"Our rewards for taking Blackmaple Castle have been given out."
Major Liedefonk lit his gold-engraved rhinoceros horn pipe from who-knows-where, took a deep drag, and proudly blew a ring of smoke into the air.
Only then did Claude remember that there was such a thing. "What took you so long?"
"I'm not sure. Perhaps the higher-ups were plotting Bluefeather's ambush on the three southern prefectures of Askilin, so they tossed our report aside.
Now that everything's settled, they've finally given us a reply, "Liedefonk guessed.
"You're the only one in our entire battalion who received rank-1 Merit for successfully taking Blackmaple Castle with minimal casualties. There are also more than 20 rank-2 Merit and the rest who received rank-3 Merit.
On top of that, our 1st Ranger Tribe was the vanguard of Bluefeather and cleared a path to the three southern prefectures of Askilin in the Pikleit Mountains. We were awarded rank-one merit, "Major Ledefonk said in satisfaction.
Huh?
Conquering Black Maple Castle gave them a Class 1 Merit Point. On the other hand, climbing the ice and snow in the Pikleit Mountains to search for the smuggling trail to the three southern prefectures of the Askilinian Dukedom gave everyone a Class 1 Merit Point?
After all, taking Blackmaple Castle wouldn't affect the overall situation of the war. Bluefeather's surprise attack on the Pikleit Mountains and the three southern prefectures of Askilin broke the stalemate of the war in the east.
1st Ranger Tribe, as the vanguard, received a rank-1 Merit as a group. Nobody would object to that.
"Kid, you only need one more rank-1 Merit to be promoted to first lieutenant," Liedefonk said enviously.
"You're only 21 this year. When I was 21, I was still working hard to become a sergeant major.
Now, I'm only a major at 36. I don't even know if I'll ever become a general.
You're different. You were promoted because of your contributions. Perhaps you'll catch up to me if the war drags on. "
Aueras's contributions were divided into three ranks. For a junior like Claude, he would have to earn rank-1 Merit three times.
At the same time, the merit system was based on the three-three system. Rank one merit was equivalent to three rank two merit points, and rank two merit points was equivalent to three rank three merit points.
For example, Major Ledefonk, who used to be a logistics supervisor, would receive a Class 2 Merit as a reward for his diligence and conscientiousness as long as he didn't make any major mistakes or violate military discipline in a year.
This was also a way for the royal army to be promoted in peacetime when they did not have any military achievements.
Claude smiled bitterly. "Major, don't be so sarcastic. I'd rather be a logistics officer like you and work my way through the ranks than risk my life on the battlefield.
The battlefield was dangerous, and no one knew when they would run into misfortune.
If the war continues, no matter how fast we get promoted, we will still have to go to the frontlines. If we fall, what's the point of any honor? "
Major Ledefonk was one of them, so there was no need for Claude to hide anything from him. The two of them were quite close and could speak their minds freely.
While Bluefeather wasn't willing to let 1st Ranger Tribe share the merits of conquering Askilin and split them up to guard the main roads in the three southern prefectures, the soldiers of 1st Ranger Tribe welcomed the order.
But for the soldiers of 1st Ranger Tribe, they welcomed this order. It meant they didn't need to go to the battlefield and could earn some extra money. There was no better job than this.
The war that engulfed the entire eastern part of the continent had been raging for two and a half years. Aueras had the upper hand at the moment, but there was no sign of victory yet.
It wasn't as if the anti-Aueras alliance was powerless, but no one knew how long the war would last.
Low-ranking officers like Claude were more concerned about whether or not they could survive and return home after the war ended, rather than getting promoted. That was a very realistic way of thinking.
Major Ledefonk understood what the officers were thinking. He sighed and changed the topic. "I've brought your rank-one merit reward. It's six crowns for two rank-one merits. Sign your name here and claim your reward. You have to treat us tonight."
As he signed his name on the register, he asked curiously, "Major, why did you have to hand out the rewards yourself? You could've just asked the finance staff to come and take care of it."
Ledefonk shook his head. "You might not know this, but most logisticians have some background.
Even though we're at war, they won't give us any discounts in terms of equipment.
But they'll still tamper with the rewards a little. It's quite common for them to give us a discount.
I used to be a logistician, so I'm quite familiar with such tricks.
Our tribe is a newly formed combat unit. As the officer in charge, I have to be responsible for every soldier. So, I'll be handing out the rewards myself.
At the same time, I can use this opportunity to inspect the units and see how they're doing. I won't be sitting in the office like a puppet who only knows how to sign. "
Claude gave him a thumbs-up to express his admiration.
It was obvious that Ledefonk would be able to gain full control of 1st Ranger Tribe after the inspection and handing out the rewards. All the soldiers would know that he was the true leader of the tribe.
Major Ledefonk took out a sack of money from his briefcase and tossed it to Claude. "How's the situation here? There are two mountain paths that lead to the Canas Plains and the eastern part of Askilin. Did you notice anything out of the ordinary?
Speaking of which, your place is the real frontline. I reckon that this will be the place where 1st Ranger Tribe will fight in the future. "
"Nothing out of the ordinary so far.
The two mountain paths lead to the private lands of the two duchies.
I asked some people who escaped from the three southern prefectures two days ago. A few of them said that it's indeed the territory of the nobles. They even have to pay a toll to pass through. There's a checkpoint set up for that.
