Chapter 68
Chapter 68
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Military Reform (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lina started praising me as she looked my way.
"You've completely established unit discipline in just a few days. Truly impressive, Lieutenant Colonel."
"It's the same as what we did last time. Just set clear standards for rewards and punishments."
Ordinary people in modern society don't commit crimes because they're good-hearted.
They know that if they do, they'll end up in prison right away, paying a tremendous price.
And that their entire life will be ruined in the process.
So, if you make the punishment standards crystal clear, people naturally avoid wrongdoing to steer clear of the disadvantages.
And if striving to avoid punishment also opens the door to rewards, their motivation doubles.
"I've learned a lot. And reports are coming in that officers and soldiers alike genuinely respect the battalion commander."
"They're not just saying that to butter up this battalion commander, are they?"
"Don't you hate flattery, Lieutenant Colonel? They say it's great because they get to eat their fill, sometimes even meat, and the pointless beatings have stopped."
The most miserable time in life is when you're hungry.
More precisely, when your stomach's growling but you don't have the money to buy food.
These soldiers were dragged into an army they didn't even want to join in the first place. I absolutely can't let them go hungry.
"The soldiers think well of me, huh. Looks like it's time to move on to the next phase."
"Haven't you already achieved more than enough? Banning unnecessary harsh treatment across the board, establishing a precise reward and punishment system, and rooting out the corruption that's been tolerated until now... You've proven that combat effectiveness will skyrocket."
"This battalion commander has set a fine example through these reforms. But I think it's still not enough."
The Disciplinary Unit is like an experimental testbed for Imperial Army policies.
And among them, our 15th Disciplinary Battalion has the Emperor and General Staff giving me free rein to do whatever I want.
To repay that trust, I need to deliver maximum results.
"His Majesty the Emperor has high expectations for this battalion commander. So shouldn't I do my absolute best to live up to them?"
"As expected, you're the epitome of a soldier, Lieutenant Colonel. It's an honor to serve someone like you."
"Then, can you continue serving as an officer under my command going forward?"
I shrugged, and Lina bowed her head, her face turning as red as a ripe apple.
Then she replied, her words a bit slurred.
"If that's what you wish, Lieutenant Colonel, I'll serve you as long as I can."
"Hearing that from you, Lieutenant Lina, makes me very happy."
Having conversations like this makes me want to smack my old self upside the head.
Seeing Lina being this straightforward... how could I have ever thought...
'There's no way Lina likes me.'
Was I really that stupid?
If it weren't for Yurgen, who knows how much longer I would've stayed that way.
"By the way, what do you plan to do next?"
"I'm thinking of teaching the soldiers to read, write, and do basic arithmetic."
"...... Aren't soldiers just supposed to know how to fight? And teaching reading and writing is pretty difficult."
In the 21st century, that would be a death sentence.
But based on the Empire's common sense, Lina's right.
Reading and writing are treated as advanced skills in this world.
A farmer family pooling all their efforts might earn about 5 million marks a year, but knowing how to read and write lets them make at least 8 million annually.
That's like jumping from 400,000 marks a month in wages to a million.
I get why they'd say there's no need to teach such a premium skill in the army...
"If the soldiers can read and write, the range of operations they can execute expands. And if the average citizen's literacy rises, the Empire advances accordingly."
"Is that so?"
"For example, imagine the soldiers reading newspapers themselves to learn what's happening in the Empire."
"We could feed them only the information the Empire wants them to have, making them fight even harder."
One key to war is controlling information.
People might think information control just means preventing leaks.
But limiting soldiers to only the info the Empire wants them to know is information control too.
And adding a few white lies for victory is fair game.
"Exactly. If war breaks out with the Dolce Republic, we could say they brutally slaughtered Imperial citizens... or that in their wake, only raped women who've lost the will to live, orphans, and ruined villages remain. That'd be effective."
Propaganda has to be simple and clear.
Some mustachioed idiot proved that.
That's why the internet loves three-line summaries.
Humans crave dopamine, not rational insights.
"You're truly merciless to the enemy, Lieutenant Colonel."
"A sword just needs to be sharp and sturdy. No need for extra frills."
"....... I'll keep that in mind."
"This battalion commander threw out the notion that the enemy are humans like us the moment I was commissioned."
In a world where human rights exist, that wouldn't fly...
But human rights aren't even a concept on our continent right now.
Officers treat people decently enough, but NCOs and soldiers slaughter without hesitation when needed.
Or work them like slaves, and if no ransom's paid, they stay slaves for life even after the war.
I absolutely despise unnecessary human rights abuses or massacres...
'But for victory, I'll lie as much as needed.'
"From now on, every Friday afternoon, we'll teach reading and writing. And have them read books too."
"Understood."
The ones who study exceptionally hard can be given paths to become NCOs or civil servants.
For the Empire's future prosperity—no, survival.
The army can't just be a place to kill three years. Soldiers need to see it as their first and last chance to change their lives.
As Lina finished the conversation and turned to leave, she suddenly stopped.
Then she cautiously asked me.
"Lieutenant Colonel, I heard from Lieutenant Monica..."
"What did she say?"
"That when you're alone with Lieutenant Monica, you speak casually..."
"She asked me to. So I did."
"I'd like it if you spoke casually with me too. Not just for work—I want to get a little closer on a personal level..."
Hearing that made my face heat up a bit too.
Is this empathy fever? Or just catching her embarrassment?
Lina mustering courage for something so small is adorable too.
"Sure, I'll do that."
A smile bloomed on Lina's face like a flower.
"Thank you!"
With that, Lina left the office with light steps.
No one in this world likes to study.
Everyone hates studying.
If someone claims they love it, they're either lying or study-mad.
The soldiers will hate it at first, even if I have officers and NCOs teach them reading and writing...
So I need to show them firsthand why it's important.
"From now on, every Friday afternoon, you won't do any training. You'll learn to read and write."
Is reading and writing such a rare skill?
The soldiers' eyes sparkled.
But once the lessons drag on... their thirst for knowledge will fade.
"First, I'll show you why reading and writing matter. You there, soldier."
"Private Elias!"
"Step forward."
"Yes, sir!"
Private Elias stepped to the front at my command.
Naturally, all eyes turned to him.
"This battalion commander will give you a special reward."
"Really?"
"Yes. I know recruit life is tough."
The mood soured at that.
Yeah, you all suffered because of my recruit cosplay.
"Sign here, and you'll get the reward immediately."
The recruit signed without suspicion.
"Can I get the reward now?"
"No, you can't get the reward. Because that contract you signed..."
I grinned and said,
"It's a slave contract."
If a doctor tells you smoking kills, you quit smoking on the spot.
Because they said it kills you.
To make every soldier here realize the importance of reading and writing...
This is the best way to drive it home.
"If you can't read or write, you can get screwed like this anytime, anywhere."
At those words, the soldiers' attention snapped to me all at once.