Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei's War Journey

Chapter 67 Differential Treatment and Learning to Ride Horses

When Lu Mingfei and his team returned to the camp after running the last ten kilometers, they practically crawled back. Everyone was exhausted, and they helped each other to the entrance of the canteen.

Although they were exhausted and could fall asleep the moment they closed their eyes, they still had to crawl to eat. Such a large amount of physical exertion required food to replenish their energy.

However, they doubted whether there was anything left to eat, as it was already completely dark and long past mealtime.

Sure enough, when they entered the cafeteria, they found it was already empty, and the long tables and chairs were neatly arranged.

"Damn it—it's really gone—" Otto cursed weakly, sliding down against the door frame, too exhausted to move an inch.

The others collapsed one after another at the doorway or on the ground beside it, their faces filled with despair. Extreme exhaustion and the loss of hope caused the last bit of energy that had sustained them to run the final stretch to vanish instantly.

Lu Mingfei's heart sank. Such physical exertion had almost drained them of all their energy. Without food to replenish their strength, they might not even be able to get up tomorrow, let alone train.

Just as despair began to spread, a soft cough came from a corner deep inside the cafeteria, near the kitchen.

A thin figure emerged from the shadows. He was a relatively young cook, wearing an oversized chef's hat and with soot on his face. He carried a small oil lamp and looked timidly at the group of slumped soldiers at the door.

"You—you are from Hansban?" the cook asked softly.

Lu Mingfei forced himself to stand up and replied, "Yes—I am William Hans, the class monitor of the Hanss class."

The cook breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Sergeant Herman instructed that food was left for you on the kitchen stove, kept warm in a large pot. He said you might arrive very late, but I didn't expect you to arrive so late. It's already eight o'clock, and I thought you weren't coming. If you had been any later, I would have left too."

These words were like a shot of adrenaline, instantly invigorating the collapsed crowd.

"Really? Really?" Karl struggled to lift his head, his eyes regaining their light.

"Where—where?" Otto also tried to get up.

The young cook pointed towards the kitchen and said somewhat sheepishly, "Follow me—but there might not be many left, and—"

It's not too hot anymore.

"That's good! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Lu Mingfei thanked him hurriedly. For them now, as long as it wasn't shit, they would eat it.

He was the first to struggle to his feet, and then went to pull Otto and Bruckner up beside him.

Led by the young cook, a group of people stumbled into the kitchen like thirsty refugees. Sure enough, on a huge stove sat a large pot covered with a wooden lid, with a faint charcoal fire burning underneath.

The young cook struggled to lift the heavy wooden lid, revealing a stew made of potatoes and cabbage, and even some meat inside.

Lu Mingfei and the others were all stunned. They thought it would be some cold vegetable soup and black bread like before, but they didn't expect it to be a stew with meat.

Lu Mingfei and the others couldn't wait to pick up their bowls and start eating the stew. Although it was already a bit cold, it was still an unimaginable delicacy for them.

"I didn't expect that Herman would actually save some food for us. Looks like he's not so bad after all," Otto said while wolfing down his food.

The others nodded in agreement. Sometimes Lu Mingfei wondered if they had Stockholm syndrome. They had been treated so badly by Herman, yet they thought he was alright for such a small favor.

"By the way, why did you choose to join the army?" Lu Mingfei asked. In the past few days, they had been going back to the dormitory and falling asleep as soon as they finished training, so he hadn't had a chance to get to know his subordinates properly.

Otto swallowed the stew in his mouth and said, "Me? My family owns a blacksmith shop in a nearby town. My father said that with the war going on, there are many orders, and I can make a living by working as a blacksmith with him. But I can't stand being around the furnace all day, listening to people outside talk about how great His Majesty the Emperor is and how brave the army is on the front lines—I think a man should go out and see what the real battlefield is like. Besides, there's a salary for being a soldier, and if I make a name for myself and become a Junker nobleman, I'll be rich."

Karl scratched his head and said, "I'm a shop assistant in the city. The boss deducts my wages every day, and I have to watch the boss's wife's face. I heard that the army provides food and lodging and pays wages on time. Although it's tough, at least I don't have to suffer that humiliation. If I'm lucky, I can even save some money after the war and go back to do some small business. I didn't expect to suffer even more humiliation after joining the army. I wish I hadn't come."

Bruckner then whispered, "I recently graduated from high school. I was planning to go to college, but my teachers said that young people should go and defend their country. Also, all the students in my class have signed up for the army. If I don't come, they will laugh at me as a coward."

