NoveLight ™
The formation of the Red Dragon Corps progressed swiftly.
With Gerhardt's promotion to Grand Marshal, he relinquished his position as commander of the 10th Corps. Instead of disbanding or reorganizing the corps, which now numbered only about 6,000 men, including those recovering from injuries, he decided to integrate them into the Red Dragon Corps.
“How did you manage to persuade them?”
“When they heard you’d be the commander, they simply nodded their heads.”
Curious about this surprising news, I visited Gerhardt, who greeted me with a hearty laugh, holding his marshal’s baton.
“...And in reality?”
“I knew you wouldn’t believe me. The fact that it’s the Emperor’s personal corps was persuasive enough. The officers only cared that their positions would remain intact.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me. Frankly, you leading them gives me the most confidence.”
Finding highly trained soldiers like those in the 10th Corps was no small feat, and I expressed my sincere gratitude.
As a result, the Red Dragon Corps was composed of:
For a total of 9,947 soldiers.
Though relatively small for a corps, it was more than sufficient to change the tide of war.
After completing all formalities, including the official appointment ceremony over several days, I convened the officers of the Red Dragon Corps.
---
The assembly of the Red Dragon Corps' officers had reached a pivotal moment. The skepticism lingering in the air had been shattered by the raw power of the musket demonstration.
“All officers have arrived,” Aleksandrov, the deputy commander, reported.
“Good,” Viktor replied, scanning the gathered officers in the tent.
The officers were a mix of the 1st Provisional Corps and the recently integrated members of the 10th Corps. While only half of the 10th Corps’ officers had joined, they still outnumbered those from the 1st Provisional Corps. Clad in their original uniforms, the officers instinctively grouped themselves by their former affiliations, exchanging wary glances across the tent. Viktor himself stood at the center, wearing the traditional Imperial officer’s dress uniform.
“I’ve gathered you here today to discuss the future direction of our Red Dragon Corps. I am Viktor, appointed as its commander,” he began, his voice steady and commanding.
The room fell silent as Viktor continued. “I would like each of you to step forward and introduce yourselves with your rank and name.”
With a subtle nod, Viktor signaled Aleksandrov to start. Though hesitant, the deputy commander stepped forward.
“Aleksandrov Kalichin, deputy commander.”
One by one, the officers followed suit.
“Klaus Schultz, commander of the 1st Infantry Regiment.”
The 1st Infantry Regiment consisted of soldiers from the 10th Corps—a gesture of respect to its well-trained soldiers. The remaining troops from the 1st Provisional Corps formed the 2nd Infantry Regiment. Viktor had personally persuaded them to accept this arrangement, ensuring a smooth transition.
“Boris, commander of the 2nd Infantry Regiment.”
“Henrik Rauch, commander of the Cavalry Regiment,” announced the former cavalry leader of the 10th Corps.
The introductions continued, with each officer stating their name and role.
Once everyone had spoken, Viktor addressed them again. “As members of the Red Dragon Corps, we serve directly under Her Majesty, Empress Luise Zainburg. Our duty is to embody her will in battle and strategic missions.”
He paused briefly, ensuring all eyes were on him.
“Our corps will operate differently from others. As a direct unit of the Emperor, we carry a unique identity. Her Majesty has bestowed upon us this black uniform with red accents, a symbol of the Red Dragon Corps that will set us apart.”
He turned to his adjutant. “Anna.”
“Yes, General.”
Anna stepped out and returned moments later, carrying a large, heavy box.
Thud.
The officers exchanged puzzled glances as Viktor opened the box to reveal its contents—neatly folded uniforms and caps with a black base and red accents. Picking up the topmost set, Viktor displayed it to the room, showing his name embroidered on it.
“To succeed in our missions, we must unite as one under the banner of the Red Dragon Corps. This moment marks the beginning of that unity.”
Without hesitation, Viktor began unbuttoning his Imperial uniform.
“General?”
“...!”
The officers were taken aback by the bold gesture. Even Anna, who had been briefed beforehand, instinctively covered her face with her hands.
