Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Surrounded on All Sides (1)
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The art of winning wars and the art of winning games share a common thread.
'Pissing off your opponent.'
That's the main job of generals and commanders around the world—studying and executing it to perfection.
It's truly beautiful how they all work so hard to treat each other's low blood pressure.
And now, high blood pressure had come knocking for our commander as well.
"Those filthy, rotten Ortz Kingdom rats stinking up the place! Those bastards call themselves officers and nobles?! How can people be so petty?!"
The other generals shared the commander's fury.
"We need to punish every last one of those rotten scum without mercy."
"Hiding in the back like cowards— even rats are braver than those guys!"
The other officers here couldn't speak up because of their lower ranks.
But they were all thinking the same thing.
The Ortz Kingdom's dirty tricks hadn't turned the tide of the war...
But they'd gone from being able to pocket 10 million won to settling for just 3 million.
"March straight into Obern Fortress in this situation? They're planning to drag this war out into a tedious slog..."
That's human psychology for you.
No matter man or woman, if your nerdy loser friend suddenly finds a great spouse and is about to get married for whatever reason...
There's always that rival who can't stand seeing them succeed and dredges up your entire 'dark past' to sabotage it.
It's scum-of-the-humanity behavior, but in war, screwing over your enemy like that...
Is a brilliant strategy.
Even if it makes the victim explode in rage and twist their guts in knots.
"With things as they are, we'll follow the orders issued by General Staff Headquarters three days ago. Our forces will assault Obern."
"Your Excellency, the enemy garrisoned in Obern numbers over 40,000. Add in the civilians, and you're looking at least 100,000. This is madness."
There's an ironclad rule in siege warfare.
To attempt a siege, you need at least three times the enemy's numbers.
Ignore it, and your forces get shredded without even scratching the fortress walls.
Our total forces add up to about 80,000.
'It is pretty insane.'
"I know it's insane. But we can't defy General Staff Headquarters' orders."
When a military follows the General Staff's commands, they're called 'soldiers.'
Defy them, and they become a mob or rebels.
That's why the army punishes disobedience so harshly.
Silence fell over the gathered officers.
How the hell were they supposed to break out of this nightmare?
They agonized over it again and again, only to hit dead end after dead end.
"Your Excellency."
"Lieutenant General Chaplin, do you have a good idea?"
"Those back at General Staff Headquarters don't grasp the current battlefield situation. His Excellency the Field Marshal isn't that foolish. If we report our circumstances, new orders will surely come down."
"Probably."
"But we still have to pretend to follow orders, right?"
Nothing's more important than pretending to follow orders well.
Admiral Yi Sun-sin argued against the Joseon court's insane order to attack Busan.
His judgment was a million times right, but King Seonjo—hypnotized by Won Gyun—tried to execute him for disobedience.
History has no 'ifs,' but if our admiral had just pretended to obey diligently, he probably wouldn't have gone through that.
Our commander was probably thinking the same thing right now.
"Couldn't we leave the main body here and split off units to subjugate the cities in the rear that haven't surrendered yet—as an excuse?"
"That's a good idea."
"We just need to buy enough time for the messenger to make the round trip."
"That way, we avoid charges of disobedience and prevent needless losses. A wise plan."
The commander, having already decided on the strategy, suddenly turned to me.
Was he asking me after setting it all up himself?
It was a bit absurd.
But in this situation, it wasn't bad at all...
'It means he trusts me that much.'
"Lieutenant Colonel Schumacher. What's your take?"
"I think Lieutenant General Chaplin's plan is the way to go. Unless we've turned an officer inside Obern into a spy we can use—which we haven't—attacking that fortress now is like throwing eggs at a rock."
"......I see."
The commander looked at Lieutenant General Chaplin and me with a suspicious smile.
Lieutenant General Chaplin's expression soured.
What kind of relationship did he think we had?
"And I'd like to make one more proposal."
"A proposal... Well, thanks to you, our Imperial Army barely escaped death's door. I'll trust whatever you say. Speak freely."
At the commander's words, prickly stares turned my way.
From middle-aged men, some teetering on the edge of old age.
The white-haired late-career colonels' glares stung the most.
Should I watch my step to avoid giving them any ammunition to rip into me?
"Lower taxes on the lands we've occupied, and request food and funds from the Imperial administration."
"Focusing on civilian welfare in the middle of a war? Seems like our priorities are shifting..."
Humans can't do two things at once.
You can run the washer while cleaning...
But never play PC games while doing paperwork.
The military's the same.
How do you support war victims' lives while fighting a war?
But right now, more than sieges or battles, we need to prioritize winning hearts.
"The Imperial Army can't advance further without taking Obern anyway."
"Securing supply lines becomes impossible. That's why I'm stuck here."
"And if we don't lower taxes, guerrilla forces will start popping up soon. If I were an Ortz Kingdom staff officer, I'd be stirring up propaganda to get them raiding us."
There's a fairly mainstream theory in historical circles.
During the Imjin War, people joined the righteous armies not out of loyalty to Joseon, but because of the taxes the Japanese invaders imposed.
You might wonder what that means...
Joseon took about 20% in taxes from commoners back then, but Toyotomi Hideyoshi—in his 'special grace'—took 50% in Japan-occupied areas.
That pissed off the Joseon populace enough to rise up en masse.
It wasn't the only reason they joined, but...
'It was a pretty big motivator.'
"You're saying we should rule with benevolence."
"To keep the rear secure and our forces out of danger?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Also, deploy some Imperial soldiers to help rebuild the villages."
The commander and the others tilted their heads.
Unless there's a massive fire or huge natural disaster, you don't use soldiers for civilian aid.
Using troops for that in wartime?
It flies in the face of this era's military doctrine.
An elderly colonel over there pointed at me accusingly.
"Have you lost your mind? Splitting our forces in this situation—to help lowly peasants?! Kid, got a few merits under your belt and now you can't see straight?"
The commander didn't show much displeasure at the old colonel cutting in.
Normally, he'd get an earful of curses...
But what I'd said was so outlandish, he acknowledged the rebuttal.
So what?
Once you've jumped in, you see it through.
Confucius himself said not to start something if you're just going to quit halfway.
"Just change your perspective a bit."
"Change our perspective... How?"
"Officers, NCOs, and soldiers personally helping their own victims: the righteous Imperial Army. Versus the evil Ortz Kingdom that only steals their food and exploits them."
I flashed a smile as I said it.
I didn't say it outright, but the question hung in the air.
'Which one appeals more to the people?'
"Obsess too much over authority, and you lose it. But those who set it aside when needed earn respect in any situation."
Picture a fresh second lieutenant trying to enforce discipline, refusing to admit his own screw-up on a task, and just chewing out the sergeants.
If he doesn't change that attitude, he'll be treated like a ghost before he even makes captain and get discharged.
Admit it, ask for help honestly, and show effort? He'll earn respect.
The army's no different.
"What do you think the citizens in Obern will make of that?"
They'll be shocked.
They'll realize submitting to the Empire means lower taxes and a better life.
And fighting for the kingdom just means dying like a dog.
"In war, the vast majority are individual soldiers. Do this, and we can reliably shatter the enemy's morale. Then we can bide our time for the next move."
"I see."
The commander accepted my plan.
"We'll do it right away."