Chapter 303
Chapter 303
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 303
Chapter Title: Train Like It's Real Combat, Fight Like It's Training (2)
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Two months later, my family and I relocated to Bayernstadt, home to the headquarters of the Perosia Front Army.
Most nobles pack up their entire households for a move, often taking over three months, but since I've lived as a soldier ever since possessing this body, I have no particular attachments to possessions, allowing us to arrive quickly.
Fortunately, my wives adapt well to my habits, so there were no issues.
The day after settling in, I headed to the base a full week ahead of the official transfer date.
This could normally land someone in a court-martial for disobedience, but before coming here, I'd obtained His Majesty's permission by explaining that a preliminary visit was necessary to assess the unit's state as the new sector army commander.
To match my disguised purpose of an unannounced inspection, I swapped the four stars on my uniform—symbolizing a full general—for three diamonds denoting a captain.
The idea was to pass as a mere lieutenant or captain to get a true read on the unit.
That way, soldiers and officers wouldn't put on a show, letting me see things as they really are.
"When I was in Reichburg, Marquis Venner said the Perosia Front Army was a total mess despite being the Empire's southernmost frontline. Let's see just how bad it is."
I strode straight to the guard post.
Even though this was supposedly the front lines, had the Perosia Alliance not launched a single offensive in the past thirty years or so?
In the sentry box where guards were on duty, a mug of beer sat out in the open, and the soldiers were chatting idly.
I can overlook chit-chat—barring the Imperial Guard, everyone does it—but beer on duty? No way.
"Haha, so like I was saying, Corporal. Didn't I tell you I met my fiancée Anna at the festival?"
"Yeah, you did. But how the hell did a serf-born third daughter like you end up engaged to a knight's family girl?"
"Anna had gotten lost right then, and some damn kidnappers were trying to snatch her. Well, any real man would save a woman in distress, so I charged in without a second thought. Turns out she's from a knight's family—I only learned that when I met her father, Sir Daniel, in person. But to get permission to marry, I have to pass enlisted commissioning, and it's killing me."
It's like some dirt-poor guy making 2 million won a month in Korea sweet-talking a well-off girl from a similar background and turning his life around. How'd he pull that off?
It was intriguing enough to pique my curiosity, but right now, my focus was inspecting the unit's condition.
Suppressing my interest, I stepped into the guard post. The on-duty soldiers crossed their spears to bar my path and asked,
"Halt! Loyalty! Mind stating your rank, name, and purpose?"
"Captain Peter Drame. As of today, I've been assigned as commander of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Company, and I'm here to report for transfer."
By the book, since I hadn't given the proper password, they should either subdue me with spears or have the private run to battalion HQ to verify if a Captain Peter Drame was really transferring in.
Whichever they chose, I'd planned to reward proper procedure with a ten-day pass, like a division commander handing out bonus leave.
But these two casually uncrossed their spears as if it were routine.
"Loyalty! Verified. Proceed!"
"Loyalty! By the way, where's the 2nd Company barracks?"
"About a hundred meters straight ahead—there's a sign. You'll see it."
"Thanks for the details. What unit are you from?"
"3rd Battalion, 1st Company, 4th Platoon."
Hearing that, I made a mental note of "3rd Battalion" in particular.
Whoever trained them like this on the front lines deserved a personal interview later.
As I walked deeper into the base, I checked the facilities and soldiers' states.
This being a sector army HQ, it wasn't like some ragtag force with drunks stumbling around, but overall management looked subpar.
The long spears soldiers carried on duty weren't rusted, but they hadn't been cleaned in days, their surfaces dulled.
Facilities, on closer look, weren't properly maintained—dirty spots abounded, and a foul stench hung around the latrines.
Regulations mandate emptying urine and feces from latrines daily and scrubbing with water.
Overlooking that in a camp housing hundreds—no, thousands or tens of thousands—spells disaster.
Admiral Yi Sun-sin's battle casualties were low, but
due to era-limited hygiene knowledge, epidemics often ravaged his fleets during joint operations with thousands.
Some professor in a Yi Sun-sin YouTube special lecture said that in one naval battle, disease claimed twenty times the combat dead...
