Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

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"Sir," the elder Priskin rose, his visage seemingly aging in an instant, "please punish my grandson severely. But also please discern that this was only a conspiracy by a small group of people. Revodan will spare no effort to supply you with military funds, and I am willing to donate all of my family's assets. I beg for your mercy."

Winters scoffed, "Do you really think I care about your money? Bring them up!"

Xial led his men in, carrying several heavy wooden chests into the council hall.

"I forced you to subscribe to the bonds, but it was just a loan, not theft. It was merely to make some noise, for the audience to watch."

Winters kicked over the chests one by one, gold and silver coins spilling out: "Your money is all here, not a single silver coin less. Not satisfied? Well, I will return it to you now."

Winters forced Revodan's merchants to subscribe to bonds for three purposes: one was to create illusions; the second was to lure the snake out of its hole; and the third was to raise funds for the redemption of land in Forging Village.

The third item cost far less than expected; he didn't have to use the money raised from the bonds.

"Please wait until after your victory to repay us," the elder Priskin's frame bent even more.

The elder Priskin had not taken part in his grandson's conspiracy and indeed did not know about it.

But now these words were meaningless. What prestige did his grandson have to command the allegiance of half the district council members?

It must have been done under his banner.

The old man knew very well that all he could rely on now was the mercy of the Blood Wolf.

He was sitting in the town hall's council chamber and not by a court or execution ground, which in itself was the greatest act of mercy.

"Very well! Since you've asked for this, I cannot refuse," Winters picked up his military saber, "From this moment forward, Revodan is in a state of martial law. No entry! No exit! The soldiers stationed here will be responsible for transferring supplies needed by the citizens."

"Gentlemen, pray for my victory," Winters said with an amused smile, "If I am defeated, your money will die with me."

...

...

Colonel Gaisa's troops advanced rapidly, traveling fifty kilometers in less than two days to reach the east bank of the Anya River.

The colonel had dispatched supply officers to gather resources from villages and towns along the way, allowing his troops to march lightly.

Upon reaching the Anya River, the troops from Mont Blanc County started building a floating bridge without delay.

The Anya River is the natural boundary between Iron Peak County and Mont Blanc County, named "Mother" for its gentle, nurturing waters that seldom overflow.

[Note: Anya, in the Paratu dialect, means mother, translating directly to "Mother River."]

Towns and villages are scattered along both sides of the river, but in the river section that borders [Iron Peak] and [Mont Blanc] counties, the main way to cross over is still by boat.

There was originally a bridge over the Anya River, located in Manyun Valley.

Manyun Valley is only fifty kilometers from Falconflower Fort but one hundred fifty kilometers from Revodan.

Therefore, after Winters captured Revodan, he immediately sent men to destroy the Manyun Bridge.

If rebels can destroy bridges, then the loyalist forces can build them.

After all, it's about suppression; where there are conditions, suppress, where there are none, create conditions to suppress.

Colonel Gaisa's temporary command post was set up on the southern hillside of the floating bridge, from where he could have a clear view of both sides of the river.

"It seems the rebels do not plan to defend the river," the colonel said to his centurions with a note of disappointment, "It's become a bit more troublesome."

A chorus of centurions chuckled heartily.

Captain Hudson brought the colonel a camp chair.

Hearing this, he didn't hesitate to retort, "Did you still hope they would defend the river?"

The bald-headed colonel steadied himself on the armrest and slowly sat down.

"Of course," he stretched out his legs and let out a long breath, the scars on his face quivering, "Defending the river could stop me, but then Zibeer over there could knock them dead with one punch."

Upon learning of the fall of Revodan, Colonel Gaisa immediately sent troops to seize Manyun Bridge.

However, he was one step too late, and the bridge had already been destroyed.

Consequently, Colonel Gaisa deployed engineers to measure the water depth, prepare the floating bridge components, and accumulate supplies in the border villages.

He had made preparations for this battle even before receiving orders from Maplestone City.

