Lord of Rot

’First, we have too few soldiers. Three hundred men against two thousand was the absolute limit. And that was considering the enemy was terrified, their morale shattered, and their formation broken. If the monkey soldiers had actually made a suicidal, all-out charge, the outcome would have been anyone’s guess.’

’Second, the basic quality of the soldiers is poor.’

’They can be taught to fire flintlocks, but they’re just shooters trained on short notice. They have little close-combat capability. They just close their eyes and fire in a volley; whether they hit anything isn’t important.’

’But in close-quarters combat, a single monkey soldier could definitely take on two or three of ours.’

’Luckily, the monkey soldiers were intimidated by our superior equipment and armor, mistaking us for an elite force. Little did they know that just days before the battle, these soldiers were cutting grass with sickles.’

’Third, the monkey soldiers on the battlefield figured out how to counter flintlock volleys almost immediately. Once word of the battle of Longship Castle gets out, other lords will definitely take notice of flintlocks.’

’In future wars, there will undoubtedly be tactics designed to counter them. Relying on flintlocks as a core weapon is therefore not a viable long-term strategy.’

’Trying to bring science into a world of Magic is a bit like getting one’s priorities backward.’

’With my nine-year compulsory education, it’s not like I can develop any advanced weaponry anyway. So for me, firearms are just a surprise tactic, a support tool. What really needs improving is the fundamental quality of the soldiers.’

’If I could field a thousand-man army of Extraordinary Soldiers, things like cannons and flintlocks would be completely useless!’

’If I had a thousand-man legion of legendary warriors, I’d dare to conquer this planet and expand into space. I’d even check if there’s an elven Chang’e and a magical beast Moon Rabbit on the moon.’

Lacy’s selection method was simple and direct.

He brought over a hundred Porcupine Soldiers.

Each group was assigned six to nine slave boys.

A single Soldier was responsible for managing and selecting from each group.

No standard was set; passing was entirely up to the judgment of the Soldier in charge of selection. However, if the chosen recruits were too subpar, the veteran would be punished.

These men were neither friends nor family, so of course, the veterans wouldn’t willingly take punishment for the sake of some slaves.

After the whistle blew, the hundred groups separated, forming small circles.

Lacy turned his head to look at the young soldier closest to him, Rob.

Rob was the Lord’s squire and very diligent in his work.

Aside from not being particularly strong physically, his learning ability was excellent, and his combat skills were quite outstanding.

This time, Rob was in charge of selecting from six slave boys.

”You, first!” Rob said, pointing at one of the slave boys.

The first slave boy to be singled out took a deep breath.

”AHH—!” he yelled as he charged at Rob, raising his right fist the moment he started running, shouting all the while.

Rob stood his ground, unmoving. Only when the slave boy charged right up to him with a raised fist did he suddenly step out with his right foot, blocking the boy’s path. At the same time, he reached out, grabbed the boy’s raised arm, and twisted it sharply.

The slave boy fell flat on his face, sprawling on the ground.

”Again!” Rob beckoned to the slave boy, telling him to get up and keep fighting.

The boy scrambled up, wiped the dirt from his mouth with his hand, and with another loud ”AHH!”, lunged at Rob again.

The result was predictable. He was thrown heavily to the ground once more.

After being thrown seven or eight consecutive times, the slave boy lay on the ground, unable to get up.

Rob didn’t even look at him, instead pointing to the second slave boy. ”You’re up!”

This slave boy was completely different from the first. He was shorter but very sturdy—a stocky type.

He cautiously approached Rob, then suddenly bent low, spreading his arms to try and wrap them around Rob’s waist.

Rob reacted instantly, sidestepping to dodge.

Then, he placed a hand on the boy’s back and gave him a push. The boy’s forward momentum, combined with the shove, sent him sprawling to the ground.

Without needing a reminder from Rob, the stocky slave boy got back up. He dusted off his pant legs, turned, and charged at Rob again.

Unfortunately, after several consecutive attempts, he couldn’t even touch Rob and only ended up covered in bruises from being thrown.

Then the third, the fourth...

Lacy watched from the side, nodding to himself in approval.

’Rob has earned my deep admiration for his combat skills and diligence.’

’In contrast, the other Soldiers aren’t nearly as serious as Rob.’

For instance, a veteran in the distance, who seemed to be a senior soldier from Lieder’s time.

He was squatting in the shade of a tree to cool off, casually ordering eight slave boys to beat each other up.

”Haha, get him in the balls! Yeah, just like that!”

”Kick his ass, you idiot!”

”The nose, use your elbow on his nose! Beautiful!”

The old soldier was gesticulating excitedly, as if he were watching a brutal gladiatorial match between wild beasts.

The eight slave boys had varying degrees of injuries, but every one of them gritted their teeth and endured, fighting for the final victory.

Lacy turned his head again.

’Every Soldier has their own selection criteria. I have no intention of interfering.’

’As long as they can pick out suitable soldiers, nothing else matters.’

Even after following Leech for some time, in Lacy’s eyes, slaves were just slaves. He believed it was a worthy trade to exchange the injury or death of several slaves for one excellent Soldier.

’Unfortunately, the Lord specifically emphasized that no deaths or permanent disabilities are allowed.’

’Those who can’t become Soldiers will go back to farming. Every slave was bought with money and has to be kept alive.’

Lacy fixed his gaze on the group where the scrawny, skin-and-bones slave boy was.