Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 826 - 83 Sightseeing_2

Chapter 826: Chapter 83 Sightseeing_2 Chapter 826: Chapter 83 Sightseeing_2 Mason looked around the room and saw two people whose attitudes were relatively positive: one was an old subordinate, and the other was a captive from the disciplinary camp.

“I know you resent me for tricking you to the south bank, forcing you to defend the city.” Mason didn’t pick up on his subordinate’s words but instead looked straight at everyone, openly acknowledging their thoughts. “You might also resent Commissioner Montaigne for not coming to Revodan’s aid.”

The air grew heavier; this was indeed what most of the militia captains thought. It would have been possible to safely retreat to the north bank, yet now they were left to defend the town on the south bank, and everyone harbored grievances.

Mason said politely, “Gentlemen, I have only two things to tell you. If we abandon New Town, we would be cutting off Commissioner Montaigne’s retreat, so New Town must be defended; if Commissioner Montaigne rushed here to help, his entire army would be annihilated, so he cannot come for now.”

Those appointed as militia captains were mostly from the educated gentry class. The majority of them actually understood both points that Mason made. But when it came to themselves, they really didn’t want to.

“Did you understand what I said?” Mason asked gently.

“Understood,” the man with the birthmark and Ivan answered in unison.

...

“Did you understand?” Mason asked again.

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One after another, the militia captains murmured their assent.

“Since you understood, there is another matter you all need to be informed of.” Mason’s expression turned somber. “You are now bound by military law, and cowardice or desertion in the face of the enemy will be punished severely, including but not limited to the death penalty or confiscation of property. We are in a wartime situation, with no defense and no trial. Anyone who tests the law will be executed by my own hand.”

A chill ran through the militia captains. Mason’s tone remained calm, but his resolve was as firm as steel, leaving even the most cowardly with no doubts about his determination.

The group answered again, this time louder and more in unison than before.

After instilling some courage and fear into his subordinates, Mason began to discuss the matter at hand. “The original city walls were designed to withstand muskets, but now that the Terdunians have brought in cannons, the walls need to be thickened. It’s not troublesome; just pile up earth behind the corresponding section of the wall. Mr. Ivan, you will be responsible for this task.”

“Yes!” Ivan stood up quickly and saluted.

The Terdunians currently only have four cannons, yet I hear among the militia that there are rumors, some saying the Terdunians have deployed forty cannons?” Mason thought for a moment and said with a smile:

“Cannons aren’t something to fear; it’s the rumors that grow more frightening the more they spread. Here’s what we’ll do: each militia will take turns visiting the western wall to see both the Terdunians’ cannons and our own. Seeing with your own eyes what they are will help you realize they’re not so formidable. I’ll schedule it so each unit takes turns leaving their posts to have a look.”

The atmosphere lightened a little, and the militia captains agreed one by one.

“The way I see it, the Terdunians showing all this force actually suggests that their main attack isn’t directed at Revodan,” Mason said in the tone of a casual chat among friends. “Given the strength of Revodan’s defenses, they don’t need to rely on such time-consuming and labor-intensive trench warfare.”

Many of the militia captains pricked up their ears; they needed some good news.

Seeing he had captivated the attention of the group, Mason felt words alone were not enough. He pulled out a blank sheet of paper and gestured for everyone to come closer.

Mason patiently began to draw while explaining: “…Considering the earthwork capabilities the Terdunians have displayed so far, they could easily approach the trenches and dig to fill them using a mantlet for cover. Revodan’s walls lack salients, so such trench advances would be superfluous.

“The Terdunians digging trenches to approach signifies they are not in a hurry to attack. But they have come from afar and there are no local supplies to plunder, so they should be anxious. This suggests something is amiss… If I were the Terdunian leader, I would use…”

Mason became more and more animated as he spoke, while the militia captains listened with growing bewilderment. Because the Civil Guard Officer Mason almost didn’t seem like the highest commander of the defense, he seemed to be enthusiastically giving strategy tips to the attacking Herd Barbarians.

“…The city would fall.” Mason ended his talk with the sketching stick still in his hand and smiled at his subordinates. “So, you see, the Terdunians are only at this level—with a half-baked understanding that makes one anxious. There’s nothing to worry about, Revodan has enough people and provisions, not to mention holding out for ten years, but holding out for a month or two should be no problem.”

A crowd of militia captains nodded, though somewhat muddled. They didn’t quite understand how the Civil Guard Officer Mason had deduced that “holding out for a month or two should be no problem.” But the officer’s confident lecture and certain demeanor cast a degree of assurance in their hearts.

With the day growing late, Mason planned to have dinner with the militia captains—though the so-called dinner was just a standard ration of a piece of bread and a bowl of soup.

A messenger ran over and whispered a few words to Mason.

“Oh?” Mason remained composed. “Bring him over.”

“But,” the messenger hesitated.

“Bring him over,” Mason reiterated in a commanding tone.

The messenger saluted and strode off.

“The Terdunians have sent an envoy,” Mason smiled and informed the group of militia captains. “The purpose isn’t hard to guess. Is it to persuade us to surrender or to extort us, offering money and grain for safety?”

The hearts of the militia captains lifted again, and in the eyes of many gleamed a glimmer of hope.