Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Extra! Extra!
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Big catch!
"Who would've thought we'd snag the 2nd Army's commander? Heh heh."
"...Sorry, sir, but that laugh sounds a bit too wicked."
The adjutant said this with a straight face, even though he'd been grinning just moments ago.
Of course, I brushed off his comment without a second thought.
"Top-priority medal material... Treat the prisoners with extra care. Once we've rounded them all up, we retreat immediately."
The headquarters decapitation op was a resounding success.
We loaded as many prisoners as we could onto a few trucks and sent them ahead first.
There was zero chance of enemy pursuit.
This campaign was effectively over.
A massive victory.
I watched the departing trucks and thought to myself.
Across both my past and present lives, no battle had ever delivered such a perfect, clean win.
Even if I'd been in command of the 8th Army, I couldn't have done better. It was that flawless.
If anything, being in the battalion commander's seat is what let me rack up these merits.
Having combat units right under me made directing them a breeze.
With Germany holding total strategic superiority, I could maximize tactical gains.
The adjutant seemed to grasp the scale of our achievement too, flashing a bright smile.
"This battle wraps up the Eastern Front, right? We took out nearly 200,000 in one go."
"..."
My smile slowly faded.
I gave a wry grin.
"...We'll see."
It's 1914 right now.
The Eastern Front ending... the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk wasn't signed until 1918.
Original history showed that even after the catastrophic defeat at Tannenberg, the Russian Empire didn't submit.
What made now any different? Why would the war end here?
"..."
The future was clear.
My job was to muddy it up.
"Alright, let's get moving too."
Tannenberg was over, but... plenty of work left to do.
We press on.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Just before entering the mop-up phase.
"Report from Rommel's Battalion... 2nd Army... headquarters secured...?"
"What?"
The 2nd Army HQ had surrendered.
"...Hah."
Ludendorff sat in his chair and closed his eyes tight.
He wanted to demand how a unit from the right flank had crossed to the left in a flash, but he was too exhausted.
His head hurt too much to think anymore; all he could muster was a single word of awe.
"Monster bastard..."
"Mm."
Hindenburg, who had been leaning against the wall watching Ludendorff and the staff at work, finally stepped forward.
"Still no movement from the 1st Army?"
"None, sir."
"Then it's over."
The commander was right.
Moving to mop-up meant victory was decided.
The most dangerous wildcard, the Russian 1st Army, was stuck in Gumbinnen and showed no signs of stirring.
We'd already encircled their entire 2nd Army, and now they'd lost their head too. No chance of a turnaround—not even 1%.
This flipped the old Eastern Front force ratio from 1:2 to 1:1.
In just one battle, the Germans had clear superiority.
"Chief of Staff."
"Yes, sir."
"Hand the rest to the staff and get some rest. Good work."
"...Thank you, sir."
As Hindenburg gave his gruff praise and left the HQ, Ludendorff sprang up and saluted.
The staff followed suit, paying their respects in the commander's wake.
"Truly, you've done outstanding work."
"You've become the hero of the Eastern Front alongside Excellency Hindenburg!"
"We'll handle the mop-up, so please rest easy. You haven't slept in two days, have you?"
"Everyone... thank you."
In that instant, the long-built tension released all at once, leaving his body heavy. Ludendorff found the weight sweet for the first time.
The chief of staff glanced around the staff room with a faint smile.
Even before and during Tannenberg, Ludendorff hadn't slept.
With East Prussia's fate riding on him amid dire odds, and the fog of war undermining every plan.
But in the end, he'd plucked the sweet fruit of victory.
Now he could set aside his worries and rest a bit.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Berlin, morning.
"Extra! Extra!"
From early morning, newsboys were dashing through the streets, shouting.
Berlin's citizens approached, wondering what the fuss was.
"Our boys on the Eastern Front crushed the Russian army!"
"150,000 prisoners! Countless field guns captured! Victory on the Eastern Front is near!"
"Gimme one!"
"Me too!"
The citizens, stunned, hurriedly pulled out their wallets, and the boys beamed happily.
