Herald of Steel



Alexander's reason for wanting the nobles to also complete the training the infantry took as simple.

Because he believed everyone should undergo basic training, no matter if you fought on two legs, or four.

And which was something all modern armies practiced too.

No matter the service branch you wished to join, everyone was required to jump, hop, swim, and crawl through the mud all the same, even if you went on to become a fighter jet pilot who would only leave the air conditioning on the way from the briefing room to the aircraft.

And this was something that Alexander tried to explain, first saying,

"I know that's what all you want to say,"

"That you already know everything. That you have fought in battle and lived. That doing these tedious tasks would be nothing but a chore for you."

"But I also know that you do not have a standardized way of training." He paused a bit,

"I know that each of you train using your own method. Which might be fine, no problem."

Alexander said understandingly,

"But that is not what the Zanzan army needs."

"It does not need powerful warriors who fight for only his own glory. But obedient and organized soldiers who work as a team!" Alexander revealed his requirement, saying,

"That is why I intend to standardize the army, its practices, its tactics so that every soldier possesses a fixed set of skills and abilities."

"In that way, all the individual soldiers can work closer together and support each other with greater coherence!"

"And for that, I want all those who wish to join the army first to undergo the basic training program."

"It is not only there to teach the soldiers how to swing a sword or use a shield, but also to teach how the army works as a whole, how the regular soldiers operate, learn what they say, and even develop some kind of camaraderie with them."

Alexander in his long speech listed all the reasons for his demand, as then, before others could bring more objections, quickly said in a negotiating tone,

"If you have a problem even with this, then start training first. Spend one or two weeks and see the differences for yourself. Then if you really think it is everything is reductant, we can discuss further."

And seeing Alexander's firm stance as well as hearing his promise, the nobles were finally convinced to shelve the matter for the time.

Though Alexander in reality had no intention of changing anything.

These nobles might be good warriors, but Alexander believed they lacked stamina, making them ill-suited to bear the harsh conditions of the Zanzan army.

Particularly its per-day marching target.

Alexander believed even if these nobles were to try and complete in on horseback, they would still be tired, and if repeated over and over again, the constant exertion would eventually burn them out.

So Alexander wished to use the infantry training program to remind many of them of the required fitness for the army.

But the results of these programs were to be seen in the future,

And as for now, with this penultimate issue settled, at last, arose the question Alexander was most concerned about, which was regarding the post the nobility and their scions would get when they joined the army.

Normally, even the lowest would join as officers like captains leading a whole phalanx unit.

While in reality, it was more common for them to join being in charge of three to four phalanx units.

And sometimes, they would even join directly as part of the leading noble's council, having no official title, but wielding much power due to their background.

But Alexander could never agree to this tradition.

Not only due to the weakness and fragility of incompetence, it would introduce into his army, but also due to the fact if he did do so, the problems here would be much more compounded.

This was because the size of Alexander's army units under a captain was much bigger than the equivalent phalanx unit, being composed of 600 men units called battalion

Furthermore, the legionary formation was nothing as rigid and one-minded as the phalanx formation, where you could install an idiot at the head and simply point him forward, and all he would need to do was make sure the soldiers walked straight and did not run away.

No, the legionary formation's greatest strength was its flexibility, being able to respond to a myriad of threats.

But its greatest strength could also become its biggest liability at the hands of an incompetent commander as he would have much more ways to screw up.

So Alexander knew he had to break this cursed tradition of automatically getting a post based on one's father's name.

"Every new recruit who joins the army as infantry with no prior battle experience will start as a basic legionary, fighting in the front line with seven of his brothers next to him in the row….regardless of his background." So he firmly declared.

And this got a rise of the nobles as he had expected.

"What!"

"Expose our sons to the frontlines!"

"Lord Alexander, this joke is not funny!"

"Fight alongside peasants! How!"

"Our son's safety! Who will guarantee it!"

Each of the nobles exclamied.

And though these shouts were loud and boisterous, if not for the fact that Alexander was their boss and they were nobles required by etiquette to hold their tongues in the open, the cries would have been much more colorful.

Alexander for this part, hearing each of the noble's concerns, could not help but sneer angrily at them for disparaging the soldiers, the very people who fought and died for them.

"First of all, they will be soldiers you and your sons will be fighting next to. Professionals who are paid to do so and only so. They will not be peasants."

Alexander very cooly replied to the aggrieved group, and then his voice turned snarky, as he almost snarled,

"And what exactly are you crying about? You are going to join the army. You are going to war. You are going to kill people. And then you are going to take their lands, their women, and their possessions!"

"So if you are going to do that, why are afraid of dying!"

His octaves rose for each question until it was booming, and thundering.

And as the noble attempted to recover from his scathing attack, Alexander quickly added in a deadpan tone,

"If you do not want to join the army, no one is forcing you. You can leave and I will not judge you."

"But if you are gonna join, if you want to fight for honor, glory, riches, and lands, then you better be ready to put your life on the line."

"..." And as Alexander made his position on the matter clear, the other nobles found nothing more to say.

It was Alexander's army, and whether he would let them in was entirely up to him.

So many became stoic, some went quiet and some pursed their lips, each noble swimming in their own thoughts.

Some accepted Alexander's proposal, some rejected it, and some even vowed to make things difficult for Alexander in other ways.

"Good," But those did not seem to concern Alexander for the moment, as he uttered the word with a nod after hearing no objections, before saying,

"Now, as I was saying before you interrupted me, all new infantry recruits will join the rank and file, and fight in the frontlines."

"But if you are worried about your son's safety, you can send a team of bodyguards, to be in his squad. You could even send seven of them so that everyone in that row will be working to protect your son. (each row is made of 8 soldiers)."

"That is the best concession I'm willing to make for you. Even my son will be the same."

"Do you still disagree?"

In very much contrast with his previous booming voice, Alexander's current tone was soft and soothing, as if he was trying to lull a child.

And hearing this concession, as well as the fact Alexander would be putting his own to-be-had child in the same boat, many nobles slowly or slightly nodded.

They were not exactly happy over the deal, as in a battlefield, no amount of bodyguards could ever be enough, much less seven,

After all, even generals who were supposedly protected by the entire army could be killed.

But even still it was a reasonable arrangement.

And worked to relieve the acrimony of the nobles.

"That is acceptable to us," So Jamider (Earl) Tikba said on behalf of everybody else.

"Mmmm," Hearing which Alexander hummed, after which he continued,

"Also what I said was only for new recruits, People who have never participated in battles."

"As for those who have, who have experienced the crucible of a real battlefield, if they are nobles, after finishing their basic training, they will be allowed to join directly as a sergeant, leading 100 men."

And this clarification further helped make the noble be a lot more receptive to Alexander's policies, with some shrewd ones even thinking of sending their sons on some small skirmishing missions and presenting it as they had been to war.

But Alexander was not bothered by these curved paths, as such opportunities were far and between.

Instead, he was more pleased at having achieved this milestone.

And so with these pivotal decisions made, Alexander's week with the noles finally came to an end, a successful one if he said so himself.