I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy - Chapter 187
EP.187
A month later, the Reich Imperial Army’s barracks.
“I always feel good when I see you, Lieutenant General Jaeger. Who else but you could have come up with this idea of accumulating military supplies in the southeastern part of the empire and pretending to invade Czechvia, but actually attacking western Austria?”
“That’s too much praise. “I just did my job.”
“I wish I could brag a little more. “If you’re so humble, wouldn’t most of the imperial army’s generals be idiots who can’t even feed one person?”
The reason His Royal Highness is in such a good mood right now is because the expedition is going very smoothly.
We have not encountered a single serious resistance while occupying the western part of the Grand Duchy beyond Innsbruck.
However, the size of the territory acquired is about the size of 1.5 duchys of the empire, so it is strange not to laugh.
Moreover, according to the information sent by the scouts, there is no great danger until we reach our destination near Linz…
Once a week, including the generals, after finishing the day’s march, we invite war merchants near the empire’s border area and hold a feast. gave permission to do so.
“Long live His Majesty the Crown Prince! Long live your Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Reich Reich!”
“Alcohol is involved! It goes straight in!”
“You need to drink some water. If you keep drinking, you’ll get sick.”
In order to maintain discipline in the military, it would be best to prohibit such loosening and playing as much as possible, but no matter how strict training I introduced and implemented throughout the military.
If you keep it under control at all times during an expedition lasting several months, your soldiers’ morale, stamina, and will to fight will drop to the ground.
Of course, such an army is bound to become weak, so releasing it occasionally like that will actually be of great help in actual battle.
“No one would say anything if you took part in something fun like this. Even on a day like this, all I can do is have a drink with the soldiers. “Not some kind of monk.”
“So you didn’t get married and have children?”
“The members of the Knights Templar that existed 400 years ago would have been more faithful to their desires than you. It’s so awful. It’s terrible. “There is still a week left before we encounter the enemy.”
At first glance, His Highness the Crown Prince’s words may sound like he is criticizing me, but in reality, his words are filled with tremendous trust and goodwill.
“The harder I prepare, the more likely I am to win. Also, the number of soldiers who can return home safely will increase.”
“Thanks to you, I am also forced to live a celibate life. By the way, there seems to be some new information about the army of the Grand Duchy of Austria. What is it?”
“Yes, we succeeded in finding their specific size and location.”
At those words, His Royal Highness immediately changed the playful expression he had been wearing up until now to a serious mode and prepared to listen.
Seeing that, I bowed my head and apologized first.
“The army of the Grand Duchy of Austria is concentrated near the city of Linz. The size of the assembled army is approximately 180,000, which is much larger than I expected. “We apologize for reporting an unexpected situation.”
After hearing what I said, His Highness recognized that this was a bad situation for the Imperial Army and was about to get angry about this shitty situation, but held back.
And then you understand that unless I am God, I cannot control all the variables of the Austrian military.
After sighing loudly, I gulped down the beer in front of me and asked.
“Fuck it, but what can I do? Since you are only human, you wouldn’t have been able to predict variables like this. But isn’t there just one important thing? “Can I win or not?”
Imperial army 110,000 vs. Austrian army 180,000.
Although the enemy army is approximately 1.6 times larger in number, when looking back at numerous wars, this difference in troops can be easily reversed with the ability of the commander.
Moreover, our entire imperial army is a corps that is well ahead of its time and has been thoroughly controlled according to formal training and reasonable military law.
Even if they face the Austrian army, which is simply strong and outnumbered, they have a good chance of winning.
“Being certain of victory is a foolish action that can weaken your troops. “If we consider whether there is a chance of winning after calculating all the variables… the odds of winning are good, Your Majesty.”
At those words, His Royal Highness showed a satisfied smile on his face, perhaps thanks to the trust he and I had built over the years.
In order to give this person, who has placed infinite trust in me, more confidence in victory, I decided to bring up a story from my past memories.
“Your Majesty, do you remember the first time I went to war with you in Visozia?”
