Chapter 51: Redeeming Military Achievements

July 1st, 1916.

The British and French launched a general offensive against the Prussian front line on the Somme. In a single day alone, the British army, serving as the main force, suffered sixty thousand casualties. Field hospitals in the rear were overflowing, and due to the medical corps' lack of preparation, a large number of soldiers died in agony.

Position 144.

Having held out for yet another day, the 2nd Birmingham Infantry Battalion had lost over ninety percent of its personnel. Had the Prussians not refused to accept surrenders at this critical junction, the privates—who had been death row inmates not long ago—would have long since abandoned their resistance. As of now, only three members of the old company survived.

At night, Lieutenant General Somerford, the army group commander who had spearheaded the assault on the western flank and achieved a breakthrough, summoned the two acting officers of the infantry battalion.

When Jiang He and Tommy walked into the bunker, they were greeted by telegraph machines covering every desk. The entire bunker was a hive of activity, and the task of tallying casualties was exceptionally heavy.

A non-commissioned officer led the two into the operations room, where Somerford sat in the primary seat, wreathed in smoke. Commander-in-Chief Haig's order had been relayed down, demanding the capture of the major city of Le Val at all costs.

"Haig is truly a butcher," Somerford said coldly, a remark that made the communications officer's eyelids twitch violently.

"You two must be Tommy and Rhein. The performance of the 2nd Birmingham Infantry Battalion has been outstanding, and I personally express my appreciation for it. Your valor and perseverance deserve to be praised."

Jiang He silently added the word "however" in his mind.

"However, Great Britain has reached its most critical hour. The battle for Le Val concerns the entire front line. We must dispatch our most elite soldiers, and the two of you have already proven your capabilities."

Lieutenant General Somerford stood up and pointed to the map behind him. "In the Le Val region, three of our infantry divisions have arrived at the front lines, engaging in a seesaw battle with the enemy along the Prussian third trench line. Reinforcements from both sides are continuously pouring in, and a brutal urban firefight is about to begin."

"Tommy was originally a registered Gypsy Wildebeest Knight, and I have also heard of Rhein slaying a Prussian old-nobility member at Position 144. You carry the glory of knights within you and will surely shine brilliantly on the battlefield."

Tommy said, "Sir, we are willing to offer our lives for Great Britain, but without some form of reward, it will likely be difficult to rally more transcendent knights."

Somerford glanced at the blue-eyed young man a bit longer, then suddenly chuckled, "Of course. According to ancient law, every knight is a direct vassal of the King. The inner treasury of White Palace is open to you. As long as you have military exploits, you can trade them for anything you desire."

Jiang He frowned slightly, which meant that the major city of Le Val held a target that the British army was determined to secure.

The lieutenant general pushed two document bags across the table. "From this moment on, you belong to the 3rd Army Group, which is under my command."

Jiang He unsealed his document bag, inside of which was a rank report and a peculiar piece of parchment.

[Prompt: Your Reputation +1000]

[Prompt: You have become a Captain (3000/3000)]

[Name: Codex Page]

[Category: Functional]

[Quality: Common]

[Effect ①: Updates the text on the page in real-time according to the master version's status]

[Effect ②: Records specific data]

[Remarks: This secret treasure originates from a diligent judge who spent his entire life upholding the legal code he believed in. After his death, his soul armament fused with the legal code, sublimating into a brand-new record book. People called this judge the Dandelion Knight]

Jiang He observed the paper. This was a single page of a complete secret treasure. It recorded numerous alchemical items, all of which required military exploits to redeem, divided into four grades from A to D, with a decimal scale between them.

Grade D Military Exploits: Thousands of basic alchemical materials.

Grade C Military Exploits: Seventeen types of alchemical bullets, seventeen types of alchemical potions.

Grade B Military Exploits: Production formulas for individual bullets and potions.

Grade A Military Exploits: Twelve secret treasures.

Tommy was also browsing through this list. Killing an ordinary soldier granted one Grade D military exploit, and killing a knight granted one Grade C military exploit. Depending on the rank, killing officers also yielded varying military exploits.

Basically, a single Grade B military exploit could give rise to a small knightly family, and the alchemical formulas for bullets and potions were sufficient to serve as a foundation for heritage.

In addition to this, military exploits could also be exchanged for military ranks, positions, peerage titles, and even actual land in the colonies.

Lieutenant General Somerford said, "From now on, you will immediately proceed to the city of Le Val, disperse into smaller units, and wear down the enemy's living forces. Every knight is allotted one assistant quota, and those below the rank of lieutenant cannot refuse. As for whether they are used to transport supplies, act as human explosive packs, or serve as decoys, the knight may decide for themselves."

Jiang He was speechless. Assistants were no different from medieval squires—entirely consumables in every sense of the word.

Having finished his instructions, Lieutenant General Somerford waved his hand to dismiss the two. Outside the bunker, other knights were waiting to be summoned.

Suddenly, Tommy said, "Mr. Lieutenant General, I have a matter to discuss with you."

...

Late at night, a transport truck delivered the two to the front lines. The villages and trenches near the major city of Le Val had already been converted into permanent fortifications by the infantry divisions, and the artillery groups had been dispersed into artillery regiments joining various battlefields. Once the situation stabilized, Somerford would relocate his command post to truly move into the 3rd Army Group's actual command post.

The command post was established in a small village within a dense forest, patrolled and protected by British and French fighter planes.

Tommy stepped down from the transport truck, accompanied by a death-row inmate from the 2nd Battalion. His older brother Arthur would return to the British mainland with the wounded soldiers to recuperate—a benefit he had fiercely fought the lieutenant general for earlier.

"Being thrust to the front lines seems to be our destiny."

Tommy pulled half a pack of cherished Somme cigarettes out of his dirty pocket, plucked one out to light it, and then offered one to the other person.

Jiang He casually took it and tucked it behind his ear, waiting for the cigarette to eventually fall out on its own. He did not have the habit of smoking; after all, cigarette money was far too extravagant.

Entering the garrison, the two were led toward different encampments based on their respective areas of expertise.

Inside the quartermaster's tent, a calm-looking middle-aged man sat behind a crude wooden table. Noticing someone entering, he put down his fountain pen.

"Captain Rhein, you are an elite knight who has slain your own kind. The quartermaster's department can provide you with two bases totaling twenty sniper rifle bullets, one batch of basic supplies, one alchemical incendiary round, and one bottle of alchemical vitality potion. You can collect three field rations from the quartermaster's department daily; anything else will require military exploits to redeem."

"Thank you," Jiang He said.

Thirteen-in-Row, who had been silently following behind him all this time, stepped forward and hoisted the supply pack onto his back.

Leaving the quartermaster's department, Jiang He examined the bullets and potions. In world quests, the primary harvests extended far beyond mere quest rewards.

[Name: Alchemical Incendiary Round]

[Category: Consumable]

[Quality: Common]

[Effect: Triggers an explosion of fire upon impact, increasing damage to flesh and blood by 10%]

[Remarks: A cost-effective and high-performing consumable]

...

[Name: Alchemical Vitality Potion]

[Category: Consumable]

[Quality: Common]

[Effect: Repairs internal and external injuries]

[Remarks: The specific medicinal efficacy is approximately 30% of a minor healing potion]