CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 159 REVIEW

November 11, 1868.

The Heixinggen Royal family held a cadet review ceremony in the suburbs of Heixinggen.

After the exam, the number of streamlined students totaled just over 3,300, but this is the first batch of relatively high-quality students since the establishment of Heixinggen Military Academy, so the quality is high, they are obedient to commands, and they appear to have quite the demeanor of soldiers.

Morning.

A little past six.

The review stage begins to be set up, exclusively for the Heixinggen Royal family, which is where Prince Constantine and Ernst sit.

Viewing stands are set up on both sides of the review stage, designated for the teachers of the academy and the local gentry officials of Heixinggen.

At eight o’clock, the students of Heixinggen Military Academy began to assemble and enter the review area.

"Everyone listen up today, this review is different from the usual ones at the school, as it will face the public and officials and gentry of Heixinggen and the surrounding area, so you cannot afford any mistakes.

If due to the stupidity of one or some people, shame not only falls on yourselves, but also on the face of Heixinggen Military Academy, Heixinggen area, and the face of the Prince and his Royal Highness.

Therefore, not a single mistake is allowed to occur, if you disgrace yourselves in front of guests, my baton will greet you properly when you return, do you hear?"

"Reporting Instructor, we hear!" The cadets responded loudly and seriously, each with a face of determination and solemnity.

Today, all students of Heixinggen Military Academy were wearing the military uniforms of the Heixinggen army, a one-to-one replica of the attire under the leadership of the original Heixinggen Royal family.

This is the first large-scale semi-military force organized by the Heixinggen Royal family since Heixinggen merged into Prussia.

It was as if Heixinggen had returned to the status of one of the thirty-plus states of Germany, that small but considered military force in the German region, the Heixinggen army had returned.

Of course, everyone knew Heixinggen could not return, among the attendees today were Prussian officials from the Hohenzollern province, including military commanders sent by the Prussian government to Heixinggen.

The Heixinggen Royal family only has many privileges and great autonomy, while the actual governance of Heixinggen area is the Prussian government.

Heixinggen Military Academy is registered as an educational institution, naturally it cannot be compared to the army, but it is clear to those with keen eyes that it’s essentially an army, and that it’s a private force of the Heixinggen Royal family.

At nine o’clock, the Heixinggen Royal family arrived fashionably late, with Prince Constantine and Ernst arriving by carriage from the south from Hohenzollern Castle.

By this time, many people had already arrived, including the townsfolk of Heixinggen who came to join in the festivities, it had been many years since the Heixinggen Royal family held a military parade, naturally today they wanted to join in, among them were old soldiers who had once fought alongside the old Count and Prince.

Prince Constantine specially invited them close to the viewing platform, even though the Heixinggen princely state’s army was gone, it couldn’t erase the fact that these old soldiers had once risked their lives for the Heixinggen Royal family.

At nine twenty, Prince Constantine gave his speech first.

"Heixinggen is a region with a long history, and the place where the Hohenzollern family originated, the Hohenzollern family is closely connected with the people of Heixinggen.

And Heixinggen Military Academy aims to inherit and promote the fine traditions and virtues of the Heixinggen region..."

After Prince Constantine, as the representative of Heixinggen delivered his speech, it was the turn for Principal Ernst to speak, who stood on the review platform and began his address.

"Heixinggen Military Academy, as a military institution, shoulders the important task of training professional military talents, it not only serves the Heixinggen region, but also is a great place for ambitious youth across the entire German region.

Here you learn professional knowledge, cultivate a spirit of bravery and fearlessness, understand military honor, and become the pillars of society in the future.

...

When the Academy was initially established, I adopted the concept of nurturing Heixinggen Military Academy into an important future military institution in the German region, but due to constraints in conditions and time, while East African society urgently needs a large number of talents, Heixinggen Military Academy turned to rapid development, but such rapid development also exhausted the potential of students.

Going forward, Heixinggen Military Academy will move from a focus on quantity and speed to a pursuit of quality and precision.

Every student will receive better educational resources, so Heixinggen Military Academy students should more strictly demand themselves, and strive to improve their levels, to fight for Germany in the future."

After Ernst finished his speech, the review was formally announced to begin.

Under the guidance of instructors and student leaders, the military band first played a Prussian national anthem, pure music, this was shown for the Prussian government officials.

As this music began playing, Heixinggen Military Academy students began to prepare.

Then the military band started playing, the Heixinggen Military Academy alma mater, the melody prelude sounded.

The instructors led the teams to enter, Heixinggen Military Academy students were divided into eleven squads, marching at an even pace on the temporary field, undergoing review.

"German glory bathes Heixinggen,

Military Academy trains diligently,

Strive to be the good youth of the era,

Defend Germany, defend homeland.

..."

Heixinggen Military Academy students sang the alma mater loudly along with the music of the military band.

This alma mater was completed collaboratively by some rather renowned musicians invited by Ernst in the musical capital Vienna, the melody felt smooth, the tone solid, the tempo regular.

Under the guidance of the military flag, they marched with Prussian military steps, shouldering Dreyse Rifles, impressively passing before the review stage.

Guests at the viewing stands watched this young team before them and applauded vigorously, regardless of their technical level, this spirit and state alone is very admirable.

The invited Prussian military commander of Heixinggen region said to the surrounding guests: "Their level of training far exceeds that of the ordinary Prussian military before the reform, although there are still some flaws, just in terms of formation, following commands and other technical aspects, I estimate they are about the same as the current ordinary Prussian military, but they are all very young, with a brighter future ahead."

He actually didn’t truly think this internally, a military unit that hasn’t been baptized by fire certainly doesn’t know its true strength.

Heixinggen Military Academy currently is just performing steps, its organizational capabilities can be glimpsed but on the battlefield the enemy would not give you such a relaxed environment.

Therefore, the Prussian stationed military commander in Heixinggen couldn’t ascertain the combat effectiveness of Heixinggen Military Academy, he wrote in his report to the government: "By observing the military appearance and bearing, they have form, but are all young students, and lacking war experience, combat effectiveness surely cannot compare with the kingdom’s army, in my personal view, the cultivation of these students by the Heixinggen Royal family is far less than the professional military academies established by the kingdom."

If Ernst knew this military officer wrote so he would certainly not be bothered, as the road of Heixinggen Military Academy has only just begun.

Today’s military parade was just the prelude to the reform of Heixinggen Military Academy, once the professional teaching team and facilities are completed, that marks the beginning of the forceful development of Heixinggen Military Academy.

Whether the students of Heixinggen Military Academy are mules or horses, time will tell in two years.