Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 346 From Knight to Major: Once a Frontline Warrior, Now Unstained by Blood
The commander of the ground forces on the front line of the Bailu Plain in the Hanhai Territory was Major Galen, the commander of the First Reinforced Regiment of the Hanhai Defense Army.

Many people have almost forgotten his former identity—the Ninth Knight of Zircon Territory.

Galen's ability to rise so quickly in the new system stemmed from the decisive battle at Qishan Pass that determined the fate of many.

At that time, as the temporary commander of the main camp, he faced pressure from both orc raiding parties and the war chariots of the Vast Sea Territory. In the desperate situation of the Marquis's death and chaotic intelligence, he prioritized pointing the main battle flags towards the direction of the orc attack.

It was this choice that earned him a personal comment from Lord Chen Mo after the war: "A minor mistake had its reasons, but he was not guilty of any major transgression!"

Although other knights might have done the same, it was Galen who made the decision, and the lord's assessment fell on him. That's fate!

As a result, Galen was extremely fortunate to become one of the first former prisoner-of-war officers to graduate from the "Hanhai Gongdelin" and transfer to the "Hanhai Army Engineering Academy" for further studies.

The so-called Merit Forest refers to an artificial forest west of the city of Han Hai. The largest prisoner-of-war camp in Han Hai is located there. It is said that the lord personally approved the change of name to this meaningful one.

To persuade and educate, to set things right, that is a great act of merit!
As for the Hanhai Army Engineering College that Galen attended, it was a newly established military academy in the territory.

The Hanhai Naval Academy, which was established in its early years, has now been renamed the Hanhai Military Command School, which can be understood as a high-end institution within Hanhai.

The new Hanhai Army Engineering Academy is a relatively application-oriented vocational college. It was originally intended to house members of the Torch Youth Corps who had slightly lower overall grades but some decent abilities, or students who were eliminated from the Hanhai Naval Academy but still had potential for development.

After the war with Zircon Territory, it also became a re-education site for outstanding captured officers.

In theory, students at the Army Engineering Academy who perform exceptionally well have the opportunity to pass an assessment and transfer to the Hanhai Military Command School for further studies. In the students' private conversations, this is called "transferring from junior college to university".

However, as soon as the war broke out, the students of the school were immediately transferred to active duty in batches. After a brief period of training and drills, they set foot on the battlefield of Bailu Plain.

Galen did well at the college high school, and his performance in all aspects was outstanding, so he was appointed as the commander of the 1st Regiment of the Defense Force.

Fighting orcs was the form of combat he could most accept deep down; it was much better than fighting his former colleagues from Zircon Territory, no matter what.

The Hanhai Defense Army currently under his command is mainly composed of Zircon surrender troops, still bearing a strong transitional character, and is a second-line force primarily armed with cold weapons.

The difference is evident from their organizational structure. The core forces of Han Hai are divided into battalions and brigades, following the modern organizational structure of Dong Xia, which is simple and efficient. In contrast, the Han Hai Defense Army has a division structure, following the previous generation of organizational structure of Dong Xia, which maintains the tradition of numerical superiority.

The reinforced regiment under Galen's command had a strength of 5,000 men, making it the elite force of the defense army.

The entire unit was fully armored, with soldiers generally equipped with half-body breastplates and iron helmets with neck guards. Their main weapons were spears or halberds exceeding three meters in length. The junior officers and non-commissioned officers were even better equipped, with almost everyone wearing full-body chainmail and issued "refined" grade melee weapons crafted using the new iron-smelting technology of the Han Hai Territory.

Judging from the equipment alone, it has improved significantly compared to when they were under the command of Zircon Territory.

The biggest difference from the past is that the command system of the 1st Reinforced Regiment has undergone tremendous changes. Walkie-talkies and communication channels have replaced the flag signals and war drums of the past. This allows Galen to not only accurately command each company, but also to receive information feedback from below in the first instance.

When Galen received this little gadget, he knew that his defeat in the last battle was not unjustified at all. Even if the opponent did not have the "Iron Grenadier", just this communication gap alone would have allowed a commander of the same level to completely dominate him.

Holding the communicator, Galen felt incredibly at ease.

The adjutant beside him looked somewhat grave. Before the fight began, he quietly approached Galen and tremblingly gave him a warning.

"Knight Commander, we...we're supposed to be cannon fodder for the attack on the orcs, right? You...you should go and command the central army. I'll lead the suicide squad ahead to clear the way for you!"

"Orcs are not weak, why risk your life!"

Galen put down his binoculars and patted his adjutant on the shoulder.

"There is no longer a Knight Commander; I am the Commander of the Defense Legion!"

"There are no adults here either. I am Major Han Hai!"

