OBS Chapter 713 Upgrade and Iteration
Chapter 713 Upgrade and Iteration
Meanwhile, outside the oak gate on the west side of the fortress, four Yoda officers stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the Heldran officer beside the black carriage.
A Heldran officer placed his hand on the car door, turned slightly to the side, and glanced at the Yoda officers again.
His shoulders were ramrod straight, and for two months he devoted almost all his energy to the newly formed Yoda-style infantry regiment.
As an officer sent by the Kingdom of Heldran to fulfill a military contract, his mission was to train these soldiers, who originally only knew how to wield swords, into combatants skilled in operating gunpowder weapons.
But he never expected that as soon as the training period ended, the flames of war would reach his doorstep, and the soldiers he had personally trained would immediately step onto the battlefield to face the real test.
He withdrew his gaze and swept it over the surrounding Yoda officers.
Their posture was somewhat stiff, their hands gripping the sword hilts unconsciously tightened, and their brows furrowed with barely concealed unease.
It's easy to understand how uneasy these people were. After all, this was the first time Yoda's army had used artillery and firearms on a large scale. No one could be sure whether the results of their training could withstand the test of the battlefield, and no one could predict how this war would end.
He cleared his throat, and his voice carried steadily to the ears of the Yoda officers:
"I have taught you everything I needed to teach."
He paused, noticing the tense expressions on the faces of the people in front of him, and continued:
"Now is not the time to be tense; it is time to test your results."
A Yoda officer pursed his lips, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only let out a barely audible exhale.
The Heldran officer observed this and then said:
"Your fortress has thick walls and a deep moat. Judging by the quality of the artillery that we sold to Midland, even if it is bombarded several times in a row, it may not be easily breached."
He deliberately emphasized his tone, trying to alleviate the oppressive atmosphere.
"Moreover, you also have the same cannons and muskets, so you are no longer in a situation where you can only passively take a beating. It won't be so easy for the other side to take this place."
These words eased the expressions of several Yoda officers slightly, and one of them quietly straightened his back, his eyes showing a hint of confidence.
The Heldran officer didn't stop; his expression turned serious, and his tone became more grave.
"But there is one thing you must remember. The most crucial element in winning this war is neither strong fortifications nor superior weaponry."
He paused for a moment to make sure everyone was listening attentively.
"What soldiers need most is unwavering faith. No matter how many casualties or losses they suffer, they cannot back down in the slightest. They must always think about winning."
"You suffered losses at our hands a few years ago because you couldn't hold on at the crucial moment."
Officer Heldran said no more. He took one last look at the sturdy fortress and at the Yoda officers who were about to head to the battlefield. Then he released his hand from the carriage door, bent down, and climbed into the carriage.
The car door clicked shut, shutting out the outside world and its atmosphere.
The coachman was already waiting on the side. Seeing that the officer was seated, he raised his whip, and the carriage slowly started moving, heading into the distance.
The carriage traveled on for an unknown period of time. The surrounding scenery gradually changed from a desolate wilderness to a sparse forest. After about an hour, the carriage slowed down and finally came to a steady stop in front of an open area.
The coachman gently opened the carriage door from the outside, and Officer Heldran bent down to get out, his eyes immediately drawn to the camp not far away.
The campsite wasn't very large, but it was arranged in a very orderly manner. Several white tents were neatly arranged, and the most eye-catching thing was the white flag with a red cross fluttering in the center of the campsite.
This is the Red Cross, a neutral organization jointly established by the Northern League member states led by Heldran, along with Mitland and Yoda.
The organization's camps were deliberately chosen on the edge of the battlefield, with the core purpose of providing medical assistance to wounded soldiers from various countries. In addition, they also provided officers from various countries with a relatively safe observation point, allowing them to understand the real situation of the battlefield up close.
Two Heldran soldiers stood guard at the camp entrance, scrutinizing the newcomers with serious expressions.
The officer from Heldran took out his officer's badge from his pocket and handed it over. The soldier carefully checked the information on the badge and confirmed his identity before stepping aside to let him in.
