Chapter 239
Chapter 239
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: Repay Favors Twofold, Enemies a Hundredfold (3)
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Northern Army Headquarters, Recruit Training Center.
"Major Jaeger has returned to the North! Hooray!"
"Kakan hooray! Reich Empire hooray!"
"A chance to serve the Reich Empire has come again! Hooray!!"
Two months ago, after receiving permission from His Highness the Crown Prince, my family and I were assigned to the Northern Army and made our way north, where the tribal chiefs and the people gave us a rapturous welcome.
Strictly speaking, they had checked with the empire's other nobles whether it was acceptable to warmly welcome me, the proxy of the "Kakan," and received their approval before doing so.
Even so, without any order from me, on my very first day, the northerners pooled their own money to throw a massive village festival in my honor.
The northern tribes offered fine swords to the emperor—the "Kakan"—ostensibly to curry favor, then "happened" to have leftover steel and materials, which they used to gift me two top-grade cavalry swords...
They toed the line oh-so-carefully to avoid any mishaps, showering me with all sorts of gifts and welcomes.
His late Majesty Ferdinand had secretly guaranteed our hold on northern interests as long as we remained loyal to the empire.
And judging by how our fief from the rewards ceremony encompassed the entire Ishtaven domain, His Majesty clearly wanted our family to take on the role of unifying the north—no issues there.
"Attention, all!"
At that command, over four thousand northerners snapped their mouths shut in unison and turned to face me.
It used to take more than fifteen minutes for them to quiet down even after such an order, but now, thanks to drill training, they focused in just thirty seconds. It was deeply moving.
"The great Kakan of the Reich Empire has once again granted me the honor of leading you, and has entrusted us with a vital mission. Do you know what it is?"
They wouldn't know unless I told them... It'd be weirder if those northerners over there did know.
"Then I trust you know this! Those cowardly, sneaky Stockholm Kingdom lapdogs—the Warsaw vermin buzzing behind them—have spread the bullshit rumor that you're betraying the Kakan!"
The nomads reacted with a fury so intense it made you wonder if humans could even get that angry.
Their faces flushed not just red but beet-purple, every one of them grinding their teeth and bellowing in rage.
"We should tie those bastards to a wheel and tear their limbs off—wouldn't even be enough!"
"Tie their limbs to four horses, rip 'em apart hard, then feed the scraps to the birds—not even worthy of that, the trash!"
"We gotta kill their kids too! The laws of the plains say anyone who lies about betrayal when there was none gets their entire lineage wiped out!"
You could feel their readiness to hack Warsaw throats if handed a sword right then, carving and chewing the flesh.
It was exactly the reaction I wanted—truly fortunate—but it was so extreme that I felt a twinge of concern...
They'd never disobeyed my orders on the battlefield, so once combat started, they'd hold their positions and do what needed doing properly.
So instead of cooling their boiling tempers, I decided to fan the flames and pour oil on the fire.
"The emperor of the Reich Empire—your Kakan—doesn't doubt us northerners one bit! When you received that filthy, petty letter from Warsaw and immediately forwarded it to the Kakan, he was overjoyed, saying, 'Northerners are our imperial citizens too.' At the same time, he was furious. But his fury wasn't aimed at you—it was at Warsaw."
Warsaw's duke trying that low-rent scheme on us was laughably absurd just thinking about it.
Anyone who serves in the imperial army, sheds blood for the empire—no matter their origin or bloodline—is an imperial citizen. That's basic common sense.
Ignoring that and trying to sow division as fodder for when the Imperial Diet's old fogeys push anti-northerner policies to protect their vested interests? Pathetic.
Personally, seeing them resort to this crap, Warsaw's king must have a brain no bigger than a sea cucumber's.
So as fellow dwellers of the Europan continent, it was time to give them some proper guidance and a lesson.
"His Imperial Majesty hooray! Kakan hooray!"
"Let's burn the Warsaw Archduchy to ashes!"
"Light the fires! Light 'em up! Burn every last bit to cinders!"
The northerners seemed thrilled at the idea of giving Warsaw a proper schooling, so it was time to reveal the plan.
"And so, our Kakan—the emperor of the Reich Empire—has commanded us to deliver true education to the head of Warsaw's duke. To that end, we'll board ships and raid their coastal villages and cities. Just like your ancestors did. How about it—does that suit you?"
East or west, soldiers genuinely loved sacking enemy cities.
Because a good plunder could line their pockets big-time, changing their lives overnight.
That said, if soldiers got plunder-blind, things could spiral out of control... so that had to be prevented.
"Per northern custom, plunder anywhere a horsehoof touches, anywhere their pig-slow infantry and knights can't catch us. But all spoils belong to the Kakan—no taking even a single copper privately! He'll distribute them generously later."
They cheered wildly at the proposal, caveats and all.
And at the same moment, marines—authorized to wear the instructors' signature red hats—began encircling the northerners.
The sight of those dark navy uniforms massing together was intimidating even to me.
True to their pursuit of peak manhood on the seas, the marines gradually crushed the northerners' momentum through sheer presence.
"You maggots, shape up! Recruits lacking spirit!"
"Your origins, your homes—doesn't matter! What counts is your resolve to board ship and turn filthy enemies into fish food at the sea bottom!"
"Idiots thinking you can board Reich warships with that weak-ass spirit—I'll remodel those empty heads!"
......The Imperial Academy said marines were packed with even more alpha types than anyone could imagine.
A few words, and they'd completely overwhelmed the northern barbarians. Impressive.
"All eyes front! On horseback after landing, you're invincible—I guarantee it, having fought beside you! But on a rocking ship at sea? You're no better than any Reich serf! Not because you're weak—just inexperienced!"
In the 21st century—or any era with gunpowder—naval battles would hinge on cannon fire accuracy...
But here, sea fights meant ramming with beakheads, then winning with arrows, magic, and boarding against the enemy ship.
Ships rock on waves, though, so even elite boarding aces unfamiliar with deck fights saw their skills drop sharply—not useless, but hampered...
"So, swallowing my tears, I've resolved to have the marines teach you how to fight at sea. Are you ready to train for His Imperial Majesty of the Reich Empire—your Kakan?"
Sensing the irreversible atmosphere, the northerners shouted in resignation.
"Kakan hooray! His Majesty hooray! Reich Empire hooray!"
"Let's chew the flesh off those damn Warsaw bastards!"
"Argh! Fuck!!! This is all those Warsaw shits' fault!"
The marine instructors nodded in satisfaction at the fired-up display, glancing our way.
It was a heartwarming scene, like proud parents—yet for some reason, a chill ran down my spine.
Then a man wearing navy commodore insignia approached me.
"Loyalty, sir. Navy Commodore Gran von Osmach. It's a true honor to conduct this operation alongside you, Major."
"Take good care of my men. Don't need anything fancy—just train 'em solid for two months so they can fight on deck."
"Wouldn't have it any other way, sir. I'll give it my all. That said... Your northern cavalry followed you all the way here. Don't you think it's only right you set an example in training?"
"That's the plan. It was my proposal when I drew up this operation."
"Then, per Imperial Army Training Regulations, Article 10, Section 3, from this moment, you are to treat the instructors' lawful orders as direct commands and comply. This way, sir."
With that, I handed my major's uniform coat, hat, sword, and such to the marine instructors.
And found myself standing at the front with the northern recruits...
"All right, commencing minimum marine fitness check! Double-time march to the training port ahead!"
"Ugh!"
"Double-time, go!"
And so, over the next two months, I learned how to fight at sea and the basics of being a marine.