"The reward for our military exploits in capturing Black Maple Castle has been handed out." Major Leedfunk lit up the gold-plated rhinoceros horn pipe he got from who knows where, took a deep breath, and proudly blew out a smoke ring into the air.
Only then did Claude remember this: "Why did it take so long?"
"I don't know either. Maybe the higher-ups were planning a surprise attack on the three southern counties of the Eskiline Principality, so they put aside our battalion's military exploits report. Now that the overall situation has been decided, they finally gave us a reply. ." Major Leedfunk guessed.
"This time you are the only one in our battalion who has received first-level merit for your strategy of successfully capturing Black Maple Castle with slight casualties. There are more than twenty second-level merits, and the rest have received third-level merit. In addition, we rangers As the pioneers of the Blue Feathers, the 1st Battalion opened up a road to the three southern counties of the Eskiline Principality in the Picklet Mountains and collectively received first-level merit." Major Liederfunk said with some satisfaction.
Capturing Black Maple Castle was awarded a first-level meritorious service. On the contrary, climbing ice and snow in the Picklet Mountains to search for smuggling trails leading to the three southern counties of the Eskiline Principality earned everyone in the battalion a first-level meritorious service.
Claude thought about it carefully and understood that after all, capturing a Black Maple Castle would not affect the entire battle, and the Blue Feather Army's surprise attack on the Picklet Mountains in the cold winter season unexpectedly captured the three southern counties of the Eskiline Principality. This resulted in a stalemate in the war in the entire eastern region of the continent. As the pioneers, the 1st Ranger Battalion collectively received a first-level meritorious service, and no one would have any objection.
"As long as you get one more first-level meritorious service, you can be promoted to lieutenant." Major Leedfunk said to Claude with some envy: "You are only twenty-one years old this year. I thought I would still be there when I was twenty-one." Working hard to become a master sergeant. Now I am thirty-six and I have become a major. I still don’t know if I can become a general in this life. You are different. You were promoted because of your actual military exploits. Maybe if this war continues, you will be very You’ll catch up with me soon.”
The military merit of the Kingdom of Overas is divided into three levels of merit. A lieutenant-level officer like Claude needs to obtain three first-level merits if he wants to be promoted. At the same time, merit is based on the three-three system, that is, first-level merit is equivalent to three second-level merits, and second-level merit is equivalent to three third-level merits. For example, Major Leedfunk, who used to be the logistics supervisor, as long as he does not make any major mistakes or violate military discipline for a year, he can receive a second-level meritorious service to reward his diligence and conscientious work. This can also be regarded as a way for the Royal Army to be promoted without merit during peacetime.
Claude smiled bitterly: "Major, please stop making sarcastic remarks. I would rather become an officer in charge of logistics like you and be promoted through seniority in the army than fight tooth and nail on the battlefield. No one can say anything about the dangers of war. We don’t know when we will be unlucky. If the war continues, no matter how quickly we are promoted, we still have to go to the front line. If we fall, no matter how high the honor is, what meaning will it have to us?"
Major Leedfunk is one of our own, and there is no need for Claude to hide in front of him. The relationship between the two is very close, and they can talk about what is on their mind. Although the Blue Feather Army was unwilling to let the 1st Ranger Battalion share the military merit of continuing to occupy the city in the Eskiline Principality, the 1st Ranger Battalion was split up to guard the various transportation arteries in the three southern counties. But for the soldiers of the 1st Ranger Battalion, they actually welcomed this order. It meant that they did not need to go to the battlefield and could also make extra money. There was no better job than this.
This war that has swept through the entire eastern region of the continent and involved all countries has been burning for two and a half years. At present, the Kingdom of Orvilas has an advantage, but after all, it has not really seen the dawn of victory. The anti-Austrian alliance is not without its strength, and no one knows how long the war will last. Low-level officers like Claude are more concerned about whether they can be the lucky ones to survive and return to their hometown after the war is over, rather than gaining military merit and being promoted. This is actually a very realistic idea.
