Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Although Houdel was on the surface, he felt as though he was in a mine shaft.

He could only bury his head and dig a few shovels, then step back a short distance to ensure he wasn't off course, before continuing forward.

The second member of the digging group, Claude, followed about three meters behind Houdel. Compared to Houdel, who could only work on his stomach, Claude's situation was a bit better; he could crouch.

Claude's task was to deepen and widen the shallow trench Houdel "carved" out, which only allowed one person to crawl, to a degree where someone could crouch and walk.

Behind Claude was young Majiya, whose task was to further deepen and widen the trench until it allowed stooped walking.

His work environment was the most comfortable, but his workload was the largest, requiring the most soil to be shoveled.

This "small group digging" model was derived from Richard Mason's summary of experiences and lessons after the siege of Maple Fort.

During the siege of Maple Fort, the speed at which the attackers advanced their trenches left Alder Felter dumbfounded.

At that time, the Iron Peak County Military's digging method involved a platoon responsible for one trench, initially digging the trench deep enough for a person to walk through, with two-person shifts advancing forward, while others were responsible for widening and reinforcing.

However, Richard Mason still felt it wasn't fast enough, and having twelve people working in one trench neither utilized space efficiently nor avoided laziness among some.

Therefore, this time under Kingsfort, Mason began experimenting with the three-person digging team model.

Practice showed that the efficiency of the three-person teams was not less than that of twelve people digging a trench together.

After circulating around to inspect, Mason was very satisfied.

Nonetheless, Houdel struggling at the front line might not think the same.

Accurately speaking, Houdel's mind was blank with no thoughts at all.

Not only Houdel, but Claude, who usually talked a lot, now had no mood for banter either.

As for young Majiya, it went without saying; he exerted all his energy just to barely keep up with the two ahead.

In the stuffy trench, only the sound of three people panting and the dull thud of shovels going into the earth could be heard.

Houdel no longer knew how long he had been digging; mechanically shoveling earth, retreating, and moving forward.

Until at a certain moment, a pulling force came from Houdel's waist and abdomen, gripping him tightly.

Houdel looked down at his navel and discovered the rope tied around his waist had mysteriously run out, stretched tight.

Houdel was stunned, and after a moment, he came to his senses, bursting into tears of joy.

"Reached the end!" Houdel turned and shouted to Claude, "The rope reached the end!"

When Houdel entered the passage, the baby-faced boy tied a rope around his waist.

The Mason Commissioner generously limited the workload for each team; once the distance was dug, they could change shifts and rest.

The rope reaching the end meant the task was completed.

Claude and young Majiya, upon hearing Houdel's words, couldn't help but shed tears of happiness, collapsing in the trench.

Moments later, Houdel, Claude, and young Majiya, looking like mud figures, returned to the fortress from where they departed.

The next group of trainees bent over, carrying tools, and entered the passage.

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[Kingsfort]

Meanwhile, atop Kingsfort, the officers of the Southern Army were also closely observing the Rebels' new maneuverings.

Jansen Cornelius specifically summoned Colonel Monteccolli back from Magit Island to reassess the Rebels' siege progress.

"I've only been on the island for a week," Monteccolli, having witnessed the rumored fence posts among lower-ranked soldiers first-hand, was initially incredulous, but as his glasses nearly slipped off his nose and fell off the city wall, he asked in disbelief, "Did the Rebels create such a commotion?"

Cornelius chuckled faintly.

"To be precise," Fritz stepped forward and explained, "it's been three days, three full days plus a night."

"Three days?" Monteccolli was dumbfounded.

"Yes," Fritz nodded, "after the Winged Lion Flag appeared, the Rebels began constructing siege works outside New Town..."

"How is the situation on Magit Island?" Cornelius interrupted Fritz and directly asked, "What actions have the Rebels taken?"

"Quite a few actions. We build works on the island, they build across the river, confronting us across the water.

"Not only do they build works during the day, but at night they send people into the water to deliver supplies to the island.

"Colonel Ludwick intercepted some, but also a few small boats managed to sneak in," Monteccolli pointed to the works outside the city and grimly said, "Compared with this, Magit Island is remarkably peaceful."

"What do you think?" Cornelius asked, hinting at something.

Monteccolli pondered briefly, then squinted, and asked Fritz for confirmation, "You're saying, after the 'Winged Lion Flag' appeared, the Rebels began constructing siege works?"

"Yes," Fritz replied, "two scout cavalry reported seeing the Winged Lion Flag in the Rebels' convoy, and the next day, the Rebels began trench digging outside the city. Before that, they completely relied on cavalry to blockade Kingsfort, so occasionally our scout cavalry could still infiltrate out."

Monteccolli thought for a moment and slowly spoke, "Believing cavalry alone can surround a city is arrogance only found in the Paratu People.

"Now, the Rebels are digging trenches, building high walls, transitioning from a dynamic blockade to a static one, which means they have realized that for Kingsfort, they also have too few troops. Their attitude is beginning to become practical..."