Trench Bolts and Magic

Chapter 45 Morin's Battlefield Modification

When Ludwig heard this question, he was taken aback at first, and then his expression became somewhat complicated.

He looked Morin up and down, as if trying to read something from his face.

"It seems you've thought about this issue too."

Ludwig sighed, then continued:
"Actually, I just came back from the brigade headquarters a few minutes ago. Major General Paul has urgently convened another meeting. The urban warfare tactics you proposed have been copied down and promoted by the military commanders of each battalion! To be honest, that set of things really opened my eyes."

"Wow, is it really that efficient?"

"When the fire is burning your own eyebrows, your efficiency will naturally be higher."

Ludwig nodded, then changed the subject:
"However, as you might have guessed, the biggest flaw in that tactic is that it can't deal with armored knights."

"It's practically impossible to penetrate the frontal armor with field artillery. The Garter Knights' 'St. George III' has undergone high-level enchantments on its main armor, making it extremely kinetic energy resistant."

"Our shells are all high-explosive and shrapnel shells, which cannot cause structural damage at all."

"Moreover, an excellent armored knight driver has a reaction speed far exceeding that of an ordinary person. At a distance of several hundred meters, he can even make an evasive maneuver the instant he sees the muzzle flash, and by the time the shell flies past, he has already moved his position."

"The only weakness is that the armor at the rear is relatively weak, but it is almost impossible to get behind them in the narrow streets."

Oh huo
This means that our artillery is almost useless against the enemy's armored knights.

Moreover, according to Ludwig's description, armor-piercing shells have not yet been developed in this world, or rather, no one has ever thought of using artillery to deal with armored knights.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. If armored knights were all superhuman beings who could avoid the muzzle flash of cannons, then cannons would indeed be useless.

Of course, the objective reason is that the muzzle velocity of artillery is not currently very high. If the muzzle velocity of the shells gradually increases in the future, then it's hard to say.
Undeterred, Morin pressed on, "Why are your Teutonic Knights' weapons, like maces, able to harm them?"

Ludwig: "Because our melee weapons are also enchanted, specifically designed to penetrate armor, it's magic against magic."

Magic against magic
As Morin pondered those words, his eyes dimmed slightly.

Are ordinary infantrymen, who have neither magic nor enchanted weapons, destined to be cannon fodder?
Immediately afterward, as Morin frantically searched his mind, his eyes suddenly lit up.

"I suddenly had an idea. What if there was a weapon that could continuously adhere to the armor plates and burn, and could burn into the interior of the machine through the gaps and seams?"

Ludwig: "Are you referring to Molotov cocktails?"

"Hey, someone's already used it?"

"That's right~"

Morin was somewhat surprised. It seemed that the world had made further progress in the development of offensive and defensive confrontations because of the existence of the Armored Knights.

“The International Brigades should be very familiar with this. Our infantry used it briefly before, and even the Britannians developed ‘flame scrolls’ to deal with our armored knights.”

Ludwig paused for a moment, then continued:

"However, the new armored knights of various countries have undergone targeted upgrades. When activated, the cockpit and key equipment such as the magic-powered reactor can be completely isolated from the outside world."

"Moreover, there are also forced fire extinguishing and cooling magic units that can quickly put out flames. Now, the only ones that can be threatened by Molotov cocktails should be the older generation of armored knights."

"However, Molotov cocktails are quite effective against infantry, especially in narrow terrain like cities. I reckon the International Brigades are probably already gathering materials to make them by now, right?"

Ludwig rambled on and on, leaving Morin bewildered. If even Molotov cocktails weren't working, then the infantry really were having a hard time dealing with the armored knights.
Just as he was feeling at a loss, a scene suddenly came into his view.

Not far away, a technician was holding a huge metal funnel, preparing to add coolant to an armored knight.

Wait, a funnel?!

The cone-shaped, hollow metal object stunned Morin.

In his mind, as if a lightning bolt had pierced the darkness, like a scene from a schoolboy facing death.

A term that had changed the history of armored warfare in the world he had traveled to before suddenly jumped out from the depths of his memory.

"Lieutenant Colonel!"

Morin suddenly grabbed Ludwig's arm, his eyes flashing with a terrifying light, startling the latter.

"Please tell me, how thick would the main armor of the Knights of the Garter be if converted to ordinary steel plates?!"

