Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

[Magit Island]

Raymond Montecuccoli ignored the stumbling, fear-stricken deserters around him, sprinting through the trenches until he was within twenty meters of the explosion site.

The "rebels" were so close that Montekucoli could not only hear the calls of the "rebel" soldiers to each other, but he could even make out the faces of the soldiers on the small boats under the dim moonlight.

Yes, boats.

When did the "rebels" acquire boats?

Why hadn't the reconnaissance discovered this?

Before the "fence posts" were erected, the Southern Army Command never stopped sending scouts outside the city, even going as far as to requisition the officers' warhorses to prioritize the scouting personnel.

Yet why hadn't a single person discovered that the "rebels" had transported so many boats to the frontline?

Montekucoli lay by the edge of the trenches, counting the small boats shuttling back and forth on the river, his teeth grinding with frustration.

The artillery major was unaware that the Southern Army's recon team had done everything possible, even earning admiration from some of the "rebels" for their tenacity and courage.

Unless the Southern Army's scouts could have crashed into the rebel transits, uncovered the tarps on the carts, and escaped the pursuit of the "rebel" cavalry to bring the intelligence back to Kingsfort alive…

Otherwise, the Southern Army Command would have had no way of knowing the rebels had boats.

Because to maximize transport efficiency and avoid detection by the Southern Army's frequent reconnaissance cavalry, a rebel artillery major had specifically ordered the removal of all cart beds and railings, directly affixed small boats to the cart axles at the rear, loaded them with supplies, covered them with tarps, and inconspicuously transported both boats and supplies to the front lines.

"Surprise is the key to gaining the upper hand in combat," an artillery student had firmly remembered this important point taught by his instructor.

But at the moment, Montekucoli had no time for self-satisfaction.

To his left, the Domoncos Monastery was a cacophony of noise—Colonel Ludwick's troops were mobilizing.

In front of him, however, the "rebels'" landing site was eerily quiet.

Gunfire, the clashing of metal, and dying wails were coming from further south.

Montekucoli judged that after breaking into the coastal defenses, the rebels did not rush towards Bishop's Castle but instead aimed southward.

It seemed that the "rebels" were clearing the southernmost strongholds and defensive lines on Magit Island.

In contrast, the actions of the rebels' follow-up forces, though less conspicuous, appeared more dangerous to the artillery major:

The rebels in the small boats were frantically dismantling the water barricade to the south of the explosion site;

Meanwhile, across the river was ablaze with lights and bustling with people, as a floating bridge extended towards Magit Island at a visible rate.

Raymond Montecuccoli immediately realized: the "rebels" were not in a hurry to rescue the remnants inside Bishop's Castle, nor did they expect to seize Magit Island with a few elite forces in one fell swoop;

The rebel commander orchestrating this offensive was a steadfast individual, aiming to establish a landing ground, a bridgehead, a beachhead position at the southern end of Magit Island, securing a position and only then pursuing victory.

Just then, footsteps splashing through water echoed from the trench behind him.

Montekucoli instinctively reached for his thigh, realizing he was unarmed.

Fortunately, they were allies—his adjutant, the artillery chief's aide, and the battery duty officer cautiously approached, each holding a primed revolver gun.

Montekucoli's actions were so swift that the three young men hadn't even realized before the middle-aged man had vanished from sight.

The "rebels" were right outside the trench, so Montekucoli gestured for silence, and the three young men nodded immediately.

Squatting in the trenches, Montekucoli pulled the adjutant close and whispered orders, "Go to the Domoncos Monastery immediately, find Colonel Ludwick, and tell him the rebels are fully attacking the defenses to the south. Do not hesitate, come and strike at the rebel's landing point right away."

The adjutant nodded, retreated a short distance, and silently crawled out of the trench, heading to the Monastery.

"Return to the battery," Montekucoli then pulled the battery duty officer close, "gather everyone who can wield a weapon, sappers, artillerymen, my men, Colonel Ludwick's men… everyone! Bring the cannon as well, push the cannon over here…"

"What about Bishop's Castle?" the duty officer asked.

"Even if the rebels inside Bishop's Castle break through, do not bother with them!" Montekucoli gritted his teeth, "The floating bridge is crucial, once it reaches the shore, we're all doomed!"

He clutched the young officer's collar, desperate to engrave his words into the poor man's ear, "Remember! The cannon, even if you have to carry it on your arms, get the cannon over here…"

As he spoke, a series of sharp gunshots suddenly rang out overhead.

In the direction of Domoncos Monastery, Colonel Ludwick's troops had occupied the riverside slope and fired a volley at the "rebels'" landing point.

Then a second volley, a third…

Lead bullets hailed down, hitting the riverbank, and the "rebel" soldiers leapt into the trenches.

Most of them had no firearms, so they couldn't fight back, only hugging the inner trench walls, avoiding the fire from the island.

However, the 'rebels' showed no signs of panic, a strong voice echoed in the trench, ordering the "rebel" soldiers to gather the guards' firearms.

Upon hearing the command, the "rebel" soldiers immediately set to work.

Inside the trench, Montecuccoli and his three companions heard the rebel commander's orders clearly.

The artillery major immediately realized the gravity of the situation, snatched the revolver gun from the duty officer, then pushed him away, urging him to leave quickly, while positioning himself at the outpost entrance, aiming at the trench corner.

The duty officer hesitated briefly, saluted, and sprinted away.

Rebel soldiers searching for weapons immediately heard the duty officer's footsteps.

"Halt!"

A sharp shout with a thick Paratu accent came from the trench outside the outpost, followed by a figure darting out of the trench corner.

Montecuccoli gritted his teeth and pulled the trigger, a flash of red light, gun smoke engulfed the whole segment of the trench.

Regardless of whether he hit or not, the artillery major grabbed the aide, running to the next corner, snatching the aide's pistol and firing it towards the rebels.

Thereupon, Montecuccoli dragged the aide and withdrew to the next outpost.

Meanwhile, William Lodewijk arrived at the battlefield.

Behind him, the main gate of Domoncos Monastery swung open, soldiers from the United Provinces wielding torches streamed out, rushing towards the landing ground.