ebookland Chapter 137 The 1st Task
Chapter 137 The 1st Task
Reina, wearing a white military uniform, read out her speech at the podium.
Perhaps because Reina herself hated flowery and convoluted speeches, she didn't say much from the beginning. After a casual talk, she went straight to the topic that the soldiers were most concerned about - disability pensions and welfare benefits.
After Reina finished her speech, Lind and Reina awarded medals of honor to the soldiers who were disabled as a result of the expedition.
Thanks to the recovery potions that have become almost standard equipment for soldiers, not many soldiers have been injured or disabled since the war began, and the most injuries were probably caused by Hammond's night raid.
This made Hammond, who had just followed Laurie back to Gray Collar, a little embarrassed, but the soldiers on the stage were extremely excited. After putting on their medals, they excitedly saluted Lind and Lena. Lena, who had always been lacking in etiquette, also rarely returned a military salute.
When facing a soldier in a wheelchair, Lind half-knelt down and helped him put on the medal, completely ignoring the fact that the soldier was trying frantically to put on the medal himself and asked Lind to stand up quickly.
Hammond saw at a glance that this was a means of winning people's hearts, but Hammond admitted that many soldiers fell for it, and this governor was doing much better than Doug. At least he not only gave them honors, but also really gave them money.
These disabled soldiers can choose to work in the rear or retire and live a peaceful life. If they want to go to school, the tuition will be borne by the Governor. There is no age limit for the Gray-Collar Technical School.
These people can even choose to continue serving in the army. Those who are incompetent can become instructors, and those who are competent can become staff officers. In a nutshell, as long as you are injured in the line of duty, the army will never treat you unfairly. Lind also recommends these soldiers to do so.
Hammond understood a little and asked, "The Governor deliberately left these wounded soldiers in the army for the soldiers to see, right?"
I have to say that this method is much more clever than Doug's so-called eating and living together, especially when Doug's so-called eating and living together is more like a vacation in a military camp.
"Yes."
Lowry nodded and said, "The Governor said that if we abandon these remnants, then five gray-collar soldiers can only be used as one, but if we keep these remnants, one gray-collar soldier can be used as five."
At this moment, Hammond finally understood the reason for the enemy's spirit of martyrdom during his night attack. Moreover, when he thought that if these wounded soldiers on the stage were his brothers, even though he knew that this was a means to win people's hearts, Hammond also had the idea of being loyal to them.
Especially at the end, when Reina shouted about restoring the glory of the North, Hammond couldn't help but clench his fists and shouted along with the soldiers.
It's not about working for any one person or any one family, but about fighting for the North.
However, a few days later, when Hammond stood on the watchtower and looked at the burning Pétain Line in the distance, he felt a little complicated for a moment.
Hammond thought about it from another perspective. If he were in control of the Pétain Line of Defense, it would be more than enough to defend for a year even if the supply was completely cut off.
Moreover, although the supply was completely cut off, Hammond discovered from the perspective of the Gray-Collar that there were still merchants doing business with the Pétain Line, because relying on the Gray-Collar's population army, it was impossible to completely block the Pétain Line.
However, such an indestructible line of defense was destroyed within a quarter of the war.
"The Petain Line is truly unbreakable."
Lowry looked at the billowing black smoke in the distance and said, "But people's hearts are not like that. Fortresses are often breached from the inside first."
Hammond remained silent after hearing this. This refers to Fort Pétain, but isn't it also Doug Lars' current situation?
"This is your first mission."
Lowry patted Hammond on the shoulder and said, "Normally, you and your brothers would be completely separated and mixed into the bottom layer, and start all over again."
"But White guaranteed you, and the Governor also wanted to try out a team composed purely of professionals, so he gave you this opportunity."
"So come on, don't let the Governor down."
Hammond looked down at his white military uniform, remembered the awarding ceremony a few days ago, nodded, turned over and jumped off the sentry tower, and shouted: "Brothers, it's our turn to show these guys what the elite of the Lars family are!"
Who are these guys referring to? Maybe the puppet troops in the Petain Line, or maybe the gray-collar army.
Laurie smiled. It seemed that Hammond was still holding a grudge, but Laurie didn't dislike such a passionate man. Positive competition was also encouraged in the army.
Hammond set off with an entire column of troops. Although Laurie said that Hammond's brothers were not disbanded, Hammond's troops were still reorganized. The most important thing was that the logistics personnel were completely replaced by gray-collar workers, and the entire army also received new weapons and equipment.
Tactical backpacks, ray guns, rapid-fire muskets, enchanted plate armor, and new-style fused-cut spears are all available, because Hammond's current troops are all professionals except for logistics, and the equipment they can carry is more and richer.
To be honest, after putting on this set of equipment, even if Gray and White Collar asked Hammond to go straight into the north to attack Doug's main city, Hammond would not frown at all.
But what really shocked Hammond was the logistics of the gray-collar workers, all kinds of potions, various supplies, and even military rations. The governor here seemed to have a mysterious obsession with logistics, especially food. The assessment of cooks was even stricter than that of some ordinary soldiers.
There is also the fusible-cutting spear, which was designed by Hammond together with Laurie and Darcy on the way back. The letter was sent halfway. By the time Hammond set foot on the gray and white territory, the experimental model of the fusible-cutting spear had been produced.
Hammond had fought in all his life and had never seen such exaggerated logistics. Not to mention losing the battle, even if he was short of one man, Hammond felt sorry for his comrades who were in charge of logistics.
Hammond once felt that the Gray-Collar Army had such a huge advantage in equipment, but its siege speed was too slow. If Doug had such an advantage, he would have attacked everywhere and would have appeared in front of another city the day after he conquered one.
So Hammond previously thought that the gray-collar governor probably really couldn't fight a war and might have even less war experience than Doug.
Hammond still felt that Governor Lind would not fight a war, but he had already underestimated the enemy to the point that even Hammond was a little frightened.
As long as the food and grass supplies are not caught up, the army will basically not take action. As long as the food and grass are running out, the army will begin to retreat. Although each general is given enough discretion and decision-making power, the overall marching style of the gray-white collar is still very steady.
If the fighting continues like this, Doug will never gain any advantage, no matter whether the Governor can fight or not. This army is obviously extremely powerful, but too stable.
But being steady does not mean being non-aggressive. Just look at Hammond's subordinates who have received new weapons and equipment.
It is easy to suppress the recoil of a gun. For these professionals, even if it is a rapid-fire musket, they can easily suppress the recoil while wearing plate armor, but it is difficult to suppress the smile at the corner of their mouth.
At least almost none of Hammond's men were suppressed, and their mouths were still crooked until they put on heavy masks.
Lind followed Lowry's advice and no longer insisted on long-range fire suppression. He also included close combat in the army's considerations, and traditional heavy armored units appeared on the battlefield again.
Hammond also didn't like the gray-collar fire suppression theory. For Hammond, who had fought in wars for most of his life, firepower was just a cover. The only way to truly destroy the enemy was through close combat.
Hammond, the only one who was not wearing enchanted plate armor, led the knights and rushed towards the Pétain defense line.