Chapter 29: Incident on the Front Line

The Assembly, a 'legitimate' supreme governing body spearheaded by us, quickly reshaped the politics of The Kingdom.

High-ranking nobles, who once interfered in state affairs through connections and family power, lost their influence, and decision-making, previously handled through backroom deals within the Inner Circle, now followed official procedures.

Even the government budget now requires the Assembly's approval. Even I can't change it without persuading the Members of Parliament.

And most importantly, the King's power is now under the rule of law.

What does this mean?

Until now, there were no restrictions on the Monarch's authority. Regardless of the strength of the royal power, theoretically, they could do anything.

Even summarily executing someone without a trial was possible.

That power, which I forcibly suppressed but still existed, is now confined within the framework of the rule of law.

Extravagance, organizing a Royal Guard, appointing officials, everything...

Now requires the Assembly's approval.

Of course, it's still early, and there are many rough edges... but it will improve over time.

That's why I've been diligently engaging in politics, devising various bills and systems. But then, suddenly, tragic news arrived from The North.

"The Northern Front is in danger?"

"Yes. They're struggling even to hold the Defense Line."

"I left it to Lieutenant General Mauer. He's not someone who would fail at Defensive Warfare."

In my personal office, late in the afternoon. I couldn't help but be puzzled by the report from my adjutant, who had rushed in breathlessly.

We had surely reinforced the 30,000-strong Revolutionary Army with 20,000 Reinforcements. How could they be facing a crisis in less than a year?

It was a situation I couldn't comprehend. If they had focused on defense as instructed, they should have been able to hold out even with reduced numbers.

"Did a report come in?"

"Yes, here it is, sir."

However, after reading the report from Lieutenant General Mauer, I immediately understood the whole situation.

"...Damn it. Was the mixed unit organization the problem?"

The cause of the crisis in The North was simple.

The combat effectiveness of the Private Soldier units confiscated from the Nobility was utterly disastrous.

'I anticipated discrepancies in combat power from the moment we integrated soldiers from different backgrounds. But I didn't expect it to be this bad...'

The regular Kingdom's Army undergoes the same training process upon conscription, so their standards are similar everywhere.

Differences arise based on actual combat experience, but the base is the same.

But Private Soldiers are different. Because they were independently trained by nobles in their own territories, their equipment and training varied widely.

Some were trained almost on par with the Royal Guard, while others were barely at the level of a city Security Force.

To make these troops usable in Battle, the High Command and I resorted to a desperate measure: expedited additional training and equipment Supply.

We taught everyone the basics and provided new weapons to poorly equipped soldiers, striving for a higher standard.

"I wouldn't have sent them if I didn't think they could handle themselves. But they performed this poorly?"

"It's The North, sir. Even our veteran Central Army soldiers can lose their heads there. Just being able to take care of themselves wouldn't have been enough."

"I should have dumped all the Private Soldiers on the Western Region."

It wasn't a bad idea in principle.

Even our esteemed General Albrecht agreed that it was a decent plan.

However, our shallow tactic to overcome the immediate obstacle proved useless against the merciless harshness of the Snowfield.

Lieutenant General Mauer meticulously devised a plan to stop the Imperial Army with a force of 50,000.

A method to defend the area previously held by 70,000 troops by utilizing all units to their fullest.

There's no way the capabilities of the new recruits could match those of the Northern Army, who had experienced all kinds of warfare (literally. The Snowfield is so damn brutal they've seen everything but Air Combat). It was a tactic that took that disparity into account.

Based on the report, it seemed like a pretty good strategy, even to me.

I would have probably acted similarly if I were in his position.

However, the units composed of Private Soldiers from the Nobility were so weak that they couldn't even meet those low expectations.

"We deployed competent Officers, didn't we? I can't believe they couldn't hold a single fortified Trench line."

"What can you do? We should blame the noble lords who cherished their Private Soldiers but couldn't train them properly."

"It's not just their fault. We're also responsible for this Situation."

In their first Large-Scale Battle after the Reinforcements arrived, the sector they were responsible for crumbled before the Imperial Army's Offensive, like a cookie breaking apart.

A simple defeat would be a common occurrence on the Battlefield, but the speed was the problem.

It wasn't the Six Weeks' War, but the collapse was so swift that the Command Center had no time to react, impacting other sectors as well.

A sudden hole in the Defense Line, where various units were connected like a spiderweb. The price to plug that hole wasn't small.

At least four-digit casualties were suffered, and a considerable amount of Supplies were lost.

The negative impact of suffering such heavy losses while already numerically inferior was devastating.

Lieutenant General Mauer tried to hold out until the next wave of Reinforcements arrived, but as the Situation worsened, he seems to have sent this message.

"Anyway, he must have gone through a lot. Write him a letter of encouragement and send it immediately. Tell him I'll come up with a solution, so just wait a little longer."

"Yes, sir!"

After the adjutant saluted sharply and left the office, I was left alone and sighed.

