Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Preparations for War with Maxburg (2)
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Helmut von Moltke, the pillar of the Prussian Empire who led victories in the Franco-Prussian War and the Battle of Sedan, once said:
"Germany's victories are not due to me or the soldiers. They belong to the elementary school teachers. I give all the glory to them."
While he said that, in reality, Prussia vastly outmatched its foes in both the quality and quantity of its army.
Yet it was those elementary school teachers who forged that quality. The Prussian army demonstrated indomitable spirit and high morale by leveraging high education levels and social adaptability unprecedented for the time.
From then on, compulsory education spread not just across the world, but all of Europe. Personally, I believe this marked the point when the qualitative gap between Eastern and European commoners began to widen dramatically.
That's why, to develop my territory and justify the war against those Maxburg jaw-mongers, I chose to inspect the schools.
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To first get a feel for the school's vibrant atmosphere firsthand, I donned a slightly worn lower-noble suit and decided to attend class for the day as a teacher's assistant.
To let the lessons flow naturally, I gave the principal and vice-principal—who already knew me—a day off.
When the teacher and I entered the classroom, it had walls and a floor made of sturdy wood. At the far back wall stood a massive blackboard with chalk beside it, and in front were chairs and desks for the students.
About forty children, intrigued by the new teacher, began staring with sparkling eyes and whispering among themselves.
"Whoa, the new teacher's super tall."
"The way he walks is kinda cool."
"Is the teacher a priest too?"
The teacher, clad in a brown priestly robe, led me to the front of the blackboard. He raised his pointer, tapped the board sharply to quiet the class, and said in a calm yet authoritative voice:
"This gentleman here is Teacher Siel, who'll be working as a trainee. Teacher Siel, please introduce yourself."
"I'm Siel from Windheim. I'll be teaching alongside Teacher Beldo for the next month. Nice to meet you all."
As I finished speaking, the children's curiosity toward this new face sparked, and they gazed at me with bright, eager eyes.
Yet the children, thoroughly trained by their teachers, didn't hurl a single question my way. Instead, they quietly raised their hands.
Though I'd instructed it, the orderly demeanor of these kids—who'd barely be first or second graders back in Korea—was truly astonishing.
If they're controlled like this from childhood, they'll adapt to military training much faster as adults.
Even if they don't become soldiers, they'll naturally submit to society.
A moment later, Beldo beside me clapped and said:
"Good. Ver, you start. Ask your question."
"Yes, Teacher. What subject will Teacher Siel teach?"
"I'm a history teacher. And today... uh, Teacher Beldo?"
"Perfect. I'll handle today, but starting tomorrow, you'll take the lessons."
I'd already agreed with the principal and vice-principal that I'd only act as a trainee priest for the day...
But since I'd come to experience a natural classroom vibe, I'd play along.
"I'll watch closely and learn, Teacher."
"Then please take that empty desk over there with the paper and quill."
With that, I sat at an empty desk a bit away from the children and prepared to take notes.
Confirming I'd sat, Beldo began scrawling on the blackboard in big, legible letters: the Wicked Count Schwein, the Noble Baron Kroitel, Lady Ella, His Imperial Majesty—key elements needed to explain the Battle of Sternheim.
He even thoughtfully left space for the kids to take notes. Impressive.
"Good. Last class, we talked about Count Schwein, Baron Kroitel's liege who tormented him before the Battle of Sternheim. Who remembers?"
The moment he finished, a child shot up her hand.
"Excellent, Galri. Right—what did Count Schwein do?"
Girl named Galri answered proudly:
"Yes! Teacher, a bad noble named Baron Santoburg bullied Lord Kroitel. He beat him single-handedly like a boss, but then Count Schwein demanded money from him. He's a bad guy."
The teacher clapped in approval, and the children joined in with cheers.
The teacher continued:
"Well done! Exactly. That villain Baron Santoburg attacked the innocent Baron Kroitel. Normally, Count Schwein should've helped, but being a bad man, he didn't. Still, Baron Kroitel armed the poor folk, built an army, and drove off the wicked baron. But then Schwein took even the reparations from that baron. Gain, what do you think?"
"He's bad, just bad. If bad older brothers took my allowance from Mom or Dad, I'd hate it. I bet Lord Kroitel felt awful."
Honestly, back then I wasn't that upset since Schwein was being such a pig, but Baldt and Frost clutched their necks in shock.
Frost even collapsed grabbing his.
"But Baron Kroitel didn't abandon Schwein—he gave him one last chance. Then trouble erupted in Elisium. At His Majesty's funeral, Schwein laid hands on beloved Lady Ella! He grabbed her, saying something like, 'Why settle for that weak Kroitel when you could have me?' Anyone have words for that?"
The kids looked genuinely furious as they spoke up.
"That's too much!! I heard Lord Kroitel and Lady Ella are closer than my mom and dad. Tormenting such a sweet couple is wrong!"
