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 377 - Battle Back And Forth
Battle Back and Forth
“Have Line 1301 make way for the enemy reinforcements. Let them pass first before sealing their escape route. Set up trip ropes so that the enemy would have no choice but to find another way to escape. Also, have the tribesmen gather for a pre-battle council.” Claude made up his mind to take on the enemy reinforcements. He wanted to take care of the Canasian cavalrymen in one fell swoop.
It was a rare opportunity. The enemy left the fortified defences of Vebator and decided to enter deep into Balingana. While Claude wasn’t certain why they would abandon the comforts of their shell — he wasn’t quite convinced they were greedy enough for money to go hunting bulls — it was still a great chance for him to gravely wound or even exterminate them. Claude was confident he could use Thundercrash to wipe them out. The only concern was the kind of casualties the folk would have to suffer to achieve that.
The so-called discharged Canasian volunteers were actually standing corps members of the Canasian military. It was a public secret. Claude would happily admit that they were a much tougher challenge than what the Shiksan standing corps had amounted to. Albator Plains was also the ideal terrain for light cavalry like them to fight on. Claude wouldn’t be willing to suffer huge losses in order to eliminate the enemy.
However, the enemy had come this time around as reinforcements. Thundercrash could use the enemy’s camp to fight defensively and take advantage of the terrain. Not to mention, they’ve already wiped out four enemy lines, which amounted to more or less a folk of their troops. The enemy corps only had some 60 thousand men. Take 24 thousand out of that number and they’d be left with little more than 30 thousand plus. Their numbers weren’t that much more than the other four enhanced folks coupled with their security and support units.
It was worth noting that Thundercrash had had two triumphs. They defeated four lines of enemy troops and conquered two enemy camps and only had to suffer a thousand casualties. The troops’ morale were at an all-time high. Coupled with their superior equipment, Claude believed he was fighting the enemy on far more advantageous grounds, hence his decision to face them off.
The Canasian reinforcements only arrived around nine at night. When their vanguard discovered that Thundercrash had occupied their camp, they hurriedly stopped and retreated to an area some two kilometres away to set up a perimeter. From that alone, Claude could tell that their corpsman was an experienced and careful officer who picked up on the possibility that they had lost control of their camp. That was why they didn’t mount a hasty attack.
With some 30 thousand forces, the enemy spread out and seemed almost endless. The murky black swarms as they were seen from the camp gave off a domineering sensation. Compared to the chatter in the enemy camp, their own was incredibly quiet. They were like a resting beast on the plains, silent but deadly.
The enemy must be thinking the same thing. A clan of men were only a kilometre away, observing the Aueran camp constantly. However, they noticed that there were a few additional tranches in front of the camp with a couple half-person tall earth walls. Between the trenches were bonfires burning on cow dung, letting of a thick stench into the air.
That was a rather normal defence fortification, but the enemy clan remained at a safe distance for a long time. They didn’t even launch a probing attack and returned to their own camp an hour later.
Claude shook his head in disappointment. His luck was quite bad for him to have met a careful officer like this. He had tried as best he could to appear weak, but the enemy didn’t launch a night attack. His plans for the night had gone to waste.
“Let Line 1301 return to rest. There’s no need to remain in ambush any longer. The enemy won’t be attacking tonight.” Claude got Anders to spread his orders while he turned and headed to the central tent in the camp.
It seemed that the reinforcements of the Canasian troops intended to fight Thundercrash in a frontal siege. Claude hated battles like this the most. These days, relying on muskets and scatter shot wasn’t enough to ensure one’s victory. Not to mention, they were facing the experienced Canasians. As long as they were willing to pay a big enough price, they could breach the camp’s defences and usher in a melee.
That was why sieges tended to result in more casualties for both the attacking and defending side. Such cases had been proven throughout the course of the five-year war. In the most serious Rimodran siege, even the Aueran royal guard that was famous for their offensive prowess lost nearly half their own and had to recruit more and more to make up for lost men, to say nothing of the other irregular corps. In the five-year war, Aueras suffered around 600 thousand casualties, half of them in the sieges in Rimodra.
But this time around, Claude’s Thundercrash was more adept in defence and they even held the advantage. Even so, the Canasians could render that useless so long as they could afford to take more casualties. The moment the camp’s defences were breached, the only factor left would be the soldiers’ fighting spirit and bravery. It would turn into a battle of attrition to see which side could last longer.
That was why Claude particularly disliked sieges. Even if he was reasonably certain he could win, that could come with a heavy price. So, he always preferred sneak attacking or sudden charges when the enemy was off guard before turning tail and run. Not only did those strategies damage the enemy more effectively, it also helped reduce their casualties. Repeat the whole thing three to five times and the enemy would naturally crumble and hand Claude an easy victory.
However, this wasn’t an option for him this time as he was too short on time. He had no way of running after doing the hitting. There were some seven thousand captives and lots of spoils in the camp and he couldn’t afford to give them up. He could only leave after slaughtering all the captives and burning down the spoils, but that would be a huge waste. Claude also knew that nobody would agree to it since the rewards of every soldier in Thundercrash depended on those goods. Running before a weak enemy was also nothing short of humiliating.
Everyone believed without a doubt they would always be the final victors rather than the losers in battle. Claude had no choice but to go along with the flow and decided he would tough it out against the Canasians. He also knew that without going through a proper, tense battle, his men wouldn’t be able to grow stronger on the battlefield. Even if it would cost him significant casualties, it would be worth it, as this battle could be the fire he needed to forge a spirited force!
