I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy - Chapter 204: Side (3)

Northern Army Headquarters, Grand Banquet Hall.

Normally, this place hosted free banquets for Northern Army officers during the Empire’s holidays, anniversaries, or when there was a special occasion for cabinet-level officers (generals).

Currently, executive officers of the Northern Army and chieftains of over 100 tribes were gathered here, enjoying food and the banquet.

Given the circumstances, it would be nice if officers of executive level and above and the chieftains could mingle more naturally and get along…

However, it seemed they were still uncomfortable with each other, as chieftains stuck with chieftains and officers with officers, engaging in small talk.

“Lately, it’s been tough with the constant pressure from the Swedia Kingdom and the Stockholm Kingdom. But, with General Yaeger’s arrival, a way to survive has opened, and things will get easier for us.”

“Honestly, I wouldn’t trust any other imperial general, but I do trust General Yaeger. He personally killed Ludwig with a sword and has mediated well with the Empire.”

“I’ve had more than my share of worries lately, but somehow, it’ll work out. It’s a good day, indeed. Not only can we eat the Empire’s expensive food for free, but our major concerns will also vanish.”

Looking around, even though a “close relationship” between officers and chieftains hadn’t formed, the atmosphere wasn’t bad.

Anya, knowing many chieftains, was wearing an imperial military uniform and engaging in friendly conversation among them.

“How many years has it been, Uncle Viata? Has Dita gotten married yet?”

“Don’t even mention it. I’m trying to match him with a decently okay imperial family. But they say he has to graduate from the Academy first. By graduation, he’ll be 26. It’s not easy.”

“Since we northerners are subject to special exceptions, have him study a bit to get into the officer candidate school. There’s a system where he can get his diploma in just two years.”

“As expected of a lieutenant colonel, you know a lot. Ah, back when you and Dita were young…”

“Maybe we should not talk about that… The General might be nearby.”

Upon hearing that, the chieftain named Viata turned around, and his face turned pale as soon as our eyes met.

He hastily said, waving his hands side to side,

“General, it’s not what you think… I was just happy to see the daughter of a Kerzhit guy I used to be close with…”

Anya was my wife, after all, and this gentleman, Viata, probably said that out of sheer joy, so I had no intention of making a fuss about it.

However, this might be an opportunity to ask something genuine.

“Viata, was it? Which tribe’s chieftain are you?”

“I am the chieftain of the Svendenmori Tribe, General.”

“The Svendenmori Tribe… You defected fifteen days after the Kerzhit Tribe, didn’t you? Nice to meet you. As you may already know, I am the new Northern Army Commander, General Peter Yaeger.”

Saying that, I extended my hand, and Viata bowed, extending both hands to shake mine in greeting.

“Before I give my inaugural speech, I have something I’d like to ask if that’s alright?”

“Ask me anything, General. You, who liberated us by killing the Khan, deserve answers to any question.”

“How have things been lately? Is there anything particularly troubling or inconvenient? Feel free to speak candidly.”

Upon hearing this, a look of fear appeared on Viata’s face.

It seemed he was worried about repeating the situation where typical commanders pretend to care but actually cause great distress to those who voice their discomforts.

Quickly, I showed him the edict stamped with His Majesty’s seal from my pocket and said,

“His Majesty is already aware that the damned Istvan roused 60 tribes under his command to defect to the Stockholm Kingdom. The Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has determined that your hardships were a contributing factor. Therefore, His Majesty has ordered to hear your grievances directly and address them.”

In fact, there was a process for obtaining this edict.

After receiving my appointment as the Northern Army Commander, Anya and I discussed the issues faced by the northerners, and I compiled the content into a report.

I then submitted it to my father-in-law, the head of the General Staff, and next, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the report, analyzed the expected issues, and nearly completed devising countermeasures.

Now that I was here, I would discuss the issues directly with them and submit a report to the General Staff, based on which the final amended policy would be implemented.

“Is that really true?”

“Why would I go to the trouble of forging an edict just to convince you? I came here because His Majesty ordered it. Otherwise, why would His Majesty bother sending me all the way to the North?”

“I’m just overwhelmed. To be honest, I was worried that all Northerners might be implicated because of Istvan’s treasonous enticements. As you know, except for those like the Kerzhit Tribe who have dedicated their tribal lands, haven’t we been somewhat guarded by the Empire?”

It wasn’t just a slight caution; in fact, the Empire was quite wary of them.

Thanks to the provision of food to the Northerners, preventing them from starving, their quality of life has indeed improved compared to before.

However, in exchange for food support, a significant number of livestock, like horses, cattle, and sheep, were taken from the tribes.

Moreover, the Empire had strictly limited the military enlistment and conscription of Northerners, except for the sons of chieftains, citing the reason that they couldn’t fully trust the Northerners yet.

Instead, men aged 18 to 54 were mobilized for labor about two days a week.

Furthermore, according to the laws of the Empire, citizens who have not served in the military must pay about 20% more tax than those who have, so they must have strained themselves by paying taxes with furs, quality timber, meat, and wild animals.

The reason they were not complaining now must be because, although they paid a lot in taxes, their current living conditions were much better than before becoming subjects of the Empire.

According to a report I read before my appointment as the Northern Army Commander, Northerners used to struggle to eat two meals a day.

But after submitting to the Empire, eating two meals a day became the norm, and during the harvest season, they could even manage three meals a day.

“That must be the reason, but because we cannot join the military, our tribespeople feel unjust having to pay more taxes than the imperial serfs. In fact, if we became soldiers, we could perform well as archers, couldn’t we?”

“I know very well. I am very familiar with the prowess of the archer unit led by my wife, Lieutenant Colonel Kerzhit.”

“Considering that we have shown our loyalty to the Empire for nearly four years, please allow us to serve in the military and pay less tax, just like other imperial citizens.”

I expected this kind of request, but as someone who had lived in Korea, it was a strange and difficult request to understand.

That was because, in Korea, not serving as a soldier, if possible, was considered an absolute advantage.

It was quite fascinating here that a chieftain was sincerely requesting military service.

Of course, this person and other nomadic people wanted to prove their worth in the military and become true imperial citizens living in the North.

“Is there anything else?”

“Besides, it would be appreciated if the Empire could slightly increase the prices when accepting livestock, furs, horses, and wood as tax payments.”

“I’ll ask His Majesty. However, be aware that you might not be able to serve as the archers you wish to be in the military, and to receive equal treatment as imperial citizens, you might have to shed more blood in the army.”

Well, it was usual for northerner soldiers to be pushed into more intense frontlines than those soldiers who were farmers or serfs from the Empire.

Thus, through conversation with the Chieftain, I was able to hear vivid stories about the current situation in the North.

Then, I went to the central high seat of the banquet hall and declared,

“From today, I, General Peter Yaeger, officially take the position of the Northern Army Commander. The reason for gathering you here today is not only to celebrate my inauguration but also to distinguish between those who dare betray the Empire and the virtuous northerner chieftains who pledge their loyalty to the Empire.”

Upon my words, the chieftains and officers’ attention was uniformly focused on me.

Then, at my signal, a cartwheel about the size of my waist rolled into the banquet hall from the inside.

Unlike the officers, who were clueless, the northerner chieftains began to clap enthusiastically upon seeing the cartwheel.

It seemed they thought that the “rule of the wheel” did not apply to them.

And that assumption was correct.