Gastens spent four days at that repair shop, refining 40 captured rifles. It's not that he has to use the enemy's weapons to make modifications, it's that the foundation of the 27 style is too thin, and with his ability and the level of materials and workers in the maintenance factory, unless it is redesigned, it will not be possible to make the 27 style change qualitatively. In desperation, Gastens enlisted the regimental commander Charlotte? With Findley's consent, 90 captured Welsh II steam rifles of the Republic of Neglo were obtained, and 40 of them were upgraded, and the effective lethal range of the improved steam rifles was increased to about 80 meters, which was an increase from the original 70 meters of this rifle.

Don't underestimate these 10 meters, with this extra 10 meters, Gastens' team will be able to shoot before the enemy, inflicting as much damage as possible on the enemy and reducing their own losses, while also worrying about losing hits.

"We're leaving, thank you for your help these days."

Gastens naturally has a good impression of the working class, plus the Thomas in front of him? Chairman Gurakos cooperated well with him, and Gastens did not hesitate to show his kindness. He took out the money that Gurakos had given him and returned it to him as it was.

"This is the money you gave me, I know that if I didn't accept it at that time, I wouldn't be steady, but I have also been a worker and a miner, so I naturally know the hardships of our worker brothers, I can't ask for this money, you can take it back."

Gastens's behavior was completely beyond Gurakos's expectations, he hesitated, but was pressed by Gastens in the palm of his hand, "After we leave, this city will be handed over to the management of the Seventh Legion's combat army, I am soft-spoken, I can't help you much, please leave this money where you need it most." ”

Hearing this, Gurakos, who was about to excuse himself, struggled for a moment, accepted the money, he took Gastens's hand and shook it, and did not say anything more. The two sides have different identities and different positions, and it is rare for the two sides to have such a peaceful exchange under such a special environment. Gastens waved at him, took the modified Welsh II steam rifle, and left the factory.

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On the 28th day after the Burning Festival, after occupying the entire territory of the Duchy of Tulucas, Ankenrein officially invaded the Republic of Negro with the 1st, 3rd and 6th Legions of the Western Theater as the main force, six divisions of each legion, a total of 18 divisions, and a huge force of nearly 200,000 people, breaking the magic equilibrium for the first time after 827 years and dragging two of the six great powers into the quagmire of war.

"Your Excellency, we must respond to the Parliament, Ankenrein's army has entered the border, this is no longer a border conflict that can be prevaricated with Tulucas's non-national territory, this is naked aggression!"

Shem, the director of the Sword Mage Tower of the Negru Republic? Sen knelt on the ground and looked at the Grand Magister Piru? Manino. The man who had once stood at the top of the world sat in a rocking chair by the window, his hair was gray and his face was faintly wrinkled.

"I've thought about it, Luke? Brewster is likely to be with that Emperor Paul? Gibson reached an agreement, they dare to start this war, dare to invade our country so unscrupulously, they must have known the exact news of the third great demon tide, but our side's control of the parliament and the army is not over yet, if this curtain is rashly exposed, the power of the Mage Tower is likely to be lost. The only way at the moment is to give Malaktsik full authority for the conventional war, let them fight on their own, and if they win, we can hide this matter for a little longer, and if they lose......"

"If you lose, Negru will be very sad."

Shem? Sen made up for the Grand Magister Piru? Manino will say what is not said. Piru? Marakzik, whose full name is Andrzey, that Manino just mentioned? Malaktsik is the democratically elected president of the Republic of Negro. Unlike monarchical emperors, who have a less strong antipathy towards the Magister, the elected president has less of an antipathy towards the Grand Magister, and the four-year, or at most, eight-year election turns the presidency into a job rather than a property.

"If he loses, Negru will probably die."

"How is it possible, it's a big deal to make peace, our industrial strength is here, and there is also strategic depth, and the reason why they can win is because they beat us by surprise. As long as we are given enough time to ramp up the production of improvised plate armor and Wilson II rifles, we can definitely defeat them", Shem? Sen didn't agree with the Grand Magus, and he argued with reason, looking at the old man in front of him.

