Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

Chapter 284: Conquest of Fish Tail Town

The cannonballs of the Alda army hammered down on the walls of Fish Tail Town like massive hammers, relentlessly striking one after another.

The hastily repaired walls of the town were clearly not very sturdy. After enduring nearly two hours of bombardment from the navy’s 12-pound cannons, they were on the verge of collapse.

Initially, the defenders hid in the towers, which could resist ordinary arrows and crossbows. However, these towers crumbled easily under the power of the cannons. After being hit by a few cannonballs, most of them collapsed, leaving only a few people still persisting on the walls, while the majority ran in fear to huddle at the base of the walls.

The counterattack from the town’s crossbow cannons initially caused some panic among the Alda navy soldiers. To accurately bombard their targets and minimize the kinetic energy loss of the cannonballs, the navy ships anchored within 200 meters of the walls. At this distance, the defenders’ ordinary bows and arrows were ineffective, but the range of the crossbow cannons could reach them.

For a long time, they had relied on long-range firepower to overwhelm their enemies and had never encountered such a phenomenon.

However, they soon found the crossbow cannons to be less threatening. Firstly, their accuracy was poor due to both equipment and personnel quality. Secondly, there were too few of them – only four in total.

Thus, the navy ships bombarded Fish Tail Town with confidence.

Most of the defenders were deployed to the north of the town in anticipation of an imminent Alda army landing. Given such intense firepower, Viscount Carter believed that the enemy would break through from the north.

At the west gate of Fish Tail Town, only a small squad of soldiers stood guard. The sound of cannon fire from the north river made them terrified.

“The enemy is attacking the west city gate! We need backup, quickly inform the Viscount!” an officer ordered his soldiers in a trembling voice.

Although the battle raged fiercely on the northern river, it was merely a feint by the Alda army. Schroeder’s strategy was “feint in the front, flank from the side.” Two infantry battalions had already landed in the west and, under the cover of the forest, stealthily approached the west gate of Fish Tail Town. After two hours of naval bombardment, they launched their attack.

Viscount Soro Carter was caught in a dilemma, uncertain of where the enemy’s main attack would come from.

While the Viscount hesitated, the second and third infantry battalions suppressed the defenders at the west gate with volley fire. There were too few defenders on the walls, and even fewer equipped with bows and arrows. The artillery then pushed their cannons to within 20 meters of the city gate, where, in the absence of a moat, they found their task quite convenient.

A few shots shattered the gates of Fish Tail Town, and Alda soldiers poured in.

The expected street battles did not occur. When protected by thick walls, the defenders could hold out, but once the attackers breached the city, their morale collapsed.

Five rockets whooshed into the sky and then burst. This was a signal from the army to the navy – the west city gate had been captured.

Holding a telescope, Schroeder saw the army’s signal and, unusually for him, smiled. He then ordered the navy to cease bombardment.

He didn’t direct the navy sailors to provide support to the army through the west gate. According to intelligence, there shouldn’t have been enough forces in the town to withstand two infantry battalions.

After about an hour of waiting, figures appeared on the riverside walls, and the flag of the Grayman family was raised. The water gate was quickly opened.

As planned, Yarman stayed to command the fleet, while Schroeder and Tirpitz led 100 sailors to enter Fish Tail Town through the water gate using small boats.

They landed at the pier on the town’s waterway. The streets were deserted, as the residents had evacuated the area, not daring to stay at home under the attack of the “Thunder Hammer.”

Many collapsed houses were seen, the result of naval bombardment. Numerous cannonballs had flown over the walls, hitting civilian homes inside the town.

Schroeder and Tirpitz met with the two army battalion commanders. “Congratulations on your successful operation. How are the casualties in the army?”

The commander of the Fourth Infantry Battalion, Baron Andrew from Baylding, proudly declared, “We suffered no casualties. As soon as we breached the west gate, the defenders on the walls immediately surrendered. When we advanced to the northern area, we encountered enemy reinforcements, but they scattered after a volley of gunfire.”

This was his unit’s first involvement in an Alda army operation, and its smooth progress exhilarated him.

Schroeder nodded in satisfaction and then inquired, “What about the other directions?”

“We’ve sent people, but we might not be able to intercept Viscount Soro Carter. After all, this was not a siege.”

“It would be best to catch him, but it’s not a big issue if he escapes.”

…

Unexpectedly, Viscount Soro Carter did not flee. When the Alda army found him, he was leading a group of civilians in prayer at the town’s central church.

The civilians in the church were terrified when soldiers burst in, but the bayonets and gunfire quickly subdued them. The leading officer succinctly stated the Alda army’s discipline, promising not to harm their safety or loot their property, as long as they remained compliant.

Schroeder, accompanied by several officers, arrived at the church and found Viscount Soro Carter kneeling before a holy image, eyes closed, quietly reciting prayers, seemingly oblivious to the newcomers.

“Viscount, you have been defeated,” Schroeder announced.

Carter remained motionless, except for his lips moving in prayer. The church’s priest stood awkwardly to the side, glancing nervously between his lord and Schroeder, sweating profusely.

Baron Andrew, from Baylding, called out, “Soro Carter, face reality. Have your family and territory cease resistance.”

Hearing the slightly familiar voice, Carter finally opened his eyes and stood up to stare at Andrew. Being nobles from the Northwestern Bay, they knew each other.

“Baron Andrew, I didn’t expect you to be here too. Well, it makes sense since Baylding joined the alliance against the Duke.”

Andrew advised him, “For the sake of your family, it’s better to surrender. Following a usurper won’t end well.”

Carter straightened his clothes, “Well, since you’re here, I’ll surrender, but only in my personal capacity. My family will not. Moreover, I will only surrender to a fellow noble like you.”

“You!” Claude and Tirpitz, standing aside, were infuriated. Even at this moment, Carter still put on airs?

Schroeder intervened, stopping the two from reacting. With an indifferent face, he said, “Let it be. Colonel Andrew, you will accept the Viscount’s surrender.”

Although Fish Tail Town had been captured, the Carter family’s territories were not limited to this location; there were more battles to come.

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