MTL - Iron Powder and Spellcasters-Chapter 396 Storm (9)

   Chapter 396 Storm (9)

   The clearing of St. Paul’s Street is just a prelude. The old city is still burning. It is urgent to suppress the riots and restore order.

   In order to avoid any complications, Winters pretended to be injured and handed over the command of the North City Liberty Cavalry to Colonel Bern.

   His casual fake identity can't stand up to scrutiny. Although he can scare the citizens without military background, it can be broken in front of people who are familiar with the inside story.

   Now that the real Solingen Supreme Military Commander has appeared, Captain Bern doesn't mind giving up center stage.

   But Winters' guards were really eye-catching, and they looked out of place wherever they stood—Colonel Berne had no cavalry, and the North City militia cavalry was not so well-equipped.

   Winters spoke a few words with Pierre and Charmi, and then the two led the guards out of the garrison, and continued to gallop toward the city along the river ice road.

   Winters himself and Kaman put on the gendarmerie burqa and continued to stay with Colonel Bern to guard against possible beheadings.

   In addition to arresting robbers and deterring lawlessness, the garrison of the Montague State also has an important responsibility - suppressing rebellions.

  The garrisons of each state have secret plans to take over the major towns in their own states, so Colonel Berne "captured" the Steel Fort is simply familiar.

   The orders he gave were clear, precise and in order:

   (1) Control the main road of the steel castle to ensure that the routes entering and exiting the city are unobstructed;

   (2) Occupy bridges, intersections, and landmarks along the river, and divide the steel fort into discrete blocks;

   (3) Starting from the main road along the river, sweep the thugs block by block and advance to the edge of the city.

The    plan was initially carried out smoothly. After receiving the support of the Beicheng Militia Cavalry, the efficiency of the garrison was greatly improved.

  The "Freeman" of Steel Castle is very clumsy with his saber, but with his tall horse under his crotch, a few riders can often disperse the gathered rioters with a feign charge.

   Even if individual riders were trapped in the crowd and besieged, the infantry who followed closely could rescue them in time.

   The suppression troops entered the city from both the north and south banks at the same time, occupying intersections and bridges along the way, and charged towards the lakeside pier with imposing force.

   But the deeper you go into the city, the greater the resistance you will encounter.

   Because the main perpetrator of this disaster tonight is no longer the rioting unemployed laborers, but the fire.

  …

   Winters had personally experienced the fire at the Victory Arsenal, and thought he would never see a comparable doomsday scene again.

   But now the steel castle in front of him seems to be re-enacting the play of the fire of Guitucheng.

  The heat wave was surging, and the helmet breastplate was boiling hot. The smoke was so thick that people couldn't open their eyes.

  The main road on both sides of the Rose River is full of shadows and candles.

   Taking advantage of the robbery, the thieves stumbled through the crowd with their stolen goods in their arms, and the cat slid into the alley. The fleeing citizens took their families with them and fled outside the city in panic.

The essence of   Steel Fort is those small and large workshops that are densely distributed along the river. The "workshop belt" is not only the area with the highest density of steel buildings, but also the area with the most convenient transportation.

   However, most of the workshops along the river have been looted at this moment, and the warehouses and workshops with high walls and gates that managed to escape were set on fire.

   The narrowest part of the road, which could accommodate two trucks side by side, is now crowded with carts and horse-drawn carriages loaded with various things.

  Suddenly, a fully loaded trolley lost its balance and overturned with the screams of its owner.

  The clothes, china, and silverware piled high on the car were scattered all over the floor, attracting people to loot, and in a blink of an eye, only a few pieces of blood-stained porcelain and the owner of the car sitting on the ground crying.

   At a glance, everyone was carrying their belongings, but they had no time to care about the spread of the fire.

   In mid-air, flocks of pigeons circled around the home that had turned into a sea of ​​fire, unable to bear to leave. There have been pigeons whose flight feathers have been burned, falling to the ground and dying.

  Churches, houses, workshops, everything was ablaze; the flames roared horribly, and roofs without support collapsed.

  The anti-riot troops entering the city and the refugees leaving the city face each other, blocking the arteries of Steel Castle from both ends.

  The army can deal with the heavily armed thugs, but the refugees with bare hands are helpless.

