The sails of the fleet gradually disappeared on the edge of the sea and sky, and they could no longer be seen.
This time, there were only three battalions of 9,000 people who went to Hilovas Island for reinforcements. There were too few ships to transport that many. If it weren't for the addition of eight whaling ships, even if Sembwood's fleet had two more large ocean-going armed merchant ships newly launched by the Niujiao Bay Shipyard, the maximum number of troops transported at that time would be more than 4,000 people.
Lorist originally wanted to lead the team in person, but was dissuaded by Bodfinger and other subordinates. Bodfinger said that you can't let your lord charge forward alone in everything, and we as retainers sit back and enjoy the rewards, that would be a disgrace to us knights.
What's more, with the slave traders and slave catchers of the Kingdom of Haneyabad and their disposition, they rob and plunder a place and rarely stay for more than a month. Maybe when the fleet arrives at Hilovas Island, the island has already been empty. My lord, it’s a waste of time to run away for nothing, why not wait for our news in the family territory and deal with the family affairs, always running outside will delay many things in the family territory...
Bodfinger said it tactfully, but Lorist understood what he meant, he would be safe here in the Northland, and if he didn't stay in the family territory for a long time, maybe the three allies would think something. At the end of last year, Bodfinger and Manager Speer came forward to receive the gathering of the four families. This year, I have to show up no matter what.
As for what Lorist is worried about is going to Hirovas Island to meet the enemy, Bodfinger smiled and said that it is no big deal. According to the reports of the family soldiers and guards from the 3rd Guards Battalion who survived, the enemy's The large army is a mob, and the only thing to worry about is those few great sword masters. But this time, there were two heavy armor battalions and one single-wheeled crossbow battalion going to Hilovas Island. After forming an army formation, it was guaranteed that even the great swordsmen would not dare to face their front.
Bodfinger believes that if the enemy is few or has already left Hilovas Island, the strength of the three battalions going this time will sweep the entire island and deal with the aftermath. If the enemy is still entrenched on Hilovas Island, then Bodfinger and the others will step up their camp, occupy a place to deal with the enemy, and wait for follow-up reinforcements. At that time, with the speed of Chenxi's Flying Fish, it will only take about ten days to bring Lorist to the island.
Together with the fleet, five Golden Knights of the Norton family headed to Hilovas Island for reinforcements. In addition to Bodfinger, Josk and Sambawood, there were Tiger Ross, who was stalking and insisted on going, and the newly promoted Golden Knights. Yuri of the Knights. In addition, there are two people with special missions, Tagle and El who are in charge of forming the Volibear Investigation Bureau.
Lorist's order to them was that if Hilovas Island was recovered, they would go to Morente City, and through the Petersen Chamber of Commerce to the Kingdom of Haneyabada, to find out the whereabouts of those captives and find a way To save the captured family knights and civil officials, the most important thing is to find the whereabouts of Fatty Shi and others, and by the way, investigate the military power of the Kingdom of Haneyabada and the situation of all the big slave owners, slave traders, and slave catchers...
The sea breeze was blowing head-on, with a faint smell of the sea. This is the cliff shaped like a cow's horn in Niujiao Bay. It is this semi-circular cliff that encloses Niujiao Bay, forming a quiet bay that is not afraid of the strong wind and waves outside. The family used nearly a thousand labors to dig a road leading to the top of the cliff, and planned to build a lighthouse on the edge of the cliff, so as to bring light and guidance to the lost ships in the dark night without silver moon.
Lorist went to the top of the cliff to see off the fleet on a long voyage, to see the location of the lighthouse, and to see if he could build a fort on the cliff in the future. We are not afraid of foreign fleets attacking Niujiao Bay and the harbor city.
The fleet had gone away, and Lorist went to the inside of the cliff, looking at the harbor city and Niujiao Bay below.
The harbor city is still bustling with people coming and going from various construction sites. The setbacks the family suffered on Hilovas Island did not affect the development and construction of this emerging city. This time, Lorist arranged the more than 700 residents who escaped from Bainiao Town here. Two days ago, I heard the cries of those refugees missing their loved ones from time to time...
On the other side of Niujiao Bay is a shipyard that is getting bigger and bigger. Looking down from the top of the cliff, you can see the keels of five ships lined up in the open space of the shipyard. Countless workers are like ants around food. Working hard around the five keels, in a few months, these five new ships will be launched into the family's cutting-edge warships.
On the wharf of Niujiaowan Shipyard, there is still a warship similar in appearance to Dawn's Flying Fish but bigger. One hundred and twenty-eight players selected from the list are familiarizing themselves with the maneuverability of this new ship. After Sambawood returns this time, the Storm will be equipped with twenty-four bronze cannons, making it a veritable storm at sea. , an invincible warship...