Around eight in the morning the next day, the horn signals of an attack were blown in the Aueran and enemy camps. The Canasians’ horn signal signalled mobilisation. One unit after another charged out of their encampment and formed neat, square formations around 1.5 kilometres away from the Aueran camp. Thundercrash’s horn signal was blown to remind their soldiers to stay vigilant and prepare to defend against an attack.
Claude believed that the enemy had collected information about Thundercrash and believed they could estimate their strength. That was an obvious sign of a mistake on their part. They believed they actually stood a good chance because of their superior numbers. The enemy officer obviously believed that Thundercrash suffered huge casualties after taking two of their camps. Given his understanding of the four lines he commanded, he was almost certain that eliminating all of them would cost Thundercrash quite a lot as well.
When Thundercrash took the two Canasian camps, they had attacked from all four directions to make sure not a single enemy escaped. But the Canasian reinforcements chose to focus their attack on only one side, intending to crush the enemy’s will to fight with their superior numbers. So, all they forces were neatly lined up in front of the camp without splitting up.
That, however, only made it easier for the defending side. If the defences were really pierced from any side, the morale of the defenders would tank. Even if they could escape in the other three directions, they would have a hard time outrunning the enemy on the flat Albator Plains. The enemy corpsman was quite confident he could win this battle.
Each of the four cavalry lines spread out in a line formation. The centre of the line seemed much denser. Not long later, another horn signal was blown and each Canasian line sent out a clan of light cavalrymen from their flanks towards the camp site. This was a probing attack. They would use a smaller force to test the strength of enemy defences so that they could choose their approach for the latter part of the attacki.
From a distance, there were a few trenches outside the camps Thundercrash occupied that stretched out as far as 200 metres. Last night, the enemy was worried the decreased visibility would make them fall prey for any potential traps the Auerans laid, so the corpsman refused his subordinates’ suggestion to attack during the night and chose to attack the next day instead.
The enemy corpsman wanted to test how powerful Thundercrash’s defences were with the four clans of men from each line, all the while testing out whether the trenches would pose to be an obstacle to his troops. From his vantage point, the trenches were crudely dug and any of the riders could easily let their mounts jump over the trenches.
But something that utterly shocked the corpsman occurred. In a few short minutes, the thousand cavalrymen on the probing attack reached the first trench, but they forcefully stopped their mounts the moment they were there. There were tens of men that didn’t stop their war horses and let them make the jump. When they landed, they crashed into the ground before countless heads and guns poked out from the third trench. They fired their shots and the soldiers that stopped in the first trench were obliterated.
“Blow the horn! Have them retreat immediately!” the corpsman ordered with a stern look.
Of the near thousand men he sent out, less than a clan of them returned. Those who managed to were the lucky ones. The officers soon came to understand why they stopped their horses. The enemy was far too sneaky. The first trench was only two metres wide and deep, making it quite easy for horses to jump over.
However, there was a trench only a foot deep directly ahead of the first trench which were only discovered close up. From far, it looked just like normal flat land. Any horse that landed there and tried to gallop would immediately stumble and fall.
The enemy troops who were lying in ambush in the third trench then popped out and shot at the troops that stopped before the first trench, causing them heavy losses. What agonised the corpsman even further was how he didn’t manage to adequately test out the enemy’s defences with his probing attack. It was all done for naught.
What seemed at first to be simple trenches turned out to be carefully laid out, effective fortifications. According to the cavalrymen that managed to escape, it was especially created to counter them. The enemy wanted to render light cavalry useless.
“We can use grass weave sacks filled with earth to fill the trenches up,” a high-ranking officer suggested. It was a tactic mostly reserved for dealing with trench fortifications. As long as they could fill the parts of the trenches where their attack would be going through, they would be able to reach the enemy camps and engage them with their riding blades close up.
But the possibility for a high casualty count using that method was rather high. The enemy was no fool. They still hadn’t revealed where they had hidden the cannons. In fact, they could use their cannons to deal with the parts of the trenches filled out by the bags. One could imagine the kind of sacrifice they would have to make to even reach the enemies at the camp.
The corpsman shook his head. “Let’s return to camp first. We’ll have a proper discussion on how we can deal with the enemy trenches.”
This was inevitable. There was no way they could continue the battle that day. The soldiers that returned from the probe were rather crestfallen. The insidious trench arrangement in front of the camp had rendered cavalry useless. They couldn’t continue charging blindly into the enemy to be target practice, could they?
But before they even began the discussion upon their return to camp, the lookouts reported that the enemy had their captives digging trenches once more at the rear of the camp The corpsman went to the frontlines with his subordinates and observed with his telescope. He found that the captives were indeed men on his side. The soldiers of Thundercrash were forcing them to maintain the moat. A rough estimation put the soldiers taken captive at around a thousand men. There was still and endless stream of captives coming out of the camp.
The soldiers of Thundercrash were really harsh. The slightest odd movement by the captives were grounds enough for the crack of the whip or a bump from the gun stock. The corpsman and his subordinates saw a number of their own men taken captive and being beaten to the ground, writhing about with blood all over them.
“General, we have to save them…” one officer angrily pleaded.
Save? That sounded easy. But how could it be done? The moment any large force was sent out, the enemy would’ve returned into the camp. Now, they weren’t able to reach the enemy camp in the first place!
“I believe we can dig our own trenches and connect them to the enemy’s. We can then have my men dismount and attack as infantry!” one of them suggested.
The corpsman’s eyes shone. It was true that the enemy’s defences were geared specifically against their cavalrymen. Light cavalry was only advantageous when evading enemy firing ranges and charging into enemy defence camps were necessary, which was an advantage they held over infantrymen. While infantry would suffer huge casualties given their limited mobility. they could use trenches to avoid enemy fire. It was indeed a rather good idea coming from the strategist.
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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