ATPnovel Chapter 48 Preparations Before the War
Chapter 48 Preparations Before the War
As soon as Old Yar gave the order, all the villagers of Duanpo Village sprang into action.
The bright full moon hangs in the sky, its gentle light bathing the earth.
The villagers don't need to light extra torches to see the road clearly.
This rare light added a touch of order and structure to what was originally a hasty operation.
Old Yar, leaning on his iron cane with a sword hanging at his waist, hunched over as he hurried through the streets and alleys.
He carefully examined the deployment.
Even before the villagers gathered, he had already sent his messengers to the stronghold...
Even if he lends his old horse to the messenger, it will still take half a day to reach the lord's stronghold!
Duanpo Village is located in the heart of the Ganders Fortress and has never experienced a large-scale bandit attack for many years.
The village had neither thick wooden walls nor any protective moat.
The sparse wooden fence could barely keep out wild animals in the mountains, but it was no match for groups of ruthless bandits.
Fortunately, the village is surrounded by stone-walled houses, and these low houses built of bluestone can provide some protection.
Everyone!
Place obstacles at the large gap!
Everyone brought out broken carts, broken doors—anything usable—to block the gap!
Old Jardine's shouts echoed through the streets and alleys.
The villagers readily obeyed the instructions and moved heavy, large objects to block the main gap in the alley.
The blocking was only to block the larger gaps, in order to divide and dilute the intensity of the bandits' attack and prevent them from overwhelming the enemy with their numbers...
Old Yal specifically instructed that an emergency exit be left open; completely blocking all the exits would be tantamount to suicide...
As he patrolled the area, his brow remained furrowed, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings.
"Cheer up, everyone!"
We don't know which direction the bandits are coming from, so we need to be on alert everywhere and ready to support other areas at any time!
Upon reaching a fence, old Jarl stopped in his tracks, his face instantly darkening.
A group of young girls who should have been packing their bags were seen...
At this moment, they might be holding a sharpened wooden spear or a wood-chopping knife.
They all followed closely behind the other militiamen and guarded this place.
Even though they appeared stubborn and tenacious, their faces had turned pale and their eyes revealed a deep fear.
Several elderly men sat nearby, their backs bent like boiled shrimp!
They gripped their pitchforks tightly, determined to stay within the defensive line!
These elderly men are among the few remaining senior citizens in the village.
Although not much older than the over-sixty-year-old Jarre.
In the chaotic world of Pande, it is extremely difficult to live to this age!
Such elderly people are rare among ordinary people.
"Nonsense!"
"This is utter nonsense!"
Old Jarl roared angrily, his voice filled with barely suppressed rage.
He strode forward, pointed at several still-young boys and girls, and shouted sternly:
Why are you all getting involved?!
There isn't even a decent piece of armor!
Have you slaughtered sheep before?
"If a real fight breaks out, it's just throwing your life away!"
"If you all perish here, what's the point of defending the village!"
"Go back and pack your bags!"
Under old Yar's repeated rebukes and threatening gestures with his cane,
The teenagers panicked and ran back to the village.
Old Yar's gaze fell on several old men, but before he could speak, one of the old fellows spoke first:
"Rolf, it's none of your business."
We're old and can't walk anymore, but while we still have some strength, at least we can still wield our spears!
"Yes, we're not leaving!"
Seeing the stubborn old folks' attitude, old Yar rubbed his temples and muttered, "They're all this age, they should rest..."
Unable to persuade his old companions to leave, Old Yar sighed deeply and turned to continue his patrol.
Turning around and arriving at the end of the village, the scene before him made his heart tighten.
The open space at the end of the village was already in complete chaos.
The women carried bulging bundles on their backs, and held uncontrollably wailing infants in their arms.
Older children are already able to help with some of the family's burdens.
They carried cloth bags that were almost as big as themselves, their little hands tightly clutching the hem of their parents' clothes.
Some of the older children were leading sheep, and some were even leading cows!
Old Yar saw that near the entrance of the "Three Musketeers Blacksmith Shop," a big boy was leading five old sheep all by himself!
Seeing this scene, old Jarl felt an indescribable sense of powerlessness welling up in his heart!
He wanted to reprimand the villagers for traveling light, but the words wouldn't come out.
These cattle and sheep, these grains and clothes, are the villagers' life savings!
It is the foundation of their survival on this land!
If we were to abandon everything and leave all our possessions to the bandits,
The bandits will burn down the village, burn down the small boats they depend on for survival, and destroy all the real estate they own!
Even if they escape to the back mountains and avoid the bandits, they will become destitute vagrants!
Once you become a vagrant, there's almost no chance of turning your life around!
Old Jarl was powerless to stop it; a chaotic and desperate feeling swirled in his mind.
Doubts and a sliver of wishful thinking crept into my mind:
Is Rogge's information really accurate?
Could it just be a false alarm?
