I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy - Chapter 173: In War, It Is Important To Deceive The Enemy (2)

Even the Crown Prince, but the Emperor’s expectant expression was even more burdensome.

Moreover, the one who always had a politically calculated expression when dealing with all his subjects now had such a content expression that it was almost scary.

What’s this? Why was he smiling as if he was about to give away his own daughter?

“Besides, what I’ve thought is that Your Highness could focus on selecting capable junior officers and administrators of commoner origin. Although I caught Your Highness’s eye through my actions at the Raintlant Front, if it hadn’t been for Your Highness’s support from that time until now, I would never have been able to reach my current position.”

I might have risen to a rank significantly faster than other noble officers, but I wouldn’t have been able to advance as I have until now.

Because for an orphan of commoner origin like me, appropriate opportunities wouldn’t have come so easily.

“Given your abilities, you would have eventually reached this position despite the limitations of being a commoner. However, it would have taken at least another 10 years to become a lieutenant colonel.”

“Thank you for your high regard, Your Majesty. Then, please consider this; even now, there are commoners who have graduated from the academy who, despite being more capable than officers of noble birth, are somewhat disadvantaged. If Your Highness continues to select such individuals based on their abilities, the Empire’s military will gain many more excellent commanders.”

“Counts and higher nobility might be a bit displeased, but it’s true that viscounts and barons, who have voting rights in the Emperor’s election, are somewhat behind in promotions compared to the highest nobility. So, those fellows might think, ‘If even commoners are employed based on their abilities, how much better treatment and opportunities could I receive?’ and thus, they would try to align themselves with the Crown Prince.”

As His Majesty mentioned, humans have such psychology.

‘If that worse guy has a girlfriend, there’s no reason for me to live single. If I do as he does, I could get an even prettier girlfriend. It’s not that I’m single because I can’t, but because I haven’t tried.’

Seeing commoners being selected, the heads of knight families and lower-ranked nobles, such as barons and baronets, would likely think the same.

They might consider changing their support to a different faction for the future of their family and the advancement of their children.

The Emperor nodded at my words and then asked in a dubious voice.

“But if the Crown Prince selects commoners and consoles the bereaved families, wouldn’t the other princes do the same?”

“Even if they followed suit, it wouldn’t harm the Empire. Moreover, by seeking talent among the much larger number of commoners and lower nobility, we may soon find commanders who surpass me. And after all, what will be most remembered is that the Crown Prince was the first to try all this, isn’t it?”

“…I asked for a plan to increase the Crown Prince’s position, and you’ve come up with a way to benefit the Empire’s development. That’s truly remarkable.”

Well, it was obvious.

Because I was a soldier and of commoner origin, I did not know methods, such as whom to bribe or which nobles to tie through political marriages to improve my position.

I could only think that the best strategy to win the Emperor’s election was to demonstrate how much it could help the Empire.

However, these alone couldn’t overturn the assessment that His Majesty lacked critical military capability.

“But this is not enough because the next Emperor, the Crown Prince, must prove his military capability.”

The Emperor, as if waiting for me to say just that, leaned back in his chair and looked at me with wide eyes.

“Do you have any thoughts? If you choose an appropriate location, I will definitely appoint you as the deputy commander in the Crown Prince’s next war.”

The title was deputy commander, but in reality, it was a position with the same level of authority and responsibility as a commander-in-chief.

What I had always wanted to achieve and longed for was now within my grasp.

My heart was pounding, but now was the time to stay calm.

“From a grand strategic perspective, not just tactics, that will determine the future of the Reich Empire, the next target for the Empire should be the Grand Duchy of Ostarica.”

“The Grand Duchy of Ostarica? I thought you would suggest places like the Francois Republic, Belgium, or Morenzia. That’s unexpected.”

“If the Francois Republic were intact, it would be best to strike and occupy Morenzia. However, the current state of the Francois Republic is such that a civil war will break out if left alone a bit longer. Therefore, Belgium is targeting the Francois Republic, and Morenzia is checking Belgium, resulting in a complete balance between them.”

The Francois Republic had not recovered from the aftermath of the last war, where we devoured a vast territory.

No, the wounds we inflicted had festered to the point where the cabinet and parliament were completely divided.

The two parties were at each other’s throats, and according to reports from the Intelligence Department, there were even instances of contract killings among the members.

Naturally, the targets for assassination were the noble members of the rival factions.

In such a situation, if we foolishly invaded or altered the surrounding environment, it could serve as a reason for them to unite. Why would we attack the surroundings then?

“Someday, Ostarica, Varshaw, and Chekovia will form an alliance to attack the Empire. Therefore, the Empire must strike Ostarica first to eliminate the central axis of their power.”

Though Varshaw had a vastly larger territory, the Grand Duchy of Ostarica supported a large population with its extensive plains and the food it produced.

Among these three countries, Ostarica had the largest population and the largest military force.

“Indeed, currently, Varshaw is at war with Velasquez and Kaunas, which is the only reason these three countries cannot form an alliance. If Varshaw were to enter peace negotiations with those two countries someday… The mere thought is terrifying. It would be a crisis for the Empire.”

