The Calling of Forces

Matsuno Raiden sighed as he woke up hearing a commotion with a young child screaming on a box, saying, "THE ALLIANCE OF THE SATSUMA AND THE CHOSCHU CALL FOR YOUNG MEN TO VOLUNTEER TO KICK OUT THE FORGEINERS AND BRING BACK THE EMPEROR!" Matsuno looked out of the window blinking, seeing 2 ken sitting on chairs with a table having papers to enlist.

Matsuno thought for a minute, thinking, "Y'know what.. why not have some adventure and glory?" He grinned a bit as he placed on his katana sheath and walked out of his room, handing his key to the woman stating "Give this to somebody who asks for a room I'm paying for them." The woman nodded before bowing to Matsuno with Matsuno bowing as well before taking his leave.

Matsuno walked as he got in line before finally being at the front, where he looked and read the paper. While at it, the recruiter said, "You seem to read pretty well. You even look like a military experienced man. There aren't a lot of officers right now , so how about this.. I'll give you this paper which states you will be in command of a small force, maybe just a company size, and there on you will be given supplies and such and be paid a fair amount does that seem fair.?" Matsuno thought of the idea of leading men as after all he had been given new knowledge of the warfare in this period and such that would give him a upper hand. He nodded as he grabbed the quill before grabbing the paper given, signing it.

The recruiter said, "Congratulations, you're now an officer. We'll assign you some men, but as of right now, get your uniform and head to the fort down the road. We will tell you when to come to the square." Matsuno nodded before saying,"Will do." After that, he left off with a uniform and a revolver before heading off to the fort where he was assigned to a room.

Matsuno looked around in his room, having an oil lamp, a desk, regimental colors on the wall, and a bed. Matsuno nodded, making do with what he had before dressing up, placing on his holster on the left with his sheathe on the right, then after placing on his boots and kepi. Matsuno then heard a knock on the door before turning to the door and answering the door. He looked at the soldier before the soldier said, "Sir, it's time head to the square." Matsuno nodded before following the man where he saw some 120 men lined up armed up with the Pattern Enfield 1853 with them being dressed up with kimonos with a bluish color but atleast they had the kepis

He nodded before moving in front of them before stating, "Hello, gentlemen, today you have gathered to fight against the damned Shogunate, correct?" The men nodded with some replies agreeing. Matsuno nodded as said, "In that case, find your bed in the barracks and place your items and such, then head back total the square, now move." The men turned quickly before jogging and placing their items and belongings in their barracks before heading back and lining up in a messed up order. Matsuno shouted, "FIX THE LINE BOYS COMEON!" The men winced a bit with them quickly shuffling into order.

Matsuno nodded as he looked at them before saying, "Today we'll be practicing marching and formations, so first thing is this." He inhaled before shouting,"RIGHT FACE!" The men turned some of them struggling to understand but followed suit after. He sighed. "TURN BACK THE ORIGINAL POSITION!" The men turned before waiting. Matsuno then walked up to a soldier before saying, "Get the regimental colors. You're going to be the flag bearer." He nodded before quickly grabbing the colors and heading back to the line.

Matsuno said "Men first thing is this, when you hear right face, you turn to your right. If you hear left, face turn to your left, if you hear about face you behind you, if you hear center face you go back the original position you were facing is that clear?" The men shouted."YES, SIR!" He nodded."Flag man, if we go into columns, you go to the front with me of the whole column is that understood." The flag bearer replied."YES, SIR!" He nodded before turning as he shouted,"RIGHT FACE!" The men turned with the sounds of feet moving before Matsuno went infront with the color bearer. "FORWARD MARCH!" Matsuno shouted with the column moving as they marched around the fort and such before doing this repeated exercise for at least a month.

Then it was range day with them lined up at the firing range with lined up dummies. Matsuno moved forward before holding a Pattern Enfield 1853 as he took out a cartridge holding it up. "This is your ammo to load it. You first tear it open and pour in the gunpowder in the barrel, but you place your two fingers on the hard area where the bullet is at. Then you place the bullet in and ram it down with your ram rod till it feels firmly in. Finally, you place on the mini cap on the nipple where you have it loaded. Now, try it yourself as well as another thing to mention you have to cock the rifle to atleast half cock." He finished before allowing the men to reload.

"Now, when you hear the order, Take Aim it means you aim then you will hear the order to fire which so you will all fire at once, as well you don't reload until the command is given, now TAKE AIM!" The men raised their rifles, Matsuno walked with him, saying to them,"AIM AT THE WAIST LEVEL. " The men moved their rifles somewhat down before he screamed."FIRE!" The defeaning sound of the rifles with only about some hitting but barley any hits.

Matsuno sighed as he said, "RELOAD!" The men quickly reloaded before the other command. followed suit."TAKE AIM!" The sound of the movement of the 120 rifles were produced. Matsuno then walked as he corrected the handling of the holding of the rifle. He now moved out of the way before saying, "FIRE!" The fire of 120 rifles boomed with now at least half now hitting before nodding.

After once again a week after they were trained enough before being ready.. this was the day that life would change for many men.