Chương 182: Formative Steps of a Multi-Species Army

"By the way, Boss," Gob-Bow spoke up, "now that we have a Water Drake unit coming together, should we consider organizing a Kobold force as well?

"A Kobold's sense of smell is several times sharper than ours. Bringing them into the ranks could significantly bolster our tactical field awareness!" Gob-Bow's suggestion plunged Li Qinwu into deep thought. The Kobolds had joined the Alliance very early on, presenting a stable pool of recruits, yet Li Qinwu had never seriously contemplated enlisting them on a large scale. Physically, Kobolds fell short compared to Goblins—primarily due to their thick fur, which severely hindered heat dissipation.

On high-speed tactical maneuvers, they simply couldn't keep pace with Goblin infantry. As for shaving them down, the Kobolds were intensely resistant to the idea. In Kobold culture, a hairless dog was considered an insult second only to having one's tail docked. Even if political officers managed to talk them into shaving, the fur would grow back quickly, requiring endless grooming and repeat shaves—an unreasonable expenditure of labor. Moreover, Kobolds were prone to skin conditions.

Trapping dense fur under heavy military uniforms and combat gear invited severe dermatitis and flea infestations, risking the spread of contagious skin diseases across tightly packed military barracks. All in all, these compounding drawbacks had previously led Li Qinwu to pass over the Kobolds for active military duty. Seeing Li Qinwu hesitate, Gob-Bow pushed further: "Boss, a Kobold's scent tracking is genuinely exceptional. Downwind, they can pinpoint enemy positions up to five kilometers away!

"If we integrate them, our units can spot ambushes long before contact. At the very least, we ought to attach a few to each sniper company!" Weighing the proposal, Li Qinwu conceded that their extraordinary olfactory capabilities could indeed outweigh their physical shortcomings.

"Alright," Li Qinwu relented.

"From now on, we'll attach one Kobold squad to every infantry company. We'll assign them a dedicated transport vehicle so they can ride along during rapid maneuvers. With an entire company supporting them, enforcing proper grooming and hygiene shouldn't be an issue." Pausing to consider the broader picture, he decided to take the initiative a step further.

"Send recruiters out to the Kobold assimilation villages. Recruit an entire battalion and assign them directly to the National Defense Force." Establishing a pure-Kobold battalion served a broader political purpose: unity. Should future historians look back on the Alliance's rise, they would see that the Kobolds had fought in their own military formations for the collective cause, accelerating genuine cross-species integration.

As for their lower physical endurance, the National Defense Force—unlike the Penal Corps—was not tasked with deep offensive strikes into foreign territories; its role was limited to internal security and territorial defense, where physical endurance gaps mattered far less. Potential hurdles like manpower shortages or language barriers were non-issues. The local Kobold tribes had long since settled into organized assimilation villages, cohabitating alongside Goblins.

As dark-element species, they shared a natural affinity. As for language, Goblin speech had already been established as the official lingua franca of the Alliance. Anyone aspiring to advance their career or secure an officer's commission was required to learn it—an effective, non-coercive incentive. Many Kobold families were already proactively teaching the Alliance language to their children. Given two generations of structured education, achieving standardized literacy across the population was well within reach.

Gob-Bow voiced his assent. Speaking of multi-species integration within the military, Li Qinwu decided to commit to the policy even more decisively. He instructed Gob-Bow to summon Knight Reo and the Cosy-Cochi brothers. Turning to Knight Reo, Li Qinwu announced, "To reward your contributions to the Alliance, I have decided to form an all-human regiment under the National Defense Force. You will serve as its Regiment Commander." Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Knight Reo was overcome with ecstasy, his eyes practically gleaming with tears of gratitude. Finally—finally, his day had come! The previous militia unit he commanded had been a temporary, low-readiness police force. Now, he was being appointed as a full-fledged Regiment Commander in the regular National Defense Force—a position of genuine military authority that effectively welcomed him into the governing class. Knight Reo dropped to his knees on the spot, but Li Qinwu quickly caught him by the shoulders.

"Reo, I'm afraid the promise to make you a landed lord can no longer be honored, nor will there be any granting of noble titles. The Alliance does not practice feudalism. Do you harbor any resentment over this?" The Alliance operated on a system of high state ownership and public planning. All land belonged strictly to the state, leaving no room for feudal lords or aristocratic titles.

