From the day after I was called by Count Benner, all mbers of the 24th Regint, including myself, were given a rest.
This was because, excluding the Commander-in-Chief, my father-in-law, our unit had made the greatest contribution to the Northern Army.
Until the next personnel assignnts and rit distribution orders were issued, Count Benner, the Commander of the Northern Expeditionary Force, instructed…
…that all soldiers under my command stayed within the unit and ordered the supply departnt to provide unlimited beer, wine, whiskey, at, and various foods.
Since each mber of the entire unit was secretly given a month’s leave certificate and a proper amount of money, regardless of the rit distribution, all soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers of our unit were enjoying the greatest pleasures available.
Therefore, it was normal for officers to bring alcohol and at to my office, expressing regret before leaving for promotion or transfer to enjoy a good ti.
“Laura, could you please get off my lap for a mont?”
“No, if I get down, you’ll just go drink with the Deputy Commander and other officers. You may not go out with prostitutes at night like them, but still, it ans less ti alone with you, Colonel, which I don’t like.”
Saying so, Laura, perhaps having received so instruction from Count Benner in the last few days, showed no intention of leaving my side.
Even when I was sleeping, she left reluctantly but would co to my side and wake up in the morning.
This gave the feeling, not quite a feeling, that a re kiss would no longer be enough for her.
“That may be so, but it’s soon ti to part with the officers of the regint.”
“I know. But my father said that if you, Colonel, get promoted, other opportunists will keep making advances. Thinking of that, I want to spend more ti with you…”
Seeing the look in her eyes as she said this, I could sense that my retreat was completely blocked.
Moreover, a beauty like Laura, I honestly think, was more than I deserved.
Of course, considering my position and status, a political marriage with a woman of Laura’s beauty might be possible.
But soone with the halo of a count’s family, beautiful appearance, excellent combat ability, and insight, harboring pure and faithful love for for years, even after my success, was truly more than I deserved.
Additionally, influenced by the implicit pressure from Laura, the officers left words of support for the love of the young couple and were enjoying unlimited alcohol and at in the hall beneath the officers’ quarters.
Since we were ordered to rest until the emissary announcing the rit distribution arrived, except for minimal office work…
“Laura, although it’s still day, I’m going to prepare to bathe and go to bed.”
Although I didn’t say it directly out of embarrassnt, Laura seed to understand my intention, nodding with her face flushed red.
“Understood, Colonel.”
Just as I had made a big decision, soone knocked urgently on the door.
“The emissary of His Majesty the Emperor has co directly to the 24th Regint to announce the rit distribution! Other officers are getting ready to receive the emissary, so please hurry, Colonel!”
This completely broke the romantic atmosphere between us, but… it couldn’t be helped.
Ignoring the Emperor’s emissary was tantamount to confessing treason, so I had no choice but to postpone the ti I could have spent happily with her.
“Let’s change into formal uniforms then.”
“Yes, Colonel.”
After saying that, Laura got off my lap and moved to the room assigned to her.
It’s said that important events happen on the busiest days, and just when I had steeled my heart for a significant event…
Why, now of all tis, was I going to be notified of the promotions and rewards? Couldn’t it be just three hours later?
I sighed, checking that no one was around.
“Damn it. What kind of country is this?”
After changing into my uniform and going outside to receive the imperial edict, only monts ago, the officers were drinking liters of beer and wine, their faces so red it seed they were on fire, but when the Emperor’s ssenger arrived to announce the rit distribution, they snapped to attention with the discipline as if going to war.
Before formally announcing the rit distribution, the middle-aged man in his forties holding the imperial edict approached with a suddenly friendly voice,
“Haha, isn’t this Colonel Yaeger, the Khan Slayer, who killed the barbarian Khan and brought peace to the north? It’s truly a pleasure to et you.”
“You must have had a hard journey getting here, Emissary.”
“No, it was my duty to quickly convey the good news, as per His Majesty’s command.”
Seeing his unusually friendly deanor, unlike other emissaries who usually just confirm my identity and start the rit distribution, I was sure of it.
The fact that the news he brought was filled with good tidings beyond all our imaginations.
