"On the battlefield, if you can hold a weapon and have saliva in your mouth, you are a good soldier!" Richard Nall, a swordsmanship instructor, was giving his last after-class lecture to 55 students of the Infantry Section 554 of the Army Officer Academy: "This is what I said. It wasn’t me who said it, it was the old marshal who said it.”
When the Army Military Academy was first planned, the preparatory committee believed that there were too many courses in the classroom and it was necessary to set up a special physical education class. The plan at that time was to choose one among fencing, wrestling, and archery.
Most of the senior officers of the Union Army had attended the evening military "cram classes" organized by Marshal Ned during the Sovereignty War, so everyone had learned long sword skills from Marshal Ned by the way.
Therefore, the army's decision-makers hope to pass on the long sword as an Army tradition, so long sword as a physical education course has become one of the technical subjects in the military courses of the Army Officer Academy.
"Students, this is your last swordsmanship class. You must have thought about the significance of practicing long swordsmanship on your future military career." Instructor Nal paused and said unceremoniously:
"I can tell you right now that there will be very few opportunities in the future where you will need to draw your sword and fight the enemy hand-to-hand. Many of you may never hold a sword hilt with both hands again after you leave this training room."
"What is a long sword to you? What is the art of long sword? Is it really used for actual combat? Outside the ivory tower of the military academy, more agile and portable weapons are becoming popular. I want to know what weapons can be used for actual combat. ? Go check out the Duelist Association! None of you can win one-on-one against anyone there."
"In the world of military officers, the long sword has also become a ceremonial sword used to decorate the uniforms, and the skill of the long sword has become the threshold for officers to distinguish their origins."
"Although we try our best to let you experience the feeling of actual combat, for you, long sword art has evolved from a practical technology to a sport. You must be thinking, does long sword art really make sense? I am now I can tell you that it makes no sense.”
"Don't think that you have been trained for many years. You all have excellent swordsmanship. When you get to the battlefield, you can kill everyone. Two farmers with pitchforks can take care of you!" Instructor Nal's long sword class has a better atmosphere than other cultural classes. It was much more relaxed and enjoyable than military courses. This was the first time that he belittled his students and showed no mercy to them.
"Because when they actually go to the battlefield and face death, even many noble warriors who have been trained as warriors since they walked will go blank because of nervousness, and their limbs will be so stiff that they can't move."
"Although long sword skills no longer mean much to you. But please remember what I say below: If at a certain point in the future, you really need to pull out your weapons to defend yourself."
"No matter what you are holding in your hands, whether it is a spear, a saber, a club, a hammer, or even your bare hands without any weapons. Think about my words today, and think about the swordsmanship training you have received for many years."
"At that time, if you can recall 30% of your ability today, maybe you can save your life. If you can recall 60% of your ability today, then there will definitely be few people on the battlefield who can be your opponent. Because the principles of martial arts are always interlinked, many sword principles of long sword can also be applied to other weapons.”
"The old marshal often said, 'The most fearful thing is that the swordsmanship will change all the time during practice. In actual combat, I only know how to slash with strength.' That's why he emphasized simple and direct attacks."
"When that day really comes, I hope you will remember what I said today. Don't hold the hilt of the sword too tightly! Don't let your arms be so stiff! Don't just know how to advance in leaps and bounds, your steps must be flexible! Think again about the swordsmanship training you have received! "
As another class of students was about to leave the school, Richard Nall was rarely moved by true emotions, and everything he said was from the bottom of his heart. But his students didn't appreciate this outpouring of affection. Most of them just wanted to go to dinner.
Young people despise teachings from older people because most condescending teachings from older people are indeed rubbish. But at the same time, they can easily miss out on truly valuable experiences.
It will take at least another ten years, when they have become adults who have been beaten by wind and rain, before they can know which of the teachings they heard in the past are nonsense and which are literal.
On that day, when they recalled today's swordsmanship class, they could understand the painstaking efforts of Instructor Nal. But now, they are just a bunch of boys who grew up in an ivory tower.
After speaking a lot in one breath, regardless of whether the students heard it or not, Instructor Narr simply ended his speech: "I've finished my words, okay! Let's disband!"
Instructor Nar slapped his hands twice and issued the command: "Disband!"
The students all bowed: "Goodbye, instructor." Then they ran out to return the training armor.
The training room returned to silence and became empty again.
The young people sweating and laughing here seem to be just a dream in this classroom.
