Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33 - Ruins
Chapter 34 - Discovery
Chapter 35 - Dancing With A Python
Chapter 36 - The Perfect Excuse
Chapter 37 - Shaliun Gold Coins
Chapter 38 - Return Trip
Chapter 39 - Shocking The Town
Chapter 40 - Splitting The Spoils
Chapter 41 - Treating In The Tavern
Chapter 42 - Bookstore
Chapter 43 - Household Turmoil
Chapter 44 - Making Noodles
Chapter 45 - Disappointment And Gift
Chapter 46 - Choice For The Future
Chapter 47 - Father'S Plans
Chapter 48 - Buying Bullets And Gunpowder
Chapter 49 - Flipper
Chapter 50 - Eriksson'S Little Fishing Boat Dream
Chapter 51 - Shooting Practice
Chapter 52 - Target And Sight
Chapter 53 - Pointless Trivia
Chapter 54 - Three-Dot Sight
Chapter 55 - A Disappointing Hunt
Chapter 56 - Hare Hunting
Chapter 57 - Chain Snare Catches
Chapter 58 - Secret Concoction
Chapter 59 - Lardor Snowhound
Chapter 60 - Claude The Confused
Chapter 61 - Magus Landes'S Diary (1)
Chapter 62 - Magus Landes'S Diary (2)
Chapter 63 - Magus Landes'S Diary (3)
Chapter 64 - Surprise In The Diary
Chapter 65 - The Decision To Learn Magic
Chapter 66 - Claude On The Roof
Chapter 67 - Repercussions
Chapter 68 - Preparatory Work
Chapter 69 - Nighttime Cruise And Fishing Net
Chapter 70 - Night Fishing
Chapter 71 - Hunting Water Birds
Chapter 72 - Crocodile Struggle
Chapter 73 - Limping Home
Chapter 74 - At The Jetty
Chapter 75 - Father'S Decision
Chapter 76 - Two Pieces Of Bad News
Chapter 77 - The Second Diary
Chapter 78 - Basic Spells
Chapter 79 - Claude'S Dilemma
Chapter 80 - Throughout The Year-End Vacation
Chapter 81 - Whale Meat And Tradition
Chapter 82 - New Year'S Eve
Chapter 83 - Half A Cup Of Milk Tea
Chapter 84 - Becoming A One-Ring Rune Magus
Chapter 85 - Mental Shock And Animal Trials
Chapter 86 - The Lady'S Spell
Chapter 87 - Lady Maria
Chapter 88 - I'Ve Been Learning Forbidden Spells?
Chapter 89 - Harmless Spells
Chapter 90 - Black Magic Market
Chapter 91 - Claude'S Request
Chapter 92 - Hunting Wild Boars
Chapter 93 - Magic Tomes And Scrolls
Chapter 94 - Visit From An Honoured Guest
Chapter 95 - You Should Be A Chef
Chapter 96 - Difference
Chapter 97 - Wood Supervisor
Chapter 98 - The Small Hut
Chapter 99 - The Old Street At Night
Chapter 100 - Hurian The Fat Old Man
Chapter 101 - High Prices
Chapter 102 - Magic Crossbow
Chapter 103 - Confrontation On The Road
Chapter 104 - Taking Action
Chapter 105 - Weapons And Spells
Chapter 106 - Wrapped Up And Dealth With
Chapter 107 - Discussion
Chapter 108 - Excuse For Lateness
Chapter 109 - Two Spell Scrolls
Chapter 110 - Ambush And Pursuit
Chapter 111 - Spellbane Dagger
Chapter 112 - Imposter
Chapter 113 - Featherfall
Chapter 114 - Preparation Before Setup
Chapter 115 - Success!
