Chapter 531: Militia Training
TL: Rui88
On the large training grounds of the Lakeheart Town barracks, four infantry battalions stood in neat formation.
Unlike on normal training days, in addition to their firearms, the soldiers all carried packs and rolled-up blankets, their packs stuffed full.
Chief of Staff Schroeder stood on a high platform, addressing the soldiers.
“Lord Grayman has repeatedly taught us that sweating more in peacetime means bleeding less in wartime. For this saying, the veterans with combat experience should have a deep appreciation for just how practical the combat and support skills, which are repeatedly drilled on a daily basis, become once you are truly on the battlefield.”
“It is for this reason that our Alda army has always placed great importance on daily training. However, training cooped up in the barracks is not enough, so field exercises are an important part of our training plan.”
“In this field exercise, you will set out from Lakeheart Town and pass through the three great domains of Alda, Baylding, and Emden. Along the way, there are plains, swamps, forests, hills, and other terrains. These are all good places for you to hone your skills.”
“According to the plan, this training exercise will cover many subjects, including field marching, wilderness survival, camping, and live-fire shooting. You must cherish every opportunity to better yourselves.”
“Officers and soldiers at all levels must consciously uphold the image of our army. When passing through towns and villages, you must pay special attention to discipline. You are not permitted to harass the populace, you must speak politely, and if you need to buy anything, you must pay the original price. Molesting women of good families is forbidden. Instructors and military police at all levels must pay close attention to the above points and supervise them well. Those who violate discipline will be severely punished, and the results of the punishment will be announced to the entire army.”
“Lieutenant Colonel Bryce will serve as the overall commander for this exercise and will lead the troops throughout the entire process. Everyone must obey his commands.”Chief of Staff Schroeder rambled on the platform for a long time, while the men below had various thoughts.
Most of the veterans were groaning inwardly; they knew that field exercises were very hard work.
But the new recruits who had just joined the army were exceptionally excited. The Lakeheart Town garrison was not allowed to leave the barracks without reason on normal days. If they wanted to go out and have fun, they could only ask for leave or take turns on weekends, and they could not leave the vicinity of Lakeheart Town. Therefore, they regarded this field exercise as an outing.
After Schroeder finished his speech, he ordered the army to move out.
Under the orderly command of the officers, the square formation changed into a long column and marched out of Lakeheart Town. The transport company, responsible for the large items with their horse-drawn carts, was already waiting for the main force in the outskirts.
Burgan, the head of the training section, watched the troops disappear at the end of the street. He stared blankly in the direction the troops had gone for a while. By the time he came back to his senses, he found that his right hand was trembling slightly.
Excitement? Nervousness? Or perhaps both.
He straightened his clothes and hat and told himself silently that he just needed to follow the original plan. You can do it!
A figure quietly approached him. Burgan heard the footsteps but made no move.
“Young master? What should we do next?”
This was the servant his family had arranged to take care of him in Lakeheart Town, who was completely loyal.
“Go and tell Ordennel that everything is going smoothly. If there are no further incidents, I will contact him again tomorrow evening.”
The militia could only be fully assembled this afternoon. He still needed a day to organize them. If nothing went wrong, the day after tomorrow would be the day to make their move. By then, the troops that had set out from Lakeheart Town would have been on the road for two days. According to the plan for this exercise…a plan he, as the head of the training section, had helped create…the first two days were for forced marches. They would be a considerable distance from Lakeheart Town.
…
“Ah! Lads, we’ve finally made it to Lakeheart Town!”
Zane led the one hundred and twenty militiamen from his town to the outskirts of Lakeheart Town. Looking ahead, they could already see a dense collection of buildings.
“Rest… rest for a bit!”
McKee, sticking his tongue out and panting heavily, plopped down on a large rock by the side of the road. He was the fattest in the entire contingent, and this journey had truly exhausted him.
With someone taking the lead, the others in the group followed suit, sitting down by the roadside to rest.
Seeing his companions in such a state, Zane, the militia captain, frowned tightly.
“Lads, you can’t be like this once we’re in Lakeheart Town. What will the lords from the Lord’s manor think if they see you like this?”
“Huh?” McKee looked up at Zane.
“What could they do? Will we get whipped?”
“Whipped? I’m telling you, getting whipped is just a tickle.”
Zane raised his voice, loudly frightening the militiamen.
“I heard that in Lakeheart Town, if a soldier disobeys an order, being hanged on the gallows is a light punishment. They might even face execution by cannon!”
“Ex… execution by cannon?”
It was the first time the militiamen had heard this term. “Zane, what’s execution by cannon?”
Zane raised his head high. “Execution by cannon is when they use a cannon to execute a prisoner. A cannon! Do you know what a cannon is?”
“We know!” Seto, the shortest in the group, shouted loudly. “I heard the head of the conscription station talk about it. He said it’s a weapon Lord Grayman made with the hammer of the thunder god.”
“I know too!”
“I’ve heard of it!”
The others also chimed in.
“That cannon’s power is incredible!” Zane’s eyes widened, revealing a terrifying meaning. “Execution by cannon is when they tie a person to the muzzle of the cannon, and then…boom!”
He dramatically spread his arms wide, making an explosion gesture.
“The person is gone! Or rather… the person is in pieces!”
“Eeeek…!” Hearing their captain’s words, everyone showed expressions of fear and terror, especially the fat McKee, whose flesh trembled like a sieve. Such an execution wouldn’t even leave a whole corpse, and all for disobeying an order?
It was too terrifying!
“So, lads!” Zane very seriously warned his fellow militiamen. “When we get to Lakeheart Town, you must strictly obey orders. You can’t be as undisciplined as we are in our town and villages.”
“To obey orders means that once a command is given, you must act immediately, no dawdling.”
“To heed prohibitions means that as soon as there’s a prohibition, you must stop immediately. If you’re told not to do something, you absolutely must not do it.”
“Do you all understand?”
The militiamen nodded their heads like chickens pecking at rice. “We understand, we understand! We’ll all listen to you, Captain.”
Zane was very satisfied with his subordinates’ performance, but he also felt a little helpless. These fellows really didn’t know what was what unless you gave them a scare.
This militia training was not like the old days, where everyone would just stand in formation on the threshing ground, practice a few drills of marching in step, and wave their swords and spears before it was all over.
He had heard… he had heard that in Lakeheart Town, they would teach the militia how to handle firearms.
At this thought, Zane’s heart thrilled with excitement.