Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 780 - 64 Width_3

Chapter 780: Chapter 64 Width_3 Chapter 780: Chapter 64 Width_3 Winters demonstrated the weapon grip first: “Right hand holds the end, left hand in the middle.”

Then he walked over to a chopping block and demonstrated the footwork.

Finally, he demonstrated how to use it: first, a deflection—knocking the crossbar aside, followed by a step forward to thrust.

“Just these two movements, practice them.” Winters released his hands, the Stinger Hammer deeply embedded into the wooden post, trembling at the tail.

The civilians from Niutigu Valley at the square were initially clueless but began to practice stiffly under the soldiers’ scolding.

Winters stepped down from the platform, and Xial ran over to ask, “Is there still time, Centurion?”

“There’s no time, that’s why I’m only having them practice two movements.” Winters shook his wrists, retorting, “Believe it or not, if they really had to go into battle, even with just two movements, they would forget them completely. In the end, they’d just swing their maces wildly.”

...

“Believe it.” Xial chuckled: “When I was in my first battle, I just kept hitting people hard with my spear, never remembering that the spear was pointed. Since there’s no time, is it useful for them to practice these things?”

“Useful or not? There might be a little use, or there might be none. But practicing is more useful than not practicing.”

Xial nodded and then asked, “Some of the Niutigu Valley people, after being issued Stinger Hammers, have come to me saying they have guns and want to join the musket team. What do you say?”

“Not allowed.” Winters said coldly: “What were they doing earlier?”

“Understood.”

“Have the scouts that crossed the river returned?” It was the fifth time Winters had asked.

“Not yet.” Xial tentatively asked, “If they haven’t come back, do we send more?”

“Send more.” Winters said firmly: “Keep sending more. I will go personally!”

The probing attacks from the Terdon Tribe became more frequent.

The first day was three times, the second day six times, the third day twelve times, and on the fourth and fifth days, sixteen times each. Each time, they would deploy at least thirty to forty people, and often over a hundred.

The time was not limited to dawn, sometimes it was morning, sometimes afternoon, and sometimes deep in the night.

The distance between attack points was also increasing, stretching south to the confluence of the Panto River and north to Forging Village.

The people of Terdun didn’t just measure the water depth. Seizing opportunities, they would also stealthily transport small groups of troops ashore to probe into the realities of Iron Peak County.

Just in the first three days, the four companies stationed in Niutigu Valley and the two companies stationed in Forging Village were already exhausted from rushing about.

What the fire-warmer was plotting, Winters was well aware.

The tactics of the Terdon people were like “bullfighting”: waving red flags around the arena to entice the bull to chase and run until the bull was completely exhausted before striking.

The enemy had many soldiers, all cavalry. Winters had fewer troops, mainly infantry.

And the battlefield was so vast—just the Iron Peak County alone had an eighty-kilometer shoreline.

With the mobility of the Terdon Tribe, if they didn’t take advantage of the width of the battlefield, Winters would actually be uneasy.

Winters’ counter-strategy was one word: “Reinforcements.”

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On the one hand, he began to mobilize another five companies stationed in Saint Town.

On the other hand, he expanded his forces on the spot.

Under the authority granted by the “Tord Agreement” to the garrison commander, Winters boldly conscripted all the adult males of Iron Peak County—now, everyone was a militiaman.

And Winters was quite willing to continue this low-intensity war with the Terdon people.

The fire-warmer wanted to exhaust the energy of the people from Iron Peak County.

Whereas Winters was wearing out the fire-warmer’s time.

The longer the delay, the longer the drag, the more advantageous it was for Winters.

The situation seemed to be developing in a good direction, but there was a small dark spot on the clean white paper: Where did the people of Terdun, who didn’t even have straw to eat and had to dig for roots, get the confidence to continue the consumption?

This point was of great concern to Winters.

The frequent probing attacks also pulled at the resources of the Terdon people, causing their defenses along the river to have gaps.

According to the records of the watchtowers along the coast, the patrolling frequency of Terdon light cavalry had been significantly decreasing over the past three days.

Therefore, Winters began sending out Scouts to conduct reconnaissance across the river, sparing no expense in reconnaissance.

“They’re back!” Xial shouted as he spurred his horse forward: “The men are back!”

“Where?” Winters asked.

“At the infirmary, with Father Caman.”

In the Niutigu Valley church, which had been temporarily requisitioned as an infirmary, Winters saw the bravely returned, injured Scout.

“Centurion!” It was only upon seeing Winters with his own eyes that the Scout finally spoke: “Empty! The Terdon people’s main camp is empty! The savages’ main force is no longer across the river! Their whereabouts are unknown!”

At these words, all were stunned.

Only Winters was not surprised at all: “Hmm, then we just need to find out where they went.”