Chapter 13
Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Tail Chase (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Time passed, and the day finally arrived when the transfer notices were announced.
"At attention!"
"At attention! Any issues?"
"None, sir!"
On any other day, he would have added that they should report any problems right away.
But today, with transfers being announced and soldiers departing, there was nothing more to be done even if reports came in.
"Keep up the good work in your remaining service and discharge honorably."
"Thank you, sir!"
As the soldier turned to leave after those words, he cautiously opened his mouth and spoke in a resounding voice.
"It has been an honor to serve under you until now, Company Commander! Thank you for treating us with such fatherly kindness!"
I hadn't done well by the troops just to hear something like that.
Yet a single heartfelt thank-you made my shoulders lift with pride.
All I'd done was my duty as an officer.
Lieutenant Lina, standing beside me, smiled warmly.
"You led the local skirmish to victory, restored the unit's discipline, and even earned the troops' genuine respect. Truly impressive."
"I merely did what was expected."
"Even competent officers can restore discipline one way or another, but they usually end up hated by the men, don't they?"
Strengthening enforcement to maintain discipline was the textbook approach, sure.
But cracking down FM-style on things that had been lax until now was bound to breed resentment where none existed before.
It wasn't easy to enforce rules strictly without drawing curses from the troops—in fact, earning their respect instead.
"Lead by example, always acting before the men do. Show interest in the little things, praise them when they've done well, and grant reward leave. That's all it takes."
"Where's the 'easy' in any of that, Company Commander?"
"That's why being an officer is tough. A commander bears responsibility for hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of lives. This much is only proper."
After some chit-chat, we headed straight to the regimental commander's office.
The regimental commander's cap bore a single star, and his epaulets had already been swapped for those of a brigadier general.
"The hero who showed the Hessen Republic a taste of lightning has arrived! At attention!"
By protocol, wherever I went or whomever I met, I was the one entitled to a salute first.
But receiving one from a superior first felt awkward.
"You've been assigned as commander of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Division under the Dolce Republic Front Army."
"I thought it might be the General Staff Headquarters."
"Our Empire has no leisure to let talents like you idle in the rear for training. No helping it."
I'd hoped for more schooling at the General Staff.
Just as I'd feared, another posting to the front lines?
At this rate, I might rocket to colonel without ever serving as a staff officer.
I was young for my rank, and my achievements were exceptional, so promotion wouldn't be an issue...
'But rank isn't everything.'
"So, battalion XO or operations staff?"
The regimental commander shook his head at my question.
"That would be the norm. But the General Staff wants you to shine brighter. You're going as 3rd Battalion commander."
"A major as battalion commander."
"The front lines usually get seasoned lieutenant colonels with years under their belt... but the General Staff says we can't bind exceptional officers like you with rigid rules."
Majors typically served as battalion XOs, operations staff, or division staff...
Skipping straight to battalion command?
This was like handing a lieutenant colonel's job to a major.
'Not that I'm complaining.'
It was a bit absurd, though.
"It's rare, but not unheard of for staff officers or proven talents to take battalion command as majors. And taking a lieutenant colonel's slot at major rank? That's how highly they're expecting from you."
The regimental commander—no, brigadier general—asked and answered himself.
"Golden Eagle Medal recipient? Hell, I'd back you for regimental command as a major. I know you can handle it."
"Thank you for the high regard."
"Ambitious, eh? Anyway, congratulations on the promotion. And Lieutenant Lina, who came with you, will remain assigned under you."
The General Staff had accommodated me nicely.
"Thank you for all your help so far, Brigadier General."
"You've made my life easier, Major. Thanks to you, I got promoted too."
The brigadier general chuckled at me.
"Owing to you, I've been strutting tall in front of my wife lately. Swing by our place in the capital sometime. I'll treat you to the full course."
Full course in the capital? Not some backwater feast?
"I look forward to it. At attention."
"At attention."
Lina and I immediately moved to our new assignment.
* * *
The 5th Division commander under the Dolce Republic Front Army smiled the moment he saw me.
A pure, innocent smile, like a man confessing to his lifelong crush and hearing yes.
The division commander greeting a new battalion commander this warmly...?
No matter how nice the guy was, there was only one conclusion here.
'The situation must be a goddamn mess.'
"At attention. So, you're Major Michael Schumacher?"
"Yes, sir."
"Not even a year and change since making lieutenant, and already a major? You cut a fine figure, just like the commander who earned it. The Imperial Army is fortunate to have talents like you."
"Thank you for the kind words."
"Relax. Folks might think I'm about to eat you alive."
The smile faded from the division commander's face.
"His Majesty issued an edict to the General Staff. You pushed right up to the gates of The Hague in the Hessen Republic, showing them we can unleash the Emperor's thunder anytime. You've restored some of the Imperial Army's dignity."
The Imperial Army had lost over 50,000 men, rounded off.
One-eighth of our forces wiped out in a blink.
'In a word, fucked.'
Thanks to my victory over the Dolce Republic cavalry company and shoving a knife to the Hessen Republic's throat with threats,
we'd at least proven the Imperial Army wasn't a joke.
"The arrogant republic bastards are said to be looking down on the Empire. Reports say they're hiking tariffs on Imperial merchants or disguising regular troops as bandits to plunder them."
Before modern nation-states, this was commonplace.
Regulars dressed as 'bandits' looting foreign merchants, their goods turning into military supplies amid tragic 'accidents.'
Or arbitrarily slapping on tariffs and fleecing traders.
Now, if provocation escalated, you'd see suspiciously disciplined 'bandit' or pirate gangs raiding civilians.
'Can't let them see us as pushovers.'
"His Majesty has ordered our Dolce Republic Front Army to rain down thunder."
"......Understood."
"This time, all 60,000 Front Army troops will deploy at once. Our division takes point."
If the last war was a local skirmish, this was full-scale war.
Back as platoon leader, I'd just followed orders from battalion or company commanders, controlling my men and pulling triggers...
Now, I was in a position to judge and maneuver forces myself.
'Though I can't sway the whole war.'
"Last war, we took heavy losses throwing big formations at once, so we'll advance in small units."
"Won't that leave us vulnerable to being defeated in detail?"
The division commander smirked at my question.
"Normally, yes. But His Majesty has no intention of declaring war on the Dolce Republic."
In the 21st century, starting a war without declaration meant instant international isolation and withering...
But this world had no Geneva Conventions, UN, or international bodies.
Unless the Empire lost, victory absolved everything.
'In this mad world, ethics mean nothing before victory.'
"A surprise attack without declaration?"
"Exactly. So we'll split into battalions from the start, blitz as fast as possible to seize maximum enemy territory, and secure supply lines."
Undeclared surprise attacks were brutally effective.
And in a world of carrier pigeons and messengers where comms weren't advanced, operating in battalions meant...
Vast leeway in my discretion.
Battalion commanders were true commanders; their maneuvers could sometimes flip entire wars.
'Time to really shine.'
"Dismissed."
"Thank you, sir."
"I expect great things from you."
With that, the division commander dismissed me.
"War right after promotion to battalion commander."
My heart felt a bit heavy.
Not that we could lose.