  The soldiers guarding the intersection and bridge tried their best to maintain order, but all their efforts were in vain.

   Those who want to get in can't get in, and those who want to get out can't get out. The sound of wood bursting mixed with the cries and scoldings of men, women and children flooded the streets.

  …

  Colonel Bern's temporary command post is located in the [Little Church Covered Bridge] on the Rose River.

The   Church Covered Bridge is one of the landmarks of Steel Castle. The interior of the covered bridge was originally occupied by nearly half of the width of the stalls, but now it has been rudely swept away.

   Dusty and firework-colored messengers ran in and out, constantly bringing back worse news and sending away the latest orders.

   Standing on the top floor of the octagonal water tower in the middle of the covered bridge, you can clearly see the fire in the old city.

  It is very different from the disasters caused by fires in the past. Tonight's steel castle fire obviously has multiple fire points, spreading in all directions together.

  The old town is full of fire. From a distance, the Nancheng District and Beicheng District, which have not yet been affected, are like sandbars hanging in the red sea, precariously.

   Finding that the plan could not keep up with the changes, Colonel Bern immediately revised the main tasks to "evacuating the people" and "extinguishing the fire".

   But compared to suppressing riots, the difficulty of putting out fires and evacuating people is not at the same level.

   Two battalions of soldiers entered the city and were instantly diluted by tens of thousands of refugees. Not to mention the need to put out the fire, it is not enough to evacuate the people, it is simply a drop in the bucket.

  Colonel Berne was watching the fire on the top floor of the water tower. His hands seemed to be just holding the window frame, but his fingers on the red brick were already blue.

   "That won't work," said Winters, who was standing behind the colonel.

Colonel    asked without looking back: "What did you say?"

   Sanity warns Winters - don't talk too much.

   As an outsider, how does Steel Castle have no direct relationship with him after tonight. Even the more tragic the fire, the more beneficial it will be to him in the future.

   But something still drove Winters to speak up: "I said 'this won't work.'"

   Colonel Bern turned around and looked at Winters coldly: "How?"

   "You know better than me."

   But "clear" is one thing, "hands on" is another.

  Only from above the octagonal water tower with a wide view can you truly understand how bad the situation has become.

  Steel Fort is now an iron pan on a fire, filled with tumbling boiling oil. The oil pan was pouring at an accelerated rate, and once the hot oil was poured over the firewood, the whole house would be on fire.

   The time has come when the defeat cannot be reversed without drastic means - no! It was the time when Steel Castle might not be able to be saved even with drastic means.

   If you want to stop the whole house from turning to ashes, you must have the courage to spare no effort.

  Lieutenant Colonel Thomas squeezed through the fleeing crowd, galloped to the end of the Chapel Bridge, and returned to the temporary command post from the front line.

   He jumped off the saddle, ignoring the leash of the horse, and rushed into the covered bridge in three steps and two steps, and ran up to the water tower.

"It can't go on like this! Our troops stayed in the city and blocked the road." Thomas's cheeks were blackened, and he said eagerly: "Or else, while the fire is still some distance away. Temporarily order the centenarians Retreat. Make way out and call for civilians to evacuate first."

   Winters may not have understood in the past, but now he can understand what Lieutenant Colonel Thomas is really saying.

   "Our troops stayed in the city but blocked the road" means "If this goes on like this, our people will be trapped in it".

   "Let's make way out and let the civilians retreat first" is the high-sounding reason given to the colonel by the lieutenant colonel.

The duty of the    garrison is only to suppress riots and suppress rebels, not to fight fires.

   Even if the Legion sits and watches the steel castle turn to ashes at the moment, and someone wants to be held accountable later, it can be excused by saying that it is too late and has done its best. But if the Legion actively jumped into the quagmire, they would never have the chance to wash themselves clean.

   The more you do, the more you go wrong. This is the case, helpless and sad.

   Bernie ignored his deputy, but gave Winters a sideways look: "Boy, do you still need to make up your mind for me?!"

Colonel    took off his cap and smoothed his gray hair: "Lieutenant Colonel Thomas."

  Thomas subconsciously touched the heel of his boot: "Sir."

