Chapter 127: A New Army—The Rumors Resurface
In this chaotic and backward world, the utility of possessing an armed force was immeasurable. Egger had long kept the construction of his own army in mind; he had a well-prepared plan and was full of confidence, requiring no improvisation.
An army is a fighting collective composed of soldiers. To make it easy to calculate strength and command movements, they had to be organized into units. Egger first established the structure for his security force: ten men to a squad, three squads to a platoon, three platoons to a company... and so on.
A formal structure makes a massive difference, though whether one specific type is better than another is hard to say. Before an army reaches a certain scale, whether a basic unit is nine men or ten, or how many sub-units a superior unit contains, matters very little. As long as there is a fixed number and a pattern, one shouldn't dwell on it too much.
Training was the real key.
...
"Keep the swordsmanship classes, but bring in some bows and crossbows. Being only proficient with melee weapons won't suffice." Egger opened the floodgates of his thoughts and spoke voluminously. "Add physical conditioning and drills for formations... Being able to fight isn't enough; they need discipline and obedience!"
"Bows, crossbows, formations... discipline and obedience?" Gerold asked somewhat uneasily. "My Lord, are you trying to train an actual army?"
Egger stared at Gerold for a few seconds. Instead of answering the question, he looked toward Nina. "What is the base pay for the lads in the Logistics Security Department?"
"One silver deer per day, My Lord."
Egger looked back at Gerold. "How is that wage? Is it enough to support a family?"
The Head of Security, unsure of where his leader was going with this, answered honestly, "It is enough. A month's wages is worth half a year of farming for an ordinary peasant."
"Then I am relieved." To the high-ranking officers of the Night's Watch and the nobles who could become clients, Egger was willing—and obligated—to explain and persuade with patience. But now, facing a subordinate, he wanted to let his mind rest. It was best if the man understood; if not, he could leave. Egger had no room for fools. "What gave you the impression that I am paying soldier-level wages just to hire a bunch of men to watch factory gates?"
Gerold heard the dissatisfaction and challenge in his boss's voice. Like Nina when she first saw Egger, his face began to redden. "Understood, My Lord... I will handle things according to military standards."
"Good that you understand. Tyrion chose you, so I trust you have some skill. Don't disappoint me." The Night's Watch was a military organization; if a military organization trained troops, what could anyone say even if word got out? Egger had no intention of being secretive. "In addition to what you experienced during your own time in service, I want to add a few more things."
Egger then transposed the methods of a modern military from his memory: standing posture, marching, commands, pace... and even interior management training. Whether stationary or in motion, the ranks had to be neat; execution of orders had to be swift and decisive; the daily schedule had to be regular; and all clothing and equipment in the barracks had to be arranged uniformly and tidily. When seeing an officer, they must take the initiative to salute, and so on.
Despite his attempts to streamline the list, Egger still managed to leave his listeners dazed by the time he finished. It was just a small troop; why make it so complicated?
Gerold barely remembered half of it and immediately spoke up: "My Lord, I can understand military-style combat drills, but... to take time away from exercise and sword practice to train them in lining up, walking, placing daily necessities, and folding blankets... what is the use of all this?"
What was the use? Egger could actually understand Gerold's doubt. Not to mention people in this backward world, even in modern society, there were still those who questioned whether military drills and interior management were merely empty formalism with no practical value. It was difficult for them to understand that beneath the surface of this formalism, the level at which these tasks were completed represented the level of the army's discipline.
Believe it or not, under equal equipment conditions, an army that lines up neatly and folds its blankets beautifully simply has higher combat effectiveness. Throughout history, there have been no exceptions.
If equipment and individual prowess are the bone and flesh of an army, then discipline and obedience are its soul. The Unsullied were powerful precisely because of their twisted yet extraordinary military soul. Such a unique example was difficult to replicate, so Egger had to take a more conventional route. Without a doubt, turning free men who have their own thoughts and a love for ease into a new-style army that followed every command was difficult... Fortunately, the Night's Watch industries were currently not short on coin.