Chapter 116 - Asking For Money
Chapter 117 - Familial Conflict
Chapter 118 - Going Out To Sea
Chapter 119 - Search
Chapter 120 - Discovery
Chapter 121 - Burning Coal
Chapter 122 - Time To Make Some Money
Chapter 123 - Graduation
Chapter 124 - Martial Law
Chapter 125 - Crime
Chapter 126 - Garrison
Chapter 127 - Mayor Robert'S Plan
Chapter 128 - Tricked Veterans
Chapter 129 - Arbeit The Fraud
Chapter 130 - Arbeit'S Whereabouts
Chapter 131 - Search
Chapter 132 - Den
Chapter 133 - Taking Action
Chapter 134 - Encounter
Chapter 135 - Bidlir Blanche
Chapter 136 - Lady Maria'S Reply
Chapter 137 - Turmoil In Court
Chapter 138 - Two Matters
Chapter 139 - Arbeit'S Intent
Chapter 140 - Filling Pockets
Chapter 141 - Wasted Trip
Chapter 142 - The Magus That Robs
Chapter 143 - Battle In The Yard
Chapter 144 - Robbery Complete
Chapter 145 - Jerad'S Thoughts
Chapter 146 - Auction
Chapter 147 - Father-And-Son Talk
Chapter 148 - The Nightmare Comes
Chapter 149 - Modification And Rumours
Chapter 150 - In Debt
Chapter 151 - Despair
Chapter 152 - Turmoil
Chapter 153 - Act Of Creditors
Chapter 154 - Guarantee
Chapter 155 - Move
Chapter 156 - Kefnie'S Confession
Chapter 157 - Lady Maria'S Gift
Chapter 158 - Property Development
Chapter 159 - Angelina'S Secret
Chapter 160 - Angelina Wants To Learn Magic
Chapter 161 - Whitestag In The Fifth Month
Chapter 162 - Confusion And Change
Chapter 163 - Mayor Felidos
Chapter 164 - Doing Wrong With Good Intentions
Chapter 165 - Conscription Order
Chapter 166 - Have Some Whiskey
Chapter 167 - Explanation
Chapter 168 - Urgent Document
Chapter 169 - Execution
Chapter 170 - Detective
Chapter 171 - Suspicion
Chapter 172 - Dispelling Doubt
Chapter 173 - Repurcussions
Chapter 174 - Eve Of Departure
Chapter 175 - En Route
Chapter 176 - Doghunt Tavern
Chapter 177 - City Of Whitewood
Chapter 178 - Whiteroot Powder
Chapter 179 - Shocking Turn
Chapter 180 - Misunderstanding
Chapter 181 - City Lockdown
Chapter 182 - Blunder
Chapter 183 - Reporting For Duty
Chapter 184 - The Four Of Noble Blood
Chapter 185 - Beatdown
Chapter 186 - Infirmary
Chapter 187 - The Whole Story
Chapter 188 - Punishment
Chapter 189 - Confinement
Chapter 190 - Training
Chapter 191 - Training Ongoing
Chapter 192 - Three Day Break
Chapter 193 - Surprising Tentsman Pick
Chapter 194 - Combat Training
Chapter 195 - The Final Counterattack
Chapter 196 - Causing Trouble
Chapter 197 - Settlement
Chapter 198 - Worry And Puzzlement
Chapter 199 - Wonderful News
Chapter 200 - Letters
Chapter 201 - New Recruits
Chapter 202 - Kink-Necks
Chapter 203 - Marksmanship Training
Chapter 204 - Combat Simulation
Chapter 205 - Glory Or Embarrassment
Chapter 206 - The Breakout Of War
Chapter 207 - Arrival Of The Prince
Chapter 208 - The Prince'S Summons
Chapter 209 - Refusal
Chapter 210 - In The Heat Of The Matter
Chapter 211 - Initial Signs Of Danger
Chapter 212 - Nosedive
Chapter 213 - Conclusion Of Battle
Chapter 214 - The Keeper Band Worth Two Bottles Of Wine
Chapter 215 - Prince Hansbach
Chapter 216 - Rangers
Chapter 217 - Lieutenant-Colonel Rosley
Chapter 218 - Ambush
Chapter 219 - Casualties
Chapter 220 - The Battle Reignites
Chapter 221 - On The Frontlines
Chapter 222 - Wilf Stronghold
Chapter 223 - Marching In Line
Chapter 224 - Suppressive Attack
Chapter 225 - Visit
Chapter 226 - Returning For Duty
Chapter 227 - Blackmaple Castle
Chapter 228 - Deployment Strategy
Chapter 229 - Squirrel Village
Chapter 230 - Questioning
Chapter 231 - The Baroness’ Complaint
