Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Chapter 380: Chapter 36 The Super Long Spear_3

“Just go exchange them,” Winters said.

“Why exchange?” Andre couldn’t help but question, “If they’re just ordinary spears or pikes, how do we form a formation?”

“Such trash soldiers are not worthy of using long pikes,” Jeska’s tone was very bland, as if he was commenting that the weather was quite nice today.

Andre suddenly flared up in anger, and not just Andre; the militia in charge of the arsenal showed annoyance on their faces as well.

“Disagree?” the Lieutenant Colonel looked at Andre, his eyebrows slightly raised, then turned to the militia beside him, “Disagree?”

Andre snorted coldly and looked to the side. The surrounding militiamen all lowered their heads.

After a brief exchange, Winters had a bit of an understanding of Lieutenant Colonel Jeska’s personality:

This officer says whatever is on his mind. Perhaps he has no ill intent, but there is no sound more piercing in this world than the truth.

“You few, take the long pikes and follow me,” the Lieutenant Colonel pointed to a few of the arsenal militiamen. He picked up a long pike himself and led the way out of the arsenal.

Several militiamen stood foolishly in place, not sure what to do.

Andre, frowning, urged them, “Don’t be afraid. Go on, do whatever you’re told to do.”

Centurion Malcolm clenched his teeth, carrying a long pike as he walked out, and other militiamen followed, picking up their pikes.

Eight militiamen stood in a row outside the arsenal, their spear tips pointing to the sky.

“Present arms!” the Lieutenant Colonel commanded.

The militiamen, following the drill taught by the Centurion, competently presented their pikes at an even height with their necks.

The five-meter-long pikes pointed forward neatly, presenting a somewhat imposing sight.@@novelbin@@

“Not bad,” Lieutenant Colonel Jeska remarked. “Not completely untrained.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Lieutenant Colonel also presented his pike in the same posture.

The next second, the veteran with one eye charged straight toward the militiamen’s formation with his pike.

Spear tip passed spear tip, drawing close to each other’s chests, and it looked like blood would be shed any moment, but the Lieutenant Colonel did not flinch or dodge.

Malcolm was startled and hastily retreated.

The Lieutenant Colonel relentlessly pursued, stabbing his pike down ferociously at Malcolm’s throat.

In his panic, the Centurion dropped his pike and dodged this lethal strike. However, a gap appeared in the formation, and the Lieutenant Colonel charged into the bristling wall of pikes.

Ditching his pike as well, the Lieutenant Colonel drew his saber. With his left hand, he grabbed another militiaman’s pike, and with the right hand wielding his blade, he chopped towards him.

The sudden attack left the Wolf Town militiamen bewildered until the saber stopped an inch above his head, and only then did he regain his senses, stumbling several steps backward and falling to the ground.

“In ancient times, dropping a pike in battle wasn’t punishable, but dropping a shield was a capital offense,” the Lieutenant Colonel sheathed his saber and asked calmly, “Do you know why?”

There was silence on the clearing.

No one responded, so Lieutenant Colonel Jeska answered his own question, “Because the pike is used to kill the enemy, while the shield is meant to protect the comrade beside you. Dropping a pike means one less man to fight the enemy, but dropping a shield can break the entire battle line.”

Winters roughly understood what the Lieutenant Colonel was trying to say, and he saw that both Bard and Andre appeared contemplative.

“A long pike formation has no shields, so each of your pikes is a shield for your comrades,” Jeska picked up a long pike again and said coolly to the few militiamen in front of him, “The retreat of a single coward could cause the collapse of the entire phalanx. Only veterans who receive double the military pay deserve to stand at the front with long pikes in hand. You are not worthy yet. Still disagree?”

Not a single militiaman responded, and Malcolm lowered his head in shame.

The Lieutenant Colonel smacked his lips, turned, and tossed the pike to Winters, speaking indifferently, “Once the formation is lost, a long pike is less useful than a dagger. Give them weapons they can use in individual combat; there’s no point in expecting them to fight in formation anyway.”

“Yes, sir,” Winters saluted.

“Oh, and one more thing,” the Lieutenant Colonel turned to leave, then looked back offhandedly and asked, “Why are there so many Dusans listed in the roll call?”

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