“I, Miller von Bayer, the emissary, will read the docunt concerning the rit distribution ordered by His Majesty the Emperor.”
Then the emissary unfolded the scroll and said,
“Listen, Colonel Peter Yaeger, commander of the 24th Regint. Due to the great rit you have established, the Empire has prevented the ergence of a new formidable enemy in the north and saved nurous soldiers’ lives. Particularly, the direct subjugation of the evil Khan Ludwig is an achievent so great that it is hard to find a precedent in the history of the Empire.”
My father-in-law had hinted at my promotion to Major General, and although there were a few instances in the history of the Empire of soone receiving a star before the age of 30, it was only possible for the head of a ducal family, who were collateral imperial relatives, to succeed to the title and make significant contributions at a very young age.
I had heard there were no other cases of soone under 30 receiving a star, including the young heads of other major noble families, such as counts and dukes.
So, this must be a prelude to ignoring such conventions.
“Moreover, considering the tis he turned imminent imperial defeats into great victories, it’s undeniable that he has served the Reich Empire and the Imperial Household in a way unprecedented in imperial history. Therefore, Colonel Yaeger is exceptionally permitted to be promoted to Major General, surpassing the usual conventions.”
After saying this, two knights behind the emissary placed a sword bearing the imperial family’s crest, symbolizing a general, in front of .
This symbolized the ability to execute the Emperor’s authority in tis of need, a power rarely exercised, but it also signified the authority to execute officers below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and soldiers without a military court-martial in warti.
Of course, even if one used this to achieve victory and overco crises, since he was acting on the Emperor’s authority, imnse scrutiny followed, and the discovery of even a minor flaw could lead to various disadvantages, so it was seldom used.
“Additionally, his title is elevated to viscount, along with the territories of Töner, Grasten, and the entirety of the Rosenheim barony, along with a reward of 30,000 gold.”
30,000 gold was equivalent to the annual living expenses of 30,000 common households. Töner and Grasten, being northern territories, are currently undervalued.
Excluding the stones, with just a bit of developnt, they were practically real estate with potential equal to that of a typical empire’s baronies.
Moreover, the predecessors of the Rosenheim barony from about 100 years ago boasted wealth incomparable to that of typical barons, informally known as grand barons…
Acquiring that territory ant I would have much less to worry about financially in the future.
“Lastly, the Golden Knight Sword Cross dal will be bestowed. Ordinarily, this dal is awarded to commanders who have led and won a battle, but how can we say that a regint leader who personally beheaded Khan is less deserving than a commander who led and won with an entire division? Therefore, as a special case, the Golden Knight Sword Cross dal will be awarded to Major General Yaeger.”
Moreover, this was a decoration that, among officers with stars, was only attainable by those who had been promoted to division commander or higher.
This serves as evidence that the Emperor promised promotion to division commander, as long as I didn’t commit treason or any absurd acts, regardless of how long it might take.
However, since the promotion to major general was also a bit of a stretch, it would take ten years to beco a division commander unless significant accomplishnts were made…
“In addition, the deputy commander of the 24th Regint is promoted to colonel and given the entire Puckerhoun territory, and to Laura von Benner, a lieutenant, the Bronze Knight Sword Cross dal and the Pasau territory…”
Thus, the officers who served under received promotions of at least one to two ranks, along with territories varying in size but all generous.
The non-commissioned officers were all offered the privilege of attending officer training school if they wished, effectively a push towards noble status.
Even the ordinary soldiers, often overlooked, were given the choice of either receiving a large sum of money upon discharge or applying for NCO status and committing further to military life.
As everyone rejoiced, the reading of the imperial edict finally ended.
Then the emissary whispered secretly in my ear,
“The Minister of Military Affairs has appointed you, Major General, as the practical and planning overseer for the François Republic expedition. Congratulations. The official orders will arrive in a week. You’ll be the ‘Third Chief of the General Staff for Operations’.”
After saying that, the emissary hurried off as if he had other places to be, and I received congratulations from everyone that day.
During the first day of the week-long feast with unlimited alcohol and at, I briefly attended only the beginning to share in the joy and then had to leave.
Because shortly after the feast began, Laura whispered in my ear,
“Major General, I don’t want to sleep alone tonight.”
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