Doing this would come at too high a cost!
……
Old Yar shook his head vigorously, forcing himself to stay awake and suppressing his doubts for the time being.
Looking up at the moon, the full moon hung in the sky, and it was estimated that there were still one or two hours until dawn!
The early hours of the morning are the perfect time for the bandits to launch their attack!
A chill ran through him, and old Jarl's heart sank completely.
In this half-day period, only one or two hours are extremely dangerous!
He could only pray silently, praying that the bandits would arrive later, giving the villagers some time to evacuate...
……
Meanwhile, at the edge of the dense forest north of Duanpo Village.
Roger, God, and Virgil were squatting in a ditch beneath a withered tree.
This is an extremely inconspicuous nook and cranny; even if someone passes by, it's almost impossible to spot someone lurking inside without careful observation!
Aunt Slin and her family didn't go with Roger. Giss didn't want to leave, so Aunt Slin had to stay with Giss...
The three of them held their breath and observed their surroundings.
They did not choose to stay in the village to defend, which was Virgil's advice.
The village's defenses were weak.
With the number of bandits and their strength unknown,
If they rashly choose to stay behind, and the enemy's numbers far exceed their expectations, surrounding the entire village, they will truly have no chance of escape!
When it comes to life and death, Roger would not put himself under a dangerous wall!
This dense forest on the north side is only a few hundred meters away from the village, and its terrain is secluded.
The three of them waited for an opportunity to act, either to support the village or to retreat into the mountains.
With his 150-meter detection range, Roger was able to detect danger in advance!
With the option to attack or retreat, Rogge firmly held the initiative.
Gorde gripped his longsword, staring nervously in the direction of the village.
Listening to the faint, distant mooing of cows and the shrill cries of children, he couldn't help but whisper:
"Rogge, the village is in complete chaos!"
Rogge remained silent, occasionally activating his Eye of Insight to probe his surroundings.
Just then, a blinding red light suddenly appeared in his mind!
Countless red figures surged into his detection range like a tide, their images appearing in his mind!
Roger's heart skipped a beat. He quickly scanned the red light, a tidal wave of emotion surging within him!
[Small enemy forces detected x7]
[Vanscare Raider x128]
[Level: 16 (Tier 2!)]
[Combat Power: 1322~1544]
【equipment:
Noseguard Helmet +26 (Some equipment: Pirate Helmet +40), Studded Leather Coat +34, Hunting Boots +12, Reinforced Wooden Large Round Shield +9 (Durability 360/360)
Armor Value:
Head armor +26 (40), body armor +34, leg armor +12
【arms:
Light Throwing Axe +34 Chop Damage (Bonus against shields!), Axe +28 Chop Damage (Some equipment: Marauder's Axe +38 Chop Damage, Heavy Iron Sword +30)
……
[Vanscare Pirate Warriors x23]
[Level: 21 (Tier 3!)]
[Combat Power: 2510~2770]
【equipment:
Pirate Helmet +40 (Some equipment: Chainmail Helmet +44), Dark Chainmail Turban +39, Leather Boots +19)
Armor Value:
Head armor +40 (44), body armor +39, leg armor +19
【arms:
Javelin +42 piercing damage (6 units, bonus against shields!), Marauder's Axe +38 cutting damage (some equipment: Battle Axe +41 cutting damage, Heavy Iron Sword +30 cutting damage), Reinforced Wooden Large Round Shield +9 (Durability 360/360)
……
[Vanscare Leader x1]
[Level: 40 (Tier 4!)]
[Combat Power: 6558!]
【equipment:
Vanscare Chieftain Helmet +49
Vanscare's Leather Chainmail +51
Soft-soled plate greaves +31
Armor Value:
Head Armor +49
Body Armor +51
Leg Armor +31
【arms:
Heavy Throwing Axe +44 Chop Damage (Number of 6, bonus against shields!)
Dragonbone Axe +44 Chop (Bonus against shields!)
Star-shaped relief metal shield +13 resistance (durability 450/500)
……
A storm raged within Roger's heart!
The newcomers were no ordinary bandits.
It's Vanscare Sea Pirates!
These bloodthirsty, murderous, and plundering sea butchers landed from who knows where.
They arrived silently on the north side of the village, sneaking in from the dense forest leading to the fortress!
With nearly 150 pirates, compared to the villagers, these pirates who had been burning, killing and looting for years were practically "elite"!
Each of them possesses strength no less than Virgil and God!
Life is unpredictable. Roger thought he could avoid the bandits by hiding in the woods, but he never expected that they would sneak out of the woods!
"They're pirates, they've sneaked in from the forest!"
Roger quickly covered Gold's mouth, which was about to speak, and whispered.
Their location was a place the pirates had to pass through!
Roger realized that the three of them could no longer stay there; he dared not gamble on whether they would be discovered!
"Walk!
Let's go back to the village first!
……