Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World-Chapter 559: Collapse
Chapter 559: Collapse
TL: Rui88
Lieutenant Colonel Burgan, mounted on his horse, watched from a distance as the approaching column drew near.
Their steps were uniform, their formation disciplined. Without a doubt, it was Alda’s regular army.
Where had they appeared from? The Lakeheart Town garrison could not possibly have returned so quickly. Had one of the detachments stayed behind nearby?
Burgan’s head throbbed with a dull ache as he considered it.
Initially, Burgan had been quite confident in the forces he now commanded. After all, it was nearly two thousand militiamen who had received basic military training.
But as that army drew closer, his confidence began to waver.
Every man on the other side was armed with a musket, and behind their lines… they were dragging at least ten cannons.
In that case, the situation had become somewhat grim.
When the Lakeheart Town garrison had set out, they had taken all the active-duty artillery with them.
Those left in the armory were all decommissioned pieces, several of which were “old relics” from the time of the pirate campaign. The reason they hadn’t been melted down was, he had heard, that Paul Grayman intended to sell them to others at a suitable time.
When Count Grayman had first conceived of the cannon, a weapon of such slaughter, the casting technology was still in an exploratory phase. Both its inventor, Count Grayman, and the artisans who brought it to life, were all working on the principle of “I think this will work, so this is how it should be done.”
From a modern perspective, the cannons produced at that time… were of dubious quality, although they did indeed play a significant role in the Alda army’s early military campaigns.
Another problem was that after being decommissioned, these cannons had been stored in the armory and lacked maintenance.
Heaven knew if they would explode when dragged out again and fired.
A cannon explosion would have a severe impact on morale, especially for a group of poorly trained militiamen. The explosion of a cannon could affect their trust in the muskets they had just been issued.
Furthermore, firing a cannon was not something that could be taught in a day or two, especially since Burgan’s training section was only responsible for conventional training; artillery training had its own system.
For all these reasons, Burgan had not allowed the militiamen to touch the cannons.
The approaching army halted. Among the group of officers on horseback beside the column, Burgan recognized the figure…Chief of Staff Schroeder.
Not only did Burgan recognize him, but there were also men among the militia who had seen Schroeder. The old knight’s appearance caused a slight commotion in the ranks.
What was going on? Why was the army’s esteemed chief of staff standing on the opposite side?
Murmurs of doubt spread through the minds of many.
At this moment, Burgan suddenly shouted, “Everyone! Raise muskets!”
With a clatter, those who did not recognize Schroeder raised their loaded muskets as ordered. Those who did recognize him followed the movements of those around them and also raised their guns.
An officer from Schroeder’s side slowly advanced to about two hundred yards from the militia column and then stopped. Burgan could not help but curse inwardly.
The man held an iron megaphone to his mouth and shouted.
“Brothers of the militia! You have all been deceived by Burgan and his lot. In fact, he is the greatest rebel hiding in Lakeheart Town. Burgan took advantage of the lord’s absence on a hunt, used his position to issue false orders, and attempted to use the militia to seize the central command. Furthermore, his accomplices also launched an attack on the lord in Babor, but his accomplices in Babor have been annihilated by the lord’s brave guards. All that remains is Burgan and his few cronies making a desperate last stand in Lakeheart Town. He even wants to drag you all down with him to his grave. This is truly evil! You must see through this shameless traitor for what he is and return to the right side at once.”
What was happening? Burgan was utterly shocked. How did the other side know about what happened in Babor Village? His mind immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusion: if his side had succeeded in Babor Village, Schroeder would not have received the information so quickly, because the signal tower there had been brought under control. But if the opposite were true, if Paul Grayman had been victorious there and regained control of the signal tower, it was possible he could have immediately sent the information to those loyal to him.
Then, then, then, then, then, then, then…what that man had just said, about the lord annihilating the attackers, was it true or false?
If the lord had sent the message out, then it must be true, right?
Burgan’s mind descended into chaos.
In fact, Burgan’s guess was correct. After Paul had recaptured the nearest signal tower, he immediately tried to contact the garrisons in various locations. Fortunately, he managed to contact Area 51.
Regardless, he had to fight for his life now!
Burgan immediately countered, shouting with all his might, “Brothers, don’t listen to the rebel army’s nonsense. I know you see Schroeder on the other side and have your doubts. Why is the Chief of Staff over there? But I regret to inform you, as some of you clever men have already guessed, Schroeder is no longer the respected Chief of Staff. He has been seduced by the rebel army and has gone over to their side.”
“Look, he’s brought an entire army with him. As you all know, the four infantry battalions of Lakeheart Town are out on field exercises, and the nearby militia have all gathered in Lakeheart Town…that is you! So what else could this army before us be but rebels?”
“Now, I command you, in my capacity as the highest military authority in Lakeheart Town at this moment, I command you…to resolutely, thoroughly, and mercilessly annihilate the enemy!”
The militiamen did not know who was telling the truth and habitually raised their muskets as ordered by their superior.
Just then, a boom sounded from behind them, from the direction of Lakeheart Town!
Burgan was shocked again. A very bad feeling immediately washed over him.
Had something happened in Lakeheart Town? Otherwise, why fire a cannon for no reason?
And where in Lakeheart Town were there cannons? Besides the old ones gathering dust in the armory, he immediately thought of one place…the cannons mounted on the gatehouse of the Lord’s Manor castle!
Only one phrase could describe Burgan’s mood at this moment…as if he had plunged into an icy cavern.
“Entire army, hear my command!” He did not know which nerve had been struck, but he had lost his reason. “Advance!”
The militiamen looked at each other but still obeyed Burgan’s command, changing their raised aim to a diagonal carry and striding towards the opposing army.
Advance to the easiest aiming distance, fire! Then charge with bayonets!
This was the only thought in Burgan’s head at that moment!
…
The officer Schroeder had sent out to shout just now shook his head helplessly, turned his horse around, and returned to the chief of staff’s side.
“It’s no use, Lord Schroeder. Without direct proof, the militia can’t break free from Burgan’s lies. Are we really going to have to open fire on them?”
Schroeder shook his head. He looked at the officer and said:
“I remember there’s a new type of musket, one that’s very accurate.”
.
!
Chapter 559: Collapse
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