Chapter 304
Chapter 304
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 304
Chapter Title: Training Like Real Combat, Real Combat Like Training (3)
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Perosia Front Army, 7th Guard Division headquarters conference room.
As I entered, Laura, who had just become the 7th Guard Division's deputy commander, led everyone in rising from their seats.
The officers' faces, regardless of age, were filled with excitement like kids anticipating a field trip.
I figured the 7th Guard Division—veterans who'd clawed through the hellish battlefields of Switchland and Ostrica alongside me—would have sky-high trust in me.
Even so, seeing these mostly senior officers greet me with such pure, beaming smiles stirred deep emotions in me.
As I took a moment to compose myself amid the sentiment, Laura stepped forward on behalf of everyone, snapped to attention, and raised her hand in salute.
"Attention! Salute to Commander Jaeger!"
A thunderous roar of loyalty echoed loud enough to ring in my ears, and I returned the salute with proper form.
"Take your seats."
Once everyone sat at my command, those who'd fought beside me approached with familiar warmth.
"We figured you'd make lieutenant general in a few years, sir, but pinning on four stars before turning thirty? Incredible."
"Heard Her Highness Louise and young Master Friedrich came along too! We'd love to pay our respects after training—is that alright?"
"Thanks to your recommendation letter, I graduated the Staff College without a hitch and came back with the official staff insignia!"
"Lady Charlotte, honorary soldier of the 7th Guard Division, didn't join us?"
Laura watched the scene silently but puffed out her chest with obvious pride.
She wasn't saying it, but she must be bursting to brag to the neighborhood about how amazing her husband was.
Spreading it too widely would just invite headaches, so her boasting would probably zero in on Anya.
'Anya, I'm teaming up with the general for the mock battle exercises.'
It wasn't a long time, but the 7th Guard Division's veterans and I caught up on old times, sharing news after so long apart. Once the conversation had progressed a bit,
I pointed my baton at the map depicting the terrain we'd be fighting over and spoke.
"After today's operations meeting wraps up, there's a decent tavern nearby. I'll rent out the whole place and treat everyone. So hold off on the reunions for now—let's focus on this mock battle from here on."
The officers replied in perfect unison.
"Yes, sir!"
The jovial atmosphere from moments ago sharpened instantly, like blades honed for the eve of war.
"As you all know, this mock battle starts with both sides at identical strength. Enemy forces: roughly 8,000 in one division. Ours: the same. Composition matches too—three infantry regiments, 500 knights, 500 mounted archers."
In actual combat, forces never line up so evenly matched.
But mock battles require equal numbers to preempt excuses like 'we lost because of the numbers.'
Only by analyzing without such caveats can you draw real lessons—which is why this setup is ideal in its own way.
"Two weeks from now, the 7th Guard Division marches from Oppenheim Village to the Manfel Plains, where the main fighting kicks off. To mimic real war as closely as possible, we'll resupply via rear support units en route or buy food outright from villages along the way."
The officers nodded deeply, clearly impressed.
"Training like the real thing, real combat like training—they weren't kidding. You've even simulated logistics, the biggest headache we face?"
"Any officer who's been through this could jump straight into real war and handle their duties flawlessly."
"Call it training? At this level, it's basically war."
The officers marveled at the realistic supply simulation—and who could blame them?
Flawless logistics don't guarantee victory, but no army without food or weapons wins, no matter the genius at the helm.
Imperial Academy and Staff College drill logistics importance until it sticks in your ears.
Absent extraordinary circumstances, delayed supplies alone can land you in military court.
Yet in this world—sans trucks, rails, or transport ships—logistics brims with maddening variables.
Regular training can't convey the pain; this mock battle lets them experience it firsthand. No wonder they're thrilled.
"Since it's real-combat format, raids on supply lines and looting are greenlit right from the start. One catch: for looted goods, slap on the magic paper saying 'Enemy cannot use' that the mages prepared. Ambushes are obviously allowed too. With that, let's dive into the main operations briefing."
All eyes locked on me.
"The moment war begins, we'll form six five-man teams from 30 mounted archers and dispatch them to scout every route on the map—pinpointing enemy positions, supply units, and routes."
Know their positions, and we can raid anytime. Cut and loot their supply lines, and even in training, the enemy fights on empty stomachs.
A starving army can't fight worth a damn. When real clashes erupt in the mock battle, their troops will wobble, spears shaking from hunger and weakness the instant they grip them.
Back in the Bisocia region against Duke Chekovia, I pulled some tricks to starve them out a bit, and by the time the fight dragged on, his soldiers were half-dead on their feet.
In a mock battle, total supply cutoff means starvation—could they even hold a spear?
But since it's not real war, we won't let actual deaths or exhaustion occur. Non-combat losses would be a massive hit for the Imperial Army.
Once food runs dry, they'll get minimal rations. If anyone's on the brink, controllers embedded in both armies will pull them to the rear for recovery—minimizing deaths or lasting harm.
"Once we locate enemy units, we'll form cavalry and raid detachments, marching fast to deny them easy passage. Supplies get hit as often as possible to choke them off completely."
Even one ambush craters morale; troop numbers can snowball downward from there.
If both sides endure it in the mock battle, it'll forge invaluable intel and tactics.
But any unit living it for real? Nightmare fuel.
"Sir, how will we protect our own supply trains?"
"Spot on—guarding supplies is critical, Deputy. We'll assign one infantry battalion, one knight company (48 men), and 100 mounted archers. That holds against anything."
Supply troops train just like regulars, so they can fight if pressed.
And at division scale, pulling more than a battalion for a rear raid is a pipe dream.
This should suffice.
"Everything else falls under unit-level handling—delegate accordingly. Meeting adjourned. Prepare thoroughly for the mock battle in two weeks."
The officers straightened with resolute pride at my send-off.
"The 7th Guard Division will prove once more it's the Reich Empire's finest elite."
"We won't fail you even in death, sir. Trust us."
"We'll deliver beyond our best."
That evening, we shifted to the tavern I'd rented and reveled deep into the night.
Then, somehow, the appointed hour arrived lightning-fast. Mock battle day dawned, and it began.
Four days in, the report came.
"Enemy units and supply trains located."