Chapter 232 - Charm
Chapter 233 - Discussion And Inspiration
Chapter 234 - Major Lederfanc’S Inspection
Chapter 235 - Secret
Chapter 236 - Black Wolf
Chapter 237 - Wolf And The Maiden
Chapter 238 - The Shack Beneath The Rubber Tree
Chapter 239 - With In The Forest
Chapter 240 - Finally Speaking
Chapter 241 - Howling Wolf
Chapter 242 - Rainy Night
Chapter 243 - Skinning
Chapter 244 - Sheila
Chapter 245 - Nature Spells
Chapter 246 - Kindle And Fireball
Chapter 247 - Martial God Asur247
Chapter 248 - Nineteen Magic Scrolls
Chapter 249 - Spell Study
Chapter 250 - Construction Of The Wooden House
Chapter 251 - Enemy Movements
Chapter 252 - Preparations
Chapter 253 - The Battle Begins
Chapter 254 - Night Attack
Chapter 255 - Armies Gathering
Chapter 256 - Pursuing Soldiers
Chapter 257 - Attack And Defence
Chapter 258 - Cannon Bombardment
Chapter 259 - The Camp As Tough As A Fortress
Chapter 260 - Strategy
Chapter 261 - Splendid Victory
Chapter 262 - Triumphant Report
Chapter 263 - Background
Chapter 264 - Leisurely Time
Chapter 265 - Joint Investigation Committee
Chapter 266 - Knighthood
Chapter 267 - Role Reassignment
Chapter 268 - Grand Gathering
Chapter 269 - Coincidental Reunion
Chapter 270 - News From Welikro
Chapter 271 - Explosive Shot
Chapter 272 - Mission
Chapter 273 - Dominion Of Death
Chapter 274 - Castle Landes
Chapter 275 - Remaining A Deadbeat
Chapter 276 - Supply Difficulties
Chapter 277 - Fall Of Rimodra
Chapter 278 - Mistake
Chapter 279 - Withdrawal
Chapter 280 - Siege
Chapter 281 - Shootout
Chapter 282 - Grassland Goldeagle
Chapter 283 - Siege Tower
Chapter 284 - Clash On The Walls
Chapter 285 - Siege Towers Destroyed
Chapter 286 - Escape Route
Chapter 287 - Withdrawal
Chapter 288 - Noble And Peasant Officers
Chapter 289 - The Brash First Prince
Chapter 290 - No Limit To Imbecility
Chapter 291 - Imposters
Chapter 292 - First Lieutenant Perengue
Chapter 293 - A Life Lost
Chapter 294 - Countermeasures
Chapter 295 - Judiciary Investigation Committee
Chapter 296 - Investigation Ongoing
Chapter 297 - Investigation Concluded
Chapter 298 - Train Of Thought
Chapter 299 - The Dust Has Settled
Chapter 300 - Family Visit Break
Chapter 301 - Efenasburg'S Black Market
Chapter 302 - Bandits
Chapter 303 - Bandit Encounter
Chapter 304 - Return Home
Chapter 305 - Mother, Sister, Brother, And Pluto
Chapter 306 - Sister And Spells
Chapter 307 - Lady Maria'S Deliberations
Chapter 308 - Buying Woodland
Chapter 309 - Myriad Changes
Chapter 310 - Kills And Magic Accessories
Chapter 311 - Visits
Chapter 312
Chapter 313 - Peddler Donoby
Chapter 314 - Lieutenant Manrique
Chapter 315
Chapter 316 - Home Stay And Eloping
Chapter 317 - The Sounds Upstairs
Chapter 318 - Laundry Chaos
Chapter 319 - Trash Novel
Chapter 320 - Arrival In The Royal Capital
Chapter 321 - Visit
Chapter 322 - Village Chief Chenova
Chapter 323 - Advanced Strategy Class
Chapter 324 - Rainy Season
Chapter 325 - The Hole Under The Bed
Chapter 326 - Inadequacies
Chapter 327 - Family Correspondence
Chapter 328 - Special Independent Tribe
Chapter 329 - Personnel And Organisation
Chapter 330 - Military Discipline And Healer Transfer
Chapter 331 - Long Distance Training
Chapter 332 - Two New Developments
Chapter 333 - Training Exercise
Chapter 334 - Another War
Chapter 335 - Arrival On Nubissia
Chapter 336 - Port Cobius
Chapter 337 - The High-Commissioner’S Problem
Chapter 338 - Planning
Chapter 339 - Encounter
Chapter 340 - Claude Defence Line
Chapter 341 - Night Attack! Night Attack!
