Castle of Black Iron

“It’s some genuine figures that pushed me to add the two training programs in the no. 1 battalion!” Zhang Tie explained it to Xing Xiangtian and the other battalion commanders seriously.

“In the first large-scale air combat between human knights and demon knights, 57% of the air cavalries of Taixia Country were killed by wing demons in the sky after they jumped off their planes…”

“However, on the battlefield, 96% of air cavalries fought wing demons between 3,000 m and 7,000 m in the air. During this height range, it would take an air cavalry at least 50 seconds to stay in the air since he ejected out of the cockpit. Most of them would stay in the air for longer than 2 minutes. However, after jumping off their airplanes for 1 minute which was the time of Death God for air cavalries, over 90% of them would be killed by wing demons. During this period, air cavalries would be naked targets of wing demons when they could only wait for death…”

“By reducing the period that air cavalries stay in the air after jumping off their airplanes, we could spare less time for wing demons to attack our air cavalries. As our planes could move faster than wing demons, even damaged airplanes which couldn’t be normally manipulated would also fall rapidly and be barely caught up by wing demons!”

“Therefore, after planes are damaged by wing demons, as long as air cavalries could jump off their planes properly between 200 m and 400 m, they would have a greater chance to survive after jumping off!”

“I’ve made a calculation. As long as our cavalries are familiar with low altitude and super low altitude parachuting skills between 200 m and 400 m and limit the period that they stay in the sky to 20 seconds, fewer than 30% of them would be killed by wing demons after jumping off their planes. In order to meet this target and survive more fighters, I felt that it was necessary for us to strengthen fighters’ parachute skills in low altitude and super low altitude when in danger. Therefore, I carried out such training programs in my battalion…”

Zhang Tie explained it to them calmly.

Xing Xiangtian watched Zhang Tie with a sigh, “It’s a nice opinion. However, you’re too audacious. If someone wants to find you trouble, they could blame you for suspecting the training pattern of air cavalries in the pilot academies in Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory and the theater of operations. That would be big trouble and ruin your prospect!”

How could a tiny air cavalry battalion commander find Weiji General trouble and question the absolute authority of air cavalries of Taixia Country? It was a taboo wherever it was. Xing Xiangtian the regimental commander of no. 41 air cavalry regiment was warning Zhang Tie slightly.

“It’s said that the teaching material and training guidelines in the pilot academies in Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory and the Western Theater of Operations was compiled by General Mushen. As the first human air cavalry, his experience and ability in air fight are unquestionable. However, he also has loopholes. Because Zhang Mushen had not been brought down by wing demons in Selnes Theater of Operations, his experience in emergencies is different than that facing most of the fighters. This leads to some loopholes in training guidelines!” Zhang Tie explained as he threw a glance at the others at present. After hearing Zhang Tie’s words, all the people at present were shocked by his “audacity”. However, Zhang Tie had not finished his words, “I’m not questioning General Mushen’s training ideas, neither am I finding him trouble. As human air cavalry is a wholly new armed service, the relevant training and tactic exploration are a long-term, changing process that constantly adapts to war requirements. It’s not gonna be improved in all aspects within a short period by one person. Many problems could only be discovered and solved through combats. We should seek truth from facts. Zhang Mushen is a knight; instead of a deity. Therefore, he would also make mistakes and have loopholes. He alone couldn’t fully predict all the changes on the battlefield in the future. He just introduced this armed service for us. We shouldn’t entrust all of our hope to him…” Zhang Tie added after being hesitant, “If one day Zhang Mushen is dead, would the air cavalries’ development be stagnated?”

“It’s enough…” Xing Xiangtian reproached Zhang Tie loudly while all the other officers in the conference room had changed their face.

The entire conference room instantly deteriorated to embarrassingly and icily silence.