"Do you really think that if we lose the first few battles, the other countries will sit idly by?" , Piru? Manino Bishem? Sen saw further, he had already seen through Anken Rein's intention to try a quick victory. As a republic led by the bourgeoisie, the technology and productivity of the Neglo Republic are higher than that of Ankenrein, a semi-slave country. Now that everyone has torn their faces and both sides are transitioning to a wartime economy, the long-term war potential of the Negru Republic is greater than that of Anken Rein. It is precisely for this reason that Ankenrein hurriedly marched into the territory of Negro when he occupied the Duchy of Tulucas and had not yet begun to digest it, not to tear this behemoth out of the wound and let several other countries hear about it?

"You're saying that several other countries will send troops as well?"

"It's hard to say, but I've sent envoys to Loren Robus, the Aronte Empire, and the Franc Third Republic. They will decide what to communicate with these countries according to the situation of the war, and when it really comes to the last resort, we will have to find a way to find the allies for ourselves. ”

"It's still your long-term thinking. Then I'll call back to Mr. President? ”

"Go ahead, tell him to let go of the fight, if he wins, he counts him, and if he loses, he counts mine."

The old man waved his hand weakly and looked at the sky outside the window. Ever since losing his magic, the archmage's favorite thing to do was look up at the sky through that small window, and no one could guess what he was thinking.

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Gastens didn't have much time to think about things, and he was facing a new problem while he was on the march.

"Hey, slave company commander, I've heard that only ten of your men died in the Lufenin River, is it true or false?"

This man who walked beside Gastens on horseback was called Yannick? Dimo, the company commander of the 1st Regiment with Gastens. If he hadn't mentioned it himself after meeting Gastens, Gastens would have forgotten that he still had a relationship with this person. Before leaving Roseville, he reported to the Sixth Corps recruiting office, and the first person to greet him was this guy.

"Hey, you, be careful when you speak!"

Zinke walking beside Gastens? Warren couldn't listen anymore and looked up to accuse, but was Yannick? Dimo scolded back, "Soldier, pay attention to your identity, insulting the commander is a matter of whipping!" ”

"Ignore him, barking dogs don't live long."

Gastens turned his head sideways to appease Zink, but knocked on the side and scolded Yannick? Dimo. This man didn't know where the hostility came from, and when he heard Gastens say that he was a "barking dog", he blew up the nest, chased Gastens and scolded all the way, and then dropped the sentence "I'll go to the head of the regiment" and walked away. Although Gastens was too lazy to scold him, he was also a little unhappy when he was sprayed. He tried to focus on the battle situation in front of him.

Although he has lived through this war twice, Gastens still lacks a global perspective. From his own senses, Ankenrein's forces began to accelerate after leaving the Duchy of Tulucas and entering the borders of the Republic of Negro, and it was clear that they had a clear strategic purpose. In the three days since they entered the Negro border, they have encountered little organized resistance, and this unusually quiet and smooth situation has always given Gastens a sense of unsteady danger. And this sense of danger in that Yannick, who is inexplicably hostile to himself? Dimo was fulfilled shortly after his departure.

They met the regular army of the Neglo Republic.

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"Second Lieutenant Gastens", while sorting out the formation, the regimental commander Charlotte? Findley called Gastens in front of him, "You guys are from the death squad, right?" This time, the other party also used your platoon gun formation, and now our new death squad has not been replenished, so put your company in the first row, is there a problem? ”

Still put the first row? Isn't that still the rhythm of death squads and cannon fodder? Gastens was deliberately against it, but knew he was not good at talking. If an officer refuses to accept an order here, the regimental commander in front of him, who has always looked at him unpleasantly, may directly remove himself from his official position, or even give himself a serious punishment.

"Sir, we're fine! However, if we win, please consider the hard work of the fighters and give us a place in the back row in the next battle! ”

"There's no room for you to bargain here!"

Charlotte? Findley dismissed Gastens' request back, waved Gastens back, and turned away. Gastens reluctantly returned to the team, but just happened to see Yannick? Dimo's gloating eyes. With obvious schadenfreude on his face, the man watched as Gastens left the regimental headquarters.