Beneath his uniform, Viktor wore a simple undershirt, preserving his modesty. He calmly folded his old uniform and donned the new one in full view of the officers.
“From this moment on, we are no longer officers of the 1st Provisional Corps or the 10th Corps. We are officers of the Red Dragon Corps. Deputy Commander Aleksandrov Kalichin.”
“Yes.”
Viktor handed Aleksandrov his personalized uniform. Following his commander’s example, Aleksandrov changed into it on the spot. One by one, the officers followed suit, each donning their new attire.
Once everyone was dressed, Viktor moved among them, personally pinning badges emblazoned with the Red Dragon Corps emblem onto their chests.
The atmosphere shifted. Doubts gave way to a shared determination. Though unorthodox, Viktor’s approach resonated deeply with those who had already experienced his leadership firsthand.
“We are one. Until the name of the Red Dragon Corps becomes a symbol of fear and respect across the battlefield, let us march forward together.”
“Yes, General!”
The officers’ voices boomed in unison, their confidence reinvigorated. Viktor nodded, satisfied.
“Now, let’s discuss training plans and strategy.”
The officers leaned in, their focus sharp.
“We will maintain our structure of two infantry regiments and one cavalry regiment. However, our armament, tactics, and strategies will undergo significant changes.”
Walking to another box at the back of the tent, Viktor retrieved a long object and opened the lid.
“You may recall the cannons used by the 8th Corps. Expensive and challenging to operate, yet undeniably effective.”
“Are you planning to form an artillery unit?” Klaus asked.
“Yes. But we won’t stop there. We will become the vanguard of transformation for the Imperial Army.”
Viktor revealed the contents of the box—a matchlock musket. He held it up, letting the officers see its simple yet unfamiliar design.
“This weapon will replace all others for our infantry.”
The officers exchanged skeptical glances.
“Is this… a weapon?” Aleksandrov voiced their collective confusion.
“This is a musket,” Viktor explained. “It’s a weapon used by the dwarves of the southwestern continent, including the Kingdom of Anchester. Using gunpowder, it propels lead balls at high speeds toward the enemy.”
To demonstrate, Viktor pulled out a pouch filled with lead balls and laid it on the table.
“It can also be fitted with a blade at the end for close combat. My plan is to equip our infantry entirely with these weapons.”
The officers remained skeptical, their eyes lingering on the musket.
“Would you like a demonstration?” Viktor offered.
“Yes,” came the unanimous reply.
Leading the officers to an open field prepared for the occasion, Viktor set up a target—a steel plate designed to mimic the plate armor worn by the Imperial cavalry.
“Fifty meters,” Viktor announced.
“That distance? Even our best bows and crossbows would struggle to penetrate armor like this,” Heinrich, the cavalry leader, remarked confidently.
“We’ll see,” Viktor said with a small smile.
First, a soldier demonstrated the capabilities of a bow and a crossbow. Both failed to leave more than minor dents on the armor.
“It’s as expected,” Heinrich said, satisfied.
Finally, Viktor stepped forward, musket in hand. Loading the gunpowder and lead ball, he tamped it down with a rod and lit the match.
“Cover your ears,” he warned.
The officers complied, albeit with some skepticism.
Bang!
The explosion shattered the quiet, causing some officers to flinch or stumble. When the smoke cleared, Viktor retrieved the armor and held it up for inspection.
The chest plate was caved in, the musket ball having left a clear and undeniable impact.
“This is the power of the musket. Imagine an entire regiment firing in unison.”
The officers stared at the damaged armor in awe.
“It’s remarkable...” one murmured.
“Of course, it’s not without flaws,” Viktor admitted. “Reloading is slow, and the smoke can obscure vision. But I plan to improve these aspects before full deployment.”
He glanced at the officers. “What do you think?”
Their hesitation dissolved into a flood of questions.
“How will training work?”
“Will this change cavalry tactics?”
“Can cavalry use these weapons too?”
Viktor smiled. The Red Dragon Corps was ready to march into a new era of warfare.