I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy - Chapter 263
EP.263
Conference room at the Royal Palace of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw.
Stefan von Báthory, the Grand Duke and monarch of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, slammed his baton on the desk.
The surrounding generals were startled every time a banging sound was heard and kept looking at Archduke Bathory.
The terrible situation in which 60,000 dead, 20,000 seriously wounded, and 15,000 prisoners were taken out of an army of over 150,000 makes me feel so dirty that I almost die.
The so-called officers with the stars are unable to come up with any countermeasures and remain silent like honeyed mutes, which is driving the Archduke even more crazy.
‘Aren’t these kids conniving with Peter Jaeger of the Reich Empire? Damn it, should we just purge the military at this point and fill it with trustworthy people?’
They even messed around with the card of purging the generals, even though they didn’t directly find suspicions of treason, which should never have been done during a war.
Their monarch was on the verge of losing his mind with anger and was about to vent his fierce anger, when a young lieutenant general cautiously raised his hand.
“Your Majesty the Grand Duke of Warsaw, I have a plan. “Would you please listen to it?”
As the only person in his late 40s in a group of generals whose average age was in the mid-50s, he was so different that he stood out easily.
There were many people who were dissatisfied with the fact that a young guy, even a lieutenant general, spoke first while the marshal and the general remained silent.
Although he was not as good as Peter Jaeger of the Reich Empire, he was an elite member of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw who was promoted rapidly based on his extraordinary achievements.
The Archduke stopped being angry just a moment ago and even looked slightly pleased as he answered.
“Oh Lieutenant General Timo. If it’s your plan, then of course I should listen. “Okay, do you see a way?”
“Yes, Your Highness. “I have a plan.”
“Tell me quickly. Go ahead and say it! “If the plan you’re talking about involves cutting off that damned Peter Yeager’s head, then I’m sure I have no wish!”
Lieutenant General Timo Kivinen was a little surprised to see the Archduke, whom he thought was always calm and rarely showed signs of getting angry, so angry.
I understood that this might be the case because the current situation in the Grand Duchy was serious, so I decided to focus on my job.
He immediately brought a map of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, stood next to it, and pointed to the coast with his baton.
“First, let me summarize the current situation, Your Highness. Unfortunately, our Grand Duchy was defeated by the lesser bastards of the Reich Empire. It’s because of traitors. As a result, the western coastal area adjacent to the Reich Empire was occupied by them, which is a very bad situation for the Grand Duchy.”
It is easy to lose a big battle and give up your castle to the enemy, but it is very difficult to regain a lost castle.
In order to kill the enemy soldiers trapped within the walls, you have to climb up the walls, and countless soldiers die in the process.
Since the enemy is protected by the castle wall, they do not suffer much damage when attacked by allies, but if weapons such as arrows or catapults or ballistas are fired from the castle, the allies must be hit and die without a shield.
Even if the soldiers overcome countless arrows and magic and get close to the castle, they must overcome the next gateway, the castle wall. Thousands of soldiers are camped on top of the castle wall and preparing to attack.
Even if the castle walls are barely occupied, soldiers who have rested well and stored up their stamina continue to pour in from within the castle, so this hellish battle is a siege.
“However, when they occupied the western coastal area, they stole all the food thanks to the wisdom of His Highness the Archduke, so our troops have a secret tactic they can use.”
Even the generals thought it was a complete defeat, as they lost over 100,000 soldiers including prisoners and seriously wounded.
In the present case, it was believed that no matter what measures were taken, this unfavorable situation could not be reversed.
The young lieutenant general’s groundbreaking remarks that shattered prejudices made not only Archduke Bathory but also those who were displeased that he had spoken before the generals and marshals on the subject of a single lieutenant general listen with curiosity.
Lieutenant General Timo was satisfied with this situation.
‘No matter how great Peter Yeager is, the strategy I have planned will definitely work. If I defeat him now and save the Grand Duchy from crisis, I will be able to take over the position of sire or even aim for promotion to marshal.’
It’s like drinking kimchi soup without even thinking about the grand duke giving you rice cake.
“Right now, there is no food left in the villages and towns on the western coast. Peter Yeager would of course be aware of this problem, and in order to prevent the people in the occupied territories from starving to death, he would have devised a plan to supply food through sea transportation. “It is impossible to feed the two million people living there with only carts.”
It may seem foolish to state the obvious before presenting your own strategy, but the thoughts of the people present were a little different.
This is because pointing out each and every reason why the plan must succeed, rather than starting a full-scale operation just because one is desperate, is considered to be a better way to understand the current situation and come up with a plan, which builds trust.