Not until 2 minutes later did Xing Xiangtian recover his composure by taking a deep breath for a few times and say, “As you’ve already read the notice that was delivered by the headquarters. I believe that the powers of Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory and the Western Theater of Operations have already paid attention to the problems facing the first combat between us and wing demons and are trying their utmost efforts to solve them. Thankfully, they’ve already got the solutions. It’s a good news. We all should have confidence in the headquarters and our air cavalry training system. Therefore, from today on, those battalions of the no. 46 air cavalry regiment could carry out distinctive training programs according to their own situation. The regimental headquarters would also support you on materials and logistics services…” Xing Xiangtian threw a glance at those battalion chiefs as he said, “The training that the no. 1 battalion carried out was a beneficial exploration. Their general orientation is right. However, we’d better not spread the news that the no. 1 battalion has started such similar training programs 1 month ago to the public. As Zhang Tie is a new battalion commander, it’s not bad for him to have good thoughts. However, It’s not necessary for us to expose it to the public…”

Only after being silent for a short while, those battalion commanders had already got the meaning of the regimental commander as they all nodded. The regimental commander was not suppressing Zhang Tie’s deed, but protecting it. Although Zhang Tie was talented, he was too impulsive and hard-edged. Given his temperament, if he was exposed to the public, what he said just now could completely ruin his prospect or even kill him in the sky if someone else disliked him. Even a lot of human knights had fought to death in the theater of operations, not to mention a LV 9 battalion commander; especially in the holy war.

Zhang Tie maintained a glassy-eyed look as he revealed a bitter smile inside about Xing Xiangtian’s consideration.

“Okay, adjournment…”

After glancing at Zhang Tie’s face, all the other battalion commanders stood up and exited the conference room.

“Zhang Tie, wait a minute…” Xing Xiangtian stopped Zhang Tie as he peered at the later’s ordinary face solemnly.

Not until the other battalion commanders left the office did Xing Xiangtian open his mouth, “Besides low altitude and super low altitude jump training, it’s said that your battalion is undergoing other training programs.”

“Yes, the no. 1 battalion is exploring a new tactic!”

“What tactic?”

“I call it air wolf pack tactic…”

“Air wolf pack tactic?” Xing Xiangtian smacked his lip without making any comment, “Your prospect is never limited to the no. 46 air cavalry regiment. It’s good for young men like you to be hard-edged; however, don’t be blind by that. Otherwise, your prospect might be declined. As you’re wise, you should understand what I mean…”

“Thanks for your advice, regimental commander!” Zhang Tie gave a salute to Xing Xiangtian.

“Hmm, you can leave now. There’re a bit more injured ones in the no. 1 battalion recently. You’d better properly control your training rhythm…”

“Yes, sir!”

Zhang Tie left Xing Xiangtian’s office, then the building of the regimental headquarters. Stone was still waiting for him in the car. Not until Zhang Tie got on the vehicle did he reveal a bitter smile and shake his head.

Nobody else knew what Zhang Tie was feeling at this moment.

“Battalion commander, you’ve finished your conference?”

“Yup, let’s go back to the camp…”

“Yes, sir…”

Stone opened the door and jumped off the vehicle. Closely after that, he started the vehicle using his manual crank handle rapidly. Then, he drove toward the camp of no. 1 battalion.

In the following week, all the battalions in the no. 46 air cavalry regiment started their low altitude and super low altitude jump training programs.

Although Xing Xiangtian prevented those battalion commanders from exposing the news that no. 1 battalion had already executed the special training programs 1 month ago to the public, the phrase time of Death God that Zhang Tie concluded in that conference instantly spread over the no. 46 air cavalry regiment.

The so-called time of Death God referred to the 1 minute before air cavalries fell onto the ground after jumping off their plane. This phrase was too vivid and profound that everybody who heard it would bear it in mind.

The target of low altitude and super low altitude parachute training programs was to avoid from the time of Death God.

In this world, there weren’t idiots, not to mention those who sought for death on the battlefield. If they could win the time of Death God, of course, they would try their utmost efforts. In this case, all the members across the no. 46 air cavalry regiment were at full blaze and in high morale…

It soon came to December when it turned colder. When Zhang Tie wondered when would he encounter wing demons in the sky again, that day finally arrived…

At noon of December 3rd, the shrill battle alarms suddenly reverberated across the camps of no. 46 air cavalry regiment when the fighters of the no. 1 battalion were having lunch in the canteen…