"Send my orders to the centurions." The colonel put on his hat again and straightened his hat: "As the highest military commander of Solingen State appointed by the Grand Resolution of the Republic Army, I believe that the steel castle has been 'completely out of control'. According to " With the power granted to me by the non-disclosure clause of Item 17 of the Hornford Agreement, I have decided to activate the emergency plan - [Steel Rain]."

  Lieutenant Colonel Thomas was stunned for a moment, and his expression suddenly became nervous: "Sir, that is a secret payment that can only be triggered by the rebels occupying the city..."

   "From now on." Colonel Bern stood still in front of the window, staring at the Elin Cathedral in the sea of ​​flames, and continued to state without any influence:

   "All the property of Steel Fort, whether private, municipal or republic, is taken over by the Solingen Garrison; all adult males of Steel Fort, citizens or non-citizens, are called up by the Solingen Garrison;

   Civilians who were not conscripted were also brought into martial law; any civilians who disobeyed the order, their personal property and personal safety would no longer be protected. "

  Lieutenant Colonel Thomas was dizzy, dry mouth and speechless.

  Colonel Berne glanced at his adjutant: "Tonight, those who leave without permission, shy away, and lie about failure will all be engaged in military law in the face of war."

  Thomas' Adam's apple turned, and he spit out the answer with difficulty: "Yes."

   "Repeat my order."

  Thomas took a deep breath and recited exactly what Colonel Bern had said.

   "Form a written order, file." Colonel Berne said with a blank face: "Convey it to the centurions now."

  Lieutenant Colonel Thomas gritted his teeth and raised his hand to salute, "dong dong dong dong" running down the tower.

   "What is steel rain?" Winters asked softly.

   "You don't need to know that. All you need to know is that I have gained the power to kill myself." Colonel Berne took out his portable wine bottle from his arms, slowly unscrewed the lid, and replied calmly, "Tonight."

  …

  In Steel Castle, the originally scattered garrison troops clenched into fists again.

  A centenary team on the south bank and north bank each retreated to the outskirts of the city and set up camp.

  The rest of the Centuries, led by officers at all levels, set out to clear the main roads out of the city.

   The method of "dredge" is simple and direct: all carriages and carts that block the road will be pushed forward to the Rose River.

  Monta soldiers execute orders silently, efficiently and ruthlessly.

  The military tradition of the Land of Mountains believes that "shouting" and "battle cries" are self-comforting for the weak and have no practical effect. Soldiers had to keep quiet in order to hear passwords and drum beats. So the first lesson the Montans learned when they were recruited into the army was silence.

   In addition to the belongings that many people brought with them, the other things they brought from their homes couldn’t help but be pushed down the river bank along with the carriages.

   This rude manner immediately triggered a strong backlash, and some citizens threw old fists at the legionnaires in a hurry, and then were severely lectured by the **** and hilt of the gun.

  The soldiers were not good at words, but someone spoke on their behalf - freemen riders from the North City patrolled along the road, shouting tirelessly:

   "Listen! Steel Castle has been officially taken over by the Legion!"

   "All adult males, report to the nearest sergeant and officer immediately, you have been drafted!"

   "Women and children out of town now! Go east! There are temporary settlements on St. Paul's and St. John's!"

   "Only bring what you can hold with both hands!"

   "The order of the highest military commander of the garrison, only people are allowed to leave on the main road out of the city! No driving!"

   At the same time, just beside the road, a makeshift gallows was pulled up.

   A still warm corpse swayed left and right under the beam of the gallows. A huge wooden board was hung on the corpse. On the wooden board was a short sentence written in red to dazzling paint: [I stole]

  Under the burning red sky, the fleeing people walked out of the city with tears and grief.

  …

   At the intersection of Flying Fish Street and Swan Lane, a double-carriage carriage was blocked by Luca from the 400th Team.

   "Untie the horse and take what you can take with you." The sergeant guarding Luca repeated the superior's order: "The carriage cannot go forward."

  The driver ignored him and waved his whip instead.

   "Spearman!" The sergeant responded quickly, and immediately took a step back: "Flat the spear!"

  Lin-like spears forced the drawn horses back, and the two strong beasts neighed and raised their front hooves, not daring to take a step.

