Chapter 29

As the parliament established itself as the ‘legitimate’ supreme authority led by us, the politics of the kingdom rapidly changed.

High-ranking nobles, who used to interfere in state affairs through connections and family influence, lost their power, and decisions that were once handled through inner circles now followed public procedures.

Even the government budget requires parliamentary approval now, so I can’t change it at will unless I persuade the members.

And most importantly.

The king’s power has been placed under the control of the law.

What does this mean?

Until now, there were no restrictions on the monarch’s authority. Regardless of the strength of the royal power, theoretically, the king could do anything.

It was even possible to execute someone without a trial.

The power that I forcibly restrained but still existed.

Now, it has been confined within the framework of the rule of law.

Luxury, forming a guard, appointing officials—all of it.

Now, nothing can be done without parliamentary approval.

Of course, it’s still in its early stages and there are many rough edges… but it will improve over time.

So, while devising various laws and systems, I was diligently working on politics.

Suddenly, tragic news came from the north.

“The Northern Front is in danger?”

“Yes. It’s even difficult to hold the defensive line.”

“We left it to Mauer. He’s not someone who would fail in defensive warfare.”

In my private office late in the afternoon.

I couldn’t help but be puzzled by the report from the adjutant who suddenly rushed in, panting.

We had sent 30,000 of our revolutionary troops and reinforced them with 20,000 more. How could they be in crisis in less than a year?

It was a situation that was hard to comprehend with my common sense.

If they had focused solely on defense as ordered, they should have been able to hold out even with reduced numbers.

“Has the report come in?”

“Yes, sir. Here it is.”

However, after reading the report from Lieutenant General Mauer, I quickly understood the whole situation.

“Damn. The mixed formation was the problem.”

The cause of the crisis in the north was simple.

The combat effectiveness of the troops taken from the nobles was a complete mess.

‘I expected there would be differences in combat effectiveness when integrating soldiers from different backgrounds. But not to this extent…’

The regular Royal Army soldiers go through the same training process upon conscription, so their level is similar wherever they go.

Although differences arise based on combat experience, the base is the same.

But private soldiers are different. Since they are troops independently trained by nobles in their territories, their equipment and training vary widely.

Some are trained to be almost on par with the royal guard, while others are barely at the level of city guards.

To use such manpower in combat, the headquarters and I resorted to desperate measures. We provided additional training and supplied equipment.

We taught them the basics and provided new weapons to poorly equipped soldiers to achieve a possible upward standardization.

“I thought they would at least be competent, so I sent them. But to perform this poorly?”

“It’s the north, sir. Even our central army veterans could lose their heads there. Just looking out for themselves wouldn’t have been enough.”

“I should have sent all the private soldiers to the west.”

It wasn’t a wrong idea.

Even General Albrecht, my senior, agreed it was a good plan.

But the shallow trick to overcome the immediate difficulty was useless against the merciless harshness of the snowy plains.

Lieutenant General Mauer carefully planned to block the Imperial Forces with 50,000 troops.

He aimed to hold the area previously defended by 70,000 troops by utilizing all units to the maximum.

Given that the capabilities of new recruits couldn’t match the Northern Army, which had experienced everything (literally, the snowy plains were so brutal they had done everything except aerial combat), the tactics accounted for that gap.

From what was written in the report, it seemed like a very good plan to me.

I thought I would have moved similarly if I were in that position.

However.

The units composed of nobles’ private soldiers were too weak to even meet the low expectations.

“Still, we assigned competent officers. Surely they could hold a well-built trench line.”

“What can we do? We have to blame the noble lords who pampered their private soldiers but couldn’t train them properly.”

“It’s not just their fault. We also share responsibility for this situation.”

In the first large-scale battle after reinforcement.

The area they were responsible for collapsed too easily under the Imperial Forces’ offensive. Like unwrapping a Cukdas.

A simple defeat would have been a common occurrence on the battlefield, but the speed was the problem.

It wasn’t like the six-week Elans, but the collapse happened so fast that the headquarters couldn’t respond, affecting other areas.

A sudden hole in the defensive line, connected like a spider’s web by various units. The cost to plug it was not small.

Over a thousand soldiers fell, and a significant amount of supplies were lost.

Already outnumbered, the massive damage had a devastating impact.

Lieutenant General Mauer tried to hold out until the next reinforcement arrived, but as the situation worsened, he sent this message.

“Anyway, he must have had a hard time. Write him a letter of comfort and send it immediately. Tell him we’re preparing a plan and to wait a little longer.”