“At that time, your father-in-law was a lieutenant general and the second-in-command. “At that time, you did more than I thought.”
“Thanks to His Majesty’s support, I was given the opportunity to be active. And what allowed me to demonstrate outstanding combat skills. “Because the soldiers under my command were strong.”
If I wanted to add my pride here, I might say something like this.
‘A flock of sheep led by one lion is stronger than a flock of lions led by one sheep.’
However, what is important now is not that, but to give you confidence by letting you know how strong Your Majesty’s army is.
“On the first day of the Battle of Visocia, the unit I led defeated an infantry battalion and a cavalry battalion attacking from the flank with only infantry.”
It can be said that the defeat of one infantry battalion was simply due to the strength of the unit.
However, it is extremely meaningful that the infantry, who were routinely defeated by knights, defeated the knight battalion approaching from the flank, even though it was only 40 units.
This is because our current infantry is at a level where, if the commander comes to his senses, he can win even if the enemy knights attack from the side.
There is no need to mobilize knights to keep enemy knights in check, so you can use all of your knights to wipe out the infantry that makes up the majority of the enemy army.
“This was only possible because I strongly trained my soldiers and strictly controlled them according to strict discipline. “In fact, the impact of things like the commander’s capabilities and the soldiers’ actual combat experience was not that great.”
In fact, the fact that I was good at conducting also had a big impact.
However, at that time, most of the soldiers under my command were essentially new recruits with no combat experience.
It is also true that, as I said, the power of discipline based on training and principles really played a big role.
“And the 110,000 imperial troops that Your Highness led this time have all completed the training received by the subordinates of the Jaeger Battalion at the time. Therefore, one soldier in the army led by His Majesty can easily defeat ten enemy soldiers.”
If another general had spoken, His Highness the Crown Prince would have regarded my words as mere encouragement to cheer him up.
However, just as bullshit can be accepted as plausible if it is said by a major professor.
If I tell you that I have overturned impossible situations several times, it will be taken for granted.
“So our expeditionary force has a good chance of victory. Please believe me, Your Majesty.”
At those words, His Highness the Crown Prince laughed like crazy and said.
“I was worried for no reason. “Yes, I am standing on the battlefield with you, so what is there that I cannot do?”
“Yes, and as the commander of the 7th Guards Division, I plan to do my best to avoid tarnishing the name of Her Highness Princess Louise. “My soldiers will be prepared to do the same.”
His Royal Highness said with a meaningful expression when I mentioned His Highness the Fourth Princess.
“Louise, who admires the knights and princesses in chivalric literature, will be overjoyed when she hears what you just said. “I’m planning to send a letter tomorrow when I send the expedition report, but I’ll have to send it to Louise saying you said this.”
Even though the two siblings are prone to fighting, especially politically, they get along really well, which is nice to see.
“By the way. Is there something you want me to do for you? “Even if I leave general military command to you, I must also act like a commander to cover up the stigma.”
After hearing that, I thought for a moment and then spoke.
“I will borrow some of the Royal Guard, His Highness the Crown Prince’s armor, and the flag to boost the morale of the soldiers when they stand on the battlefield.”
His Majesty smiled and said.
“If I lose this time, my political career as a member of the royal family will be completely over. The same goes for you too. So, I will lead the SS and personally stand on the front line. “If you are prepared to die and fight, won’t you find a way to survive?”
**
And after 15 days, as expected, we encountered the enemy army on the Linz Plain.
The number was also as expected: 180,000.
Both armies still have to set up camps to start the war.
Our soldiers were dejected when they saw the enemy, who outnumbered us by 63%, and when they saw that, they quietly raised their flag and advanced.
“Do not be afraid! We will definitely win. They are just a ragtag group of people who outnumber us. Haven’t we worked hard to become strong soldiers? From now on, the drops of sweat we shed will return as drops of the enemy’s blood. “From now on, we will scout the enemy lines and enter into a strategy meeting.”
See next episode