As the council established itself as the ‘legitimate’ supreme governing body we led, the kingdom’s politics rapidly changed.
High-ranking nobles who had interfered with state affairs through personal connections and family power lost their influence, and decision-making previously handled through inner circle collusion now followed official procedures.
Now that government budgets must be approved by the council, even I cannot arbitrarily change them without persuading the representatives.
And above all else.
The king’s power is now placed under the control of law.
What does this mean?
Until now, there were no restrictions on a monarch’s authority.
Regardless of the strength of royal power, theoretically, anything was permissible.
It was possible to summarily execute someone without trial.
That power which I had forcibly restrained still existed.
Now, I’ve confined it within the framework of the rule of law.
Indulging in luxury, forming a royal guard, appointing officials – everything.
Now, nothing can be done without the council’s approval.
Of course, it’s still early, so there are many awkward aspects, but… over time, it will gradually improve.
Thus, while devising various bills and systems and working hard on politics.
Suddenly, bad news came from the north.
“The northern front is in danger?”
“Yes. We’re struggling even to hold the defensive line.”
“Didn’t we leave that to Mauer? He wasn’t the type who couldn’t handle a defensive battle.”
In my personal office late in the afternoon, I couldn’t help but be puzzled by the report from my aide who came running out of breath.
We definitely had increased support troops by 20,000 to our 30,000 revolutionary soldiers. How could we have encountered a crisis in less than a year?
It was completely incomprehensible by my standards.
If they had focused solely on defense as instructed, they should have been able to hold out even with reduced troops.
“Has the report arrived?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
But after reading the report submitted by Lieutenant General MAUER, I immediately understood the entire situation.
“…Damn. Was the mixed unit composition the problem?”
The cause of the northern crisis was simple.
The combat effectiveness of the soldier-origin units seized from the nobles was a complete mess.
‘I expected variations in combat effectiveness when integrating soldiers from different backgrounds. But this much….’
Typical kingdom troops, when conscripted, go through the same training process, so their level is similar wherever they go.
Although there are differences based on real combat experience, the base is essentially the same.
But soldier-origin units are different. Because they were independently raised by nobles in their own territories, their equipment and training vary dramatically.
Some are almost raised to the level of the royal guard, while others are closer to city defense units.
To utilize such personnel, I and the general headquarters devised a strategy. We provided additional rapid training and equipment distribution.
While teaching everyone the basics, we issued new armaments to poorly equipped soldiers to pursue a possible upward standardization.
“I thought they could definitely handle one assignment, so why send them? Yet they perform so poorly?”
“It’s the north, Your Excellency. Even our central army veterans might lose their heads there. They wouldn’t be able to even protect themselves.”
“If I’d known, I would have pushed all soldier-origin units to the west.”
It certainly wasn’t a wrong idea.
Our senior General von Albrecht would have agreed it was a good thought.
However, shallow tactics to overcome immediate difficulties were useless in the face of the merciless harshness of the snowy fields.
Lieutenant General Mauer planned meticulously with a force of 50,000 to block the imperial army.
He aimed to defend the region previously guarded by 70,000 troops by utilizing all units to the maximum.
The capabilities of new soldiers could never be equal to the Northern Army, who had experienced all kinds of battles (not a metaphor, but literally – the snowy fields were so crazy they’d done everything except aerial combat).
The tactics were designed considering this gap.
According to the report’s contents, from my perspective, it was quite an excellent strategy.
I thought I would have moved similarly if I were in that position.
However.
The units composed of nobles’ soldier-origin troops were so weak they couldn’t even meet those low expectations.
“But didn’t you place competent officers in these units? Surely they couldn’t fail to hold a properly constructed trench line?”
“What can we do? We should curse those noble lords who cherished their soldiers yet couldn’t properly train them.”
“It’s not just their fault. We also bear responsibility for this situation.”
In the first large-scale battle after reinforcement, the areas they were responsible for collapsed far too easily before the imperial army’s offensive.
Like peeling off a wrapper from a Kukdas cookie.
While a simple retreat might be commonplace on the battlefield, the speed was the problem.
It wasn’t some 6-week advance, and the command headquarters couldn’t even respond before it collapsed, affecting other sectors.
The sudden hole in the defense line, where multiple units were interconnected like a spider web, came at no small cost.
Easily over ten thousand soldiers fell, and considerable supplies were lost.
Already outnumbered, suffering such massive damage, its negative impact was truly devastating.
Lieutenant General Mauer tried to hold out until the next reinforcement, but as the situation worsened, he apparently sent this communication.
“Anyway, this guy must have suffered a lot. I’ll write a letter of consolation and send it right away. Tell him to wait a bit as we’ll prepare countermeasures.”
“Yes!”
As the aide, standing at attention, saluted and left the office, I remained alone in the room and swallowed hard.
I pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag of the strong, filterless tobacco, feeling like my lungs were being smoked.
