I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 96 Chris's Sniper Battle (Part )

The hillside is not high, about a hundred meters, and the plants on it are mostly low shrubs and thorny weeds due to the intervention of the fortress.

Militiaman Pedi was nervously putting a piece of chain mail on his companion next to him.

Wearing armor is never an easy task. Even chain mail, which seems simple and can be worn like a coat, still requires some attention to detail.

First of all, before starting, Pedi helped his companion put on an armored suit with linen on the outside and compressed cotton on the inside. It can absorb sweat for the wearer, reduce the friction of the chain mail on the skin, and provide a certain amount of cushioning.

Then, keeping the mail flat, the wearer stands in the middle of the mail shirt, puts the head into the collar, and then puts the arms into the sleeves, slowly lifting the mail shirt to cover the entire upper body, until it reaches the waist.

Generally speaking, if it is a half-length chain mail, it is no problem for one person to wear it. On the contrary, if it is a knee-length chain mail, you will need help.

The chain mail the militiamen are wearing now is the latter. After putting it on, Pedi has to help his companions put in the belt around their waists and fasten the buttons on the front to ensure that the chain mail fits the body.

Since the militiamen all had iron helmets, they did not need to wear chain mail turbans.

Finally, let other companions check the chain mail from back to chest, from head to tail, to ensure that no part is missing.

Peidi held the windproof lantern and completed the process without distraction. After confirming that there was no problem with his companion's chain mail, he raised his hand and handed the windproof lantern to the latter, and raised his hands flat, waiting for his companion to put on the armor for him.

The armor-piercing process was not complicated, but it took the instructor three days and involved breaking several vines to prevent the militia from making any mistakes during the process.

Chris can provide breastplates for all militiamen. Although they are not made of high-manganese steel, the breastplates made of ordinary stainless steel are enough to surpass most armor of this era.

The reason the militia weren't given breastplates was simply because... they couldn't wear them.

Fighting while wearing armor is a prerequisite for ancient warriors, and to fight in armor requires long-term training and physical endurance exercises.

Except for the gifted Bruno, the other militiamen do not have all the above conditions. Instead of forcing the militiamen to wear heavy armor, which will cause excessive consumption of their physical strength, it is better to equip them with chain mail.

It just so happened that in today's industrially developed world, the ring locks that make up chain mail are worthless, so Chris found a mechanical processing factory and placed an order with them online.

The factory assembly line started working at full speed, and Chris's order was completed in less than three days.

The chain mail that could be assembled from the rings produced by this machining factory in three days was enough for Chris to arm an infantry regiment of 5,000 people, and even more than enough.

This is the horror of the industrial age.

After Peidi and his fellow militiamen put on their chain mail, they quickly shouldered their guns under the punches and kicks of the centurion, lined up with their companions, and adjusted the distance between them.

Finally, the militia took out paper bullets from the bullet bag hanging on his belt and began to load bullets.

After completing this process, Pedi breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly put the flintlock rifle against his shoulder and raised his right hand to signal to the militia captain that he had completed the task.

At this time, Pedi heard footsteps. He turned his head to look to the side and saw a large group of people walking together down the hillside.

Peidi took a closer look and thought, "Aren't those people mountain barbarians who make a living by hunting in the mountains? What are they doing?"
……

"Let's go, everyone, keep up. Maintain a scattered formation. All hurricane lanterns are out. Keep a distance from your companions and watch your step..."

Isaac walked in front of the hunters. He turned around and shouted loudly, while thinking about what Prince Chris said to him.

"I need you to take the initiative and attack with the hunters."

In the light of the hurricane lamp beside him, Chris had a serious expression on his face. He raised his hand and pointed at the camp of the Restoration Army.

The hillside where the militia is located is on the side of the Bolas Fortress, and the Restoration Army camp is in front. If they want to move forward, they will inevitably pass by the hillside.

The Restoration Army could try to bypass this nameless hill, because the open space in front of the Bolas Fortress is a full kilometer wide. The former only needs to move half a kilometer in the opposite direction to make Chris's tiger squat cannon ineffective.
So, Chris needs Isaac to take the initiative.

"You don't have to engage the Restoration Army head-on, or even inflict significant casualties on them. I simply want you to bring your hunters close to them and create some noise, a noise they won't dare ignore."