   There were five people in the carriage. Facing the surrounding soldiers, the leader took off his hood, revealing a pampered face: "Call your centurion."

  The centurion came on horseback.

   "I am the Reformed Pastor Johannes." The middle-aged man at the head showed the holy emblem on his chest: "The car is loaded with relics and books from Elin Cathedral."

  The centurion's voice was a little hoarse: "Is Elin Cathedral finished?"

The    priest shook his head.

  The centurion glanced at the relic and the four priests on the carriage: "Take what you can take, the carriage can't go any further."

   The priest's face changed, and he argued loudly: "But..."

   "An order is an order. The property of the church has also been put under military control." The centurion wrinkled his nose and said, "I will send you a few draught horses to carry everything to the chapel covered bridge."

   A priest exclaimed: "Don't go outside the city?"

   "It is not as safe as the chapel covered bridge outside the city. The command post of the legion is on the covered bridge."

   Several priests in the car repeatedly thanked: "May the Lord bless you."

"Don't worry, thank you." The centurion whistled and patted the fence of the carriage: "Everyone, get off! One person goes to the covered bridge with something, and the others take off their burqas and go to Swan Lane. Assemble—you have been called up too!"

  The reins were cut, the chariots were taken off, and the horses left with sacred relics and books, and the other four priests were led back to Swan Lane.

  …

  [Rose Riverside]

   "Be careful!" The warning sound echoed on the river: "Go down!"

   With shouts, a heavy carriage was pushed down the Rose River.

   At first, only the hull of the carriage came out slowly. When the front wheel was completely suspended, the carriage suddenly fell, overturned and fell into the river with a height difference of one person.

   A huge hole was smashed into the frozen river, and the carriage itself stubbornly refused to sink.

   On the north bank, a dozen men who were so smoked that they could not see clearly carried wooden barrels through the crowd of refugees, ran to the shore, and drew water from the ice hole.

   finally brought water, but the men did not drink it, but poured their heads on themselves.

  Rao is that they are all wearing thick felt coats, and they are poured with ice water on a cold day, and their teeth are fighting from the cold.

  After drenching all their clothes, the men fetched water again, then lifted the bucket and left.

   "What is that?" a young voice asked.

The man headed by    turned his head and watched, just in time to catch the scene of the legionnaires pushing the cart into the river. Taking a closer look, there are carriages and wrecks floating all over the dark river bank.

   Looking back at the road along the river on the north bank, although the citizens who fled were still crowded together, but after the thrombus-like carriages and horses were removed, the river of people had begun to "flow" smoothly - even heavily armed soldiers were maintaining order.

   I listened carefully, and I could vaguely hear the sound of houses collapsing from the south bank. It's just not clear whether the house was burned down or someone was demolishing it.

   The young voice asked in surprise: "The legion has also come to put out the fire?"

   "Humph." Another old voice was full of resentment: "The Legion will not care about us! They will only save the rich people in the southern city and the northern city!"

   "Bring the water back." The leading man handed the bucket to his companions and wiped his face vigorously: "I'm going to see the garrison master."

  …

  [Church Covered Bridge]

   In the temporary command post, several orderlies hurriedly moved tables and chairs, and reassembled the small tables that the vendors brought to set up their stalls into large tables.

  The attention of the others is all on the mysterious little Captain Bern.

  Under the gazes of everyone, the mysterious little Captain Bern rolled his sleeves, held a graphite bar, and ran his pen like flying on the uneven tabletop.

   His movements barely paused, only occasionally closing his eyes to recall a moment, and then continuing to wave the graphite bar.

  The map of Steelcastle's old town was thus sketched on a long makeshift table—precise to the road and the neighborhood.

The    legion did not carry the city map of Steel Castle when they set off. Fortunately, there was also a young Captain Bern who "raised up in Steel Castle since childhood, so he was very familiar with Steel Castle".

  The lookout posts arranged on the water tower constantly return the latest fire situation.

  Lieutenant Bernie was drawing while the clerk next to him placed a freshly cut wooden wedge on the map, indicating the location of the fire.

   As a result, where the fire spread to can be seen at a glance.

   "Southeast! Ulway Church!" A hoarse shout came from the water tower: "Fire!"

