Chapter 445 Attack

As soon as it got light, Kakusim arrived at the dock.

Different from usual times, the pier was already filled with silent people, carrying backpacks and spears, like a dense forest standing in the wind and snow. Despite the large number of people, the order at the scene was very orderly. The soldiers boarded the paddle steamer one by one. This posture alone made him feel the silent power.

Kakusim couldn't help but swallow.

These are the warriors of His Highness the Prince.

It’s unbelievable, the old man thought. When he was young, he had traveled through most of Graycastle, from Sea Breeze County to Clearwater Port. He also led a merchant fleet to the fjord islands. He had witnessed the mighty armored knights and also seen the warriors who could fight with bare hands. The ferocious savage beast. To him, those people were undoubtedly extremely powerful warriors, but he did not expect that now in front of a group of ordinary people, he would feel this power again, and even more powerful than before.

Yes, these people are ordinary people... Kakusim has been in Border Town for almost four months, and his understanding of the town is deepening day by day. He knew that the members of the First Army were basically selected from the local aborigines. Most of them were adults when they joined the army. Their previous occupations were various, including miners, hunters, kiln workers and bricklayers, but there were no soldiers. In other words, they have no experience of receiving combat training since childhood.

However, in just a few months, these people have already gained momentum that is not inferior to that of any knights. What kind of magic did His Highness cast?

"You...really want to go?" Vader's deliberately lowered voice came from behind. It was clear that he was also infected by this silent team.

"Otherwise, why would I apply for the position of captain?" Kakusim took a deep breath. 【】

"But they are going to war."

"They are all working for His Highness," the old man said without looking back, "and so am I."

The voice behind him was silent for a moment, "Don't die outside."

He didn't answer anymore, but waved his hand.

…

Braving the falling snow, Kakusim boarded Paddle Steamer No. 6. According to tradition, the captain can name his own ship. Although this strange ship belongs to His Royal Highness, he was still told that he had this power.

It's just that the old man hasn't made up his mind yet.

This is his second time as a captain after more than ten years away from sailing. He hopes he can come up with a memorable name.

"Boss, you're here!" When he walked into the cabin at the bow of the ship, his deputy immediately greeted him. "The boiler is being preheated now. I guarantee that it will start spinning soon."

This young man's name is Barracuda. ​​He comes from the south and has been fishing at sea for several years. If he were in other fleets, he might not even be able to be a sailor, but here it's no problem, everyone is a novice.

"Is the crew all here?"

"We've been here a long time ago, you're the last one," the other person winked.

"If you don't know how to respect a captain, I'll happily let you mop the decks all day."

"No, dear captain," the young man immediately stood up straight, "of course I understand!"

"That's ridiculous," Kakusim said, stroking his beard. "Notify the boiler room and ask them to burn the fire a little brighter, but don't close the damn steam valve. I don't want to hit the front again." Ship’s butt!”

"Okay, I got it." Before he could finish his sentence, Barracuda showed his true colors again. He blinked at the old man and then flew out of the cockpit.

"This bastard," Kakusim smiled and shook his head. The serious atmosphere brought by the First Army was diluted a lot, and he seemed to have returned to the days of galloping on the sea. Walking to the steering wheel, the old man gently rubbed the wooden wheel handle and began to calmly review the operating procedures of the paddle steamer.

The stone ship invented by His Highness is completely different from the sailboat. It has no masts and no cabins below the deck. It only has two rooms in the bow and the middle of the hull. The front one is called the wheelhouse, which can be seen through two large doors. The route can be clearly seen from the window, and in the middle is the boiler room, where the power of the ship comes from.

The rear and tail of the cab are bare decks. During training, they often take some miners with them and go west along the Chishui River to dig some coal at the edge of the Hidden Forest - this stuff is more resistant to burning than firewood. Haifeng County is also a relatively common heating object. Now, shelters were pulled up around the deck and a shed was erected above the head, obviously prepared for the soldiers on board.

Although he had never been exposed to this new gadget before, Kakusim soon discovered during training that it was not difficult to make it move, and it was even much easier than a sailboat. Just the fact that there is no need to adjust the canvas according to the wind direction and strength saves a lot of manpower and time - any villager can keep the boiler burning, but it is impossible to master climbing poles and sailing in less than half a year. thing. As long as the chimney emits white gas, close the valve and the ship will go.

At this moment, a dull whistle came from the front, breaking the early morning tranquility of Border Town.

This is the signal to set off.

"Boss, the water in the stove has boiled!" The barracuda rushed back to the cab.

"Pull the bell to notify Bigfoot and Grizzly Bear to close the gate, speed, and move forward!" Kakusim solemnly gave the order.

"Yes, move forward!" Barracuda pulled a slender wire on the wall. Along this wire, the corresponding bell in the boiler room would tremble to convey the order from the captain.

The hull of the ship shook violently, and the wooden wheels on both sides began to rotate slowly.

Kakusim held the steering wheel and looked straight ahead - when Vader asked that question, he did not say what he really thought in his heart, or in other words, serving the lord was only a small part of the answer.

He just simply likes the position of "captain".

Whether it is a sailboat or a steam paddle steamer, Kakusim will feel sincere joy when holding the steering wheel and riding the wind and waves on the water.

This is the life he wants.

"Pull the sail... No, keep adding coal!" The old man turned the rudder to the right and shouted, "Hold on, boys, we are about to set off!"

*********************

"As long as you can send me to Border Town, the Sirte family will reward you with a lot of money... How about five, no, ten golden dragons," the housekeeper blocked the door of a small wooden house next to the river and asked the boatman who was in a dilemma. asked. His left foot was stuck in the crack of the door, preventing the other party from directly closing the worn door panel and shutting him out.

"S-Sir...it's not that I don't want to send you off, but I really can't do it," the boatman stammered, "Look, my boat has a bare bottom, and it doesn't even have a snow shield. There are no sheds, which is usually fine for crossing the river, but you said you want to go to Border Town, which will take several days! Not to mention whether I can make it there with a pole, it's freezing and snowy at night, where should we sleep? You know, where are we going to sleep? If you want to sleep on a boat, you will freeze into two popsicles all night long?"

"Are there any other boatmen around here who can go to Border Town?" the housekeeper asked reluctantly.

"No more, no more," the other party waved his hands repeatedly, "We are just small boats. Only the fortress has large sailing ships that can stay overnight. You'd better go there to find it."

If you can enter Changge Fortress, why bother to come to the outskirts of the dock to find these boatmen who make a living by fishing and ferrying?

The housekeeper stomped on the snow on the ground. Since the four families began to attack the fortress, all the city gates have been closed. It took him half a day to get around the fortress and get here. Unfortunately, it is still in vain to find it.

It's getting dark now. How can we complete the task assigned by our master?

The housekeeper looked at Chishui River with a bitter look on his face, but he soon froze on the spot.

Oh my God, what is that?

He rubbed his eyes and made sure he saw it correctly - an extremely large fleet was heading towards him. The appearance of the ships was different from the sailboats he had ever seen. In the flying snow, the fleet made a roar. With the sound of rumbling, they advanced rapidly along the river; except for the first odd-shaped sailing ship, the other ships obviously had no sails, but were moving against the wind. The bow of the ship cut the water surface into two sections, as if chopping waves.

The flag of the first ship fluttered in the wind, and the tower and spear emblem embroidered on it was clearly visible. The steward couldn't help but hold his breath. This is the fleet of His Royal Highness Roland Wimbledon! (To be continued.)