"It's winter now and the mountain paths are frozen solid, so we brought two light infantry cannons with us. The two mountain paths can also be used by carriages.
"According to the villagers, after the rainy season, even carriages won't be able to pass through the mountain paths. It's muddy and full of holes. Most troops won't be able to pass through.
"Since the two mountain paths lead to the nobles' private lands, I don't think the enemy will attack us before the rainy season. It'll take time for them to gather their forces and negotiate with the nobles.
"It won't matter much after the rainy season. The enemy won't be able to pass through the two mountain paths unless they send a large number of men to repair the roads.
"However, the two mountain paths lead to private lands. I believe that the two duchies won't be so kind as to help the nobles by setting up checkpoints for them to repair the roads.
As long as there is no way to pull the large cannons over, with the strategic location of our encampment and the blockade of two light infantry cannons, it is more than enough to resist the attack of an enemy battalion. "
"What will you do if the enemy sends an entire regiment over?" asked Major Ledefonk.
Claude shrugged. "They won't be able to do that. At most, they'll have a brigade to send in.
I'll take you to have a look. This is the intersection of three mountain paths.
Our encampment was on the top of the three-way junction, about twenty meters above the ground.
"If the enemy wants to attack us, they'll have to follow the mountain path to Squirrel Village. They won't be able to climb anywhere else.
Our camp was located at the top left corner of Squirrel Village, looking down from above.
As long as we hold the mountain path to Squirrel Village, it doesn't matter how many enemies come.
"However, you'll have to send us more ammunition and rations. If the enemy really attacks us, I don't want to have to retreat due to running out of supplies."
Major Ledefonk nodded. "Alright. I'll send you some ammunition and rations when I get back. Also, I'm going to set up a camp on the mountain path behind you and have a platoon stationed there.
If there's a fight on your side, have the platoon send reinforcements and seal off the mountain path completely.
One more thing, Claude. You have to be prepared to be stationed here for a long time. "
"Huh?
You mean to say that we'll have to stay here for who knows how long? Aren't the guards stationed at the outpost all the work of the garrison?
Since when did 1st Ranger Tribe become a garrison tribe? "
Major Ledefonk was rather troubled as well. "Our current situation is that we have to do the work of the garrison tribe.
Bluefeather crossed the Pikleit Mountains lightly and took over the three southern prefectures by surprise.
Now, they're planning to build a defensive line capable of withstanding hundreds of thousands of enemies after the rainy season. That requires a large number of cannons and other heavy equipment.
The three southern prefectures are Askilin's military base, but production is currently at a standstill and they can't start working.
Secondly, the quality of their cannons is a little lacking compared to the ones our kingdom produces. Even the caliber is different.
Bluefeather's logistics officers have only picked out a portion of the equipment and there's still a huge gap. They've been urging the rear to send their heavy equipment over as soon as possible.
You're someone who's crossed the smuggling paths in the Pikleit Mountains, so you should know that while it's fine for people to walk, it's difficult to transport heavy equipment like cannons.
But now, there's an order from above to repair the roads before they can transport the cannons.
Bluefeather's heavy equipment must be delivered to them before the rainy season. That way, Bluefeather will be able to build a sturdy defensive line after the rainy season.
The plan is for Bluefeather to bring two second-line corps into the three southern prefectures and work with the royal guard to flank the anti-Aueran forces in Rimodra. As long as the hundreds of thousands of anti-Aueran forces are trapped in Rimodra and they're forced to surrender, the anti-Aueran forces will have their backbone broken.
In that case, the Anti-Austrian Alliance's backbone would have been broken by us, and there would be no chance for them to rise again.
That's why Bluefeather believes that without heavy equipment like cannons, they won't be able to stop the hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers with their guns.
The two second-line corps haven't entered the three southern prefectures yet and are building roads in the Pikleit Mountains. Bluefeather is also forcing the surrendered captives to do hard labor in the mountains so that they can build a road to transport heavy artillery as soon as possible.
There's no way the garrison will be able to replace us. Apart from maintaining pressure on the anti-Aueran forces, the higher-ups are also sending all their manpower to Pikleit Mountains to build roads. They're hoping to wipe out the enemy in Rimodra in one fell swoop. "Claude understood.
After some thought, he said, "It's not a problem for us to defend this place, but you'll have to prepare some gunny sacks and shoveling tools for us.
It's winter now, so I don't think the enemy will attack us yet.
But it'll be hard to say after the rainy season. I'm planning to build some defensive structures here just in case. "
"Gunny sacks and shoveling tools?"
Liedefonk shook his head. "Those two items are really in short supply. Even if we have them, we'll send them to repair the roads. We can't find them in the warehouse at all.
It's said that all the grocery stores in the three prefectures have been smashed open and all the gunny sacks and shoveling tools have been used by Bluefeather.
By the way, isn't that Squirrel Village next to you? The villagers should have some. You can borrow them. "
"Borrow?"
Claude thought, What I want are a few dozen shovels and hoes to dig trenches. Squirrel Village is so poor that they only have two iron pots. Most of the tools and farming tools are made of wood. What use are they?
Looking at the dilapidated shacks in Squirrel Village not far away, Major Ledefonk understood Claude's predicament.
After some thought, he said, "How about this? I'll go back and think of a way to get ten shovels and hoes for you.
As for gunny sacks, there's really nothing we can do about that. But you can get the villagers to weave some for you. We'll just buy them for you. "
Claude nodded. "Alright, let's do that."