I took out a cigarette and lit it.

I inhaled deeply and exhaled the harsh, unfiltered smoke, feeling like my lungs were being smoked.

"This is troublesome."

A crisis on the Front Line while political reforms are in full swing.

It's something that could have happened during a War, but it still makes my head spin.

"The Assembly will undoubtedly raise the issue of my responsibility...."

Regardless of the quality of the troops, it was ultimately my decision to send them to The North. This blunder was clearly caused by my mistake.

So, criticism is a natural consequence.

It's called taking responsibility, but it's not wrong to call it legitimate criticism.

"Then I have no choice but to solve it myself."

With things as they are, there’s only one solution.

I have to clean up the mess I made.

* * * * *

As expected, the next day.

From the moment the regular Assembly session opened that morning, the Second Estate's Members of Parliament showered me with criticism.

"Member of Parliament Roytel, just how do you intend to handle this situation?!"

"Because of your misjudgment, thousands of the Kingdom's soldiers are dead. Because of your flawed orders!!"

"Murderer Carolus, get out of the Assembly! This isn't a place for criminals!!"

Insults, of course, and the occasional shoe or piece of trash hurled my way. I endured it all silently, not bothering to react. It simply wasn't worth my time.

It should take another three or four days for the military to report the Front Line situation to the Assembly.

Yet somehow, everyone seems to be acutely aware of what happened in the Northern Region.

They must have used their connections, right? The Command Center is overflowing with these guys' relatives and families.

'Fucking hell.'

...Still, their words are harsh, these bastards.

Do they think I wanted to kill those soldiers? Among the casualties were our comrades from the Northern Army.

Do they think I made this decision to harm them? Those guys who were family and friends, who lived and died together for over 10 years.

Just because you become heartless, bloodless creatures in the face of power, did you think I'd be the same? Damn, you need to dial back the generalizations.

"Refrain from such indiscriminate accusations! What you're doing is nothing but personal attacks!"

"Victory and defeat on the Battlefield are commonplace! If you're going to condemn Member of Parliament Roytel, why didn't you do the same to Lieutenant General Sigmund von Liebert?"

"Right! That man is no different from a mass murderer, having killed hundreds of thousands of our fellow soldiers on the Western Front!"

As I was being unilaterally attacked, the Members of Parliament from our Faction stepped forward to defend me, arguing whether they had any right to criticize me.

'Their wording is quite brutal.'

Well, what they’re saying is true.

Among the Nobility who, using their status, cause all sorts of trouble, hardly any of them take real responsibility.

There is an element of unfairness in me being the only one subjected to this concentrated attack.

But I didn't voice these thoughts. It would only tarnish my reputation.

Instead, as the bickering subsided, I quietly rose. With everyone's attention, regardless of Faction, I began to speak.

"You are right."

First, a gesture acknowledging my responsibility.

"There’s no doubt that my mistake contributed to the heavy losses suffered by the soldiers deployed to The North. If I had been more careful, the casualties would have been fewer, and the war situation wouldn't have become so precarious."

"Then--"

"Therefore!"

I interrupt a Nobleman who was about to speak, raising my voice.

"I will also handle the cleanup. I will restore the war situation and avenge the fallen soldiers. You don't need to provide additional troops. I will handle it with the units under my command."

A declaration of intent that I wouldn't shamelessly beg for Support, and that I would resolve the situation on my own.

I immediately looked at the Royal chancellor, also the Speaker of the Assembly, and requested.

"Esteemed Speaker, I hereby propose the deployment of the Central Army to the Northern Region. I request that this be put to a vote."

A vote was immediately taken on my proposal.

Thanks to the Support of the Clergy and the Third Estate, the deployment proposal passed with a majority vote.

* * * * *

As soon as the Assembly adjourned, I turned my carriage towards the Central Army’s garrison. My adjutant and other subordinates were already waiting there.

"You've arrived, sir."

"Sorry I'm a bit late. Have you been waiting long?"

"No, sir. We just arrived ourselves."

Such a typical way of addressing a superior.

Not wanting to waste time with small talk, I headed straight for the parade ground.

Confirming the orders I had given earlier with the Officers following behind me.

"Are the Soldiers ready?"

"Yes, sir. We've armed and trained them as you instructed."

"However, suddenly changing the unit organization, I wonder if this will be effective…"

To the Colonel who trailed off, I declared in a confident voice.

"It will be. Don’t worry."

Why do you think I didn't request additional Reinforcements from the Assembly? To avoid political repercussions?

Of course, that was part of it, but more than that, it was because I had confidence. The confidence that the Soldiers I personally trained were the most tactically advanced and powerful in the world.

"You mean abolishing the Spearman and composing the entire unit of Gunners and Artillery?"

"Yes."

I know.

How military science will develop in the Future. What innovations and changes will dominate the Battlefields to come.

"This is the Future all Armies must embrace."

And the name of that innovation is.

Line Infantry.