Re: Blood and Iron

The encirclement of the Boxer's last stronghold within the region was held for close to two months. There was only one way in and out of the temple, and it was secured by the German soldiers who took turns keeping watch.

After only one attempt to leave the temple, which resulted in the deaths of twelve boxers. The rebels stayed put within the temple for the remainder of the "siege."

At first they thought the Germans were trying to starve them out with their encirclement. But they had enough supplies to last through the end of winter. And because of this, they thought the German leadership was foolish to make such attempts.

Eventually, however, the day arrived where the German Battalion got their hands on their new prototype weapon. As it was Bruno's design, he quickly worked together with those men in his company who were most mechanically inclined. Putting it together in no time.

There were a few dummy rounds included in the munitions case. So that Bruno and his men could properly zero the weapon on the enemy's location. Nobody besides the Battalion commander really knew what Bruno's plan was.

Nor did they understand what exactly Bruno and his men were fiddling with. From their perspective, it was a short and thin steel tube. They couldn't possibly comprehend that this one weapon would forever change the nature of warfare in this world.

Bruno had no practical experience with operating mortars. In his past life, he was an infantry officer and was not adequately trained on their operation. But due to the fact that he designed the damn thing, based upon a newfound understanding of mechanical engineering via studying the subject in his life, and a basic comprehension of how mortars functioned in his past life. He figured it out pretty quickly.

Once the weapon was zeroed in, Bruno ordered the men to launch one of the dummy rounds to test the weapon. The echo of the mortar round blasting off alerted all troops in the immediate vicinity as the shell flew up into the air, well above the target before falling down in the center of the temple plaza.

To the Boxers inside the complex, this was a bizarre sight. A metallic object shot up into the air and fell into their position. But it caused no damage to any of the structures, or the men within them. They began to laugh and shout at the Germans as if this was somehow a failure on their part.

But Bruno ordered another dummy round to be launched just to ensure the weapon was indeed fixed in the right position. And again, an explosive blast echoed across the mountain range, while another inert round landed on the plaza, a foot or two away from the initial target.

None of the Boxers understood what was happening, or how the next round would be their undoing. But upon seeing that the prototype mortar was functioning flawless, Bruno gave an order to his company to take up positions at the bottom of the staircase and to be prepared to begin their assault.

"On my mark, prepare to charge the enemy!"