Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The Emperor Lavishes Rewards (2)
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In this chamber, the ministers who supported the Crown Prince and those who did not eyed each other warily, their desires to elevate their favored prince to the throne clashing fiercely.
Thus, even when debating rewards, they would request more generous compensation for generals aligned with their own faction.
They downplayed the achievements of generals from opposing factions to strike a balance, ensuring decrees issued at an "appropriate" level of wealth, lands, titles, and promotions.
So naturally, the opposition faction wanted to step forward and argue, "This violates principle! Therefore, His Majesty should limit the reward to the maximum the Minister of Military Affairs can propose."
But this was a merit on the level that demanded the Emperor's personal reward, just like the Rhineland Front last time.
Since a firm consensus had formed that anyone rebelling against it was a fool, not a single soul opposed.
"In my view, for the Major himself, this calls for a special promotion, a reward of 3,000 gold, and generous grants of territory. What say you all?"
"Your Majesty speaks wisely. That said, even setting the reward money aside, we must deliberate on how many ranks to promote him and precisely how much territory to bestow."
With those words, a flurry of differing proposals arose.
"This Otto von Mayer believes it fitting to grant the Major a two-rank promotion and the territories of Rainer and Schwarz near Bruno. It may seem slightly excessive, but given the magnitude of his feats, this much is necessary for fairness."
"While his achievements are indeed monumental as the Minister of Finance suggests, he is a youth ascending at an unprecedented pace in imperial history. Thus, would not a single-rank promotion and the Rainer territory alone suffice?"
Ferdinand von Reich, who leaned toward the Crown Prince faction if one had to pin him down, began to ponder inwardly upon hearing this.
The reason was simple: if Major Jaeger had been just over thirty, promoting him straight to colonel would raise no issues. But his youth meant he had skipped the various prerequisite postings required to pin on those stars.
Particularly troubling was his lack of attendance at the Staff College.
At a glance, once the Crown Prince succeeded him, Major Jaeger would stand at his side with stars on his shoulders, sword in hand, expanding the Empire.
But appointing someone who hadn't graduated Staff College to colonel would spark friction with the military.
Meanwhile, as the Emperor fell into contemplation amid this cutthroat political arena,
the two factions began a verbal skirmish beside him, careful not to cross the line.
"Come now, Minister of Finance—even you can't seriously propose colonel at twenty-one! No imperial royal has risen that swiftly in history!"
"Isn't that precisely because no one has racked up feats like these at twenty-one? Wouldn't you agree, Minister of Military Affairs Otto?"
"...Can't argue with that. If I'd been ordered to achieve that at his age... I'd have mustered out on the spot."
This was them exercising restraint before the Emperor.
Without his presence, they would have unleashed a torrent of vile curses and denunciations to propel their favored prince to the throne.
"What says Field Marshal Adelhaid? Do you deem a two-rank special promotion unjust given his military merits?"
"Such feats render it not unjust, but jumping from major to colonel raises age concerns. His youth has necessitated skipping essential steps. With future opportunities ahead, concluding at lieutenant colonel seems prudent, no?"
"Since when did the Imperial Army place such stock in age?!"
As the bickering intensified,
"I well know your loyalty to the Empire, but have you forgotten We sit here too? Enough. I've heard that even after capturing the deputy commander, Jaeger led the Imperial Army's pursuit. Fetch the detailed report of his actions then. We shall review and judge."
The Emperor's sharp rebuke silenced the chamber as if some uproar had just erupted.
Satisfied by the sight, Ferdinand began meticulously reading the report, deciding how to hone Major Jaeger into the Crown Prince's blade.
Should signs emerge of him coveting even the smallest merit amid such grand achievements, Ferdinand planned to order the two-rank promotion deliberately, thrusting him into an awkward bind.
He would rejoice at first, only to taste the true bitterness of politics from endless barbs flying from unimaginable quarters.
Like a child scolded by parents, he would grow humble and blossom into a fine general.
But if he proved an officer adept at politics and reading others' hearts, Ferdinand intended to bestow privileges beyond merely slowing his promotions.
For Major Jaeger's analytical eye for strategy and tactics already surpassed most seasoned generals, honed by vast experience. Add the survival skills needed among the highborn,
and with resources alone, he would lack for nothing in devoting himself to the Crown Prince.
Nearly an hour passed as the Emperor pored over the report, with several ministers excusing themselves to the privy and back.
"Your opinions clash so sharply that We, as Emperor, shall arbitrate. Any objections?"
The ministers, content that their rivals hadn't gotten everything they wanted, voiced their assent.
"First, Peter Jaeger is but twenty-one—a tender age—so a two-rank special promotion strikes Us as excessive. Thus, in lieu of promotion to colonel per the merits tabulation..."
The Emperor paused for breath before continuing.
"...considering his commoner origins leave him short on wealth to maintain dignity as a pillar of the Empire, We shall grant the territories of Rainer, Schwarz, and Salzheim—three in total."
At these words, the high nobles of each faction found protest impossible.
For the Emperor had amplified the lands as the Crown Prince faction desired, while curbing it to one rank short of their demand, as the opposition wished.
"Moreover, though he lacks Staff College graduation, his strategic and tactical acumen—and innovative thinking—were proven exemplary even as a cadet squad leader. Too valuable to waste as mere student, We decree: post-promotion to lieutenant colonel, assign him as Staff College professor for two years, thereafter treating him as any graduate."
The Marshal, Minister of Military Affairs, and army chiefs gaped in shock at this unprecedented breach for the Staff College.
Yet the elites who had clawed through at least 1:1,000 odds—including peers, seniors, and juniors—to reach their seats could not refute.
For even they, analyzing the Chekobia Front for future wars, agreed that denying reserve officer elites instruction in Jaeger's tactics and strategy would harm the Empire grievously.
"Furthermore, lauding his pivotal role in turning defeat to victory on the Rhineland Front and his exploits in this war, We bestow upon Major Jaeger the title of Baron. Speak now if any dissent."
Bestowing titles fell to imperial prerogative; opposing save in extraordinary cases challenged the throne itself.
And Jaeger's feats shone too brilliantly for even contrived objections.
Thus, the attending nobles had no choice but to acquiesce to the Emperor's proposals.
The rewards for Major Jaeger were decided as follows:
1. Grant of Rainer, Schwarz, and Salzheim—three territories.
2. Promotion to lieutenant colonel and posting as Staff College professor (two years instructional duty, followed by graduation processing).
3. Bestowal of baronial title.
4. Reward of 3,000 gold.
Though lacking the multi-rank leap of last time, it encompassed all essentials for an imperial noble and future general—the finest reward imaginable.
With rewards finalized, the Emperor felt a twinge of envy that the Crown Prince had secured such a capable commander under him.
After all, had he possessed a Jaeger-like subordinate during his own days as Crown Prince, the Franco Republic might well have been crushed.
Conversely, the Empire's military elite sensed their own captain- or major-ranked offspring needed his lectures to survive future wars.
Thus, they discreetly visited the Army Staff College president en masse, pleading:
"By His Majesty's decree, Lieutenant Colonel Jaeger joins as professor. My son is guaranteed entry in two years regardless—could you advance it?"
Normally, one waited their turn, but pleas from three- or four-star bearers sailed through as legal loopholes.
Consequently, an extraordinary expansion of the Staff College's incoming class occurred that year.