Chapter 237
Chapter 237
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 237
Chapter Title: Grace Doubled, Grudges Multiplied a Hundredfold (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the Reich Empire, the difference between a lieutenant general and a field marshal was just one rank on paper, but in terms of treatment, authority, and pay, it was like night and day.
For starters, field marshals got a private two-horse carriage and driver for commuting, along with an annual salary of 500 gold and an additional 300 gold for maintaining their dignity.
Even after retirement, they received a pension of over 600 gold per year, and with a formal vacation request, they enjoyed top-tier accommodations, carriages, and full honors.
Many officers applied hoping for such privileges, but a field marshal's true power lay in the independent operational authority during wartime—something incomparable to a lieutenant general's.
Lost in these thoughts as I walked, I soon found myself at the door to the audience chamber.
"Salute! Are you Field Marshal Jaeger? Please present your pass or something to prove your identity."
"Here. That good enough to let me in now?"
"One moment, please."
The knight guarding the audience chamber door stood ramrod straight, knocking precisely at a right angle to announce my arrival.
His Highness Michael—no, now ascended as Emperor Michael His Imperial Majesty—shouted so loudly it could be heard outside, as if not even 0.1 seconds mattered.
"Didn't I say to let Field Marshal Jaeger in with minimal formalities? What are you waiting for? Open the door!"
Feeling a bit sorry for the guard captain who'd only done his duty, I patted his shoulder encouragingly before entering.
"You were just doing your job properly. And since it concerns His Majesty's safety, your diligence is commendable. I'll make sure to put in a good word."
"Just doing what was expected, sir!"
"It's a general's duty to reward and look after those faithful to their tasks."
With that, I left the young noble knight—wearing his lieutenant's insignia—behind and paid my respects to the newly enthroned emperor in accordance with imperial protocol.
"Field Marshal Peter Jaeger pays homage to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, the Reich Empire's sole sun."
His Majesty seemed genuinely delighted to see me, rising from the jade throne and walking right over.
He personally helped me up, clapped my shoulder, and said,
"Well done coming all this way. You lot, bring a chair."
"My thanks, Your Majesty."
"I'm sorry for dragging you into the emperor election mess right after the war without proper rest. As compensation, I'll grant you a month and a half's leave after our talk. Time to have that second child, eh?"
Lately, Laura aside, Louise, Charlotte, and Anya had started feeling a bit intimidating at night.
When we were all together, they'd compete to act cute and charming, which was adorable. But once night fell and we were alone...
The moment the door closed, they'd wring me dry to the point my back ached.
If I hinted at sparing my back a little, they'd gaze at me with pitiful eyes, stroking their bellies and saying...
"It'd be wonderful to have another cute kid like Friedrich. Think it's possible?"
They'd appeal to my emotions like that, so unless I was utterly swamped with work, I'd end up handling nighttime duties before bed every night.
A month and a half's vacation? I'd be confined to the estate, squeezed dry day and night without mercy.
Ah, I genuinely want to forfeit the leave and work. Save me.
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."
"You're like my right arm—shouldn't I treat your affairs like family matters? Ah, since you married Louise, you're my brother-in-law and family. Speaking of which, when it's time to find a match for your son Friedrich, let me know. I'll be offended if you forget."
In Korea, small companies recruiting employees they planned to work like slaves would advertise a "family-like atmosphere."
Was I heading toward becoming not just a "family-like empire" member, but actual imperial family and emperor consort?
I shuddered at the uneasy premonition but quickly calmed down.
The late emperor had retired in his early sixties, so His Majesty Michael, whom I'd served since his crown prince days, would likely do the same.
If I tagged along and retired then, I wouldn't end up as a slave unable to retire in old age.
"I'll keep that in mind, Your Majesty."
"Before discussing the Warsaw matter, let's talk about the north. Thanks to your strategy, those freed from Ludwig's tyranny have become imperial subjects, but we haven't decided how to treat them yet."
"Do you feel it's insufficient to divide the land taken from the Stockholm Kingdom among the northern tribes and offer generous opportunities for social mobility in the army? According to the Imperial Chancellery's analysis, in about ten years, they'll be perfect imperial citizens—different customs aside."
When I'd personally beheaded Ludwig before, the northern tribes had a clear ruler-subject structure, albeit loosely between chiefs and tribesmen.
Like with Ishtaven, a discontented chief could defect to somewhere like Stockholm Kingdom, taking their tribe with them.
But now, their relationships were more like company president and employees. Even if a chief was swayed by Stockholm, the tribesmen wouldn't all follow blindly.
Considering that, it felt like we were rushing things.
"Aren't you moving too hastily, Your Majesty?"
"I won't deny it. But thinking of the headache from that dog of a traitor at the wretched Switzerland Lichten Hills makes even a slight risk hurt my head. That's why I'm seeking your advice—you know the north better than anyone in the empire right now. The other ministers say this is best, but I bet you'll come up with something brilliant."
"Is that so, Your Majesty?"
"And my haste has good reason."
With that, one of the guard knights from the corner brought over a secret missive for me to see.
Even after knowing Ishtaven lost his head to Anya and his followers got the wheel at Oslo Castle, they'd sent this drivel.
Grand Duke Warsaw couldn't seriously expect our northern friends to betray us.
But stirring them up like this would give ammunition to nobles in the Imperial Diet who distrust them.
"Northerners betrayed us with that idiot Ishtaven; now Warsaw's tempting them. We can't trust barbarians. Drive out the savages."
Of course, deep down, it was because they feared northern chiefs becoming nobles and threatening their privileges.
We couldn't let this fester.
"The ones who offered this missive were northerners, right? So, widely proclaim that northerners never forget Your Majesty's grace."
"That's priority one."
"And use this chance to crown their rulers with an imperial title above the emperor's own. It means little to you, but it'll mean the world to them."
As I said, imperial nobles above baron often held multiple titles.
I was nominally Count Jaeger but held over ten formal titles.
His Majesty before me had more than six ducal territories and titles alone.
Adding a northern emperor title on top wasn't a big deal.
"What northerners fear most since submitting is losing their way of life. But if Your Majesty uses their supreme title 'Kakan'—King of Kings—they'll all rest easy."
"...Frankly, using a barbarian title chafes a bit, but they're not barbarians anymore—just imperial citizens with different customs. We can do that much. Any other ideas? Like plans to punish those Warsaw bastards."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Before full war, I'll have the northerners lightly smack the Grand Duke in the back of the head."
It was time to make them pay dearly—for declaring war so lightly—with full propriety.