Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Stairs to Glory (1)
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After Lieutenant Peter Jaeger departed, Stefan von Bolton, commander of the Reich Empire's 7th Division, let out a sigh and muttered to himself.
"From the moment those student platoon leaders started joining the Rhineland Front and seeing real combat, I wondered if that kid might be a genius. And damn, he really is one hell of a guy. Personality, strategy, eloquence—nothing lacking in him at all. If only my youngest had followed even half his example, he wouldn't have flunked the major promotion exam..."
A surge of anger rose up for a moment, but Stefan recalled the lieutenant's exploits once more.
Student platoon leaders were praised just for properly understanding and executing orders from other platoon or company commanders on the front lines. Yet in his first battle, this one personally led his platoon out, annihilating an enemy battalion and killing its commander.
For that, he was promoted to second lieutenant and then made a major contribution to crushing one company and two platoons, even getting his fellow officers in the company promoted. An elite officer through and through.
Then, when an adjacent battalion fell into near-total annihilation due to the student platoon leaders' misjudgment and reckless solo actions, he swiftly intervened and saved them.
On top of that, the madman repelled 300 Franco Republic soldiers.
If someone claimed a fresh academy graduate pulled off feats like that on their first deployment, you'd think they were writing a hero novel and shut your ears to the nonsense.
'That's why I can no longer dismiss Lieutenant Jaeger as some commoner orphan. The Empire has dukes and five other noble ranks plus knights, but if you rack up enough military merit as a commander, it's not impossible to enter those ranks and become nobility.'
After the student platoon leaders' solo actions cost him about 20% of his forces, he'd asked the lieutenant for tactical advice in desperation, like a drowning man grasping at straws.
Stefan, the division commander, read the staff reports estimating the guerrilla unit led by Lieutenant Jaeger while speaking.
"Out of 9,000 Franco Republic troops, at least 400 to a maximum of 600 killed, including one colonel-level commander and two lieutenant colonel/major-level ones. Even in the novels I read at the academy, I'd slam the book shut saying it was ridiculous."
He himself had often been called a talented scholar, if not a genius, among his many noble classmates on his way to division commander.
But if someone asked if he had the insight and courage to completely pierce the enemy's weak spot with just one company in a similar situation...
'What nonsense. Who in their right mind would lead a single company against a division reinforced by a regiment-sized mercenary force?'
And so, 7th Division Major General Stefan found himself envying Lieutenant Jaeger, a subordinate seven ranks below him.
'But without Lieutenant Jaeger, I'd be retreating to Weinberg Castle by now, having lost 3,000 men without results and facing dishonorable discharge.'
And while he bore fault as division commander for failing to control the student platoon leaders, resulting in those losses...
With 3,000 casualties offset by killing half of an enemy division over 10,000 strong...
No, adding the merit of securing territory right up to Resing Castle, he could expect a medal and promotion to lieutenant general.
"I can't become a famous general myself, but if I recommend Peter Jaeger—who has the makings of one—to His Highness the Crown Prince, I can bring him under my influence."
Because in noble society, there was an unspoken rule: you generally served as a vassal to the one who advanced your career, or at least repaid their favor.
With that decision made, Stefan wrote a report brimming with ambition, filled with the highest praise for Lieutenant Jaeger, and sent it to the Crown Prince.
After crushing the Franco Republic division on the Rhineland Front, things moved at a breakneck pace, leaving no time to even breathe.
Of course, there were no clashes with the enemy during that time, so no need to risk life and limb in battle.
But we were moving so much that I could feel in my bones what it meant to be as busy as in wartime.
First, I had to file paperwork with the Imperial Army's Welfare Department claiming merits for the soldiers who followed me and died, right up to their final moments, along with their rewards.
On top of that, I hand-wrote letters to their families, hoping to offer some comfort.
Next came clear evaluations of the surviving officers' and soldiers' merits and faults, to be sent to 7th Division HQ.
Every three days, there were banquets for the troops still holding the front line despite our great victory, where I'd eat, drink, and boost morale among the men.
It was insanely busy, and time flew by like a clock on fast-forward.
Damn, is this why my uncle, who was a battalion operations officer, said that?
'Once you graduate officer school and become an officer, paperwork will be your biggest job. Training soldiers? Important, sure, but you'll spend most of your time buried in documents.'
As I immersed myself in paperwork, reminiscing about old times...
The 1st Platoon Leader burst into the tent with flushed cheeks and wild excitement, nearly tearing the flap off.
"Company commander, great news! Really great news!"
If I weren't swamped with work, I'd be thrilled, but right now I felt like a zombie.
Still, I couldn't straight-up tell my beaming subordinate, "I'm so buried I can't spare joy for anything short of major."
So, with a hint of curiosity, I asked.
"What's got you so worked up?"
"The division personnel staff just announced the units for the victory parade! Our company's on the list. I can hardly believe it."
I felt a twinge of sorry for the platoon leader, but his report didn't stir much excitement in me.
Because by tradition, units like ours that made major contributions to the victory were always included in the parade.
It was basic military protocol, taught in first-year academy classes.
Plus, the division commander had already tipped me off that our participation was confirmed.
And the 1st Platoon Leader, a warrant officer graduate, should know that much common sense even if his formal education was less than mine.
Maybe that's why praise didn't come out—instead, a sarcastic remark slipped.
"You knew that already, didn't you? It's an honor, sure. But given our unit's achievements, not exactly surprising."
The 1st Platoon Leader raised his voice even louder.
"Jaeger Company outranks the knight order! We'll lead the parade solo, carrying the Franco Republic division flag we captured and the Reich Empire 7th Division flag! They've officially declared us the top contributors to this battle!"
I asked in surprise.
"Is that for real?"
Because just participating in the parade certified and boasted, "Our unit shone in this battle."
But leading the procession alone as a company, bearing the enemy and allied flags? That meant Stefan the division commander acknowledged our company's merits surpassed all other regiments combined.
Objectively, without me and Jaeger Company, this front would've collapsed.
By Imperial Army custom, the top commander on each front awards the vanguard spot in the parade to the highest-ranking subunit under them with the greatest merits.
"It's true! I pinched my cheek to make sure! Congratulations, company commander!"
"Thanks. Any word on the other units?"
"Our company, 150 knights from the knight order, and 700 from each regiment for the parade. Once His Highness the Crown Prince arrives leading the follow-up forces, everyone pulls back to the rear. Seems like with our side's heavy losses, sieging Resing Castle is off the table until reinforcements arrive."
The 1st Platoon Leader seemed disappointed about missing the Resing Castle assault.
But in the original story, we should've been routed from Weinberg Castle by now, no siege in sight.
That's when the protagonist, a newly commissioned noble lieutenant, would shine, save the Empire, become a war hero, and kick off his career...
And I snatched it all. What happens to the original novel now? Oh well, merit opportunities are limited—my success means someone else's misfortune.
By tossing me this huge "victory honors are all yours" meat lump, is the division commander showing his hand to pull me into his faction?
I knew my merits were big, but I never imagined he'd recruit this fast, with such a massive prize...