Berklin scratched his head as he watched the crates of Shiksan ammunition being loaded onto carriages before being transported to Cape Loducus. He looked around and snuck up to Claude's side and asked in a hushed voice, "What do you think we're going to do?"
"General, I don't understand.
The entire Foksland doesn't even have more than one corps, numbering less than sixty thousand.
Why would the local officials of Cape Loducus dare to buy the weapons and equipment of two hundred thousand people?
This is a deal worth a million crowns! Can they even make the decision? "
Claude didn't think that the local officials of Bay Loducus would be so daring. He had only wanted to sell some of the seized weapons to the local garrison in exchange for some cash.
They were going to be burned anyway, so it didn't matter how much he sold. He mainly wanted to give the five Shiksan corps some trouble when they arrived.
None of the Shiksan soldiers would feel at ease when they saw the soldiers of Cape Loducus holding the Shiksan weapons and equipment they bought from Claude.
However, when the local officials heard Claude's question, their eyes lit up and they pulled him to the side by his clothes. After a brief discussion, they gave an answer Claude didn't expect.
If Claude really wanted to sell the Shiksan weapons and equipment, they would buy as much as they could get. Money wasn't a problem. There was a bank in the city that could guarantee the loan.
Of course, it wasn't Claude who would be taking the loan, but the local officials and Lt.
The reply came as quite a shock, but he quickly figured out what the local officials were planning. They were obviously trying to make a killing, and the winner was none other than Shiks, who still had five standing corps that hadn't arrived at Cape Loducus.
Weapons and equipment were always consumables in war. Shiks had stored enough weapons and ammunition to equip two hundred thousand people in the main logistics base to make up for the losses and losses on the battlefield.
Perhaps that was the amount of ammunition used up in the war. It was normal for a force of six hundred thousand to be outfitted with weapons and equipment for two hundred thousand people.
Now that the main logistics base had been taken over by Aueran's Thundercrash, it meant that the weapons and ammunition Shiks had stored up had become spoils of war and could be removed from their inventory.
When the Shiksan corps arrived in Cape Loducus, Shiks would still have to purchase the weapons and equipment they were going to use on the battlefield and transport them all the way to Nubissia. The manpower, resources, and transportation costs would far exceed the original value of the weapons and equipment.
That was what the local officials of Cape Loducus had in mind. They wanted to buy the Shiksan stockpile at a low price and sell it back to the Shiksans at a high price when the next five standing corps arrived. That way, they would be able to make a huge profit and even double the profit they made.
They weren't worried that the Shiksans wouldn't pay. To Shiks, buying the weapons and equipment from the local officials at a high price was much more cost-effective than having to manufacture and transport them back to the kingdom.
Firstly, it would save time and money. Seaking and the Alliance wouldn't have to make another trip to transport the weapons and equipment.
The second reason was harder to say, but it was tacitly understood.
If Shiks didn't buy it, Fochs would definitely peddle the weapons and equipment all over the continent. By then, all the countries on the continent would know of the Shiksans' glorious achievements and they would once again become a laughing stock.
Smaller dukedoms that didn't have the ability to produce firearms would definitely be interested in the weapons and equipment.
For Fochs, they didn't have to worry about not being able to sell the weapons. The only problem was that it would take a little longer and it would be a little troublesome to find a buyer.
Be it for Claude or the local officials, it was a huge arms deal worth a million crowns. It was enough to equip 200,000 men with firearms, cannons and all sorts of other supplies. Claude gave them a 40% discount and sold them all to the bold local officials.
Anyway, the weapons and equipment produced by Shiks were completely useless to Claude. Selling them off would bring in real money and it wouldn't be a bad thing for the war theatre's military expenditure.
As the saying went, a cannon blast was worth ten thousand taels of gold. It was either a huge profit or a huge loss.
Claude didn't want to have to owe a huge sum of money for the war theatre's expenses after winning the war. Every bit he could earn was better. That was why he spent another two days in the office.
A local official from Cape Loducus approached him. Claude had gotten to know the treasurer of Cape Loducus over the past few days. His name was Bronput, a 54-year-old man who was one of the leaders in charge of the arms deal.
He was in charge of handing over the gold and silver from the bank in the city to Claude's logistics department. Now that the weapons and equipment in the warehouse were more or less finished, he was probably here to bid Claude farewell.
As expected, Bronput was there to bid farewell to Claude. The success of the arms deal had pleased both sides.
