Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: New Tactics (3)
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To build a strong army, strict discipline is essential.
Because only when strict and fair rules are established will soldiers train diligently to avoid punishment, and fight with their lives on the line in battle.
One person who understood this principle well was the legendary Admiral Yi Sun-sin from the Imjin War, and those who study military history even say this:
"In Admiral Yi Sun-sin's camp, more people might have died for breaking discipline than in combat."
However, the current Imperial Army has some ambiguity in its discipline, so it needs to be corrected in the right direction.
"From now on, in our division, unit commanders are prohibited from privately imposing any punishment beyond a certain level on soldiers, except in emergencies."
At those words, the officers looked at me with bewildered expressions.
According to what we officers, including myself, learned at the academy and staff college, one of an officer's duties is to correct soldiers who misbehave.
To that end, a wide range of punishments is permitted.
Those punishments include simple push-ups, sit-ups, running laps with full gear, caning, whipping, pay deductions, and the like.
Until now, we've made good use of those powers to boost soldiers' morale and training levels, yielding decent results.
But honestly, aside from giving them push-ups or similar to snap them out of it, those methods aren't all that useful.
"Lieutenant General, sir, may I ask a question? How do we handle soldier management during training then?"
"Light punishments like push-ups to focus their minds are permitted. Also, for minor issues during unit life, verbal reprimands or light punishments are allowed."
"And for other cases, what do you plan to do, sir?"
To cut to the chase, I'm not thinking of lowering the average punishment level—I'm planning to raise it.
Just that it will be done officially, based on standards that everyone from senior officers down to privates can accept.
"Good question, Lieutenant. From now on, any punishment beyond light ones for all soldiers will follow strict rules and be carried out in front of the other soldiers. This is so the offender feels shame along with the punishment and never repeats the mistake, while the others witness it and stay on guard."
This method was the driving force behind King Gustavus Adolphus, the Lion of the North, turning the weak Swedish army into a powerhouse.
Because soldiers, though not as much as noble officers, live with their own sense of honor and pride as military men.
Even if military law is strict, if the rules and punishments are sensibly understandable, they'll recognize their wrongs, reflect, or at least be restrained by their peers.
Plus, with unnecessary punishments gone, abuses will decrease too.
"Therefore, effective immediately, any soldier squad leader or above who deems a punishment beyond light ones necessary must report it briefly to their company commander, along with the reason. If there's a soldier to be disciplined, the company commander will, on Saturday mornings, based on reports from NCOs and officers under him, carry out the punishment as per the rules, in front of everyone."
However, introducing this open punishment culture could lead to commanders whipping soldiers for show to pad their personnel evaluations, like you sometimes see in the news about the Korean military.
Common sense says that covering up bad apples in your unit and reporting no issues makes you look like a good manager.
And if there are many troublemakers, even if it's not the commander's fault, it could hurt their eval.
Or conversely, some overzealous types might report even trivial stuff to show how tightly they run things.
"All punishment details will go up to the higher commander's review. For 30 or more lashes, it goes to the regimental commander; under 30 to the battalion commander, with the reason and details. Every commander's punishment counts and bases will be kept for personnel evals and reviewed before promotions. Appropriate discipline means even high numbers show effort in unit management, favoring promotion. The opposite brings penalties."
This way, even with harsh penalties, most will think:
"Ah, I got punished because I deserved it for what I did."
"For reference, all military rules will apply equally to every officer, including me, and be enforced as such. Punishments short of flogging won't go on personnel records for officers, NCOs, or soldiers until the third offense. However, three or more for the same infraction, no matter how minor, will go to military court for dismissal or other actions."
Officers rarely get punished as harshly as soldiers due to noble status and face-saving.
So true equality is almost nonexistent.
But like the anecdote from Romance of the Three Kingdoms where Cao Cao pretends to cut his hair after his horse tramples a barley field, claiming he'd cut his head, and discipline snaps into place afterward.
Even if officers get lighter punishments, knowing they face the same laws will make soldiers trust the system more.
And with the threat of court-martial after three offenses, even minor ones, both soldiers and officers will strive to follow rules strictly.
"No training today. Instead, all commanders, disseminate and drill these rules I made to the soldiers by end of day. Also, for this Saturday's disciplines, I'll handle them myself as an example."
Saturday morning, the 7th Guard Division's parade ground.
"The Lieutenant General said punishments will follow these rules exactly. Does that apply to officers too?"
"Sergeant, anyone else maybe, but would Lieutenant General Jaeger say empty words? That's why our platoon leader was freaking out that if he slips up like usual, it'll be a huge embarrassment."
"True. Last time, he was about to go to the bathroom during training as always but held it till the end. Leaving for the john mid-training means 10 cane lashes, no excuses."
Normally, disciplines are per company, so no need to gather everyone at once.
But to show it will be done this way, we assembled the entire division's over 8,000 troops.
And true to army life with little gossip fodder, plenty were whispering about the punishments.
"We begin disciplines now. First, Captain Klein von Stein, front and center."
At that, Captain Klein stepped forward quietly under everyone's gaze, all eyes on him.
For a honor-bound noble like him, that alone is punishment enough, but the law is the law.
"Captain Stein, you broke the rule against drinking more than two beers at lunch or dinner on duty. Correct?"
"Yes, sir. I had about three, like usual."
"Lucky there was no mock battle that day, or your drinking could've hurt soldiers. It's in the rules, no excuses."
Hearing that, he bowed his head silently.
Imperial Army tradition winks at beer at lunch unless it's a crisis and you're wasted.
Because beer here is like cola in Korea.
But too much gets you drunk, so I set it at two 500ml glasses.
"Excessive drinking on duty violates rules for commanders, NCOs, and soldiers alike. Thus, effective today, full gear and parade ground laps for a week. Objections now?"
"None, sir."
"After today's trials, under MP supervision, armor up, pack full gear, and run."
Armor plus full gear is 50-60kg all over your body—misery like no other.
With everyone watching, it'll shame a noble to his core.
In this format, I disciplined 14 troops total today.
And as intended, soldiers' and officers' combat will and morale rose sharply.
Time passed, and the division's founding ceremony day approached.
A Guard Division needs an imperial to symbolize it, so I naturally requested His Highness the Crown Prince to grace us.