Chapter 215
Chapter 215
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: Unexpected Crisis
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'Is the world dead set on throwing me into crisis?' That thought crossed my mind after encountering a disaster so profound.
I decided to clean my ears.
Because I wanted to believe that my ears were clogged with so much earwax that I'd misheard something utterly ridiculous.
"Lieutenant Hockman, I think my ears haven't been cleaned in days, so I must have heard some nonsense. Could you fetch me some water to wash them right now?"
The lieutenant, hearing that, looked utterly bewildered but actually went off to fetch water for cleaning my ears. Meanwhile, General Keitel, standing before me, let out a sigh and shook his head.
And then, the man who had always treated me with nothing but strict discipline and protocol—showing scarcely any human side—gave me a look that said he understood completely, patted my shoulder, and spoke.
"Major General Jaeger, everything you heard is true. You've just returned after leading a thousand Northern Horse Archers to raid the enemy headquarters, shattering their morale—a tremendous feat. It's embarrassing to hit you with this right away, but this is an official document straight from the Reich Empire's Foreign Ministry. Since you still seem skeptical, I'll show you a copy."
To: Commander Gerhard von Keitel of the Reich Empire Stockholm Expeditionary Force Three days after the expeditionary force departed the North for Stockholm, the Archduchess Irina von Augusto of the Warsaw Grand Duchy wed the Crown Prince of Stockholm. As a result, the two nations have formed a marriage alliance and signed a mutual defense pact. At the same time, the Warsaw Grand Duchy has declared it cannot tolerate the Reich Empire's invasion of the Kingdom of Stockholm—the nation of its son-in-law—and condemned His Imperial Majesty the Emperor for falsely accusing the innocent Ishutaven chieftain of treason, an act contrary to human decency. Based on this, the Reich Empire Intelligence Bureau's analysis estimates that Warsaw will dispatch reinforcements to Stockholm numbering at least 30,000 and up to 50,000 from Swepsk. Furthermore, as the Reich Empire's western duchies of Morenzia and Belgium have seized on our crisis to mobilize 80,000 troops and attack the Empire's western front, we deeply regret any disruptions to military supply support.
Reich Empire Foreign Ministry
Foreign Minister Marquess Wenzel Zwei von Kaunitz
At least the Swedians had kept their promise not to attack northern Stockholm, claiming they couldn't spare any troops—a small mercy.
No. With our forces at a mere 110,000 against their 200,000, it made sense under this era's beautiful diplomatic customs to say something like this.
'Argh, big brother Reich Empire. We gotta survive too, you know. Forget the alliance—we don't know you. Your back looks wide open, so we'll smack it.'
If that happened, I'd be utterly screwed, driven to madness and despair.
As I was about to let out deep sighs of hopelessness, the general looked at me and spoke.
"You don't need to worry about Sweden's betrayal. Because around the time the alliance between Warsaw and Stockholm was announced, the engagement between the Reich Empire's First Imperial Princess and Sweden's Crown Prince was formalized. No matter how brazen they are, they can't betray an empire bound by marriage alliance."
In this era's Europa continent, backstabbing allies or non-aggression pact nations was as common as bread and soup.
But marriage alliances were different. Unless circumstances were extreme, not only would they refrain from aiding the enemy, but openly declaring war or breaking promises was tacitly forbidden.
Betraying a royal marriage within three years—after engagement and wedding ceremonies—was reviled and despised, barring extraordinary cases.
The betrayer might even face excommunication from His Holiness the Pope, incurring all sorts of penalties if unlucky.
In other words, republics like the Franco Republic, where commoners and nobles alike feared excommunication as much as death, could erupt in rebellions to drag down the emperor and board the heaven-bound train in the afterlife.
Thus, from the moment the First Imperial Princess and Sweden's Crown Prince were engaged, our backs were safe.
"Truly a blessing amid misfortune. If Sweden betrayed us too, rather than subjugating the Ishutaven, we'd have no choice but to flee as fast as possible, like we did from Lichten."
"Just thinking about it is horrifying. But I fully agree with that judgment. Even you couldn't handle being attacked by three nations—Stockholm, Warsaw, and Sweden. Still, with two nations and around 200,000, I think we can manage somehow, so no retreat."
When a commander who never jokes starts awkwardly tossing in humor or gags, it means the situation is disastrously bad.
Because only then can they pretend everything's fine to keep the troops' morale from collapsing entirely.
"So, what's the current supply situation? The Foreign Minister's letter mentioned cutting supplies. Does that affect ours too?"
The one topic no commander wants to hear—especially about reductions—and yet the general's face was surprisingly bright.
No, he even wore a faintly confident expression as he replied.
"I'm the man who rose to general handling only staff work like supplies, training, and operations in the Empire. You think I'd sit idly by while supplies get cut over something like this? I found a way to maintain them—hell, even increase them—with a fitting pretext."
......No matter how I looked at it, increasing supplies in this mess seemed impossible. What sorcery had he wrought?
"This campaign has plenty of Northerners conscripted, right? Those who were warriors among the barbarians, and even common flatfolk (serfs), now bear the same military obligations. In return, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor issued an edict: if we win this war, the North will be taxed at the same rate as Empire serfs."
To be precise, the edict promised them equal treatment to longstanding Empire serfs in exchange for shouldering military duties.
But achieving that treatment required victory in this expedition, so it wasn't wrong.
Still, how did that enable maintaining, let alone increasing, supplies?
"Exactly. From my meetings with Colonel Kerzhit and other Northerners, I saw their passion—if treated equally, they'd do anything. So I levied a special tax that wouldn't burden them too much. We hand over the collected deer, wolf, and bear pelts to Empire merchants, then use that cash to buy grain, weapons, armor, horses—the works. Even if High Command cuts supplies, we're covered."
"Even if they want Empire victory, extra taxes could spark issues, right?"
Excessive tax hikes easily led to revolt.
The sense of deprivation from having more than a fair share taken bred resentment fast.
"In other regions, maybe—but the North's commander handles both civil and military affairs. As your superior, my authority makes it legally sound. Plus, the Northerners crave Empire recognition, so I just gave them the chance to prove it."
"So, prove your devotion to earn recognition?"
"And if we win, I promised to repay part of the reparations—at 1.3 times the pelt value in cash."
"If the Empire wins and pays 1.3 times in cash, the Northerners will be loyal to the core."
Of course, if General Keitel and I lost, we'd be cursed out by every Northerner for pointless taxation.
Still, better than losing for failing to act now—a billion times better plan.
"By the way, where do you think this battle will be fought?"
"We have to lure the enemy in ourselves, right? In that sense..."
With that, I pointed to a spot on the map and said,
"The Osby Plains. Fighting at Osby is our best bet."