308 – Training is like actual combat, actual combat is like training (7)
The next morning, Manfell Plain.
Peter Jaeger, commanding the Reich 7th Guards Division, once again recalled the strategy he had worked out with his officers last night.
Usually, a huge number of variables are taken into consideration in a division-level battle like this, but the strategy chosen by Peter Yeager was really simple.
Even though the soldiers whose supplies were taken from them would have eaten properly by now, they would still feel tremendous fatigue and helplessness.
A head-to-head match without using any tactics, based on the premise that if an army clashes with an army, they will not be able to hold out for long.
Peter Yeager gave orders, brandishing an ornately engraved gold baton.
“Infantry soldiers, press the enemy from the front. Even though the opponent is not our enemy, let us clearly show the honor and pride of the 7th Guards Division.”
His command was instantly spread by trumpets and messengers.
The infantrymen belonging to the 7th Guards Division followed the order and took a majestic step toward the enemy.
“Show performance that does not disappoint the expectations of Her Highness the Fourth Princess Louise! Captain Jaeger’s name must not be tarnished!”
“I will kill the bastard who thinks it’s a mock battle before I get disciplined!”
“Fight bravely like the proud predecessors who sacrificed their lives for His Majesty, who fought against knights twice their size with only a spear!”
The officers, filled with pride just by fighting under Captain Jaeger, demanded honor and courage from their soldiers.
The soldiers were born as serfs and were filled with pride in fighting under someone who could be called the best general in the empire, with the dream of changing their fortunes.
Therefore, those participating in this training, from Peter Yeager, who served as the division commander, to the lowest-ranking privates, were prepared to literally engage in training as if it were real combat.
Non-commissioned officers and officers who fought on Richen Hill, a living legend itself, shouted loudly.
“If you show even the slightest sign of being defeated or pushed back by these weaklings who have been deprived of supplies, this platoon commander will wear a red hat!”
“Choose! “Will you dare to provide true education and serve the fire moths who challenge our 7th Division, or will you serve under Captain Jaeger yourself!”
“Fire a shout towards the front lines of the 3rd Battalion! “Scream with determination to teach those one-day puppies true lessons!”
Usually, soldiers gossip in their hearts when they see commanders, officers, and non-commissioned officers who speak like this, but these people were all like living legends.
These are people who have proven themselves with the highest level of combat ability, to the point that even in any training, you can doubt whether they are actually human.
Because it was obvious to the eye that if such people were to be disappointed and misbehaved, they would undergo such terrible training that it would be better for them to die.
The soldiers of the 7th Guards Division moved forward in accordance with the rules, maintaining a tense state without even chatting as they often did in actual combat.
If you look at it from the side, you may have liked it because it shows the dignity and prestige befitting the empire’s elite, but from the perspective of the 18th Division, which has to fight them from the front.
“f*ck, what are those bastards? Normally, when you go to war, you have to chat and relieve tension, right?”
“I thought it would be a bit rough since it was a mock battle. “Look at the venom rising.”
“You want me to fight with those guys in this condition?”
Perhaps it was because the Reich Imperial uniforms worn by the 7th Guards Division were black, so the 7th Guards Division looked like a walking messenger to them.
The officers also tried to keep their mouths shut in order to maintain the dignity of nobles, but they were thinking similar things, so they had no words to say.
The commanders of each unit knew that if they did not even pretend to fight here, an even more terrifying horror would come.
What if ‘Captain Peter Yeager’ comes to the 18th Division as commander and expresses great disappointment to the division commander…?
Many of the division’s officers faced significant restrictions on promotion or were forced to take off their military uniforms based on Captain Yeager’s fair evaluation.
The survivors naturally expected that they would have to go through hellish training to transform the 18th Division into an army that would be satisfactory to the fearsome man named Captain Jaeger.
‘For the past two months, except for going out one day on the weekend, I trained from morning to night and worked overtime at dawn. What if the commander himself comes and changes it?’
