......

Roland stood on the roof at the top of the bridge command room, looking at the long fleet lined up in a line behind him, and his heart was surging. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

Except for the flagship Roland, the rest of the ships were slow and clumsy cement ships, but when more than a dozen of them were put together, they still looked spectacular. The white smoke from the chimney dragged a long line, and the river swung in both directions because of this huge fleet, feeling the ups and downs of the bow when the waves broke through, quite an indomitable momentum.

The flagship gunboat is the brightest star of the queue - its towering bridge and slender shape make it completely different from ordinary sailing ships and cement ships, and its armament includes a 152mm main gun at the front of the hull and two Mark I machine guns at the tail, a special high-pressure steam engine and propeller drive system that allow it to run at top speeds of 12 kilometers, and in this era, it is definitely the hegemon of the inland river basin.

"You seem to be in a good mood," the nightingale stroked the ends of her wind-blown hair, "because you will soon be able to return to your hometown?"

"No, I'll never go back," he smiled and shook his head, "the Westside is my home, and I'm just glad I was able to put an end to the strife quickly." ”

"Hmm...... Half of it is a lie. ”

Roland couldn't help but choke, he almost forgot that the other party could distinguish a lie, "Ahem, well, I actually think I'm very satisfied that I can hold back so many ships in one evil month. ”

"It's true this time," Nightingale winked, "but it sounds a bit boastful." ”

"That's why I don't want to tell the truth. ”

"Understandable," she chuckled twice and walked over to Roland, "Actually, I don't blame you, if it weren't for the words related to me, I wouldn't mind if you were a little panic." ”

"......" Roland secretly sneered, don't mind if you don't want to point it out.

"By the way, I haven't said thank you yet. The nightingale looked ahead and whispered.

"Thanks for what?"

"End the strife, pacify the Grey Keep, and live happily under your rule, whether it is a common person or a witch," she said slowly, "I knew you would definitely do it, but I didn't expect this day to come so soon." ”

"Not so soon, even if Tifeco is overthrown, the nobles will have a counterattack and a death struggle, and it will probably take several years to fully integrate the Grey Keep. Roland exhaled, "After all, history always moves forward in a spiral, and there is still a long way to go to achieve the ultimate goal." ”

"It's far beyond my imagination, and I was worried about whether I would be able to see it with my own eyes. ”

"What a fool's errand," he glared, "do you think I'm going to put you in danger?"

"Because I'm a battle witch, it's only natural to be on the front lines, and there's always a price to pay to break the rules," Nightingale tilted her head, "and I've been ready for this from the moment I swear allegiance to you." ”

"I'm sorry to disappoint you," Roland shrugged, "of course there will be a price, but it's basically paid by the enemy, and besides, I have to thank you for this." ”

"Why?" she wondered.

"If I hadn't met a witch, I wouldn't have made up my mind so quickly to take this step. ”

If it weren't for Anna, he wouldn't have made the decision to save the witch right away, and if this world didn't have magical magic, he would probably still be living a primitive and rudimentary life in a barren border town.

"It's ...... Truth," the nightingale looked up at him.

"Of course," Roland smiled.

Suddenly, a golden figure fell from the sky and landed beside the two of them, "Your Highness, twenty kilometers away, four sloops are approaching us, with oars on both sides, and they look very similar to the eagle-headed ships mentioned in the intelligence. "But I didn't see a statue of an eagle in the bow of the ship." ”

"This eagle head is probably an underwater ramming," Roland patted her head, "well done, keep watch." ”

"That'...... Can you reduce the number of exercises to be done?" the little girl looked at the prince with a blank eye.

The latter couldn't help but be amused, "Well, if you can promise not to mess around in the future, you can just make one." ”

"Yes!" Lightning's eyes lit up immediately, and then he leaped up and flew towards the east like an elf.

"You shouldn't have let her go," Nightingale complained.

"Rewards and punishments are memorable," Roland waved his hand disapprovingly, turned and walked towards the ladder, "Go back to the command room, we have work to do." ”

......

The four-meter-square command room was empty except for a wooden table fixed to the floor and four benches, and the commander of the First Army, Iron Axe, Musket Battalion Commander Brian, Artillery Battalion Commander Vanna, and Captain Kakusim of the Victory stood at the table, drawing up the battle plan for the first water battle that followed.

According to the information provided by Tasa, the four of Tifeko's ships were all river galleys, which should be as fast as the cement ships, but with more nimble steering. Roland pointed to the diagram on the table and said, "The attack method of this type of ship is generally to jump close to the enemy ship and fight, or it can also load gunpowder or sulfur and other flammable materials to hit the target, and they will be killed together." However, considering that the original intention of the other side to send warships was to intercept the river and at the same time get some oil and water, it is unlikely that the second method will be adopted. This is our first time conducting surface warfare, so we can bring up any ideas. ”

"Your Highness, it's hard for artillery to hit a moving target, and we're in constant motion, so I recommend getting close before firing," Vanna was the first to say, "As long as you get close to about fifty meters, I guarantee that the boys will be able to overturn an enemy ship with every shot!"

"But I've heard that a cannonball not only consumes a lot of gunpowder, but only Miss Anna can make it," said Brian, shaking his head, "so it's better to wait for the other side to take the initiative, as long as they dare to lean over, and the heavy machine guns on both sides can completely beat them into a sieve." ”

Roland looked at Kakusim, "What do you think?" The reason why he summoned the old man to the flagship was because he was probably the only person in Neverwinter who had experience in naval warfare - according to him, he had encountered pirates more than once when he was running a business, and although he was the target of robbery each time, it was an experience.

"Well, Your Highness......" Kakusim hesitated for a moment, "it seems to me that just run into it." ”

"What?" said the other two, glaring in unison.

"Your ship is big and fast, and it's still made of steel, and I'm afraid that a wooden ship will fall apart if it hits, and even if it doesn't break apart, the water entering the breach will incapacitate them. He glanced up at everyone, "Of course, this ...... This is just my personal opinion. ”

Hearing this tactic, Roland couldn't help but think of the poem that the sky was sunny and the waves were high today, and the D flag was flying on the mast of the leading ship.

"Very well, that's it," he finally clapped, and although there was no D-flag, it would be the same if it was replaced by a tower four-star flag, "Pass my order, Roland will raise the banner of Neverwinter, blow its whistle, and go full speed!" (To be continued.) )