Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology - Chapter 1165

Chapter 1165: WW1: Second Kingdom of Lynden (3)
Kingdom of Lynden

First Lieutenant Rampal, or any other senior military personnel in the Bharatiya military for that matter, had no experience in commanding an armoured unit, but the military education of the Bharatiya military consists of both theory and practice, so even though Rampal had never commanded the tractor units, who were code named the rhino war tractor, the possibility of utilising armoured tractors in war had already been thoroughly discussed in the military academy.

Not to mention, after the development of the rhino war tractor, senior military professionals at the rank of second lieutenant and above were even required to attend workshops and strategy discussion meetings surrounding the armoured unit.

Rampal received the orders from the Brigadier General and immediately mobilised his platoon. Very soon, he stood in front of them.

“The Rangers and the sharpshooter squadrons will be spearheading the march,” he said, pausing briefly. He then motioned at the second lieutenants and continued in a serious tone. “A single rhino war tractor has been assigned to our 4th Company, meaning we will be at the forefront of the battle for the first time since the start of the war.”

He looked around at the second lieutenants, his expression stern. “Our position will be far more dangerous, but the merits we stand to gain will also be far more rewarding. Danger and opportunity coexist, so I do not want any mistakes to happen. This is a new mode of warfare, and if we perform well, our company might be allowed to specialise in the rhino war tractor.”

“The war tractor will lead the march, so have all four platoons line up behind it and take cover.”

“Am I clear, and are there any doubts?”

“Clear, Sir!”

“None, sir!”

The four officers shouted back without hesitation.

“Good!”

The Bharatiya war machine started up once again, engines rumbling, and the sound of steam exhaust exhilarating.

The 15th squadron, after receiving the orders from the commanding officer, immediately came into formation and stood in place right behind the metal giant. But the novelty of the war tractor only lasted for a few minutes. Their behaviour quickly returned to normal as they teased and annoyed each other.

“If even now you don’t get a chance, then God really loves you too much, Sumit.” The tone of sarcasm in Captain Ramoji’s voice was not hidden at all.

Understanding that he was being teased, Sumit glared daggers at his captain, wishing he could punch the bastard in the face.

”Oh, looks like someone is angry.”

“psss”

“hehehe”

Muffled laughs and snickers immediately sounded, turning Sumit’s expression black.

But his suffering did not end yet.

“Captain, maybe you should inform the first lieutenant about Sumit’s superpower. If Private Sumit doesn’t get a chance to shoot in this operation either, who knows, the first lieutenant might find it amazing and immediately promote him to his team.”

He looked like he was barely holding back his laughter.

“Then… then… hehe—”

“Our army wouldn’t need to fight at all. Just send this mascot forward. Feeling his immeasurable power, the enemy might surrender on the spot.”

“HAHAHAHA!”

Everyone immediately broke out into loud laughter; even Vice Captain Vajra Katta couldn’t hold back and let out a snicker. Silence only returned when the second lieutenant glared at their squad, but even then, the humorous atmosphere did not diminish.

The movement of the tractors started, and the army began to advance forward, but every once in a while, the sounds of gunshots and screams could be heard from the front, but no one was surprised.

Within the forest, the Bharatiya Rangers were like fish in water. They weaved in and out of the forest as if they were in their own home. Dressed in camouflage green uniforms, with shrubs and plants attached to their bodies, they were like ghosts and spirits of the jungle, seemingly there but not there at the same time. As they moved forward, they reaped lives and left behind the remains of the enemy.

The sharpshooter units were not as blended into the environment as the Rangers, not because of their camouflage uniforms, since both units used the same camouflage suits, but because of the techniques. While the Rangers were like natural predators in the forest, the sharpshooters were like humans with scuba diving gear in an ocean. Although the gear made it extremely easy for the human to move around, it was not as natural as a shark.

But that did not matter. The sharpshooters stayed in one place and shot from several hundred metres behind, maximising their advantages while minimising the disadvantages.

As these two predators, one like a jaguar and the other like a pack of wolves, were let loose into the forest, the rhino war tractors from behind slowly advanced in a marching pace without any obstacles.

—

The South City of the Kingdom of Lynden was in chaos. The streets were filled with cries of pleading and gunfire.

“Stand up, line up and pick up the weapons. After the war, all of you are free, but if anyone dares to disobey or betray the kingdom, this headless corpse will be your only end.”

“Now come forward one by one and pick up your weapons.”

The slaves who were unwilling to join the battle were completely intimidated and lost the will to resist. At the same time, the promise of letting them go free lingered in their minds, and it was like an insect that grew bigger and bigger as time went on, giving them the confidence to move forward and pick up the pike spear.

Seeing how brutally the army was being amassed, even Hendrick Van Nassau felt a chill in his bones. Even for him, it was too ruthless, but at the same time, he clearly recognised the reality; these brutal and ruthless means were the only way he could live.

“Line up and prepare for battle,” he looked at the soldiers who had escaped with him and growled like a wounded tiger ready to take its revenge.

Soon, a large army was formed and stood ready at the border of the South City, waiting for the arrival of the Bharatiya troops.

Lowering his binoculars, Mugund Padmanabam’s mouth was wide open. “These monsters!” he exclaimed, unable to comprehend the level of inhumanity and ruthlessness to be able to use over 100,000 people like cannon fodder.