   "Ulway Church." The clerk hurriedly looked for it on the map, but could not find it no matter what, so anxious that he kept saying: "Ulway Church, where is it? Where is it?"

   Little Captain Bern tapped his helmet, thought for a moment, and pointed to the empty space on the edge of the long table: "Here."

   As soon as he finished speaking, the orderly brought in another table and connected it to the edge of the long table.

  Lieutenant Bernie's map continued to extend outwards. After outlining the vertical and horizontal streets, he drew a circle at the place he had just pointed: "Ulway Church."

   The clerk hurriedly placed the wooden wedge on it.

Several officers at the    command post compared the location of Ulway Church on the map with their memory, and there was almost no error.

   On the side of the long table, the old Colonel Bern, who personally held the lamp for "son", suddenly smacked his lips.

   Winters threw away the graphite bar, and a muffled voice came from the helmet: "Personal preference."

   Colonel Bern sneered, without much comment, just pointed to the location of Ulway Church: "The fire on the south bank is about to burn up the mountain."

The other officers of the    command also gathered around the map, silently watching the clerk continue to place wooden wedges on the table.

   The situation was so clear at a glance that the officers did not know what to say.

   Most of the blocks on the south bank have been engulfed by flames. Several fire snakes have converged to form a huge fire field like an arch, extending from the lakeside to the steep mountain forest in the south of the city. The fire field is sweeping towards the Rose River.

  The situation is slightly better on the North Shore than on the South Bank, where the fires are only present in a few blocks alone or in close proximity, and have not yet converged in one place—but only slightly better.

   "What's there to think about?" Colonel Bern said sternly: "This fire can't be put out! Demolish all the houses around the fire! When there is nothing left to burn, the fire will disappear naturally."

When Colonel    was speaking, black soot drifted into the covered bridge with the wind, circling and landing on the long table.

  A dozen meters away, on the street separated by two walls, the shouts of men, the quarrels of women, the cries of children, and the screams of the wounded made a murmur, bombarding the nerves of all the soldiers present.

   "Sir, we have done our best to evacuate the citizens." Some officers were hesitant: "But after demolishing the house, there will definitely be people who will entangle and ask us for compensation, and maybe..."

  Colonel Berne called out loudly: "Secretary!"

   "Here!" The clerk, who was putting the wooden wedge, jolted.

"Record!"

"Yes!"

"Tonight, all decisions implemented by the Solingen Garrison are made by myself." Colonel Bern's voice was calm and powerful: "When making the following decisions, I, Max Bern, are conscious, normal in thinking, and have complete behavior. ability, and know what responsibilities are coming—do you write it down?”

   The secretary licked his quill and swallowed: "Write it down! Sir!"

"Gentlemen." Colonel Berne supported the long table and glanced at his subordinates with bright eyes: "I will take responsibility for everything after the incident, whether to fight or kill, and it will not affect you. Tonight, you only need to consider how to Save the city."

Colonel    slammed a heavy punch on the long table, and the wooden wedges on the table jumped up: "Or at least save what can be saved!"

   "Colonel!" Thomas strode into the covered bridge and led a coke-like man: "You must see this gentleman."

Everyone present turned their attention to the person who came. He was not tall, strong, and his clothes were soaking wet. He was dripping water when he walked; Fish out the same.

  Lieutenant Colonel Thomas took the coke man to the long table: "He's the captain of the fire defense team in Steel Castle."

   Lieutenant Colonel's simple introduction made all the members of the temporary command post in awe. Regardless of whether they were officers or soldiers, they took the initiative to make way for the coke man.

   The more people fear fire, the more they admire those who dare to fight with fire. As a part-time job, firefighters have no salary to receive, but they have to fight fires as soon as possible. They are warriors of warriors, respected wherever they are.

   "Mr. Ulrich and his mates have been fighting the fire on the North Shore." Lieutenant Colonel Thomas coughed. "He's a real expert. The fire on the North Shore can be contained, and it's all down to the fire team fighting to the death."

   Hearing this, the others couldn't help but glance at the coke-like fire chief.

   But the man named Ulrich was very restrained, probably because he was surrounded by officers.

   When he saw the map drawn on the table, his eyes lit up. But when he saw the wooden wedges all over the map, his eyes dimmed again.

