Translator: Cinder Translations
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Recently, Paul Grayman received an unexpected delight—his ally, Malon Ganard, recommended a general to him: Baron Andrew Warren.
Last year, during the suppression of the rebellion in Byerldine, he had heard of this baron. It was said that Ankiro and others feared this loyal and valiant vassal so much that they used the pretense of supporting the king to have him removed.
Baron Andrew Warren had always been passionate about military affairs since he was a child. He had gone to the eastern highlands to defend the kingdom, facing countless conflicts with barbarians, and it was there that he earned his knighthood.
After joining the Alden army, his military skills were second only to those of the chief-of-staff, the old knight Schroeder.
Baron Andrew Warren brought back more than four hundred soldiers from the south. With a few additional recruits, they could form a full battalion, saving the staff a lot of trouble. These four hundred soldiers had been in the field for quite some time and had seen bloodshed on the southern battlefield, making their starting point much better than that of green recruits.
According to the staff's plan, some officers were to be assigned to this new "Byerldine Battalion" and it was to be reorganized according to Alden's rules, followed by a three-month training period for new recruits.
At first, Andrew was unwilling to accept this. His soldiers had fought real battles with the rebels in the south, and their battlefield experience far exceeded that of the locals who had only fought pirates. Such "elite" troops should be sent directly to the battlefield to confront the Kent family's forces.
However, after Schroeder showed him the infantry regiment's drill and rifle shooting exercises, his pride was humbled.
The quality and discipline of Alden's soldiers were a significant cut above those of his own, and the "rifle" weapons greatly enhanced their combat effectiveness.
Thus, Andrew complied with the reorganization and training plan and even personally dealt with a few troublemakers.
The "Fourth Infantry Regiment" was thus established.
Paul, based on his "military knowledge" from Earth, had previously suggested dispersing Byerldine's troops and mixing them with other forces, but this was discouraged by Schroeder and others. One reason was that it might cause resentment from Malon and Andrew, and another was that the regiment was still small; it was sufficient to insert officers trained at the "Grayman Military Academy."
…
After a week of rest on the border, the First and Third Infantry Regiments received their long-awaited orders—to advance into Emden.
Two regiments, along with their artillery company, marched into the Kent family's territory.
"You're so bold! Don't you know this is the Kent family's land? I warn you, the great Duke Maltz Kent will surely punish you."
A Kent family steward stationed at a town along the way shouted angrily at them.
Sitting on his high horse, Bryce responded politely, "Sir, please step aside. Don't you know that the Kent family and the Grayman family are at war?"
The steward still refused to move, his face set in anger. "I warn you, the great Duke Maltz Kent…"
Before he could finish, he was pushed into a stinking ditch by Bryce's guards.
The steward's comical struggle drew laughter from the onlookers, but once he scrambled out, everyone fell silent.
Bryce pointed his whip at him, making him tremble. "Go back and tell your master that the Alden army has come to avenge last year's humiliation against the Kent family."
Though he faced a tough situation, the steward knew that no harm was intended toward him. Whether he was lucky or unfortunate, he shrank back and said, "Yes, yes, I will report truthfully," before turning and running off.
Watching the steward's panicked retreat, Bryce proudly raised his whip. "Continue forward!"
The Kent family had many vassals, and the Alden army's route passed through several of their territories. However, as nobles, they were well-informed. They knew the result of the Battle of Biddeburg and that most of them could not resist the Alden army. Many had already fled to Sente City with their wealth and families upon hearing the news of the Alden army's southward advance.
Yet there were still some tough opponents. These small lords had gathered their knights and militias, hoping to use their castles to resist the Alden army.
But these rural lords' castles were no match for the artillery company's cannons.
The artillery company carried large-caliber howitzers designed for attacking strongholds and castle walls. Originally meant for large castles like Biddeburg, they had not been used yet since the Biddeburg lord had surrendered. Now they were being used against the small castles of these rural lords.
The howitzers, with their short and thick barrels, had high arcs and low muzzle velocities, designed to strike targets hiding behind obstacles or to bombard castle walls from above.
During preparation, the barrel was elevated to a vertical angle. A person poured the measured gunpowder into the chamber, followed by loading the shell. Alden's howitzers had shells weighing over 40 kilograms, requiring two to three men to load and position the shells accurately in the barrel, using supports and tools for adjustment. Once in place, the howitzer was set to a 45-degree angle.
The final step was firing. After the howitzers thundered, iron projectiles fell from the sky, demolishing the buildings inside the castle, and some unfortunate people were turned into meat patties.
Often, after one round, the castle's defenders would collapse. After the Battle of Biddeburg, the power of the "Fire Crossbow" and "Thunder Hammer" had greatly intimidated the western lords. Even those hiding in strong castles could not withstand it and had to surrender.
Thus, the Alden army suffered no casualties. They marched along an S-shaped route, expelling the Kent family's local ruling forces and appointing those willing to serve Alden as managers.
Finally, they arrived at a location not far from Bailan Castle. By this time, a small part of Emden was under their control.
Bailan Castle was the residence of the Kent family members, but the Duke Maltz Kent and his son were not there at the moment. They were in Sente City.
The news of the Alden army's southward advance was already on his desk.
(End of the Chapter)
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