Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: Invasion of Ostrica (1)
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It was only natural, but my prediction came true exactly as expected.
Since only the minimal forces for maintaining public order were stationed in western Ostrica, our expeditionary force was able to occupy the western territories without much resistance.
In the midst of that, the Ostrican soldiers stationed in the west tried to flee somehow—either to survive or to inform the Archduke of Ostrica that we had invaded.
But Anya's Northern Nomad Cavalry had moved ahead of our main force and killed or captured almost all of the escapees.
As a result, it would take a long time for the Archduke of Ostrica—who had marched a great distance to support the Chekobians—to learn that we had already occupied western Ostrica.
This was the best possible situation for the Reich Empire Army, but for the Archduke of Ostrica, it must have been a nightmare too horrific to even imagine.
As I was lost in those thoughts, the door to my tent opened, revealing a familiar face.
"Major General, you wanted to see me?"
"Ah, brother-in-law, you're here? Have a seat and make yourself comfortable."
"Yes, thank you."
I beckoned Charlotte over and said,
"Charlotte, bring some hot soup with cheese in it, hardtack, and raw ham. Make it generous."
"Yes, Master. Would you like some wine as well?"
"One large bottle from Strasbourg, please, and wine glasses too."
I don't drink much during wartime except at banquets, but there's one exception: when I have a tough request to make of a subordinate.
"Oh, and brother-in-law, when it's just the two of us, feel free to call me casually. Aren't we family?"
"Is that really okay?"
"You're not even under my direct command anyway."
That said, the position he'd been assigned this time was as an administrative staff officer under the Administrative Chief of Staff.
He'd basically been stuck doing nothing in some backwater office until this war forced an assignment on him, so even the lieutenants and captains under him were openly ignoring him.
So I had to treat him well—otherwise, he might really break down.
"Alright, then. By the way, cheese-laden soup and raw ham on the battlefield? I wonder if we deserve such luxury."
"It's with you, brother-in-law, and we're moving along the Empire's southern border right now, so this much is fine. If you want, I could even grill up a beef steak."
"I'd love to, but I'll hold off for now."
And so, I chatted idly with my brother-in-law in his pitiful situation about how delicious booze and meat taste on the battlefield.
"Master, I've brought the food you requested. I'll take my leave now."
"Thanks. Charlotte, if there's anything you want to eat, tell the quartermaster to give you the ingredients and make it yourself. Say Major General Jaeger approved it, and they'll make it happen."
"Thank you, Master."
Charlotte wasn't even military, just a civilian who'd followed me to the battlefield, so I had to look out for her whenever I could.
If that girl didn't take proper care of herself, I'd lose my caretaker—and that could put me in danger.
"You're quite loved by your personal maid. You must treat her well."
"I try to treat all my subordinates as best I can. Especially Charlotte—she spends more time with me than even Laura does, if you just count the hours."
Hearing that, my brother-in-law gave a strange look and asked,
"So, what's the business, brother-in-law? As far as I know, you only drink on the battlefield at banquets or when assigning important missions to subordinates."
"Good. Then I'll get straight to the point. Are you prepared to risk your life for reinstatement?"
My brother-in-law's expression turned deadly serious as he nodded and replied,
"I know this mess is all my own fault. But frankly, the way I'm living now isn't living at all. I'd rather die. I didn't lose my rank like Matthias or the others, but I spent a year and a half drawing pay in limbo with no post. Now I'm working under the Personnel Chief of Staff, but even the junior officers ignore me to my face. The funny part? The lieutenant colonel knows it and lets the insubordination slide. Is this any way for a man to live?"
"You've been through a lot."
"Don't even ask. So yes, if reinstatement is on the table, I'll risk my neck for it."
His resolve seemed solid... and since he was my father-in-law's adopted son and heir to the Venner family, it wouldn't hurt to give this brother-in-law a real shot.
Unlike Matthias or those other four majors, he had a wife and kids he had to protect.
Plus, unlike most political marriages, he actually had a good relationship with his wife, so his attachment to her must be strong.
He wouldn't stab the Empire or me in the back, not with his wife and children to think of.
With that, I handed him the documents in an envelope on my field desk.
"Take a look, brother-in-law. If you complete this mission successfully, this is the list of commendations I'll recommend to His Highness the Crown Prince."
He took the envelope from me as if it were a sacred relic and read its contents over and over.
"Restoration of honor, return of confiscated property, bounty pay. Promotion by one rank and the Knight's Sword Cross Medal? These would pull me and my family out of hell. No—they'd erase every stain of dishonor completely."
"Perform the mission I assign exactly as instructed, and win this war, and it'll go through immediately. If you exceed even what I've outlined, I can use my authority to upgrade it to the Bronze Knight's Sword Cross Medal."
"It's what I have to do anyway, but brother-in-law... what exactly are you asking me to do?"
At that, I signaled with my hand for him to lean in close, then whispered,
"First, do Matthias and the other four still trust you fully? If there's even a hint of suspicion, this operation will be impossible."
"A letter came through Matthias with the Archduke of Ostrica's seal on a knighthood commission already issued in my name. I received the originals a few weeks ago, and the Imperial Intelligence verified they were genuine."
"Perfect. Then, I know this is a big ask, but you need to desert right now and head straight to the Archduke of Ostrica's army."
The conversation had jumped ahead so abruptly that my brother-in-law looked utterly bewildered.
So I decided to explain in more detail and continued,
"I got ahead of myself. For starters, Major Matthias and the other four—dispatched as double agents to the Ostrican camp—have almost certainly betrayed us, judging by how the war is unfolding."
(Betrayal here includes getting caught midway and spilling information under duress.)
"Otherwise, there's no reason for 130,000 Ostrican troops to be camped around Lints City. Everyone knows the Imperial Army is targeting Chekobia, so the Archduke of Ostrica wouldn't sign some mutual defense pact that puts him at risk."
"From Ostrica's position, there's no need to accept such a mad proposal."
"Well, it worked out even better for us. Their forces in Innsbruck are so thin that we can occupy far more territory than planned."
Thanks to that, troop morale is at an all-time high, and if we win the war, we can rack up bonus objectives too.
"But the one remaining problem is that they have 130,000 troops, and we don't know when reinforcements might arrive."
"True enough, brother-in-law..."
"That's why I'll give you a horse. Spread the word that the Imperial Army is crossing Innsbruck toward the east. Make them believe we're also planning raids on empty northern Ostrica. They won't conscript more or send reinforcements if they buy it—they'll have to block us."
My brother-in-law nodded in agreement, and I smiled as I said,
"Eat your fill with me tonight, then at 0430 tomorrow dawn, grab some jerky and hardtack and desert. Ditch your armor, mount up, and ride like hell."
"Got it. I'll do that."
"Colonel Anya will have her Northern Cavalry pretend to pursue you full-tilt. If you're caught, I'll save you... but what kind of interrogation you'll face in the meantime is up to your imagination. For reference, the Northern Horse Archers often use brutally effective methods because they work so well."
Once, I saw the Northern Horse Archers interrogating a rapist-murderer of women and children, and... wow.
They called the bastard less than human for raping and killing innocents, ripping out his nails one by one and smashing each finger joint with a hammer. It was gruesome.
Of course, the report would reach me before it got that far, so my brother-in-law would probably just end up with a few lashes.
But for the operation to succeed, he had to be genuinely terrified enough to flee convincingly, so I'd play dumb.
And so, the next day at 0430 dawn, Major Max von Venner bolted like his tail was on fire.
His speed shocked everyone.
Even Anya and the Northern Cavalry reportedly gave up the chase.