Claude's side was swift and decisive. The local officials of Cape Loducus weren't calculative either. They had already bought so many weapons and equipment from Claude at a low price and it was obvious that they would be able to make a huge profit. Everyone involved would be able to reap a huge profit, so they didn't think of trying to take advantage of Claude or anything of the sort.
However, he wasn't willing to give up and asked Claude if he could reconsider selling more of the catapults and iron pumpkins made by Shiks. They were even willing to pay a higher price for them.
Claude shook his head and refused the old man's request again.
Shiksan muskets, three types of cannons, ammunition, bayonets, military uniforms, canteens and other military supplies could all be sold. Only the catapults and iron pumpkins were sold. Claude only sold ten catapults and a hundred iron pumpkins to Lermando to fortify the walls of Bay Loducus. The rest of the catapults and iron pumpkins were all loaded up on carriages to be taken away.
While Fochs was known for its powerful navy, its military industry wasn't very advanced. Most of the equipment they produced was for the navy, but their shipbuilding technology was rather advanced.
When the various countries on Freia were copying the catapults, Union's navy had already discovered that they were an advanced weapon that could be used on land and sea. However, due to the backwardness of their military industry, the catapults they produced weren't as far and powerful as those produced by other countries.
Bronput, the treasurer of Cape Loducus, clearly wanted to advance further in his career, so he set his sights on the catapults and grenades produced by Shiks.
If this deal could be reached, his name and credit would be presented to the powerful decision-makers of the United Kingdom.
Unfortunately, Claude wasn't tempted at all, no matter how much he tried. He could only return in disappointment.
Berklin had already understood the inside story of the arms deal. He looked at the departing Bronput and curled his lips in disdain. He spat on the ground. "Profiteer!"
Claude asked after some thought, "Has there been any news from Moriad?"
"No," Berklin replied.
That was strange. Logically speaking, there should've been news yesterday. The three Shiksan folk stationed at the northern border would've sent at least one folk to reinforce the supply base after learning about the attack.
According to their schedule, they should have entered the ambush range of Moriad and Dyavid two days ago. Had the enemy not received the request for reinforcements yet? Or did they not know that their main camp was under attack?
Claude felt as though he had gained something and lost something.
"We'll leave after lunch. According to the plan, your line will be in the vanguard. Jedwalker's line will be in charge of escorting the captives and the convoy," Claude said.
Claude had originally planned to leave the camp the next morning, but now that the local officials of Bay Loducus were so helpful and had already finished moving the firearms, Claude decided to leave half a day earlier.
"What about the injured captives?" Berklin asked.
Around eight thousand Shiksans were killed or injured in the night raid and twenty thousand captured.
After taking over the camp and interrogating the captives, they found out that the Shiksan folk in charge of the base weren't made up entirely of captive veterans. More than half of the thirty thousand-strong folk were from Shiksan and were originally part of the rebellious nobles' defense forces.
In fact, the three hundred thousand Shiksan captives who were used as the main labor force for the newly conquered territories were no longer that many. Tens of thousands of them died or were crippled during the labor process.
When Shiks took over the vengeful captives, they were still short of a folk when they reorganized the five corps.
So, Majid III reorganized a folk of the private forces of the nobles who surrendered during the rebellion to make up the numbers.
Since these soldiers, who originally belonged to the private forces of the nobles, thought they were superior to the others and looked down on the veterans who were once captives, there were many conflicts in the military camp. In the end, they could only send this division to the main logistics base as a garrison. What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve, so that they won't embarrass themselves on the frontlines …
It had to be said that Claude was rather lucky to run into such a motley crew when he launched a surprise attack. It only took him a little more than an hour to defeat the 30,000-strong garrison with minimal casualties and take over the entire camp.
If it had been the Shiksan veterans who had done hard labor, Claude and Thundercrash would've had to face a tough battle and suffer many times the casualties.
More than six thousand Shiksan soldiers were treated after the night raid, while less than two thousand were killed or blasted by grenades.
The rest surrendered when they saw the situation wasn't looking good. There were more than 23,000 unharmed captives.
Berklin's question about what to do with the Shiksan soldiers had two meanings. He could either let the uninjured captives carry the wounded soldiers on their way, or he could just slit their throats. That way, they wouldn't have to suffer anymore.
There was no need to waste precious healing potions on the enemy's wounded. That was the common mindset of most soldiers in this era.
Claude shook his head. He could pretend he didn't see the enemy's wounded when he cleaned up the battlefield, but he couldn't do it now. "Bandage the wounded and give them a vial of healing potion. Then, move them far away from the main camp.
We'll burn down the main logistics base before we leave. As for the wounded, aren't the high-ranking Shiksan officers still hiding in Cape Loducus?
