Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World-Chapter 700: The People of Ordo

TL: Rui88

“Hah! So those are the so-called Northwesterners? Or should I say, the Aldans? Not bad, they are indeed a distinctly different human army!”

The orc western expedition commander, Kalem, placed his hand on his forehead, his full attention drawn to the neat rows of soldiers in the center of the Ordo army.

“Look at that, they stand so straight. Their bearing is just like the honor guards in a human court.”

The orc general licked his lips and then let out a sneer.

“I just wonder if their combat prowess will be as impressive to me as the posture they display.”

The subordinates behind him also burst into laughter. The vast majority of them believed this would be an ordinary battle.

The great army of the plains would crush the enemy before them and take the entire northwestern land of Ordo into their possession.

Kalem continued to have his back to his subordinates. Out of sight of the crowd, a hint of gravity flashed in his eyes.

As a seasoned general with extensive combat experience, he could sense from intuition alone that the army before him was extraordinary.

Unlike their allies on the flanks, dressed in a motley assortment of attire, the Bay people’s uniforms were simple and uniform. Perhaps if one of them were singled out, it would not seem like much, but when these soldiers stood in neat rows, and several rows of soldiers stood in a neat square, a silent power emanated from them.

From the very beginning, Kalem had not underestimated this human reinforcement army that had suddenly appeared. He had listened carefully to Amur’s description of the battle of Silvermoon Fortress and knew that the Aldans had formidable weapons, strict discipline, and powerful combat effectiveness.

His earlier feigned ease was merely to boost morale, but Kalem also trusted the warriors under his command. They would scorn the enemy, but they would not let that scorn affect their performance.

The orc commander raised his arm high and swung it down fiercely, like a guillotine.

“Kill them!”

Wooooo!

The resounding sound of horns immediately echoed across the wilderness.

The already excited warhorses finally heard the long-awaited signal. With a flick of the reins from their battle-eager masters, they immediately broke into a run, charging towards the enemy opposite them. Under the superb control of their riders, they did not gallop at full speed but rather at a kind of trot, to conserve enough stamina for the final charge.

Thump, thump, thump! A multitude of hooves began to trample the earth, the dense sound like countless hands slapping the surface of water.

The orcs launched the first wave of their attack. A full ten thousand cavalry served as the main force, charging towards the infantry square in the center of the Ordo army, while another five thousand cavalry were distributed on the left and right flanks to attack in coordination, to tie down the Ordo army’s cavalry, which was also deployed on the left and right flanks.

From the perspective of the Ordo army, the cavalry opposite began to move with the sound of the horns. At first, it did not seem like much, but gradually, dust began to rise in the distance. As the distance between the two sides closed, the image of the enemy became clearer in their vision. Countless horses formed a dark, pressing mass. The dust kicked up by them rose into the sky like a sandstorm, shadowy and indistinct, with countless enemies hidden within.

From top to bottom, most of the people in the Alda army were facing such a scene for the first time. Although they often underwent courage training against cavalry, the sheer scale of this was unprecedented.

A sense of unease began to appear among the soldiers and spread quickly. Officers of all levels did their best to encourage their subordinates, although they themselves were also apprehensive.

On a slightly higher ground behind, Paul swallowed. Fear gripped his heart tightly, his whole body stiff, almost unable to breathe.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have come to this place—such a cowardly thought even flashed through his mind.

‘I might meet my end in this place…’

Just then, his left and right shoulders were gently pressed almost simultaneously. Two different sensations were transmitted to him, one a gentle warmth, the other a soothing coolness.

The fear in his heart was instantly dispelled by a large margin, miraculously.

He looked to his left in surprise. His mother, Mariana, was staring at him, her eyes full of confidence. “I can at least ensure that my own child will be safe.”

“Uh… thank you.” Paul then turned his gaze to the right. The green-haired witch met his gaze and nodded encouragingly.

Perhaps they did something to him? Was it magic?

In any case, a feeling gradually rose in Paul’s heart—confidence!

“Schroeder!”

Paul called out to his field commander.

“Lord Grayman, what are your orders?” Schroeder, who was concentrating on calculating the orcs’ charge distance, looked at him.

“I want to address the entire army!”

In the neat ranks, Private Jose West felt like his bladder was about to explode. The unprecedented large-scale cavalry charge made his urge to urinate surge.

‘Damn it, I shouldn’t have drunk so much water before assembling.’

“Listen up, lads, our cannons will be firing soon and will blow these bastards to smithereens!”

The instructor’s trembling shout had little effect. Many held their guns with slightly shaking hands.

“Hush! Not a sound,” the company commander not far away suddenly reminded. “A signal flag message is coming through!”

“Brothers! An order from Count Grayman… no, a message!”

A high-pitched voice suddenly rang out. The signalman, who had just put down his telescope, shouted excitedly.

Everyone pricked up their ears to listen.

“Ordo expects that every man will do his duty!”

He shouted out this sentence with all his might.

For a moment, a certain sentiment arose in everyone’s chest, almost squeezing the fear out of their bodies.

Through the signal flags, Paul’s words were quickly relayed to all the human officers and soldiers, not just the Alda army.

Images flashed through almost everyone’s mind.

Wisps of cooking smoke, plump ears of wheat, bustling markets, frolicking children, kind parents, beloved sweethearts… the images varied, but they were all very ordinary scenes.

Now, these commonplace things had become so precious. A heavy sense of responsibility immediately fell on everyone’s shoulders.

‘Never retreat. Crush these long-haired bastards. Make them regret setting foot on Ordo’s soil.’

Yes, not just Northwest Bay, not just the Blackstone Lands, and not just the Loess Lands and the Great Elephant Plains.

But the entirety of Ordo!

These grunts from different places, most of whom were leaving their hometowns for the first time. If it were not for the orc invasion, they would be toiling silently in the fields. The farthest place they would ever go in their lives would be the lord’s town. Only at the market could they hear the distant tales sung by minstrels. Ordo was a concept as thin as could be to them. Nation and honor were things only nobles and knights were qualified to talk about; they just needed to take care of their own small plot of land.

But now, facing a common enemy, and an enemy that was a different race from themselves, the same seed was planted in everyone’s heart.

“Ordo expects that every man will do his duty!”

Paul’s words made this seed take root and sprout.

We are us, they are them.