Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

When the "rebel" signal lights flickered beneath Kingsfort, on Magit Island, the next counteroffensive by Ludwick's troops was already set.

"...No matter how fierce the storm, how tumultuous the sea, until we enter the heavenly rest..."

The United Provinces soldiers selected for the assault team gathered in front of the small shrine, knelt on one knee, and prayed softly following the invocation of the chief officiant.

And the chief officiant was none other than Major William Lodewijk.

After the prayer was finished, the soldiers stood up one after another.

"I have always believed that there is a divine plan for our mortal fates," William Lodewijk surveyed his subordinates and encouraged, "like how He has led you and me to the Kingdom of Galloping Horses, to Kingsfort, to this small island.

"And this time, He revealed our fate through the words of a non-believer. This non-believer is Jansen Cornelius. I have never trusted this man, but some things he said were not wrong.

"If we fail here, the rebels will sweep through South Paratoo. By then, the confrontation between the north and south will be unstoppable, and the flames of war will no longer be confined within Paratuo. The people in the Mountain Front Territory and Vineta, in the Two Mountains Narrow Land, will all be drawn into the war."

Major Ludwick paused for a moment, "So, soldiers, we are not just defending this small island. We are standing firm against a bigger, more unfortunate, more terrible disaster, and that is why He brought us here."

The major's tense face softened slightly, showing a rare tenderness, "You have known me for many years, and I have known you for many years. After dawn, many of us may not be able to meet again. But do not be afraid, entrust yourself to Him, and one day, we will reunite in paradise."

With that, the major stood at attention, gave a salute to his subordinates, "It has been my honor to work with all of you."

The soldiers selected for the assault team stood at attention and returned the salute in unison, then put on their helmets and set out for the attack positions.

From afar, Raymond Montecuccoli, anxiously waiting, finally got a chance to speak with Ludwick.

Since the head of the family was a non-believer, the religious atmosphere at the Army Officer Academy was quite thin. Influenced by this, the artillery director was also very dismissive of religious services such as worship and prayer. He couldn't even remember the last time he entered a church outside of the school.

But the thin religious atmosphere within the Army Academy did not mean the army had a weak religious atmosphere.

In fact, due to the harsh oppression the Protestant believers in the Mountain Front Territory experienced, with a strong rebellious spirit, the United Provinces Army, which mainly recruited soldiers from Protestant believers, was unmatched in its fervor among the Various Republics.

Therefore, even when the situation was critical, Raymond Montecuccoli did not dare interrupt the allied troops' ritual.

Finally, when Major Ludwick finished his sermon, Montecuccoli stepped forward quickly and bluntly said, "I do not agree with the counteroffensive!"

Ludwick cast a frosty glance at the artillery major, "Then what do you suggest?"

"Hold the inner ring," Montecuccoli immediately replied, "and wait for reinforcements."

The terrain of Magit Island is high in the center and low around the edges, and the central high ground is like a terrace, with the Domoncos Monastery situated at the center of the terrace.

After Ludwick's forces landed on the island, they immediately set about expanding the Domoncos Monastery—since the monastery could not accommodate two battalions, they also built a ring of breastworks at the edge of the terrace as the monastery's outer defense works.

So, although Magit Island is small, it has a nested structure of "monastery, breastworks, and trenches."

The "inner ring" Montecuccoli referred to is the second defensive circle located on the terrace and bounded by the breastworks.

After the "rebel" vanguard landed on Magit Island, they did not directly attack the inner ring. Instead, they immediately advanced southward to clear the outer trenches. Thus, the central terrace of Magit Island, as well as the more central Domoncos Monastery, is still in the hands of the Southern Army.

"Major, did you see the rebel's boats?" Ludwick questioned with rare patience.

"What do you mean?" Montecuccoli responded irritably.

"How many rebels do you believe are on the island now?"

This question stumped Montecuccoli. He counted the rebel boats he had seen; uncertain but pretending to be confident, he answered, "A battalion."

"A battalion?" Ludwick's expression was grim, "If those canoes and skiffs were replaced with real ships, the rebels might be able to transport a battalion onto the island in one move. But with those ragged boats on the river, the rebel vanguard is at most two Hundred-Men Squads—that's also why they didn't push their advantage to attack the inner ring. Including the follow-up troops on the island, the rebels have only three Hundred-Men Squads at most. So even though I lost Lieutenant Thomas's Hundred-Men Squad, I still have a manpower advantage."

Ludwick shot a sidelong glance at the artillery major, "In fact, if it weren't for someone, my manpower advantage could be greater. But once the floating bridge is completed, that won't be the case."

Hearing this, Montecuccoli was both angry and ashamed.

The argument that took place earlier on the ramparts of New Town about the "rebel" main attack direction now had an answer—Jansen Cornelius was right, and Raymond Montecuccoli was wrong.

Although the "rebel" was putting on a show of fortifications construction outside New Town, making it look like they were going to storm the trenches, their primary target was still Magit Island—the heavy cannons positioned on the river dike across the banks were solid evidence.

However, judgment is one thing; response is another.

For the Southern Army, the trouble lies in the rebels having timed their new round of attacks on Magit Island impeccably.

The main event of the night was supposed to be at Kingsfort, but the "rebel" clearly did not intend to follow the script of the United Provincials.

To ensure everything was infallible at Kingsfort, the Southern Army Command kept the troops originally intended to reinforce Magit Island temporarily in the city.

And just as the entire Southern Army was focused on the New Town area, the rebels once again attacked Magit Island.

Evidently, Wick Lodewijk was criticizing Montecuccoli right to his face.

The artillery director wanted nothing more than to engage in a duel with the damn Permanent Army major on the spot, but clearly, this was not the time to resolve internal conflicts.

So Montecuccoli suppressed his anger and tried to let reason dominate his mind, "If the rebels don't have cannons, it's no problem to quickly retake the beachhead. But the rebels now have cannons set up across the river, which makes the situation completely different!"

"Then we'll all be counting on your cannons," Ludwick coldly responded, "Major."