British hegemon

Chapter 28 Pre-Battle Deployment

Looking up at the sky, I saw stars twinkling, and I estimated it was probably around 8 p.m.

To prevent premature detection, Roger forbade any fires, so the cave was completely dark.

Everyone had already eaten dinner. At this moment, Roger took a few sips of bread in one hand and a wine bag in the other, and then reported the enemy situation to the "warriors" sitting around him.

"...Two pirates remained on the pirate ship at Cape Lu. Before leaving, they saw two pirate sentries outside the mill and went back. Based on the information we had previously received, we estimate that there were about fifteen pirates in the mill."

"I observed carefully that there were eight or nine people going in and out of the mill. They were all dressed in tattered clothes, with no armor, and only a short knife or axe at their waist. They posed no threat."

"So there are only six or seven real bandits in the mill who can threaten you. Later, Ponytail will poison most of them, and the rest of you can take on one by three or five. You can even bite them to death."

Roger knew that the fighting spirit these men had been ignited by the gold had largely dissipated, and this was the only way to boost their remaining morale.

"Kill them, and all that gold and silver treasure will be yours." Roger gave everyone another big pep talk.

The group inside the cave were both tense and excited. Heavy breathing was accompanied by bad breath, and the slight scraping of swords and clubs could be heard. They were all eager to try, and several of them wanted to shout out loud, but were immediately stopped.

Seeing that the people around him were still determined to fight, Roger began to assign them combat tasks for the next while.

It's unrealistic to expect ordinary people who are just local ruffians and farmers in the morning to coordinate their operations. But in the dark, a chaotic battle without any strategy is also impossible. Roger had suffered a similar loss in his previous life during such a street brawl.

"Blackie and Gambler, you two are in my group. After you rush into the mill, you're responsible for killing the pirates on the left. Whoever I kill, you'll kill with me."

"Young Master Roger, which hand is your left hand?" The one who asked the question was the gambling addict, the guy who fought the English three times.

"You idiot, you can't even tell left from right. The left hand is the one that was holding the wine bag just now," someone in the darkness behind you replied.

"You bastard, you're the real idiot," the gambling addict retorted, then turned and slapped the shadowy figure.

Roger ignored him and continued, "Old Joey, Fat Widow, Shepherd, and Toothless, you four form a group. After you rush into the mill, you're responsible for killing the pirates on the right. Whoever Old Joey kills, you follow him and kill them. Kill one and then move on to the next."

Old Joey was the peasant soldier who stabbed an enemy in the backside with a spear. He was a bit senile, but quite brave and had some battlefield experience.

"Did you hear me? Answer me." Roger asked again when the others didn't respond.

The group had already nodded, but they didn't know there was a rule about responding, so they replied in different ways.

"Blackie, pick three trustworthy men to work with you in a group, and they'll be in charge of the middle part of the mill. The other three will listen to you; whoever you kill, they'll kill." This Blackie was the farmer who had come to the Red Mill during the day with a long stick to eat for free. Because his skin was so dark, Roger had called him Blackie the whole way, and he was happy to accept it, since this devilish young master had just given him a whole gold coin.

"Then... then I'll just pick the guys from the village, is that okay?" Black Charcoal asked tentatively.

"It's up to you, but just remember they have to be able to kill for you. If they can't kill the enemy, you'll have to die yourself."

After saying that, he ignored Black Charcoal and said, "Baldy, you take two hunters and shoot those pirates scattered outside or running out from ten paces away from the mill with bows and crossbows. Be sure to look carefully before you shoot, and don't kill your own men."

In the darkness, everyone echoed each other's words, whispering instructions to the three archers not to fire arrows indiscriminately and accidentally injure themselves.

"It's so dark, how can we see anything?" a hunter said with difficulty. He had shot many wild animals, but tonight he was going to kill someone, and his heart was pounding.

"You talk too much. When the time comes, the ponytail will set fire to the mill inside and out, and even a blind man can see it." The bald man cursed a few times, and the hunter shut up after hearing that.

Roger chimed in, then continued with the instructions, "The rest of you, each pick a trustworthy partner, two or three at a time, to kill any pirates who escaped."

"Are you all clear on this?" Roger raised his voice.

The responses from the crowd were scattered and fragmented; many people seemed to understand something, but not all of them did.

Seeing Roger's methodical arrangements and realizing that most of the pirates would be poisoned, the timid and cowardly thief Gray Rat suddenly gained courage. He shuffled over to Roger's side and tentatively asked, "Young Master Roger, how about you arrange some things for me? I'd like to become a pirate too."

"Get out of here! With so many brave warriors, do we need a coward like you to join the fun?" the bald man shouted. Yesterday, Gray Rat's desertion had made him lose face in front of Young Master Roger, so he had been unhappy with this guy ever since.

Before Gray Rat could argue further, Roger spoke up, "You'll stay with Baldy and his men. When they're shooting arrows, you'll protect them with a stick. If anyone dares to approach, beat them away with the stick. Afterwards, you'll get a gold coin. If you can take down a few henchmen, you'll get a share of the reward too."

Roger had already spoken, so Baldy could only shut up reluctantly, and Gray Rat was naturally very grateful.

"Young Master Roger, what should we do with the guys on that pirate ship?" the bald man suddenly asked.

Roger turned his head and glanced behind him. Although it was dark and he couldn't see the other person's face clearly, he still nodded approvingly.

This bald guy is quite something; he can still think about things outside the mill even in such a tense situation. He's got some ideas.

"There are some fearless pirates out there. If we push them to the brink, they'll fight to the death, and that would be our loss. So let's leave the pirate ship alone for now and give the pirates a way to escape, so they won't fight to the death."

Roger thought for a moment and then added, "If things go well, Baldy, Blackie, Old Joey, and Blackie, the four of you come with me to take down the two pirates on the ship. The rest of you stay here and clear out the remaining bandits near the mill."

"Alright, pirates, it's time for dinner. Let's go. Gray Rat will lead the way, and I'll bring up the rear. Everyone stay close to the person in front and don't make any loud noises so as not to alert the pirates."

After saying that, he began to organize the "bandit suppression army" to rush to the front line. The group of more than twenty people followed one after another, leaving the cave and crossing the mountain ridge along the shepherd's path. Under the moonlight and with the help of gray rats that could barely see in the dark, they crept along the forest line to the bushes where Roger had just been hiding. Only two people who were completely blind in the night fell down along the way and were helped up by the people behind them.

At this moment, candles were lit in the mill, and bursts of laughter drifted over...

............