Major Leedfunk also understood the thoughts of the junior officers below. He sighed and changed the subject: "This time, I also brought your first-level meritorious service reward. Two first-level meritorious service, the bonus is six gold coins. Katsuro, sign here and claim the bonus, and you’re going to treat me to a treat tonight.”
Claude took a pen to sign on the roster and asked curiously: "Major, why do you hand out the rewards in person? This matter can be done by just calling a financial officer."
Major Leedfunk shook his head: "You don't know, most of the logistics department personnel of the corps have some background and background. Although it is a time of war, they will not discount weapons and equipment. But when it comes to merit bonuses, they I still do some tricks, and it's very common to have my hair cut off with a twist. I'm a logistics worker, so I know these tricks very well.
Our Ranger Battalion is a newly formed combat unit. As the officer in charge, I must be responsible for every soldier, so I will personally distribute the merit bonus this time. At the same time, I can take this opportunity to inspect everywhere and see the situation of the divided troops below, instead of sitting in the battalion office and being a puppet who can only sign and have no understanding of the situation of the troops. "
Claude raised his thumb to express his admiration. Obviously, Major Leedfunk will be able to truly take control of the 1st Ranger Battalion by inspecting everywhere and distributing merit bonuses. All soldiers will understand that he is the real leader of the 1st Ranger Battalion.
Major Leedfunk took out a linen money bag from his briefcase and threw it to Claude: "How is the situation here? There are two mountain roads leading to the Karnas Prairie and the eastern part of the Eskiline Principality. Are there any If any abnormal situation is discovered, your place is the real front line. I estimate that your place will be the place where our First Ranger Battalion will fight in the future."
"There is nothing unusual at the moment." Claude replied thoughtfully: "These two mountain roads lead to the private territories of the two principalities. Two days ago, I asked some people who fled the three southern counties on the mountain road. Several people who had walked through these two mountain roads replied that it was indeed the territory of the nobles, and they needed to pay a transit fee to pass through, and there were special checkpoints for charging fees.
It's winter now, and the mountain roads are frozen solid, so we can bring two light infantry artillery pieces over, and those two mountain roads can also pass passenger carriages. According to the villagers here, after the rainy season, the mountain roads here are inaccessible except for horse teams and even carriages. Not only is it muddy, but there are also big holes everywhere, making it impossible for large groups to pass.
Because the exits of these two mountain roads are the private territories of nobles, I think it is impossible for the enemy to attack us before the rainy season. It will take time for the enemy to mobilize their troops and negotiate with the nobles to pass. As for after the rainy season, it doesn't matter. The enemy's large forces cannot pass on these two mountain roads unless they send a large number of manpower to repair the roads first.
But these two mountain roads are connected to private territory. I believe that the military leaders of these two principalities will not be so kind as to help the territorial nobles to build roads and set up card tolls for them. As long as there is no way to pull the large artillery over, with the dangerous location of our station and the blockade of two light infantry artillery, it is more than enough to withstand the attack of a battalion of enemy troops. "
"Then what will you do if the enemy mobilizes a regiment?" Major Leedfunk asked.
Claude shrugged: "They can't move away. At most, only one large group of troops can be put into the attack. I'll take you out to see. This is the intersection of three mountain roads. And our station is above this three-way intersection. , a drop of more than 20 meters. If the enemy wants to attack us, we can only go up the mountain road to Squirrel Village. They can't climb elsewhere.
And our station is in the upper left corner of Squirrel Village, overlooking. As long as you guard the mountain pass leading to Squirrel Village, it doesn't matter how many enemies come. But you have to transport more ammunition and food reserves to us after you go back. If the enemy really comes to attack us, I don't want to have to retreat because we run out of ammunition and food."
Major Lederfangk nodded: "Okay, I will allocate some ammunition and food to you as a reserve after I go back. In addition, I will also arrange a garrison point on the mountain road behind you and arrange for a squadron to be stationed. If you have one here If there is a war, let the squadron behind us come over for reinforcements and completely seal this mountain road. One more thing, Claude, you have to be prepared to stay here for a long time."