"Malek..." Lorist said, "This time I want to transfer half of the veterans from your Chariot Steel Crossbow Corps to join the One Wheel Steel Crossbow Corps to speed up the formation of the One Wheel Steel Crossbow Corps. The Crossbow Corps is deployed to Hilovas Island."
The expressionless Malek was silent for a moment, then replied, "May I make a suggestion, my lord?"
"Oh, tell me." Lorist didn't expect the so-called iron-faced Malek to say that, and was taken aback for a moment.
"My lord, I know that Dolles is very close to you, but the burden you put on him is too heavy, and he has been running around with you all the time, which is not good for his personal cultivation." Malek hesitated for a while and continued. Said: "Dolles used to be the deputy commander of the Chariot Steel Crossbow Corps. As my deputy, I know him very well and have fought against him. His talent is good, but he stays at the silver three-star rank. It's been too long, and he hasn't made any progress for three years. What he needs is time, to train himself well, so that he can be promoted to the gold rank within two or three years.
My lord, I understand your intention of forming the One-wheeled Steel Crossbow Corps. You will not let go of those big slave owners and slave traders in the Kingdom of Haneyabada. The day the One-wheeled Steel Crossbow Corps is formed will be your expedition to Haneyaba the days of the kingdom. I hope that my lord can exchange places between Dolles and me, and let me be the commander of the One-wheeled Steel Crossbow Corps and follow you on the expedition.
My lord, I think this is the best of both worlds. The Chariot and Steel Crossbow Corps is responsible for the defense and attack missions of the Northland family territory. In the past few years, the Northland has been dominated by our Norton family and the three allies. In the next few years It is also calm and there will be no disturbances. As the commander of the Chariot Steel Crossbow Corps, Doles happened to have time to practice hard and improve his personal cultivation... "
"Puchi..." Lorist couldn't help laughing. After all, Malek couldn't stand the loneliness because he stayed in the Steel Crossbow Corps and didn't fight, but the excuse he made was quite reasonable. It's time for Les to train hard and get promoted to the Gold Rank early, so that Lorist will use him again and no one will gossip and he won't be able to hold back his position.
"Why do you think I'm going to conquer the Kingdom of Haneyabad?" Lorist asked.
"My lord, we are the roaring and angry bears of the Northland. The family has never been slapped with a big mouth and endured silently. From what I know about my lord, I don't have the kind of character to swallow my anger. My lord must come back for revenge. Judging from the way your lord executed those captive sailors of the Kingdom of Haneyabada, this revenge will not only be doubled but also cruel..." Malek replied.
"Uh..." This sounds so awkward, doesn't it mean that I am narrow-minded and must take revenge? Lorist frowned and thought about it for a long time, before deciding to give up thinking from this aspect. Malek is still very clear about his character, and his character is just like this, straightforward and honest.
"Well, Malek, in fact, I have another purpose for letting you be the commander of the Steel Crossbow Corps. There are only a few of you in the family of Golden Knights. Although there are more Terman, Yuri and Sambawood now, But I don’t think it’s enough, putting you and the Chariot Corps on the family territory is to use your reputation as a golden knight to make others dare not underestimate our Norton family’s family armed forces.” Lorist said.
"My lord, there were two Lancer regiments from Tiger Ross stationed in Xing'an Yuan and Honghe, and there was Rock Castle in the back. The front and rear walls of Rock Castle formed another garrison brigade, and there were Paul Bins' guards in the castle. The first battalion, and the first battalion guarding the warehouse, and Terman's Knights are also there. No one dares to underestimate our family's armed forces.
The Chariot Steel Crossbow Corps has always been kept secret from the outside world, and only the three allies know a little bit, so it doesn't matter if I'm there or not. If my lord switches places between me and Doles, it can just stimulate Doles and let him understand that if he is not promoted to the gold rank, he will not be able to reuse him, so that he can work hard and practice hard... "
Well, Malek even used aggressive methods to achieve his goal.
Lorist laughed: "Okay, Malek, you've convinced me, I'll transfer Dolles back when the Silovas Island incident is over, and you'll be the commander of the One-wheeled Steel Crossbow Corps. Then You have to pay close attention to the transfer of veterans from the Chariot Steel Crossbow Corps this time, but don’t overdo it, so as not to affect the combat effectiveness of the Tank Steel Crossbow Corps.”
"Yes, I understand, thank you sir." Malek stood at attention and saluted.
After getting off the cliff, Lorist took Schwader and a team of guards to the valley where Professor Bob's gunpowder laboratory was located in the Blade's Edge Mountains.
