ATST Snippet #4

DMcCunney wrote:

Louis R wrote:There's also the fact that Clyntahn did finally grasp the nettle and accept that an _effective_ MH was desirable. And the lesson of Harless & Co. is blatant enough that even Zhaspahr could absorb it. Which is why Harchong only got to go through 4 [or was it 5?] candidates before settling on the current incumbent.

IIRC, the first two MHoG commanders resigned in protest over what Duchairn and Magwair expected of them, and the third was removed in disgrace for a level of incompetence and corruption even the IHA wouldn't tolerate. The fourth resigned over interference in how he ran his command by advisers assigned by Duchairn and Magwair, but it's likely the same sort of unhappiness about upsetting the natural order of things that motivated the first two was an underlying factor.

Rainbow Waters has his own concerns there, but is smart enough to recognize why the MHoG had to be dramatically overhauled to have any hope of facing the EoC in the field.

The Harchongese regular army was actually an effective force, but wasn't large enough. It's the swelling of the ranks by arming peasants and serfs to provide millions to send against the allies that causes various nobles concern. "Just how do we disarm them again and send them back home to servitude after we win?" is a question the smarter ones must be pondering.
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Dennis

Louis R wrote:Exactly.

But, if Clyntahn hadn't made it clear that the changes had his acceptance, if not exactly his blessing, the cycle would have continued. Probably right into the campaign season, in fact, which would have been interesting. As it was, the bureaucrats at the Ministry of War [or whatever Harchong calls it] were left with little choice but to find a commander who met Magwair's requirements. I'll bet the debate on that one was just as interesting

peke wrote:

DMcCunney wrote:
The Harchongese regular army was actually an effective force, but wasn't large enough. It's the swelling of the ranks by arming peasants and serfs to provide millions to send against the allies that causes various nobles concern. "Just how do we disarm them again and send them back home to servitude after we win?" is a question the smarter ones must be pondering.

Rayno is certainly considering it: he's a Harchongese noble and is dismayed at the thought of well-armed, well-seasoned veteran serfs returning home with their guns and knowledge. There's even some textev that he's quietly undermining the war effort by dragging his heels when it comes to turning the Host into an effective fighting force.

Randomiser wrote:Certainly no-one intends to send them home armed, not MW, not Rayno and not the Inquisition. The IHA regular army and the Emperor's Spears (Military Police) will be in charge of 'File past the table and hand your rifle in to the Armourer, before you get onto the barge' on a platoon by platoon basis when it is time to go home. I think they will be ferocious enough about it to get almost all of the weapons. The problem , of course is, 'You can take the boy out of the Army, but can you take the Army out of the boy?'