"Our 1st Ranger Battalion was purely implicated by you," Major Leedfunk complained to Claude angrily: "You know why our 1st Ranger Battalion is now regarded as local security by the staff of the frontline headquarters. Battalion, is it the reason why we haven’t received any combat missions?”
Claude shook his head honestly. He really didn't know the reason for this. His reinforced team had been stationed in Squirrel Village for half a year. It was the end of the year, and no combat missions had been issued from above. It seemed that the guerrillas were all gone. The battalion was forgotten by the people above, or it seemed that there was no such combat unit. According to Major Leedfunk's introduction, the kingdom has begun a counterattack, gathering two second-line legions to break into the eastern region of the Eskiline Principality.
The currently temporarily formed armed corps of the Eskiline Principality simply cannot withstand the sweep of the Kingdom's two second-line corps. Like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, they either collapse or lay down their weapons and surrender. The current battle situation is that the Grand Duke Castle of Braviso, the capital of the Eskiline Principality, has been besieged by the kingdom's army and is likely to be captured by next spring. This means the demise of another principality that has joined the anti-Austrian alliance.
As the commander of the 1st Ranger Battalion, Major Ledfunk wanted to make new achievements in the Eskiline Principality's strategy. The main reason for this was that the elite armed forces of the Eskiline Principality were all in the Rimodra Principality. The remaining armies were either temporarily recruited or private soldiers of nobles under local lords, and their combat effectiveness was very poor. When the kingdom's two second-line armies encountered these resisters who had set up defensive lines, once they launched an attack, it was like soup pouring snow on them, and the enemy was wiped out in the blink of an eye. In other words, there is no one who can fight.
Even the Second and Third Ranger Battalions, which subsequently entered the three southern counties, also participated in the offensive in the eastern region. These two combat units directly under the frontline headquarters were ordered to raid the noble territories of the Eskiline Principality. In the past six months, good news had been reported frequently, and from time to time there was news that they had captured a noble castle in a certain territory.
Under such circumstances, Major Ledfunk naturally couldn't sit still. The vacancies and weapons and equipment of the 1st Ranger Battalion have been replenished, camp induction training has been completed, and morale is strong. Moreover, the local riots and rebellions have been put down. The officers and soldiers of the 1st Ranger Battalion are doing nothing. They can definitely join in the final battle against the Eskiline Principality. Who doesn’t want to be a soft persimmon
In particular, the 1st Ranger Battalion has mastered the mountain road leading to the Eskiline Principality in the southern mountainous area. It can attack from this mountain road to cut off the border area between the Eskiline Principality and the Karnas Principality, and isolate the two anti-Austrian alliances. Contacts with the principality. This is also the reason why Major Leedfunk vigorously strengthened the strength of Claude's first brigade. Because once they receive the order to attack from the frontline command, Claude's first brigade will be the main advance force of the first ranger battalion, and will be the first to enter the border area between the Principality of Eskilen and the Principality of Karnas through the mountain road.
But Major Leedfunk really didn't expect that the war request report he passed up never received a response. In the end, there were too many war requests sent up, and he only received a scolding document from the frontline headquarters. It is required that the First Ranger Battalion only needs to guard a good place. It is the main task of the First Ranger Battalion to prevent the armies of the two principalities from attacking the three southern counties through this cross-mountain road and disrupting the rear.
Major Leedfunk couldn't figure out why a job that could be done by a local security battalion should be handed over to a combat unit like the 1st Ranger Battalion. Besides, this mountain road leads to the noble territories of two principalities. Kanner The territorial nobles of the Principality of Sri Lanka are licking their wounds and have no power to attack again. The territorial nobles of the Eskiline Principality were even more unlucky. According to the reports of the spies sent, those territorial nobles who fled back were either imprisoned by the Grand Duke of the Eskiline Principality or sold their property to atone for their sins. Now love The Principality of Skilling is facing a precarious situation in the face of the attack by the Kingdom's army, so how can it have any intention of attacking this mountain road
After all, Major Liederfunk was also one of the officers who followed the Grand Prince Hansback. He won the favor of the Grand Prince with his loyalty and diligence, and only then was he appointed to form the experimental combat unit Ranger Battalion. He served as the head of the logistics department and took this position a step further to become the current battalion commander of the 1st Ranger Battalion. So he also had acquaintances at the frontline headquarters. When he inquired privately, he got a very dumbfounding answer.
