Preparing on Both Sides

Chapter 30

If they were going to hold their ground here, the existing wagon formation would no longer do.

It was too cramped. After squeezing in over twenty animals and fifty people, there was barely any room left.

So, after the mounted bandits withdrew and everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Chris began gesturing and directing the caravan hands to double the size of the wagon formation while the players and Isaac were away.

They spaced the wagons farther apart, then filled the gaps with barrels and crates of cargo from the wagons, along with freshly cut logs, creating barriers that could keep wild beasts out.

A formation like this certainly would not stop people from climbing over it, but it could impede horses and bullets, serving as cover for infantry.

And that was enough.

Connie and the other hands disagreed with Chris's arrangements... It was too extravagant. Using the caravan's cargo to plug the gaps between wagons was effectively using money to stop bullets.

What if the mounted bandits attacked, failed to break through, but carried off a few crates of goods as they retreated?

Chris ignored Connie's protests. With an industrial society backing him, he barely cared about this little bit of cargo.

The bandits might steal things when they attacked?

That would only distract them. It was a good thing!

If they were not still inside the Bohemian Empire, where being discovered with large quantities of firearms would be difficult to explain, things would be different.

Chris would already have gone online and bought loads of thick-walled steel pipes, springs, and flints, then hammered out Flintlocks himself, giving everyone in the caravan three guns apiece.

Once the wagon formation had been expanded, there was room for the animals, and people could sleep and cook elsewhere without being surrounded by horse and donkey manure for the time being.

The living conditions were still far from clean, but Chris was quite satisfied now.

Conditions are rough, but I'll make do. Once we get through this and actually leave the Bohemian Empire, I won't have to keep scraping by like this. I can spend freely on supplies.

They could bring in more players, too, doubling the game's revenue.

With everything arranged, Chris sat on a large rock, gazed at the sinking sun, and took out his phone to look up modern anti-cavalry tactics.

Since he had decided to accomplish something big, he would have to learn a few new things.

"This mark's a bit prickly."

Deep into the night, the bandit leader Brand said this to his subordinates gathered around a campfire.

"The lads who just got back checked them out. Not only has that caravan stayed put, they've doubled the size of their wagon formation. They'll be even harder to attack."

"How many men do they have?"

"Over fifty. All young and able-bodied, every one armed with blades or spears, plus a dozen or so guns."

"We can take them... Charge in on horseback at night, and we'll definitely break into their wagon formation."

"The question is whether that caravan's cargo is worth doing that."

Brand sighed.

"The scouts checked. The caravan's people unloaded their cargo and piled it beside the wagons. Clearly, none of it's worth much. The most valuable things in the whole caravan are those twenty-odd draft horses.

"I've only got one question. Are we willing to get some of our lads killed or wounded for those horses?"

That question silenced the veteran bandits around the campfire. Some scratched their heads or cheeks; others looked utterly indifferent.

"Twenty-odd horses. I think it's worth taking a chance."

A veteran bandit with a face so heavily bearded that his age was impossible to tell seemed eager to try.

"We don't have to sell those horses. We can use them ourselves. Those mangy dogs on our trail won't let go. With these horses, we can escape them."

"Those fifty fellows will get some of us killed."

Another bandit argued back.

"So some of us die. Pull this job, and we lose a few men at most. Otherwise, a month from now, we'll all be dead."

Brand listened as the bandits argued. Their voices grew louder and the dispute more heated. Just as they were about to come to blows, he stood and growled.

"Enough. If you want to die, duel me. I'll give you a quick death by my blade... Let's vote. One vote each. I'm abstaining.

"Raise your hand if you're in favor of doing the job."

Brand looked around and began counting.

"Fifteen votes... Raise your hand if you're against it... Seven.

"The vote's settled, then. We're doing the job. Get some sleep now. We go to work late tonight."

The Brand Bandit Gang was a rather democratic group. Anyone recognized by the leader and the veteran bandits could take part in group votes to decide what the gang would do.

Sometimes the bandit leader made the decision alone, but that only happened on rare occasions.

Brand had been a mounted bandit for many years. In truth, he was reluctant to attack the target they had encountered today. The caravan's horses were its most valuable assets. They had dumped their cargo on the ground without even covering it with waterproof canvas, so it clearly was not worth much.

There was an old soldier in the caravan, and surely a few other veterans helping them.

Small caravans formed by bands of retired soldiers were a dime a dozen inside the Bohemian Empire. Under ordinary circumstances, Brand would have firmly decided to leave these fellows alone.

But as that veteran bandit had just said, the gang was in a bad position. They needed those horses.

They had no choice but to risk it.

Brand flopped down beside the campfire. In the warmth of the flames, he folded his arms over his chest and began thinking seriously about how to fight tonight's battle.

At the same time, inside the caravan camp.

"Our equipment isn't good enough."

Lin Ruoyu and the other nine players sat in a circle, discussing things in low voices.

"Almost all the guns are in the NPCs' hands. We only have spears, chopping blades, and three multi-barreled pistols."

"And three hand crossbows."

Alibaba added this, but Lin Ruoyu waved dismissively.

"Those things won't do much. Their range is only twenty meters, and if the bandits put on leather armor, the bolts won't penetrate."

"Then what do we do? Ask Chris for a few guns?"

"It's too late. Let's make some throwing spears. That'll be quicker. There are long wooden poles on wagon six. We'll take them down and sharpen the ends."

"But we don't know how to use them."

"That's fine. I do. I'll teach you in a bit. They're simple to use."

Lin Ruoyu assured them.

"There's definitely going to be a fight tonight. Everyone, try to free up as much time as you can in real life. Tonight's encounter is critical. We don't have many NPCs in the party right now. If a few get killed or wounded, it's bound to affect the story later."

"The blacksmith is the most important."

Home Alone cut in.

"I asked him. He knows how to make guns. He's a technical NPC."

"Ah, then we really do need to assign two people to protect him. And Chris needs at least two people watching over him, too... Come on, guys. Let's vote on the assignments."