Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"Are you suggesting," Fritz cautiously asked, "that the rebel commander has revised the strategy and plans to switch to a prolonged siege?"

"Change strategy?" Montekucoli snorted, "I'd rather believe the rebel command baton changed hands."

Montekucoli pointed at the trenches, like roots, spreading from the palisade towards Kingsfort and frowned at Cornelius, "During the Tanilia War, the Vineta Army dug jagged trenches multiple times to get closer to the Tanilians' fortress. I haven't seen the Venetian battlefield in person, but no matter how I look, I feel it's exactly this setup..."

Cornelius nodded slightly, indicating agreement.

Montekucoli turned to Fritz again and asked, "When did the rebels start closing in on the city walls?"

Fritz cleared his throat, paused for a moment, and answered as calmly as possible, "This morning."

"This morning?!" Montekucoli's glasses slipped off his nose, and he exclaimed, hurriedly groping on the ground.

The next second, the glasses were handed to Montekucoli—by Cornelius.

Montekucoli took the glasses, nodded at Cornelius without a word, put the glasses back on his nose, and lay at the battlements observing carefully for a while.

"If those jagged trenches really started being dug just this morning," Montekucoli's expression grew heavier, "at their current pace, not in twenty days, optimistic estimate twenty-five days, they'll reach the moat..."

"Do you think," Cornelius asked unhurriedly, "that the Vineta faction within the rebels has officially taken command?"

Montekucoli was both anxious and angry, "Why are you still hung up on that Venetian brat? Who's commanding doesn't matter! In less than a month, the rebels' cannons will be aimed at our faces, we need to figure out a way to stop them!"

"Who commands the rebels affects our success or failure," Cornelius smiled and asked, "Raymond, do you really think the rebels intend to attack New Town?"

"What does it matter what I think?" Montekucoli's temper flared up, "Can I lead the rebels by the nose?"

"And you?" Cornelius looked at Fritz.

"After the appearance of the Winged Lion Flag, there have indeed been no more major moves from the rebels towards Magit Island," Fritz tried to add as little subjective analysis as possible, "Judging by their behavior, it may be that our defenses on Magit Island are too well-prepared, causing them to abandon the plan to continue attacking Magit Island and instead look for breakthroughs in other directions."

Cornelius nodded, spoke stunningly, "I have the exact opposite view from you both. I think the calmer Magit Island is, the more likely it is the rebels will make their main attack there. Therefore, we must swiftly have local troops take over the New City defense zone and reserve as many forces as possible for the fight on Magit Island."

"Are you sure?" Montekucoli argued back unceremoniously in front of Fritz, "I'm not sure that when the rebels' cannons are aimed at the city walls, those rookies under Grof Magnus can hold the line."

Though Fritz didn't speak, his expression showed he supported the viewpoint of the Artillery Major.

"New Town is not a good target, even if they conquer New Town, there's still the River Shijian waiting," Cornelius said calmly, "I don't believe the rebels' commander can't see that."

Cornelius looked at Montekucoli, "You think the rebels building siegeworks is a prelude to a large-scale attack on the city, but in my view, the reason they built a wall around New Town isn't that they want to come in from New Town, but to prevent us from getting out from New Town."

"And how do you explain those approaching trenches?" Montekucoli pointed at the root-like trenches extending from the siege-like fortifications and asked.

"A very clever move," Cornelius smirked, "As long as they show the intention of a frontal city assault, no matter whether they eventually attack New Town or not, we are forced to deploy more manpower in the New Town direction. In fact, they've already achieved their goal."

Despite his unwillingness, Montekucoli couldn't find a rebuttal, only countered, "What you said is all speculation..."

"That's right," Cornelius admitted frankly, "all speculation.

"First, despite having sighted the Winged Lion Flag, I don't think the Vineta faction has taken over the siege, because if the rebels are led by the Vineta faction, they wouldn't bother with Kingsfort;

"Therefore, I don't think the rebels would easily abandon the soldiers on Magit Island, as that's the elite force of the native rebels.

"More importantly, abandoning Magit Island is not just relinquishing a few companies of veterans but amounts to admitting defeat, relinquishing control of the rebels.

"The native rebel faction cannot afford a defeat, so even if it costs many lives, they must take Magit Island.

"Finally, no matter which faction is currently leading the rebels, I don't believe they can't see the value of Magit Island."

"So," Cornelius concluded, "I think the rebels' 'offensive' outside New Town is just a feint, their true target is still Magit Island."

"What if they really want to attack New Town?" Montekucoli contested.

Jansen Cornelius replied, "The possibility is very low."

"What if they really want to attack New Town?" Montekucoli persisted in asking, "Do we have enough troops to fight them in trench warfare?"

"No," Cornelius was exceedingly calm, "If they lose their minds and attack New Town recklessly, in a sense, it would be the worst-case scenario for us."

"So," Montekucoli asked word by word, "if they just want to attack New Town?"

"Then," Cornelius sighed, revealing a helpless smile, "we will have no choice but to find a way to dissuade them from this irrational idea."

-----------------

That evening, New Army Camp.

Mason and Woods were reporting the progress of the past few days to Brigadier General Gessa Adonis when a cavalry officer suddenly burst into the tent and whispered a few words to the Brigadier.

A moment later, a dusty young man was brought in.

As soon as he entered the tent, the young man burst into tears:

"The United Provincials are searching everywhere in the city and confiscating property, please General give us justice. We're willing to act as informants to help you get into the city."