Capítulo 1509: Chapter 56: Siege (26)_2
Tamas immediately abandoned the original plan. After throwing a few horse-tail grenades at the United Provincials, he led the warriors back from the highlands and swiftly moved south along the trench.
In and out, real and fake, this small team led by Tamas had the United Provincials tangled in circles, easily penetrating the besieged small fort without any hindrance.
The first batch, the second batch of warriors who landed, those still alive were all in this earth fort.
Reuniting on the battlefield, both sad and joyful.
An injured person whose right arm was hit so hard that the bones protruded, had refrained from crying out in pain to avoid unsettling his comrades, cried upon seeing Tamas.
Tamas also held back his tears.
Just then, Peter Buniel came over.
“Captain,” Peter Buniel’s gaze initially flickered but gradually became firm, “You can’t stay here, while things are calm now, leave from the south. I’ll dispatch some men to escort you.”
Tamas ignored the company commander and ordered others, “Make the most of the time, count ammunition and wounded, who still has horse-tail grenades…”
“Enough!” Peter Buniel stood in front of the old company commander, raising his neck, uncharacteristically firm, “Don’t concern yourself with these! Leave them to me!”
Tamas said nothing but glared.
Peter Buniel instinctively shivered but stood his ground.
A piercing whistle sounded by the ears.
Below the highland, the United Provincials regrouped, forming an assault squad once more, this time attacking from both the left and right simultaneously.
Above the highland, two military flags rose behind the breastwork, probably other United Provincials redirected here, reinforcing this position.
Now, even if they wanted to leave, it’s too late.
Tamas patted the company commander’s shoulder and headed towards the earth fort.
Peter Buniel wiped away his tears and followed closely.
“Dong!”
“Dong!”
“Dong, dong, dong, dong!”
A rhythmic drumbeat echoed on the battlefield. Tamas finally heard the United Provincials’ voice—not the screams, moans, but human voices.
“We are Ned Smith’s Black Army, ha ya ho ho;
“We shall abolish tyranny, ha ya ho ho;
“Spears forward! Forward, forward, forward!
“The red rooster stands atop the monastery…”
A blurred chorus emanated from the United Provincials’ position.
“Now they can sing this song?” Tamas frowned.
“Huh?” Peter Buniel was startled, “Are you asking me?”
The Allied Army’s song soon ended, and the United Provincials launched another attack.
Tamas clenched the dagger in his hand.
At this moment, gunfire erupted.
Not from the front, but from behind.
Flashes of fire emerged on the river behind, lead bullets traversed the water barricade, flying toward the United Provincials on the riverbank, mercilessly claiming their lives.
Then another volley, and another…
“It’s ships!” a warrior shouted, “Ships have arrived!”
It felt as if a heavy burden was suddenly lifted from Tamas’ shoulders.
He first felt dizzy, blood rushing to his head, causing him to stand unsteadily.
“Lannis is here,” Tamas mumbled, scanning his warriors and calmly announcing, “Captain Lannis is here! Our mission is accomplished!”
Seven large ships appeared in the darkness, sailing around the “caltrop,” musketeers aboard fired lethal lead bullets at the United Provincials on the riverbank.
The United Provincials clearly did not expect this, scattering and fleeing, the hard-to-assemble attack dissolved once again.
Inside the earth fort, warriors from the Iron Peak County Regiment cheered and shouted in triumph.
Some warriors jumped directly onto the wall, shouting at the United Provincials on the highland, pounding their chests, only to be pulled down by the captain himself.
“I’ll get a hatchet,” Peter Buniel said while wiping his tears, “Open the ‘caltrop,’ bring in the fifth battalion.”
“No need,” Tamas smiled and shook his head, “The fleet came to support us, which means Lannis has already landed.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, an earth-shattering roar erupted from inside Magit Island.
…
[Temporary Command Center of the Ludwick Faction]
“What’s going on?” Major William Lodewijk demanded.
…
[Artillery Position of the Montecuccoli Corps]
“What?” Raymond Montecuccoli shuddered, “The Domoncos Monastery is lost?”
…
[East side of Magit Island]
Captain Layton, newly ashore, abruptly found the island’s situation worsening,
The Domoncos Monastery resounded with the sounds of battle, the Bishop’s Castle direction was also in fierce combat, his forces isolated without support, unaware of the situation to the south.
Should they retreat or fight?
Having deliberated, Captain Layton gritted his teeth:
“Contact Major Ludwick—We’re heading to the Bishop’s Castle!”
…
[Small Fort at the South End of Magit Island]
Amidst joyous celebration and tears, Peter Buniel was the first to notice an anomaly from the floating bridge direction.
“Captain, the floating bridge,” Peter Buniel rubbed his eyes vigorously to confirm he wasn’t mistaken, pointed at the river, puzzlingly stating to the old company commander, “It appears to be on fire…”
Tamas dashed to the edge of the wall.
He saw the floating bridge extending to the center of the river, consumed by flames at its front end.
The yet-to-be-completed floating bridge now looked like a great torch crossing the River Shijian.
The fire illuminated the river surface, revealing the form of a beast.
It was a ship.
A warship.
Not the kind of warship modified from barges held by the Iron Peak Regiment, but a true warship.
Tamas had never seen a ship so large; before it, the seven warships of Iron Peak County seemed like seven children.
“Retreat! Quick retreat!” Tamas rushed out from the wall, urgently shouting, “Signal quickly! Tell the fleet to retreat!”
Without needing a warning from the allies ashore, the new army sailors on the river had already discovered the enemy warship.
The formation of seven barges immediately dispersed, the oars of each vessel desperately paddling the water, trying to change course.
However, the enemy warship’s oars were more numerous, longer, and more advantageous, like two wings, swiftly closing the distance with the new army warships.
Then, it rotated sideways and opened the cannon ports.
…
[Days later]
[Somewhere in the Hurd Wasteland]
[By Ashen Stream River]
“I’m sorry, Colonel Gaspar, I can’t see you through to the end,” Winters bowed in apology to Gaspar, introducing the dark-skinned Hurd man behind him, “This is Koshach of the Red River Tribe, he’ll ensure your safe return to Jiangbei Province.”
“There’s no need for such courtesy, Captain Montaigne, you’ve already helped us greatly,” Gaspar returned the gesture politely, his smile complex, “Perhaps once parted, we’ll never have another chance to meet. But as long as I live, I owe you a favor.”
Winters did not utter any more pleasantries, merely nodded.
“Perhaps, do you mind telling me?” Gaspar was curious, “What ultimately made you change your original plan?”
“I just received an urgent letter,” Winters smiled slightly, his gaze following the rushing flow of the Ashen Stream River, extending toward the direction of Kingsfort, “The situation has changed.”