Chapter 1708: 571. Maxim! I order you, charge! – Adding more for the ‘Ho Zhen Ting Hao’ brothers 【13/30】
“So you came with questions, right? Go ahead, share what’s puzzling you?”
Ron had a good private relationship with Fraser, especially after sharing an unbreakable bond in the battle of the swamp. He didn’t hide some of his thoughts in front of Fraser and expressed his doubts, to which Fraser shrugged and revealed a secret:
“That’s the backbone!”
“Hmm?”
Major Ron was puzzled, so Fraser continued to explain:
“When I was last in Transylvania, it just so happened that Governor Murphy requested General Maxim to form the People’s Army. At that time, they only had a formation of 300 people, selected as elites from all the surviving individuals through two rounds of screening.
You know, Transylvania is a favorite place for all generals for recruiting troops.
In this place, any healthy man is an excellent soldier, known for their fierce and fearless fighting spirit. But when Murphy established his first army, he adopted a strategy of ‘best among the best.’
He didn’t blindly pursue a numerical advantage, and those initial 300 were the backbone of the current 3,000 troops. They adopted a ‘veterans guide the new recruits’ model, with each veteran forming a node in the army’s command system, making the army’s combat ability essentially complete within just a month or two after an expansion.
So, I have reason to believe that this army was also chosen as the backbone by General Maxim.
With them as the core and after another expansion, Governor Murphy will possess a well-organized and highly trained elite unit no less than the Exploration Corps.
You have also observed their training methods and high level of organization, proving the excellence of this military-building strategy. I’ve already written a report about this and sent it to the Pioneer Fortress, and I believe Marshal Loren will also be interested in it.”
“Alright, your explanation is interesting, but it still doesn’t help me understand their mindset at this time.”
Major Ron said, frowning:
“Three thousand men can hold this valley, but that’s about it. The Maginot Line meant for the decisive battle is impossible to hold with just 3000 men.
Expansion and army-building also take time. Once the Jackal army presses on, where will Murphy and Maxim find the time to reorganize?”
“No, you’re wrong. Such rapid military-building will undoubtedly cause problems elsewhere, but not in Transylvania!”
Fraser’s expression turned serious as he said:
“Don’t forget, the workers laboring on the Maginot Line were originally prisoners and soldiers sent back from Nordtof and us to Transylvania! They were already trained, with a military foundation, and I have seen the site of the defense line; the Transia People manage those workers with a militarized style.
They sift through the workers for ‘active reformers’ and give them decent treatment, using this method to construct the line while selecting usable soldiers.
These processes are simultaneous.
Moreover, the proportion of veterans among Transylvania civilians is alarmingly high, and they are organizing militia training in various villages.
You have seen with your own eyes that those are the reservists ready to be deployed to the battlefield at any time.
Although their arsenal is crude, it has begun mass-producing what we consider low-power but reliable bolt-action firearms, along with continual weapon aids from the Nordtov Kingdom.
Once these 3000 retreat to the line, I am certain that in at most half a month’s time, Governor Murphy’s army will have initially taken shape!”
“It’s like seeing a ghost!”
Major Ron felt his scalp tingle, stamping his foot as he said:
“How have these vampires suddenly become so adept at warfare overnight? I heard from my father that the Blood Vulture Clan earlier only focused on cultivating Armed Blood Servants, and their military system was extremely rotten. Could it be that Governor Murphy found some strange military book somewhere?”
“This isn’t the way of the Transia People, Ron; they must have borrowed an efficient and complete military-building system from somewhere else, hiding the troops among the people…”
The colonel shook his head and said:
“Your observational skills still need improving—you clearly went to those places with me, but you haven’t discovered the secrets that the Transia People are hiding privately.
This won’t do, Ron.
We are the king’s eyes; we must collect the information the king wants to see.”
“But that can’t be right, either!”
Ron had one last doubt; clutching his hair, he said:
“The prerequisite for the Transia People’s grand military expansion is that these 3,000 people must return alive to serve as the core of the new army. Given the intensity of the Black Disaster, unless General Maxim proactively abandons this valley before the main force of the Black Disaster arrives, but…”
“Of course, they can return, though perhaps not necessarily ‘alive.’
Fraser said gloomily:
“Have you forgotten Transylvania’s ‘specialty’?”
“Hmm?”
Ron’s eyes widened in an instant, saying in disbelief:
“You mean vampires? No way! This is a full 3,000 people!”
“Why not?”
Fraser retorted:
“Isn’t the Blood Vulture Clan waiting to be rebuilt?
Haven’t the Transia People long been accustomed to being led by vampires?
Their area has the lowest repulse towards vampires on the entire Continent, not to mention the Blood Servants; they unleash all their combat power only under the guidance of vampires. If I were Governor Murphy, I certainly wouldn’t give up this trump card!
Three thousand well-trained human soldiers cannot withstand the Black Disaster, but 3,000 Vampire Warriors with iron discipline can easily slaughter ten times the Jackal army in the dark. If they want to leave, no one can stop them.