Black Iron’s Glory

Chapter 268 Attendance

“Our Ranger Battalion was purely implicated by you...” Major Ledfank complained to Claude, “Do you know why our Ranger Battalion is now treated as a local guard battalion by the staff of the Front Line Command and has not received combat assignments? ”

Claude shook his head very honestly. He really didn't know what this was about. His reinforced team was stationed in Squirrel Village for six months. At the end of the year, there had been no battle tasks. It seemed that a Ranger Battalion had been forgotten by the people above, or as if there was no such battle unit. According to Major Ledfank, the Kingdom side has begun a counter-attack, marshalling two second-line regiments into the eastern part of the Principality of Eskilin.

At present, the armed regiment temporarily formed by the Principality of Eskilin is simply unable to withstand the sweep of those two second-line regiments in the Kingdom, as if the autumn wind were sweeping the leaves, failing or surrendering its weapons. The battle is now taking place in the capital of the Principality of Eskilin, the Grand Duke of Braviso, which has been besieged by the Royal Army and is likely to be overrun by next spring, which means the demise of yet another member of the anti-Olympic alliance.

Major Ledfank, the commander of the first battalion of the guerrillas, is keen to renew his work in the Duchy of Eskilin, mainly because the elite armies of the Principality of Eskilin are all in the Principality of Rimodra, and the rest of the army is either temporarily recruited or the aristocratic militias of the local lords, with poor fighting power. The kingdom's two second-line regiments met the resistance that had set up the defensive front, and the first time they attacked, it was like snow in the soup, and the enemy turned to smoke. In other words, none of them can fight...

Even the second and third battalions of guerrillas who subsequently entered the southern three counties participated in the fighting in the eastern region. The battle units of the two immediate front-line commands were tasked with sweeping off the noble lands of the Principality of Eskilin, and for the past six months the newsletters have been circulating frequently, from time to time, news of their assault on a territory's noble castle.

In such circumstances, Major Ledfank naturally lost his seat, the troop shortage and weapons equipment of the first Battalion of Rangers have been replenished, induction training has been completed and morale is on the rise. And the local insurgency has been calmed down, and the soldiers and soldiers of the 1st Battalion are doing nothing to join the final battle against the Principality of Eskirin. Who doesn't want to pinch the persimmons?

In particular, the 1st Battalion of Rangers also manages the mountain crossing from the southern mountains to the Principality of Eskirin, from which they can strike to cut off the border area between the Principality of Eskirin and the Principality of Kanas and to cut off the links between the two anti-Olympic principalities. That is also why Major Ledfank has vigorously strengthened this first battalion under Claude. Because once the command of the Front Line has taken over the order to launch, Claude, the first battalion is the advance force of the first battalion of guerrillas, entering the border area between the Principality of Eskilin and the Principality of Kanas through the mountain lanes.

Major Ledfank, however, had no idea that the battle report he had transmitted had not been responded to, and that too many battle applications had been sent out in exchange for reprimands from the Front Line Command. It requires only one battalion of Rangers to guard the area to prevent the troops of the two Principals from attacking the southern three counties through this mountain crossing. The main task of the first battalion of Rangers is to disrupt the rear...

How could Major Ledfank wonder why a local guard battalion would be responsible for such a powerful unit as a soldier battalion? Moreover, the highway leads to the noble territories of the Principality of Kanas, where nobles are licking their wounds and are unable to repeat their crimes. And the territorial nobles of the Principality of Eskirin are even worse off. According to the spy dispatched, those who fled back to the territory were either imprisoned by the Grand Duke of the Principality of Eskirin or sold their property to atone for their sins. Now that the Principality of Eskirin is in a precarious situation in the face of the attack by the Royal Army, what is the idea of this highway?