"I came in place of my brother. The conscription order was sent to my home. It was originally for my brother, but there are younger siblings to support. We can't have no one to do the work, so I took the conscription order and came in his place," said a young man named Klopp.

"I want to marry the girl I love, but her father says he'll only let me marry his daughter if I get an Iron Cross Second Class," said a soldier named Mitrell.

"I am—" The soldiers said one after another, explaining their reasons for joining the army.

Their reasons varied, some were forcibly recruited and others were brainwashed by propaganda, but without exception, the training over the past few days had completely shattered their previous expectations.

Most of them were children from ordinary families, just a small fraction of the millions of ordinary young people in Europe who were swept up in the war machine in 1915.

Listening to their stories, Lu Mingfei suddenly felt an even heavier burden on his shoulders.

"Squad leader, what about you? Why did you join the army?" Otto asked curiously, and the others also stopped chewing and looked at Lu Mingfei.

Lu Mingfei remained silent for a moment. He didn't want to join the army, but fate was just so cruel.

"I want to find someone, someone who is very important to me, but I can only find her if I survive this war," Lu Mingfei said. Nuonuo's face appeared in his mind. He was forced into this war, and only by surviving could he possibly see the girl he longed for.

"Is it a girl you like?" Karl and the others immediately looked at Lu Mingfei with gossip in their eyes.

Lu Mingfei did not deny it, but simply nodded slightly.

"Don't worry, squad leader! After we finish the battle, make a name for ourselves, and go back in glory, we'll definitely find her!" Otto patted his chest, as if victory and reunion were already within reach.

The others nodded in agreement, their faces showing anticipation.

Despite the uncertainty of the future, sharing a rare meal and simple dreams in the warm kitchen allowed them to temporarily forget the fear and exhaustion of the day.

"By the way, tomorrow's the weekend, will our training be reduced a bit?" Karl asked, remembering something.

Tomorrow will be their first week at the camp. He had heard from the other platoons that they would be allowed half a day off on Sundays to go to a nearby town for drinks.

"Impossible. Hermann wants us to train 24/7. How could he possibly give us a day off?" Otto said.

Lu Mingfei also thought it was impossible; it would be good enough if they didn't have to do extra training tomorrow.

"No, tomorrow might be a holiday." Just then, a man's voice came from the doorway.

Lu Mingfei and the others quickly turned their heads to look, only to see Kleiner of Caesar's Ban standing at the door.

"Kleiner, what brings you here? And what do you mean by what you said?" Lu Mingfei asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It was Sergeant Caesar who sent me to check if you had finished your run. As for why I said there might be a day off, it's because Sergeant Caesar complained to the company commander about Herman while you were running. After the company commander gave him a good scolding, our training won't be as tiring." Kleiner said with a proud smile, genuinely proud and excited about what Caesar had done.

"Telling a story? Sergeant Caesar told Herman on him?"

"Really?"

The students in Lu Mingfei's class were all surprised. Although Lu Mingfei said that Herman was a good instructor, they had been tortured to the point of death by Herman, and deep down they couldn't help but resent that iron-blooded sergeant.

Now that they heard that someone actually dared to sue him and seemed to have succeeded, the news undoubtedly surprised and pleased them.

Otto's eyes lit up. "The company commander really gave that old Hermann a good scolding? Does that mean training will be easier from now on?"

Karl perked up: "If it's true, then maybe we can really have a day off tomorrow! Even if we don't, the training volume should be reduced, right?"

Bruckner and the others also showed expectant expressions, but Lu Mingfei frowned slightly. He did not think that reducing the amount of training was a good thing. Their training time was not long, and they had to become qualified soldiers in just ten weeks.

"Kleiner, did Squad Leader Caesar just send you to check if we finished the race and to tell us this news?" Lu Mingfei asked.

Kleiner's proud smile faded slightly, and he nodded: "That's what the squad leader said. He said Hansban had a hard day, and this news might make everyone feel a little better."

He paused, then added, "Our squad leader also said that although our two squads are competitors, we are both in the third platoon after all, and we might need to look after each other on the battlefield. Hermann's training methods, which disregard the lives of soldiers, are not good for anyone."

Lu Mingfei frowned even more upon hearing this. Was Caesar really that confident that he could lead these new recruits to survive on the battlefield?

