Reich Marshal of the Belkan Reich

RM Vol 4: War – Interlude: Return to the Old Ways?

GALLOP GALLOP

Under the cheers of the spectating Long Dynasty soldiers, Emperor Cao Long expertly controls his war horse to maneuver treacherous terrains and dangerous mobile obstacles. There exists a confident smile, one that is borderline arrogant on the Emperor's face as he breezes through the challenges. However, can anyone blame him for immersing himself in a nostalgic experience?

The war horse acting as Cao Long's steed is the finest the Chinese Emperor has ever controlled in his two lifetimes. This horse is, Cao Long noted, leagues beyond even the famous mounts of his adversaries from an age long gone. None of the famous mounts he knows of have such bountiful stamina, such impressive strides, and such swift agility, even with all the equipment it's carrying. Yet, as powerful and confident as the horse is, it remains docile to every single command of Cao Long, allowing the Emperor to navigate the proving ground with exceptional ease. Jumping over a pike pit and blazing through burning bushes, the Emperor and his war horse perform feats that exhilarate the soldiers by the spectator stand. Earlier, some voiced concerns for the Emperor in doing these stunts, but who dared to stop Cao Long from being selfish for once? Other than some superficial cosmetic damage on the horse's bullet-resistant bard, Cao Long and his steed rush through the treacherous trial area at a pace unmatched in cavalry riding history.

Basking under the jovial encouragement of the spectator, a fact that has Cao Long reminiscing about the golden era in his first life, the Chinese Emperor proceeds to the next section of the proving ground. Unlike the segment before which is a pure mobility and endurance test, this next section contains dummy targets for Cao Long to conduct what can only be called Cavalry Gunnery. Much like the old horse archery art, Cavalry Gunnery is a specific battle skill that was recently developed by the Long Dynasty for a specific subset of military units. Living up to its name, Cavalry Gunnery involves using modern firearms and equipment to engage distance targets. In this particular trial, Cao Long has one hand on the reign of his war horse, while another pulls out a C96E machine pistol. The Emperor's targets? A set of metal dummies, spread along Cao Long's path of advance to simulate a blitz through varying battlefield conditions.

Instead of wasting his limited magazine on full-auto bursts, Cao Long opts to conserve by firing his pistol on semi, prioritizing targets that theoretically could impose the most threats on him and his horse. These hypothetical enemies are steel targets on high ground or are directly blocking Cao Long's path forward. Jumping, ducking, and weaving with his horse as they navigate the complex faux battlezone, Cao Long systematically dismantles 'hostile' threats using accurate pistol fire. Pulling on his ingrained superb spatial awareness, the Long Dynasty Emperor puts even the best riders of his Army to shame. Each of Cao Long's kills is marked by the colored powder on the steel targets bursting, further bolstering the score that is already high due to the impressive time and progress the Emperor has made.

After jumping over a set of spiked fences and thus finishing his run in the mock battle zone, Cao Long then rides with his steed through an open plain to deal with the 'final boss' of this trial run. Holstering his now empty C96, Cao Long reaches with his right hand to the bandolier wraps on the croupiere of his steed. There, Cao Long pulls forward a dirt yellow tube with a pointed head. Holding it up, it's revealed that the tube is none other than the Long Dynasty's design of a disposable Panzerfaust. Unsurprisingly, with how widespread the Belkan language is in China nowadays, the Long Dynasty's military ultimately adopted the unoriginal name of Panzerfaust for their disposable anti-tank weapon. Much like the Belkan Panzerfaust, the Chinese Panzerfaust is a light recoilless launcher tube outfitted with a single pre-loaded high-explosive anti-tank warhead protruding from the muzzle. It's an inexpensive, easy-to-use anti-tank weapon for the common infantryman, and is issued as a single unit of ammunition meant to be operated by a single soldier. However, unlike the more modern Belkan Panzerfaust with an ergonomic design, an optic, and a pistol grip, the Chinese equivalent is a literal steel tube with a bomb on one end.