   Colonel Bern narrowed his eyes and asked bluntly, "Can you understand?"

   When the clerk heard this, he hurriedly adjusted the wooden wedge that had just been shaken by the colonel's hammer.

   "The little piece of wood is fire?" Ulrich asked in a hoarse voice.

"right."

   "Then I can see what it means."

  The map on the table is still being updated, and the clerk keeps putting more wooden wedges. Every small wooden wedge means the fall of a block and an important building.

   "There is no time to waste." Colonel Berne made a decisive decision: "Since you are an expert, then you will draw a line. Wherever you draw, my people will go to tear it down."

  The fire captain stared at the map: "The line has been drawn."

"where?"

"it's here."

  The fire defense captain walked to the map, stretched out three fingers, and cut off the old town along the winding Rose River.

   Silence.

   Silence.

   Silence.

   There was an uproar among the officers present.

   "What does this mean?" someone asked.

   "That's what it means." Ulrich replied without humility: "My companion is still waiting for me, gentlemen, please allow me to leave."

   Colonel Bern stared at the back of the fire captain: "Is there no cure for the city on the south bank?"

"Instead of wasting manpower on the south bank, it's better to concentrate on the hopeful north bank." Ulrich turned around and whispered tiredly and heavily: "If you could have come earlier, if you could have come two hours earlier... a Hour."

   "You don't know what happened." Lieutenant Colonel Thomas said: "We have tried our best."

   "Stop talking nonsense." Colonel Berne interrupted his deputy impatiently, and continued to ask the fire captain: "Drawing a line along the river, that means to demolish all the buildings on both sides of the river?"

"right."

  An officer was surprised again: "Sir, all the buildings along the river are workshops and workshops!"

   The ramshackle houses in the old city were demolished and demolished. But every workshop and every waterwheel along the Rose River belongs to those who really own the city.

   And the clerk continued to place wooden wedges on the table.

"The workshops that are already on fire can be demolished, but in these places, the fire line is still five or six blocks away from the river." Another officer pointed to the map and asked quickly: "We will be demolished two or three blocks apart. , isn't it too late?"

"no."

   The officer who just made the suggestion turned his head sharply: "Who is talking?"

   "I." Winters' voice overflowed the helmet and clearly entered the ears of everyone: "I said no."

  The officer immediately asked, "Why not?"

   "Because I've been through a fire of the same size. That time we were two blocks apart, no." Winters paused for a moment, then said slowly, "In Guitu City."

   "Gui Tucheng?" Some of the officers present thought of something.

Ulrich returned to the map table and tried his best to explain to the officers: "There is very little land in the old city, the old houses have been built with three or four floors, and the top floors will expand outwards, taking up more space. The houses facing the street look like they are separated by a road, but there is actually a wall between the top floors. When a house catches fire, it can affect a large area at once. The fire can even travel on the roof, like the canopy of a forest on fire…”

"Then don't waste any more time!" Colonel Berne made up his mind directly: "[The pit viper stings the hand, the strong man relieves the wrist]. If the south bank can't be protected, then only the north bank. Just follow the river and demolish all the buildings that may cause fire! Centurion, shrink your troops to the river bank. Set off now!"

  The officers present all saluted and turned to leave.

   "I have a way." Only Winters remained in place: "Maybe... save a few more things."

   "Speak!" Colonel Berne is not a fake color.

   Winters' face is hidden under the iron mask: "With fire, attack fire."

  …

  [Nancheng District]

  The defense line set up by the sheriff of Nancheng on the Republic Street has actually collapsed.

  Unprepared militias were neither able to manage the refugees nor had enough space to evacuate them. After several rounds of crowds, the refugees completely broke through the barricades and poured into Nancheng uncontrollably.

   "How is it?" Fuller stood behind the baroness, spinning in a hurry, and kept asking, "How is it?"

  Ana looked at the noisy crowd in the distance through the crack of the window, and comforted: "Don't be afraid, Mr. Fuller."

  Anna, Bellion, Fuller, and the guards who couldn't go to North City with Winters were all hiding in the house of the hotel foreman, Covillian.