"Isaac, the Hunter Centurion!"

Isaac subconsciously closed his muddy infantry boots. The golden officer stars on his shoulder armor reflected a golden luster in the light of the hurricane lantern.

"Follow the training. Split your hunters into three lines of skirmishers, as scattered as possible. Do not use any lights, advance by moonlight. Once you are three to five hundred meters close to the enemy, use projectiles and fire at them."

"Projectile method?"

Isaac's fingers unconsciously stroked the brass counterweight on the command knife in his arms. This was his little habit when thinking.

The counterweight was smooth and not very pleasant to the touch, and it also lacked an engraving of the family crest. Isaac felt that he would soon have the opportunity to correct this defect.

"Your Highness, I must remind you that although the projectile method can increase the range of the musket, its hit rate is very low, and its penetration power will be reduced to the point where it cannot penetrate armor.

It was generally believed by officers in the Bohemian Imperial Army that this method of shooting was of no use except wasting precious gunpowder and lead bullets.

"I know, but the purpose of this battle is not to kill the enemy's manpower, but to delay time."

Chris looked towards Bolas Fortress, and Isaac also turned his head to look over. He could not see clearly what was happening in the fortress on the cliff in the distance, but he also knew that His Royal Highness's regiments had all rushed in.

"How long will it take?"

Isaac asked.

"At daybreak, at daybreak, they will succeed in capturing the fortress, and if they fail, we will retreat."

Delaying time, this was Chris's plan.

"Skirmish formation, fire with projectiles. After firing three shots, immediately retreat and draw the enemy towards my position. I will have my men open fire to cover you."

Isaac memorized all of Prince Chris's orders. Before leading the hunters to attack, he only asked the militia to carry twelve paper bullets, and not to carry bayonets, engineering shovels, or other unnecessary equipment.

According to the standard ammunition base for soldiers established by Chris, a soldier should carry 60 rounds of paper ammunition, 20 rounds in a waist bag, and 40 rounds in a marching backpack on his back.

Such an ammunition base is enough for a soldier to fight two or three battles. If he can use up all the ammunition in one battle but still fails to win, there is no need for him to go back to replenish ammunition.

It’s already this late, why bother with supplies? He should run for his life!

Sixty rounds of ammunition are enough. If soldiers are required to carry more gunpowder and lead bullets, it will definitely place too heavy a burden on the militia and cause unnecessary physical exhaustion.

Isaac only allowed the hunters to carry twelve bullets at this time because he felt that the mobility of the militia was the most important thing in this attack.

The hunters took the initiative to walk down the hillside, and at Isaac's shouting, they formed a very loose, skirmisher formation and walked towards the Restoration Army camp one kilometer away. The latter had also sent a team of infantry to meet them early.

At the beginning, when Chris led the militia up the hillside, the enemy in front of the Restoration Army camp did not find anything unusual, because the Restoration Army scouts did not dare to go too far out, and the distance between the two camps was more than one kilometer.

Even with the bright moon tonight, it was difficult to see the specific situation on the hillside a kilometer away. It was not until Chris had nearly a hundred hurricane lanterns lit in preparation for battle, illuminating the entire mountain, that even if the Restoration Army were blind, they would have noticed something was wrong.

It was also at this time that the Restoration Army truly realized that something was wrong... There was a third party on the battlefield!

"who are they?"

Count Dirac, holding the telescope high, looked back at the officer beside him and asked sternly.

"Adjutant, why did so many scouts die? Why didn't you find anything?!"

The adjutant, with the rank of major on his shoulder, lowered his head in embarrassment and said nothing. Seeing this, the officers standing beside him also lowered their heads quickly.

If even the major behaves like this, what more can the lieutenants and captains say?

The adjutant really didn't know what to say now, because the order to shrink the scouts' reconnaissance range and reduce their casualties was given by Count Dirac himself.

At that time, the adjutant also raised objections, saying that the casualties of the scouts were acceptable and that it was more important to find out the situation of the Minisians.

The result of this suggestion was that the adjutant was hit by Count Dirac's scabbard and insulted.

This army was originally Count Dirac's private army, where his words were law. Therefore, after this, no officer dared to say a word more about the scouts.

Count Dirac cursed for a long time, and after venting all his anger, he raised his hand and continued to observe the unknown enemies on the hillside.

