ATPnovel 82. German Army
82. German Army
"Yes, ma'am."
A short while later, two officers walked in one after the other.
"Salute to you." The two officers saluted Pratt, and although they did not recognize Dugan, they could tell at a glance that Dugan's uniform was that of a general.
Then they saluted Dugan again, "General."
Dugan also saluted them.
Pratt began his presentation.
The older one, around forty years old, was lean and sturdy with a straight back. He was Colonel von der Decken, a senior officer in the Hanoverian regular army. After the fall of Hanover, he went into exile in Britain and was one of the founding core members of the King's German Legion.
The young man behind him was Major Harker Colin, who was just over thirty years old.
Then, Platt pointed to Dugan and said, "Gentlemen, please meet your new commander. This is Mr. Dugan Connby, Brigadier General, who distinguished himself in the Indian campaign and is highly regarded by General Arthur Wellesley and Governor Richard Wellesley. On their recommendation and with His Majesty's personal permission, he now assumes full command of the King's German Army."
Colonel Deken and Major Harkert were both slightly surprised and subconsciously looked up at the young brigadier general in front of them.
However, Deken and Harkert were not stupid. They knew that someone who could be exceptionally appointed as the commander of the royal private army was definitely not an ordinary nobleman.
Pratt added, "Although Colonel Decken and Major Halkert are German, they speak English and can serve as your translators."
Dugan shook hands with Colonel Deken and Major Harkert. "From now on, we'll be comrades fighting side by side."
"It's a great honor."
"It would be my great honor."
Deken and Halkert also said with a smile.
Pratt then returned to his desk, looked at Colonel Deken, and said, "Colonel Deken, the legion has been established for several months now. Why don't you give General Dugan a brief introduction?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
The King's German Infantry Regiment was first established in October 1803 by Colonel von der Decken, a former Hanover officer in exile in England, on the orders of King George III of Great Britain. At that time, it was named the King's German Infantry Regiment and its only branch of service was infantry.
On December 19, 1803, the cavalry, artillery, and other branches of the Royal German Army (KGL) were merged and expanded into a full-service force.
The core of the army consisted mainly of retired or exiled soldiers from the original Hanoverian regular army, and the officers were all former Hanoverian nobles and soldiers. Later, some civilians who had fled from French-occupied areas, captured German prisoners of war, and exiles from northern Germany were added to the army.
该兵团总建制包括10个步兵营、5个骑兵团、6个炮兵连以及1个工兵分队；步兵驻贝克斯希尔，骑兵驻韦茅斯，炮兵在多塞特兵营。总兵力8300人。
Dugan's eyes lit up; it was the first time he had ever commanded so many people.
Pratt said, "Go back and make your own preparations. General Dugan will be going to Bakershill to take up his post in three days."
"Yes, sir." Dugan, Deken, and Harkert saluted together.
At that moment, Lewis brought in a huge pile of documents.
So Dugan, Decken, and Harkert used this as an excuse to leave.
Once outside the Guards cavalry building, Dugan said to Deken and Harkert, "Gentlemen, see you in Bexhill in three days."
"Yes, sir." Deken and Harkert saluted Dugan.
Dugan returned home in a carriage and briefly told his father, Oris, and mother, Maria, about Plata's new appointment to him.
Father Oris was silent for a moment, then got up, patted Dugan on the shoulder, said nothing, and left.
Lady Maria expressed her displeasure, saying, "I've heard that Lord Camden's own grandson is already quite old, yet he's telling you to hold back on marriage. It's outrageous! The war will never end. Does that mean my son doesn't need to get married as long as Napoleon rules France?"
"My dear mother, your son has no shortage of women around me," Dugan reassured his mother. "You can get married anytime. But I'm not in a hurry."
"But..." Mrs. Maria was still unwilling.
"There's no 'but' about it..." Dugan pushed his mother upstairs. "I want to be alone."
"Okay!" Maria went upstairs.
At this moment, Aldo came over and said, "Young Master Gris and Young Master Ken have sent someone to invite you to a banquet."
As he spoke, Aldo took out an exquisite card.
"Gris?" Dugan took the card and saw that the location was a mansion in Hanover Square, London, a place Dugan knew very well.
"Well, it's been over a year since I last saw this guy." Dugan put away the card and called upstairs, "Griss invited me to dinner, I'm coming right now."
"Remember to come back early," came the reply from upstairs, from the mother, Maria.
It was already dusk when Dugan went out.