Let's leave them to them. They have plenty of funds anyway, so it's only right for them to spend some money on treatment. "
At one o 'clock in the afternoon, Lieutenant Colonel Lemando saw Thunderclap's soldiers carry out countless stretchers from the main camp. Then, they placed these stretchers on the plains five hundred meters away from the main camp.
He picked up the telescope to see what the soldiers were up to, only to find that the stretchers were all filled with Shiksan wounded. They were even covered in military blankets.
After the thousands of stretchers were placed on the plains, Thundercrash's soldiers left.
Soon, the Shiksan main logistics base in the distance was ablaze.
Perhaps because of the kerosene, it didn't take long for the flames to spread and wreak havoc in the camp. Black and green smoke rose continuously. Even Lermando could feel the heat and intensity of the fire from the top of the walls.
No wonder they moved the wounded so far away. They were going to set the camp on fire. They should be retreating now. Lemando called a garrison soldier over. "Tell the Shiksan officers in the city that the Aueran forces have retreated.
They even set fire to the main camp and left a few thousand wounded behind.
They have to take care of the wounded as soon as possible. Otherwise, they'll die if it rains or gets cold at night. "
The 23,000 Shiksan captives had to be escorted for three days before they reached the place where Dyavid and Murray's 2nd and 3rd Lines were ambushed. The 9,000 soldiers of the two lines had been lying in ambush for five days and five nights without receiving any reinforcements.
Morale was already at rock bottom. Many of the soldiers caught a fever from the huge difference in temperature between day and night, as well as the fact that they'd been eating rations and drinking cold water for five days and five nights.
"Set up camp and rest for two days before leaving," Claude ordered.
It was obvious that the enemy wouldn't send any more reinforcements. After so much time had passed, the enemy knew very well that sending any more would just be sending them to their deaths. They weren't fools.
However, it was indeed strange. Could the enemy have predicted an ambush and didn't send any reinforcements? That didn't make sense.
No matter what, that was still their main logistics base, where they stored all the weapons, ammunition, supplies, and rations that they were prepared to use on the battlefield. After learning of the attack, they had to express their concern no matter what, and it was very normal for them to send a division to rescue them.
Yet, no reinforcements were sent out. That was strange.
"Did you receive a messenger hawk from General Eiblont?" Claude had no choice but to ask the communications officer.
"No, General," the communications officer replied.
He explained that they were deep in enemy territory and could only send a messenger hawk to General Eiblont. Eiblont, on the other hand, couldn't send a messenger hawk over.
After all, the messenger harriers had certain communication limitations. It was impossible for the harriers to locate the target while the troops were on the move, because the harriers in the sky could not distinguish whether the troops on the ground were the enemy's or their own. They could only rely on special flags to determine their destination.
The biggest taboo of using these special flags in enemy territory was that after the Harrier Hawks flew over once, they would continue to search for the flags on the ground. At that time, their own troops would not be around, and it would be very easy for the messenger Harrier Hawks to fall into the hands of the enemy and leak military intelligence …
So, Claude could only send a messenger hawk to General Eiblont to inform him of the progress on his side. He had no way of knowing the situation on the eastern front and the northern border.
"In that case, send a messenger eagle to General Eiblont and tell him where we're setting up camp. Have him send someone to inform us of the changes and progress in the battle," Claude instructed the head of communications.
After two days of rest, Line 2 and 3's morale had recovered somewhat. Most of the soldiers who had gotten sick had recovered as well.
Claude prepared to break camp again and return to the northern border before deciding whether to attack the three Shiksan folk stationed there.
The estimated three-day journey would be delayed by the twenty thousand captives and carriages loaded with supplies. It was likely that it would take five days to return to the northern border.
Fortunately, they met a messenger sent by General Eiblont a day later. He gave Claude two pieces of news.
First, the three Shiksan folks stationed at the northern border were about to send reinforcements, but after half a day, the reinforcements were summoned back to camp on horseback.
The other news was about the eastern front. The sudden retreat of the Shiksans left General Birkin in a difficult position. He didn't expect the Shiksans to give up their first line of defence without a word.
It was only a day later that he noticed the Shiksans' movements and ordered his troops to give chase.
Unfortunately, they were ambushed by the Shiksans' rearguard and the nikancha suffered heavy losses.
However, the current situation was that Birkin was leading Monolith to bite down on the Shiksan main force. One side wanted to leave the mountains as soon as possible, while the other was very eager to stay. Both sides were locked in a fierce battle at the eastern front of the mountains and were locked in a stalemate.