Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1148: Chapter 1054: Xhosa Warriors

Currently, France also does not have a medicine to treat cholera, but Darius discovered in the past few months through the use of saline and glucose that these two “remedies” are practically omnipotent!

As long as they are slowly injected into a vein with a syringe, nearly 80% of patients quickly regain their energy, and at least half of them completely recover without the use of additional medication.

Of course, the drawback is the cost, especially glucose, which can only be shipped from France, with each bottle costing over 10 francs—even after the Paris Pharmaceutical Factory began mass production.

However, the consumption of medicine this time is worthwhile because hiring a male Xhosa warrior costs between 5 to 15 francs per month.

And this priestess from the Aoku Tribe “contributed” 10 warriors at once, and they are to “serve” for three months.

The physical fitness of the South African indigenous people is still very strong—those with weaker constitutions were mostly “eliminated” by nature in childhood.

After being injected with two doses of glucose and five doses of saline, the priestess regained her strength, and her own immunity finally overcame the bacteria, and she stopped having diarrhea.

Four days later, she was able to consume liquid food. Darius instructed her to drink clean water as much as possible upon returning home, and after watching her solemnly swear, he announced she could be discharged.

The Xhosa people place great importance on vows made to spirits, and afterward, those ten warriors are certain to report to Mosel City.

That priestess prayed at the “hospital” gate, praising Darius’s medical prowess, before reluctantly departing.

Once she returns to her tribe, her experiences will be eagerly shared and will attract more tribes from the Xhosa people to seek treatment.

In fact, this “Salt River Hospital” receives as many as sixty to seventy indigenous patients daily.

Even the Zulu people from faraway Magulu have heard of this hospital’s reputation and would undertake long journeys to seek medical care.

In the past, the Boers also built hospitals, but their reputation pales compared to the Salt River Hospital.

Firstly, they’re not welcoming to Black people, and even when treating some tribal leaders, they wouldn’t be very devoted. Secondly, their medical skills are far inferior to the French. Nowadays, even a preparatory physician from France, with a copy of the “Handbook,” can surpass the medical skills of an entire Boer hospital with ease.

Moreover, the Salt River Hospital only focuses on treatment, without requiring patients to confess to Jesus before entering—which is not the case with other white hospitals.

Lastly, the Salt River Hospital’s fees are extremely low.

Patients participating in double-blind drug trials are naturally not charged, and they can even enjoy a free meal of corn porridge daily.

Patients receiving normal medical treatment can offset their medical fees by helping the Boers in combat—as long as they serve with the Boers for a month, they can receive one free medical treatment session, while still earning their commission. Serving for a year grants them lifetime free medical treatments. This even includes medication costs not exceeding 2 francs.

…

On the east side of Cape Town, in Swellendam Town.

Two companies of British infantry, under the cover of more than 30 cavalry, were escorting five wagons back to Cape.

The wagons carried grain they had just collected from the Boer inhabitants of the town.

Even though the British were extremely cautious, after leaving the town by over ten kilometers, three or four soldiers still lost their lives to bullets suddenly shot from the bushes on both sides.

In fact, as soon as they entered Swellendam Town, someone had already informed the nearby Boer resistance organization of their presence.

The resistance group immediately assembled forces to ambush them, while the townspeople slowly loaded the wagons for the British.

The British soldiers reacted quickly, taking less than five minutes to form an infantry line with their backs against the wagon, aiming their rifles at the direction of the gunfire.

Meanwhile, the cavalry spread out, searching for other attackers.

After a moment of quiet, suddenly the sound of a military drum was heard, and a line of Boer militia, dressed in various styles, appeared on the side front of the British, numbering over four hundred.

The British quickly adjusted the direction of their infantry line, and the officers had already raised their swords, ready to give the order to shoot at any moment.

They were quite confident, believing with their skilled formations and shooting techniques, they could defeat the Boers, who outnumbered them two to one, without issue.

When the two sides were about 200 paces apart, the British cavalry suddenly blew a sharp whistle to alert them.

As the British infantry nervously scanned their surroundings, more than a hundred Black warriors, holding shields and spears, came charging from their right flank, emitting terrifying screeches.

The British hastily split off 40 soldiers to set up a defensive formation on the flank, but the Xhosa stopped abruptly midway, while the Boer lineup at the front quickened their advance.

When the Boers approached within 80 paces of the enemy, they initiated the first round of gunfire.

The British did not react, as this was still far from the range stipulated by the drill manual to open fire; they only held their focus on the Boers.

Those Xhosa, however, started their charge again, splitting into four columns, charging at the British in a wedge formation.

They had not received formal column charge training; this was warfare experience handed down from countless tribal conflicts by their Xhosa ancestors, practiced from the time they could walk.

Clearly taken aback, the British officers ordered to commence firing when the South African indigenous people were still over 80 paces away.

Two Xhosa were struck by bullets and fell—though their leather shields were utterly ineffective against lead bullets—but the wizards behind them were chanting bizarre incantations, spurring the Black warriors to greater fearlessness, even quickening their pace.

The Boers also began to enter effective range, forcing the British to devote their main effort to dealing with these over 400 flintlock guns.

After several volleys from both sides, the Boer lineup started to fall into disarray, with the left wing advancing while the center and right wings faltered under the fire.

Though the British also suffered over a dozen casualties, they remained utterly composed, consistently maintaining stable and rapid fire.

The terrifying cries of the Xhosa grew ever closer, and then the British heard a hissing sound from above on their left.

Sixty to seventy spears rained down on the British line, instantly piercing the chests of about a dozen men, causing them to writhe in agony on the ground.

The Xhosa warriors could launch spears from over 50 paces away, with surprisingly accurate aim.

Taking advantage of the British’s confusion, two squads of Xhosa men finally locked in melee with the British frontline soldiers.

At this point, the bizarrely designed shields in the Xhosa’s hands served them well, deflecting the bayonets of the British with ease, followed by the Xhosa’s axes swinging downwards.

In just three or four minutes, the British right flank, lacking experience in fighting the Xhosa, began to crumble, and the chaos quickly affected the other soldiers.

The British commander witnessed the chaos unfold and hurriedly gathered the cavalry for cover while ordering the infantry to retreat southwards.

However, little did they know that the Xhosa were almost all exceptional runners.[Note 1]

[Note 1]Historically, the Xhosa indeed relied on javelin throws and fearless charges, achieving nearly a 1-to-1 casualty ratio in cold weapon combat against Dutch colonists equipped with flintlock guns.

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