Chapter 342 - Operation Burn
Chapter 343 - Push And Pull
Chapter 344 - Burning Mordo
Chapter 345 - Siblings' Arrival
Chapter 346 - Angelina'S Marriage Matters
Chapter 347 - Victory And Expansion
Chapter 348 - Theatre Of War
Chapter 349 - Great Battle’S Eve
Chapter 350 - Bait And Massacre
Chapter 351 - Battle Of Balingana (1)
Chapter 352 - Battle Of Balingana (2)
Chapter 353 - Battle Of Balingana (3)
Chapter 354 - The General'S Mistake
Chapter 355 - State Of Turmoil
Chapter 356 - Military Budget Debacle
Chapter 357 - Changes In The Corps
Chapter 358 - Truth And Excavation
Chapter 359 - General Fansnik
Chapter 360 - Field Marshal Of The Theatre
Chapter 361 - Problem Solved
Chapter 362 - Spending And Promotion
Chapter 363 - Mister Weyblon
Chapter 364 - Drivick
Chapter 365 - Explosives And Ignition Powder
Chapter 366 - New Theatre Preparation Meeting
Chapter 367 - Sudden Incident
Chapter 368 - Reuniting With An Old Friend
Chapter 369 - Matters Settled
Chapter 370 - Work Horses, Donkeys, Mine, And Factory
Chapter 371 - Monster And Power
Chapter 372 - Hot Air Engine
Chapter 373 - Borkal'S Mission
Chapter 374 - Bull Hunting
Chapter 375 - Dawn Attack
Chapter 376 - The Second Encampment
Chapter 377 - Battle Back And Forth
Chapter 378 - Trade
Chapter 379 - Third Victory
Chapter 380 - General Eiblont
Chapter 381 - Conquest Of Wickhamsburg
Chapter 382 - Strike
Chapter 383 - The Nikancha Call For Help
Chapter 384 - Great Deal For The Nikancha
Chapter 385 - Position Shift
Chapter 386
Chapter 387 - Majid Iii'S Plans
Chapter 388 - Word Of Mouth
Chapter 389 - Sixty Percent
Chapter 390 - Reunion After A Long Parting
Chapter 391 - Father-Daughter Magi
Chapter 392 - Revolver Test: Success!
Chapter 393 - Recruitment
Chapter 394 - General Aljess
Chapter 395 - Attack Drill
Chapter 396 - Gunshots At Midnight
Chapter 397 - Ambushed
Chapter 398 - Assassination
Chapter 399 - Loss
Chapter 400 - Greytower Magi And Countermeasures
Chapter 401 - Thoughts And Self-Preservation
Chapter 402 - The Royal Capital'S Response
Chapter 403
Chapter 404 - Humbling Oneself
Chapter 405 - Discharge Problem
Chapter 406 - Problem Solved
Chapter 407 - Rapidly Changing World
Chapter 408 - War Orphans
Chapter 409 - Civil War And Waves Of Immigrants
Chapter 410 - Conclusive Year-End Report
Chapter 411
Chapter 412 - Downsizing And Shocking News
Chapter 413 - Restructuring And Huge Bombshell
Chapter 414 - Reasoning
Chapter 415 - Rubbish Defence
Chapter 416 - Absorbed Into The Theatre
Chapter 417 - Viscount Godic
Chapter 418 - Averting Trouble
Chapter 419
Chapter 420 - Borkal’S Legendary Exploits
Chapter 421 - Military Industrial Equipment
Chapter 422 - The Purge
Chapter 423 - New Rifle
Chapter 424 - News From Smugglers
Chapter 425 - Western Coast
Chapter 426 - Loan
Chapter 427 - Fundraising
Chapter 428 - Lease
Chapter 429
Chapter 430
Chapter 431 - Claude’S Countermeasures
Chapter 432 - Operation Leak
Chapter 433 - Opinion
Chapter 434
Chapter 435 - Negotiations (1)
Chapter 436 - Negotiations (2)
Chapter 437 - Shiksan Arrival
Chapter 438 - Pre-War Business
Chapter 439 - Defence Line
Chapter 440 - Reason For Loss
Chapter 441 - Night Attack And Ambush
Chapter 442 - Solving The Root Of The Problem
Chapter 443 - Wolffang Band
Chapter 444
Chapter 445
Chapter 446 - Unexpected Developments
Chapter 447 - Attack Mishap
Chapter 448 - Heated Battle At Camp
Chapter 449 - Bloody Clash
Chapter 450 - Merit, Lesson, And The Foolish Nikancha
Chapter 451 - The Wondrous Nikancha
Chapter 452 - Conclusions
Chapter 453 - Meeting And Decisions
Chapter 454 - New Research
Chapter 455 - Tobacco Business
Chapter 456 - Rumours And Going Off-Topic
Chapter 457 - The Nikancha’S Offer
Chapter 458 - Suggestions Laced With Threats
Chapter 459 - Idle Chat And Arrival
Chapter 460 - Nikancha Camp-Flight Incident
Chapter 461
Chapter 462
Chapter 463 - Tricks And Countermeasures
Chapter 464 - Crossing The Floating Bridge
Chapter 465 - Meeting And Surprise Attack
Chapter 466 - Thundercrash’S Assault
Chapter 467 - Surprise Attack Planning
Chapter 468 - At Sea
Chapter 469 - The Grand Push
Chapter 470 - Cleanup After The Great Battle
Chapter 471 - Borkal’S Experiences
Chapter 472 - Private Conversation
Chapter 473 - Blacksail And Eriksson
Chapter 474 - Rebuke
Chapter 475 - Ambassador’S Arrival
Chapter 476 - Piglet Capture Conflict
Chapter 477 - Shock At The Banquet
Chapter 478 - Ambassadors’ Night Meeting
Chapter 479 - Blinded By Greed
Chapter 480 - Aftermath And Self-Governance
Chapter 481 - Deploying On The Mainland
Chapter 482 - Sacred Light Era Year 595
Chapter 483 - The Union Rises
Chapter 484 - Request And Reply
Chapter 485 - Troubling Household Matters
Chapter 486 - The Hunt
Chapter 487 - Tracking
Chapter 488 - Train
Chapter 489 - Blackwind, Stop Licking!
