The Po River Guard's weapons were not particularly poor, but with the incident unfolding so suddenly, it was already impressive that they had managed to bring the men here. As for artillery, they could only rely on the few guns aboard the ships.
Fortunately, the Austrian Empire's army was more accustomed to using another weapon for fire support: rockets.
Years of research into rocket technology and extensive battlefield use had also allowed the Austrian Empire's rocket weapons to advance by leaps and bounds.
Rockets were portable, simple to operate, long-ranged, and powerful. In previous wars, whenever the Austrian Empire's army used rockets to open the way, they had been unstoppable.
"Now! Set up all the rocket launchers!"
Garibaldi shouted loudly. A signal flare was fired by the messenger, and the order quickly spread.
Upon receiving the order, the soldiers did not hesitate in the slightest. Every one of them trusted Crooked Joseph completely.
The French Army was no pushover either. They would not allow Garibaldi and his men to set up rocket frames right under their noses.
The French artillery swiftly swung around. Thunderous cannon fire erupted, and shells traced parabolic arcs through the air toward the Po River Guard.
The shells burst upon striking the ground, blasting dirt and grass stems in every direction. The tremendous shockwave easily flung the surrounding soldiers into the air.
Shrapnel tore through human bodies, stirring up a bloody gale. Some were struck directly; the instant a shell touched their bodies, they exploded like jelly squeezed to bursting. Blood, organs, and charred fragments splattered everywhere.
Some had organs and blood smeared across their faces. Others had sharp shards of bone from severed limbs pierce their throats. Amid terrified screams came the French second round of bombardment.
More men fell into pools of blood. A