They were wearing black uniforms, and there were not many of them, about two hundred. They were well-equipped, all of them were wearing armor and equipped with firearms. The flags they hoisted were engraved with a golden double-headed eagle pattern and decorated with olive leaf patterns.

This military uniform and flag are very strange! ?
The adjutant thought for a long time without saying a word. Suddenly, he remembered something. After hesitating for a while, he took the initiative to step forward.

"Sir, I remembered something. A month ago, a captain of a friendly company was defeated while on a mission. He reported to his superiors that Prince Chris's forces had appeared in Beech Town.

If my speculation is correct, this force should be Prince Chris's Bagnian Defense Force."

"There's such a thing!?"

Count Dirac put down the telescope in surprise and turned to look at his adjutant.

"Why don't I know?"

"Sir, I left a copy of this report in your office and reported it to you personally, and your response was, 'That captain should be shot for lying to cover up his incompetence.'"

As soon as he finished speaking, the adjutant was slapped hard in the face, and the loud slap interrupted his next words.

The adjutant who was slapped immediately lowered his head.

Count Dirac did not slap the opponent a second time. With his face twitching, he looked up at the hillside. At this moment, Isaac was leading the hunters down the hillside and heading towards the Restoration Army Camp.

Even though Isaac's hunters did not light the hurricane lanterns, the movement of nearly a hundred people was still very obvious in the moonlight.

"Very good, very courageous...Captain Becky Rachel!"

The captain who was named immediately stepped out from the ranks of officers and took his place before the count.

The Count commanded sharply as he looked at the man in the Bohemian grey uniform.

"Take your company and attack, drive away those enemies, clear the battlefield, and don't let them interfere with our advance towards Bolas Fortress."

"Yes, Lord Earl, I will complete the mission at the cost of my life!"

Captain Rachel hammered his chest hard at the Earl, making his breastplate clang, then turned around, jumped on his horse, and galloped towards his company.

Soon, a team of 300 people left the main force. Holding torches high, they marched in orderly steps under the leadership of Captain Rachel towards Isaac's hunting team.

The Rachel Company is a large company of 300 men, and is a composite force of multiple arms. It is an elite force under the Earl's command.

There were no musketeers among the three hundred men, but there were one hundred and fifty longbowmen, all of whom wore mail armor and had long swords at their waists. The rest of the soldiers were equipped with axes and spears and wore plate mail.

This infantry company is an elite force specializing in close combat and anti-cavalry.

Therefore, by sending such a team, the Earl actually attaches great importance to Prince Chris.

However, even in such an elite team, more than half of the soldiers still suffer from night blindness.

Therefore, during night marches, each team of soldiers held at least two torches to illuminate the way for their companions who had night blindness.

On the other hand, the hunters under Isaac's command were all hunters. Although they didn't know what night blindness was, they all knew that eating more prey organs could help people see at night.

After all, hunters sometimes need to go out hunting at night and check traps in the forest.

After joining Chris's army, he provided extra meals specifically for soldiers with night blindness. After a month of eating a lot, even those with night blindness were cured.

Therefore, Isaac's hunters could generally see the road clearly at night, without the need for hurricane lamps, and could march at night and fire at the enemy.

This is one of the reasons why Chris dared to let Isaac's hunters take the initiative to attack.

Both sides were actively approaching each other, and soon, based on the light of the torches, Isaac knew that the enemy was only 500 meters away.

He immediately raised the command knife in his hand and blew the whistle rhythmically.

The hunters following behind him were very familiar with the sound of the whistle, and they all stopped subconsciously... They had to stop, because in order to make sure the militiamen could understand the orders, the instructors were really merciless with the canes in their hands.

After breaking more than ten vines, even the dumbest hunter's learning ability improved rapidly with the help of pain.

At this time, Isaac blew out the whistle and shouted loudly,

"Raise your guns, point them in the direction of the fire, action number six!"

In order to enable these uneducated militiamen to gain combat effectiveness in the shortest possible time and perform corresponding tactical actions when needed on the battlefield, the instructors broke down the gun-raising movements, listed them with numbers, and taught the militiamen.

Hearing the action of No. 6, the hunters raised their flintlock rifles and pointed the muzzles at an angle forward.

"Fire!"

"Clap clap clap..."

(End of this chapter)