"It's all because you were too outstanding in the battle in Squirrel Village. You were awarded the Knight Medal by His Highness and promoted to captain. This is the youngest official captain officer in the army since the founding of the kingdom. Do you know how many people there are in the frontline command post? Are you jealous of you? The reason why our 1st Ranger Battalion cannot get combat missions is because of you. Those staff officers don’t want the 1st Ranger Battalion to participate in the war because they are afraid that you will make more military exploits, and in the blink of an eye you will climb over the heads of the sweethearts they think they are. . Think about it if you meet, they will have to stand at attention and salute a young guy like you in advance, no one will be able to bear it."
Major Leedfunk finally told the reason why the 1st Ranger Battalion was unable to participate in the battle. Claude looked at him innocently. Can you blame me
This is really no wonder Claude, Major Leedfunk sighed deeply. He was a personal officer of the Grand Prince and knew the young officers who followed the Grand Prince very well. Naturally, they all have talents, otherwise the eldest prince would not look down on them. But being arrogant and arrogant is a common problem among these young officers. They all think that they are no worse than others. When it comes to talking about military affairs on paper, they are all eloquent in pointing out the country and criticizing the chiefs, and no one is convinced.
There were many young officers who followed the great prince, but none younger than Claude. Most of them are in their twenties to mid-thirties, and the highest military rank is only lieutenant colonel. Most of them are lieutenant-level officers, and all of them have more than five years of military experience. And they are divided into three factions. One faction is composed of children of the kingdom's nobles who have joined the army. This is also the most powerful faction of young officers under the eldest prince. They have received a good military education and have had a long military career, and they are well aware of the strength of the kingdom's army.
The second faction is those civilian children who graduated from military academies. They join the army to change their civilian status and work hard to climb up. They are all ambitious and the most diligent in their work. Major Leedfunk had been one of them. There is also a faction composed of the grassroots officers who were cut off from the army by the eldest prince. They may not have received a good military education, but this cannot cover up their own military talents. This faction has the smallest number of people and is incompatible with the noble children, and conflicts often occur.
Prince Hansback had a reputation for being knowledgeable and talented, and he had a high reputation in the military, but he could not make the young officers gathered under his command less conflicted with each other. But maybe this is what he wants to see. The superior always likes his subordinates to compete with each other instead of uniting as a monolith, so that he can silently observe which one is the truly useful talent.
Just like when the eldest prince named Major Leedfunk as the logistics officer in charge of the newly formed ranger battalion, it shocked the young officers. Everyone knows that the Ranger Battalion is a newly formed experimental combat unit formed by the Grand Prince. If it performs well, it will have a bright future. So many people want to get a position in the Ranger Camp.
But no one expected that Major Leedfunk would become the logistics director of this ranger battalion. Because Major Leedfunk has never been outstanding among these accompanying officers. He is usually taciturn and has never expressed any refreshing opinions. The only thing worthy of recognition is that he works carefully, conscientiously and responsibly, and the accounts he handles are never wrong by one point. One cent. As a result, once he went to the Ranger Battalion, he was quickly promoted to major and became the battalion commander. But his companions are still the same as before. Lieutenants are still lieutenants, and they have to stand at attention and salute when they see him.
Looking at Claude's young face next to him, Major Lieutenant suddenly remembered that there were many lieutenants and second lieutenants among his companions. They had to salute first when they saw him and Claude, and he felt a little happy in his heart. . However, he was certain that his colleagues back then had obviously made the wrong decision, and talents could not be suppressed. Since the eldest prince can award Claude the Knight Medal, it is obvious that he has kept Claude in his heart. Maybe in a few years, if Claude is lucky enough not to die on the battlefield, he will soon climb up to his level. head up.
Major Leedfunk doesn't have any jealousy. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, as long as you don't compare your shortcomings with the strengths of others. The awl will always stand out from the sack. No matter how many stones it is mixed with, the sharp edge will be revealed after a few bumps. To be honest, isn't it because of the service of subordinates like Claude that I can become a major? I remember the eldest prince said a very reasonable thing. As an officer, you don't need to charge into battle yourself. You can do your best by letting your subordinates do their best to fight. Responsibilities.