“Doesn’t the picture look good, Your Majesty? The scene of the Crown Prince personally conquering Ostarica, which could be a major future threat to the Empire.”

“How do you plan to prepare the groundwork?”

…This time, we were baited by the Swiss and suffered a significant setback.

However, their strategy was disgustingly effective, so we must thoroughly learn and employ it.

“The former lieutenants who assisted the Crown Prince are not greatly at fault. Therefore, to give them a chance for redemption, I plan to send them to Ostarica to perform a double agent mission. They will provide Ostarica’s command with the Reich Empire’s confidential information until a critical moment, after which they will betray them severely.”

The former lieutenants who were attached to the Crown Prince were talents from the Staff College, so they were well-versed in the Empire’s military doctrines, strategies, and tactics.

They would also partially memorize information classified as second-level secrets of the Imperial Army.

Even if not all, if they offered this information to the Grand Duchy of Ostarica, they would surely be very pleased to accept it.

Of course, once their usefulness diminished, they would quietly be purged afterward.

The Emperor asked in a surprised voice.

“Indeed, those guys only follow orders from above. There’s room for leniency. But, are you sure this is okay? When the Crown Prince becomes Emperor, this will increase his true confidants.”

Those five former lieutenants were from noble families with rights of succession, and unlike me, who was publicly close to His Highness, they were also very close to him privately.

Sometimes, when His Highness jokingly asked me to go to a bar with women, I always politely refused, but those gentlemen always followed him.

While my relationship with him spanned only 4-5 years, those former lieutenants had been close to His Highness for nearly 20 years.

So, in a way, this might undermine my position…

The reason I had survived so far was because I had always prioritized the interests of the Empire.

“I am not making this suggestion to gain their gratitude and strengthen my position. However, it’s a bit difficult to say, but those five former lieutenants were harshly punished for taking responsibility for carrying out His Highness’s orders.”

“That’s right. It’s a pity for such bright and capable young people.”

“So, in a way, it’s appropriate for Your Highness to take responsibility for them. It’s about showing publicly that Your Highness is giving them another chance. This will earn you a reputation as a monarch who takes care of his close associates to the end, even if they lose their value and fall into disgrace.”

After listening to me, His Majesty looked at me blankly for a moment and then said,

“Alright, let’s do as you wish. However, the confidential information to be leaked in the intelligence operation will be treated as top secret, and you will report directly to me in writing before the operation begins.”

“I will follow your orders.”

After finishing the conversation, Emperor Fernando of the Empire thought,

‘I never intended to check on General Yaeger, who is almost a benefactor of the Empire. Instead, I planned to let him continue to spread his wings and advance.’

However, what the Emperor had in mind was just to get rid of those who were clinging to him in an attempt to gain political power.

No, he even planned to distance a girl who followed him with no such intentions at all.

“Lieutenant Colonel Kerzhit may not be as smart as General Yaeger, but she’s a very intelligent woman. And she is central to the Empire’s acquisition and maintenance of the northern territories. In the future, when the northern territories become livable within decades, I should enfeoff her as a countess there. Then, even after my death, the North will not leave the Empire.”

The Emperor personally felt quite a bit of regret.

Because, in the social circles, General Yaeger was the only one unaware of the gossip, being the most oblivious to matters of love among the Empire’s nobility.

He knew well that Lieutenant Colonel Kerzhit, who cherished the North more than anyone, refrained from marrying for political gains solely because of her desire to bear the General’s child.

“That’s why I had to separate them. If those two came together, the Yaeger family would gain too strong a foundation. I thought I had to check them.”

Then the Emperor chuckled.

Because, when General Yaeger talked about the conquest of Ostarica, he proposed sharing the position of the Crown Prince’s confidant, which he could have monopolized alone, with five former lieutenants for the sake of national interest.

Thinking of the Empire beyond any self-interest.

He thought it foolish to doubt someone who, as a General, stood at the front for the Empire and killed as many as 200 enemies.

Thus, having ceased his doubts, the Emperor wanted to make General Yaeger even more devoted to the Empire.

“Honestly, even excluding his influence as a noble, General Yaeger’s worth is equivalent to that of a ducal family. It would be good to bring him into the family outright. Moreover, according to the imperial special law, when a princess marries a man with a lawful wife, both the princess and the wife are recognized as equal ‘lawful’ wives.”

Therefore, the Emperor was grateful for the law that could make Yaeger completely his own without taking away the position of the lawful wife from the daughter of his loyal subject, Duke Benner.

“My daughter Louise will also turn 20 the year after next and needs to marry. Since she was young, she always said, ‘I want to marry someone like a knight in shining armor from a fairy tale!’ and has made every effort to become a woman suitable for such a knight. I can fulfill that dream for her. She will surely like it.”

However, there was one concern in the Emperor’s mind.

That was…

“The only thing is that General Yaeger is too conservative, keeping a personal maid that everyone lays hands on once they become a general. Moreover, she blatantly sends signals of being in love. However, the General only thinks of her as a loyal subordinate… Can Louise do well?”