Chapter 490 - Sheila’S Experiences
Chapter 491 - Catching Up
Chapter 492 - Busywork And Misfortune
Chapter 493 - Family Troubles
Chapter 494 - Splitting Family Assets
Chapter 495 - Aid
Chapter 496 - Ironclad And Stahlhelm
Chapter 497 - Declaration Of War
Chapter 498 - Chasing Ambassador’S Away And Maria’S Arrival
Chapter 499 - Conversation On The Train
Chapter 500 - Deciding To Deploy
Chapter 501 - Goals
Chapter 502 - Operation Crescent Moon
Chapter 503 - Arrival And Impersonation
Chapter 504 - War On Two Fronts
Chapter 505 - Triumph Of Ambruiz
Chapter 506 - Station And Choice
Chapter 507 - En Route To Polyvisia
Chapter 508 - Butcher Of Polyvisia
Chapter 509 - Saint Lusk Naval Battle
Chapter 510 - Severe Circumstances
Chapter 511 - Choosing To Fight Or Leave
Chapter 512 - Prelude To Battle
Chapter 513 - Clash In Polyvisia (1)
Chapter 514 - Clash In Polyvisia (2)
Chapter 515 - Clash In Polyvisia (3)
Chapter 516 - Clash In Polyvisia (4)
Chapter 517 - Good News And Lies
Chapter 518 - Appointment And Delegation
Chapter 519 - Captives And Expansion
Chapter 520 - Disassembly And Diversion
Chapter 521 - Prime Minister’S Two Proposals
Chapter 522 - The King'S Scheme
Chapter 523 - Elevation Fee
Chapter 524 - Choice And Solidarity
Chapter 525 - The Council'S Three Demands
Chapter 526 - Solidarity Of Victors
Chapter 527 - Fief Picks
Chapter 528 - Bandit Extermination
Chapter 529 - Really A Misunderstanding?
Chapter 530 - Deploying Troops
Chapter 531 - Prime Minister’S Reception
Chapter 532 - Sharp Negotiations
Chapter 533 - Reparations Negotiations And Arms Deal
Chapter 534 - Two Bits Of Bad News
Chapter 535 - Analysis And Response
Chapter 536 - Ironclad Deal
Chapter 537 - Operation Wildfire
Chapter 538 - Shiksan Captives
Chapter 539 - Tesoray'S Future
Chapter 540 - Family Matters
Chapter 541 - Reorganisation And Voluntary Folk
Chapter 542 - Escort And Transport
Chapter 543 - Court Case Of The Wood
Chapter 544 - Pamigar Revolt
Chapter 545 - Battle Report
Chapter 546 - Looming Threat
Chapter 547 - General Skri'S Secret Message
Chapter 548 - Western Coast Incident Of 603
Chapter 549 - Death Of The Great Chieftain
Chapter 550 - Return Of General Birkin
Chapter 551 - Cape Lodocus'S Handover
Chapter 552 - Homecoming Shiksans
Chapter 553 - To The Mainland
Chapter 554 - Blancarte'S Intentions
Chapter 555 - Worrying Household Matters
Chapter 556 - Clueless Mother
Chapter 557 - Avitelli I Of Bleyotte
Chapter 558 - Fate Of Mambamark
Chapter 559 - Strategic Lies
Chapter 560 - 9Th Month Of Year 604
Chapter 561 - Attacking First
Chapter 562 - The Great Demise
Chapter 563 - Strategic Analysis And Delegation
Chapter 564 - Blancarte'S Suggestion
Chapter 565 - Change Of The Homecoming Shiksans
Chapter 566 - Claude’S Headache
Chapter 567 - National Defence Force And Useless Allies
Chapter 568 - Wolves Abroad, Hyenas At Home
Chapter 569 - Middle Of The 9Th Month
Chapter 570 - Lease And The Court’S Three Requests
Chapter 571 - Refused Requests
Chapter 572 - Arbeit’S Past
Chapter 573 - Two Letters And The National Preservation Fund
Chapter 574 - Reply And Captives
Chapter 575 - General Siegfeld’S Development Plan
Chapter 576 - Official Notice And Lawsuit
Chapter 577 - Awkward Court Case
Chapter 578 - Meanwhile, On The Western Coast
Chapter 579 - Potential For Sheila To Advance
Chapter 580 - Borkal And Eriksson
Chapter 581 - Myjack Joins The Household
Chapter 582 - Borkal’S Failure
Chapter 583 - Visitation
Chapter 584 - The Royal Family’S Ironclads
Chapter 585 - Three Main Intelligence Agencies
Chapter 586 - Royal Navy Scandal
Chapter 587 - Trivialities
Chapter 588 - Attack On Port Wades
Chapter 589 - Battle Of Nubari Islands
Chapter 590 - Dawn Of The Age Of The Ironclad
Chapter 591 - The Western Coast Of Rapid Change
Chapter 592 - Intervention
Categories Genre: Action, Adventure, All, Drama, Fantasy, Ongoing, School Life, Slice of Life, Tragedy Status: Ongoing Alternative names: BIG, 重生之黑铁的荣耀, ______
Total Chapters in book: 593