After all, Major Ledfank was also one of the companion officers who followed Prince Hansburg in that year, and earned the favor of the Grand Prince with his loyalty and diligence. This earned him the position of head of the logistics department of the guerrilla battalion of the experimental combat unit appointed by the Grand Prince, and went further in this position, becoming the battalion leader of the first battalion of the guerrillas now. So he also had acquaintances at Front Line Command, listening privately, and he got a very crying answer.

“I blame you for being so brilliant in that battle in Squirrel Village, winning the Knight's Medal from His Highness and promoting you to Captain. This is the youngest official captain officer in the army since the establishment of the kingdom! Do you know how many people in the front command are jealous of you? The reason why our Ranger Battalion can't get combat assignments is because you, those staff officers who don't want Ranger Battalion in the war, are afraid that you will fight again and climb onto their self-righteous heads. Imagine if you met them, they would have to salute younger guys like you in advance, no one would take it...”

Major Ledfank finally told me why the Ranger Battalion couldn't fight. Claude looked at him innocently. Can I blame him?

No wonder Claude, Major Ledfank sighed deeply that he was from the Grand Prince's personal army and knew the young officers who followed him around the Grand Prince. Naturally talent is there, otherwise the great prince will not see them either. But arrogance is the common illness of these young officers. They think they are no worse than people. When it comes to talking about soldiers on paper, they are all talking about the rebellion of the Fang Chiefs in Jiangshan. No one is offended.

There are many young officers following the great prince, but none younger than Claude. Most of them are in their 267-30s and the highest ranked are only lieutenant-colonels, most of them lieutenant-ranked officers, with more than five years of military service. It is also divided into three factions, one of which is from the ranks of the noble sons of the Kingdom. It is also the largest faction of young officers under the Grand Prince. They have a good military education, a short military career and are well aware of the strength of the Royal Army.

The second faction was the civilian children of those who had graduated from military academies, who had enlisted in order to change their civilian status, tried to climb up, were ambitious and did their utmost diligence. Major Ledfank was one of them. There is also a faction of grass-roots officers drawn from the ranks of the Grand Prince, who may not have received a good military education, but who cannot conceal their own military talent. This faction has the smallest number and is incompatible with the noble brothers, who often have clashes.

Grand Prince Hansburg has a reputation for intelligent talent and a high reputation in the army, but he has not been able to make these young officers gathered under him conflict with each other less. Perhaps that's what he wants to see, though, as superiors always prefer to compete with their subordinates, rather than unite in a piece of iron so that he can silently observe which is really useful.

The young officers were surprised when the Great Prince named Major Ledfank as the logistics officer for the newly formed guerrilla battalion. Everyone knows that the guerrilla battalion is the new experimental battle unit of the Grand Prince, and it will be promising if played well. So a lot of people want to get a job in a guerrilla camp.

Major Ledfank, however, became the logistics director of the barracks, which no one had ever thought possible. Because Major Ledfank has never been remarkable among these close-knit officers, he has never expressed any refreshing insights. The only thing to be sure is to be careful and responsible, and the accounts of the operators have never been less than a penny short. As a result, as soon as he went to the barracks, he was promoted to Major and became Battalion Commander. And his companions are still the same now. The lieutenant is still the lieutenant, and he has to be greeted first.

Looking at Claude's young face next to him, Major Ledfolk suddenly remembered that many lieutenants and lieutenant officers were among his companions, who had to salute themselves and Claude first, and had some pleasure in their hearts. However, he was certain that his colleagues had made a clear mistake and that people could not be suppressed. Since the Grand Prince was able to award the Knight of Claude medal, it was obvious that Claude had been remembered in his heart. In a few years, if Claude's fate did not fall on the battlefield, he would soon climb to his head.

Major Ledfank has no jealousy. Each person has a good side, as long as he does not compare his shortcomings to the strengths of others. It's the cone that always stands out from the sack, even if it's stuck with more stones, it can turbulence for a few moments and reveal a flash. To be honest, can you be a major, and not a subordinate of Claude? Remember what the Grand Prince said when he made a good point, as an officer, he didn't need to go into battle and let his subordinates do their best to fight and have done their duty.