He retrieved his certificate and headed straight into the depths of the camp. In the distance, he saw the huge hot air balloon in the center of the open space. The balloon's body was folded on the ground, and several staff members were busy checking the stability of the ropes and basket.
A number of people had already gathered around, all of them officers from different countries. They stood in twos and threes, talking in hushed tones, their eyes occasionally glancing toward the distant battlefield, their faces filled with a mixture of anticipation and solemnity.
"Hurry up, we've been waiting for you."
came a familiar voice.
The Heldran officer looked in the direction of the sound and saw another officer from Heldran waving at him. He quickened his pace and walked over, giving the other officer a brief nod in acknowledgment.
"I thought you were going to be late."
The officer said, pointing to the hot air balloon that was beginning to inflate.
"If we're any later, we might miss the start of the show."
The Heldran officer nodded slightly.
"There was no delay on the way, and we made it just in time."
As they spoke, the hot air balloon gradually expanded as it filled with hot air, slowly unfolding from its original wrinkled state and becoming increasingly larger.
The staff shouted loudly, signaling to the officers that they could climb into the gondola.
More than a dozen officers from different countries entered the gondola one after another, and Officer Heldran followed them in.
The gondola wasn't spacious, but it could still accommodate more than a dozen people. Everyone found a spot and held onto the railing at the edge of the gondola.
After a thorough check to ensure everyone was firmly in place, the staff began to untie the ropes securing the hot air balloon.
As the ropes were gradually loosened, the hot air balloon slowly lifted off the ground, carried by the hot air.
At first, the ascent was relatively slow, but gradually the upward momentum became more and more obvious, the camps and people on the ground slowly became smaller, and the field of vision became more and more open.
The officers eagerly pulled out their binoculars and peered out at the distant battlefield.
Everyone's expression became focused, and no one talked casually anymore; only the soft breathing and the sound of the airflow as the hot air balloon rose remained.
This battle was of extraordinary significance, as it marked the first time that Midland and Yoda had been equipped with gunpowder weapons on a large scale.
Before this, wars between countries mainly relied on cold weapons and a small number of artillery pieces. This time, however, both sides deployed a large number of artillery pieces and muskets. The outcome of this war will directly affect the future direction of military development in various countries. Everyone wants to witness firsthand how powerful gunpowder weapons can be on the battlefield and find a suitable path for their own country's military development.
The Heldran officer adjusted the focus of his binoculars, his gaze falling on the familiar fortress in the distance, the very place he had just left. The fortress's outline was now clearly visible, and on the surrounding plains, two groups of men could be vaguely seen facing each other, the atmosphere tense and ready to erupt at any moment.
His colleague from Helderland, standing nearby, asked him in a calm tone:
"How are Yoda's preparations going?"
At this moment, the Heldran officer was also feeling uneasy. Although he had personally trained that infantry regiment for two months, he knew that training and actual combat were two different things, and he was still somewhat worried.
He rubbed his eyes, his tone somewhat objective:
"Two months is neither a long nor a short time. It can only be said that the soldiers now possess basic combat skills. They can stand in neat formation, use their weapons, and execute simple tactical maneuvers."
He paused and added.
"It should be fine for a defensive battle, since the fortress itself has an advantage. I have repeatedly emphasized to Yoda's commander that they must hold the fortress and use the terrain and weaponry to wear down the enemy. As for how well they can ultimately achieve it, that depends on their performance on the spot."
Just then, a muffled cannon shot suddenly came from afar, instantly causing all the officers in the gondola to raise their binoculars to observe.
The Heldran officer immediately raised his binoculars and looked in the direction from which the cannon fire was coming. He saw a plume of smoke slowly rising from the distant plains.
"It looks like a fight has broken out."
The officers around him also turned their gazes toward the battlefield, their faces filled with focus and anticipation. This highly anticipated battle had finally begun.
"Let's take a good look at how well these two armies equipped with gunpowder weapons are prepared."
No one spoke again; they simply gripped their binoculars tightly, their eyes fixed on the distant battlefield.