Chapter 142: Chapter 130: Force Shortage Phobia (Part 2)
"Hmm, well said."
Durant nodded slightly, "What else?"
Durant’s gaze swept over everyone.
"Tell me, as soldiers, what other goals do you have."
The soldiers looked at each other, trying hard to think of the answer to Durant’s question.
After a moment of silence, a soldier stepped forward from the back: "Protect our families, Lord."
"Well said."
Durant looked at the soldier who answered,
"You weren’t originally from Frost Leaf Town, were you?"
Durant remembered the initial militiamen, none of whom were this person.
In fact, there weren’t many original residents of Frost Leaf Town in Durant’s army, and Durant was familiar with most of them.
"Yes, my Lord, my name is Jones, from Razor Plain."
"Very well. People always realize they should cherish things when they lose them."
Durant’s gaze returned to Baron,
"You are not mercenaries; you don’t fight just for money, so you not only need to protect my property and my slaves."
"You also need to protect your family living on this land, your parents, wives, and children!"
Durant’s voice rose a few notches:
"What does it take to protect them? Strength, power!"
"Do you think winning a few battles is enough to protect them?"
"Do you think wiping out a few small squads on Eagle Ridge is the end of it?"
"Let me tell you, there are at least thousands of soldiers at Earl Ridge!"
"And we currently have less than three hundred real soldiers, and most of them aren’t as skilled as you; they are your defeated foes, which is why you fifty have been chosen!"
Durant clenched his fists, his gaze sharp:
"If Count Hawk comes looking for trouble, what will we use to resist? Will we use the blood of your wives and children to block their slaughter?"
"It’s not just Count Hawk; Jones, who just came from Razor Plain, should understand that there are threats greater than Count Hawk, like the Alien Race."
"They are far more brutal than Count Hawk’s soldiers; legends say they even consume human flesh when extremely hungry!"
"If you think you can surrender to Count Hawk in defeat, what about those Alien Races?"
"What will you do? Tell me, what will you do?"
The entire place was silent, but the battle intent was kindled in every soldier’s eyes.
"You can only fight to the end! Use the sharp blades in your hands to chop off their heads, crush their skulls with your shields!"
Durant laughed coldly, his lips curling disdainfully, ridiculing the soldiers,
"But can you lift a solid shield, or wear the full body armor I’ve prepared for you?"
The soldiers glanced at each other, momentarily puzzled.
Isn’t everyone wearing chain armor, carrying round shields?
Durant didn’t explain further, waving his hand to signal Gang Le to come forward.
Then Durant reached out and knocked on Gang Le’s body, producing a heavy sound.
"Your captain, Gang Le, is wearing a full body armor weighing sixty pounds."
After Durant finished speaking, Gang Le turned around, giving the soldiers a full display,
"Wearing this, lifting his shield, wielding his axe, he can take all of you on alone."
"As my elite, I also have such full body armor prepared for you."
Durant’s voice was calm, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, "Now, if any of you can still fight after running ten kilometers wearing this armor, then you won’t have to train anymore."
Durant’s tone became severe, glaring as he questioned:
"My blacksmith shop works day and night making armor for you, but you bunch of useless guys can’t even run ten kilometers wearing it!"
"In the future when we march to the battlefield, you might have to live in this armor all day long, can you do it?"
"I will not be stingy with those who have the strength."
Durant stretched out his hand, and Gang Le voluntarily handed his war axe to Durant.
Durant grasped the axe and violently split the stone block beside him!
"This war axe is sharper than any of the weapons you have, but do you deserve it?"
Durant’s eyes swept over each soldier: "All these things will be prepared for you, but on the condition that you can pick them up, carry them, and keep going.
Otherwise, you’ll have to watch helplessly as others trample over your family’s lives!"
Upon Durant finishing, all the soldiers couldn’t help but lower their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.
Durant naturally wasn’t trying to belittle them but to convey the importance of these matters to them.