“This has become complicated.”
Right in the midst of political reform work, an incident breaks out on the front lines.
Though perhaps inevitable during wartime, it still complicates my thoughts.
“The council will definitely raise the issue of my responsibility….”
The problem was troop quality, but ultimately, sending them to the north was my decision. This was clearly my mistake.
So criticism would naturally follow.
It’s called responsibility, but in fact, it’s a legitimate critique.
“Then I’ll solve it directly.”
At this point, there’s only one way.
I must clean up the mess I’ve created.
As expected, the next day.
From the morning’s regular meeting, criticism from the two-tier representatives began pouring out as soon as the session opened.
“How will you handle this situation, Representative von Royten!!”
“Thousands of the kingdom’s young men have died because of your misjudgment.
Because of the wrong orders you issued!!”
“Murderer Carolus, get out of this council! This is not a place for criminals!!”
Alongside the verbal abuse, occasional shoes and trash were thrown. I endured it silently without reacting.
There’s no point in dealing with them; it’s not worth it.
It’ll still be a few days before the military can report the frontline situation to the assembly, yet somehow, everyone seems to know every little detail about what’s happening in the North.
They must’ve used their connections, as usual.
The General Headquarters is practically overflowing with their relatives and acquaintances.
‘Damn it.’
Even so, watch your mouth, you bastards.
Do they think I made this decision because I wanted to get my soldiers killed?
Among the casualties are comrades from the Northern Army, our own brothers-in-arms.
Do you really think I would harm those men—men I’ve lived and fought alongside for over ten years, men who are my family and friends? Just because you become cold-blooded snakes when it comes to power doesn’t mean I’m the same.
Know your place before you start lumping me in with the likes of you.
“Refrain from reckless slander! What you’re doing amounts to personal attacks and defamation!”
“Victory and defeat on the battlefield are common occurrences! If you’re going to criticize Representative Royten, then why haven’t you done the same to Lieutenant General Sigmund von Liebert?”
“Exactly! That man slaughtered nearly a hundred thousand allied troops on the Western Front—he’s practically a mass murderer!”
As the verbal abuse against me continued, members of my faction stood up in my defense, arguing that those criticizing me lacked the moral authority to do so.
‘Their wording is ruthless.’
Still, they’re not wrong.
Among the nobility, who flaunt their status and leave chaos in their wake, few have ever truly faced accountability.
Singling me out for concentrated attacks is a blatant double standard.
But I kept these thoughts to myself. Voicing them would only tarnish my reputation further.
Instead, as the quarrel died down, I quietly stood, drawing everyone’s attention regardless of faction.
“You are all correct.”
I began by appearing to acknowledge my responsibility.
“The significant losses suffered by the soldiers stationed in the North are undoubtedly my fault. If I had been more attentive, the casualties could have been minimized, and the situation wouldn’t have become so precarious.”
“If that’s the case—”
“Therefore!”
I cut off a noble who attempted to interrupt, raising my voice.
“I will handle the aftermath myself. I will restore the situation to its original state and avenge the fallen soldiers. You need not provide additional troops. I will resolve this using only the forces under my command.”
It was a declaration of intent: I wouldn’t shamelessly beg for support; I would resolve this on my own.
Turning to the royal chancellor and chairperson, I formally addressed them.
“Honorable Chairperson, I propose, in this assembly, the deployment of the Central Army to the North. Please put this matter to a vote.”
A vote was immediately held on my proposal.
With the support of the clergy and the Third Estate, the motion passed with a majority.
Once the meeting concluded, I returned to my carriage and headed toward the Central Army’s garrison, where my aide and subordinates were waiting.
“You’ve arrived, sir.”
“Apologies for the slight delay. Have you been waiting long?”
“Not at all, sir. We just arrived ourselves.”
Their words had that typical tone reserved for addressing superiors.
Not wanting to waste time on small talk, I headed straight for the drill grounds.
As I walked, I checked on the tasks I’d previously ordered the officers following behind me.
“Are the soldiers ready?”
“Yes, sir. We’ve equipped them and completed their training just as you instructed.”
“However, considering the sudden reorganization, I can’t help but wonder if it’ll actually be effective…”
To the colonel who trailed off mid-sentence, I replied with unwavering confidence.
“It will be. Don’t worry about it.”
Why else would I not have requested additional reinforcements from the Assembly? To avoid giving them any political leverage over me? That was part of it, sure—but the main reason was my absolute confidence.
Confidence in the soldiers I personally trained, knowing they are the most tactically advanced and formidable in the world.
“Are you talking about disbanding the pikemen and reorganizing the entire unit into musketeers and artillery?”
“Exactly.”
I know what the future of warfare holds.
I know the innovations and transformations that will dominate the battlefield in the years to come.
“This is the future that every army must move toward.”
And the name of that future is.
Line Infantry.