The Chinese Panzerfaust does not have the usual trigger. It has a pedal-like lever near the projectile that ignites the propellant when squeezed. To prevent accidental discharge, a rugged pin, not dissimilar to that on a grenade, is employed as a safety mechanism. Aiming is achievable via a simple folding rear sight, with range increments running up to 150 meters, the maximum effective range of this single-use weapon. Notably, the edge of the edge of the warhead is used as the front sight. The oversized warhead, 106 mm in diameter, is fitted into the front of the tube by an attached wooden tail stem with metal stabilizing fins. Once fired, the warhead is launched at a speed of 85 meters per second and is capable of defeating around 300 millimeters of armor. When used against tanks, this Chinese weapon has an impressive beyond-armor effect, producing massive spalling that kills or injures the crew, due to burns and shrapnel, and destroyed equipment. The relatively short effective range of the Chinese Panzerfaust is seen as an acceptable trade-off for its capability to achieve a sure-kill on anything it hits. Better yet, the simplicity of the design means that the weapon can be produced en masse and easily used by anyone with minimal training. All it takes is some degree of personal courage and voila, one dead enemy tank. After emptying the warhead, the tube is then promptly discarded. Due to the shape and nature of the Panzerfaust, the Chinese have nicknamed it 'the Club'.

In Cao Long's opinion, the worth of the Panzerfaust outweighs that of the new Panzer III/IV Main Battle Tanks that are being outfitted into some frontline Divisions. This is due to the sheer number of Panzerfaust that can be produced each day. Its ease of use means that irregular soldiers can be a force to be reckoned with, owing to its destructiveness in close-quarter combat. It's a perfect tool to be employed in a future defensive war against a potentially tricky enemy that is the Japanese.

Nevertheless, this is no time to strategize. Cao Long focuses himself on the incoming 'final boss', which is nothing more than a decommissioned Panzer I that has seen better days. The Panzer wreck is to Cao Long's left, and since the Emperor can't deviate from a fixed path on this section of the trial, he will have to run parallel to the target to get the Panzerfaust in effective range. Holding the Panzerfaust firmly in his hands, Cao Long removes the safety pin before tucking the tube under his arm. Trusting that his steed can maintain a stable gallop, Cao Long twists his upper body to the left. He then aims by aligning the target, the sight, and the top of the warhead. Even at a distance of around 100 meters, the Panzer I's broadside is still a small target, making it hard to hit on a moving platform that is Cao Long's horse. However, the Chinese Emperor takes to the challenge with an eagerness akin to that of young, sprying young men who are about to face the entire world.

It's nigh impossible to keep the Panzerfaust as stable as a rock in Cao Long's current condition. Still, there exists a certain lull in between the rhythm generated by the Emperor's war horse. It's that specific lull in between everything that Cao Long instinctively grasps and utilizes, seizing the moment to fire the Panzerfaust. With whoosh, the Panzerfaust's warhead, as if guided by the divine, accurately strikes the Panzer I in the middle. The subsequent explosion marks a perfect kill from the exceptional Chinese Emperor, who has promptly raised his empty weapon tube toward the spectator stand in a victory salute. The Chinese present goes wild in cheers and even the Belkan advisory committee can't stop themselves from doing a standing ovation for such a feat well executed from the Dynasty Emperor.

Discarding the tube, Cao Long then proceeds to finish the rest of the trial at speed. One of the challenges involves the use of throwing sticky bombs onto faux enemy vehicles. A higher score is achieved when the sticky bombs are thrown and successfully attached to weak points, painted in yellow. Suffice to say, Cao Long blitzes through everything energetically. The moment the Emperor laughs so jovially on horseback, with smoking targets behind him, deserves a picture. Cao Long will return at the end of today, being an even happier man as a Belkan advisor successfully framed the scene perfectly before presenting the picture to Cao Long as a gift.

Before that, however, the Chinese Emperor convenes with his entourage and the Belkan advisory delegation by the spectator stand. Still wearing his slightly modified Army General attire, Emperor Cao Long laughs as he says.

"Never before have I been so amazed by the performance of a mount! Milady Aria Kemper, are you sure you didn't supply us with divine war horses?"

Hearing the lavish praise, the Nekomata and fiancee of a certain Lieutenant on a train chuckle humbly.

"I am flattered to hear that my horses received the Emperor's approval. However, I can guarantee that our horses are raised with quite mundane methods, Your Majesty. Albeit we do have some additional advantages going for us, namely that we raise the steeds with love, dedication, and modern techniques. Come Hell or highwater, the horses will stop at nothing but excellence to bring their riders the victory they seek... As long as the riders treasure and understand their current partners, of course. That said, it comes to me as a shock that Your Majesty partnered up so well with Sunset. After all, Sunset is perhaps the most powerful horse out of all the horses we delivered to China. He does listen well to command, but even hardened riders struggle to keep up with the capability of Sunset. It appears that Sunset has found his destined rider in your truly, Your Majesty."