However, Claude has caught the eye of His Highness. If he comes to the eldest prince's side, which faction should he belong to? Major Leedfonk started to think again. The Knight of the Order of Germany is a quasi-noble after all. I don’t know if the noble children will accept him. Maybe not. If they are willing to accept Claude, they will not suppress the report of the first ranger battalion.
"Sir, it's already getting dark, and it's starting to snow again. Should we find a village or something to stay in front of us for the night?" Claude's question interrupted Major Leedfunk's random thoughts.
This is the time when Claude and Major Leedfunk are rushing to Pacasia, the county seat of Palo Alto County among the three southern counties, to attend the end-of-year merit-conferment celebration held by Prince Hansback. At the meeting, Claude De Hui was personally awarded the regular medal of the Order of Knights by the eldest prince, and Major Leedfunk was promoted to lieutenant colonel as he wished due to his good command, so both of them must arrive at Pacasia City within the specified date.
Claude only brought Michael Jack and the big man Germi, while Major Leedfunk brought a small group of escort soldiers. The whole group rode on horseback. Due to the snow, it took two days to arrive. However, the three southern counties have basically stabilized, and there is no problem with road safety. Only those security posts set up at traffic intersections to check pedestrians and vehicles can still show some tension in a state of war.
The city of Pacasia was also heavily guarded. At the gate of the city, Major Leedfunk, Claude and the rest of the group underwent identity inquiries, registered their names, and then headed to the prearranged camp under the leadership of a guard soldier.
There were still two days left before the ceremony to celebrate the meritorious service. The reason why Major Leedfunk asked Claude to come early was to consider whether His Highness the Grand Prince would want to summon them first. However, his worry was obviously due to his own passion. The eldest prince was probably too busy with other things and did not want to meet his old subordinates and Claude, the newcomer who had won the knighthood.
This was exactly what Claude wanted. It happened that he took Michael Jack and the big man Gimi to visit the markets and shops in Pacasia City when he had free time. Perhaps it was because Prince Hansback was stationed in the city, so the order in Pacasia City was very orderly, the market had a strong commercial atmosphere, and all kinds of goods were abundant. Almost all the shops in the city are open for business, and the streets are decorated with lights and colorful lights.
Claude bought a lot of things, most of them for his little lover, the mage Sheila. The largest and heaviest ones were all kinds of books, which were not available in her cave library. The rest were Some daily necessities, as well as some beautiful clothes and jewelry. I believe that when I go back and give these gifts to her, she will be pleasantly surprised. She is as gentle as water and as passionate as fire.
The next day Claude wanted to go out for a walk, but as soon as he left the camp, he was called back by Major Liederfonk. There was a merit ceremony celebration meeting in the evening, and Major Liederfonk wanted to get Claude ready.
The so-called preparation is to get a haircut, take a shower, and then put on a brand new and straight military uniform. The leather boots must be polished spotlessly, the belt around the waist must be smooth and new, and the military cap must be neatly trimmed. After putting it on, you have to check it yourself in front of the mirror. After checking it, you can show it to Major Leedfunk to see if there are any omissions.
When it was about time, everyone ate some white bread to cushion their stomachs, and then waited in the camp for the pick-up carriages to come and pick up all the people participating in the merit-conferring celebration meeting.
Time is hard, but it has an end. After about an hour, a second lieutenant officer in charge of the pick-up came in and saluted first, and then asked Claude and Major Liederfunk to set off. As for Michael Jack, the big man Germi, and the small group of escorting soldiers of Major Leedfunk, they naturally had to stay in the camp obediently and were not allowed to run around, because tonight the whole city was under martial law and it was strictly prohibited to go out and wander around.
The venue was held at the City Lord's Mansion. According to the second lieutenant officer who picked him up, there were more than 300 people who came to participate in the ceremony, all of whom were officers who had made military exploits on the front line. They will be promoted to military ranks at this conference, and will be conferred upon them by His Royal Highness the Prince and the generals of several legions.
Looking at Claude with envy, the second lieutenant officer said that there were three other people who were awarded the Knight Medal like Knight Claude, two of them were from the Guards Corps and one was from the Blue Feather Corps. In addition, there is another person who can be knighted by the kingdom at this conference, and that is General Michel Priest