Chapter 210
Chapter 210
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: Stockholm Conquest Operation (1)
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"Yes, Commander Keitel."
"Good. Even if I come off a bit stiff, try to understand. That's just my personality."
The man sitting before me right now, General Keitel, had the most unique career in the history of the Reich Empire's army.
Born as the heir to one of the empire's rare ducal families, he graduated from the academy and completed his mandatory platoon command term before moving into the role of battalion logistics staff officer.
Compared to his peers, he demonstrated exceptional administrative skills—no, capabilities in logistics and support that were unprecedented in imperial history.
As a result, he was the one person who never once held a combat command position like company commander, battalion commander, or regimental commander, which every other academy graduate had to go through.
And yet, recognized solely for his administrative prowess, he rose all the way to general—a true monster among monsters.
"Not at all. It's an honor to serve under someone like you as Supreme Commander, General Keitel."
"I've wanted someone like you under my command, and that wish has finally come true—I'm truly delighted. That aside, I reviewed the marching route and supply lines you submitted, and there were a few regrettable points."
"......Could you tell me which parts were regrettable?"
General Keitel flashed a wicked smile, like a white plantation owner overseeing black slaves, and placed a thick report on the desk—one that you'd only see at the Staff College.
"Not many. After all, it's our first face-to-face today, and we'll be discussing the Stockholm Kingdom conquest in exhaustive detail over the next three months. Let's keep it light and casual for now."
"Yes, sir."
"First off, you chose a route landing on the coast near Visby Castle in southern Stockholm, capturing the castle, then marching north. I agree it's the best path, but the problem is..."
The general sighed and pointed to the Northern Region and Berlin City on the map.
"Your proposal was to transport soldiers and food from the Northern Region to the coast near Visby in one go. That's an incredibly inefficient supply method."
"But if we transport soldiers and food separately, won't the worst-case scenario happen? Couldn't the Stockholm Kingdom's navy plunder them?"
"From Lübeck to Visby is just half a day's sail, so the risk of plunder is extremely low—negligible, really. If we go with your approach of shipping food and troops together to avoid that risk, the cost alone would be a whopping 30,000 gold."
Even in the modern world with trucks and railroads capable of hauling dozens of tons at once, ships are overwhelmingly preferred for long-distance transport.
How much more so in this world, where land transport means nothing but horse- or ox-drawn wagons...
Even if it seems like detouring dozens of kilometers compared to land routes, ships can carry more goods faster with fewer men and less cost in a single trip.
That's why, in the academy's first-year logistics and transport course, we were taught to always choose ships over land when forced to pick one.
Still, I'd planned it with the total loss of supplies in mind for safety, but weighing the risks and costs as the general said...
My initial proposal seemed to have been deemed inefficient.
"The rest can be tweaked with minor adjustments on my part, so no need to dwell on it. Right, your marching plan is to land at Visby, seize the castle, then head northwest along the coastline?"
"Yes, sir. That way, we can secure the straight sea supply line from the Northern Region to Stockholm. I figured expanding supply lines eastward while advancing from there would be optimal."
"To align with next spring's mobilization, we've decided to use the grain taxes collected from the Northern Region as military rations instead of trading them with merchants. No need to pay them two or three times the markup. Excellent work."
Hearing that, I could finally let out a sigh of relief, as if I'd cleared the toughest hurdle.
Because for any commander waging war, coordinating and planning logistics schedules is the most grueling and complex task.
Even if it was just a rough outline, getting approval on rations and weapons supply plans meant I'd dodged any major flak.
"In the last Ostrica invasion, you used deception, but this time you're planning a straightforward frontal assault. Is there a specific reason? You always have a strategy in mind, but moving so predictably in enemy territory makes us prime for ambushes, doesn't it?"
Southern Stockholm, our upcoming battlefield, had no mountains or valleys ideal for enemy ambushes—just dense forests of massive ancient trees at best.
Objectively, the Reich Empire army would be marching through plains unsuitable for ambushes, so we could relax a bit.
But battlefields are places where anything can happen at any time, and bad luck could mean getting ambushed and wiped out on an empty plain despite vigilant scouting.
In that sense, General Keitel's point was perfectly reasonable common sense.
"As you said, sir, marching such a predictable route does increase our ambush risk. But our path is open plains, and the empire's army includes Northern Region soldiers—the finest scouts in Europa. We'll spot the enemy long before they spot us."
In truth, the Stockholm forces had Northern ethnic cavalry too, so the difference might not be huge.
But crucially, the enemy wouldn't see through us like an open palm, while we wouldn't even know where they were—that scenario wouldn't happen.
In that situation, better to push straight ahead honestly than weave complex deceptions and feints.
Seeming to grasp the logic, the general nodded.
"Fair enough. No need to divert unnecessary troops to fool them or expose weaknesses with risky maneuvers. Plus, your route lacks ambush terrain, so simplicity is more efficient."
"Thank you for understanding, sir."
"You'll have plenty of tactical plans for engaging the enemy, but strategies shift by the minute—how can we predict battlefield tactics now? If you could foresee it all, you'd be a prophet, not a general."
As General Keitel said, being human, any pre-war predictions about where we'd fight or how were over 95% wrong.
Because even if we simulated our battles now, everything changes moment to moment once the expedition starts.
That's why wise generals and commanders don't overcomplicate tactical plans from the outset.
For the next hour or so, I explained the operation's key points and essentials to General Keitel in as much detail as possible.
Most passed without major criticism.
"Before wrapping up, sir, from your perspective on logistics, administration, tactics, or strategy—is there anything you'd like to point out?"
"Nothing for now. But I'll analyze your briefing-based report and question any issues tomorrow."
Before him lay the report with everything I'd explained so far.
I'd been too focused on answering to notice, but he'd clearly been organizing every detail in his own way.
Honestly, it was chilling before it was impressive.
The general seemed unconcerned with my thoughts. With business done, he stood to leave.
Then, turning back suddenly, he said,
"I don't know if I'm lucky or not, but among the empire's countless generals, I'm the only one besides platoon leaders with zero frontline command experience. So even if you have less service time and lower rank than me, Lieutenant General Jaeger, your ability to plan and execute battles far surpasses mine. Thus, as Supreme Commander of the Stockholm Expeditionary Force, I'll focus on what I do best: rear support and logistics. In my stead, lead this war to victory."
.......Normally, a supreme commander would want to be the hero of the victory.
Because to claim the greatest merits as commander-in-chief opens the path to the military's highest honors: field marshal or Minister of War.
Yet he was handing the starring role to me.
"No need to feel sorry for me over this. As head of the Keitel ducal house and commander of this force, I prioritize the Reich Empire's national interests above my own position or desires."