"Cholera, typhoid—outbreaks can wipe out hundreds or thousands without a fight. I pushed hygiene rules into the General Staff regs when I was a major general, and they've proven effective for years. Yet basics like this are ignored. I'd score this unit's management at 30 out of 100. Fine for peacetime off the front, but for Perosia combat? Nowhere near enough. Severely lacking."
Mulling this over, I headed to the sector commander office.
En route, I swapped my epaulets, hat, and collar insignia back to full general standards, arriving at the door before long.
"Peter Jaeger General, assuming command of the Perosia City Alliance Front Army as of today. May I enter, Lieutenant General Eckert?"
My words barely ended when the door opened; the lieutenant general rose from his desk and saluted.
"Loyalty!"
"Loyalty."
Returning the salute, I took the sector commander's seat naturally. Eckert stood ramrod straight before me.
"Take a seat on that sofa at least."
At my words, the lieutenant general stiffened even more.
"No, sir! This is more comfortable."
"Very well. Our talk won't be long, so let's keep it brief."
Was it the irritation in my voice and expression?
Worry and anxiety filled Lieutenant General Eckert's face.
Regrettable for him, but his uneasy premonition would prove spot-on.
I sighed deeply and said,
"General Peter Jaeger is disappointed in the Perosia Alliance Front Army headquarters."
In the Reich Empire, officers from captain and up often say "disappointed," but the weight grows with rank.
Unlike Korea, this is a rigid class-and-title society.
For a captain's disappointment, it's group reprimands or light punishment. But from a colonel or higher? Careers derail—one officer's post changes spark regimental command shakeups downward.
When a four-star general like me says it?
The fallout starts at sector commander: officers and men skip voluntary leave for a month, endlessly cleaning barracks and weapons even in personal time.
The direct target? Mental torment wishing for death instead.
Three years as general, I've used "disappointed" fewer than ten times total, knowing its ripple.
"Lieutenant General, I came early with His Majesty's approval—no grand parade expected. You know how I am."
His face drained of color at my words.
"Y-yes, sir!"
"But the unit's a mess. Latrine hygiene? I proposed it as a major general; General Staff adopted it, slashing epidemics. Yet here, days unclean—the stench is overpowering. And frontline weapons? Not rusted, but maintenance is abysmal. I saw it myself. Truly regrettable."
"Regrettable" added, he began sweating coldly.
"Worse? I posed as Captain Peter Drame transferring to a company command, got checked at the guard post. Shockingly, they waved me through without verifying if such a captain existed. Ha! If I'd been an assassin, you'd be dead. Or, like in Richten, I could've cut down two hundred on my way out."
Cold sweat poured like rain.
His eyes showed torment pondering death as mercy.
"You know I'm close to His Majesty?"
"Yes, sir! I know you honorably fought to the death on Richten Hill for His Majesty during the Switzerland Front!"
"What if I report your Perosia Front Army is a disaster? No family ruin, but discharge hurdles aplenty?"
Not total failure, so no direct punishment likely, but dishonor tags retirement.
That darkens futures for his family's serving officers.
Promotion delays—captaincy four or five years late, or mysteriously leapfrogged by juniors despite seniority.
The culprit? In honor-above-life Reich Empire, endless whispers, agonizing days.
Imagining that, the lieutenant general shuddered like with chills.
But decades of service merit consideration—strong correction order, no more.
"Good news: unofficial visit, so any report to General Staff won't count. No discipline for you."
"Th-thank you, sir! Tell me the fixes—I'll make them!"
"......Official transfer's in a week. Possible?"
"I'll make my officers pull all-nighters if needed! No more disappointment!"
I waved him off.
"That'll breed more errors. Moderate pressure, moderate fixes. In three days, 7th Guard Division attaches here. It'll mock-battle one of your divisions in two months. Prep accordingly. Don't disappoint me in a week. Dismissed."
"Loyalty!"
"Loyalty."
A week later, revisiting the Perosia Front Army, I wasn't disappointed.
I didn't ask the grim details of the shakeup, but horrors surely unfolded...
And two months on, I designated the Perosia Front Army's 18th Division as the 7th Guard Division's mock battle opponent.