"Please thank Sergeant Caesar for me. However, the training arrangements ultimately depend on Sergeant Herman and the company headquarters. We just need to do our part," Lu Mingfei continued.

Kleiner was somewhat surprised by Lu Mingfei's reaction. He thought Hansband would be more excited and grateful to Caesar, but he didn't expect him to be so calm.

But he didn't say much, just nodded and said, "I've delivered the message. I'll head back now. You all should get some rest too."

After saying that, he turned and left the kitchen.

As soon as Kleiner left, the atmosphere in the kitchen immediately became lively again.

"That's great! Sergeant Caesar is amazing!"

"Will training be easier from now on?"

"Maybe I can really get half a day off tomorrow!"

The members of Hansband whispered among themselves, their faces beaming with hope; none of them wanted to experience Hermann's grueling training.

Seeing their excited expressions, Lu Mingfei poured cold water on their enthusiasm: "Don't be too happy yet. Haven't you all learned enough what kind of person Herman is? Even if the company commander tells him off, will he obediently listen to him?"

Otto scratched his head: "The squad leader is right. That old guy is probably up to something."

Carl calmed down as well: "Yeah, he even dared to use live ammunition. A scolding from the company commander, and he'll change?

"Then we—" Bruckner asked, somewhat bewildered.

"Eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired. No matter how tomorrow's training goes, what we need now is to recover our strength. Let's finish eating quickly and go back to sleep." Lu Mingfei ended the discussion.

No one said anything more, and they silently quickened their eating pace.

Back at the barracks, almost all the Hansband members fell asleep immediately, and soon a chorus of snores filled the air.

Lu Mingfei was also exhausted, but he still couldn't understand why Caesar would do that. He admitted that Caesar had courage, methods, and knew how to use the rules to achieve his goals, which was indeed an important ability of a leader. However, what Hermann represented was the most basic and cruel logic of war: survival.

Caesar might be able to secure more rights for his soldiers in the military camp, but what use would those rules and methods be on the actual battlefield?

Lu Mingfei closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep. In any case, he needed to rest and recover his strength.

The familiar whistles and roars sounded again at dawn.

"You pigs! Wake up! Assemble in three minutes!"

Lu Mingfei opened his eyes instantly, then sprang out of bed, started dressing, grabbed his equipment, and ran out of the barracks. The other soldiers around him did the same, and within two minutes they were all dressed and assembled in front of the barracks.

A week of high-pressure training was quite effective; the naivety on the faces of some young recruits began to fade, and they gradually became more resolute.

Lu Mingfei and Caesar stood at the front of the train, both standing straight with their eyes looking straight ahead, waiting for Hermann to appear.

Sergeant Hermann arrived a little later than usual today. He rode his tall military horse at a leisurely pace from the direction of the barracks, his face still bearing that unchanging, cold and hard expression, showing no signs of having been reprimanded.

He rode up to the front of the column, reined in his horse, and looked down at everyone. However, his gaze lingered on Caesar's face for a moment before sweeping over the expectant soldiers of Hoffmann's class. The corner of his mouth seemed to twitch very slightly, like a sneer, or something else entirely.

"Yesterday, someone reported the training intensity and safety issues to the company commander. The company headquarters issued instructions requiring that future training be more standardized and that greater emphasis be placed on safety."

The soldiers in Hoffmann's squad beamed with joy, some even exchanging excited glances. See, Sergeant Caesar's words had worked! Hermann had no choice but to obey!

Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Hermann had really compromised? But Hermann didn't say anything more, and the new day's training began.

They first ran for more than an hour, and then Herman surprisingly arranged breakfast for them. Although it was just some black bread, it still surprised Lu Mingfei and the others.

After breakfast, it was time for world training and trench digging. They had to fill back the craters that the mortars had made the day before. Time quickly passed to noon, which was lunchtime.

"It's the weekend, so I'm giving you half a day off. Hoffmann's class can be dismissed, but Hans's class can stay," Hermann said from his horse.

As soon as Hermann finished speaking, two completely different reactions instantly emerged on the training field.

The soldiers in Hoffmann's squad were stunned for a moment, then burst into suppressed cheers and excited whispers. The benefits that Sergeant Caesar had fought for had really come true! They could leave this damned training camp, go to town for a beer, and breathe some air free of the smell of sweat and dirt, even if only for a few hours!

"Long live the class monitor!"

"Very good!"

"Finally, I can rest!"

