Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Chapter 445: Chapter 286: Wolf Ears

Su Huan spread his hands, smiling, ”Because I haven’t thought it through, that’s why I came to you.”

He Jie was momentarily stunned and instinctively reached for a cigarette, only to remember after a couple of tries that his wife and daughter had confiscated them. He withdrew his hand reluctantly, ”Just use what’s already available.”

”What do you mean?”

”Didn’t we say only field-grade officers could form squads initially? I think we can drop that restriction now. Still keep the field-grade officer as the center, for example, an armed train Major can have up to a hundred subordinates.”

”Anyway, every soldier now is a registered officer candidate, so you needn’t worry about them becoming private soldiers of officers. Just boldly use them, after Tier One, they can move selectively, yielding the same effect. Previously it was unyieldingly a camp, now it’s unyieldingly an officer.”

It sounds different from pre-apocalypse times or the Steel Council.

But this military system has three advantages.

First, it ensures the train’s direct command over officers and soldiers at all levels.

Second, it ensures command between officers and soldiers at all levels.

Third, it ensures relative independence among officers at all levels.

A bit convoluted, but using the Steel Council as an example makes it easier to understand.

Under Qu Hang there’s a follower, a Tier One ”Trace Expert.” He is only responsible to Qu Hang personally, even if Qu Hang wants him to rebel against the Steel Council, he bears no burden because he’s Qu Hang’s private army.

Whereas Su Huan also took orders from Qu Hang at that time, but he was nominally with the Steel Council, forming a completely different system from the ”Trace Expert.” Even if Su Huan had a higher rank, he couldn’t command him.

Su Huan could refuse unreasonable orders from Qu Hang, but private soldiers and Servant Soldiers do not have this right.

If the same scenario were applied to their envisaged military system.

Both soldiers and officers are part of one system.

All are people of the armed trains.

They would have no systemic barriers, and small-scale personnel movement wouldn’t destroy the unit’s combat strength.

Both of them thought faster than most people; a few words and they understood each other’s points.

Quickly they combined the results of several discussions.

Military ranks underwent subtle adjustments, canceling chaotic terms like reserve and changing to Third-class Soldier, Second-class Soldier, First-class Soldier, Corporal, Sergeant, Senior Sergeant, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Senior Colonel, Brigadier, Major General, Lieutenant General, General, totaling seventeen ranks.

The basic combat group changed to five people, with a non-commissioned officer as the team leader, covering combat duties like fire suppression, perception and reconnaissance, medical gathering, close combat, and mechanical repair.

Each team led by a Lieutenant would have one deputy, who must be two ranks lower than the primary officer.

A Second Lieutenant’s deputy can only be a Corporal or Sergeant, while a Senior Colonel’s deputy can be a Major or Lieutenant Colonel.

The other three subordinates must be three ranks lower than the primary officer.

A Second Lieutenant can lead two basic non-commissioned officer groups outside of their team, totaling fifteen people. With each rank promotion, they can lead one more basic group.

A Captain can lead up to four basic groups, totaling twenty-five people including their team.

Whether executing train-issued tasks or private military activities, if bringing a basic group, officers need to pay a certain amount of points to the train and bear all consumables for the basic group during war on their own.

This effectively limits the size of officers’ units.

To maintain numbers, they need to continuously undertake missions, wage wars.

The same principle applies to other senior officers. Apart from the group they lead, they won’t have additional infantry groups and need to lease from the train if needed. Correspondingly, the number of basic groups they lead increases according to rank.

This leasing is open only to the primary officer.

If Qu Hang becomes He Jie’s deputy, even as a Major, he cannot form additional teams.

Only by leaving He Jie’s command can he form his own team as a primary officer.

”Besides the basic groups, we can also form some communication groups, assault groups...”

Su Huan rubbed his temples, ”Let’s finish the basics first, we can talk about the rest later, and it’s uncertain how long this system can last...”

He Jie was at a loss.

Since the armed train set off, it has revised countless systems along the way.

Every seemingly perfect system would exhibit various issues in actual operation.

”Let’s go with this for now, by the way, do we start the strength criteria now?”

He Jie asked.

”Strength is a hard standard. Tier One Lieutenants, Tier Two to Tier Three Field Officers, Tier Four Generals, this line must be strict. Currently, if one’s rank exceeds their strength, hold off and promote them once their strength is caught up. When the train’s overall strength gets there, Tier One Evolvers take non-commissioned officer roles, Tier Two Lieutenants, Tier Three Field Officers, and Tier Four Generals—that’s the ideal standard.”

Su Huan said calmly.

Seeing that the train leader has a plan in mind, He Jie nodded slightly.

”Do you have any requests regarding the groupings?”

”Ensure the capability match between primary and deputy officers. Your last arrangement was quite good, but this time there are more people to consider. Once you have it figured out, give me the list.”

Su Huan stood up and stretched, his bones cracking like exploding beans.

”Include Yu Yue and her group as well.”

”Understood.”

Watching Su Huan slowly walk away, a flash of emotion crossed He Jie’s eyes.

A few months ago, Su Huan was just a madman imposing his will. Now, he has evolved into a leader with a powerful will.

The difference between the two is often just a thin line.

If Su Huan were only ruthless, he wouldn’t be different from ordinary Evolvers.