"Look at the troops behind you. With this level of equipment, is this what cannon fodder looks like?"

"Reso, you've just come from Gongdelin, and your ideas and thinking are already a bit outdated. After this battle, I'll apply to send you for further studies so you can catch up as soon as possible!"

The adjutant ducked his head and whispered, "Yes, Uncle, I understand!"

The child then stared wide-eyed at the fireworks streaking across the sky.

Under Lord Chen Mo's explicit instructions, this first battle, in which the human race's banner was publicly raised and the existence of the Vast Sea was declared to the White Deer Plain, had to be fought fiercely and swiftly, to demonstrate momentum and reputation, to display an aura of dominance sufficient to intimidate all other races, and at the same time, to greatly boost the confidence of their own side.

Therefore, although the artillery reserves in the Han Hai Territory were far from being plentiful enough to be squandered at will, the artillerymen had a good time in this battle.

The whistling shells rained down like a storm, showing no sign of stopping. Before the smoke from the first salvo had even cleared, the second and third salvos followed in quick succession.

Under such saturation attacks, the defensive fortifications of Linshui Village crumbled at a visible speed. The already disorganized defenses were instantly riddled with holes. Several tall watchtowers were specifically targeted and had long since disappeared, leaving only burning logs. The village itself was transformed into a hellish scene, with flames soaring into the sky and thick smoke billowing, almost obscuring half the sky.

After three rounds of rapid firing, the frequency of the artillery barrage began to decrease, slowing down the rate of fire.

At the same time, the shells began to land behind the village and along the riverbanks on both sides, providing fire support and clearing the area. Just then, Galen received a clear and calm order from the Bailu forward command post through his headset.

First Regiment, it's time to attack!

Galen took a deep breath, the scorching battlefield air mixed with gunpowder smoke filling his lungs.

In the past, he had commanded tens of thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of auxiliary troops in major battles, and had followed the First Knight across the plains, charging into battle. But now, he felt inexplicably nervous.

He pressed the one-way transmit button on the walkie-talkie, and now only he could speak on the entire channel.

"Attention, all personnel! This is the regimental command post. I am Regimental Commander Galen!"

"Obey my orders!"

"The 1st Company of the 2nd Battalion will advance in a skirmish line from the left flank, taking care to eliminate any small remnants of the enemy along the way, control the outer perimeter of the Linshui Village wall, and establish a fire support point."

"Second Battalion, Second Company, advance along the right flank and penetrate deep into the river area! Be careful to isolate the remaining orc forces and prevent them from escaping or regrouping along the river!" "First Battalion, advance along the front, launch a full-scale attack, and capture Linshui Village!"

"All units shall maintain a 500-meter interval and advance in echelons! The 3rd Battalion, as the reserve force, shall take over the current forward positions and stand by!"

Once the order was given, the soldiers, clad in half-body armor, surged out of the makeshift defenses like a flood bursting its banks. They quickly spread out in a skirmish line, which was somewhat clumsy but already quite well-organized, forming several sparse yet flexible waves of attack as they charged toward the distant war zone that was still being repeatedly ravaged by artillery shells.

Galen soon realized that although his command was rather rigid, in the current battlefield, whether or not there were orders was actually irrelevant.

The soldiers of the First Reinforced Regiment, carrying long spears, advanced cautiously in battle formation, easily and without hindrance penetrating the enemy's camp gate.

The air in Linshui Village was thick with the pungent smell of gunpowder and burning. The wooden structures that had been blown up and set ablaze were still crackling and burning. The ground was covered with craters of all sizes, and the warm, damp soil was mixed with dark red stains.

While artillery barrage alone is insufficient to eliminate all opponents, the devastating impact of such attacks, which fall from the sky, leaving no room for retaliation and leaving the orcs with no choice but to passively endure destruction, is fatal to the morale of the orc forces.

The first half of the march was like an armed march, with minimal resistance. Scattered, dazed orcs howled and charged out of the ruins, only to be easily felled by the front-line soldiers with their spears, without even having to stop. The whole process was as smooth as a routine drill.

Upon entering the core area of ​​the village, organized orc resistance finally emerged.

This was the residence of the camp's garrison commander. The numerous stone buildings mitigated the destructive power of artillery fire to some extent, allowing a group of experienced orc veterans to survive.

The orc commander of Linshui Village clearly still had some prestige and ability. He gathered the remaining few hundred orc warriors and, relying on a relatively intact section of the village wall and several half-burnt stone houses, formed the last line of defense, launching a counterattack against the vanguard of the First Reinforced Regiment with javelins.

Some of the orcs even took advantage of the terrain to rush out from behind the walls and inside the houses, engaging in close combat with the Han Hai Defense Army.

