Diamond Soldiers
Authors Note:
Today will be the last day that I am making daily posts. Thank you for your long patronage.
From next week, I will do my best by posting twice a week on Tuesday and Friday…, can I do my best …?
I hope that you will continue to look forward to Mia’s success.
Peaceful surrender of government facilities, and the disarmament of town guards without fighting. This was the ideal scenario that was laid out by the revolutionary leaders. Most of the town guards were local residents from that area.
The basic tactical concept is if there is a foreign invasion, the local guards would hold them off buying enough time for the government to send a rapid response force. The fear was that if the town guards were not local residents, they might flee as the tides turn against them. Knowing that they are defending their homes and loved ones, they would surely fight to the bitter end.
However, this system is weak against a popular uprising. When the ones complaining about heavy taxes and famine are their own loved ones, family or neighbors, how can they even raise their sword against them?
They couldn’t. As such, the town guards would probably give up and join the side of the rebels instead. And if they joined the rebels’ side, then it is an additional manpower for the revolution. So, it was ideal to capture them unharmed.
This meant that during the initial uprising, the revolters wished to prevent casualties on both sides. The last thing they wanted was a war of attrition which would be disadvantageous for a local militia compared to a well-supplied national army.
This peaceful surrender is exactly what they were able to achieve. The leaders of the revolution had followed Graham’s instructions and done exactly as they had been told.
“But this plan was premised that heavy taxation would have already exhausted the people…”
Graham bitterly scowled. In the first place, as long as the premise is not there, the plan cannot work as expected. The heavy taxes hadn’t really been felt yet by the people. No one had fallen into poverty, nor lost a family member due to hunger. There is no hatred for the monarchy at the moment. Only minor complaints here and there… It’s just a group of loud protestors who barged into the government offices and camped out. With no blood spilled, their protests held very little gravity.
“… It’s a farce. It’s nothing but a farce.”
According to the report, the atmosphere of the uprising was more like a festival. It would have been nice if they had murdered the messengers from the Kingdom or killed one of the town guards; but none of them had gone to such lengths. Without the fuel of anger and hatred, their passions simply did not burn hot enough to produce the kind of bloody, destructive potential that could overthrow the royal family.
The Remno Kingdom Army, which will be sent for the suppression, will surely either be dismayed or disappointed with this so-called rebel army. He would probably just stroll in and ask them to disband. At this rate, the fire of revolution was hardly going to consume the kingdom. It is about to fail even in this first town.
“But it’s not yet over. There is still a chance to turn this around…”
What he needs is an act of brutality – pure violence – against the rebel army that the general populace would grow in hatred and outrage against the government. Thinking about this led him to remember the events that unfolded in Sealence Forest. It was there that a miracle was performed by the Wisdom of the Empire, Mia Luna Tearmoon.
The dispatched commander was experienced and so he was abstaining from violence. Then Princess Mia arrived at the scene and forced the army to retreat which defused the tensions. In addition, in an act of courage that is not normal for a girl, she marched to Lulu village with a single escort to have a face-to-face negotiation with the chieftain. And after that lies the real miracle. She was able to make everyone happy, nobody was on the losing end. Not the Lulu tribe, not the Viscount, not the Imperial Army. Not even the Rudolvons!
“She won’t be able to pull something like that again…”
Graham’s primary focus now is to make sure that a battle will happen. Anyone who had lost a family member was not going to be easily swayed with just words of comfort. Once that happens, not even the Wisdom of the Empire can turn back the clock and revert everything to normal. This time there would be no miracle. This time, he will not make the same mistake.
This is why Graham is focused on the Diamond Legion. They have more than enough potential to commit a brutal massacre. They are inexperienced and won’t know how to gauge the opponent’s strength, added that this will be their first campaign, they would be hungry for glory and blood. They are the perfect instrument for his scheme.
At the military meeting with the King, Graham spoke confidently.
“Is there anyone who is better than the King’s sword, the Diamond Legion, to deliver justice to these unscrupulous rebels who dare to disrespect the king’s law?”
At Graham’s remarks the military meeting quickly came into an agreement.
“That is wonderful.”
“What a great idea!”
The voice of approval goes up.
“Will your majesty send the Diamond Legion for their maiden campaign against those rebels?”
Nodding satisfactorily, King Remno says…
“Then, Goriall, the leader of the Diamond Legion, I specially command you. Crush those stubborn men who claim to be the Revolutionary Army!”
“By your will, Your Majesty!”
Goriall’s heart soared hearing the command of the King.
“I will make sure to present you with the head of each and every rebel.”
“Then fight well… By the way, Goriall”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
The king waved Goriall to come closer. He approached the king with silent steps, and pausing for permission before leaning in.
“As you know, the Diamond Legion has been trained for ten years. All of you are my precious pride and joy. ”
“I am beyond honored hearing your words, Your Majesty.”
The king’s words make Goriall teary eyed. Knowing the amount of trust that the king has for him and his men moved Goriall deeply. He wanted to prove that they are deserving of the king’s trust when…
“Yes, you are indeed my precious… so… uhm… Goriall, make sure that not a single soldier gets hurt and come back victorious.”
“Yes, Your Majes… Huh! … Huh?”
For a moment, Goriall tilted his head, thinking he misheard the king.
“Make sure not a single soldier is hurt. Scratches and bruises are fine, but make sure there is no serious injuries that will end their career. Even more so, make sure there are no deaths.”
Goriall was stunned by the words of the king. He was unsure on how to respond.
As to why the king made such a demand, it can be understood with a little thought. Suppose that there exists an armor crafted of diamond. It is strong and impenetrable. Its performance would be first class. But would you wear it on the battlefield? Most probably not. Because it is too expensive! You wouldn’t even want to get it scratched in fear that its value might go down.
… To put it bluntly, it is worth more sitting in the vault than being used.
The same logic then applies to a legion of men who have a gigantic body frame. Their immensity is already rare. Add to that all the expenses and the training that has been done for the last ten years. They are already rare, their training made them even more elite. Such was the status of each member of the Diamond Legion.
Now they are sent to supress a local uprising. The king cannot risk losing even a single soldier, whose value is worth more than a thousand gold coins.
Goriall had to do his best to figure out how to defeat all the enemies without damaging the soldiers. He thought and thought but he could not think of a solution. After all, no such thing as a battle without any injury exists.
Author’s Note:
By the way, this Kongo Infantry Corps may think “that’s stupid!”, But in fact, it has a source material.
Although it is the strongest corps that gathers only giants, it is said that the actual battle experience is extremely thin.
But that’s right, it’s a waste.
Former stories, in the first place, kidnap big men and big women, get married and give birth to children, and even do things like mating. I haven’t done it in the Kingdom of Remno because it’s a bit raw to do so, but it’s certainly a waste to easily lose the soldiers raised up to that point on the battlefield.
TN: Yes, there were two Author’s note in this chapter. And it is already a long chapter as it is. So, I thought why not add mine as well at the end.
When I was typing Goriall’s name, it kept on being underlined red. MS Word thinks it should be Gorilla. For now, I have the image of Goriall as a gorilla.
