Chapter 65
About ten years ago, the British began to gradually change their clothing to bright red.
Of course, this only applies on the battlefield. When performing missions, most British troops have begun to use khaki uniforms. However, in life, if they leave the barracks or attend ceremonies, most of the army and part of the navy will still wear traditional bright red. It was not until the First World War that bright red uniforms were completely eliminated.
Interestingly, the reason why the traditional bright red was eliminated was not because the British realized that red was not conducive to camouflage, but because cochineal dye was expensive, so the British were forced to change their clothing.
How expensive is this? Even the British can’t afford it!
…
For two days, the train was not attacked by the Boer guerrillas, which made most of the commandos, including Henry, feel relieved.
But Rock didn't dare to relax. The train was still within the Cape and had not entered the war zone. It was normal that there were no attacks by the Boer guerrillas. But things would not be so easy next. The train passed Bloemfontein and began to enter the war zone. Everyone began to get nervous.
It was indeed tense. Although the scenery was still beautiful, with either endless grasslands or lush hills, no one was in the mood to appreciate it. Rock had been in the Cape for a long time and had become immune to the pristine scenery. Everyone's attention was attracted by the crosses beside the railway. Many crosses had Boer corpses hanging on them. They were all hanged Boer guerrillas. The British never showed mercy to them. After capturing them, they were all shot on the spot. Even if they were killed in battle, their bodies would be hung on crosses.
"Open your eyes wide and observe carefully the situation on both sides of the railway. If you find someone hiding in the grass or bushes, do not hesitate, shoot immediately, no matter if he is a guerrilla or not." Henry was murderous and did not give the Boers any chance.
In order to prevent the bombs installed by the Boers on the railway, the train did not move very fast, estimated to be less than ten kilometers per hour, which was only slightly faster than walking.
Henry arranged several observers at the locomotive position. As long as they found any abnormal situation on or beside the railway, the train would stop immediately and would not continue to move forward until the danger was eliminated.
This may be a little slow, but it is safer.
"If we continue to move at this speed, we will not be able to complete the mission within the deadline." Rock was a little worried. The British Army on the Eastern Front was going to launch an attack on February 27th. It was already mid-February, and it would take nearly two days to travel to Cape Town. Now the speed is even slower, at least five days. At this speed, Rock and his team would not be able to complete the mission.
If the commandos fail to complete the mission, they will definitely be punished by the expeditionary force headquarters.
Of course, what is more likely is that even if the commandos successfully completed their mission, the expeditionary force headquarters would still find fault.
"No, no, no, Locke, you have to understand. Even if we fail to complete the mission, the most we will do is to lose our jobs and go out to patrol the streets together. But if we fall into the hands of the Boers, I don't need to tell you what will happen to both of us." Henry didn't care whether he could complete the mission or not. Winston was the grandson of the Duke, so the Boers were reluctant to kill him. Henry's father was just a small baron, and the Boers would not care.
"I hope the Boer guerrillas will appear. You should win merit in the war like our father, brother Henry. If you can be knighted, our father will definitely forget the stupid things you have done." Phyllis was eager to try. Like Rock and Henry, Phyllis was also equipped with a pistol and a rifle. Fortunately, Rock and the others were now equipped with Lee Enfields. If it was still Martini Henry, Phyllis would be only a little taller than Martini Henry with a bayonet.
"Shut up, war is not a game of house for you to play." Henry's impression of Phyllis was indeed stuck in a certain period.
"I haven't played that kind of childish game for a long time." Phyllis argued and resolutely drew a clear line between herself and childishness.
Just as Henry and Phyllis were beginning to hurt each other as usual, the train slowly stopped again.
"Damn Boers, damn bombs - everyone be on alert!" Henry issued orders while cursing, stepped on a bullet box, and leaned out to look towards the front of the car.
"Be careful, come back!" Rock pulled Henry back.
"What did you find?" Henry took out his pistol and hid beside Rock, looking around.
"Not yet--" Rock really didn't find anything, but it felt very wrong, as if he was being stared at by a hungry wolf or a poisonous snake.
In fact, this situation happened many times along the way. Henry would rather not make any achievements than make any mistakes. He would become a frightened bird at the slightest sign of trouble.
Although most of the time it was a false alarm, this time the situation was a little different. The train stopped on the hillside of a mountain, with hills on one side and a ridge on the other. There were lush bushes on the hills, but Rock keenly noticed that fresh soil could be seen among the bushes.
What does this mean?
This means someone is building fortifications in the bushes!
Rock immediately became nervous. While loading his rifle, he ordered Tang En: "Tang En, fire a few bursts of fire at the bushes over there!"
Tang En is tall and strong, making him the best candidate for a machine gunner. He had received heavy machine gun training when he was in the Huayong Battalion.
Boom boom boom——
Boom boom boom——
The sound of the heavy machine gun was captivating, like a big drum, beating heavily on people's hearts.
After two bursts of gunfire, there was no movement in the bushes.
"Hahahaha, Rock, you're making such a fuss--" Henry laughed, mocking Rock's making a fuss.
As the laughter died down, neat gunshots suddenly rang out from the bushes.
boom!
It was not just one gunshot, but many gunshots rang out at the same time, and it felt like one sound. The noise was much louder than Tang En's heavy machine gun.
In fact, Rock was also suspicious, but at the moment the gunshot, Rock still noticed the faint muzzle inflammation in the bushes.
"Enemy attack, enemy attack!" Rock immediately hid behind the sturdy steel plate of the carriage. When he heard the gunshots, he also heard the " ding-dong . There was also the whistling sound of bullets cutting through the air above his head. Only then did Rock realize that bullets really fly faster than sound in the air.
They were suddenly attacked by the enemy, and there was actually no need for Rock to give a warning. The well-trained commandos had already begun to fight back spontaneously. Of course, some were injured and screamed loudly after being hit by stray bullets, but no one cared about them at this moment.
Boom boom boom boom—
Tang En's heavy machine gun fired again, but this time it was not a burst of fire.