The officers stopped thinking because they were afraid to imagine any more, but at least one soldier, unless he was on vacation, could have seen a terrifying scene where he had to go to training even on the weekend.
Those who did not want to experience such hell with their own skin shouted loudly.
“If you’re scared and don’t fight properly here, you’ll all die! “Did you feel anything while being trained by Captain Jaeger for two months?”
“Hold your spear and focus! Shut up and look at your enemies! “The 7th Guards Division is not just a collection of monsters with 10 people each!”
“Oh, ten! Oh wow! If you hit it right, arrows and magic will come flying at you, so bow your head! “If you just follow the company commander’s instructions, anything will happen!”
As the saying goes, a small fear can be forgotten as a bigger fear, the soldiers who were more scared of the guerrilla training with the red hats than facing the 7th Guards Division in training came to their senses.
Because in mock battle training, it just breaks a little too much, but when the guerrilla training begins, you do what Captain Yeager called ‘military gymnastics’ to your human limits, and then repeat the exercise for several days, even weeks, in the afternoon until you are just before you die. Because it could have been done.
When these details are known, Captain Jaeger will say this.
‘Since disciplinary action with an appropriate reason and justification is so helpful in maintaining the morale of the unit, from now on soldiers who do not follow training well should be treated at a reasonable level to improve their physical and mental strength.’
The soldiers of the 18th Division almost starved for two days and prepared for battle with the determination to avoid the guerrilla training that Captain Jaeger began by immersing the division commander.
At the same time, arrows and magic came flying from both armies.
Even if you call it magic, it is a light ball that only dazzles your eyes when hit. Instead of an arrowhead, the arrow had a cloth bag containing colored dye powder that would not be easily erased if it got on it.
In this training, if you are hit by those things, you are immediately out of action, and some of the soldiers were quickly hit by an arrow in the right place and wanted to run away.
Everyone moved very seriously because if they were caught by an officer or controller, they would be beaten with a stick or a whip.
“Bow your head and look at your feet. “It’s no use trying to avoid arrows or magic.”
“If the arrow hits your body other than your armor, just leave immediately. “If you pretend to fight more, you will be severely punished later.”
“Practical combat is like training, training is like actual combat. “It’s the mock battle motto, you know how to do it, right?”
And then the rain of arrows and light balls flew at each other indiscriminately.
The soldiers who were hit by arrows voluntarily walked away holding spears to avoid severe punishment, and those who seemed to have been hit by magic were dragged out by the controllers assigned to each squad.
The controller assigned to the squad was a sergeant or sergeant from another unit, but since Captain Yeager guaranteed his authority…
“The soldier and the second lieutenant there were hit by a light ball. You two are warriors. “Please leave the battle line and move to the casualty waiting area.”
“You come out! I was hit by an arrow and searched. “If it’s a real game, it’s already a ball, so what are you doing if you’re not playing?”
“If you do not follow the controller’s legitimate control, you may be charged with disobeying Captain Jaeger’s orders. If the level of resistance is severe, it will proceed to a court-martial.”
From the officer-level officers above to the soldiers below, they had no choice but to obediently follow the instructions of a sergeant or sergeant-level controller.
However, some soldiers showed the area where they had been hit by an arrow and legitimately protested that they could fight because it was not an immediate death or serious injury.
These were recorded as active participation in training rather than protests, so they received some additional points.
However, in any case, there is virtually no one making a fuss.
So the soldiers of the 7th and 18th divisions suddenly faced each other, pointing their spears at each other.
The plan was to spy on each other and attack at once, but the brigade commander in charge of the 7th Division’s infantry gave the order first.
“All infantry of the Imperial 7th Guards Division charge! “Push forward while maintaining your sense of form!”
The 18th Division commander thought that the infantry was the biggest problem, so he was directly commanding the infantry.
As soon as I saw it, I was momentarily shocked to see the 7th Division, which had a completely different level of training than my own unit.
I couldn’t show a passive attitude here, so I pulled out my wooden training sword and gave an order.
“The enemy is stronger than us. So, strengthen your defense!”