"I and Zibeer are like two fists in a fight; if our armies meet below Revodan, then the rebels have already lost."

```

Colonel Gaisa spoke lethargically, lecturing the centurions, "His only chance of victory is to concentrate his forces and repel one fist; then the other fist will crumble without attacking."

"No, I don't think he has any chance of winning," Captain Hudson sniffed.

"There is still a chance," Colonel Gaisa said, watching the soldiers moving the pontoons. "Instead of thinking like that, if you were Montaigne, would you strike at me first, or at the forces in Vernge County?"

"At Colonel Zibeer's troops first."

"Why?"

"Because of Colonel Zibeer's experience, intelligence, and moral standards..." Captain Hudson chose his words carefully.

Colonel Gaisa lashed out with a whip at the captain, "You might as well outright say that Zibeer is useless!"

"You can't talk like that," Captain Hudson said with some embarrassment.

Colonel Gaisa smacked his lips, "I'm far away from him, Zibeer is close. Common sense says one shouldn't choose the far and forsake the near. So, I need to be fast and fierce, while Zibeer needs to be slow and steady."

"So you also think he will go after the Vernge County troops first?"

"He has just over a thousand defectors," Colonel Gaisa scoffed, rubbing his scalp. "How can he win by common sense?"

...

[Nailhammer Town] is located northwest of Revodan, 140 kilometers from Revodan, in the territory of Vernge County.

The four large battalions of Vernge County currently involved in the rebellion suppression operation are stationed here.

The "useless" Colonel Zibeer Zoltan, mentioned by the bald Colonel, was holding a meeting with his subordinates.

The tent was filled with a dead silence; most of the centurions stood as they listened.

Colonel Zibeer toyed with a small spellcasters' badge, speaking indifferently, "Intelligence reports indicate that the rebel leader Winters Montagne is still in Revodan. Based on the timing, the bald man should have already made his move."

Communication and coordination have always been key issues in war.

Revodan, Falconflower Fort, and Iron Cavalry City are the closest at 150 kilometers apart, and at times, as far as 200 kilometers.

The forces of Vernge County and Baishan County rely entirely on Pegasus messengers for communication, and even the fastest one-way journey takes a day.

Hence, coordination between the two forces can only rely on understanding.

No one in the tent spoke out because the centurions all understood that Colonel Zibeer didn't listen to his subordinates.

Colonel Zibeer's interrogative sentences were, in fact, declarative, and his declarative sentences were actually imperatives.

"Then let's set out as well," Colonel Zibeer said, pinning the spellcasters' badge on his chest. "We'll set off tomorrow morning."

The gathering of centurions responded in a low voice in agreement.

...

The floating bridge was successfully completed, and the Baishan County army crossed the Anya River that very day.

At night, they lodged in the small town of Manyun Valley.

Apart from the town residents whose homes were occupied, no one else resisted the arrival of the Baishan County army because they didn't support any side.

If anything, the townsfolk leaned more toward the "official army," as they were very dissatisfied with the rebels blowing up the Manyun Bridge.

The Manyun Bridge was built with funds raised by the town's people, and the tolls collected each year significantly supplemented public use. Its destruction, without their consent, was a unilateral decision.

In addition to providing army labor, the mayor of Manyun Valley tentatively asked if they could make use of the military's floating bridge.

The villages across the Anya River have a very close relationship with each other. Compared to Revodan, Manyun Valley is more like a family with the villages on the opposite side of the river.

The destruction of the Manyun Bridge added much difficulty to the lives of the people on both sides of the river.

Colonel Gaisa denied the mayor of Manyun Valley's request, but he did some accounting for the old mayor.

The bald Colonel used mathematical tools to prove that hiring his troops to build another bridge was superior in both time and money, compared to hiring other builders, stonemasons, and carpenters.

"I have top-notch military engineer officers and reliable labor at my command, guaranteed to build a bridge that's sturdy and long-lasting. We can start construction once this battle is over," Colonel Gaisa assured the mayor, slapping his chest while draping his arm around him, "As a middleman, you can also get a salary—of course, it is confidential."

The mayor of Manyun Valley was overwhelmed with honor and nodded eagerly.

While the officer of Baishan County was striving to expand his jurisdiction to Iron Peak County, a troop of cavalry was wreaking havoc within Baishan County.

No sooner had Colonel Gaisa's four battalions crossed the Anya River than Lieutenant Andrea Chelini lit a fire under him.