Chapter 302: Let Me Show You What True Elites Are
However, Napoleon immediately recalled several other terrifying daily training regimens of the Guards Corps. And these were just the routine exercises; he hadn't even experienced the 'hellish' intensified training marches yet, or so he heard.
Of all the daily training exercises, he had failed to meet the passing standard in everything except shooting and cartography.
Tactical coordination, in particular, was overwhelming. The Guards Corps' tactical standards were vastly different from anything he had learned at military school. It had taken him an entire week just to memorize these tactical doctrines; achieving muscle memory would undoubtedly take much longer.
Napoleon couldn't help but recall the many shocks he had experienced during his two-plus months with the Guards Corps.
From the new percussion cap muskets to massed artillery tactics. From deep battle theories to officers who spent their days integrated with their soldiers. From excellent nutrition to the welfare benefit of free uniform repairs.
These experiences had made him momentarily doubt if his previous military academy was a sham – the prestigious Paris Military School had never taught such a wealth of practical and innovative military theories and techniques. No, not even a single instructor had ever mentioned them.
He let out a long breath. Still, it was fortunate that he had unexpectedly joined the Guards Corps and gained access to this military knowledge. He was certain these insights would prove invaluable when he eventually dedicated himself to the great cause of Corsican restoration!
In fact, he had originally planned to request leave to return to Corsica earlier this month. According to the Restoration Organization's agreement, members were to hold a secret meeting in Ajaccio on the 5th of every even-numbered month.
However, his intense curiosity about the upcoming army combat effectiveness assessment prompted him to skip the meeting. After all, accumulating more military skills was paramount. To achieve independence, Corsica first needed an army capable of resisting French attacks.
From then on, that had become Napoleon's life's ambition.
That afternoon, the 1st Guards Corps arrived in Troyes, setting up camp on the outskirts less than two kilometers from the Champagne Legion.
After a simple dinner, Napoleon dismissed his orderly and went alone to an open space at the edge of the camp. Following the directives in the "Physical Training Manual" issued by the Guards Corps, he began performing push-ups...
After a solid forty minutes of exercise, dusk had completely settled, and the whistle for evening roll call echoed through the camp.
Wiping sweat from his face, he jogged back to his company's billet, his body aching all over.
Though exhausted, he could distinctly feel that after two months of training, both his strength and endurance had significantly improved.
The "Training Manual" was, of course, effective, for Joseph had directly copied scientific fitness methods from a later era. Coupled with a protein-rich diet, it allowed the Guards Corps soldiers to improve their physical conditioning at the fastest possible rate.
If one disregarded height, the sturdy physiques of the Guards Corps soldiers alone would qualify almost every one of them as elite grenadiers elsewhere.
The next morning, officers from the General Staff, responsible for the combat effectiveness assessment, arrived promptly at the Champagne Legion's station. Accompanying them were 1,200 soldiers from the 1st Guards Corps, led by Lefebvre.
Slightly different from previous assessments, this time His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, had personally come to preside over the evaluation, taking over from the General Staff officers.
On the eastern side of the Champagne Legion's parade ground, Joseph ascended the wooden reviewing stand. After delivering an opening speech about "loyalty to the King and upholding the brave, fearless spirit of chivalry," he announced the commencement of the assessment.
Over 7,000 soldiers and junior officers of the Champagne Legion began orderly filing out of the parade ground. Under the command of General Staff officers, they ran towards a small hill two kilometers away.
They would circle around it, then return to the parade ground. The entire course was five kilometers; completing it within 22 minutes was considered passing, and within 20 minutes was excellent.
According to the assessment requirements previously announced by the General Staff, soldiers achieving an 'excellent' rating would receive a bonus equivalent to one month's salary.
Junior officers who achieved an 'excellent' rating would be directly promoted by one rank. Naturally, the officers' assessment included several more items than the soldiers', making it more challenging.
One hour and twenty minutes later, most of the Champagne Legion's officers and soldiers participating in the assessment had returned to the parade ground.
A moment later, Joseph, already somewhat bored from waiting, received the assessment results submitted by the examining officers, a faint smile playing on his lips.
As expected, the entire legion's five-kilometer run results were all below the passing standard.
The fastest to return was a grenadier company commander, who completed the course in 25 minutes. Most ordinary soldiers took around 40 minutes to finish. Additionally, 27 men had gotten lost and still hadn't returned; cavalry from the 1st Guards Corps had already been dispatched to find them.
Still, it had to be said that the Champagne Legion truly lived up to its reputation as an elite unit among the old-style armies. For instance, the number of lost soldiers alone was enough to make them stand out from other legions—in previous assessments, legions of three to four thousand men had seen hundreds get lost.
After Joseph had the General Staff officers announce the assessment results, a predictable murmur of complaints arose from the Champagne Legion soldiers, who were sprawled across the parade ground, exhausted. "It's impossible to run that distance in 22 minutes!"
"Even Captain Lacoste took 25 minutes to finish, and he's stronger than a lion! 22 minutes? That's ridiculous..."
"This is just those fancy Paris officers making things hard for us..."
"I bet there isn't an army in the world that can meet these assessment standards!"
"Shush—keep it down, the Crown Prince is right there on the reviewing stand..."
"Good, let him hear it! Maybe he'll order the General Staff to revise the standards."
Seeing this, Joseph exchanged a smile with Lefebvre beside him, then raised a hand, signaling for silence.
The Champagne Legion's officers quickly brandished their riding crops, sharply ordering the still-chattering soldiers to quiet down.
Once silence fell over the parade ground, Joseph called out to Lefebvre:
"Major Lefebvre, immediately assemble your troops and prepare for a demonstration of the five-kilometer cross-country run assessment."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Joseph then turned to Baron Diehl, the commander of the Champagne Legion: "Please lead your soldiers to the hillock on the west side, so they can clearly observe the Guards Corps' demonstration."
"At once, Your Highness." Baron Diehl, visibly embarrassed by his men's dismal assessment results, bowed hastily in response.
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