But Claude has entered His Royal Highness's eyes. What faction would he be if he came to the Great Prince? Major Ledfank began to wonder again. He should be a grass-roots officer. It's not right to think about it. His Royal Highness has awarded the Knight of Claude medal. He is also a quasi nobleman. I wonder if those noble children will accept him? Perhaps not. If Ken had accepted Claude, he would not have suppressed the Warfare Report of the Ranger Battalion...

“Sir, it's getting a little dark and it's snowing again. Are we looking for a village or something to stay in?” Claude's questioning interrupted Major Ledfank's wild thoughts.

This is where both Major Claude and Major Ledfank are headed to the county town of Palo Alto in the three southern counties, where Pacacia City will participate in the year-end ceremony organized by Grand Prince Hansburg, where Claude will be awarded the Knight's Medal by the Grand Prince himself, and Major Ledfank, who, because of his command, wishes to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, must both arrive in Pacacia City within the prescribed date.

Claude brought only Maggie and Big Grimes, while Major Ledfunk brought a small group of escorts, all on horseback, which took two days to arrive due to snow. But the southern three counties are basically calm, and road safety is fine. Only those security posts set up to check pedestrian vehicles at traffic junctions can discern some tensions in the state of war.

The city of Pakasia was similarly heavily guarded, with groups such as Major Ledfank and Claude at the gates of the city receiving identification, registering their names and then heading to the pre-arranged cantonment camp under the leadership of a guard soldier.

With two days left to celebrate the General Assembly, Major Ledfank asked Claude to come early in order to consider whether His Royal Highness would like to summon them first. But his apprehension was obviously self-loving, and the great prince was probably too busy to have sex, and he didn't want to meet his old man and Claude, the new knight medal winner.

That's exactly what Claude wanted, and he was free to take Mike and Big Gummy to see markets and shops in Pacacia City. Probably because of the presence of the Grand Prince of Hansburg in the city, the order of the city of Pacacia is very well established, the market atmosphere is intense and all kinds of commodities are abundant. Virtually all the shops in the city are open and the streets are crowded with lights and lively.

Claude bought a bunch of things, most of them for her little lover, Sheila, and the heaviest of them were all books that she didn't have in her stone hole library, and the rest were daily items, and some beautiful clothes and jewellery. I'm sure giving these gifts back to her will surprise her, gentle as water and enthusiastic...

Claude wanted to go out the next day, but when he left the camp, Major Ledfunk called him back. At night, he celebrated the convention with honors. Major Ledfunk was going to take Claude with him to prepare.

The so-called preparation is to get a haircut and a bath, then put on a brand-new pencil and a strong military uniform. The leather boots should be spotlessly polished, the belt with a strap at the waist should be as clean as new, and the cap should be handled with a sharp hand. After wearing it, check yourself in front of the mirror, check it out and show Major Ledfank if there are any omissions.

When you're almost there, everyone will eat a little white bread pad, then work in the camp, and wait for those carriages to come and fetch all the people attending this ceremony.

It's been a long time, but it's over. Approximately an hour later, a lieutenant officer in charge of the transfer came in to salute, and then asked Major Claude and Major Ledfank to leave. As for McJackie and Big Grimes, as well as Major Ledfolk's squad of guards, it is natural to wear them in the camp and not to run around, because the city is under siege tonight, and it is strictly forbidden to go out and hang out.

The venue was held in the main city hall, and, according to the officer who was escorted from the lieutenant, more than 300 people came to the congress to celebrate the feat, all officers who stood at the front line. They will be promoted to the ranks at this congress by His Royal Highness the Grand Prince and the generals of several regiments themselves.

When he glanced at Claude with envy, the lieutenant officer said that three more men, like the Knight of Claude, had been awarded the Knight's Medal, two of them the Guardian Corps and one the Blue Feather Corps. In addition to that, there is one other person at this congress who will receive the royal seal of the kingdom, Michel. General Priest...