“So our archenemy, Captain Jaeger, has no choice but to risk his life for sea supply. This is because if sea supply is cut off, food distribution not only for the people living in the coastal area but also for the Reich Imperial Army will become difficult. “What happens next?”
In China, there is a saying that goes, ‘The people regard food as heaven,’ so much so that the people fear running out of food more than dying.
This is because dying while fighting in a war can lead to death as a human being, no matter what form it takes, but those who suffer from hunger reach the point where they give up on being human.
If starvation continues for a long time, it reaches the point where it eats not only dead and decayed carcasses of animals or grass roots, but also human corpses.
Even if they do that, if they don’t have enough to eat, they will also eat their closest family members.
A starving mother boils and eats her newborn child whom she loves so much.
Although we are a married couple who relies on and helps each other, we have to worry because we never know when that starving husband will pick up a knife and stab us and eat us.
If people were to flock there, they felt like they should die like human beings…
The generals thought about that and answered with a slightly trembling voice.
“It is extremely cruel, but he will try to find a way to survive by driving out the Reich army that invaded Warsaw.”
“Out of 2 million, close to 500,000 will rise up, and even Peter Yeager can’t handle that.”
“The idea of a capable guy in his mid-40s with the rank of lieutenant general is truly evil.”
However, because Warsaw was also cornered, no one opposed the operation to stop and kill the people of the western coastal region who had until recently been their people.
However, there were some who thought this way.
‘Peter Yeager is a rational person, so if he shows signs of cannibalism, he will leave immediately before it happens. If you don’t, you will know that you will suffer irreparable damage not only to the honor of your lord, the emperor.’
“I don’t need to say it because it’s too terrible to even talk about. However, if my operation is successful, Warsaw can be saved. No, reversal is possible. “Your Majesty the Archduke.”
Archduke Bathory, who was so excited by these words that he even felt impatient, stood up from his seat and spoke.
“good! Let me tell you! “We will support you in any operation.”
“Thank you. Then look at the map again. All western coastal cities survive on the Reich Empire’s maritime supplies. So, if you want a comeback victory for the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, you must mobilize as much of the Navy, which is the pride of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, to block the enemy’s supply and completely blockade the port.”
“… Did the story become this long just to talk about such a strategy?”
The Archduke was angry, but Lieutenant General Timo said with an evil smile.
“Your Majesty, a good operation must be simple, clear and efficient. In addition, the fate of the Grand Duchy depends on this operation, so all available naval power must be used. Wouldn’t it be a greater disloyalty to not properly state the reason and effect?”
“Mobilizing all naval power means risking the fate of Warsaw, so how many ships should we mobilize?”
“You must mobilize all your naval power, except for the front lines that can prevent pirates from raiding coastal cities in other regions. Please mobilize 100, no, 120 ships. In addition, I would like you to have the most elite troops on board the ship, excluding the crew.”
The Archduke hesitated for a moment at those words.
Although everything Lieutenant General Timo said was correct, he was afraid of having to fight again for the fate of the Grand Duchy.
It may not lead to the collapse of the country, but it could be a huge blow.
However, when I think about it calmly again, even if we stop here, the Grand Duchy will face a major crisis.
While the Archduke was hesitating and postponing his answer, Bathory looked at the expressions and complexions of the generals around him.
Their reactions were all different, but they all seemed to have come to the conclusion that there was no other way.
‘Now that it’s like this, I have no choice but to make a decision.’
“Viscount Timo Kivinen goes forward.”
Timo did as he said and went in front of the Archduke.
The Archduke looked at him, made a serious expression that he had never shown before, and took the sword from his waist out of its sheath.
I beckoned to the Grand Commander with my sword in hand, and he brought out the rank insignia of Tateushu, who had lost the rank of captain in return for the previous battle.
As soon as Grand Duke Bathory received his insignia, he changed Lieutenant General Timo’s three-star insignia into four stars.
“… Are you serious, His Majesty the Archduke?”
“The fate of the Grand Duchy depends on that brat… But the one who can carry out this operation most perfectly… is the one who personally proposed it.”
“Ha, you’re a captain in your mid-40s. “What is my son doing?”
The generals’ grumbling did not reach Lieutenant General Timo’s ears.
“I will hereby promote Lieutenant General Timo Kivinen to general and entrust him with the fate of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. As proof of my trust in him, I, Archduke Stefan von Báthory, bestow upon him the treasured sword that I always carried. Captain Teemo should only be rewarded with victory. “All generals, follow Captain Timo’s instructions and requests and prepare for a decisive battle that will determine the fate of the Grand Duchy.”
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PS One illustration of Louise has been added.
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