Estimated words: 1391110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6956(@200wpm)___ 5564(@250wpm)___ 4637(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 1391110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6956(@200wpm)___ 5564(@250wpm)___ 4637(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 593 Page No. 592 Page No. 591 Page No. 590 Page No. 589 Page No. 588 Page No. 587 Page No. 586 Page No. 585 Page No. 584 Page No. 583 Chapter 343 - Push And Pull
Push and Pull
The river water was bone-chillingly cold. It would be impossible to cross the river during such a season.
Being the largest river in Nubissia, Dorinibla River was incredibly wide.
After spending two days’ time, Berklin only managed to find a spot some ten kilometres upstream the enemy’s security camp where the river water was slower and seemed easy to cross. However, the other side of the river seemed to be around a kilometre apart. Nobody knew how long it would take for one to be able to make it to the other side. Additionally, there was no boat or fishing folk nearby. They would have to prepare their own vessels with which to cross the river.
Claude asked the civilians in Ferro about it and some residents who came from Jinkle told him that the enemy’s security camp and two floating bridges weren’t constructed by them. They had been there all along and used to be the only place from which the river could be crossed in Balingana. The reason the floating bridge was constructed there in the first place was that the river was most narrow at that part, being about 600 metres wide, and the flow of the water was gentle and wouldn’t affect the floating bridge much.
That place used to be where the ferry docked. However, each ferry trip took at least an hour. Eventually, some wild-bull merchants decided to gather a sum of a thousand gold crowns to build a floating bridge to make it more convenient for the bull carcasses to be transported to the other side. Not long after the bridge was fully constructed, the Shiksan troops came and crossed the bridge to attack Jinkle before heading on to Brikaman.
It was no wonder the floating bridge across Dorinibla River wasn’t marked in any of the kingdom’s maps. They only specified a ferry station there and Claude had thought that the enemies were the ones who built the bridge. While knowing how it came about well and good, the problem of how Tribe 131 could cross the river still remained.
An old man from Jinkle suggested that they use wooden goatskin rafts. The goatskin didn’t mean that the rafts were wrapped entirely with them. Instead, they were goatskin floats the size of basketballs suspended at the bottom of rafts to provide buoyancy. Each raft was about six square metres wide and required around 25 of those goatskin floats and could allow ten adult men to cross the river at once.
The old man said that when the first settlers arrived, they used such goatskin rafts to go hunting wild bulls on Albator Plains and started the bull industry Balingana was famous for. As the industry developed, the kingdom decided to colonise Balingana properly.
But when the ferries came, goatskin rafts were relegated to history. Now that the ferry dock was in the hands of the enemy, Claude had to try to use goatskin rafts to make his crossing. Making them was rather simple as the materials were available and didn’t need to be processed, but the old man did mention on flaw they had: they were slow and not really balanced.
The support band of Tribe 131 finally had a place to shine. The carpenters and leathersmiths soon made prototypes of the rafts according to the old man’s descriptions and made incremental improvements to them. Claude also personally participated in the testing of the rafts at Dorinibla River. He found that they could work and ordered even more of them to be made. They would cross the river in one go to accomplish their surprise attack.
On the 9th of the 12th month of Year 584, Claude took two clans of men across Dorinibla River using goatskin rafts.
