Chapter 46: Chapter 42: Prey Tracking
Luo De didn’t really know any advanced soldier training techniques.
But he understood that the most important thing in the army was strict command and obedience.
Luo De taught Durant the basic walking, formation, physical fitness and agility training facilities, discipline, as well as rewards and penalties that he knew from his previous life.
Luo De felt a bit guilty while explaining.
However, Durant listened more and more intently.
This training method was stricter than even the Earl of the Tulip’s guards, offering unique ideas in terms of physical and agility training, which greatly shocked Durant.
Although Durant understood some of it, where did the lord learn these things?
How could these everyday-working bastards know?
Did he know he would become a lord early on and sneak into the Earl’s study to learn in advance?
Yet those training methods he had never heard of, where did they come from?
"I understand your concept and wholeheartedly agree, Lord Baron, but I didn’t quite grasp that part about the obstacle training facilities. Could you explain it again?"
Durant humbly asked, like a devoted apprentice.
Durant thought, if he could use these training facilities, perhaps his swordsmanship could improve further?
"Of course."
Luo De was about to speak when he suddenly recalled a demon-hunting game from his previous life involving training facilities for demon hunters.
Those training facilities included various wooden stakes, straw mannequins, obstacles, and slings.
These facilities were used to train the demon hunters in agility, swordsmanship, and reaction speed.
The most famous part was the rotating wooden stake mechanism, where a massive wooden beam was horizontally suspended in the air, surrounded by spiked rods, spinning rapidly due to mechanism activation, requiring trainees to agilely dodge, block, or counterattack.
Luo De thought, perhaps something like that would be more suited for soldier training in this world.
Yes, this facility must be set up!
But reproducing that requires some time; Luo De first explained the training methods he’d seen in his previous life to Durant.
"Obstacle training includes rope climbing, obstacle jumping, wall scaling, and balancing beams to train soldiers’ agility, coordination, stamina, and psychological qualities."
Luo De didn’t know if it had any effect; he just shared everything in one go.
"It’s best to time the whole process during training, to give them a sense of pressure... I’ll have a carpenter make a simple hourglass."
Durant conscientiously noted this down, then asked somewhat bewildered, "Do you know what those facilities look like?"
Luo De smiled and said, "They’re quite simple. I’ll draw some designs for you; anyone with some building skills can set them up."
Durant instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
At the same time, he was filled with curiosity about these training facilities.
What kind of facilities are simple to set up and could train soldiers?
Durant looked at Luo De with eager anticipation, "Please draw them as soon as possible."
Luo De agreed wholeheartedly, not expecting Durant to be so enthusiastic.
It’s worth mentioning that this time Luo De not only raised the training standards but also improved the food.
Throughout the training period, all soldiers were given half a pound of extra meat, including fifteen selected from the slaves.
To make a horse run fast, you not only whip it but also feed it well.
In this respect, Luo De was unhesitatingly generous.
Luo De regarded the soldiers’ training as extremely important, with no procrastination, staying up all night to draw up the facilities.
Luo De personally led a team, spending a week to build all these facilities.
Of course, some improvements were made to these facilities.
For instance, the wall climb was changed to a three-point-five-meter spiked fence, more aligned with the construction in Desert Town.
Additionally, Luo De was very interested in the claw hooks used by Dolan and Macao, two hunters, and asked Durant to have them pass on their experience.
This special skill requires more talent; Luo De didn’t expect them to hit as accurately as the two hunters.
But at least it could be used as a basic climbing tool.
Luo De personally crafted claw hooks capable of piercing rocks, and if the soldiers could master them, a night raid on a castle was very likely.
After finishing all this, Luo De began focusing on his own entries.
The breeding entry would unlock its first entry, [Crazy Reproduction], once the fish pond was constructed and stocked with a thousand pounds of fish fry.
Luo De hadn’t yet unlocked any entries related to the Hunting Lord.
The first entry, [Prey Tracking], requires personally hunting fifteen types of prey, five each from land, aerial, and aquatic, dissecting one from each category by hand.
Luo De thought this entry was not very useful temporarily, so he hadn’t paid much attention.
Now wanting to unlock the Lord of Nature, he’d need to perfect forging, breeding, and hunting.
Luo De had long gathered the aquatic prey and personally dissected fish.
Land prey included rabbits and elk that Luo De had hunted, and aerial prey meant two-legged flying dragons.
With some free time now, Luo De decided to hunt in the desert with Rein.
The diversity of prey in the desert was more than Luo De had imagined.
On the first day of hunting, Luo De captured sparrows, grouse, and crows, and performed an open surgery on a sparrow.
This left just one more aerial prey.
Over the next two days, with Rein and the hunters’ assistance, Luo De effortlessly killed cattle, squirrels, and roe deer.
The quick unlocking was not due to significant improvement in Luo De’s archery but his ability to exploit loopholes.
Even if he couldn’t shoot, Rein and others could catch the prey and bring it to Luo De to personally handle.
For the last aerial prey, Luo De wanted to hunt a male hawk for a perfect end to the entry.
But after half a day, he found no trace and ultimately shot a wild duck by a forest pond.
[You’ve hunted five types each of land, aerial, and aquatic creatures and dissected one from each category. Unlock: Prey Tracking]
[Prey Tracking (White): Your keen observation allows you to find the tracks left by prey (any biol marked by you) and easily discern the direction they’ve escaped to.]
Oh?
Luo De looked at the description of Prey Tracking with some surprise.
Evidently, this entry could be applied not only in hunting but in warfare too!
Luo De suddenly realized,
War was just another form of hunting!
It seems I shouldn’t set the entries’ nature just by the name; unlocking them was still necessary.
Luo De immediately checked the next entry,
[Harvest 2000 pounds of prey (must include more than 3 species), collect 100 animal pelts (damage rate＜20%), unlock entry: Flesh Harvester]
Hiss—
Luo De gritted his teeth looking at the entry information.
If I’d unlocked the first entry earlier, the second entry would already be complete by now!
But fortunately, the hunting team is continuously hunting, with luck in catching a black bear and then hunting some rabbits and elk; it would be about enough.
If all else fails, River Bay could have another collective fishing expedition.
Just as Luo De was contemplating, Alya ran back.
"Lord, a team was spotted ahead to the southeast, three carts and slaves, it seems to be a caravan!"
Luo De was brought back, slightly surprised.
How could there be a caravan passing through here?
Luo De and the hunting team were located northeast of Frost Leaf Town; further east were mountains with the eastern coast beyond.
The eastern mountains were different from the Black Stone Mountain Range, steep peaks seldom traveled by humans, with no path through.
Even Susan’s father, living at the northeast mountain foot, never ventured inside, only living on the outskirts.
Otherwise, Luo De would have opened up maritime trade long ago.
"Did they come from the south, lost their way?"
Luo De speculated, pulling out a map to check.
The nearest city to the south is Border City, and farther is Hawk County, a long journey with some rugged and difficult paths.
Coming this way would be twice the distance.
No need.
Luo De felt puzzled and stood up.
"Let’s not roast duck, let’s go see the caravan."
No matter where the caravan came from, the taxes due to Luo De can’t fall short of a single copper coin.