Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

The reason Winters and his companions had a map was because it had been drawn by Colonel Jeska.

And as for drawing maps for subordinates, Colonel Jeska was the only one in the Paratu army to do so.
Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

"Keeping it secret is only fair," Bard remarked, as he began gathering up the map, "Dismissed, dismissed, everyone hurry back and rest."

The oil lamp was extinguished.

In the pitch dark, Andre's disgruntled voice could still be heard: "Walking, walking, walking, every day it's nothing but walking; we don't even know where they're taking us. I'd rather have some Herders to provide us with a little amusement."

His wish came true.

On the eleventh day, Jeska's troop encountered the Herd Cavalry.

Very few people saw the Herd Cavalry, but the majority heard clear gunfire.

The moment the rearguard's scout guns sounded, several Dusacks at the tail of the column immediately leaped onto their saddles and galloped toward the source of the gunfire.

As the closest officer, Winters was the first to reach the rearguard. He could only see the Dusacks' figures growing more distant.

"Who went?" Winters asked sternly.

"Mr. Mitchell," replied a Wolf Town militiaman, "and Vasya. All the Dusacks from their tent went."

Andre, with a couple dozen Dusacks, quickly arrived as well.

"What's happened?" Andre asked.

"The scout gun fired, nothing else is known," Winters replied.

During their conversation, Pierre and the others had already crossed the hill, vanishing from the others' sight.

"Don't just stand there gawping!" Andre cracked his whip in a circle, commanding loudly, "Let's go and see! Keep up with me!"

Before his words had finished, Andre took the lead, charging up the hill. The other Dusacks did not hesitate, urging their warhorses to follow closely behind.

Colonel Jeska was the third officer to arrive at the scene.

The colonel's one good eye scanned the desolate surroundings. With a somber voice, he asked Winters, "Herders?"

"Don't know," Winters shook his head, "Lieutenant Cherini has just led his men there."

"They're probably just a few scouts; tell your men to keep moving. There's no need to stop."

The thunderous sound of hooves approached from the distance, as a squadron of Cavalry assigned to the vanguard sped towards them rapidly.

The Piaoqi Troops swept past Jeska's column like lightning, heading straight for the hill behind.

"Wipe out those Herd barbarians!" a militiaman shouted after the Piaoqi Troops.

Theoretically, his voice should have been completely drowned out by the sound of the hooves.

However, that shout reached the ears of the Piaoqi Troops.

One Piaoqi Trooper removed his elegant cap and waved it towards the Jeska's column's militiamen as if to say "Watch what we can do."

Cheers suddenly erupted from the ranks of the militiamen.

Colonel Jeska murmured softly, moved, "Life and death... life and death."

"What was that?" Winters asked, not quite catching it.

"Nothing," Colonel Jeska glanced at Winters and instructed, "Keep your men moving. No need to set up defenses—the Herders won't catch up so quickly."

Winters nodded, using a spell to amplify his voice to order his troops: "Keep moving! No stopping!"

The elegantly-dressed Piaoqi Troops also disappeared behind the hill. The vanguard didn't have time to wait for them and continued marching forward resolutely.

About an hour later, more Cavalry appeared behind Jeska's column—Paratu's Cavalry.

"Five men," Pierre reported to Winters, leading three horses, "all taken care of."

"Well done. Those two horses you've seized, keep them for yourself," Winters responded.

Pierre saluted and left.

Five Herd light cavalry collided with Jeska's column and were all killed.

For the Paratu side, only the signaling scout and the first six Dusacks who had arrived actually engaged in combat; the rest were left trailing behind, eating dust.

The Piaoqi Troopers chased for a while but soon returned.

Andre pursued relentlessly, but in the end, he caught nothing but frustration and anger.

Returning, he poured out his grievances to Winters, "The Herders run like rabbits; five of them scattered in all directions. Pierre, that boy, chased two by himself. I was worried he'd be at a disadvantage, so I followed. And what does he do? Doesn't even leave one for me!"

"Herder scouts have already closed in on us; their main force won't be far behind," Winters gently stroked his steed's mane. Now he understood clearly: "Life and death... Pushed into this position, it's life and death..."

"Eh? What? Did you listen to what I said... I was talking about Mitchell!"

...

Twenty kilometers to the southwest of the vanguard, atop a hill.

Regardless of cavalry, infantry, or sappers, all of Paratu's field officers were present, with two generals at the center, surrounded by the officers.

"Well, well! Terdun, Haidong, Suz—all present! The rest are just rabble, barely worth mentioning. Just perfect for a good fight!" General Alpad laughed heartily. He reached into his breastplate intending to grab his flask, but found nothing.

A bit uneasily, Alpad shook his hand and declared spiritedly, "We still have to fight one more battle to break free. It has to be a fierce one. Knock out the Herd barbarians' front teeth, make it clear to them who's the Hunter and who's the prey."

"General Alpad and I have already discussed this," Sekler's voice was steady and articulate, "Our situation now is very similar to when we were outside Bianli City. Without repelling the pursuers, even if we want to retreat, we can't escape. The ones biting at our heels are just the vanguard of the various Herd tribes, and this is a battle we can fight."

Sekler pointed to the river valley and woodland in front of them: "This place is good. Let's engage the Herders right here."