The reason he only took two clans of men with him to attack the enemy camp was the reports he received from Berklin, who was sent across in advance to scout the area out. The enemy’s security near the floating bridges was really lax; there was less than a tribe of men there. The camp was also packed full of supplies and materials for the repair of the bridges waiting to be shipped across. While Claude wasn’t completely confident he could take the entire camp, he was certain he could burn the whole place down, so two clans of men were enough.
Additionally, the two clans of Tribe 131 that remained had to set up a defence line on the other side of the bank to prevent the enemy from conquering the crossing point Claude and the others used after seeing the fire break out. Should that come to pass, it would be over for them and they wouldn’t be able to make it back. Additionally, they couldn’t bring their mounts across the river, so without their mobility and logistics support, they would be waiting for their demise.
The crossing point of the river was upstream some 17 kilometres away from the floating bridges and security camp. Claude and the rest spent a whole morning to cross the river. They would march on after a short rest. At six in the evening, they finally reached the spot a kilometre away from the enemy camp, found a spot, and began their rest. They would start their operation at ten at night so as to approach the enemy camp without making a sound.
As Berklin had described, the enemy’s security truly was lax. The lookouts at the entrance of the camp were snoring away while hugging their muskets and no soldier could be seen on duty atop the lookout towers nearby. The bonfires some 20 metres away from the camp weren’t even lit, making it extremely easy for Claude and his men to make their way to the camp.
He pointed at the lookouts at the camp entrance and made a cutthroat gesture. Myjack nodded and took Gum with him, speeding towards the lookouts. Soon, the sleeping guards could be seen slowly being laid down to the ground from the illumination of the moonlight and the fires from within the camp. Myjack pushed the entrance gate and poked his head in for a look before waving for Claude to come.
They would first begin their slaughter silently. There were many sleeping enemy soldiers within the camp who would never again wake up to the light of day. But soon, some of them realised their camp was under attack. Gunshots, cries and shrieks rang throughout as a commotion brewed within.
“Let there be fire,” Claude ordered.
One burning torch after another was thrown into the tents, warehouses, stables, and straw piles. Light and smoke rose towards the sky. The commanding officers of the enemy rushed out of their tents and blew their whistles.
“Don’t panic! Regroup around us!”
Right after that, a gunshot from the darkness rang out. Soon, the brave and responsible officers were felled one after another and the soldiers that gathered scattered in all directions like aimless flies as they cried out in panic, further adding to the atmosphere of terror.
Claude ordered his men to ignore the soldiers that escaped the camp. Their orders were to eliminate all enemies that resisted in the camp and burn anything that could be burnt. The attack progressed much faster than Claude expected and the enemy didn’t seem intent in the slightest to regroup and resist. The only more dangerous moment was when an officer led ten-odd of his men to bring out a light-infantry cannon out of nowhere to establish a simple defence line.
It was too bad that before the cannon could be loaded, the attackers found out about their intentions. Needless to say, the officers and the soldiers around him fell off their horses following each bang. They lost their chance to turn the situation around.
Claude came to the riverbank near the camp. Two long floating bridges that stretched to the other side were before him. There were also four ships docked at the bank filled with wood and rope. The gunshots at the rear of the camp had stopped and the enemies that remained had probably fled the burning camp. As the fire grew, one thing was for certain. Claude and his men would no longer be able to return to the other side using the route from which they had come.
“Gather your units and make a headcount. Myjack, scatter oil over the wood piled up near the floating bridge and burn them. Captain Moriad, Captain Andruk, bring your men aboard the ferries and unload all the wood onto the floating bridges or the shore. We’ll leave here by ferry,” Claude ordered immediately.
Those on the other side of the river had noticed the fire and many people gathered at the riverbank. With the light the fire gave off, they were able to see the sight of Claude and the other attackers throwing torches all over the place clearly. The floating bridges and the woodpiles started to burn. The fire quickly spread to the surrounding areas.
As the camp burnt down, the four ferries could be seen sailing upstream. The embers that rose from the fire occasionally fell into the river water around the ferries and let out sizzles. From time to time, explosions could be heard from the camp, probably due to exploding gunpowder.
“Push harder!” Gum yelled, instructing the soldiers with the punt poles to push the ferries away from the burning shores. It was a bad time to raise the sails as they could be easily set alight. “Those at the side, quick, start rowing using the wooden boards! Those without boards, get buckets and douse water on the deck and cabin! Move faster!”
The wind from the other bank brought with it the curses of the enemy.
