Final Preparations

On the training ground, the five hundred soldiers drafted at short notice were running laps around the camp. Ten youths stood nearby, whips in hand, acting as instructors.

Too fast, and they got a lash. Too slow, and they got a lash. If the formation was uneven, they still got a lash. The men were tormented until they had completely lost their tempers.

It was clear that the territory's slave-like education had been quite successful. None of the troublemakers he had imagined appeared.

After privately sneering at the backward slave-like education, Hudson calmly enjoyed its results.

There was clearly no time for military training in such a short period. All he could do now was teach them obedience.

Even if they were preparing to coast along, they still needed to put on a proper show. Actual combat strength was unimportant; the key was to look like they had combat strength.

Although he had disparaged Count Pierce as worthless in front of his father, Hudson still did not dare let down his guard when it came time to face him for real.

No matter what, a big shot like that could crush a small fry like him without any effort.

"Hudson, we're leaving the day after tomorrow. Is there still time to train them?"

Baron Redman asked anxiously.

Although he felt that his son had a talent for training troops, there was simply too little time. To ensure they set out on schedule, they did not even dare drill the men too harshly.

In terms of training intensity, it was not even comparable to freshman military training at a university. It was not that Hudson was being soft-hearted; the soldiers simply could not keep up physically.

In this era of backward productivity, being able to eat seven or eight tenths of one's fill on fortified black bread already meant the lord had a conscience.

When even filling one's stomach was so difficult, there was no point hoping for proper nutrition.

With poor nutrition and heavy labor to bear, their bodies naturally could not be in good condition after years of it.

That was also why people flocked over every time the baron's estate recruited workers. No matter what the job was, as long as they followed the master, they could at least fill their stomachs.

Take the present situation, for instance. Despite being worked so brutally, not a single person wanted to back out.

Going to war was certainly dangerous, but high risk brought high rewards. Reaching the heavens in one step had nothing to do with them, but if they earned military merit, they would still have a chance to join the Castle Guard.

Most of the guards in the baron's estate had come about this way.

Once they took that step, not only would their food problem be solved, they would also gain the qualification to cultivate Battle Qi.

Once they became warriors, their treatment would be different again. Their food, clothing, lodging, and travel would all be covered, and they could even receive wages.

"Don't worry, Father. We aren't expecting to train an elite force in a short time. As long as they look capable of fighting, that's enough.

"The mobilization is this extensive. Even after excluding the areas ravaged by the Rebel Army, Southeast Province can still raise over ten thousand troops.

"With so many forces belonging to different families, commanding them smoothly won't be easy. They will most likely be mixed together, and once the fighting starts, who will be able to tell them apart?"

Hudson said calmly.

He did not even bother concealing his disdain for Count Pierce's mobilization order.

Taking his own family as an example, a single charge by the Castle Guard could rout the five hundred soldiers before them.

Drafting such a huge number of troops all at once, aside from sounding impressive, was essentially asking for trouble.

Once the fighting truly began, they would find that the logistics, command, and combat strength were all unbearably dreadful.

Rather than that, it would be better to draw a small number of elite noble troops. Not only would they be easier to command and properly supplied, their combat strength would also be greater.

Hudson did not believe his own family was the only one paying lip service while acting otherwise. Any noble who sensed that something was wrong would probably choose to hide their strength.

"Mm."

"If that's the case, then that would be for the best. Still, you lack combat experience after all. Once you reach the battlefield, you must be careful and cautious. Do not try to show off.

"These are letters I wrote to several old friends. If you encounter them on the battlefield, give the letters to them. For my sake, they should look after you a little.

"But you cannot rely on that. If real danger arises, or major interests are involved, none of those people can be counted on.

"If the battle turns against us, then as long as it does not damage the family's reputation, preserving your life must come first. Remember: only the living have hope."

Baron Redman spoke earnestly.

Yet it sounded particularly awkward to Hudson. He did not know whether it was an illusion, but he always felt that his father was implying: at a life-or-death moment, he could become a deserter.

One had to know that desertion completely violated the spirit of chivalry. Nobles could become prisoners, but once they deserted on the battlefield, they would no longer be able to remain in their social circle.

For the sake of family reputation, many nobles would rather die in battle or be captured than become deserters.

Of course, it was not entirely impossible to work around it. For an insignificant nobody like Hudson, as long as he was clever enough, even if he deserted, probably no one would notice.

At worst, he could travel far away. With how slowly information traveled in this age, the chance of being discovered was not high.

"Father, are you agreeing to let me lead troops into battle?"

Hudson asked in delighted surprise.

He had originally prepared himself to be refused. After all, letting a sixteen-year-old youth lead troops into battle was truly rather unreliable. No matter how sound the reasoning was, it could not change the hard limitations of age and experience.

He had not expected the situation to turn around. Whatever the reason, Hudson was overjoyed.

Preserving his life on the battlefield came first; that did not need to be said. As a transmigrator, with his cheat ability being unreliable, Hudson did not dare act recklessly.

Chivalric spirit, noble honor, family reputation—none of the burdens carried by traditional nobles existed for him.

From the very beginning, Hudson had made his plans. In summary: No merit sought, but no fault committed.

"Don't celebrate too early. This rebellion suppression campaign is not that simple. If you want to take the opportunity to earn military merit, I can support you. But if you lose your life, you will have no one else to blame."

Baron Redman said sternly.

It was obvious that he truly had high hopes for Hudson. Everything was determined by the social environment. On the Aslant Continent, there were only two paths for a minor noble to advance further: either you were personally exceptionally strong, or you were exceptionally skilled at commanding armies.

Compared with the first path, the latter clearly had a higher ceiling. This was ultimately a low-magic world; no matter how powerful an individual was, they could not contend against an entire nation.

Even someone as powerful as a Holy Domain expert had to run faster when facing an army of thousands. Legends of one person fighting an entire nation existed only in legends.

Compared with the unattainable prospect of becoming a powerhouse, the latter path had countless successful examples. Although the great nobles in court held high positions, one could also find the presence of minor and mid-ranking nobles.

After several generations of effort, it was not unusual for a minor noble to rise into a great noble.

More precisely, it could not really be called a rise. Noble families intermarried generation after generation, and their internal relationships were tangled and complex. If one truly traced their bloodlines, they would most likely still be connected.