Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Masterstroke (5)
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A young officer serving as a courier burst into the staff headquarters, panting heavily.
Running inside army barracks—especially in the staff headquarters—was a grave breach of discipline punishable by flogging, regardless of rank.
Yet no one called him out or scolded him.
Quibbling over formalities in the face of an urgent dispatch from the front lines was the height of idiocy.
"Lieutenant, make your report."
"Rejoice, Your Excellency Field Marshal."
At those words, a junior staff officer bolted out to fetch champagne.
You had to crack open champagne after a victory in war, after all.
"The Imperial Army has finally repaid the Dolce Republic bastards for their humiliation."
"Is that true?"
"Yes, sir. The 80,000 elite troops under Expeditionary Force Commander Roepke have achieved a great victory against the republican army."
The moment those words were spoken, smiles spread across the faces of everyone in the staff headquarters.
They had succeeded in washing away the shame of their ugly defeat at the hands of the Dolce Republic.
The humiliating moment when they lost over 40,000—no, more than 50,000—soldiers.
Having risen above that, how could they not be thrilled?
Unable to contain their excitement, they cheered right there on the spot.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Empire!"
"The Imperial Army is invincible!"
It was a bit unseemly for high-ranking officers to put on such a show in front of a young lieutenant, but in this moment, no one was tone-deaf enough to care.
The Empire survived as a hegemonic power (or candidate) by maintaining military superiority over its neighbors.
This victory announced to the entire continent that they had reclaimed the military edge stolen by their crushing defeat to the republicans.
"Quiet down, everyone. Shouldn't we hear the details first?"
The courier responded immediately.
"Our forces clashed with the republican army on the Caprese Plains and engaged in battle."
He then recited the detailed course of the battle.
A grueling four-to-five-hour fight had unfolded on the Caprese Plains, with the right wing—centered on the 5th Division—performing brilliantly.
They had clinched the win by committing the reserves all at once.
The staff officers nodded, unable to hide their joy.
"A textbook engagement. Shattered the enemy's left wing and rolled them up for the victory."
"Textbook maneuvers look easy on paper, but they're the hardest to pull off..."
As they said, achieving a textbook victory was no simple task.
Just as studying 14 hours a day for three years would get most people into a top university...
But that's only possible because so few actually manage it.
Executing a textbook operation required the cooperation of exceptional officers and staff.
And since the enemy knew the textbook too, you had to anticipate their counters...
"Will Roepke be the Field Marshal's successor?"
"Sir, Roepke's service record is still..."
"Does the General Staff care about years of service?"
The staff general who spoke fell silent.
The General Staff was an elite among elites, accessible to only the top 3% of officers.
Most staff officers had risen through cutthroat competition, so they were talented and seasoned by age...
But what the General Staff valued above all was one thing.
'Competence and talent.'
"The Imperial Army has a major who made lieutenant colonel in his first year of service."
"Isn't Major Schumacher an extreme exception?"
"Roepke has nearly 30 years under his belt. What's two or three years short compared to you lot? Why couldn't he sit in my chair?"
"My apologies, sir."
After a brief exchange, the Field Marshal asked again.
"What are the casualty ratios between the republican army and our Imperial forces?"
"We can't know for sure, but we're estimating Imperial 1 : Republican 3-4. Imperial fatalities around 5,000, republicans 15,000 to 20,000."
Even conservatively, it was a resounding victory with over three times as many enemy dead.
The Field Marshal's shoulders rose involuntarily.
"Roepke's quite the commander. Now, did he single out any officers for praise? There must be key figures behind this win."
"Major Michael Schumacher's exploits had a significant impact on the victory."
"A mere battalion commander?"
"Yes, sir. Major Schumacher also raided and destroyed an enemy division-scale supply unit single-handedly."
The Field Marshal let out a hollow laugh.
He was so flabbergasted that his grip slackened.
What kind of thinking led a single battalion to assault a division?
It was madness that would've warranted immediate execution upon failure...
But considering Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schumacher's track record, this wasn't some lunatic gambling and getting lucky.
"What a madman."
At first, when they met, he'd thought Schumacher was competent but just lucky to earn the Golden Eagle Medal.
Now, his achievements made it clear: the worthy had received their due.
"Good work, lieutenant."
"Thank you, Your Excellency Field Marshal."
Following tradition, the Field Marshal personally handed the lieutenant a pouch stuffed with cash.
"Rest up and report back."
"Loyalty."
Once the courier lieutenant left, the Field Marshal signaled with his hand.
Junior staff officers poured champagne for the higher-ups.
"To the Empire's eternal prosperity!"
They all toasted and drank.
"I'd love to get smashed right now, but we've got mountains of work."
"Yes, sir."
"Let's hurry. There'll be a mountain of officers waiting for commendations."
The General Staff's higher-ups meticulously reviewed reports spanning tens of thousands of pages.
They recommended promotions, medals, and bonuses matching each person's merits.
They strove to be principled and fair.
After reviewing rewards for those in rank order, starting with the most monumental contributions...
It was time for Major Michael Schumacher's commendation.
"Schumacher—handing that man a battalion was the best decision."
A mere major had wielded considerable influence on the war.
Naturally, thoughts turned to this:
What if they'd given Schumacher a regiment? Or a division?
Even as a battalion commander, he'd shone—imagine the feats with more.
"I'd love to promote this lad. If one battalion yields this much, what about a regiment or division? It makes my mouth water."
If he were a field commander himself?
He felt that temptation.
Slot Schumacher as deputy regimental commander, turn the actual commander into a figurehead, and let him wield real authority.
In tough spots, he'd be a reliable pillar.
"But promotion now would be too fast. Lieutenant colonel in year one, major right after—now colonel barely into year two? It doesn't add up."
"We agree."
"He needs some seasoning. The army doesn't run on talent alone."
Though inwardly regretful, the Field Marshal shelved Schumacher's promotion.
"Word is he's been handing out bonuses to the troops. Can't leave him broke—stuff 200 million marks in bonuses..."
No promotion, but plenty of cash.
A common Imperial Army tactic.
Officers were envied in the Empire largely because salaries and bonuses were outrageously high.
"Knight's Iron Cross Medal. For someone with the top honor, it's just a career booster, but this one's weighty too."
Earning the Knight's Iron Cross as a junior officer virtually guaranteed Staff College admission.
It demanded extraordinary valor.
"And we need to let him flex his talents fully... Yes, this'll do."
The Field Marshal had risen as far as one could.
So he wanted to give young talents every opportunity.
"The Imperial Army's lost no small number of troops. We need to form new units. Right?"
"Yes, sir."
"New wine goes in new bottles. Give Major Schumacher full authority over battalion formation—let him build it his way."
The Imperial General Staff wasn't stuck in the past.
Even its old fogeys were lifelong learners in uniform.
That's how they'd led the army—and survived this long.
"Dismissed."
With that, the Field Marshal disbanded the staff meeting.
Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher was honoring his promise to Lina.
A date—no, just heading out with a female colleague.
That's what he earnestly believed.
His counterpart's thoughts were a bit different.