Every naturalized citizen automatically received a standard, non-transferable allocation of 40 mu of arable land upon passing the citizenship exam. Specialized species received larger allocations based on their physiological needs—Ogres, for instance, received 800 mu to account for their massive appetites and heavy contributions to infrastructure development. Knight Reo shook his head emphatically, sinking down into a proper bow. Raising his eyes to meet Li Qinwu's with tearful sincerity, he declared:"Your Majesty!

I have spent half my life wandering in obscurity, lamenting only that I had never met a worthy master. If Your Majesty does not disdain me, I am willing to serve you until my dying breath!" Li Qinwu quickly pulled him back up to his feet, having no desire to play the role of an adoptive father to a man pushing forty. Still, he was thoroughly satisfied with Knight Reo's response.

The knight understood what truly mattered: noble titles and land grants were mere vanity, but holding actual military command was real power. Yet while Reo saw the bigger picture, others clearly did not. The Cosy-Cochi brothers exchanged a fleeting glance, clear dissatisfaction flashing in their eyes. Both brothers had started out as common drifters and prospective serfs in Poloia. In their minds, the ultimate measure of self-worth was becoming landed gentry and receiving a noble title.

Hearing Li Qinwu declare that there would be no land grants or noble titles made them feel as though their desperate sacrifices at the siege of Poloia had been for nothing. At that moment, a bitter surge of betrayal welled up inside them. Neither brother possessed much political sophistication, and their inner frustration spilled plain across their faces. Having finished setting Reo's appointment, Li Qinwu shifted his gaze over to the brothers.

Sensing his sharp eyes on them, the two immediately snapped into a desperate display of performative gratitude. Li Qinwu caught every bit of their underlying resentment. Squinting slightly, he quietly evaluated how best to handle them. The brothers stood as key representatives among the human population within the Alliance, and many human citizens looked to them as bellwethers. Mishandling their situation could easily spark unease among human recruits, undermining unity.

Furthermore, Li Qinwu genuinely acknowledged their service. Back at Poloia, when the outer wall had been breached and enemy forces flooded through the breach, the two brothers had led their militia unit into the teeth of the assault to reinforce the line. That was a merit that deserved recognition and proper reward. However, their lack of political awareness—likely rooted in their background—needed careful handling. How best to resolve it? After a moment's consideration, an idea took shape.

Ever heard of the ancient art of motivational leadership? With a crisp movement, Li Qinwu cupped his hands together in a formal salute, leaning slightly forward as his gaze radiated unreserved sincerity.

"Generals Cosy and Cochi! The state has only just secured its borders, and the internal situation remains fragile. We face multi-ethnic friction within and a pack of ravenous wolves lurking without. I stand in dire need of true pillars of the realm!

"Both of you possess extraordinary talent and have rendered legendary service on the battlefield. My sole desire is to have two such magnificent commanders standing by my side.

"Together, we shall march across the realm and carve out a grand legacy! We shall strike down our enemies beyond our borders, earn glory protecting the state, plant our banners first upon enemy walls, claim regional commands, expand our nation's domain, perform deeds that echo through the ages, bring honor to our ancestors, bestow prosperity upon future generations, and carve our names permanently into the annals of history!

"My generals—you must help me build this grand era!" The Cosy-Cochi brothers stared with wide eyes, their hearts thumping violently against their chests. What field commander could possibly withstand such a stirring, heroic appeal? Caught up in the moment, they hurriedly cupped their hands and bowed deeply in return. The lingering resentment evaporated instantly. Li Qinwu secretly gloated to himself. Who needs magic when you can appeal to a soldier's ultimate ambition?

Without delay, he finalized their structural assignments. Cosy was assigned to Knight Reo's regiment as a Battalion Commander, while Cochi was transitioned out of the standing army to serve as Chief of the Fire and Emergency Services in Steel City, commanding a specialized unit of 1, 000 personnel. Despite his grand speech, Li Qinwu knew better than to leave the two brothers in the same chain of command, preventing them from feeding into each other's grievances.

Separating them into military and civil defense roles struck the right balance. Once they settled down, started families, and adjusted to life in the Alliance, Li Qinwu would find further opportunities to promote them—provided they displayed the necessary political maturity. Otherwise, this would remain the ceiling of their careers.