Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Principles and Rules (1)
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In the border region of the Hessen Republic facing the Empire, the citizens of Haig were gripped by fear.
The Imperial Army's 14th Regiment hadn't killed or injured a single civilian.
There was no actual harm to civilians or property damage.
"Who cares about republican independence or whatever? Aren't we all just gonna die?"
"They said the Imperial troops across the river were nothing but weak scarecrows. Turns out our republican army was even worse than that."
Nigel remembered the previous day's events all too clearly.
The republican soldiers had slipped out of the city as quietly and stealthily as possible right at dusk.
He'd thought they were off for some training exercise...
But late into the night, Imperial soldiers had fired their guns toward the village where they were stationed before turning back.
It was a blatant show of force—proof they could turn Haig into a sea of flames anytime they felt like it.
"I heard one whole regiment got completely wiped out. Word is, only about 200 made it back, Nigel."
"So they all died?"
"Pretty much."
Their conversation had drawn the attention of others before long.
People who'd been drinking nearby naturally gathered around them.
All to hear about the republican army's crushing defeat the day before.
"They were yapping about independence from the Empire and all that crap... Now it's not independence—we're the ones getting massacred."
If Michael had led his men to kill people or even steal a single egg, the mood might have been different.
Fuel from stolen goods, hatred from civilian deaths.
With that kind of cause, there might have been calls to stand and fight the bastards...
"Fuck if I know if we can really beat the Empire."
Independence sounded nice.
But the elders who'd lived through it said life hadn't changed much one way or the other.
Living independently was great, but if it meant risking immediate annihilation for yourself and your family...
They were all thinking the same thing.
'We can't beat the Empire.'
Nigel voiced what everyone was feeling.
"The Empire's gotten weak? That's just bullshit from people who never have to worry about dying in a war."
Just as Michael intended, the republican citizens were slowly losing their will to fight.
In other words, the Empire had become even safer.
The regimental commander grinned so widely when he saw me that it looked like his face might split in two.
"If it isn't our lucky company commander! The future of the Imperial Army, Captain Michael!"
Being addressed like that by a higher-up meant I was that much closer to promotion.
It also meant he'd reaped massive benefits from my exploits.
"Yes, sir, Regimental Commander."
"The commendations for our regiment's achievements in this local battle have been announced."
"Already? The merits review is done?"
It had been barely a week since the 14th Regiment's victory in the skirmish.
Even using cavalry as couriers, it would've taken three days just for messages to go back and forth.
To wrap up the operations review and commendations in just four days amid the staff headquarters' grueling workload...
'His Excellency the Field Marshal must be extremely pleased with our performance.'
Otherwise, things wouldn't have moved this fast.
"I figured it'd take at least a month. Never dreamed the results would come this quick."
"Doesn't that just mean your achievements were that significant, sir? Big enough that staff HQ had to prioritize it."
"You got honey on your tongue or what?"
"I'm no good at flattery, sir."
The key to flattery is insisting it's not flattery—it's sincere.
Even if they know it's flattery, human nature makes them believe there's some truth in it.
They delude themselves into thinking you genuinely respect them.
"Enough lip service. Here's the commendation breakdown."
"Yes, sir."
"First off, thanks to our big win in this skirmish, I got promoted to brigadier general. Plus bonus pay and a medal. Take a look."
The regimental commander wore the Knight's Iron Cross on his uniform.
It wasn't on the same level as my Golden Eagle Medal, but it was still one you couldn't earn without major battlefield contributions.
Exaggerate a bit, and it was a certificate of achievement you could brag about for generations.
"Honestly thought I'd given up on generalship, but somehow I pulled it off."
"Congratulations, sir. Sincerely."
"You think I earned this on my own? It's because you snuck into Hessen Republic and fooled the enemy. I won't forget this favor."
His promotion was purely thanks to my brilliance, sure...
But if he hadn't trusted me, I never would've gotten the chance to shine.
"As for you, after that two-rank jump last time, no promotion this round."
"Understood, sir."
I'd climbed to captain five—no, maybe six or seven—years faster than most.
Getting to major now would shave off at least twelve years...
'Not too shabby.'
"So you'll make major at the annual personnel evaluation next month."
No promotion now, but they'd bump me up at the next cycle.
A clever workaround.
"You're getting the same Knight's Iron Cross as me, and eighty million marks in bonus pay."
"I'll continue to serve to the best of my ability."
"You'd better. I'll be off to corps chief of staff next month, so we won't have much time together."
"Congratulations on the posting, sir."
Corps chief of staff was a solid assignment straight after brigadier general.
This skirmish had paved his path to glory, too.
"And this is a personal gift from me. Thanks to you, a late-career colonel rotting on the border got his star. Gotta repay that."
The regimental commander handed me a check.
"Ten million marks. Buy yourself some decent clothes. What kind of officer wears nothing but his uniform?"
"Thank you, sir."
"What about bonus pay for the enlisted men and NCOs?"
Every army's the same, but our Empire had an especially strong officer-aristocrat bias.
Staff officers made it possible for bottom-rung nobles like me to rise if we proved ourselves...
But enlisted and NCO treatment was a mess.
A staff sergeant's monthly pay was twenty thousand marks—two hundred forty thousand a year if you saved every bit.
"...Of course not. Can't we just throw a big regimental feast with the budget? Soldiers serving the nation is their duty, after all."
"I don't think their sacrifices are 'duty' to be taken for granted."
"That's an unusual view. Noted."
I'd volunteered for the army, but the conscripts had to endure three years of cold, hunger, and danger.
With the Empire's situation, abolishing conscription was impossible, but we had to improve their treatment at least.
'Being dragged into service must suck enough as it is.'
"From that look on your face, seems like you're thinking of dipping into your own pocket for them. Don't."
The regimental commander thought it over, then spoke.
"I'll send a report to staff HQ highlighting the troops' merits. That'll get them bonuses. I'll have the personnel officers distribute it, so don't open your wallet."
"Understood."
"You're fiercely devoted to your men. Makes sense—they followed you on that insane idea of a single platoon holding the rear."
Those soldiers, now probably grinding away at officer academy, hadn't fought because they thought we'd win...
They'd jumped in because leaving their platoon leader to die alone wasn't human.
If I hadn't treated them with basic respect...
'They would've mutinied right there.'
"Imperial General Staff has high expectations for you. And the corps commander has a new order."
"What kind, sir?"
"Straighten out military discipline. Troops are too lax these days—needs fixing."
Discipline was undeniably sloppy.
Drinking in uniform against regs.
Slacking off, acting un-soldierly.
It'd bite us later.
"I know it's no easy task."
Obviously not.
But doable.
"Think you can manage?"
"No problem, sir."
The next day, with the regimental commander's approval, I assembled the entire regiment.
I stuck a stick in the ground and said,
"Pull this stick out and move it to that box over there, and I'll give you two hundred thousand marks."
Just making them grasp the weight of an order would suffice.
They'd instantly learn what happens if they disobeyed military law—and what rewards came from obedience.