I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy

Chapter 350

EP.350

“Let the Prime Minister personally recite Peter Yeager’s achievements.”

The Empire’s Chancellor, Duke Hoelzollern, sighed and stood up.

“His achievements are so clear that I will simply tell you the facts.”

“Like that.”

“In order to save the Duchy of Philolence, he led 150,000 troops and defeated the 250,000-strong army of the Venetian Union, and in doing so, surrounded Veneta Castle and destroyed the Duchy of Veneta. In the process, he became aware of the plot of General Giuseppe of the Milan Alliance, thwarted the treason attempt of the regent of the Duchy of Philollens, and annihilated the main Milanese army.”

The ministers were not particularly surprised because they had already read it several times, but because the contribution was so great, they all sighed and expressed their dismay at the absurd feat.

“Is it possible to defeat an army of 250,000 with 150,000 men and destroy the Principality of Veneta in that way?”

“… I am speaking as the Minister of Military Affairs, but it is better for the mind to just evaluate Captain Jaeger as ‘Jaeger’ and move on. Achieving just one of those would be a great achievement, but achieving all three in one expedition?”

“Thanks to you, I was able to take over the fertile plains and prosperous commercial city of northern Farosia. Isn’t a good thing a good thing?”

The hearts of the ministers who said that were full of jealousy toward Peter Yeager.

‘Well, at the age of 35, I was busy running around here and there preparing to be promoted to deputy director (lieutenant colonel in the Imperial Army).’

‘A 35-year-old enemy, I guess I’ll have to be an enemy for 30 years. Does this make sense?’

‘Until five years ago, I would kick my grandchildren and children while watching Captain Jaeger, but now I don’t even dare to kick them, so I don’t do it at all.’

The Emperor’s smile filled his face as he envisioned a future in which he would entrust Peter Yeager with important positions and take care of him until he turns 100, regardless of whether his ministers thought of such things or not.

‘Captain Jaeger is also human, so if he is over 65 years old, he will not be able to fight on the front lines. However, if you look at his commanding ability, he will fight better than most generals just by leading on the battlefield. ‘If you send me to war until I’m 74 and serve as Minister of Military Affairs for about 20 years after that, I’ll have no wish.’

It was a plan that, if Captain Jaeger had heard about it, he would have thought of resigning right away and running away.

“Isn’t this an achievement that is difficult to express in words?”

After hearing those words, Minister of Military Affairs Kaitel nodded and answered.

“That’s right. So this time, I propose to Your Majesty that Captain Peter Yeager be promoted to Marshal. However, there is one problem that is not a problem. Captain Jaeger is nearly 25 to 30 years younger than the other captains, but what this means is that he alone can monopolize the position of marshal for nearly 30 years.”

The emperor felt puzzled when the Minister of Military Affairs, who had always grumbled and supported Captain Jaeger’s theories and operations, suddenly made an interfering comment.

“But honestly, wasn’t the opinion of the Chiefs of Staff that his ability was such that there would be no problem if he was entrusted with the role of Marshal right away from the time of Richen Hill? Since then, Captain Jaeger’s abilities have been growing every year, so what’s the problem?”

“If he holds the position of Marshal of the Imperial Army for too long, the person appointed to the position and his family will become dissatisfied. So why not create another position that is only slightly below the courtesy of an enemy? For example, a position such as ‘senior captain.’”

The reason why Keitel made this suggestion was to provide something of comfort to those who were unable to advance due to a person named Peter Yeager.

The other ministers also nodded and opened their mouths.

“If Captain Jaeger takes office as Marshal, the other captains will become less motivated as they will no longer have room to advance.”

“There are several positions for courtesy in the ranks of brigadier general, major general, and lieutenant general. Don’t those who have been promoted to general also need such positions?”

“I can’t believe I stayed in one position after being promoted from captain. “Wouldn’t it be okay to give him a position of particularly high importance, such as the Northern Army or the Viceroy of the Venetian Union?”

The emperor laughed inwardly when he saw this.

Because in the face of Peter Yeager’s terrifying achievements, it became too politically burdensome to challenge his promotion to marshal as an imperial noble.

Those who could not raise any objections and only secretly expressed jealousy.

It was a bit funny to see Duke Keitel take a bite and be satisfied when he offered a suitable alternative, like pork instead of beef.

‘When Captain Jaeger comes later, I’ll have to tell him that I saw this funny scene while drinking.’

“Since no one seems to be opposed, I will create a new rank of senior captain above the captain. Then, the number of positions a senior captain can hold is limited to three. Northern Army Commander General Veneta, Chief of Staff. What do you think?”

The ministers nodded in agreement, satisfied that instead of being blocked from being promoted to marshal, there were three positions available to move up to the rank of general.

“As a courtesy, we will deduct 2,000 gold from the Marshal’s annual salary and very slightly lower the benefit that can be used for 5,000 gold per year protocol. In addition, the rank insignia will be four stars, like the captain, but it will be made of pure gold like the marshal, and a baton exclusively for senior captains will be given.”

