Chapter 369 — Cecil's Preparations
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 4
As the Battle Legion's chief commander and one of its early founders, Byron naturally understood the situation of the soldiers under his command, and so immediately after reporting the recruit ratio he went on: "A magic-weapon infantryman who has trained for two months can kill several traditional soldiers at a distance of a few dozen meters—men who have trained for years and even been through several battles. So even our recruits have formidable combat power, provided there is sufficient room to shoot."
"By comparison, artillery training is more complex and slower," he said then. "Team coordination, quickly consulting firing-table data, memorizing the various battlefield commands, and operating and maintaining the rail accelerators—all of these are far more difficult than the thermal ray gun."
"That's normal. That is always how high-tier troop types take shape," Gao Yan nodded. "So long as they can master those small-caliber cannons as quickly as possible."
"You can set your mind at ease on that score," Byron said with great confidence. "The miniaturized 'Persuader' rail acceleration cannon can be operated by just two men; its firing tables are concise and its sights simpler still. They are already trained quite well."
After Byron finished his report, Philip spoke next: "I am consolidating and reorganizing the old legion from the Kant region. After the Kant knights swore their allegiance, Knight Wald Perich led the knight order, together with its subordinate retainers and militia, into Cecil's territory—some three thousand in all. They are old-style noble private soldiers, poor in combat power and discipline, wholly unable to compare with our combat troops; but fortunately, there are twelve proper knights among them, and with the cooperation of these Kant knights, the work of consolidating and reorganizing the old legion is going smoothly."
"Step up the training—above all, the work of ideological transformation must be thorough." Gao Yang, who well knew the condition of this age's noble private soldiers, placed special emphasis on the ideological remolding of those old-legion men. Fortunately, the former Kant territory had been a domain of relatively enlightened institutions and relatively good order, and its old legion had not decayed beyond all remedy; he was therefore somewhat optimistic. "Once this legion has finished training, it will serve as the Second Legion and will still be commanded by Knight Wald Perich. I have had dealings with Wald Perich and know him; once his thinking has been properly transformed, he is a reliable and loyal man."
"The first class of cadets for the Steel Rangers and the preliminary training plan are already in place, but training has only just begun, so there is nothing much to report yet," said Su Jilin, the third to speak. "For my own part, I have privately been mulling over some equipment design proposals based on my combat experience and the characteristics of 'magic-weaponry,' and I plan to go discuss them with Mr. Egg before long."
When all these reports were done, Gao Yang nodded in satisfaction, and Heidi—who had been wanting to speak for some time—at last could not hold back: "Ancestor, are we... preparing for war?"
"Yes, preparing—but for now, only preparing," Gao Yang said, looking into Heidi's eyes. "Frankly, I do not wish to plunge a territory that is still developing into the flames of war right now, but we must be ready for a change in the situation."
"A change in the situation..." Heidi thought for a moment, then understood Gao Song's meaning. "You mean that this peace negotiation between Typhon and Anzu may instead stir up great trouble? May instead lead to war?"