Chapter 160

Guided by Captain Mark and accompanied by the engineering battalion commander, I quickly moved to the simulated training ground to assess the capabilities of the engineering battalion.

Upon arriving at the simulated training ground with them, Meister Lieutenant Colonel Myster turned to me and spoke.

“Upon receiving the command of Your Excellency, all 400 members of the engineering battalion have assembled at the training ground as instructed!”

“You’ve worked hard. Can you tell me about the battalion’s composition?”

In response, Lieutenant Colonel Myster answered in a confident voice.

“Our battalion is composed of Combat Engineering Company 1 with 70 men, Technical Engineers Company 2, which constructs fortifications and siege equipment with 220 men, and Field Engineers Company 1, which supports military marches with 110 men. All soldiers in the battalion are prepared to execute Your Excellency’s orders.”

Currently, except for the battalion commander, the officers and non-commissioned officers above the rank of second lieutenant are all technicians verified by the Technical Academy, except for the combat engineering company whose task is to smash everything with brute force.

This is because engineering units operated independently in this era have little need to participate directly in combat, making civil engineering skills more critical than combat capability.

“You’ve worked hard. However, I’m concerned that the combat performance capabilities of the officers might be an issue… Have they adhered to my directives?”

“As you instructed, we first selected double the originally intended number based on their abilities, and those who passed the two months of training were assigned to the Technical Engineers and Field Engineers based on their skills. Even if they are deployed in an actual battle, they will be able to perform to some extent.”

“You’ve worked hard. Also, I plan to select some veterans from each company to complete combat engineering training and then assign them back to their original units… What do you think about that training program?”

“Once the weapon you designed, the chuck-tan, is produced, we will plan to train them on how to throw it, how to effectively break down enemy fences or gates with axes, and how to fight using axes at the forefront, among other things. Additionally, the soldiers in the engineering battalion, except for the combat engineers, will be trained to the level of being able to act as site supervisors during siege warfare and civil engineering projects.”

Considering the size of our legion, the number of specialized engineers might seem insufficient compared to modern times…

In this era, unlike modern engineers, we don’t have heavy equipment and cannot perform miracles like carrying prefabricated bridges.

So, no matter how much I emphasize the importance of engineering, it is still a waste to organize more specialized engineers at this time.

However, the number of combat engineers equipped with weapons that are effective for breaking enemy lines will probably continue to increase.

“That sounds excellent. However, if we plan to invade Franche in the future… we will need siege equipment to occupy the enemy fortress, ways to quickly establish a solid encampment, and skills to rapidly restore buildings in the occupied area. Only then can we repel the enemy using fortifications even in isolation.”

Upon hearing this, Lieutenant Colonel Myster nodded in agreement and said,

“As Your Excellency mentioned, when we enter the enemy’s territory and if our forces are smaller… the only things we can rely on are the enemy’s walls or military fortifications created in the field.”

“Therefore, the sergeants and staff sergeants who command the site works in each unit should be called to the engineering battalion in rotation and taught efficient construction techniques.”

“Yes, understood.”

At the same time, if we supply each infantry battalion with field shovels, pickaxes, hammers, and axes, in case of emergency, skilled non-commissioned officers will create useful defensive structures alongside the soldiers.

Even if we may not be able to completely repel forces that are three to ten times greater, it will allow us to conduct a defensive operation under much more favorable conditions.

Not only that, but our barracks will now be standardized, allowing for more robust and practical changes.

In the meantime, the soldiers might fall into a hellish cycle of work after training… but it’s necessary for their survival.

Moments later, a second lieutenant wearing a leather apron rushed over from my left to report.

“Marquis Your Excellency, the training demonstration of the engineering battalion is ready. Please give your orders.”

“Commence the demonstration.”

When I commanded the start of the training, the nearby soldiers echoed the order.

Following that command, the soldiers prepared to move with a sharp military posture, and Lieutenant Colonel Myster approached the soldiers and commanded.

“Move as taught until now! Construct the fortifications!! Start fortifications!!”

“It’s the battalion commander’s order! Begin fortification construction! Company 1, fill the sandbags with soil and transport them to the designated location.”

“Our Company 2 will stack sandbags and create an ammunition depot! Create it using wood and soil as per the training guidelines!”

“Company 3 will check if there are any issues along the transport route for the cannon, and if there are any obstacles, we will clear them! Begin!”

They kept talking about cannons during the training, but so far, cannons have not been properly developed, nor have grenades usable by combat engineers.

So, the “cannon” they refer to is merely a metal model made to resemble the shape and weight of a cannon.

However, practicing building fortifications for cannon installation in advance will not be a significant detriment.

A while later, the soldiers from Company 1 filled the vacant fortifications with soil and began transporting it to the designated spot.

Meanwhile, Company 2 lightly dug the location for the future cannon installation with shovels, while most of the soldiers constructed a makeshift ammunition depot with sandbags and wooden posts.

Company 3 made sure there were no obstacles from the location designated for the mock cannon to where the fortifications were to be established, carefully removing and filling in holes to create a path for the cannon to pass through.

The soldiers executed their assigned tasks as quickly as they had been trained, and as a result, a fully usable fortification was completed in just 40 minutes.

Of course, the cannon was a fake… But to declare that they successfully completed the demonstration, the soldiers from each company placed a small amount of powder next to the model and lit it.

Shortly after, with a loud ‘bang,’ white smoke rose from the side of the cannon.

Seeing the smoke rise, I clapped to encourage their achievements.

The officer guarding my side from the engineering battalion looked proud at my reaction, straightening his shoulders and wearing a confident expression.

“Second Lieutenant, send a signal to the combat engineering company to commence training.”

“Now the horse and bugler will send a signal to the combat engineering company!”

With that signal, the combat engineering company began to march for training.

“Company, advance at a run! Then, fire in unison from 50 meters ahead! After that, throw the chuck-tan from 20 meters and breach the enemy position with axes!”

They began walking while carrying armor capable of stopping projectiles up to 20 kilometers, axes, and several kilograms of chuck-tans.

And none of them showed any signs of fatigue from carrying such heavy armor and munitions as they arrived safely at the point designated for firing.

“Everyone, fire in unison!!!”

With that command, white smoke and a deafening noise echoed, and immediately the soldiers rushed out with their rifles secured on their backs.

It was only about 30 meters, but running full speed under the weight of dozens of kilograms is no easy task.

Yet, they effortlessly threw the chuck-tan grenades at the makeshift fortifications.

Moments later, the oil contained in the chuck-tan ignited with the lit fuse, spreading widely.

Thank goodness they hadn’t filled the chuck-tan with gunpowder, or if that had been the case along with nails or bullets, the surrounding area would have been completely devastated.

“Kill them all!!”

“Long live Marquis Your Excellency!!”

“For a salary increase!!!”

“Let’s kill those damned hardtack!!”

They then drew their tomahawks from their belts and smashed the mock fortifications to pieces.

If they had taken that equipment and charged at the temporary defense line constructed in the field, the combat engineers would surely have faced some losses…

However, the enemy soldiers they confronted would have found their lines completely broken due to the barrage and the shock of the chuck-tan.

Just thinking about it, the sheer destructive power is unimaginable; future enemy soldiers would surely be pitiful.

After that, I inspected the trench construction and siege equipment assembly training prepared by the engineering battalion commander.

The engineers swiftly and effectively constructed various fortifications and assembled siege equipment several times faster than regular soldiers.

Watching that scene, I thought to myself.

Indeed, the army needs shovels and hard labor.