He didn't intend to explain much more. The superiority of modern military training methods must be proven by facts; it couldn't be cleared up in a few sentences. If he had to explain every order he gave, he'd never get anything done. "I forgot to mention one rule: in the army I want, unless a war council is being held, subordinates have no right to question the decisions of their superiors. When I tell you what to do, you only need to answer 'Yes, sir!' and then strive to complete it. From top to bottom, including yourself, this is how it will be. Is that understood?"
Gerold was somewhat defiant. He looked at Egger solemnly for a moment, then turned his gaze toward Tyrion.
"What are you looking at me for? Just because I hired you doesn't mean I'll speak for you." Tyrion glared back at him without ceremony. "Didn't you hear what I said earlier? Lord Egger is the big boss of the entire Night's Watch industry, and I am his employee too! Do you think I'm joking?" Tyrion actually harbored his own doubts about the purpose of the interior drills, but he had developed a blind trust in Egger. If Egger was a god-tier teammate in his eyes, wasn't Egger the same in his?
The dwarf put his hands behind his back and looked coldly at the defiant Gerold. "If you understand the superior's order, then execute it. If you don't, find Nina to settle this month's wages and go home to retire. She's right here; you won't even have to walk far. You were once an officer in the City Watch, but a monthly salary of one gold dragon is for you to get things done, not for you to stand around all day watching three other instructors teach recruits how to swing swords!"
...
The earlier parts of the tour had been entirely amicable; how did it reach the point where the two big bosses were squaring off against a subordinate at the Security Department? This made the atmosphere quite stiff. The heads of other departments nearby wanted to smooth things over but didn't know where to start.
As a grown man, who could swallow the insult of being criticized in public? Gerold truly wanted to throw down a do it yourself then and storm off. But facing a monthly salary of one gold dragon and thinking of his hungry family, the Head of Security couldn't afford to be temperamental. He took a breath and lowered his head. "Yes, sir!"
He didn't say anything more but asked cautiously, "But... Lord Egger, I couldn't remember everything you said at once. Could you... write it down and give it to me?"
"No problem. Many things cannot be explained clearly by speaking. I will organize it when I return, print out the regulations and systems, and give a copy to everyone." Although friendship wasn't necessary between ranks in an army, Egger finally relented and gave the man a way out. "Try it this way first. If after a month or two you still feel these non-combat drills are useless, feel free to come find me!"
He said that, but if the man actually came to find him in two months, he'd truly be finished.
"That's about it," Tyrion said. "There's still a warehouse area. In the future, as the industry expands, products that haven't been delivered or supplies bought in advance for the Wall can be kept here. Do you want to take a look?"
"Is there anything in the warehouses?"
"We've only built half of one; where would anything come from?"
"Then there's nothing to see. Let's leave it at that."
"Mm, I think so too." Tyrion smiled. "Alright, it's getting late. Everyone can disperse. Nina, take Arya to play for a bit. Casey, you stay here too. Tyrion and I have some things to discuss in private."
The little she-wolf was unhappy. "What's so secret that I can't hear it!"
"Man-talk." Tyrion winked at Arya and took the lead toward a small tower about ten meters high not far away.
Egger was confused but followed him.
Walking ten meters away and leaving the crowd behind, Tyrion pulled a small slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to Egger. "Take a look. This is the reason I haven't dared return to King's Landing lately."
(Don't dare return to King's Landing? Wasn't he just too busy in the Industrial Park to leave!) Egger took the slip. One look, and his confusion turned into a cold sweat.
Written on the slip were the details of the incest and adultery between Cersei and Jaime. To add weight to the claim, it even included the detail that members of House Baratheon all had black hair, while the three princes and princesses—Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella—all had golden hair.
"Where did this slip come from?"
"Where?" Tyrion sneered. "These last few days, they've been all over King's Landing. There are even more than there were for the slips saying Lysa poisoned Jon Arryn. You just got back; you haven't had time to find out."
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