Lena, dressed in a white military uniform, stood on the podium delivering a speech.
Perhaps because Lena herself disliked flowery and convoluted speeches, she said little from the start and spoke casually about the matter that concerned the soldiers the most—disability compensation and welfare benefits.
After Lena finished speaking, Lind and Lena jointly awarded honorary medals to the soldiers injured during this expedition.
Thanks to the recovery potions that came standard for soldiers, there weren’t many injured soldiers since the war began; the most significant injuries were likely from Hammond’s night raid.
This made Hammond, who had just returned to Graywhite Territory with Lauri, feel a bit awkward, while the soldiers on stage were incredibly excited. After putting on their medals, they saluted Lena and Lind, and for once, Lena, who normally didn’t follow etiquette, returned a military salute.
When facing a veteran in a wheelchair, Lind half-squatted to help him put on the medal, completely ignoring his flustered attempts to do it himself and urging Lind to get up quickly.
Hammond immediately recognized this as a tactic to win hearts. He admitted that many soldiers were swayed by this, and this governor was much better than Doug, as at least he not only awarded honors but also truly provided financial support.
These injured soldiers could choose to work in the rear or retire and lead a peaceful life. If they wanted to study, the Lord Governor would cover their tuition, and there were no age restrictions at Graywhite Territory’s technical schools.
These individuals could even choose to remain in the army; the less capable could become instructors, while the more capable could become staff officers. In summary, the military would not neglect anyone injured in battle, and Lind encouraged these soldiers to do so.
Hammond began to understand and asked, “The Lord Governor intentionally wants these injured soldiers to stay in the army to set an example for the other soldiers, right?”
I have to say, this tactic was much cleverer than Doug’s so-called shared meals and accommodations, especially since Doug’s approach felt more like a vacation in the barracks.
“Exactly.”
Lauri nodded and said, “The Lord Governor has stated that if we abandon these disabled soldiers, then five soldiers from Graywhite would only be worth one, but if we support these disabled soldiers, then one soldier from Graywhite can be worth five.”
At that moment, Hammond understood the zeal with which the enemy charged forward during his night raid. He thought that if those injured soldiers on stage were his own brothers, even knowing this was a tactic to win hearts, he couldn’t help but feel strongly committed.
Especially when Lena shouted about rejuvenating the glory of the Northern Border, Hammond couldn’t help but clench his fists and joined the soldiers in cheering.
It wasn’t about serving any individual or working for a family; it was about fighting for the Northern Border.
However, a few days later, while Hammond was on watch atop the tower, looking at the blazing Beitang Defensive Line in the distance, his feelings became somewhat complicated.
Hammond put himself in their shoes; if he were in charge of the Beitang Defensive Line, even with the supply lines completely cut off, defending for a year would be more than enough.
Moreover, even though the supply lines were entirely cut, from Hammond’s perspective on the Graywhite side, he realized there were still merchants conducting business with the Beitang Defensive Line, because with Graywhite’s population and army, it wasn’t possible to completely seal off the Beitang Defensive Line.
Yet, such an impregnable defense was destroyed within a quarter after the war began.
“The Beitang Defensive Line is indeed unbreakable.”
Lauri gazed at the billowing black smoke in the distance and said, “But the morale is not; fortifications are often breached from within first.”
Hammond fell silent upon hearing this, as it referred to the Beitang fortress, but wasn’t it also the current situation of Doug Lars?
“This is your first mission.”
Lauri patted Hammond on the shoulder and said, “Normally, you and your brothers would need to completely disband and infiltrate the lower ranks to start over from scratch.”
“White has vouched for you, and the Lord Governor also wants to try a unit composed solely of professionals, which is why you were given this opportunity.”
“So, give it your all; don’t let the Lord Governor down.”
Hammond looked down at the white military uniform on his body, recalling the medal ceremony a few days ago; he nodded, jumped down from the watchtower, and shouted, “Brothers, it’s our time to shine—let these guys see what the elite of the Lars Family truly looks like!”
Who are these guys he referred to? They could be the enemy troops within the Beitang Defensive Line or the Graywhite army.
Lauri smiled; it seemed Hammond still had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Lauri didn’t mind such passionate men; the army actually encouraged healthy competition.
Hammond set off with his troops. Although Lauri had said he hadn’t broken up Hammond’s brothers, Hammond’s unit had still undergone reorganization; most importantly, the logistics personnel had completely switched to Graywhite’s people, and the entire unit had been equipped with new weapons.
Tactical backpacks, beam rifles, semi-automatic firearms, enchanted plate armor, and the new experimental melt-cutting spears were all provided. Since Hammond’s unit consisted entirely of professionals except for logistics, they could carry more and varied equipment.
To be honest, after putting on this gear, even if Graywhite asked Hammond to delve deep into the Northern Border to seize Doug’s stronghold, Hammond wouldn’t flinch.
What truly shocked Hammond was Graywhite’s logistics—various potions, all sorts of supplies, even military rations were creatively arranged—there seemed to be an inexplicable obsession with logistics from the Lord Governor, particularly regarding food. The assessments for cooks were even stricter than for some regular soldiers.
As for the melt-cutting spear, Hammond had worked with Lauri and Darsi to design it on the way back, and the letters were sent out halfway. By the time Hammond set foot on Graywhite territory, the experimental model of the melt-cutting spear was already finished.
Hammond, who had fought for a lifetime, had never seen such outrageous logistics. Let alone losing a battle, even losing one person would make Hammond feel guilty towards the logistics comrades.
Hammond once thought that with such a tremendous advantage in equipment, the city’s assault speed was rather slow; if this advantage were in Doug’s hands, he would have probably launched attacks everywhere and by the second day after capturing a city, he would have shown up at another city’s doorstep.
So Hammond previously thought that the Lord Governor of Graywhite probably truly didn’t know how to fight, and his war experience might be even less than Doug’s.
Now Hammond still believed that Governor Lind didn’t know how to fight, but the level of leniency in his war strategies had reached the point where even Hammond felt a bit alarmed.
As long as supplies were not aligned, the army wouldn’t move; once food and supplies began to run low, the army would start to retreat. Although ample authority was given to various generals, Graywhite’s overall marching style remained very steady.
At this rate, regardless of whether this governor knew how to fight or not, Doug would absolutely not have an advantage; this army, clearly so strong, was just being overly cautious.
Cautiousness didn’t mean a lack of aggression; just look at Hammond’s subordinates who donned the new weapons and equipment.
Suppressing fire is easy; for these professionals, even with semi-automatic firearms, they could easily manage recoil while wearing plate armor, but holding back the smiles at the corner of their mouths was much harder.
At least none of Hammond’s subordinates managed to suppress their smiles; up until they donned the thick plate armor, their grins were still evident.
Lind heeded Lauri’s advice and stopped fixating on long-range firepower suppression, also incorporating close combat into the military’s considerations. Traditional armored units once again appeared on the battlefield.
Hammond was not fond of Graywhite’s firepower suppression doctrine; for someone who had fought most of his life, firepower was merely cover, and truly destroying the enemy still relied on close-quarters combat with blades.
The only one not wearing enchanted plate armor, Hammond, led the knights and surged toward the Beitang Defensive Line.
