Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Hero of the Nation (1)
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Nations try to create heroes when they suffer a defeat in war or want to sweep something under the rug.
It's the same for individuals. When something difficult or painful happens, watching an entertaining movie or show brings a bit of joy, which serves as solace and gives you strength.
On a national scale, when something bad occurs, they draw people's attention by highlighting a hero.
And right now, the one His Imperial Majesty the Emperor wants to spotlight is me and our 7th Division.
That's why, once my body had recovered to some extent, I came up to the capital and couldn't return straight home. Instead, I held a triumphant parade with the surviving soldiers of the 7th Division.
And now, I'm being forced to attend a special celebratory banquet in the palace courtyard, hosted by His Imperial Majesty himself, alongside the troops of the 7th Division.
"Sergeant Otto, sir, for a lowly serf like me to attend a banquet in the imperial palace... I never even dreamed of something like this in my whole life."
"You idiot, His Imperial Majesty personally ordered us to attend. Serf? We're not serfs anymore. We're proper citizens now! If you wanna be a serf so bad, go ahead, you moron!"
"Fuck, honestly, when we stayed behind on Reichen Hill following the division commander, I thought life was total shit. But looking back now, it was the best damn decision I ever made! Life's short—might as well go out with a bang!"
Still, since all the soldiers who fought alongside me, risking their lives, are satisfied, that's good enough.
"Division Commander, instead of just watching your men enjoy the banquet, why not give them a word of encouragement?"
"If the commander praises them, they'll all be thrilled."
Normally, at an event like this, the best choice for someone of high status would be to sip drinks quietly in a corner.
But right now, just like Ah rang and Sharlot said, if I go around and offer even a single word of praise, they'll all love it.
With that in mind, I headed toward a nearby battalion to offer some words of encouragement, when a trumpet blast rang out, followed by a booming voice.
"The great sun of the Reich Empire, His Imperial Majesty Ferdinand von Reich arrives! All members of the 7th Division, pay your respects!"
At those words, the soldiers—who had probably never even met a baron, let alone His Majesty the Emperor—didn't know what to do.
In truth, they were so tense at the realization they were meeting the empire's most exalted figure, someone they'd never expected to encounter in their lives, that they'd forgotten every etiquette lesson drilled into them by the officers and court nobles.
Seeing this, the officers whispered instructions to their men like ventriloquists.
"Kneel on both knees and bow your heads."
"Don't raise your heads until you're told to. If you mess up, it's blasphemy, and you won't see good days."
"Kneel like you do when praying in church."
The nobles around His Majesty, who would normally be furious at such a scene, simply gazed at the soldiers with pleased expressions.
"By protocol, non-nobles must kneel on both knees when granted an audience with me. However, the soldiers of the 7th Division here are the benefactors of my son, the Crown Prince, and heroes who saved the empire. I cannot have such men kneel on both knees at a joyous occasion like this. For this once, make an exception—let them kneel on one knee like the other officers. And raise your heads."
Under the class system, commoners and serfs are supposed to kneel on both knees when meeting a king or any titled noble.
This conveys the meaning: 'We humbly apologize for a lowly serf like me daring to be granted an audience with one of such high status.'
But since His Majesty had invited them out of genuine gratitude this time, he meant for them to simply show respect regardless of status, hence the one-knee kneel.
The soldiers might not fully grasp the significance yet, but the officers—who knew exactly what it meant for the emperor to express such sincere thanks—widened their eyes in shock.
His Majesty, however, acted as if such details were irrelevant and took an imperial decree from the Grand Chamberlain beside him, reading it aloud himself.
"Thanks to the tearful, desperate sacrifices and brilliant valor of all members of the 7th Division, the empire escaped the grave crisis of losing the Crown Prince and 50,000 troops. Thus, I, Ferdinand von Reich, Emperor of the Reich Empire, express my heartfelt gratitude."
With that, His Majesty inclined his head toward us—not quite a full bow, but a nod nonetheless.
It might seem minor in scale, but considering that the emperor bows to no one except God and His proxy, the Pope, by principle...
This was as good as a preview of how grateful he was and the unprecedented rewards to come.
Naturally, it was also an honor that every member of the 7th Division could boast about until their dying day.
"Therefore, We have deliberated with Our ministers on how to reward you who overcame a crisis that could have shaken the empire to its core. As a result, We have decided to repay you with the utmost sincerity and gratitude."