Rudolf, Kleiner, and the others looked at Caesar with excitement, their eyes filled with gratitude and admiration. Although Caesar was also a little surprised, he hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. However, he maintained a calm smile on his face and nodded to his subordinates, signaling them to maintain discipline and disperse in an orderly manner.

Soon, the soldiers of Hoffman's squad excitedly packed up their equipment, calling to each other as they surged toward the barracks and the camp gate, the air filled with a long-lost sense of ease and joy.

Meanwhile, Hansband's side was completely silent.

The expectation on Otto, Karl, Bruckner and the others' faces froze instantly, turning into disappointment, confusion, and resentment at being targeted. Why was only Hoffman's class given a holiday? Why were they left behind?

Hermann didn't explain, but just coldly looked at Hansband's group of soldiers who looked like wilted eggplants, until almost all of Hoffmann's men had left and only they were left on the training ground, before Hermann continued to speak.

"Feeling wronged? Very well, I'll give you a choice: take a day off like the others, or continue training this afternoon?"

Hearing Herman's words, Otto, Karl, Bruckner and the others were filled with renewed hope, and they all looked at Lu Mingfei at the front.

Lu Mingfei turned to look at his subordinates behind him and asked, "Do you believe in me? No matter what choice I make?"

Otto, Karl, Bruckner, and the others were taken aback for a moment, but in the end they all nodded in unison.

After receiving an affirmative answer, Lu Mingfei turned to Hermann and said firmly, "We'll continue training this afternoon."

Lu Mingfei knew that Otto, Karl, Bruckner and others were very tired, and he himself was also tired, but he wanted to live, and he also wanted the people behind him to live.

"Good, very good. Everyone, go have lunch now. Training will continue this afternoon. Hans, stay behind." Hermann smiled with satisfaction.

The rare, fleeting smile of relief on Herman's lips left Lu Mingfei momentarily stunned.

Otto, Karl, and the others glanced at Lu Ming with some concern after hearing that he insisted on staying, but under Hermann's watchful gaze, they quickly lined up and left the training ground, running towards the canteen.

Only Hermann and Lu Mingfei remained on the training field. The horse snorted impatiently, exhaling white vapor.

Herman dismounted and walked up to Lu Mingfei, his hawk-like eyes scanning him up and down before speaking.

"William Hans, you've made a choice that doesn't seem very smart."

Lu Mingfei straightened his back and calmly replied, "Sergeant Major, I just feel that we need training. Ten weeks is too short. If we don't hurry up now and go to the front lines, we will be wasting our lives. I want my men to survive."

"You just said you want your men to survive. Tell me, how do you think you can ensure their survival?"

Lu Mingfei pondered for a moment: "Make them stronger, with better physical fitness, more accurate marksmanship, and faster reaction times..."

"You're wrong," Hermann interrupted him directly.

"These are all important, but not the most important thing. The most important thing is to instill fear in them."

Lu Mingfei was stunned once again.

"Yes, it's fear," Herman repeated.

"It's not the kind of fear that makes your legs go weak and you wet your pants, but a conscious, ever-present vigilance—a fear of death, a fear of being injured, a fear of losing your comrades. This kind of fear will help you make the right choices on the battlefield and allow you to survive in the end."

"Do you think it's a good thing that Caesar Hoffman got them a half-day off today?" Herman continued to ask.

"They need rest—"

"Need a rest?" Herman sneered.

"The front lines won't stop attacking just because you're tired, and the French won't stop firing just because it's Sunday. Rest is a luxury, and such a luxury can cost you your life on the battlefield."

Lu Mingfei remained silent.

"I've seen too many people like Caesar who can make soldiers comfortable in the barracks, which is fine, but what about on the battlefield?"

Rules don't work there; you can't reason with artillery shells, you can't negotiate with poison gas.

"But you, William Hans, are different. You're not doing this for honor, not for promotion, you're just doing it to live, and to make sure your people live too."

"So I'll be stricter with you because you have the potential to become a commander who can truly survive on the battlefield and lead others to survival. In that muddy field, amidst shells and poison gas, we need people like you."

"Can you ride a horse?" Hermann suddenly asked, changing the subject.

Lu Mingfei paused for a moment, then shook his head. Before coming here, he had only seen horses on TV, let alone ridden one.

"So from today onwards, you'll have one more training exercise: horseback riding." With that, Herman handed the reins to Lu Mingfei.

"How can a commander not know how to ride a horse?" Herman patted the horse's neck, and the horse obediently lowered its head and rubbed against his arm.