On the first day, the newly integrated Eighth Regiment had no training, just like the day new recruits enlisted before; they only went through the procedures and arranged some related matters.
The delayed improvement in treatment was felt by ordinary soldiers; their living conditions improved, their food improved, and their income also increased. Some people didn't care about these things and were still single-mindedly trying to cause trouble.
However, in the face of tangible benefits, most ordinary soldiers chose to remain silent. Very few people were willing to cause trouble with them anymore. They then discovered that they were isolated in their original unit, and they were anxious and angry but helpless.
The improvement in treatment satisfied the soldiers, but there were also things that made them uneasy. They didn't undergo any training that day, while other units had routine training. Observing the training of other units from afar, the extremely high training intensity left the soldiers of the Eighth Regiment dumbfounded, feeling that they were simply not human.
Only then did they realize that what Commander Huan said was true; it was likely that after some time, the number of people remaining would truly be less than one regiment. If he couldn't even stay then, what did the improved treatment have to do with him? Moreover, that kind of training looked terrifying, and how could he endure it? If he died on the training ground, it would be too humiliating a death.
After training ended in the evening, the soldiers in other camps were exhausted, and the camps were exceptionally quiet. The soldiers had originally adapted to it, and those who couldn't bear it had already left. However, after a long holiday, many people hadn't quite recovered, and suddenly engaging in such high-intensity training again caused several to faint directly on the training ground.
It should be known that these soldiers were carefully selected, had relatively good physical quality, and had undergone a period of training before.
Duke knew this would happen long ago but did it on purpose. Sometimes war breaks out suddenly, and it's impossible to wait until everyone is ready to start or to be in the best condition before going to the battlefield.
If what started today wasn't training but war, there was a high possibility of suffering a great loss. Letting everyone understand this and accelerating the speed of recovery can maximize the avoidance of such situations.
As for soldiers being injured in training, that's unavoidable. As long as no one dies, it's not a big problem. Even if someone really dies on the training ground, Duke can only express regret. As a commander, he has to be responsible for the entire unit. It's better for one or two to die on the training ground than for one or two thousand more to die on the battlefield. War has always been cruel.
At the same time, the camp of the Eighth Regiment soldiers, who had not trained for a day, was bustling with activity. Some were planning how to cause trouble, some were full of aspirations for the future, and some wanted to understand the situation better. Everyone had a lot to say.
Around a bonfire, several soldiers were sitting and discussing something.
One of them sat upright, looking as if facing a formidable enemy, and said seriously, "Brothers, training starts tomorrow. Everyone saw the intensity of their training today; it's simply something we can't bear.
Rather than being exhausted to death on the training ground or being disgracefully expelled from the army, it's better to quickly find a way to disrupt this integration. If that's too difficult to achieve, we can also try to drive away that Huan and let our own people be the commander, at least to make Duke not dare to mess with us casually!"
"The one who will be exhausted to death or disgracefully expelled from the army is you, not us," a soldier muttered in a low, indifferent voice.
Hearing this, the person who had spoken earlier immediately became furious, pointing directly at that person and roaring, "What did you say? Say it again!"
The air around them seemed to drop a few degrees instantly, and several people broke out in a cold sweat. Although only he said this, he was certainly not the only one who had this thought in his heart.
After a moment of silence, that person mustered his courage and loudly retorted, "You are no longer an officer now; you are an ordinary soldier like us. What right do you have to order us around?"
This officer, who had lost his influence, usually bossed soldiers around and was incompetent. Soldiers were generally dissatisfied with him. Now that he had also become an ordinary soldier, because he was unwilling to admit it in his heart, his identity had not yet transitioned. The soldier's long-suppressed resentment suddenly released, making his brain temporarily go blank.
Yes, he was no longer an officer. Accustomed to submitting to his authority, the soldiers' identities also hadn't shifted. Now that it was exposed, everyone suddenly realized it and no longer had many scruples.
"Why are you always thinking about causing trouble?" another soldier asked discontentedly.
"Exactly, exactly. If you ask me, you're just unhappy about losing your position and want to drag us down with you."
"How can you talk to the officer like that? The officer is now suffering unfair treatment, and we should stand together against the common enemy. How can you kick him when he's down!"
Some soldiers held different attitudes. How could such an incompetent and unauthoritative person become an officer? Of course, it wasn't by himself but by the forces behind him. Although he had lost influence now, the forces behind him were still there, and it was not guaranteed that he wouldn't make a comeback one day.
If they offended him to death for a momentary outburst, they would inevitably suffer retaliation in the future. However, supporting him when he was down was hundreds of times more effective than usual. If he ever made a comeback, his future would be limitless. Standing with these ordinary soldiers who had nothing would gain them nothing.
The officer who had lost his influence continued to gnash his teeth at the first soldier who spoke, "You shameless scoundrel, you have one face normally and another face now!"
"You are the scoundrel! It's precisely because of the existence of scoundrels like you that the Papal States' army has been in such a mess for so many years!" the soldier retorted sharply.
"You wait! I'll tell my father right now and ask him to report it to the Pope, so he can make you take off your uniform and go home!" After saying that, the officer felt it wasn't enough and successively pointed at the few people who had just spoken, "And you, and you."
"Do you think the army is still the domain of you nobles now?"
"Whether the army is still our noble domain, you just wait and see. I'll also have my father send people to arrest all your family members!"
"Sorry, my family has long since died out. You can let your whole family go find them."
The officer was speechless for a moment, his anger flared, and he jumped up and threw a punch at the soldier. Unexpectedly, the soldier was prepared and easily jumped back to dodge.
Because his punch missed and he couldn't control his balance, the officer was carried by the momentum of his punch and fell straight to the ground, landing face first. Hearing the commotion, other soldiers nearby looked over. Seeing this scene, they all burst into laughter.
The officer was even more mortified and furious. He got up and rushed at the soldier again but was instead pinned to the ground. After rolling a few times, the two wrestled together.
The others watched with great interest, and their courage gradually grew. Some cheered, some encouraged, some tried to break up the fight, and some pretended to break up the fight, rushing up to give the officer a few punches.