Hearing those words, I was certain.
Honestly, without the 7th Division's exploits, the expeditionary force would have lost all 50,000 men completely, and His Highness the Crown Prince would have been captured as a hostage.
If things had unfolded that way, even if His Majesty later deposed the Crown Prince to settle the score, they would first have had to ransom His Highness back.
For that, they would have had to cede at least three or four duchies to the Duchy of Switzerland, weakening national power and cornering us diplomatically.
The fact that His Majesty mentioned such a crisis foreshadowed the extraordinary rewards to follow—and those rewards carried the political intent of burying the war's defeat by elevating the heroes.
"First, the 7th Division of the Imperial Army, saviors of the empire, shall be specially promoted to 'Guard' Division status. Soldiers will receive promotions and medals according to their merits. Furthermore, from Us, every member of the 7th Division shall receive 10 gold coins; from the Crown Prince, 5 gold coins each. Special bonuses will be separate. And all soldiers and their families shall be freed from serfdom."
In the Bear Empire, the 'Guard' title was something the emperor handed out freely with no real perks, but in the Reich Empire, it was different.
Units with the 'Guard' designation typically received double—or more—the pay of equivalent ranks in regular units, for officers, NCOs, and soldiers alike.
Moreover, anyone who served in such a unit even once gained massive points for future promotions.
Additionally, in the Imperial Army, medals—no matter how low the grade—were practically exclusive to officers.
Receiving even the lowest one here, and serving diligently, meant one could graduate from officer candidate school as a lieutenant and rise smoothly to near-noble status.
Plus, 15 gold coins was enough to buy decent farmland, a house anywhere in the countryside, and even a pretty wife.
In short, everyone under my command had hit the jackpot, whether they stayed in service or mustered out.
"Officers shall receive massive bonuses according to rank and merit, and all shall be specially promoted one grade. They shall also receive medals and swords bearing the imperial crest."
One-grade promotions and medals for all officers were huge, but swords with the imperial crest were something even most nobles didn't get until colonel.
That meant my subordinates would advance far faster than their peers.
And judging by the mood, Knight's Cross medals—automatically conferring knighthoods—would be handed out in droves.
This 7th Division might really end up nicknamed the Knight Division.
"In particular, Lieutenant Colonels Kerjitz and Werner, who performed exceptionally in this war, shall receive formal baronies and estates, along with 30,000 gold each in bonuses."
Note that with the across-the-board one-grade promotions for all officers, those two were now colonels—and full-fledged barons.
"And Major General Peter Jaeger, commander of the 7th Guard Division, step forward."
At those words, amid everyone's gazes, I quietly advanced before the emperor, kneeling on one knee and bowing my head.
"Major General Jaeger was the first to notice that the Earl of Bern in Switzerland was a double agent. He completely crushed the Earl of Ticino's division with minimal losses. He led the 7th Guard Division to preserve the Crown Prince and 50,000 Imperial troops as much as possible, personally taking the vanguard as division commander. Over a month, with courage, martial prowess, and strategy, he slew at least 200 Swiss soldiers, elevating the empire's prestige. His achievements reach to the heavens, instilling fear across Europa's enemy states."
All the accomplishments from this expedition were mine, but hearing them from someone else—from the emperor himself—made them sound truly monumental.
"Thus, I, Ferdinand von Reich, commend these unparalleled achievements and hereby bestow the following rewards. To Viscount Peter Jaeger, I grant the title of count, along with the counties of Ingolstadt, Augsburg, and the barony of Angol. I specially promote him to lieutenant general, and award the Diamond Knight's Sword Cross Medal and the Twin Dragon Medal."
A count in the empire was among the highest nobility, with only marquises and imperial family above. Even among counts, few held multiple counties.
Moreover, as a lieutenant general, he could serve as deputy commander in any expedition.
Even if it failed, accompanying His Highness the Crown Prince—like in the Swiss expedition—made him the de facto supreme commander.
And the Twin Dragon Medal was the highest honor, last awarded over a century ago to the field marshal who saved the empire in its darkest hour.
It outranked even the Diamond Knight's Sword, regarded as the top medal, in prestige and influence.
In other words, even the army's field marshal would have to defer to my record and achievements.
And so, with heartfelt gratitude, I cried out.
"I shall repay Your Majesty's grace with my body and soul!"