Cao Long smiles, nodding as he gazes down the stand to see his steed, a dark brown horse with a flowing red mane.

"That seems to be the case, ain't it. I admit, I have a period of time where I ride up the mountains and woods for hunts. Yet none of the horses back then resonated with me as well as Sunset... Speaking of that, why the name Sunset, good lady?"

Aria explains simply. "It's because Sunset is the only one to endure a full-speed sprint from dawn to dusk. Sunset's endurance is uncanny, even among his peers of war horses."

"A fitting name." Cao Long nods, finding the name also fits the appearance of his steed. "I just hope the boys don't mind that Sunset will be my personal mount from here on out."

Aria giggles. "I highly doubt any of the riders will protest that decision, Your Majesty. They will even be glad that such a mighty horse has found its most suitable partner, which is the Emperor himself."

"Well said." Cao Long smirks. "But let's talk business. Given the quality of the horses we have thus far, how confident is your ranch to supply us with more?"

Aria nods professionally, her business dress giving her a youthful professionalism.

"We are rightfully confident, Your Majesty. Since the Long Dynasty is now our sole buyer, my family ranch will only present you with the best of the best. We have horses for whatever task the Dynasty requires as well. However, to have if I may suggest something, Your Majesty?"

"Go ahead, Lady Kemper." Cao Long gestures his hand as he gives the Nekomata his undivided attention.

"If possible, we would like the Dynasty to endorse us on opening a branch of the horse ranch in China, preferably somewhere with good grass plains. This is to aid us in raising and supplying horses faster to the Dynasty since we don't have to deliver them as far. With this branch, my family can also spread our rearing methods far and wide for the locals to follow suit. This will allow China to have a healthy inventory of good horses, rather than just buying from us which may not be as sustainable."

Cao Long raises an eyebrow in mild surprise.

"I can endorse your family. However, if you do as you say, don't you fear it will cut into your monopoly?"

Aria answers directly. "Troubling times are ahead, Your Majesty. What use is some meager profit over the friendship of our two nations?"

Cao Long barks out a hearty laugh. "Well said! Well said! You Belkans are making me admire you more and more! Good, then let's do as you said! However, let it be known that the Dynasty will prioritize procuring good horses from your ranch first and foremost. Let it be known that the Chinese people treat their benefactors well!"

Aria bows, her two tails swinging in barely contained happiness behind her.

"Many thanks, Your Majesty."

To iron out the details of this new endeavor between the Belkan Reich and the Long Dynasty, Cao Long and Aria call in knowledgeable members of their respective retinue for aid.

In a time period where planes and tanks are now the dominance forces on the battlefield, what use are horseback riders, one may ask? Nowadays, old-fashioned cavalry retains only a bare minimum of usefulness in most battlezones. However, China is much, much different than most. The Long Dynasty is a nation where their land territory is large with varying terrains. Their standing Army, modernized as they may be, isn't mobile or flexible enough to cover all of the colorful lands of China. It has to be noted that even with their heavy industries working overtime and the constant streams of Belkan surplus, the Dynasty Army is still somewhat lacking in motorized and armored vehicles. That's why Cao Long turned to horses to fill in the gaps, using them for logistics and combat purposes, depending on the quality and strength of the horses. When the Chinese Emperor first came up with this thought, ONI swiftly learned of it and connected Kemper's ranch to the Dynasty. This act was not just a favor to the Chinese but also a reward to Lieutenant Adam Kemper for his feat of valor.

Nowadays, the Kemper family is the primary supplier for Cao Long's ambition of an elite, non-conventional, and special warfare unit consisting of Cavalry Gunners. While the standing Dynasty Army will keep the Japanese locked in frontal engagement, the Cavalry Gunners are prospected to conduct irregular warfare to throw the Japanese into chaos. In short, the Cavalry Gunners are the Chinese's first attempt at a Special Force unit, formed with suggestions from the Belkan Reich advisors. Of course, there are many other modifications, both big and small to the current Long Dynasty military, over the years. However, it's unknown how effective the current Dynasty military will be against the Japanese war machine, modernized by Vill-V. Both nations are now in a full arms race against one another, with ONI knowing that, technologically, the Japanese are a step ahead of the Chinese. Nevertheless, technology alone is not necessarily the singular answer in the course of warfare, as evidenced by the myriad of ways the Belkan Reich has conducted their wars.