The Shadow of Great Britain

432: Chapter 243 The Three Musketeers (5K4) 432: Chapter 243 The Three Musketeers (5K4) In the vegetable garden outside the residence, Arthur was so engrossed in looking at the handguns laid out on the table before him.

The Great Dumas, as an arms expert and firearm enthusiast, was enthusiastically explaining to Arthur about his proud collection.

“The British M1796 heavy cavalry pistol was the standard sidearm for British heavy cavalry during the Napoleonic Wars.

In pursuit of ultimate power, it used the same caliber ammunition as the heavy cavalry carbine rifles.

However, it was precisely because of this that the pistol often had accidents like bursting due to overcharging.

But if you’re looking for maximum destructiveness, then this is certainly your best choice.”

At this point, the Great Dumas suddenly picked up the pistol and pressed it against his side.

He pulled the trigger abruptly, and with a loud bang, the onions in the vegetable garden were instantly blasted to pieces.

Upon seeing this, Arthur simply shook his head and said, “No, Alexander, this is just too violent.

And in case of a burst or something, I’m not prepared to lose a few fingers.”

The Great Dumas, unperturbed by the comment, simply twirled the gun and placed it back in its spot.

Instantly, he began to introduce another pistol that was beside it: “How about these two?

Both of these were the main equipment for light cavalry during the Napoleonic Wars.

The one on the left is the British New Land pattern pistol, mainly issued to British light cavalry, with a caliber of 0.65 inches, a length of 14 inches, including an 8-inch barrel, and a total weight of 2.6 pounds.

It was professionally produced by the British East India Company weapons factory, with excellent stability, and comes with a rotatable ramrod fixing device.

The one on the right is a light cavalry pistol for the British King’s German Legion.

You know of Britain’s German Legion, right?

This legion was recruited from the British’s Personal Union, the Kingdom of Hanover, and besides Hanoverians, it also included some mercenaries from the German Hesse region within its ranks, known for its formidable combat abilities.

This troop was assembled from 1805 until it was disbanded in 1816 and fought alongside you Brits the whole time.

Whether or not you are willing to admit it, at least to me, a Frenchman, the cavalry’s combat prowess was extremely fierce, and I could even say without any reserve, that they were far superior to the British mainland cavalry.

During the Battle of Garcia Hernandez in the Peninsular War, the German Legion cavalry, under the command of Duke Wellington, broke through two French infantry squares from the front.

Even though they suffered heavy losses, such an achievement remains extraordinarily rare.

Although I am a Frenchman, I can’t help but respect their brave fighting.

The pistol these German Legion cavalrymen were equipped with is this one, with a caliber of 0.66 inches.

Although I don’t think this pistol is necessarily better than the New Land pattern pistols produced by the East India Company.

Still, this model of pistol definitely has a better combat record than the ones equipped by the British Guard Cavalry, so perhaps choosing it might bring you corresponding strength and courage.”

What concerned Arthur the most upon hearing this was not the strength of the firearms but the German Legion mentioned by the Great Dumas.

He said, “A legion composed of Hanoverians and Hessians?

In that case, the Civil Servant I saw at the Foreign Office, his father might have served in this unit.

Hmm…

Perhaps their family immigrated to Britain during the Napoleonic Wars.”

The Great Dumas shrugged and said, “Who knows?

But after the Battle of Waterloo, the Kingdom of Hanover was reestablished, so the German Legion was disbanded, and only a portion of the soldiers and officers were incorporated into the regular army of the Kingdom of Hanover.

Most of the rest just took their severance pay and went home.

Some of them deciding to migrate to Britain isn’t something surprising.

Isn’t that the relationship between Germans and the English?

Your ancestors all come from the same place, and if you go back a few dozen generations, you might even be related.

Come to think of it, the English are merely those who arrived on this island a thousand or eight hundred years earlier than them.”

Then, the Great Dumas suddenly changed the topic and said, “But Arthur, which one do you actually intend to choose?

You said you needed a suitable weapon, and here I’ve brought out all my storage for you.”

Arthur simply waved his finger and pointed to the pistol placed at the very top of the table and said, “The three models you’ve shown me are all British-made, and if I really wanted one, I could get it myself.

But this pistol, I’ve never seen it before; is it any good?”

Upon hearing that Arthur was interested in that particular pistol, the Great Dumas suddenly clutched the firearm to his chest as if someone had taken a fancy to his wife, with the Frenchman loudly cursing, “Damn it!

This gun is out for your viewing, but don’t you think of taking it for yourself; it was, is, and will always be mine alone.”

Arthur struck a match to light his pipe and exhaled a smoke ring before saying, “What’s up?

Is there something special about it?”

“Special?

Of course, it’s special!”

The Great Dumas exclaimed, “Do you know what gun this is?

This is a French Year XIII!

Haven’t I told you?

During the July Revolution last year, I led the charge into the armory and was the first to storm the Tuileries Palace, after which I was specially received by General Lafayette.

To commend my bravery, he gifted me his own sidearm, the very one you see before you.