When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

Early the next morning, Horn took a group of Child Soldiers and Imperial Guard on horseback to the south of the island, accompanied by Jeska and Hakuto.

Following the end of the bloody battle at Joan of Arc Castle, although Hakuto still claimed to be a captive, he had already started working for Horn.

Previously, Jeska said Hakuto was the person he had seen most knowledgeable about training soldiers, and it was true; in just one day those bishops had become much more obedient.

Horn brought them along this trip, first to discuss training and selection issues, and second to conduct an on-site inspection of El Camp.

Horn understood that as a commander, one must be diligent; matters that ought to be handled by oneself must be personally overseen and executed.

Even though it was drizzling, it had to be done.

The horses galloped, startling several nests of birds, crossing the hills; a dozen riders trotted forward on the muddy ground after the rain.

Today's rain was much sparser than yesterday, yet the chilly wind still seeped in through the gaps in the cloaks, causing many Imperial Guard cavalry to sneeze.

Seeing this, thinking the camp was not far away, Horn slowed the pace of his horse, allowing it to ride alongside Hakuto and Jeska.

"What are your thoughts on soldier selection?" Horn actually had a general idea in his mind, but he wanted to first ask Jeska and Hakuto's opinions.

"The so-called selection is actually divided into two parts." Hakuto stuffed a handkerchief into his nose, like a bull's ring, to stop the snot, and said muffledly, "One part is choosing people, the other is appointing roles."

Horn guided him to say more: "Could you elaborate?"

"Choosing people means knowing who to choose, and who not to choose." Hakuto, still nasal, forced himself through discomfort to say, "For instance, those who are limping, missing hands, or hunchbacked can't be chosen, those with poor eyesight are best avoided, the deaf or those with flat noses shouldn't be chosen, people who stutter or can't speak are best avoided.

Before selecting soldiers, it's best to send someone to check them; if they have tuberculosis, leprosy, or pox, they shouldn't be chosen either."

"And why is that?"

"I understand the limping, missing hands, hunchbacks, and the eyes and ears part, but why can't those with flat noses be chosen?"

"Those with flat noses mostly have syphilis, especially the congenital type that can't be cured." Hakuto shrugged his shoulders, "I know it might be harsh, but we can't afford the risk of infecting the entire army."

"What should be chosen then?"

"First choice is physically strong and fierce charactered as top tier. Second choice is older but stable and powerful. Third choice is bold, and agile. Height should preferably be no less than four feet two inches (about 1.5 meters)."

Hakuto leaned his head to avoid a large splash of rainwater from the leaves, "However, you're different; definitely don't focus on choosing people, you hardly have anyone to choose from; just consider those you can't choose."

They had marched into a path in a small forest, there was even a sawmill ruin by the roadside, with several gray rabbits poking their heads out of holes, curiously looking at Horn and the others.

Having heard Hakuto's words, Horn nodded silently: "And what about appointing roles?"

"When a new recruit joins the corps, someone like Hakuto, an old captain, observes them." Jeska explained with a smile, "He allocates appropriate weapons and functions based on your physique, character, and traits, my original old captain was Hakuto."

Evidently, Hakuto still hadn't forgiven Jeska, merely snorted and continued: "For instance, physically strong and fierce can be Sword and Shield Soldiers, older but stable and powerful can be Shield Soldiers, bold and agile can be Leaping Soldiers, others can be Long Spear Soldiers.

But since you have only Long Spearman and Holy Gunman as two types, you don't need to consider too much, just let those who meet the criteria join.

Blessed go to be Holy Gunmen, non-Blessed go to be Long Spearmen... thinking this way, it's possible to form an army in three months.

Many regular armies face issues like the pure team flower team, like the different weapon training and formation, but you basically don't have them."

Speaking this, Jeska gradually savored the taste, he suddenly realized as if seeing Horn anew: "That said, if your Gallar Array succeeds, as long as the logistics keep up, we can completely expand the army massively in short term."

Three months for an army, as long as there is a stable rear and the economy keeps up, fast expansion won't be a problem.

Prince Maurice of Nassau rarely won against Spain's large formations; his greatest innovation was this standardized training system.

Including the military academy built by his cousin John and the initial version of the drill guide he wrote himself, once training and directives were unified, all soldiers seemed to be cut from the same mold.

"Your Majesty, we have arrived."

Just as about to explain to them, Horn heard a Child Soldier beside him pointing ahead and shouting.

Looking ahead, on a piece of open ground stood a circle of walls with varying heights, scattered bricks lay on the ground, and weeds grew in the crevices.

The drizzle fell from the sky, constantly bowing those weeds.

In the curtain formed by the rain, hidden within was a piece of ruins, nearly a hundred roofless brick houses arranged in a "king" pattern within the walls.

Not far from the walls, Horn could clearly see a place that was empty, the green carpet formed by wild grasses ending abruptly at the area's edge.

"Let's go in and have a look, talk as we go."

Guided by the Child Soldiers, Horn and others arrived at the entrance of El Camp, still the familiar Elaina Gate Pillar, featuring spiral patterns of the Golden Ratio and several vertical strip indentations.

"May I ask how you usually learn to fight?" Walking ahead, Horn asked as he stepped on the large tiles cracked by wild grass growth.

Hakuto and Jeska exchanged a half look, Jeska first said: "My father taught me when I was young, but mostly, it was taught by the old captain and learned on the battlefield."

"Hakuto uncle, how about you?"

Hakuto slightly raised his head as if recalling, and after a while, he sighed: "My hometown wasn't peaceful, fights between villages were frequent, I followed my parents in fights since young.

But the true battlefield skills were learned when I was thirteen, serving as an errand boy for a mercenary; once the old captain takes you along a few times, then personally kill someone, one is basically trained, the rest is grasped on one's own."

"Have you thought about writing these skills into a book, so that all our soldiers, even without 'old captains' around, could learn warfare by this drill guide?"

Hakuto waved his hand grandly: "Haha, I'm not modest, I'm illiterate; apart from my own name, I can't write anything else."

Jeska explained with a bitter smile: "Some things, even if I can do them, I can't write them down; initially, old captains taught by word of mouth and example."

Seeing they still hadn't grasped his intention, Horn chuckled slightly: "Alright, I'll find an artist for you to pose the most common gun techniques and defensive postures on the battlefield, but my requirement is: show one move at a time.

This way, in training, with the officers' commands, their timing of each move is consistent, and when combined, they'll be uniform on the battlefield."

Explaining to Jeska and Hakuto in detail, in their confused and doubtful gazes, Horn walked to a broken wall and said to himself: "You'll see when the time comes."

Reaching out, he patted the wall vigorously, and the entire wall echoed hollowly.

He squatted down, lifted a stone slab to check the connection between the wall and the ground: "Not bad, though the houses have collapsed, the foundation is good; how many people do you think can live here?"

Having heard Horn's words, climbing onto a broken wall and standing like walking on a wire, Jeska surveyed around: "These houses, I estimate can house over two thousand people."

"Would squeezing in four thousand be enough?"

"If they all sleep in large dormitory beds, indeed it would be."

"Good, then it's decided." Horn brushed off the dust from his hands, stood up, and suddenly lifted his head, looking in the direction he came.

There, under the gray-white sky, rose dozens of smoke trails linking heaven and earth.

"There are roughly five thousand refugees on the island by now?" Horn fell into contemplation, it seemed necessary to conduct a population census.

He casually tore off a piece of white paper, wrote a note, and handed it to a Child Soldier: "Give this to Busak, ask him about its feasibility, inform me before dinner."