Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1183 - 21 The Great Alliance Moves Forward (6)

Chapter 1183: Chapter 21 The Great Alliance Moves Forward (6)

[Green Valley]

[East Side of the Provincial Highway]

The fire snake danced wildly, and the east wind roared.

The winter wheat, not yet fully shed of its green, burned like damp fodder, spewing out denser smoke than dry grass.

Flames, thick smoke, and heat waves were wrapped into a wall by the fierce wind, mixed with cries and shouts, sweeping from east to west across Green Valley.

Standing behind the wall of fire, Pako, a surrender from the First Battalion of the Iron Peak County New Army, felt his legs go weak and his head dizzy, unable to take a step forward.

The hellish scene before him was partially Pako’s ’contribution’. He was the one who spilled pine oil on the ears of wheat, transported dry fuel to the fields, and even personally ignited the flames of destruction.

Monkey saw Pako standing dumbfounded, walked up, and patted the recruit on the back, only to find the recruit’s eyes already filled with tears.

"It’s all burned, all burned..." Pako choked, "There’s nothing left."

Monkey’s shoulder twitched slightly. He acted indifferent, rubbing his nose and said hoarsely, "Yes, such a pity, such a pity."

"Shut up!" Lu Xirong came over with a short spear, reprimanding in a low voice, "Blood Wolf’s decision is not something you can criticize?"

The old soldier’s mouth and nose were covered with a damp cloth, revealing only a pair of eyes under the helmet: "Put on your triangle bandana quickly!"

Monkey immediately fell silent, bent down to fetch a triangle bandana from a bucket pre-prepared with grass ash and water, hastily wrung it out, and covered his nose and mouth, just like the old soldier.

Lu Xirong stood solemnly with his spear, his feet on the charred fields just after the fire, with endless flames and smoke behind him.

Sweeping his gaze over each young face, the old soldier remained expressionless, instructing concisely: "The smoke at the fire scene is thick, and the wind direction is ever-changing. Stay close with me, don’t get separated."

"Yes!" Monkey and the soldiers of the Sixth Tent of the New Army responded in unison.

All responded together.

Lu Xirong turned around silently, leading his men into the assault position.

When all the soldiers of the First Battalion were waiting for the order to charge behind the field ridge, Monkey quietly approached Lu Xirong.

He crouched behind Lu Xirong, clenching his teeth, and with a voice so small that only the two of them could hear, tremulously asked Lu Xirong: "Sergeant, we will compensate them, right?"

Old Lu Xirong gazed at the golden plains consumed by fire and said desolately, "I don’t know either, Monkey, I don’t know."

The piercing sound of a bugle suddenly drowned out all noise, followed by the simultaneous beating of all war drums.

Not far away, a small figure once again jumped out from the field ridge first: "Everyone charge! Advance!"

Monkey and Pako exchanged a glance, and they too climbed over the field ridge, charging toward the provincial road amid the fields.

...

Meanwhile, on the provincial highway.

"The wind is from east to west! Fire and smoke are also coming from the east!" Major Felter stood atop the hill, overlooking the battlefield, raising his riding crop to point at the east side of the highway:

"The enemy must also be to the east! Right behind the fire line! They intend to use the fire as their vanguard, wait till our formations are scattered, and then rely on cavalry assaults to completely crush us."

Other than the captain leading the troops into the city, the remaining five professionally trained officers under Felter were by his side at this moment. The expressions of the five were tense, but they held themselves together, showing no hint of fear or panic.

"Two legs can’t outrun four legs, we can’t escape. But there’s no need to fear! The enemy is behind the fire line, so before the fire field spreads over here, we’ve got time!"

Major Felter quickly assessed the enemy situation and calmly ordered:

"Since the fire comes from the east, we will move to the west! Take your troops to the west side of the highway! Clear out all the flammable materials beside the road! Green Valley’s terrain is higher in the west and lower in the east, we’ll use the provincial highway as a firebreak, right on the west side of the road, overlooking! Form ranks and face the enemy!"

At this moment, a newly uniformed honor officer came running wildly towards Major Felter, and from afar, his cries could be heard: "Major! All gone mad! Mad! The insane rebels! They’re burning it even when the wheat is ready for harvest! How dare they? How dare they? Let’s retreat quickly!"

"Shut up!" Major Felter, enraged, drew his sword, fiercely spurred his horse down the hill, adopting a severe tone unlike his usual gentle manner, and harshly scolded: "You scoundrel! Where is your Hundred-Men Squad? Get back to your soldiers immediately! Otherwise, I will personally execute you!"

The honor officer was so frightened he was speechless, his face ashen. He wiped his tears and dared not say another word, slinking back.

"Gentlemen." Felter lifted his sword, turning to look at the officers from the 22nd class who just graduated last year and returned home this year, speaking earnestly: "In this battle, I can only rely on you. I trust you wholeheartedly, and I hope you will hold your ranks and not disappoint me."

The five officers solemnly saluted and each went to find their subordinates. Their figures vanished into the smoke quickly.

Small drums played a rapid rhythm, castigations and commands echoed.

As orders were relayed through the ranks, Felter’s troops began to wake from a hibernation-like state, still sluggish, but indeed regaining the ability to move.

Right beside Major Felter, two Hundred-Men Squads were herded by the whips and sticks of officers and sergeants, descending from the highway, pouring into the fields on the west side of the road.

He faintly heard someone shouting: "Form ranks! Reorganize! Quickly clear the surrounding wheat straw!"

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