Myjack quietly approached Claude and said, “Sir, I think the enemy will easily discover our crossing point if we go straight there like this…”
“No worries. We’ve already destroyed their camp and ruined their plans to repair the floating bridges. It’s no big deal even if they know where we crossed from. Don’t forget that the enemy soldiers on the other bank are infantry troops. They would take at least four hours to make it to our crossing point 17 kilometres away. Additionally, we had Major Schnak and two clans of men set up a defence line there. The enemy wouldn’t be able to breach that easily.”
Claude pointed upstream and continued, “Now, we’re heading to where we crossed to burn down the goatskin rafts. We’ll cross the river with these ferries. We’ll get there far quicker than the enemy infantry can and by the time we get on shore, the enemy wouldn’t be able to do much against us. We shall see how they plan to survive the winter after this…”
The enemy soldiers on the opposite bank actually sent out two tribes of soldiers to tail the ferries and find where Tribe 131’s crossing point was. However, they were really slow and only arrived when it was nearly dawn, only to be ambushed by Scnhak’s two clans of men. The enemy left behind a whole clan’s worth of corpses and injured thanks to the bombardment of 18 light-infantry cannons and left without being able to fire a single shot.
When Claude got on shore with the men he took, Schnak gladly reported the results of the ambush to him. However, Claude was a little dissatisfied. “You should’ve ordered them to pursue on horse the moment the enemy began their retreat. Think about it. There’s a stretch of 17 kilometres from here to their base. The troops they’ve sent out are infantry and they’ve been marching for the whole month only to be ambushed by you. Even if they managed to escape, they’d be filled with terror and incredibly fatigued. If you send out our men to pursue them on horseback, I doubt a single one of them would be able to return to camp.”
Major Schnak was filled with regret, but Claude didn’t think what he said would help much. He understood the major well. He was someone capable enough to handle most of the tasks delegated to him, but he lacked the ability to make adaptations on the fly. He was quite a stickler for the rules and it was already commendable enough for him to defend the crossing point properly.
On the 15th of the 12th month, Claude set up an ambush and sent Berklin’s cavalry clan to attack the supply convoy of Krado that was still at Brikaman. They baited the only cavalry line Krado had remaining to chase them.
An hour or so later, the enemy cavalry was successfully led into a trap. The battle lasted for about two hours and only a small number of enemies managed to break out of the encirclement. Since then, the enemy had completely lost the ability to resist the highly mobile Tribe 131 and could do nought but stay cooped up behind their defences in Jinkle, watching as Claude’s men roamed freely outside.
As the 40-plus-kilometre supply route had been cut off by Tribe 131, the soldiers at Brikaman had run out of ammunition and food and were no longer able to continue their siege. They were forced to retreat back into Jinkle. Brikaman, Balingana’s capital, had been rescued!
The resolution of the crisis at Brikaman was like a shot of motivation for Tribe 131. They had managed to enter Balingana and take on a whole enemy corps with only a tribe’s worth of men. Using rapid tactics, Claude managed to lead them and forced Krado, who had been besieging Brikaman for the past five months, to retreat. It was a wartime miracle.
Even the viceroy and high-commissioner of Balingana couldn’t bring themselves to believe that Tribe 131 was really a tribe. However, Claude didn’t bother to waste his time explaining it to them and only said that he hoped that they could let the Aueran civilians and the injured soldiers inside the city to retreat first. In the meantime, they should also restock on the city’s supplies while they still could.
By that time, snow had already begun to fall and the temperature tanked. It was just as the Aueran settlers mentioned. While the period of snow on Nubissia was shorter than it was on Freia, it was far colder.
Claude hoped to chip away at Krado’s will to fight by depriving them of winter clothing. By the time winter was over, the rest of Ranger would arrive and they could wipe out Krado once and for all.
What Claude and the rest of the soldiers in his tribe didn’t expect was that on the 26th of the 12th month, some enemy ships would actually dock at the ferry dock by the river. There were three class-one triple-sail warships and six long-distance transport ships. After they docked, they began unloading loads of supplies.
Claude could only watch it bitterly. Even though the enemy lost their floating bridges, they could still rely on their ships to resupply. Claude’s plan to eliminate Krado had once more been thwarted.
The enemy ships didn’t only bring with them supplies. They also came with a line of escort soldiers that prevented Claude’s tribe from taking them out. He could only watch as the enemy marched in broad daylight with large amounts of supplies into Jinkle.
After being resupplied, the three warships sailed along the river to the part of the bank near Brikaman and bombarded the city with their cannons for a whole day, breaking apart much of the walls facing the river, before sailing back to sea.
Total Chapters in book: 593
Estimated words: 1391110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6956(@200wpm)___ 5564(@250wpm)___ 4637(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 1391110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6956(@200wpm)___ 5564(@250wpm)___ 4637(@300wpm)
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