Miller could feel a headache creeping in.
When he arrived to the 13th he had expected the men to be given a form of basic training on how to operate their muskets but instead he found out that they were given a strange looking crossbow and were told to point it at the enemy and pull the trigger and then charge with bayonets fixed onto the barrel. The previous commander didn't even bother teaching his men on how to reload their weapons.
Miller couldn't help but feel that a majority of the nobles in the Empire wanted to see the experimental weapon fail.
Which is why he now has the entire 13th legion assembled in the courtyard of the garrison fort and explaining how the musket works and how to reload it and to prove that muskets are the next step in warfare.
"This weapon that I am holding is a personal gift from His Imperial Majesty himself." Miller held up the musket to emphasize on that point.
"This is a musket, a weapon forged from his Imperial's Majesty's finest forgeries. It utilises a foul smelling powder called black powder but is more commonly known as gun powder. Gun powder is a highly unstable compound capable of being ignited by a single spark. This weapon does this by using a flintlock mechanism. When ignited in a controlled environment such as the barrel of a musket it causes an explosion which launches whatever is in the barrel at high speeds."
Miller then took out a 15mm ball bearing.
"This is the object that will be shot out of the barrel. This is a 15mm ball bearing capable of going through flesh, bones, sinews and even plate armour. This ball bearing will be shot out of the barrel at speeds of 305 metres per second."
The men by now had an awed look on their faces seeing how such a simple weapon was capable of so much.
"Even though this weapon may look simple the steps needed to ensure that this piece of death dealing machinary works is complicated."
Miller took out a waxed paper catridge containing pre-measured black powder and a ball bearing. The waxed paper catridge had one end twisted to seal it off and at the other side was where the ball bearing sat.
"First you need to prime it."
Miller bit into the twisted end of the catridge and tore it off. Miller grimaced at the saltish taste of the powder but kept it to himself.
He then proceeded to pour a small amount of black powder into the pan.
"Afterwards you load it." Miller then poured the rest of the powder within the catridge into the barrel and the ball bearing. Once all the contents of the catridge was in the barrel he stuffed the emptied catridge into the barrel to act as a wadding to prevent the ball and powder from falling out when the barrel was pointed downwards.
"And then you ram all the contents you've just poured down to the very end of the barrel." Miller took out a ramrod which was hidden under the barrel of the musket and proceeded to use it to ram down the black powder, ball bearing, and paper wadding.
"Following next you cock the lock back." Miller proceeded to cock the flintlock mechanism with his thumb.
"Finally you pull the trigger." He aimed at the dummy outfitted with plate armour in front of him and pulled the trigger. The sound of the mechanism locking forward and then a loud explosion could be heard followed by a loud pang and a spray of dirt spraying up behind the dummy as the ball bearing went through both the plate armour and dummy and hitting the ground behind.
There were numerous gasps at the firepower demonstrated by such a simple looking weapon. Many were already looking at the muskets that they were holding in their hands with awe.
"However, before you learn how to kill with your weapons you must first learn how to walk, run, and drill with it!"
"Sergeant Major O'Kief." Miller gestured to the sergeant major standing beside him.
"Yes sir." O'Kief nodded his head in acknowledgement and stepped forward.
"Men, form up in your cohorts and await further instructions from me! Officers, meet the captain in his office as soon as possible! Carry on!" O'Kief shouted in his loud parade voice.
"Yes, Sergeant Major!" The Men of the 13th Legion replied and quickly went into a flurry of activities.
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"Training to be Legionnaires!" Miller shouted at the top of his lungs.
It had been two months since Miller had made his Legion do intensive training and the effects are starting to show.
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"Training to be Legionnaires!" The Legion echoed back.
Right now Miller had his legion going for a 24 kilometres route march through the frigid cold terrain of the Northern lands.
"Fight for our land!"
The Legion had expected its new commanding officer to just slack off and give them the hard work but they were surprised instead when the captain did everything he had ordered them to do with them and with double the load as well.
"Fight for our land!"
The Legion currently are carrying their packs filled with rations, extra clothings, and tents and on their hands their muskets.
"Once in our life!"
Every Legionnaire was pushing himself to meet the timing of seven hours as their CO promised a reward of a keg full of ale for any man who managed to do so.
"Once in our life!"
From the past two months spent with their CO they have learnt that he'd rather lead by example and he also ALWAYS keeps his promises. That was more than enough to earn their respect.
"Five years of our..."
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When Lieutenant Jacob Augustus first saw the Captain he had disagreed with many of the captain's decision. Heck, he even outright disliked the man. Viewing him as erratic and his methods of training the men useless.
However, time and time again the captain proved that his methods of training his men were superior. When Jacob first transferred to this godsdamned legion the men could barely run without having to stop and take a breath.
And now after two months of enduring the captain's bizzare training methods the men are able to run atleast three kilometeres before tiring.
What even made Jacob Augustus like the captain even more was that he was a man of action rather than proving a point with words he does it by action.
Like the one time when the captain said that he will do double of what he ordered his men to do and did it with them as well and the fact that he lost a bet once and kept to his word buying the legion enough alcohol from the nearbly frontier town to last a month.
Speaking of frontier towns, the northern border of the Empire was considered a new frontier with untapped resources and land.
As such settlers came in the droves settling down and creating new towns and villages. But with the creation of towns and villages came threats such as raids from the northern tribes and monsters.
To combat this problem the Captain stationed token troops --after they have completed the captain's version of basic training-- in the nearby towns and villages thus lowering casualty rates to an all time low.
With this course of action the villagers and townsmen began to view the captain in a new light and even offering their services to the captain in the form of joining the Legion's ranks.
But the Northern borders of the Empire being a frontier region there is more than one problem such as adminstrative duties.
You see, the Northern borders are a frontier region with such a name one will be expected to do alot of work such as setting up infrastructure and managing resources.
With such daunting tasks such as those, the nobles are detered from taking up administrative duties of that particular region.
And so for the moment they decided to leave the hardwork to Captain Miller Sharpe of the 13th Imperial legion.
It was these kinds of action that impressed Lieutenant Jacob Augustus and he decided to learn more about the captain by asking his brother, Duke Henry Augustus, Lord General of the Imperial Legions, about the captain.
Jacob looked down at the piece of paper he held in his hands and wrote down the last piece of information needed to send the letter to his brother.
His Imperial Majesty's Lord General Duke Henry Augustus
His Imperial Majesty's Grand Palace
Having written down the recipient and the address Jacob handed it to the courier waiting nearby.
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A/N: Welp, National exams are happening two weeks from now and I'm afraid that will take up more of my time. So expect me to no update this story for at least a month.