To be honest, when you reach the level of a captain, the income from your territory is much higher than the salary of 5,000 gold per year, so the salary increase was not a huge benefit.

However, high-ranking nobles were people who were obsessed with social status and honor rather than money, so receiving a protocol that set them apart from others was, to put it exaggerated, as important as their lives.

From this point of view, the emperor slightly lowered his respects compared to the marshals, and all the ministers agreed.

“Then I will promote Captain Peter Jaeger to Marshal. In addition, a total of three marquisships will be granted, including the Marquis of Alfonso, the Marquis of Drilton, and the Marquis of Odense, along with a reward of 100,000 gold. Also, in accordance with the custom of the empire, I will erect a statue of a guardian knight near the main gate of the imperial palace to commemorate the achievement of destroying the ‘Principate of Veneta’.”

If you combine those three marquisates, they would have an enormous amount of income and subjects that could be envied by any duchy of an empire.

What the ministers who risked their lives for honor envied the most was that a stone statue of Marshal Peter Jaeger was erected near the main gate of the imperial palace, at a place where all nobles would see it whenever they passed by.

That’s because if the statue is placed there, not only will it be mentioned in the family after death, but people passing through the gates of the imperial palace will say this for hundreds of years to come.

‘That statue is a sculpture of Marshal Peter Jaeger, the famous commander who destroyed the Duchy of Veneta.’

“Then, I think we’ve finished the important business, so everyone, please take a break.”

As soon as those words were spoken, the ministers left one by one, and Kaitel, who remained until the last, spoke as if muttering.

“Now that Peter Yeager has become my enemy, I have to resign. “It’s good that you have risen to the rank of Minister of Military Affairs, but that damn Marquis Benner smiles and says this whenever he sees me.” ‘

Ah, I really envy you, His Excellency, Minister of Military Affairs. Because I lacked ability, I was allowed to retire in my mid-60s, but His Excellency was so capable that he asked me to work for him for five more years even though he was in his early 70s. Now, an old person like me has no other joy in life than playing with his grandchildren. Oh, and Frederick’s grandson is following me around, saying he wants to be good at using a sword like me…’

The Minister of Military Affairs, who strictly divides his personal and public affairs and rarely shows his emotions even in private situations, turned red.

The reason was very simple. He is now over 70 years old and would like to retire and take care of his grandchildren or at least take a young concubine in and live a rejuvenated life.

However, Peter Yeager worked behind the scenes to make him ‘representative of military service’ under the pretense of serving his country, so he is unable to retire.

“Your Majesty, actually, there is something I, Kaitel, would like to ask of you. “Can you please listen to my earnest request?”

“Oh, I have to listen to anything the Minister of Military Affairs requests. “What are you asking for?”

“My body is now approaching my mid-70s, so please allow me to retire soon. Even walking from the entrance to the imperial palace to my office wearing military uniform rather than armor is beyond my strength.”

After hearing those words, Michael took a quick look at Kaitel’s body.

Perhaps because he was in his 70s, he seemed a little weaker than when Captain Peter Yeager recommended him as Minister of Military Affairs, but he still seemed quite fine.

Moreover, in order for the newly introduced policy, including reserve forces and all, to be properly established, a supply system that can operate up to 1.5 million soldiers for more than two years must be established, and he was more essential than anyone else in that process.

‘It’s an appropriate reward. Duke Kaitel is already the head of the duke family and the Minister of Military Affairs, so it wouldn’t be a great pleasure for me to give him any more money or anything like that. Then I guess I should give you the honor.’

Thinking so, the emperor spoke loudly so that the surrounding servants could clearly hear.

“I really need a Minister of Military Affairs. So, can you give us a little more strength?”

“Your Majesty Marshal Jaeger will take care of everything.”

“no. Marshal Jaeger is still nowhere near the level of Minister of Military Affairs in terms of supply and other administrative matters. So, I hope that you will maintain your position as Minister of Military Affairs for the time being. Instead, the Minister of Military Affairs said he was not feeling well, so my special request. I will give the Minister of Military Affairs the privilege of riding a carriage even within the imperial palace, and will let him down in a carriage with the imperial emblem engraved on it so that he can see it at a glance. Also, once this non-commercial event is over, I will give you a special vacation for one month.”

This phrase can be interpreted as follows.

‘You can walk, but if you retire, you are disloyal, ignoring the emperor’s sincerity. Instead, he has given you an honor that is difficult for other ministers, prime ministers, and princesses to obtain, so work hard and repay them. And since he said he was sick, I would give him leave. ‘Take a break, make up your mind, and come back.’

Keitel shed tears at those words and thanked the emperor.

And when Peter Yeager returned from his vacation after the war, he planned to make him unable to leave work for at least 15 days by working on supply and administration-related work.

Of course, in the process, the empire will continue to develop, as it always has.

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