suddenly found that the situation on the island had become very bad.

There was a roar of killing in the Domonkos Monastery, and a fierce battle was also breaking out in the direction of the Bishop's Castle. His troops were isolated and helpless, and he had no idea what was going on in the south.

  Retreat? Fight?

After careful consideration, Captain Leiden gritted his teeth:

"Contact Lieutenant Colonel Lodewijk—let's go to Bishop's Castle!"

……

  [Small fortification at the southern end of Margit Island]

Among the people cheering, celebrating, hugging and crying, Peter Bunnier was the first to notice something unusual in the direction of the floating bridge.

"Captain, the pontoon bridge," Peter Bunnier rubbed his eyes vigorously to make sure he was not mistaken. He pointed at the river and said to the old company commander in confusion, "It seems to be on fire..."

Tamas rushed to the wall.

The floating bridge extending to the center of the river had its front end engulfed in fire.

The unfinished floating bridge now looks like a huge torch across the Shijian River.

The fire illuminated the river and revealed the shape of a monster.

That's a ship.

A warship.

It was not a warship converted from a barge like the one in the hands of the Tiefeng County Group, but a real warship.

Tamas had never seen such a big ship. In front of it, the seven warships of Tiefeng County were like seven little children.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Tamas rushed out of the wall and shouted anxiously, "Send a signal! Let the fleet retreat!"

Without the need for warnings from friendly forces on the shore, the new army sailors on the river had already discovered the enemy's warships.

The fleet of seven barges immediately dispersed, and the oars of each ship were desperately beating the water, trying to change direction.

However, the enemy's warships had more oars, which were longer and more powerful, like two wings, flapping up and down, quickly closing the distance with the new army's warships.

Then it moved across the ship and opened the gun ports.

……

  [A few days later]

[Somewhere in the Heard Wasteland]

[By the Ashes River]

"I'm sorry, Colonel Gaspard, I can't see you to the end," Winters bowed and apologized to Gaspard. He introduced the dark-faced man behind him, "This is Koshhachi from the Red River Tribe. He will ensure your safe return to Jiangbei Province."

"Don't be so polite, Captain Montagne. You've already helped us a lot," Gaspard politely returned the greeting with a complicated smile. "Perhaps after this separation, we will never have a chance to meet again. But as long as I'm alive, I'll always owe you a favor."

Winters didn't say any more pleasantries, just nodded.

"Perhaps you don't mind telling me?" Gaspard was a little curious, "What exactly made you change your original plan?"

"I just received an urgent letter," Winters pulled the corner of his mouth, his eyes following the rolling Ash River, extending all the way to the direction of the Castle of the Kings, "the situation has changed."

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