CHAPTER 428: CHAPTER 207: DANGEROUS TENDENCIES

Two days, organized a group of 300 people.

This goal should have been impossible to achieve.

But what if the premise was unlimited weapons and food supplies?

Then the situation would be completely different.

It doesn’t take two days, just three hours.

When He Shuo laid out piles of Type 75 rifles and ammunition under the "Holy Elephant Remains" in Han Shui City’s square, the citizens of Han Shui City showed an extraordinary enthusiasm.

Although most of them were just eager to get a free weapon, does that really matter?

With manufacturing costs as low as 3 grams of Gold, even if large-scale production caused a slight price increase in metals, it still didn’t exceed 3.5 grams of Gold. So what if we gave them out for free?

He Shuo’s strategy was simple.

No matter who you are, as long as you come, you get a gun.

However, if you want bullets that can be used with the rifle, you must join the "Expeditionary Force" and participate in the upcoming battles.

This condition filtered out a large number of people, but even so, more than 500 people signed up for the Expeditionary Force.

They were not firm believers of any "Noble" cause; most of them were just opportunists with slightly more courage.

Their purpose for joining the Expeditionary Force was not to fight, but to find a chance to escape after getting a gun and bullets.

However, they soon realized they miscalculated.

As soon as the personnel list was confirmed, He Shuo immediately registered and organized all combat personnel into groups.

Next, he used the simplest and most effective method to maintain personnel stability.

Collective punishment.

people were split into 30 squads, each led by a veteran from the Church Protection Army acting as the squad leader, to control and restrain the whole squad.

If one person tried to escape, the entire squad would face severe punishment.

If entire squads attempted to flee during non-combat situations, the enforcement team left in Han Shui City would impose punishment on all their families.

Cruel, ruthless.

After establishing the rules and issuing orders, in Li Xian’s mind, He Shuo’s image instantly shifted from a high-ranking strategist to a bloodless tyrant.

And those soldiers who had already joined the "Expeditionary Force" were filled with endless regret.

Some regretted their greed for small gains, but more regretted their naive belief in the "rumors" about the "Huaxia Army being a righteous force."

But now, saying anything was already meaningless.

Once the personnel was finalized, He Shuo immediately organized the Expeditionary Force to start training.

His demand for the training level was very low; he didn’t require these people to learn complex tactical movements, nor intricate covering, coordination, and attack procedures.

The one and only task for this Expeditionary Force was to familiarize themselves with the Type 75 rifle in their hands, learning to aim, shoot, and reload.

The more proficient they became with these actions, the better.

As for anything else?

Once a sufficient firepower base was established, the unmanned combat clusters He Shuo carried would compensate for this unit’s tactical deficiencies.

Looking at the Expeditionary Force training under the guidance of veterans on an open field in Han Shui City, an expression of worry surfaced on Li Xian’s face.

He stepped forward to get closer to He Shuo, who was also watching from a high point, and asked:

"Do you really think that such a force can generate enough combat power to help you fight against a Beast Tide composed of hundreds of monsters?"

"Wrong."

He Shuo shook his head.

"They don’t need to fight the Beast Tide; they only need to hold the Beast Tide at our predetermined defense line."

"...You think that’s simple?"

Li Xian looked at He Shuo in astonishment.

"From our past experiences, it isn’t easy to hold a fixed line against even a single level-four monster’s attack."

"We have to rely on the principle of priority detection and attack to kill a level-four monster with limited casualties."

"If the monster strikes first, we don’t even have the basic ability to retaliate."

"Now, you’re facing an attack from hundreds of monsters simultaneously."

"You only have 300 people."

"Do you mean that each person has to face off against a level-four or higher monster and still have to win?"

"Just thinking about it seems impossible, let alone actually fighting?"

"They’re not like you, nor are they like the Huaxia Army. They don’t have such good equipment, nor do they have such strong combat capabilities..."

"Wait."

He Shuo raised his hand, interrupting Li Xian.

"It’s true they don’t have such good equipment."

"But that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have strong combat capabilities."

"Look at them, just a few hours of training, and they’ve already become completely different than when they first picked up the rifle, haven’t they?"

"...Yes."

Li Xian sighed.

"But it’s still not enough."

"Indeed, it is not enough."

He Shuo smiled.

"That’s why I need a flag-raising ceremony."

"Flag-raising??"

Li Xian was taken aback.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly understood what He Shuo meant.

"Are you saying you want this unit to fight a battle before officially departing?"

"That’s right."

He Shuo nodded.

"I want them all to have the experience of facing monsters directly."

"And, I need some of them to die in this battle."

"Impossible, that’s uncontrollable!"

Li Xian immediately frowned.

"I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if a monster can kill one person, it can kill a group of people."

"If you blindly let monsters charge into your ranks, it won’t lead to limited casualties but total collapse!"