Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Peter Jaeger's Solo Run
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Reich Empire Imperial Palace Grand Conference Hall.
The empire's ministers gathered here had set aside their political factions for once, uniting in their resolve to tear into the Director of Intelligence responsible for information gathering.
"What the hell have the bastards in the Imperial Intelligence Bureau been doing with their time? Just pocketing the budget to grope barmaids' tits? Thanks to them, His Highness the Crown Prince nearly got taken alive by the Duke of Switchland."
"We acknowledge the failings of our Intelligence Bureau, Your Excellency the Finance Minister. That said, who could have imagined a mere count from one nation sharpening his blade for three whole years?"
"And that's precisely why your head's still on your shoulders, even after His Highness was put in mortal danger due to your oversight! Any other time, you'd have been among the ones losing theirs!"
Hearing this, the Director of Intelligence gave up on further excuses and bowed his head in silent apology.
The ministers grilling him knew full well, upon a moment's rational reflection, that detecting Count Bern's double-agent role had been all but impossible.
The Director had already paid a steep price for this force majeure mishap—dismissal just days ago, plus the seizure of one baronial estate.
As the ministers began steering the conversation toward other matters, the door swung open. The Emperor entered, his face etched with clear displeasure.
He signaled the herald to silence, took his seat quietly, and then spoke.
"From a strategic standpoint, I consider this Switchland expedition a failure in practical terms. What say you, Minister of Military Affairs? Speak from a neutral perspective."
"We failed to seize the three Switchland cantons as originally planned, so the strategic objectives went unmet. However, we successfully lured the Switchland forces near Dolphino Castle and inflicted massive casualties on their troops. Tactically, it was a resounding victory. All things considered, I'd call it a decisive win for the Imperial Army."
"And from a long-term view?"
Otto Moritz, the Minister of Military Affairs, pondered briefly before replying.
"The Switchlanders lost 40,000 soldiers. They can't avoid a sharp decline in military strength. That said, unless the Duke is a fool, he'll minimize mercenary deployments to focus on defending the interior. Attacking them again to conquer Switchland territory will be no easy feat."
Emperor Ferdinand ground his teeth at those words.
Even he could see that this battle hadn't achieved its strategic goals, making it impossible to call it a true victory.
Yet Major General Jaeger's ingenuity had slain vast numbers of Switchland troops, snatching victory from the jaws of disaster.
This had derailed the plan to frame it as a long-term strategic win for the Crown Prince—and thus claim he'd come out on top.
"Very well. Before we discuss rewarding the key figure, let's address the punishments for the others involved in this expedition. I'm minded to order the Vice Commander and the five division commanders below him to retire before next year's personnel announcements. Though they bear no direct fault, the fact remains they let His Highness fall into peril. Still, I'll ensure they receive full honors as retired soldiers."
The Emperor felt a pang of regret at having to force these valuable imperial talents from service due to an unfortunate accident.
The Vice Commander had led 2,000 knights in ensuring the Crown Prince's safe return to the Reich Empire.
The other five division commanders had committed no strategic or tactical blunders under the Crown Prince's command during operations.
They had fought and toiled tirelessly, following Major General Jaeger's orders to bring the 50,000 expeditionary troops safely home.
Without them, the Crown Prince might have been stranded in Switchland, falling into the Duke's clutches. Yet duty demanded punishment for these key figures as the source of the Emperor's regret.
'Publicly, I'll retire them for endangering His Highness. Privately, I'll summon each with their families to the palace for consolation and financial compensation. I'll also grant their kin ample opportunities for merit—and lavish rewards to match.'
"Additionally, some staff officers who approved this plan will face stern punishments based on the severity of their errors: demotion of titles, dishonorable discharge, rank reduction, and the like. The Minister of Military Affairs will review this internally and report back."
"Yes, Your Majesty. And what of those who devised the operation alongside His Highness?"
"By rights, their shoddy planning endangered the Crown Prince—a crime warranting execution. But since the root cause lies in the Intelligence Director's misjudgment, I'll commute their sentences. All will face dishonorable discharge and stripping of title succession rights. For Major Venner alone, considering he's the sole male heir to the Venner Marquisate, we'll seize his personal assets in lieu of further punishment."
Dishonorable discharge and loss of title succession was a social death sentence for nobles, sparing only their lives.
The stigma of 'dishonorably discharged' would follow them anywhere in the Reich Empire.
Even venturing out to start anew would be impossible with that label.
At best, inheriting a title might let them retreat to a provincial estate, manage lands from a mansion, and live quietly.
But stripped of even that, they'd be branded as outcasts by the state, fit for nothing.
Major Venner's survival in this was solely due to his ties to the next Field Marshal candidate, Marquis Venner, and Major General Jaeger's house.
"Minister of Military Affairs, your thoughts on rewarding Major General Jaeger?"
Otto Moritz smiled faintly, then spoke in earnest tones.
"When we fell into the Switchland trap in Ticino Canton, Major General Jaeger turned the tables, slaying 2,500 enemy troops and carving an escape route for His Highness. He was the first to detect Count Bern as a double agent, seeing through the enemy's intricate plot to capture the Crown Prince—and alerting the entire army. He also devised the plan for our full retreat."
Otto Moritz inwardly envied Major General Jaeger as he spoke.
'Had I been in his shoes, I could have gotten His Highness home safely and limited losses to around 40%. But inflicting heavy damage on the enemy during the retreat? Unthinkable.'
"To ensure His Highness's safe return and save as many soldiers as possible, he led from the vanguard daily despite his rank. Over the month-long withdrawal, he personally slew 240 Switchland soldiers."
The ministers doubted their own ears.
Even swordmasters—those monstrous figures—struggled against three knights in a single battle, sometimes failing to kill a single foe.
For a mere major general to stand at the forefront and butcher 240 enemies defied all common sense.
"Thanks to him, even after our forces were fully cut off in the Switchland expedition, our casualties numbered only around 10,000. By contrast, the Switchlanders lost nearly twice that. And..."
He trailed off, as the Dolphino Castle ambush—per Major General Jaeger's request—had been credited to the Crown Prince.
Otto Moritz took a deep breath and continued.
"His feats are no exaggeration to call a one-man salvation of the nation from collapse. Your Majesty, I recommend the most generous rewards to set him as an example."
The ministers, reading the mood, raised no objections. The Emperor, with a resolute expression signaling a weighty decision, declared firmly.
"For his meritorious service in rescuing the Crown Prince, I promote Major General Peter Jaeger to Lieutenant General. I elevate his title to Count and grant him the counties of Ingolstadt and Augsburg, plus the Angol Barony. In recognition of saving His Highness, I specially bestow the Diamond Knight's Sword Cross Medal. Finally, for delivering the empire from peril, I award the Twin Dragon Medal and order his name engraved on a palace pillar in commemoration."