Ludwig was startled by Morin's sudden action. Looking at Morin's almost frenzied excitement, he instinctively replied:
"Their main armor plates were infused with magic crystal powder during the smelting process and then enchanted. Although they don't look thick, their actual equivalent defensive thickness is about 60 to 70 millimeters of steel armor."

Upon hearing this number, Morin not only didn't feel nervous, but instead breathed a long sigh of relief.

On his face, a smile appeared that Ludwig couldn't understand at all, and was even somewhat eerie.

"That's enough. 60 to 70 millimeters is more than enough!"

"What's enough?" Ludwig was completely bewildered. "Morin, what are you talking about?" Morin looked up at the confused noble colonel and said, word by word:

“Lieutenant Colonel, I think I might have a way to deal with them.”

"If you're willing to help me, I can show you results in two hours at most."

"What did you say?"

Ludwig frowned, wondering if there was something wrong with his ears.

"You have a way to deal with the armored knights of the Garter Knights?"

He looked at Morin with suspicion in his eyes—had this kid gone mad from fighting?

It's already astonishing enough that an infantry lieutenant has just proposed a theory of urban warfare, but now he actually claims to have a way to deal with the world's top armored knights?
“Morin, I admit you’re very talented, but this is not the time for jokes.”

Ludwig's tone became serious, and his expression turned very solemn.

"Do you know what you're saying? That's the Knights of the Garter! The pride of Britannia! A war machine created with the painstaking efforts of countless magic engineers and mages!"

"I know."

Maureen's expression, however, was unusually calm, and his confidence was genuine.

“Lieutenant Colonel, I’m not joking, but I need your help. I need materials and some professional personnel.”

Ludwig fell silent.

He stared into Morin's eyes, trying to find even the slightest sign of madness or boasting.

But all he saw was calmness and determination.

This young man commanded his troops on the battlefield, forcing back high-ranking mages; in the conference room, he conceived a theory of urban warfare that could change the nature of warfare.

He shattered Ludwig's understanding time and time again.

What exactly is going on in his mind?
Ludwig was undergoing a fierce internal struggle; rationally speaking, Morin's words sounded like a fantasy.
But emotionally, everything that had happened before made him want to believe it again.

The situation has deteriorated to an all-time low; an enemy counterattack is imminent, and they are helpless against the enemy's elite units.

Perhaps we should try his method, as a last resort?
Moreover, even if this gamble fails, the situation won't be worse than it is now.

"it is good!"

Ludwig gritted his teeth and made a decision.

"I'm betting! Tell me, what do you need? I'll give you anything I can get my hands on!"

"Great!" Morin's spirits lifted. "First, I need shells. Hmm, at least ten 105mm high-explosive shells, intact! Also, I need a lot of copper, the more the better, and discarded shell casings are the best source!"

“No problem.” Ludwig immediately agreed. “The artillery has already moved over to the south of the city. I will personally lead the men there. In the name of the Teutonic Knights, it shouldn’t be difficult to ‘borrow’ some things.”

"I also need a few experienced artillerymen, preferably veterans who understand ammunition structure."

“That’s easy to handle. I’ll ‘borrow’ them from the artillery battalion for you.” Ludwig was very decisive.

"Finally, and most importantly, I need professional technicians."

"Technicians?"

"I need someone who understands chemistry, and I also need several skilled craftsmen, preferably those who know casting."

“This…” Ludwig was stumped. “Our Knights Order consists of magic engineers, knight squires, and pilots; we don’t have any technical personnel like this.”

Morin smiled and said, "Leave this to me."

Less than ten minutes later, Ludwig demonstrated the energy he possessed as an imperial nobleman and a Teutonic Knight.

He personally drove a military truck belonging to the Knights, accompanied by several attendants, and charged directly into the artillery camp.

When questioned by the artillery officer, he simply revealed his Teutonic Knights identity.

Then, in an unquestionable tone, it was announced that this was for "a top-secret weapons test that would determine the outcome of the war," and that it was carried out on General Paul's secret orders.

The artillery officers were stunned by his intimidation. Although they were full of doubts, none of them dared to actually stop a lieutenant colonel of the Teutonic Knights.

In the end, Ludwig returned home with a full load.

The truck was loaded with more than a dozen brand-new 105mm high-explosive shells and two large boxes of bright yellow old shell casings, and it also 'borrowed' three bewildered artillery veterans.

(End of this chapter)