Chapter 63: A fleeting romance
When facing human wave tactics, crossfire can exert its power to the greatest extent. In the Battle of the Somme in World War I, the German troops relied on strict crossfire to kill more than 60,000 British and French troops in one day.
To attack a defensive position that forms cross fire, the best way is to make a flanking move. If you attack head-on, you must be prepared to suffer heavy losses. Five years ago, in the Zulu War, a 50-man British squad killed more than 3,000 Mettabili warriors. At that time, the British did not know how to use cross fire, but instead lined up four heavy machine guns in a row, failing to fully utilize the firepower advantage of the heavy machine guns.
If the machine gun positions set up by the British could be more clever and the shooters could cooperate more closely, theoretically, as many Metabilis as came, as many as they could die. Before the heavy machine gun bullets were used up, the Metabilis would never be able to break through the British positions.
The British during this period were indeed wealthy and powerful. Henry not only asked for six heavy machine guns, but also more than 20 military horses. Although the breeds of these horses were somewhat mixed, they were all war horses, with no draft horses mixed in. This gave Rock a more thorough understanding of the wealth of the British.
Don't forget how many people there are in the commando team. Including Rock and Henry, there are exactly 120 people. With such a small number of people, they are equipped with six heavy machine guns, more than 20 horses, and each person has a rifle and a pistol. They are truly armed to the teeth.
In addition to heavy machine guns, Rock also requested for as many armored trains as possible. However, what disappointed Rock was that the armored trains of that time were a bit rudimentary. They used open carriages with thicker car covers and did not even have a roof, let alone shooting holes. If it rained when they were on the front line, it would be a very busy scene. The soldiers in the armored train would be in a state of panic even without the Boers attacking.
"Add a cover, we must add a cover. We will be sleeping in the open air along the way. It's okay during the day, but what about at night? What if it rains? The military supplies will be transported to Dordrecht in the open air for more than a thousand kilometers. Aren't you afraid that they will get damp?" Rock has a lot of requirements. The British are really carefree.
"Supplies must be treated to prevent moisture before being loaded onto the train. These were previously mine cars used to haul ore and were not prepared for soldiers at all. Time is too tight and there is no way to modify them." Henry had no choice. The Cape was a colony and the preset enemy was the local black people. They were not prepared for a large-scale war with the white people, so the conditions were so simple.
It is simple, but adding a cover to the carriage can only make the commandos riding on the armored train more comfortable, and it has no other function. If they really encounter the Boer guerrillas, the outcome of the battle is still determined by the people, and has little to do with the equipment.
The day before departure, each commando received a new set of clothes, a canvas bag, a raincoat, two packs of cigarettes, two packs of matches, twenty pieces of chocolate, and a bottle of wine. These were the items that the commandos needed to carry with them, as well as ammunition and food. The police station arranged a logistics team of ten people to be responsible for the supply.
Oh, these ten people are also responsible for taking care of more than 20 military horses.
Rock also received his share of supplies. In the evening, Rock returned to Mill Street to have dinner with Henry and Phyllis, and then went to the Table Mountain Hotel.
Ada was waiting for Rock in the room, playing with a newly developed lighter in her hand. The flame flickered, and Ada's expression was dazed under the candlelight.
"Successful?" Rock's expression was a little surprised. He didn't expect Ada to be so efficient.
"Yes, it was a success. General Wilmot from the Logistics Department was very interested. I priced them at 2.5 pounds each, and General Wilmot ordered 14,000 of them." Ada downplayed the business. It seemed that Ada was not very happy about the business worth tens of thousands of pounds.
"Awesome!" Rock was really impressed by Ada's calmness. He had to admire her. He was still leading people to cheat people at the dock and making a few hundred pounds, but a woman had easily made her business to the expeditionary force headquarters. This was not something that could be summed up with just one word "awesome".
Of course, Rock didn't seem to realize at this moment that the lighter business was the path that Rock pointed out to Ada. In fact, it was useless for Rock to realize it, because what belonged to Ada was Ada's. Even if Rock could make it , Rock asked himself if he had the ability to sell the lighter to General Wilmot, so he had to keep a calm mind.
"I told you, this is a business between the two of us." Ada did not forget her promise to Rock. This is very open and honest. A business worth tens of thousands of pounds can be divided up just like that.
"No, this is yours, just consider it as pocket money I give you." Rock was generous. Although Rock needed money very much, he couldn't spend the money earned by a woman, at least not now.
Women also have their distance. If Ada is Rock's wife, then Rock would feel at ease spending Ada's money because he would not mind Ada spending his money since it is their joint income after marriage anyway.
The problem is that Rock and Ada don't have a clear relationship now. They are now in a state of more than lovers but less than lovers, not even lovers, so it's better to be clear about money.
"Why do you give me pocket money?" Ada's face suddenly turned cold and her voice became indifferent. Rock suddenly felt that the temperature in the room had dropped several degrees.
"Isn't it normal for a man to give money to a woman?" Rock tried to be as casual as possible, not knowing what it was that irritated Ada.
Ada suddenly became passionate again. She rushed over and hugged Rock tightly, burying her head in Rock's arms. Her voice was a little hazy and could not be heard clearly: "You should resign. Don't be a police officer anymore, and don't go to the front line. Otherwise, I will go to Chief Russell and let someone else go for you--"
Rock felt that his shirt was wet on his chest, and he suddenly felt complicated. Yes, he almost forgot that Ada's ex-husband died on the battlefield.
"Come on, Ada, I promise, I'll come back safe and sound." For a moment, Rock really wanted to promise to stay.
But reason told Rock that it was not possible. If he went to the front line , he might die in battle, but the greater possibility was that he would return with honor. By then, Rock would have the confidence to break the so-called "glass ceiling". If Rock were alone, then Rock might have given up, but now there are more and more Chinese in the Cape Town Police Department, and more and more Chinese have followed Rock to become Cape Town citizens. How could Rock just leave?
"Let's go, let's go, walk out of this door and don't come back!" Ada pushed Rock away fiercely, with disheveled hair, like a shrew.
"Don't be like this, Ada." Rock tried to comfort Ada.
"Don't call me Ada." Ada's voice returned to calm.
Rock didn't say anything else. He silently picked up the suitcase he brought, glanced at Ada, turned around and left Ada's room.
Well, it was just a fleeting romance, so it’s good that it ended like this.