Even a cornered beast will fight back fiercely, displaying extraordinary ruthlessness.

Lieutenant Letso unconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist, looking at Galen with expectant eyes.

In his memory, his uncle was an invincible warrior on the battlefield, a one-man army capable of breaking through enemy formations of a hundred men single-handedly, a super hero covered in arrows but with not a single one in his back...

The adjutant looked around; there were no armored warhorses.

What would the Knight Commander... oh right, the Grand Master, do? Charge on foot?

Then he heard the unbelievable instruction.

"Grenadiers, come up!"

"Shields for cover, Molotov cocktails to clear the way!"

Well, although the 1st Regiment of the Defense Force did not have guns or cannons, they did have their own kind of firearms: Molotov cocktails.

The grenadiers of the First Regiment quickly took out earthenware jars from their waists, tore off the seals, and peeled away another layer of soil to reveal the grease-soaked cloth fuses inside.

Then, a comrade pulled out a lighter, and with a click, lit the strip of cloth. As the cloth ignited with a ghostly blue flame, the soldiers holding the cans took a half step back, their bodies arching backward like fully drawn bows, their arm muscles suddenly tensing—

"cast!"

At the officer's command, dozens of burning terracotta pots pierced the sky.

The cost of this thing is unbelievably low: a crudely made jar of adobe bricks, oil from the Xuan Shui swamp, a strip of cloth wrapped around the edge, a layer of soil to seal it, and a disposable lighter from Dongxia...

The key to making this thing effective lies in these specially trained grenadiers.

Each soldier starts as a Tier 2 warrior and has undergone special throwing training. The soldier uses his left foot as a pivot, twists his waist and abdomen suddenly, and swings his right arm like a whip. At the moment of release, his wrist flicks rapidly, making the Molotov cocktail spin at high speed in the air.

The professional's strength, combined with this unique spinning throwing technique, allows the Molotov cocktail to reach an astonishing range of over 400 meters.

If this doesn't boil, the group also has reinforced Molotov cocktails. The design is based on the aerodynamics of Dongxia, allowing it to be thrown further. The canisters also contain some tinder and hazelnut shavings, making them slightly more expensive.

Well, the cost of mass production is about seven and a half copper coins per coin, with the main cost being labor...

The Molotov cocktails traced graceful parabolas through the air before scattering and landing haphazardly in the stone hut area guarded by the orcs. The crisp sound of shattering clay pots echoed, and the sticky incendiary substance splattered everywhere, instantly turning the area into a sea of ​​fire.

"cast!"

Another batch of Molotov cocktails soared into the air. This time, due to the brief chaos on the enemy's position, the grenadiers sprinted forward a few more steps, making their trajectories visibly more rounded. The Molotov cocktails, like meteors, crashed directly into the gaps in the stockade wall where the orcs were holding, and flames immediately spread along the enemy's position.

The Molotov cocktails were not very effective, but their sheer number made up for it. Based on the number thrown in the two rounds, almost every orc got more than one.

Some of the orcs, engulfed in flames, let out piercing screams. They transformed into running torches, frantically rushing out of their sheltered lines, rolling on the ground or howling in despair as they charged toward the ranks of the Vast Sea Defense Army.

"Front row, shields up! Second row, guns up! Crossbows, fire freely!"

Galen's voice grew increasingly steady; the former cavalry leader had seamlessly transitioned into a heavy infantry leader.

The massive shield, taller than a man, advanced like a wall, blocking most of the enemy's javelins. From the gaps in the shield, a forest of spears emerged, thrusting and churning, piercing the orcs' desperate charges with numerous large and small holes.

The orc general, roaring in fury, smashed a giant shield with his massive flail and charged into the ranks of the defenders. He was then riddled with spears, turning the boar-orc into a porcupine-like creature, before being hoisted into the air by dozens of spears.

The defense forces pushed forward and successfully took control of Linshui Village.

In the second battle, the artillery battalion reduced its firepower density, shrinking the original three firepower coverages to one. However, the morale of the Hanhai Defense Army had been fully boosted, and with extremely low casualties, they once again easily captured the enemy camp.

With the current equipment and firepower of the defense forces, even without external assistance, they could have fought the orcs of the wild boars to a standstill, not to mention the comprehensive support they now have from the sky to the ground.

However, after a series of "battles," the adjutant who had been by his side couldn't help but look at Commander Galen's spotless armor and unsheathed sword. His lips moved a few times, as if a thousand words were stuck in his chest, but in the end, he couldn't utter a single word.

He vaguely sensed that something had completely changed during the days he had been imprisoned in Gongdelin.

(End of this chapter)