Chapter 702: A Bad Job
The young prince woke up in the morning to the sound of battle horns being blown, while his elder brother, Giovanni Junior, was already nowhere in sight. Usually, he woke up early as well, but after two exhausting weeks of chores and worrying about revealing his true identity – a concern that no longer burdened him – he had overslept.
Only after exiting the tent did Leo finally discover that the entire camp had become as rowdy as it could be, with screams of orders and the clashing of metals everywhere, as team after team of soldiers rushed by on the roads before the tent. Upon seeing their sovereign, the two Varangians who had been guarding the tent all night bowed towards the prince and conveyed the message that Giovanni Junior was expecting him at the parade square in the centre of the camp, where a major event was set to occur.
Escorted by a team of soldiers, fully equipped in armour with purple cloaks that suited his identity, the young prince reached the parade square. He ascended the commanding tower, giving him an elevated view of the entire terrain, where the commander, Aurelian, and his brother, Giovanni Junior, also wearing a purple cloak, were already waiting for him.
"Your Highness!" The commander cried out with a smile, saluting the young prince. "Come over here, you have arrived at the right time. I have been preparing for a regimental-level military exercise for a few months now, and it’s perfect that you happened to be here. Come and see how to command a force and how the chain of command operates."
Leo saluted back. "Thank you, Commander, for this valuable opportunity."
The young prince looked beneath the tower and beheld an awe-inspiring sight. The parade square below was a sea of scarlet red, the primary colour of the regiment’s uniforms. Rows upon rows of soldiers moved in perfect unison, their armour gleaming under the morning sun. Cavalries trotted with disciplined precision, their steeds adorned with crimson caparisons, snorting and pawing at the ground, ready for the command to charge. Infantry units, clad in chainmail and breastplates, held their shields and spears aloft, the scarlet pennants attached to their poles fluttering in the breeze.
Archers stood in orderly ranks, their bows strung, and arrows nocked, the feathered ends painted red. The artillery units, with their massive siege engines and cannons, were strategically positioned at the rear, their crews diligently preparing for the signal to unleash their destructive power. Dust rose from the ground as the troops marched, accompanied by the rhythmic clatter of metal and the booming roars of commands echoing across the square.
The sight of two thousand soldiers, each part of a well-oiled machine, moving with such synchronization and purpose, filled the air with an electrifying tension. The entire camp buzzed with the energy of disciplined chaos, a testament to the might and organization of the Roman military.
This is one of the few times Leo has seen an army actually preparing for combat in his entire life, and such a sight is indeed awe-inspiring for the young boy, casting something unforgettable in his deeper soul. Leading and watching an entire army march beneath one’s feet is something a man should long for, according to the young boy’s inner feelings. Leo’s eyes brightened, his heart pounding in the same rhythm as the trembles of the horses and troopers below. He couldn’t control himself and began to repeat the orders and cries of the soldiers in the distance. Everything seemed so fresh, yet so exciting for the young prince.
"This, my brother," exclaimed Giovanni Junior, spreading his arms with the commanding signal flag, waving toward the troops to move around. "Is how an army looks when it is in operation! What do you feel?"
"It is... magnificent! Outstanding view! Breathtaking!" Leo’s eyes sparkled. "I want to lead an army in the future too!"
Upon hearing this, Giovanni Junior and the commander halted. Giovanni shook his head. "Leading an army is not that easy, my brother! You need to work hard and learn a lot! Leading an army of hundreds or thousands can burn you out."
The young prince hastily nodded his head, clearly not believing his brother’s words.
The commander stepped forward with a gentle smile. "Think of this example, Your Highness. Imagine you are responsible for bringing a hundred people to a location ten kilometers away for a picnic. Do you think that is an easy job?"
The young prince hesitated.
"Now remember, you have a hundred people with a hundred different minds and a hundred different bodies. Some may dehydrate on the way, some may walk too fast or too slow compared to others, some may be discontent with your leadership, some may try to flee, and some may get lost after a toilet break. You can encounter sudden conditions, such as broken roads, bridges, or sudden rains. Tell me, what will you do in these circumstances? And we haven’t even talked about things of war, such as a possible enemy ambush. We are just discussing bringing a hundred people to a new location."
"You are right, Commander," Leo finally nodded.
"Your brother, Giovanni, my disciple, has spent five years in this camp. I can proudly say he now possesses the ability to lead a hundred soldiers into battle. But you, Your Highness, are different. You might not realize this, but you don’t need to worry about all these detailed military matters because you are going to become the sovereign of this country. Instead, you will need to worry about other matters that are much more important than all these trivial issues, such as who shall be the most suitable person to lead an army."
The young prince nodded. "Of course, Commander, but I still think that as a prince of the Romans, I cannot be completely ignorant about commanding an army."
"Yes, yes, of course, Your Highness," the commander answered hastily, clasping his hands and narrowing his eyes. "That is why I invited you to join this military exercise. It will give you some basic insight into commanding an army. Now, this army is trained to serve and protect you. You may give the command to start when you feel the time is appropriate."
After that, the commander stepped back, detaching the blade from his waist and handing it to the prince.
Leo nodded and took the sword, then, clad in his armour, walked to the front of the tower.
In the span of their conversation, the entire regiment had already settled into formations. Two thousand soldiers stood silently, covering the entire parade square, all eyes fixed on the head of the tower.
Leo took a deep breath and glanced at his brother, who nodded in encouragement and placed a hand on his younger brother’s left shoulder. Feeling a surge of confidence, Leo drew the shining blade and raised it high into the air, roaring out a brief command that tore through the air.
"I am Leo De’Ricci! Son of the Basileus! All of you! Embark on my orders! Now, march!"
The commander, who is already down there, waved his fist punching high into the air. "Today we march! On the orders of his highness, the prince of the Roman Empire!"
Immediately following this order, the soldiers sprang into action. Regiment by regiment, they marched out of the parade square in an orderly fashion, with no clashes or unrest, following the pre-designed routes. Giovanni Junior held the command flags, sending messages to the various segments. Officers, both high-ranking and low-ranking, rushed back and forth according to the signals to coordinate the movements. Within half an hour, the entire parade square was vacated as the regiment, apart from the guards, logistics, and clergy, left the camp.
"You did well, my brother," Giovanni said, lowering his arms, which had been raised since the start of the morning.
"Alright now, the army has embarked, there are no point for us to remain here, remember, my brother, that you are here to learn, so try to observe as many details as you can later, you wont get such a chance for an exercise occurring that often."
Leo nodded and acknowledged.
The two brothers descended the tower with the Varangians and the guards, mounted their respective horses, and began following the trails of their armies.
"Giovanni, tell me, how does it really feel to lead an army?" Leo asked, in curiosity.
Giovanni Junior thought for a while and shook his head. "If I am going to say it, then I would say it is one of the most tiring jobs that I have ever seen. Take this exercise, for example. I, along with the other lieutenants and the commander, have been planning everything for a month. We had to wake up way before sunrise to start carrying out all the chores. My head feels like it’s burning from arranging the different logistic requirements for various troops. Actually, I can understand why General Julian wanted to retire; it is not an easy role to lead an army."
"But..."