"Well." Claude was puzzled: "You mean we have to stay here for who knows how long. Aren't the people stationed at the checkpoints all the work of the security battalion behind us? When will our first ranger battalion be reorganized into a local security guard?" Camp”
Major Leedfunk was also very depressed: "The current situation is that we have to do the work of this security camp. The Blue Feather Army crossed the Picklet Mountains lightly and used a surprise attack to capture the unsuspecting three southern counties. Now they are planning to attack After the rainy season, building a defensive front that can withstand the impact of hundreds of thousands of enemy troops requires a large number of artillery and other heavy equipment.
The three southern counties are the military-industrial hub of the Eskiline Principality, but now production is at a standstill and there is no way to start work. Second, the quality of their artillery is still somewhat different from that produced by our kingdom, even the caliber is different. The logistics and equipment officers of the Blue Feather Legion had only selected a part, and there was still a big gap. They had been urging the rear to transport their artillery and other heavy equipment as soon as possible.
You are also someone who has crossed the smuggling trails in the Picklet Mountains. You also know that those trails are passable, but it is very difficult to transport heavy equipment such as artillery. But now an order was issued from above, requiring roads to be built first and then the artillery to be transported. The artillery and other heavy equipment needed by the Blue Feather Legion must be delivered to them before the rainy season, so that the Blue Feather Legion can successfully build a solid defensive front after the rainy season.
The above plan is for the Blue Feather Army to lead two second-line armies into the three southern counties, and cooperate with the Guards Army here to outflank the Anti-Austrian Alliance's retreat in the Principality of Rimodra. As long as these hundreds of thousands of Anti-Austrian Alliance armies are Besieged the Principality of Rimodra and forced them to surrender. Then the anti-Austria alliance will have its backbone broken by us, and there will no longer be a possibility of turning over.
Therefore, the Blue Feather Legion believed that without heavy equipment such as artillery, they could not rely on the muskets in the hands of soldiers to withstand the enemy's breakout of hundreds of thousands of troops. The two second-line armies have not yet entered the three southern counties. They are building roads in the Picklet Mountains. The Blue Feather Legions in the rear and here are also forcing the surrendered prisoners to do coolies in the mountains in order to build a road as quickly as possible for transportation. Heavy artillery comes out of the road.
How could the security battalions in the rear come to replace us? In addition to maintaining offensive pressure on the anti-Austrian alliance forces on the front line, the superiors want to put all their manpower into building roads in the Picklet Mountains, hoping to build roads in the Picklet Mountains. After the rainy season, the enemy will be surrounded and annihilated in the Principality of Rimodra, and the victory will be completed in one battle."
Claude understood, pondered for a while, and then said: "We have no problem guarding here, but you have to prepare some sacks and shoveling tools for us. It is winter now, and I don't think the enemy will come to attack us yet. But it’s hard to say after the rainy season. I plan to build some defense facilities in this camp to be prepared.”
"Sacks and shoveling tools." Major Leedfunk shook his head: "These two items are really in short supply. Some of them are sent directly to road construction. These tools cannot be found in the warehouse of the logistics department. It is said that there are three The doors of all the grocery stores in the county were smashed open, and the sacks and shoveling tools were all requisitioned by the Blue Feather Legion. By the way, isn’t the Squirrel Village next to you? There must be some in the villagers’ homes, you can borrow them.”
"Borrow" Claude said in his heart. What I want is dozens of shovels and hoes for digging trenches. This Squirrel Village is so poor that there are only two iron pots. Most of those tools and farm tools are made of wood, which is useless. ah.
After looking at the dilapidated shacks in Squirrel Village not far away, Major Leedfunk probably understood Claude's difficulty. He thought for a moment and said, "Well, let me go back and find a way to get you a dozen shovels and hoes. As for the sacks, there's really nothing we can do about it, but you can ask the villagers in Squirrel Village to knit some for you, and we'll pay for it at the worst." acquisition.”
Claude nodded: "Okay, that's it."