Chapter 72
Chapter 72
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Subjugation of the Tunner Tribe (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Staff College Commandant's Office.
"Loyalty! As of this moment, I, Professor Peter Jaeger of the Staff College, hereby report that I have honorably completed my tenure as a professor!"
The commandant before me wore a enigmatic smile as he replied.
"You've worked hard these past two years."
"Thanks to you, sir, this inexperienced instructor was able to fulfill his duties right up to the end. I am truly grateful."
"Nonsense. If anything, now that it's time to see you off, I'm regretting not helping you more."
To be precise, the commandant had known from the start that I would leave the college for another post two years after my appointment.
He hadn't directly or indirectly assisted me in promotions or my work as a professor.
Yet he had recognized the value of the strategy reports and papers I'd written on subduing the troublesome Ludwig in the north.
He'd personally delivered them to the Minister of Military Affairs, leading to a revolutionary shift in the Imperial Army's supply system—from reliance on local requisitions to continuous transport convoys from supply bases to the front lines.
He'd also endorsed the policy of pitting the northern tribes against each other, preventing Ludwig and the barbarians from amassing too much power amid their internal wars.
In the process, the commandant and I had grown quite close.
"No, sir, I've received so much help from you."
"You're gilding my face—thank you. That's enough. Let's end the chit-chat."
At those words, I offered one final salute and turned to leave.
But the commandant pulled a few documents that looked like orders from his desk drawer and placed them on the table.
"I'll be the one delivering your transfer orders. Hold on a moment."
With that, he unrolled a scroll edged in gold leaf and read aloud.
"Imperial Year 223, December 24th, Personnel Order No. 2485. Professor Peter Jaeger, Lieutenant Colonel at the Staff College, is hereby relieved of his professorial duties effective today. In recognition of his excellent instruction of students and his past achievements, he is promoted to Colonel and ordered to assume command of the 24th Regiment, Northern Army, in the Copenhagen Peninsula sector."
From the moment I'd been appointed professor, it had been virtually assured that exemplary service would lead to a promotion upon discharge.
Still, hearing the words "promoted to Colonel" filled my chest with overwhelming emotion, even greater than when I'd advanced from captain to major.
The privileges and treatment afforded to a colonel were worlds apart from those of a lieutenant colonel, and just one more step up would earn me a general's star.
The northern tribes were all roughly equal in size, often requiring regimental commanders to lead solo expeditions to rack up victories.
No more fighting under someone's thumb, begging for permission at every turn—I could now plan and execute battles on my own.
Perhaps that's why my eyes sparkled uncontrollably, and I could feel the blood rushing to my face in excitement.
"This guy's a riot. At just 23, becoming a colonel—I figured you'd be the type who wouldn't bleed even if stabbed. But hearing your promotion news has you beaming like my grandson with a new toy."
"Just one more step, and it's general."
"True enough. And Major Werner, Major Marco, Major Dennis—who commanded the mage company under you—and even Captain Laura are all being assigned to your regiment. I pulled some strings for that."
I'd expected Laura might end up under me again, with Count Venner's approval, but all three former company commanders too?
If we weren't in front of the commandant, I might've pinched my cheek to check if this was a dream.
After all, working with subordinates who'd proven themselves under me during my battalion days would be far more comfortable.
The commandant even mentioned how my lectures had been a hit—some professors secretly circulated students' notes from my classes.
About ten minutes of further conversation passed before he handed me the orders.
"Deliver them yourself. Wouldn't you prefer that?"
"Yes, sir."
That evening, I got roaring drunk with my four former-and-future subordinates, all Staff College graduates.
A side note: the three excluding Laura used to drink themselves unconscious in front of me back in the day.
But since enrolling in the college, whenever Laura was present, they'd stop just short of passing out and head home upright.
Always leaving behind words like:
"Professor, please rest easy tonight."
...Why?
The Reich Empire and its neighboring states largely mirrored modern Europe's borders, but climates and local products often didn't match.
For instance, the Franco Republic—in France's position—produced mediocre wine, while the Reich Empire enjoyed better conditions for viticulture and sunny farming.
The Reich's northern sector, analogous to Germany's position, had Siberia- or Manchuria-like cold and harsh terrain.
And why bring this up?
"It's freezing my ass off. It's barely late autumn, and the weather here's a joke. Colder than the capital in January. My nose feels numb, like it's not mine anymore, but the snot keeps dripping. Damn near impossible to look human. Achoo."
I was heading north to report to the Northern Army commander—and we were almost there.
"It's cold for you too, Colonel, right? That's why I suggested buying one of those fur coats the nobles wear in the capital."
"But we're nearly there. Fur's cheaper up north anyway—I should pick one up."
"Wise decision."
As I bantered with Major Werner and the others, a massive fortress blanketed in snow loomed ahead.
Soldiers stood guard atop the walls, while others shoveled snow with the familiar pitchforks and shovels from army life.
"Line up single file with your pitchforks and push it over the wall!"
"Damn it, why'd I fall for that recruiter's pitch? 'The north's civilized—no big worries.' Signed up and now I'm suffering like this."
"Sergeant Randel, you say that every time, but deep down you're itching to apply for sergeant, aren't you? I know."
Laura, Werner, Marco, and the rest watched impassively, but to me—reincarnated after dying just before officer academy in Korea—it hit close to home.
My older brother, stationed in Cheorwon, had nearly died clearing what he called "trash from the sky"—snow—and never let me forget it, dozens of times.
All around were cold-climate trees like pines and conifers, with wild animal cries echoing everywhere.
Foxes or wolves, probably. Deeper in the woods, maybe massive bears or Russian deer?
"Harsh land."
"I grew up near the north—this is nothing. The army HQ here's relatively mild. Venture into the woods by the nearby village, and foxes are swarming."
"You've served up north before, Major Werner. What's the top thing to watch out for here?"
"Stay warm so you don't freeze to death—that's priority one, Captain. And the troops here are rowdy. Beat the disobedient ones yourself."
Officers usually avoided striking soldiers personally once they made lieutenant, for decorum.
What kind of backwater ignores common sense like that?
Northern Army Corps Commander's Office.
"Loyalty! As of this moment, Peter Jaeger reporting for duty as commander of the Northern Army's 24th Regiment. These four with me are the officers assigned under my command."
"Loyalty. I'm Lieutenant General Matthias von Nordenburg, Northern Army Corps Commander. The rest of you officers, step out and wait."
Normally, a corps commander would offer at least a word of encouragement to a major or above.
I wondered about it, but he outranked everyone, so Laura, Werner, Marco, and Dennis quietly filed out.
Left alone, the general sighed as he eyed me.
"Normally I'd offer encouragement, but no time for that now. Straight to the point: that damned Ludwig pup is rampaging like a mad dog. I'll brief you on the situation—listen up."
Ah! So it's not just any situation—it's really dangerous.