  Covillian's home is a two-story townhouse. The old foreman went to North City with Winters, and now there were only Covillian's wife and a pale girl at home.

  Covillian's wife is a fat and timid woman. Since Anna and others stepped into the house, she took the little girl to hide in the master bedroom and never showed her face.

   Right now, the personnel distribution of the small building is as follows: five guards stay on the first floor for defense, and Bellion accompanies Anna and Fuller on the second floor.

   "Can I not be afraid? Think about it, just the few of us, wouldn't we die immediately when we encounter a mob?" Fuller covered his heart: "Madam, when will the baron come back?

   "Mr. Fuller." Berrian reminded: "Don't you have a gun?"

   "Gun? Oh, yes! Gun!" Fuller hurriedly pulled the gun out of his jacket: "But I've never used it! I don't even know how to use it!"

  Berion pushed away the muzzle pointed at him: "Remember, never let the muzzle of the gun point at your own people."

   "Mr. Fuller." Anna took the short gun, opened the lid of the gunpowder tank, pushed the flint crank, let the flint contact the friction wheel, and kept the trigger in a ready state: "That's it."

  …

  [Constitution Street]

  The Beicheng District also evacuated a considerable number of residents of the old city. Compared with the route out of the city and to the Nancheng District, the evacuation operations in the Beicheng District were much more orderly.

   On the one hand, it was because there were not many civilians fleeing to the Beicheng District, and on the other hand, it was because of the strong management.

  And Paul Wupper finally found the best job for him - show.

   No matter how others persuaded him, he insisted on standing at the branch in the middle of the barricades, nodding to every civilian who entered the North City.

   But it has to be said that the Lord Mayor is not afraid of the cold, and sits in person in person - and also wears a very eye-catching costume to ensure that everyone can see him, which does greatly reduce the panic among the fleeing crowd.

   Horse hooves from far to near.

   A messenger cavalry holding a green flag galloped to the front of the barricade on Constitution Street, and saw Paul Wupper's costume at a glance: "Your Excellency the Mayor!"

  Paul Wupper beat the drum in his heart when he saw the communication flag, but the other party came straight to him, so that he couldn't dodge even if he wanted to, so he could only bite the bullet and go forward: "It's me. What?"

   "Colonel Berne has ordered you to lead all the male Old Town citizens who have been diverted to the Rose River for support. Set off immediately without delay."

   "He... I..." Paul Wupper was stunned: "I am the mayor, why did he... Colonel Berne order me."

   "The colonel told you to go right away."

   "That... Senator Servetus is here too!"

"The colonel ordered Senator Servetus to take over the defense of the North City, and he asked you to go by name." The messenger stabbed the horse's ribs lightly, pulled the reins, and turned the horse's body: "Lieutenant Bernie asked you to go to the North City Sheriff, and take it to the basement. Everything but money'."

  …

[Old Town]

   Winters had already chosen a location, right at the river crossing opposite the Erin Cathedral.

  The fire front from Bailey Street and Brook Street is meeting at Erin Cathedral, and a huge flame is rising.

  The stone of the church wall was scorched by the flames, like a cannonball shattering and shooting. The lead-paneled roof melted and flowed like a stream down the street, the pavement reflecting a flaming red.

  Many citizens moved all the belongings they could not carry into the church either because they believed that the stone wall could keep out the fire, or because they believed that the church was blessed by the gods.

   Now, all are burnt to ashes.

   "You're crazy!" Kaman yelled, covering his ears.

   There were deafening explosions in succession from the east and west. It was the garrison using gunpowder to blow up the houses near the fire site and open up the isolation zone.

   Winters felt the wind: "I'm not crazy, fire can put out fire, you've seen it with your own eyes."

   "That's not what I said!"

"Then you don't have to worry. Look!" Winters pointed to the rolling mountain ridges around the city: "It is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the east and west ends are convection. Even on weekdays, the wind in Steel Castle is swirling! All I have to do is push it!"

   "Push it?" Kaman was furious: "Can you push it?"

   Winters showed a subtle expression belonging to the "Blood Wolf" again, and he laughed: "If you don't try it, how do you know it won't work."

On the buildings on the left and right sides of the   , some people were waving flags, indicating that the evacuation and preparations had been completed.

