Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: War Preparations (2)
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“Lieutenant Laura, now that you've finished your meal, let's get started on your real duties. You can just leave the empty bowls on the table as they are.”
“Understood. What do you need me to do?”
I showed her the Class 2 classified document sealed in my hand and said,
“A war under His Highness the Crown Prince's direct command is coming up soon. Our battalion and territory will play a key role in it. I plan to hold a meeting with everyone about that agenda.”
“I see. If I hadn't been assigned under you, Major Jaeger, I never would have known about this. You must have earned His Highness's trust to be put in charge of preparations for the upcoming war.”
“Normally, a lieutenant like you wouldn't be allowed in this meeting, but I'll let you participate as my adjutant. It's not just because Baron Venner asked me—it's because I believe in the potential you showed back at the academy.”
Even for an exceptional commander who received the Silver Knight's Sword Cross Medal directly from the Emperor as a captain, being included in preparations for the Crown Prince's personal campaign...
Was proof of the tremendous trust I had earned from His Highness.
Moreover, for my subordinate officers building their careers, having secretly upheld 'His Highness's strict orders' in advance would be a huge plus for promotions.
Especially giving such an opportunity to a fresh-out-of-the-academy chick like Lieutenant Laura was something that rarely happened.
Laura looked at me this time with a face full of shock and joy, asking,
“Are you really giving me this kind of opportunity?”
To her, who showed surprise, joy, and gratitude at my words, I said,
“In return, I expect you to perform as well as I'm hoping.”
With that, I headed into the meeting room where my subordinates were waiting.
Normally, it was only used for battalion training, supplies, equipment matters, or territory administration inquiries,
So the atmosphere rarely grew heavy the moment I walked in.
But perhaps because I entered this time holding a sealed document with a serious expression...
The territory administrator Max of Bruno, 1st Company Commander Marco, 2nd Company Commander Dominic, 3rd Company Commander Charlie, Mage Company Commander Dennis, and Knight Company Commander Werner—all of them showed clear signs of tension on their faces.
Still, before starting the formal meeting, I signaled Laura to stand in front of me, facing the others, and said,
“Before we begin, let me introduce Lieutenant Laura von Venner, who will be my new adjutant starting today. She's new, so she might lack in some areas, but you veterans should look out for her.”
As soon as I finished, she bowed politely in greeting.
“I'm Lieutenant Laura von Venner. I look forward to working with you.”
With the introduction done, everyone clapped and welcomed her warmly.
I immediately showed them the document containing operational orders and said,
“On Reich Imperial Calendar Year 221, January 20, by order of His Highness the Crown Prince, Major Peter Jaeger opens Class 2 Secret Document No. 1005 and discloses portions of it to the Jaeger Battalion and Bruno Territory. 1st Company Commander, today is January 20th, correct?”
I had confirmed the date several times before coming here, but asking like this was a necessary formality.
Marco, knowing that, nodded, and I quickly broke the seal and opened the document.
“I will now convey His Highness the Crown Prince's orders. On Reich Imperial Calendar Year 222, July 30, a force of 40,000 under His Highness will pass through Bruno Territory here and enter the Bisocia region of Checovia for the decisive battle.”
At those words, the company commanders shouted loudly.
“War at last! The moment we've been waiting for is here. No one's stopping me this time—I'm getting that major rank too!”
“Guys like Checovians? We'll crush them easily. They should be honored to be our stepping stones for promotion.”
“Long live His Highness the Crown Prince! Long live the Empire!”
Maybe because we'd won that near-real-combat mock battle at first, and I, their commander, was the youngest major?
The company commanders seemed to think promotion was guaranteed if they just followed me.
I recalled some actor playing a monkey-faced Japanese guy in a drama yelling, 'War is opportunity!'
I'd thought such a thing would never happen, but hey, at least they weren't cowering in fear and thinking of running away.
When morale was high like this, it was always a good thing, so I encouraged them, saying,
“This is a war with 40,000 on our side alone. That means plenty of chances to rack up merits. Your promotions will come naturally. Don't you company commanders here want to get promoted like me and get your own horses? So stay sharp, focus on the operation I'll explain next, and stick to your assigned duties. As battalion commander, I'll do my utmost to make sure there's a spot open for each of you if you just listen and follow.”
At that, they all fixed their shining eyes on me and focused intently.
“First off, with a 40,000-man war happening right in our front yard, boosting combat power is important, but even more so is how we utilize our territory, which is basically the expedition's starting point. Right, Administrator Max?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Don't sell this year's harvested grain and turnips collected as taxes—stockpile them. Pickle the turnips in salt for storage, grind the beans, barley, and wheat into flour, mix with appropriate water and salt, and bake in the oven at least four times for long-lasting hardness. Also, use 80% of the reserve funds I provided to buy up salted meat, cheese, beer, and the like, and pile them in the warehouses. The rest follows the hardtack recipe we've used, but be extra careful— a tiny mistake could make it spoil.”
In modern Korea, using prior info for profit was insider trading, strictly enforced.
But in the Reich Empire, with its far weaker and laxer legal system, no such crackdowns existed.
Wartime supply deals usually netted 5-7 times profit at minimum.
However, I planned to sell food and drink here, as the mid-supply base, at just 3-4 times this year's purchase price.
We'd still make a fortune, but it'd be way cheaper than buying through capital merchants, so His Highness would surely be pleased.
“Also, gather as many day laborers as possible—the ones nearby lords hate and dump—that men and women alike, and expand the territory. This place will become the supply base and relay city linking the newly conquered Checovian lands to the Reich Empire.”
With that, I turned to the company commanders and said,
“At the same time, we're reorganizing the battalion. Keep the knight company as is, but infantry companies will be three pike platoons and one polearm platoon. To maximize firepower, all crossbowmen go under the mage company. In other words, one mage platoon and one crossbow platoon will move together at each corner of the formation.”
That way, crossbowmen would naturally protect the mages, and mages syncing with crossbowmen would amplify their power.
Because when soldiers instinctively panic from a massive magic hit, following up with crossbows to kill more...
Would break enemy morale even faster.
Later, with matchlocks firing alongside magic lead balls, this formation could wipe out even plate-armored knights.
“We'll use the same tactics from previous training. Knights wait behind the infantry normally, then charge on the battalion commander's order to crush the enemy.”
Movies often showed knights charging at war's start, but that required commanding at least hundreds of knights.
Most units kept dozens as reserves to block retreats or exploit gaps.
And that inflicted greater terror and casualties on the enemy.
Because people can sometimes take a baseball bat to the head unscathed if warned, but without warning...
Even a lighter stick could kill instantly.
“Each company commander, relay everything except Checovia front details to your subunits and commence training. That's all.”