"Countdown begins, last debugging, ready to cast!"

The little wizard with a resolute expression shouted loudly.

In the camp along the riverbank, hundreds of engineers hustle around one projectile weapon after another, and alchemists from the Wizards' Guild of the Red Blood Castle assist them in their final checks.

Nearly every trebuchet and ballista in the crowded position was surrounded by at least one centurion - not counting the number of infantry in the phalanx responsible for protecting them.

Master Harlem Van Ashamai, who was standing beside the black-haired wizard, cast a curious gaze as the engineers and auxiliaries methodically operated the "large toys".

The first team of twenty men was responsible for stabilizing the brackets and repairing the gaps, while towing the projection equipment to the designated position with pack horses and livestock;

The second team of 35 people operated the projection device, rotated the chassis and the elevation turntable, aimed the projection target at the designated target, and calculated the range of errors;

The third team of 25 men served as ammunition men, loading heavy crossbow arrows, stone cannons, and fire oil canisters as quickly as required, and changing them on the spot as needed;

And that's just the most common siege ballista, and the number of trebuchets operating on the side has even doubled... But Master Ashamai's attention was not on the engineers, but on the weapons themselves.

"Torsion devices, dials, elevation turntables, projection rulers... All are the masterpieces of the Crucible Academy, the best equipment that can only be seen in the Imperial Legion. A hint of consternation flashed in the corner of his eyes, and Master Ashamai looked at the little wizard in disbelief:

"Lord Ain Rand, have you been to the Broken Mountain Fortress?"

"Huh?"

Ai Yin, who was suddenly asked, was stunned and smiled embarrassedly: "Hmm... Once, I did the alchemist there a small favor. ”

Master Ashamai smiled silently, just by looking at Ain's expression, he knew that it was definitely not "some small favor" - otherwise, how could the Sachland wizards, who had always been xenophobic, easily take out such important military equipment?

"Master Ashamai, do you know anything about these projectile weapons?"

The black-haired wizard asked without looking back, his solemn gaze trying his best to look at the battlefield under the Thousand Tents City in the distance.

"How many alchemists are not interested in this? Haringvan Ashamai asked rhetorically, "It is precisely by relying on these techniques that wizards can also have a place in the Imperial Cabinet of the Heavenly Dome Palace. ”

"What's more, these seemingly 'bulky' weapons mark our future. ”

"Future?" the dark-haired wizard raised an eyebrow.

"That's right, as long as our alchemists continue to research, these projectile weapons will become more sophisticated, cheaper, and more convenient. ”

Harlevan Ashamai's expression was very serious, and he glanced meaningfully at the Byrne knights who were fighting with the centaurs on the riverbank:

"One day, we will be able to have these weapons in the hands of the soldiers, stand three hundred paces away, and instantly fire dozens or hundreds of crossbow arrows that can pierce the armor. ”

"I can foresee that this weapon will eventually turn the sword into a dispensable, the delicate armor into an ornament, and all wars into a brutal contest between three hundred paces to see who can kill the other faster. ”

"Crumple glory into waste paper, make war stiff and rigid, and turn the courage of all soldiers into a joke three hundred paces away—calm killing, which will replace bloody hand-to-hand combat. ”

Haringvan Ashamai, who was muttering in a low voice, was suddenly stunned, shook his head and sneered: "Of course, this is just my imagination at present. ”

"And you, who command the strongest heavy cavalry in the world today, and have inherited the great cause of the Black Duke, probably won't believe these nonsense. ”

Loren frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment and did not answer him.

Contrary... I'm convinced of that.

If it weren't for the upper limit of baggage, Loren would have been planning to increase the number of projected weapons in the army... But it's a pity, not to mention qualified engineers, even qualified crossbowmen can only make up enough for the number of a phalanx.

The development of metallurgical technology made the projectile weapons in Byrne's territory a shortcoming, because ordinary crossbow arrows could not penetrate the armor of the Byrnes at a distance of fifty paces... And if the Byrnes were allowed to rush fifty paces, the enemy crossbowmen would be left with only two options, either flee or surrender.

With an unsettling jolt and the noise of the gears, the engineers had completed the commissioning of all the ballistas and trebuchets.

Turning his head, Loren curled the corners of his mouth and looked at the little wizard with a pretended relaxed look: "How, are you confident?"

The stubborn Al snorted softly, expressing his disdain for answering such a knowingly question.

"Very good, then give our old friend Chakar a little surprise. Loren smiled, and there was a hint of murderous intent in his dark pupils: "Let him see the past and the future, where is the real gap between civilization and barbarism." ”

Nodding vigorously, the little wizard narrowed his eyes full of nervousness, and shouted loudly:

"Launch ——!"

..........................................

The flaming stone cannons dragged their golden-red tails and whistled like meteors tearing through the air, descending from the sky into the siege of the centaur army.

"Boom ——————!!!!"

A deafening explosion sounded, and Chakar's expression was extremely shocked, staring at the "fireball" that landed steadily in front of the city wall.

The earth shook, tongues of fire rolled up with golden red flames and terrible screams, and limbs smashed by stone cannons could be seen falling from mid-air in the splatters of blood.

Dumbfounded, Chakar couldn't believe his eyes.

He also had these bulky "toys" in his army, but none of them could throw stones so far and so accurately ... Five hundred paces away, it can actually land firmly outside the city wall, and it is still the most dense place for the besieging army!

This... Is this a coincidence?!

Soon, he knew.

In the next second, countless fire bolts and stone cannons rose into the air, dyeing the dome a dazzling golden red, and before the centaur army below could be amazed, these brilliant "meteors" fell on their heads like a raging storm.

"Boom ————————!!!!"

The earth shook with loud noises, one after another, and it sounded as if the whole world was about to be turned upside down.

Under the shining firelight, the dense and tidal siege army constantly set off a terrible and miserable wail, blood-red waves, and the roar that filled his ears made Chakar completely stunned in place!

He watched in a daze, watching his opponent, whom he regarded as mortal enemies, slaughtering his men with precision and speed from a distance of five hundred paces in a way he had never heard of.

Those brave four-hoofed warriors, and even many of them were still able to defeat ten warriors, and they died at the hands of this terrible "toy" before they could even see what the enemy looked like and attacked from anywhere!

Gulping and breathing, Chakal's cheeks trembled in twist.

In that moment, he understood—yes, the devil knew that he didn't have enough troops to tear through the blockade of the city, and all he could do was deter and attract attention.

The cavalry and infantry are just bait to attract their attention, and the real hole card is the river in front of you, as well as his trebuchet!

As long as his army did not cross the river, as long as his trebuchet had ammunition and arrows, he could slaughter his men from the other side of the river infinitely, until the morale of the four-hoofed warriors of the two banners collapsed.

And before he ran out of ammunition, the morale of his own people must have collapsed long ago!

As for crossing the river to encircle and suppress... If you have too few troops, you will become the second of Basayeh; Not to mention the risk of being attacked by Bandu, he must first withdraw the besieging army in order to have enough strength to tear through his defense line and smash his "toy".

But in this way, his goal of rescuing the Thousand Tent City was also achieved.

Wait a minute!

Chakar was suddenly stunned, he had just thought of a very terrible truth.

If the other party can reach the city gate from a distance of 500 paces, will it also be possible......

"Boom ——!"

A terrified Chakar jerked back as a centaur trebuchet a hundred paces away exploded in flames, blasting countless sparks.