Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World-Chapter 696: The Drill

TL: Rui88

The tent was filled with indignation, but some remained silent. This group knew the kingdom’s current predicament.

Paul pounded the table and shouted loudly, “As long as the king has not issued a formal order to cease hostilities, we will continue to fight.”

The tent quieted down a little.

“Then I propose that Sir Schroeder continue to serve as the field commander. Does anyone have any objections?”

The crowd looked at each other, and in the end, no one raised any objections.

‘The only time the Ordo army has won a head-on confrontation was a battle fought by your troops. Whatever you say, goes.’

“Gentlemen, given that the Northwest army’s combat methods and weapons are quite novel, I have decided to arrange a drill for everyone to observe tomorrow, to avoid any friendly fire incidents when the real battle begins.”

Everyone’s interest was piqued. Many of the units had retreated here after the battle of Silvermoon Fortress and had not seen with their own eyes how the Northwesterners had defeated the orcs.

They had only heard from those who fought alongside the Alda army that day that the Northwesterners made extensive use of a type of tube-shaped weapon, some large and some small, that could spew deadly flames and propel metal projectiles to kill the enemy.

It sounded like the effect of ranged weapons such as crossbows and bows, but the range and power were far superior. Moreover, when fired, the sound was deafening, like thunder, and it filled the battlefield with smoke.

Time quickly passed to the next day.

On the land in front of Silvermoon Fortress, the sound of cannons rumbled and smoke filled the air. Two battalions of the Alda army, formed in neat ranks, marched to the beat of drums towards a hypothetical target.

Under the command of signal flags, they drilled in various tactical subjects, including line formation, column formation, hollow square, volley fire, platoon fire, bayonet charges, and infantry-artillery coordination.

The power demonstrated by the gunpowder weapons was an eye-opener. The tactical proficiency and excellent discipline displayed by the Alda soldiers were even more shocking to many experts.

It was easy for troops to maintain a neat formation when stationary, but it was very difficult to maintain the integrity of the formation while advancing.

What was even more impressive was their ability to change formations quickly, as if every soldier knew from the start where he should stand. Only through day after day, year after year of rigorous training could such a level be achieved.

This was very useful. For an ordinary army, changing formation in the heat of battle meant enormous risk. It would cause chaos—officers could not find their soldiers, and soldiers could not see their officers. If it took too long, allied forces might think something had gone wrong, and the enemy often liked to attack at such moments. Therefore, many generals would not easily change their formation once it was set.

Seeing the serious expressions on the faces of the observers, the corners of Paul’s mouth curled up slightly. The Alda army’s battlefield “mobility” was far beyond the general level of this era, and this was one of the things he was proud of.

A long time ago, when he was learning about the famous battles that had a huge impact on history, he often found them perplexing—the direct tactical factors that determined the outcome of a battle often seemed very simple.

In the Battle of Bibracte during the conquest of Gaul, the Roman army deployed their usual three-line formation to fight the Helvetii. But after repelling the first wave of their attack, a large number of reinforcements from the Boii and Tulingi suddenly appeared on their flank. At such a critical moment, Caesar decisively ordered all the squadrons of the third line to march sideways. The entire third line was rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise and turned to face the new threat.

In the Battle of Breitenfeld during the Thirty Years’ War, the Swedish army’s allies, the Saxons, scattered and fled. Gustavus II not only lost a third of his forces, but his own left wing was completely exposed. He immediately ordered the troops on the left wing to pivot sideways to form a right angle, creating a new defensive line to cover the center, and he personally led two infantry regiments to reinforce the left wing.

Caesar and Gustavus II were both renowned generals praised by the world, and the two examples above were testaments to their fame.

But at the time, Paul had been very puzzled. ‘Is that it?’

It was just a matter of redeploying some soldiers. When he played the Total War series of games, a swipe of the mouse was all it took.

It was not until he personally formed and commanded troops in this life that he realized what those seemingly simple tactical maneuvers really meant.

Therefore, he placed a special emphasis on discipline, training his soldiers with an intensity that was incomprehensible to the people of this era. They drilled five days a week and were influenced subtly in their daily lives through aspects such as dress and internal affairs. The result of this was finally seen today.

“No flesh and blood in this world can withstand such power!” A Lentrian knight who had previously fought alongside the Alda army watched the cannons firing with fascination, while introducing this terrifying weapon to his companions.

“When facing the projectiles it spews, no matter how thick the armor you wear, it is no different from being coated with a layer of cream.”

“I once saw with my own eyes a column of orc soldiers advancing get wiped out, more or less, by a single cannonball.”

In fact, he did not need to emphasize it much. The trenches blasted into the distant ground by the cannons and the flying dirt had already made the crowd frown deeply.

“No wonder the previously unknown Grayman family has risen so meteorically in recent years and even married into the royal family.” Many people thought they had found the answer.

The drill lasted for a whole morning. As noon approached, the onlookers dispersed with various thoughts in their minds. The performance of the Alda army had left a deep impression on them.

“Why won’t you let me see Princess Catherine?”

Paul was questioned by his mother as soon as he returned to his quarters. Just before his departure, Mariana had sent her second son, Nathan, away, but she herself had followed the army under the pretext of “confirming that her child has the ability to protect himself.” In fact, she was indeed worried, as she had always opposed Paul’s meddling in affairs outside his own territory.

“How am I supposed to explain your existence to her?”

Paul spread his hands, looking quite helpless.

“Alright!” Mariana did not dwell on the topic. After all, it was just a question. Apart from her son’s inner circle, she did not want her identity to be exposed too early. Catherine was currently only Paul’s fiancée, and they had not known each other for long.

“I remember you said you didn’t bring much gunpowder. Why waste it here?”

Mariana had been exposed to many new things these past few days and was amazed at her son’s ability to invent so many strange things, but they were often very useful.

“To intimidate, of course!” Paul waved his hand. “We’re about to fight the orcs. I don’t want to be surrounded by a bunch of guys who pay lip service but act otherwise. On the other hand, it’s also to give them some confidence.”

Mariana nodded. Take herself for example; she had previously thought that her son’s army was no different from the troops of other lords. But the march along the way, and today’s drill, had changed her mind. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

In the martial Gabella Empire, she had once thought she had seen the strongest armies among the human nations, but now it seemed that the Alda army surpassed them in its bearing.