   Winters also waved.

   With his response, the soldiers along the road threw torches into the houses facing the street, and then quickly retreated.

   The liquid fire found in the Imperial spy warehouse was doused inside and outside of those houses, and the flames rose in an instant, and there were crackles and thunderclaps everywhere, like a terrifying rain of fire.

   It is estimated that the imperial spies would never have imagined that their inventory would be of great use at such a time.

   Winters climbed to the roof across the street from the fire. Three Monta officers were already waiting for him, and all the caster officers in the garrison were in place—Colonel Bern was among them.

   Winters took off his helmet for the first time in front of other Monta officers, revealing his facial features and hair color different from Colonel Bern.

"The last time this spell was used, it destroyed a city." Winters felt the breath and pulse of Steel Castle: "This time, it will save a city—of course, half a city to be more precise, to burn another city. It's half a seat."

   "Stop talking nonsense, boy." Colonel Berne took a deep breath: "Let's see what you can do."

   "Okay." Winters turned to face the fire: "Listen to me!"

   The moment he raised his hand, a swirling airflow rose to the ground. The airflow touched the fire field, and it was also dyed an orange-red color.

  Another invisible vortex firmly grasped the three Monta officers who had entered the casting state, causing them to resonate uncontrollably, unable to break free.

  The speed of the airflow is getting faster and faster, it naturally produces a centrifugal inertia, but it is forcibly restrained, compressed and plasticized by an unnatural force.

  The still burning dead branches and leaves, wood chips and wall coverings were caught in the whirlwind, and the air temperature rose rapidly, and Winters seemed to be in a furnace.

  Kaman saw that the situation was not good, picked up the ice water prepared in advance, poured it on Winters and the other three spellcasters, and put the fire blanket used by the fire team on the four of them.

The   invisible vortex is constantly climbing into the air, and it is becoming more and more difficult to restrain it. Both sides of the wrestling are approaching their limits.

   An older Monta spellcaster lost consciousness first, followed by another younger spellcaster after Winters.

   Only Winters and Colonel Berne remained.

   Winters was scalding hot, and he no longer knew whether it was the heat of the fire storm or the phantom pain that swept over the dam of reason and began to affect the material world.

   "Stop!" Kaman yelled, grabbing Winters by the shoulder: "You're going to burn yourself to death!"

   But Winters didn't respond, he couldn't hear what Kaman was saying.

  Finally, Colonel Berne also fell headfirst. The unprecedented large-scale spell in the history of this Alliance spellcaster, only Winters is left to support it alone.

  The flame storm whizzes and whizzes, rushing upwards with huge potential energy, and will soon be able to form a self-stabilizing positive feedback structure.

   But no one knew whether Winters would snap first or the tornado would take shape first.

  In desperation, Kaman put his hand on Winters' head and gave Winters his most devout prayer.

  …

  [covered bridge]

   A militiaman exclaimed: "What is that?"

  Paul Wupper turned in disapproval and saw a fire python rushing into the sky.

  …

  [Constitution Street]

   "Look at that!" Some refugees pointed to the city and screamed.

   Old Schmid and Senator Servetus saw a red chain linking the sky with the earth.

  …

  [Nancheng District]

   "Savior!" A scream came from the closed bedroom.

  Anna and Berrion entered the bedroom, the window was wide open, and Covillian's fat wife was holding the little girl in a trembling prayer.

  Old town, a roaring tornado of flames collided head-on with Erin Cathedral.

  The roof of the latter collapsed.

   [trying to pay off the debt (full of energy)]

   [The more people fear fire, the more they admire those who dare to fight with fire]

   [Fights and fires are the two major landscapes of Edo]

   [Regardless of things, ancient and modern, firefighters are brave men who are respected and loved. In the Edo period, Machi Yuri, Huo Xiaotou and Kabuki actors were collectively known as the "Edo Three Men". Even many children of big families have become a member of Fuyan because they envy the honorary status and dress of Fuyan, a specialized firefighter.]

   [Even to this day, firefighters are one of the "extremely manly" professions]

   [Of course, the extortion-type firefighting team owned by Crassus is not among them]

   [Thank you for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, reward and comment, thank you all]

  

  

   (end of this chapter)