Soon, papers—sensational in the best light, doped-up propaganda in the worst—were in the gentlemen's hands.
Great Victory
Hinden-Ludendorff Duo on the Eastern Front! Smashing the Inferior Slavs!
How Did Germany's 8th Army Snatch Victory from the Mighty Russian Forces?
Russia, Which Even Napoleon Couldn't Conquer! Fallen to the German Army!
Eastern Front Monsters! The Red Fox and Ghost Battalion Rip Out the 2nd Army's Heart!
"Woooaaah!"
"Hahaha! Victory!"
"Long live His Majesty the Kaiser!!"
The citizens forgot all decorum and cheered in the streets.
It was a victory historic enough to warrant it.
Even amid the revelry, some frowned at the wildly unrealistic tales.
"Good lord, one battalion captures a division, and now forces a field army commander to surrender?"
"What's the name? Red Fox? No, the name's... Erwin Rommel!"
But soon, doubt turned to admiration.
"That Erwin Rommel! The one who predicted the Great War! Württemberg's genius!"
"Ah! That's why the name rang a bell!"
"Who's this Erwin Rommel guy?"
"Head to the bookstore, grab the bestseller, and check the author! That's him!"
"Hahaha! From now on, it's not just Rommel the genius—call him the Red Fox! Great nickname!"
Young age, handsome face, mythic feats.
Before, he'd been seen as a brilliant genius and hotshot bestseller author.
Now, he was recast as the idol of the youth, a war hero in the eyes of all Germany.
He even rivaled the battle's stars, Hindenburg and Ludendorff, in popularity.
And one person felt that fame most keenly...
"Over here..."
"Yes! One copy— whoa..."
The boy turned at the voice behind him and blushed.
A stunningly beautiful woman with striking green eyes smiled brightly at him.
"Yes, I'll take one too?"
"H-Here you go!"
"Hee hee, you need to take the money. Here."
She placed a coin in his hand and unfolded the paper with her slender, delicate fingers.
As two rings sparkled on her left ring finger, the boy deflated.
Of course... A beauty like this wouldn't be single...
Had he known she was a Junkers lady, even that disappointment would've vanished.
The woman smiled radiantly as she slowly read down the page, then asked the boy.
"What do you think of this Rommel fellow here?"
"Rommel?!"
The boy, who'd been awkwardly lingering after missing his chance to leave, lit up at her question.
True to his age—prime for war tales and hero worship—he poured out words in a rush.
"He's Germany's hero! Look! One battalion forces a division to surrender. A standard battalion's about 1,000 men, right? But..."
"Hee hee hee hee."
The longer the boy went on, the brighter her smile grew.
She clearly loved hearing the praise for Rommel.
Mid-ramble, he caught himself and scratched his head sheepishly.
"...I talked too much, huh? But... are you connected to Mr. Rommel somehow?"
At that, she flushed, glanced around, and whispered.
"Rommel's actually... my husband."
"Whoaaa...! For real?!"
"Shh. I'm Elise von Richthofen. Don't tell anyone, okay?"
He could've doubted her, but the boy's pure heart accepted it on the spot.
Then, as she playfully winked, her golden hair swaying, he nodded vigorously.
Maybe her looks lent it credibility.
Yeah, she has to be on Rommel's level... No, she's too good for him.
...Seeing his awe for Rommel dilute so fast, it seemed her beauty was the real culprit.
"Then work hard, okay?"
"Yes! See you next time! Extra! Extra!"
Elise watched the boy dash off, then clutched the paper to her chest.
Her lips curved in a smile, yet she looked somehow wistful.
"Darling... So many people know you now. I'm so proud."
Street kids were running around, pretending to be Hindenburg, Ludendorff, the Red Fox.
She gazed warmly at them and continued.
"But I like it best when you're home."
As if her words might reach Rommel.
"So... come back soon."
Sunlight fell on the paper, making his photo smile dazzlingly. Elise's fingertips trembled slightly.
The Red Fox had a nest he absolutely had to return to.