"He stole their hard-earned money and tried something nasty with Lady Ella. I hate Schwein! He's like a pig!"
I'd designed this curriculum to glorify me and boost loyalty to my cause... but this feels a bit much.
I shouldn't inspect classes anymore. Being here makes me feel like some terminal middle-school edgelord...
Still, to rally the whole territory against Maxburg, we'll need this education...
Innocent kids are this fired up. The serfs, who once struggled for one meal a day, now enjoy three square meals...
They won't forget that grace. Imagine their loyalty...
Meanwhile, Beldo ahead of me, thrilled just imagining the battle, said proudly:
"So Baron Kroitel couldn't take it anymore and threw a white glove in Schwein's face—a challenge to duel! He beat Schwein down gloriously, slapping his left cheek, then punching the right—bam!—and toppled him. The watching nobles applauded the brave baron. Bani, how was that?"
Bani stood, fists clenched tight.
"Lord Kroitel is awesome! If anyone touches my girlfriend someday, I'll fight just like him!"
"I get you're dating Delly from the other class, but you don't have to brag. Still, he's like the cool knights in those fairy tales about school knights you love, right? Baron Kroitel is... Anyway, back to the lesson."
I didn't add that bit. I told them to skip hero-worshiping me and just justify toppling Schwein.
Time to have a serious word with the head priest who planned this curriculum.
No torture, but maybe trim the church budget a little...
The lesson continued.
Even skipping the boring march to Sternheim Plains, logistics, supplies—stuff kids hate.
They covered Mark and Frost's tales from the Sternheim play at the plaza quite at length.
Kids especially loved lowborn Mark becoming a deputy noble.
Though they went wildest for me dismounting to fight enemy knights with a spear alongside regular soldiers.
Seeing the teacher more excited than the kids, he's probably a wandering missionary who starved until becoming a teacher-priest.
Meet someone who feeds you after starving, and loyalty maxes out.
Thus, I sat through math, reading, writing—learning teaching methods alongside the kids.
History shocked me, but coldly, given the era, this is needed for soldiers and citizens to back me.
I'll just pretend I saw and heard nothing...
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My home is small but has wooden windows and doors. The walls and floor are neatly packed with fine clay—rough, but cozy.
The old place was this size too, but back then we couldn't afford food, so leaks from wind or rain went ignored...
Compared to that, since Lord Kroitel took over, it's like living in paradise every day—a bit of hyperbole, but true.
Moments later, the door opened, and my son Bani rushed in, hugging me.
"Dad!! I'm home!"
"Welcome back, son! What'd you learn today?"
"Stories about Lord Kroitel! How he fought at a place called Sternheim!"
"Really? Tell Dad about it."
My young son launched into a long tale of Lord Kroitel's feats at Sternheim.
Being little, the priests must've used simple words, but seeing him recite his lessons so clearly was heartwarming.
If he keeps studying like that and earns His Lordship's recognition, maybe he'll become a bailiff or something...
I learn similar stuff in my spare time after work...
After listening long, I stroked Bani's head and said:
"You studied well today, so Dad'll ask Mom for tasty bread and meat! Lots of meat in the soup."
"Whoa, soup!!! For real?"
"And if you keep acing school, Dad'll get you meat for your birthday. Pork, right?"
He started drooling at that.
"Such a messy kid. Can't help it with meat... Back in my day, one or two bites a year was it. Two bowls of gruel daily was a dream."
Bani looked puzzled.
"For real? We get meat every two or three months... And gruel tastes bad—two bowls daily as a wish?"
Growing up prosperous under Lord Kroitel, of course he can't grasp it.
As his father, I opened up about those hard times.
"Remember when you complained at school about that thin, see-through gruel during experiential learning? When Dad was your age, even that was hard to get two of daily."
Bani recalled eating cheap gruel like mine and grimaced.
"That'd make you hungry and miserable every day..."
"Starving, so hungry... Sometimes we'd even catch and eat rats."
"Not rats, Dad. Even unripe wild berries, maybe..."
"No, really. We were that desperate. The priests mentioned it too."
Finally getting it a bit, Bani said gravely:
"I hate being hungry."
"Me too. But Lord Kroitel protects us—me, Mom, you—so we eat like this daily. Let's live gratefully every day."
Bani beamed back:
"Yes, Dad!"
Good kid. He may not fully get hunger, but he knows Lord Kroitel gives us yummy food...
And it's wonderful he lives carefree—no starving fears like mine, no dread of sisters sold to brothels in famine.
That's why I...
Suddenly, my wife's voice from the kitchen:
"Honey, soup's loaded with meat today. Eat up! Want more?"
For Lord Kroitel, who granted us this happiness—though as a commoner, I owe no vassal's oath like the nobles...
I'll do whatever I can.
That's the path to ongoing happiness, to even greater joy.
That's what I've learned, and why.