On the fourth day of entering the territory of the Neglo Republic, the 4th Division, where Gastens was located, met snipers from the troops of the Neglo Republic in the direction of the march. The enemy was massed in a wasteland, and it looked like there were about twenty thousand men. And against them were the three divisions of the Sixth Army that marched along this route, with a total of 30,000 men.

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For the new company commander Gastens, thirty thousand and three thousand were just a number for him. His enemies were always the ones standing in front of him, and his goal was to survive as much as possible. Because Charlotte? With a certain bias on Findley's part, Gastens' company was again placed in the first and second platoons of the firing formation, the first to come into contact with the enemy. In order to maximize the damage and increase the survival rate, Gastens allocated all 40 rifles he had modified to the first row, and he himself stood on the far left of the first row, holding the same modified rifle in his hand. Behind them, in the second row, were teammates with regular Type 27 rifles.

"Head, you have to be careful!" Standing behind Gastens, Zink whispered. Ever since Big Ivan stayed at Strandwood to recuperate from the wounded, Zink has become the closest brother to Gastens.

"Don't worry, I'm sure of myself, you have to trust my skills."

Gastens straightened up, his rifle flat, his elbow off the pressure valve in his lower back. His Welsh II rifle had a higher cylinder pressure and required a longer time to recharge. Opposite him, as far as the eye could see, was the distinctive blue uniform of the Neglo Republic Army.

"Qu—"

The whistle blew, and Gastens led his team forward. Behind him, the thumping drums shook the air heavily, making Gastens feel a little dazed. Beside him, the original daredevils who were wearing the red soldier uniforms of the Ankenrein Empire like him had tense expressions, obviously a little nervous.

"Head, look at the other side!"

Bimbo walking with Gastens? Bobruv – another survivor of the Battle of the Lufinin – raised his chin to the opposite side. Gastens looked from afar and saw that the opposite side was also using the same gun platoon tactics as himself.

There is no impermeable wall in this world, as long as the other party has seen the scene, they will definitely be able to recognize its power, and it is a matter of time before it is imitated. Not to mention the fact that the armored spearmen of the Negro Republic have long begun to use this set of tactics.

Gastens thought as he gave orders to Thomas, who was beside him.

"You'll see what I do and shoot, don't worry about the whistle in the back, understand?"

"Yes!"

Thomas nodded, and the order was delivered.

The two sides approached quickly, and Gastens could already see each other's uniforms and weapons. These enemies were unarmoured, but were also using Welsh II steam rifles, which had to give Gastens a chilling assumption.

If this longer-range, more powerful Welsh II rifle has become standard equipment in the Republic of Negro, how can it be fought on its own side?

The drums continued, and the distance between the two sides was closer. One hundred meters, ninety meters, Gastens roughly estimated the distance, and when he was about eighty meters old, he suddenly stopped, raised his gun and aimed. His teammates, who had already received his orders, did so one after another, aiming their guns at the enemy.

Gastens heard the drums behind him beat two beats, and there were three or four rows of soldiers cursing. But he didn't have the energy to care about these things anymore, there was only one thing in his consciousness.

"Shoot!"

The thumping of gunfire rang out from Gastens, which then spread along his line. The modified Welsh II rifle had a deeper gunshot. Buckshot from the array of Gastens and his teammates rushed straight into the enemy's array, cutting off a piece of it like rye.

With this ten-meter first-mover advantage, the enemy's firepower density was directly taken out by half by Gastens. Gastens yelled, "Change!" and switched places with the people in the second row. At this time, the gunfire of the enemy on the opposite side rang out sparsely. Some of the soldiers on Gastens' side were shot, but many more were given the opportunity to continue shooting.

"Keep fighting! Don't stop! Your mission is to disrupt each other! ”

Gastens placed the steam rifle on the ground and pulled out the lead bullet and ran it into the chamber. He raised his gun again, pressurized, and stepped forward, aiming at the enemies who were getting closer.

"Aim! Shoot!!!!! ”

On the long line where the two armies met, the sound of steam rifles came and went, and the soldiers in blue and red uniforms fell one by one, like lifeless stakes. A gust of wind blew, carrying the moist hot water vapor that filled the air high into the air, leaving behind a disgusting smell of blood that spread everywhere.