He walked over to Baron, patting Baron’s shoulder:
"When your child is born, do you want them to see a strong father or a coward unable to protect them?"
Baron said with determination in his eyes: "A strong father, my Lord."
"Very good."
Durant patted his shoulder,
"Then prove it to me, prove it to your unborn child."
Luo De raised his fist,
"When you feel exhausted, think of those enemies eyeing us like tigers eyeing their prey;"
"When you want to give up, think of the family behind you."
"You are not training; you are fighting for survival! For Frost Leaf Town! For your families!"
"For Frost Leaf Town! For our families!"
The soldiers shouted in unison, their eyes ignited with fighting spirit.
A smile reappeared on Luo De’s face,
"Tell me, are you still tired now?"
"Not tired!"
The soldiers shouted in unison.
"Very good!"
Luo De nodded in satisfaction,
"From now on, the daily ten kilometers become thirteen kilometers."
"Any problems?"
"No problem, Lord!"
The soldiers answered in unison, their voices louder than ever.
"Now, the backbone of Frost Leaf Town, line up, ten-kilometer load-bearing cross-country! Forward!"
"Forward!"
Amidst the shouts, the soldiers were full of momentum!
After the soldiers left, Gang Le turned his head,
"You sure know how to speak, Master. It even makes me want to run a couple of laps!"
"If you run, add another forty pounds."
Luo De glanced at Gang Le and continued to inspect the barracks.
The elites need encouragement, and so do the ordinary soldiers.
Because of the existence of the [Flesh Harvester], Luo De’s soldiers were all physically strong.
Luo De naturally held high expectations for them, maximizing the effects of their enhanced physicality.
At the very least, in war, these soldiers should be crushing their opponents one-on-one.
Winter has arrived, life in the wild isn’t easy, and the prey are not active.
Luo De allowed three hunting teams to take turns resting, with more people staying in camp.
Of course, the free time wasn’t for them to lounge around, but to intensify more training.
Luo De had the hunters pass on all their skills with the claw hook and train more longbowmen.
After finishing the inspection of the barracks, it was almost noon.
Luo De wasn’t pretentious and directly dined with the soldiers in the camp.
Last time, Durant had hotpot, and with Luo De’s permission, brought it to the army. Recently, hotpot has become popular among the soldiers in the camp.
Luo De thought it was something quite suitable for the military camp and also for the north.
Luo De’s history knowledge is poor, but he vaguely remembers that many armies in ancient times boiled water in helmets to make hotpot; it seems that’s how the initial hotpot was spread.
This method of eating is also very convenient in the wild.
On a frigid day, everyone training and then sitting around a hot stove to dip meat, it’s a joyful thing.
The camp chef prepared a separate pot for Luo De, but Luo De refused.
Once in the military camp, Luo De was no longer into those noble fusses.
He sat with Durant, Gang Le, and a few squad leaders, sharing a single pot.
And Durant’s woman, Stella, also sat at the same table.
But before they ate, and just as the smell of mutton wafted out, Stella hurriedly ran out and started vomiting violently.
"What’s wrong?"
Luo De looked at Durant in confusion: "Pregnant?"
Durant nodded somewhat embarrassedly: "Yes, sir, just over a month."
"Why not share such good news with me?" Luo De asked back.
"Apologies, sir, you’re busy every day, and I didn’t want to disturb you with such a small matter."
Luo De nodded slightly, instructing, "Now that she’s pregnant, don’t let her tire herself, have Lawrence arrange two maids to serve her."
"Thank you for your generosity, Lord Baron." Durant stood up and bowed in salute.
"Hehe, sir, my woman is pregnant too."
Gang Le scratched his head awkwardly, the meaning in his words was self-evident.
"I’ve never even seen your woman, and you want to mooch off?"
Luo De feigned displeasure, asking rhetorically.
"She’s a widow, unfit to meet you."
"Alright, go talk to Lawrence yourself."
Luo De glanced at Gang Le with a hint of annoyance.
However, now that his subordinates are having children, Luo De feels reassured in his heart.