Chaumont, standing at the outer edge of the northernmost Hollow Square Formation, gripped his 1790 Pattern Jäger Rifle like a statue, utterly ignoring the mass of shrieking Mamluk cavalry charging toward him. Turning his head, he shouted at the soldiers of his company, "Let these bastards know what true warriors of France are!"
More than ten meters away, another noncommissioned officer with the same pale gold trim around the outside of his collar shouted encouragement to the soldiers as well. "The enemy will retreat soon enough! Hold your positions!"
"For glory! For France! Grip your guns tight!"
"Hey, our 17th Company has to win the Courage Medal for this battle!"
"Did 21st Company hear that? Someone wants to compete with us for the medal. We can't lose to them!"
Yes, noncommissioned officers like Chaumont were Honor Representatives newly established after the French Army's Second Military Reform.
They had all been rigorously selected. Not only did they possess outstanding military ability, they also had to pass political vetting. Their main duties were to inspire morale, provide soldiers with daily psychological counseling, teach them literacy and other subjects, and so on.
Honor Representatives were the "glue" among the soldiers, while also serving as the backbone in battle.
They had nearly replaced the roles once filled by military priests and Grenadiers—there were now only one-third as many military priests in the French Army as before.
Honor Representatives could handle matters such as leading soldiers in prayer and hearing confessions. Priests now only presided over holiday Masses and burial rites for fallen soldiers.
This was also an important measure by Joseph to reduce the church's influence over the military.
Led by the Honor Representatives, the entire Hollow Square Formation stood firm beneath the tidal assault of the Mamluks.
Soon, two groups of cavalry swept