Even if the opponent somehow had over 100 artillery pieces, he could still fight without hesitation, but seeing how they were forcing the indigenous people to do their bidding, his determination was a little shaken. He did not know if he should follow the orders or not.

‘I can’t go on like this.’ He realised that he was having second thoughts, so without hesitation, he had the engineering corps set up the positions for the artillery while he quickly informed the emperor about the current situation, hoping the Emperor would make the decision for him.

Vijay, receiving the information about the situation, was silent for a long time.

‘sigh!’

He let out a deep and turbulent breath and resolutely sent back his orders.

Even though Mugund knew that there was no other way but to eliminate the entire army to breach the South City and move towards the capital, deep in his heart he was still expecting his majesty to come up with a solution that would not only allow him to spare the indigenous people but also win the war, but ultimately it looked like his hopes were too far fetched.

“Start the artillery bombardment.” He ordered, his resolve now firm.

The exchange of artillery bombardment started without delay.

“Oh lord, what is that?”

“This is the gods’ punishment.”

“Ahh!”

In the eyes of the indigenous people, the artillery shells were no different from fireballs raining down from hell, a black, torrential storm that felt like the very incarnation of a god’s wrath. Panic spread instantly. Fear shattered what little resolve they had left.

Some could no longer endure it and turned to flee. Sadly, the very next moment, bullets tore into their backs. They collapsed one after another, bodies going limp as blood burst forth like fountains, pooling beneath them and soaking the ground in dark, viscous blood that stuck to the grass like a devil’s dark Magic.

“Ah!!”

*Shiver*

This scene immediately deterred the remaining indigenous people, and they no longer dared to set foot without permission.

Noticing what was happening on the other side, Sumit Chatur’s expression changed. He was shocked. He had seen a lot of blood since the war started, so he was not afraid of blood or lifeless bodies, but he was shocked because this was the first time he was seeing someone be so ruthless and inhuman. He had heard a lot about the animals that the Europeans were, but this was the first time he was seeing a live demonstration of it.

A nameless anger began to burn in his heart as he looked at his captain, hoping and waiting for his orders to advance, but what he saw was his vice captain’s face, which looked so unfamiliar. He had an expression like that of a devil waiting to tear apart its prey. Such an expression had never appeared on the face of the kind and taciturn vice captain, but remembering what he saw just a moment before, he felt the strangeness disappear. In fact, even a weird feeling, as if this is how it should be, emerged.

Mugund Padmanabam gritted his teeth. His eyes bloodshot, “Giving a quick death is the greatest help we can provide to these poor souls, and making sure that no other people suffer like them is the greatest kindness.”

He took a breath and uttered one word at a time.

“All armoured units, charge. End the battle.”

The Rhino War Tractor did not have any artillery attached to it. It was simply an iron box within which over three people stood with machine guns in their hands.

So when they were given the orders to charge forward, they were taken aback. They were not ignorant of the current situation, but once the order had been given, it had to be followed. That was the first duty of a soldier. So, gritting his teeth, the driver accelerated forward, while the gunners loaded their guns and took their aim, their eyes bloodshot.

“Brrrrrr!!!!!”

The Europeans, who had never seen the metal monsters before, were completely startled and scared out of their wits as the 25 metal monsters immediately cut through the first line of defences within a moment.

“Ah, Monster!!”

Blood-curdling screams immediately filled the battlefield, and the momentum of Hendrik Van Nassau immediately collapsed. The metal monsters were like beasts from his nightmares. He felt like they were the incarnations of death itself.

“Dammit, aim at those metal boxes, kill them.”

The general from the Kingdom of Lynden felt that the situation had gone out of control.

“Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!”

“Oh my lord, how is it still moving!!!!”

The Europeans’ mouths were agape, and some even drew crosses across their chests.

The Rhino War Tractor began to attract heavy firepower from the enemy, but unfortunately for the Europeans, the armour of the Rhino War Tractor was the same armour that was used in the battleship. It was not so easy to penetrate, especially not with the older artillery pieces of the Kingdom of Lynden.

Sumit Chatur finally got a chance to shoot, but he was not happy at all. His eyes were bloodshot, and tears were running down his face as he was forced to shoot at the maddened indigenous people who came rushing forward to their deaths. He truly did not want to kill them, but if he did not, one of his own would be shot. Not to mention, military orders were like words of heaven; they could not be disobeyed.

The hatred for the enemy in his heart grew to its peak. He could no longer contain the inferno in his heart and roared like an asura.

Most people in the squadron were like that, especially Vajra Khatta, who was almost like a demon as he completely ignored his own safety and stood in the open as he fired, roaring like an enraged lion at the Europeans.

“It’s all your fault, all your fault, die, die, die, bastards, die, dieeeeee,” he roared, his voice already going hoarse.

Nearly three-fourths of the enemy army had been cut down, and the bodies strewn across the field continued to bleed, turning the ground into a gruesome lake of blood. The remaining indigenous fighters finally came to their senses. They threw away their pike spears and ran.

At first, it was only one or two. But the Europeans could no longer maintain formation or deter them with gunfire, because they themselves had begun to flee. Once that restraint vanished, the remaining indigenous people stopped holding back and broke into a full, desperate rout.