Wearing British clothes as a second-generation aristocrat

17. Annoying paperwork

The morning at the Schollingur camp was still shrouded in the scorching sun of the Deccan Plateau's dry season. The reveille, training calls, and commands rang out as scheduled, filling the camp with a tense military atmosphere.

Inside the regimental headquarters' study, however, all was quiet, with only the scratching of pens on paper, a stark contrast to the noise outside.

Dugan sat at his large wooden desk, surrounded by thick stacks of documents and reports. He held a quill pen between his fingers, his brow furrowed, and his expression betrayed a hint of undisguised boredom.

Two full weeks have passed since he stayed at the regimental headquarters, and all the work he has done during these two weeks has been document preparation.

The tasks involved compiling casualty statistics for each battalion, registering material supply information, copying reports to Major General Wellesley, and organizing scattered intelligence on the Maratha guerrillas. The work was tedious and monotonous, without a single exciting moment.

Tom, now Dugan's personal orderly, stood at the study door, looking at Dugan's exhausted appearance, and said softly, "Major, you've been organizing documents for three hours straight. Take a break. This work is tedious, and there's no rush."

Dugan put down his quill, rubbed his throbbing temples, took a sip of coconut juice, and said with a hint of helplessness, "My body isn't tired, but my mind is. When I was in London, I could easily navigate relationships with three aristocratic ladies. But this kind of work is just too boring."

Indeed, Dugan, accustomed to a life of sensory stimulation, found it difficult to adjust to such a mundane existence.

For the past two weeks, he has been confined to the study at the regimental headquarters every day, facing only paper and ink. There is no tension or excitement of the battlefield, no sense of accomplishment from accurate shooting, and no passion for fighting alongside the soldiers.

He recalled the encounter at the Mengorol docks, the glorious moment when he shot down the enemy standard-bearer and commander in succession, and the admiring looks of the soldiers, and a restlessness rose in his heart.

Rather than organizing documents in the rear, he longed to rush to the front lines, face the battlefield, and contribute to the army with his gun, rather than doing these trivial and useless "idle jobs" in this study.

"Tom, do you think Colonel Stevenson would agree if I asked him to go to Omarachi to assist Lieutenant Colonel Haywood in his garrison?" Dugan looked up at Tom, his eyes filled with anticipation.

There are guerrilla activities in Omarachi town. Although it is dangerous, it must be very exciting and far more meaningful than staying at the regimental headquarters to organize documents.

Tom pondered for a moment and said, "Major, based on my understanding of Colonel Stevenson, it's unlikely he'll agree to your request. You were assigned by the colonel to assist with military affairs at regimental headquarters, and you've done a very good job there. The colonel might not agree to let you go to the front lines. However, you could try asking the colonel; perhaps he'll consider your idea."

"Yes, I'll give it a try." Dugan pushed aside the documents in front of him and said to the other civilian captain sitting opposite him, "Jonathan, you handle these documents."

"Yes, Major." The captain, Jonathan, looked up from the pile of documents, answered, and then looked down again.

"What reason should I give Colonel Stevenson?" Dugan paced back and forth near Colonel Stevenson's office tent.

Just as Dugan was pondering how to approach Colonel Stevenson, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the study, followed by a messenger rushing out.

He spotted Dugan pacing back and forth at a glance, immediately saluted, and said, "Major Connaught, perfect timing! The Colonel requests your immediate presence at headquarters; there is urgent military business!"

Dugan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stood up: "I understand, I'll be right there." He wondered to himself, could something have happened in Omarachi Town? Or was there some other urgent military business? In any case, as long as he could deal with those damned papers, that was fine.

So Dugan straightened his uniform and shouted at the door, "Sir, Major Dugan Connby reporting for duty."

"Come in," Colonel Stevenson's voice rang out.

Upon entering the tent, one sees Colonel Stevenson standing before a huge map of India, flanked by several regimental officers and the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, a tall, stern-faced Scottish man named Caenter Dinogo.

Dugan stood silently at the back, listening without uttering a sound.

Colonel Stevenson said, "I have just received an urgent order from Major General Wellesley, Governor of Mysore, for our 1st Battalion, 94th Infantry Regiment, to immediately depart for the princely state of Kanur in the north. Our troops have been besieging Kanur for three months, launching numerous assaults, but due to the treacherous terrain and the tenacious defenses of the princely state, we have made no progress and suffered considerable casualties."

"Colonel," said Battalion Commander Kaant Dinogo, "I've heard that the 56th and 63rd Infantry Regiments, along with tens of thousands of Indian allies, are gathered there. And they still can't take Kanur?"

Colonel Stevenson nodded and said, "Colonel Liscat of the 56th Infantry Regiment and I were classmates at the same military academy. According to him, even if we go to Kanul, we shouldn't participate in the siege of Kanul. The best way to take that fortified fortress is to blockade and besiege Kanul for at least six months, gradually cutting off external troop sources and logistical supplies, and waiting for widespread famine and various epidemics to occur in Kanul."

Dugan couldn't help but interject, "If that's the case, then why are we being called in? Just for a defensive rotation?"

Everyone was annoyed by Dugan's interruption and glared at him with hostility.

Dugan, however, remained unconvinced, continuing to look at Colonel Stevenson, awaiting his reply.

Colonel Stevenson disliked Dugan's impetuousness, but since Dugan had powerful connections, he tolerated it. However, he did not answer Dugan.

He continued, saying to the battalion commander, "Make the best preparations for departure. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Colonel!" Caenter Dino saluted again.

"You all, get ready!" Colonel Stevenson said to the other officers.

"Yes, Colonel." The other officers also left.

Only Dugan shamelessly stayed.

Only after everyone else had left did Colonel Stevenson turn to Dugan, his tone softening slightly: "Dugan, you heard it too, the First Battalion has been ordered to set off for Kanur."

Dugan nodded and then said, "Colonel, I would like to request to go with the First Battalion."

"What?" Colonel Stevenson looked at him with a hint of doubt in his eyes. "Didn't you understand my order? Our regiment only has two battalions, and of course, everyone, including me, is going to Kanur."

"Yes, Colonel." Dugan quickly saluted, unable to suppress his smile.