Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 797 The Vast Ocean of People's War

Although it is only mid-autumn in Essengarde, the temperature has already dropped sharply.

For the grassland people who have lived here for generations, the sight of the land and vegetation covered with a thick layer of white frost in the morning and evening, and the increasingly biting cold wind, is already commonplace.

Fifty miles southeast of Shajin Town, in an abandoned copper mine, two groups of people were secretly meeting silently in the narrow, crisscrossing underground tunnels.

“Captain Fleming, Captain Lang!” A young man wearing a grass-grey cloak raised an oil lamp high and greeted them warmly. “We arrived at the mine last night and have been waiting until now… We thought you had been delayed and would not be able to meet us as agreed.”

The robust Fleming reached out and gave the other man a light high five, smiling as he said, "No matter how difficult it gets, we will definitely keep our appointment on time... You don't need to worry about that."

As he spoke, he exchanged a glance with Lang, then waved his hand, signaling his militiamen to carry up several large crates from the back of the column and neatly stack them on the ground.

The young man's face finally lit up with surprise as he saw the box land with a heavy thud. He hesitated and asked, "This...this is the supply that the Saint Valen people promised us?"

Fleming nodded and added with a smile, "That's right. The standard weapons issued to the Second Independent Regiment of the Eastern Front, and enough magic arrow ammunition to last you for two weeks. I also specially asked them for some medicine... high-end stuff prepared by the Starfire City potion alchemists."

"There are potions too?" The young leader's voice trembled. "By Radiance! These are life-saving things. We have several critically wounded people in our ranks who are on the verge of death. The priests have already performed last rites for them... Perhaps with these potions, they can still be saved!"

Upon hearing this, Lang immediately stepped forward, lifted the lid of the supply box, and urged, "Then don't delay, quickly count the supplies, and then bring them back to camp immediately..."

Several militiamen immediately surrounded the box and eagerly began rummaging through the supplies wrapped in hay and oil paper.

"Whoa! A new type of magic-powered gun! This is... this isn't a single-shot gun!"

One of the militiamen stared blankly at the brand-new weapon in his hand, examining it several times, muttering repeatedly, "Boss... this thing is different from the ones we got before..."

"The models that flowed into the country from Darius were the oldest, and they needed to be reloaded after each shot... But this bolt-action type is different. It is equipped with a magazine that can hold five bullets in advance. After being inserted into the magazine at the rear of the rifle, it can be fired continuously by simply pulling the bolt back to the starting position each time it is fired."

As Fleming explained, he picked up a long gun and demonstrated its operation with somewhat clumsy movements.

The militiamen surrounding him were immediately taken aback, their faces showing eagerness, wishing they could each get a new weapon right away.

The young leader, barely suppressing his emotions, pressed on in a deep voice, "How many guns are there in total? How many magic arrow bullets have been issued?"

"Ten guns and five hundred bullets. Your team isn't that big. If you don't confront those monsters' large forces head-on, this ammunition should be enough for you."

He paused, then emphasized, "Remember, we only target those who have been defeated by the Northern Army and are now alone. If you sense anything amiss, you must immediately retreat and stay far away... Preserving yourself is the most important thing."

The young leader nodded emphatically, pulled a thin booklet from his pocket with the title "Guide to Grassland Guerrilla Warfare" printed on the cover, waved it in his hand, and said smugly, "I understand, as long as the green hills remain, there's always firewood to burn... The knowledge that His Majesty the Emperor of Saint Valen personally imparted to us has proven invaluable in crucial moments." An illiterate fool can't be the leader of a militia guerrilla force.

Fleming gave an approving look, patted the other man on the shoulder, and then took out several oddly styled cloaks from the supply crate, saying gently, "These are a few sets of optical camouflage cloaks, also standard military equipment. Try them on..."

The young leader took it casually, took off his dirty felt cloak and put it on. Then, under the dim light, his body wrapped in the cloak slowly and rapidly changed to an earthy yellow color. If he were to lean against the mine wall at this moment, he could even blend into the environment.

"How was this thing made? It's...it's amazing!"

"Those damned aliens have poor sense of smell and hearing, and rely on their superb eyesight to track their targets... With this, our brothers in the team who are good at shooting will no longer be afraid of being easily discovered!"

"Was this something the Saint Valen people specifically developed to counter alien races?"

Fleming shrugged and shook his head, saying, "I don't know either... but I've heard that the Northern soldiers are issued a set of these military cloaks, and they've used them to carry out several ambushes against the Lizardmen in the Sang River Valley, which is enough to prove their effectiveness."

The young leader's hand trembled slightly as he took the cloak. "Captains, these supplies are extremely important to us. You've taken such a great risk to deliver them to us..."

Fleming waved his hand and said with emotion, "There's no need to say more. His Majesty the Emperor himself said... We, the people of the plains who have lived in Eisengard for generations, are now fighting alongside the Northern Army against the alien races not to serve him, but to fight for ourselves, for our homeland and country. This is a responsibility shared by all of humanity, and it is only right that we help each other."

After a moment of silence, everyone placed their hands on their chests and whispered, "By the radiant Lord, may His Majesty the Emperor be healthy, and may his kingdom prosper forever!"

……

Fleming watched the militia carrying supply crates slowly retreat from the mine, remaining silent for a long time.

Lang spoke up to remind them, "Where are we going next?"

"As previously agreed, we need to reach the Ironwood Hills within three days... There are at least three local revenge groups active in that area, also eagerly awaiting the much-needed weapons and ammunition."

Lang hesitated for a moment, then said with some concern, "But... the Revenge Army active in the Ironwood Hills has been resisting contact with the Saint Valen people. It is rumored that Archbishop Randall, who disappeared after the fall of the capital, seems to be hiding among them, directing them to fight against the alien race. If that's the case, will sending them supplies anger the Saint Valen people?"

Fleming gave a wry smile and sighed, "After all, we didn't see it with our own eyes, and rumors are just rumors... You and I were once members of the Guardians of the Church, and most of the rebels in Sandgold Town were also devout believers. The Northern Army still treats them all the same. I believe that with the magnanimity and foresight of His Majesty the Emperor in Starfire City, he would never be so petty about such a matter."

He paused, his expression slightly excited, and said, "Moreover... Lieutenant Benny told me a few days ago that Baron Herrera, a military noble from Steelrock City, with the full support of His Majesty Emperor Saint Valen, has assembled a guerrilla force of several thousand men in the border region. They are recruited entirely from local refugees from Eisengard and will soon set off for the central part of the kingdom to participate in our counterattack."

Their weaponry far surpasses that of these rebels, including the latest rapid-fire magic guns, portable magic cannons, magic machine guns, and magical vehicles capable of high-speed travel across the grasslands and flexibly providing support to various locations.

(End of this chapter)