Chapter 33: Training

The high salary of the standing army attracted a large number of civilians to enlist, but the strict selection criteria kept many out.

After a week-long recruitment and selection process, the 300 lucky recruits who passed finally gathered in the military camp to meet the man they would swear allegiance to the Count of Idar, Bruno Stuart.

Looking at these fresh faced new soldiers, Bruno couldn't help but smile. These men were his personally assembled force!

"Soldiers, from today onward, you are now members of the First Battalion of the Idar Standing Army!" Bruno officially announced.

"I know many of you were drawn here by the generous pay I offered. Here, I promise each and every one of you that I will never delay your wages. All salaries will be paid on time!"

"Each of you will receive one gold coin in military pay and thirty copper coins in living allowances after today's training. The remaining two gold coins will be paid after completing one full year of service."

Getting paid as soon as they enlisted immediately put the soldiers at ease. This level of salary... it was practically unheard of throughout the entire Norman Empire!

"But, gentlemen... my wages aren't that easy to earn! After today's training, anyone who wishes to withdraw will still have the opportunity to do so. However, if you try to withdraw after today or, worse, desert, you will be charged with desertion, and your entire family will be reduced to serfs!"

"So, does anyone want to leave now?"

Bruno's severe punishment for deserters made the recruits shudder, but these men were not easily scared. They were hardened by poverty and struggle. Besides, they had been selected from among thousands of applicants—having fought so hard to get in, they wouldn't give up so easily!

Bruno scanned the crowd. Seeing no objections, he smiled. "Since no one wishes to leave... let's begin training."

"Sam, follow the training methods I gave you and start the drills." With that, Bruno mounted his horse and left with Lister and a few personal attendants.

He had already handed over his training plan to Sam, so he had no worries.

Right now, he had to hurry back to the lord's castle because the Idar blacksmiths had delivered something he had been eagerly waiting for an iron wok!

Bruno could hardly wait to return and taste stir-fried food. Eating only white bread and boiled vegetables every day was simply unbearable.

…

In the Military Camp

Sam looked at the recruits with a hint of sympathy.

He had carefully studied the training methods Bruno had given him, and to be honest, he had his doubts.

After all… in Sam's memory, Bruno had never fought a battle in his life.

Yet this noble lord, who had never been involved in military affairs, had written something called the Idar Standing Army Drill Manual. From any perspective, this was highly unusual.

What's more, the contents of the manual were completely unheard of!

However, as an officer of Idar, Sam had no choice but to submit to Bruno's "tyranny"…

"The first part of training standing at attention!" Sam shouted at the top of his lungs.

The recruits exchanged confused glances.

Standing at attention? What the hell was that?

Even those who had never served in the army before assumed military training should involve practicing stabbing, slashing, and blocking with weapons.

"No talking!" Sam glared at a few recruits whispering to each other. "If you want to speak, you must yell 'Report!'"

Once the recruits fell silent, Sam continued, "Stand with your legs straight and together… Quickly, do as I say! Arms naturally at your sides, heels together, feet at a sixty-degree angle… You! Stop fidgeting!" Sam walked through the ranks, pointing out mistakes.

"Eyes looking straight ahead! No shaking your head or moving around!"

"Lean your body slightly forward! Keep your hands close to your trouser seams!"

"Report!" One recruit suddenly shouted.

"Speak!"

"What's a trouser seam?"

Sam paused for a moment, then replied, "Just press your hands tightly against the sides of your thighs!"

Standing at attention was a simple task, but holding the position for a long time tested a person's endurance.

According to Bruno's schedule, the entire morning was dedicated to this drill.

Curious, Sam decided to follow the manual's instructions and stand at attention himself.

However… just after ten minutes, he felt his legs beginning to ache, and his feet were going numb.

Only then did Sam realize how terrifying the Idar Standing Army Drill Manual was. But as the drill instructor of this army, since he had foolishly demonstrated the stance in front of the recruits, he couldn't be the first to give up!

This put Sam in a painful predicament. He felt soreness creeping through his body, exhaustion weighing him down, and although it was winter, sweat began to form on his back…

Just as Bruno had predicted, Sam was a restless man who couldn't stand staying still. Forcing him to stand at attention alongside the recruits was more torturous than simply killing him.

Finally… after what felt like an eternity, one of the recruits in the formation collapsed from exhaustion.

Sam immediately announced a break.

The moment he finished speaking, the recruits practically collapsed to the ground, silently cursing whoever came up with this miserable training.

Sam ordered the fainted recruit to be carried into a tent, then finally had time to carefully reread the Idar Standing Army Drill Manual.

His lord… was truly a once-in-a-generation military genius!

As he flipped through the manual again, Sam suddenly noticed a small line of text at the bottom of the "standing at attention" section—

"For the initial training session, it is recommended to not exceed 30 minutes. Subsequent training durations can be adjusted based on actual conditions."

Sam: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