After entering the valley, Professor Bob rushed over when he saw Lorist coming, and shouted at the top of his voice, "Master Earl, I can't take it anymore, either you change the place where the artillery is fired, or you mess up my laboratory." Go somewhere quieter!"
Uh... This is another mistake. The valley where Professor Bob’s gunpowder laboratory is located is not wrong for Professor Bob to do gunpowder experiments, but who puts those cast bronze cannons here to train gunners? I can't stand the constant gunfire...
"Okay, I'll ask them to change places right away!" Lorist also shouted, scratching his neck, otherwise no one would have heard what he was saying.
He waved his hand and asked Schwader to go over and order the gunners to stop practicing artillery firing, and to be quiet first.
Finally, the sound of the guns stopped, and there was a strong smell of gunpowder in the air.
Master Cid came down from the artillery range with Master Julien, both wearing face scarves and earmuffs.
"Your Excellency, you are here." Master Sid said while taking off the earmuffs: "It's too quiet, and I'm not used to it without the rumble."
"You two are crazy!" Professor Bob muttered loudly.
"Haha..." Master Sid and Master Julien both laughed.
"My lord, the thirty-six bronze cannons that have just been cast have all been tested, and they are all qualified. Now they are handed over to the new gunners for practice. Master Sid has added an aiming device to the bronze cannon, and the gunners have mastered it very well. Come on, you can already hit five or six out of ten shots." Master Julien reported.
"Thank you for your hard work." Lorist asked after thanking him: "By the way, have you produced the recoil gun mount I mentioned? These bronze cannons are going to be installed in the gun bay on the ship. Not on land, where such heavy solid gun mounts are needed."
Master Sid replied: "My lord, we did get it, but it's not the steel wire spring retracting gun mount you described. We failed many times with that kind of wire spring. Later, Master Falin thought it could be used for reference. The belt made of tendon leather used to restrain the large ballista can also achieve the purpose. We are experimenting just now, and the effect is pretty good so far, and there is no large displacement when the artillery is fired."
"That line, first equip the twenty-four bronze cannons with the same recoil mounts, transport them to Niujiaowan and install them on the Storm, and let the gunners board the ship for practice. The other twelve bronze cannons will also need to be practiced in another place. , don't disturb Professor Bob here." Lorist said.
"By the way, my lord, there is another problem. Those gunners reported that it is useless to shoot accurately on land. When on a ship, the ship fluctuates with the waves. At that time, ten rounds may not be able to hit. So the gunners think that now It’s useless to aim well and shoot far away when you’re on the boat, what can you do?” Master Sid asked.
"Huh? This is easy to solve." Lorist watched a movie about the development of the Russian Navy during the Tsarist period in his previous life. Facing the sea, build several large swing frames, the area of which is the same size as the gun bay on the ship. Move the bronze cannons to the swing frames, and put some small boats or wooden models on the sea surface of hundreds of meters, as long as they can float on the water, the artillery These are the targets for launching. When launching, shake the swing first to simulate the ups and downs of the sea, so that the gunners will gain experience after practicing more, and they will be able to shoot accurately at sea in the future... "
For the next ten days or so, while Lorist was busy with the training of the sailor gunners of the Battleship Tempest, he also dealt with the affairs of the family territory at the port, and then anxiously waited for Bodfinger and the others to send back the news of reinforcements on Hilovas Island. .
There is also good news in the territory. Papa Barek worked hard in the paper workshop for more than a month, and finally produced white paper. Lorist rewarded the person who researched this white paper, and then told Barek Papa Lek expanded the production workshop of this kind of white paper to form a series of production structures. For example, the waste from producing this kind of white paper is just used to make toilet paper, and then set up a paper cutting factory to make toilet paper from this kind of white paper. Folders of various specifications, notepads, blank albums and other finished products are then taken out for trading.
In addition to the success of papermaking, Mancheni technicians at the glass production base also brought two new products to Lorist. One is a magnifying glass with a gold frame, and the gold handle is also carved with exquisite patterns. Needless to say, it must be the handicraft of that old silversmith.
The second thing is that technician Mancheni used oil glass to make a pair of exquisite transparent teapots and teacups. After Lorist rewarded him heavily, he pointed out that the transparent teapots and teacups look very simple and elegant, which may not be very appealing. Some nouveau riche like it, if they can engrave some exquisite golden silk patterns on the rim of these teapots and cups, then the price of these transparent tea sets can be raised and sold at a higher price. Technician Mancini left inspired.
Another seven or eight days later, just when Lorist was looking forward to seeing it through, Dawn's Flying Fish appeared in the distance, speeding towards Niujiao Bay.
…