"Your Highness, there's a team stationed at the docks," reported Lightning, who was responsible for monitoring the enemy. "There are about 100 of them, and they look like militia."
"Only 100 people?" Roland was a little surprised. It was not surprising that Timothy would set up a defense at the suburban docks. The huge fleet passing through Redwater City and Silver City was bound to be noticed. Although steamships were much faster than sailing ships, and it only took them five days to complete the journey that took the latter a week, it was still not as fast as messengers who changed horses day and night, not to mention carrier pigeons. If the new king's spies used carrier pigeons to send messages, Timothy would probably receive the news two or three days in advance.
However, it was surprising that the other side only sent 100 people to guard the docks. According to Roland's plan, the first battle would take place near the docks. In order to prevent his troops from landing smoothly, they would have stationed crossbowmen and musketeers on both sides of the river. They might even have set up catapults. This was also why he wanted to build river gunboats before the spring offensive. Waterway transportation was far more efficient than land transportation, but it also had the disadvantages of docking and being easily ambushed. However, with the ability to attack land, he could easily defeat the enemy's ambush and open up a safe landing site.
It seemed that the other side had given up the "huge advantage" of attacking halfway across the river. It was correct in the end, but it was unreasonable — Timothy could not possibly know the range and power of the 152mm naval gun.
Thinking of this, Roland called Sylvie over and asked, "Did the militia carry any Berserk Pills?"
Sylvie summoned the Eye of Magic and observed for a while. "I didn't find any pills. Some of them were not even fully equipped with weapons, but... there seems to be something strange in the ground."
"In the ground?"
"They buried something under the ground... on the docks, too." Sylvie frowned. "They were earthen jars and barrels... filled with black and gray powder."
"This is... gunpowder?" Nightingale could not help but ask.
"So that's how it is, then it makes sense," Roland said, pretending to be relaxed. "The militia of a hundred or so people was just bait sent by Timothy to attract our attention. His real purpose was to let us seize this rare opportunity to land on the shore, capture the dock, and then detonate the gunpowder, sending us and the dock to heaven."
Although he said it casually, he did not think so. This kind of tactic similar to the ancient landmine war was indeed a good plan. Even if he knew something was wrong, he would still have to get off the boat. Since they had chosen waterway transportation, the docks were the only way, and Timothy was obviously aware of this. However, he did not intend to defend directly, but set an ambush in the dark to catch him unprepared. If it weren't for Sylvie, he might have really suffered a great loss.
However, since they had been discovered in advance, it was still very easy to solve the problem. Without wireless detonation technology, Timothy would inevitably arrange people to ignite the gunpowder near the barrels. As long as they got rid of them in advance, everything would be fine. No matter what, they had to protect the docks. Otherwise, it would be difficult to transport the cannons and ammunition onto land.
Under Sylvie's careful observation, Roland found two possible ignition points. One was in a shack by the dock, and there was a metal pipe underground that led to the nearest barrel of gunpowder. The other was in the warehouse at the dock. What they had in common was that both of them were moving black holes created by the God's Stone of Retaliation.
After discussing the results with Iron Axe, the battle plan was quickly finalized.
First, Nightingale would sneak into the warehouse and kill the igniter without anyone noticing. Then, she would guard the door to prevent the substitute from breaking in and igniting the gunpowder. After that, they would use the ship's cannons to destroy the shacks. Even if it caused the underground explosion in advance, it did not matter — as long as the dock was safe.
Leaning on the west wall of the capital, Steelheart Knight Weimar raised his telescope and observed the movements on the canal.
The slender canal was like a glittering golden ribbon, shuttling through the brown and white plains. Most of the snow had melted, revealing the tender green of the earth. It was the germination of grass, and it was also the proof of the revival of all things. Such a scene was so pleasing to the eye no matter when it was. The only thing that did not match was the black smoke floating above the canal.
That was the fleet of the rebel king, Roland Wimbledon.
He did not expect that he would actually dare to attack King's City.
This amused Weimar, but at the same time, gave rise to a trace of admiration.
Ever since the establishment of the capital, it had never been attacked in more than two hundred years. Any enemy who saw its majestic bluestone walls would not have the courage to attack. Not everyone had the guts to fight in a place where the enemy had the most advantage.
At least, King Timothy Wimbledon did not.
Unfortunately, the other party was his enemy.
The Knight respected honor. As the Guardian Knight of King's City, he had been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the capital, and he had to fulfill his duty to the end.
"Sir, the rebel king's fleet is here!" A squire ran to the top of the city wall.
"Don't shout, I've already seen it." Weimar put down his telescope and spat. "Pass down my order. The First and Second Cavalry Squads are to be on horseback behind the city gate. As for the mercenaries, let them follow the cavalry closely. When the gunpowder explodes, don't wet your pants. Also, start the frying pan, although I don't think they have the ability to touch this wall. "
The surrounding Knight burst into laughter.
According to the plan, when the rebel king's troops occupied the dock, the flag on the city wall would be raised. At that time, the strong snow powder buried near the dock would be detonated, causing the enemy to suffer heavy losses and chaos. At that time, the city gate would be opened and the cavalry would charge, and victory would be decided.
"Those country bumpkins of the Western Region probably think that King's City is like their most magnificent fortress, Longsong Stronghold, and that they can take it by building a wooden ladder," Iron Feathered Knight Carr echoed. "I think you can save the firewood and bring it home to burn."
"It's better to be prepared." "What an idiot," Sir thought to himself. Even if things like boiling oil and rolling stones were useless, he still had to show them to His Majesty Timothy. Because if the enemy couldn't break in, he would be kicked out of the King's City Knight Regiment sooner or later.
He raised his telescope again and saw that the unmanned ship at the front of the fleet had left the fleet and was sailing toward the dock alone. The black flames on its head could be seen from miles away. There were no oars on the side, so it was unclear how it moved. But it didn't matter. No matter how strange the ship was, it couldn't go ashore to fight.
The ship gradually slowed down and finally came to a stop on the other side of the dock.
"What do they want to do?" Si Carr raised his eyebrows. "Do they want to land on the other side of the river? Don't tell me that the rebel king is frightened by the militia of a hundred soldiers? "
Weimar was also surprised. Normally, people would try to occupy the dock as soon as possible when they saw that the defense of the dock was so weak. He opened his mouth and was about to say something when the front end of the strange ship suddenly lit up.
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