The candlelight in the few remaining shops on the street flickered precariously, making it almost impossible to see the road ahead.
Just then, two street light workers came over.
One of them carried a long ladder, while the other carried a tin bucket of charcoal fires on his side, with a heavy iron rod buried deep inside the bucket, encasing the glowing embers.
The top of the street lamp post was covered with a modified glass dome made from a medicine bottle, and the ground was covered with resin-sealed gas pipes.
The worker crouched down, lifted the charcoal fire bucket, and used tongs to remove the iron shovel.
The entire body was burned to a translucent crimson, and the tip of the gong gleamed with a dazzling bright orange. As soon as it was exposed to the cold air, it emitted wisps of blue smoke and a very faint hiss.
He secured the iron shovel into the anti-scalding sleeve on the wooden handle, stuffed the red-hot iron shovel into the lampshade, and then made a gesture to his companion.
The other person bent down and turned on the cast iron valve at the bottom of the lamp post. Gas slowly overflowed from the brass nozzle, and then the hot tip of the shovel was slowly brought close to the gas outlet.
Without a roaring explosion or blinding sparks, just a soft "poof" sound, a clear blue-purple flame suddenly burst forth, steadily filling the entire glass lampshade.
One cup, two cups, three cups.
The crimson iron poker fell back into the embers and reignited, illuminating the darkness time and time again.
After lighting all the streetlights, the workers skillfully finished up, carefully cleaning the pipe joints with soapy water to check for leaks, and then gently straightening the lamp heads with long hooks to stabilize the flickering flames.
Once everything was in place, the two carried the ladder and the charcoal bucket, and walked away into the twilight.
"Let's go, hurry up," Dugan urged Aldo. "The streetlights are on."
Hanover Square is a private area for London's elite aristocracy, where the evening breeze carries the rich aromas of flowers and wine.
The private residence that Gris rented was a typical Georgian-era European building.
Dugan's carriage came to a smooth stop in front of the stone steps of the courtyard. The servant opened the carriage door and gestured for him to enter.
As Dugan stepped out of the car and into the mansion's hall, he was immediately enveloped by the warm candlelight and rich fragrance.
"Dughan! Brother!"
Two cheerful shouts rang out at the same time.
Dressed in a beige tuxedo, Gris rushed up to Dugan and gave him a bear hug as soon as he saw him.
Ken, standing to the side, was wearing a navy blue fitted dress, his overweight figure stretching the dress tightly.
"It's been over a year since I last saw you, and you still look as energetic as ever," Gris said, patting Dugan on the shoulder with a smile.
"I heard you're already a brigadier general?" Ken replied with a smile.
"Ken, how's your gut?" Dugan lightly punched Ken's chubby belly.
"Thanks to you, it's great, and I've even lost a whole 10 pounds." He must be beaming with pride.
Dugan looked Ken up and down and figured that Ken must have become addicted to opium to lose weight.
The three of them walked into the spacious and magnificent banquet hall. The long table was covered with a snow-white embroidered velvet tablecloth, and the gilded candlesticks were neatly arranged, making the delicacies on the table shine.
On either side of the long table, two slender figures turned around at the sound, their bright eyes and graceful demeanor quite different.
Dugan recognized them immediately; they were Nina and Scarlett.
"Oh, Nina, Scarlett." Dugan opened his arms and hugged Nina and Scarlett.
"Long time no see, Dugen." The two looked at each other with smiles, their tone familiar and intimate, but their expressions were somewhat strange.
Dugan then looked at Gris, who nodded.
Dugan pointed at Ken again, and Gris nodded.
Dugan understood immediately, and then Chonggris gave him a thumbs up.
As everyone sat down around the table, Nina was the first to notice Dugan's scar.
"Are you looking at this?" Dugan pointed to the scar.
Nina nodded. "What's going on?"
"I left this while fighting the Marathas," Dugan began, recounting his experiences in India.
Du Gen was already quite eloquent, and with his descriptions that were seven parts truth and three parts exaggeration, Nina and Scarlett were filled with admiration.
Nina's eyes lit up, and she covered her breasts with both hands, exclaiming, "This scar makes you look even more charming than before!" With that, Nina grabbed Dugan's left arm.
Tonight, you are mine.
Scarlett also said, "Not only that, I don't think it ruins your looks at all; on the contrary, it makes you more masculine and sexier."
After saying that, Scarlett grabbed Dugan's right arm. "I get one too."