“Yes, sir!”

The adjutant saluted sharply and left the office. Alone in the room, I swallowed a sigh.

I took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. The smoke filled my lungs.

“This is troublesome.”

In the midst of ongoing political reforms, a crisis on the front lines.

It was something that could happen during war, but it still complicates things.

“The parliament will undoubtedly raise the issue of my responsibility…”

Even if the quality of the troops was the problem, sending them to the north was ultimately my decision. This is clearly a mistake caused by my error.

So, it’s only natural that criticism will arise.

It’s called responsibility, but in fact, it’s a legitimate criticism.

“Then I have to solve it myself.”

In this situation, there’s only one way out.

I have to clean up the mess I made.

* * * * *

Sure enough, the next day.

At the regular meeting that started in the morning, as soon as it opened, the second estate members poured out their slander towards me.

“How do you plan to handle this situation, Councilor Roytel!”

“Your misjudgment has caused the deaths of thousands of the kingdom’s soldiers. Because of your wrong orders!”

“Murderer Karolus, get out of the parliament! This is no place for criminals!”

Insults, and occasionally flying shoes or trash. I endured silently without reacting. They’re not worth engaging.

It would take at least three or four more days for the military to report the front-line situation to the parliament.

Somehow, everyone seems to know in detail what happened in the north.

They must have used their connections. The headquarters is full of their relatives and family.

‘Damn it.’

…Still, you’re going too far, you bastards.

Do you think I wanted to kill the soldiers? Among the victims are our Northern Army comrades.

Do you think I made this decision to harm them? They are family and friends I’ve lived and died with for over ten years.

Just because you become cold-blooded in the face of power, do you think I’m the same? You should know your limits.

“Please refrain from reckless slander! What you’re doing is nothing but defamation!”

“Victory and defeat on the battlefield are common! If you’re going to insult Councilor Roytel, why didn’t you do the same to Lieutenant General Sigmund von Liebert?”

“Exactly! That guy is no different from a mass murderer who killed over a hundred thousand of our soldiers on the Western Front!”

While being insulted one-sidedly, members of our faction stepped up to defend me. Asking if they even have the right to insult me.

‘Their wording is quite fierce.’

Well, that’s also true.

Among the nobles who caused all sorts of incidents using their status, few have taken proper responsibility.

It’s unfair that I’m the only one being targeted.

But I didn’t voice this thought. It would only tarnish my reputation.

Instead, I stood up quietly when the argument subsided. Under the attention of everyone, regardless of faction, I spoke.

“You are all correct.”

First, a gesture acknowledging my responsibility.

“There is clearly my fault in the heavy casualties suffered by the troops sent to the north. If I had paid a little more attention, the casualties would have been reduced, and the situation wouldn’t have become so precarious.”

“Then–”

“Therefore!”

I cut off a noble trying to speak and raised my voice.

“I will also handle the aftermath. I will restore the situation and avenge the fallen soldiers. You don’t need to provide additional troops. I will handle it with the units under my command.”

A declaration filled with the will to resolve the situation on my own, without shamelessly begging for support.

I immediately turned to the royal chancellor and chairman and made a request.

“Respected Chairman, I propose the deployment of the Central Army to the north. Please put this to a vote.”

My proposal was immediately put to a vote.

With the support of the clergy and the third estate, the deployment proposal was passed with a majority.

* * * * *

After the meeting, I turned my carriage towards the Central Army’s garrison. There, the adjutant and other subordinates were waiting.

“Welcome, sir.”

“Sorry for being late. Did you wait long?”

“Not at all. We just arrived.”

Such a typical way of addressing a high-ranking official.

Not wanting to waste time with small talk, I headed straight to the training ground.

Confirming with the officers following behind about the orders I had given earlier.

“Are the soldiers ready?”

“Yes, sir. We’ve armed and trained them as you instructed.”

“But we suddenly changed the formation. Will this really be effective…”

To a colonel trailing off, I confidently asserted.

“It will be. Don’t worry.”

Why didn’t I request additional reinforcements from the parliament? To avoid political entanglement?

Of course, that’s part of it, but more importantly, I was confident. Confident that the soldiers I personally trained are the most tactically advanced and powerful in the world.

“Are you saying to abolish spearmen and compose the entire unit of musketeers and artillery?”

“Yes.”

I know.

How military science will develop. What innovations and changes will dominate future battlefields.

“This is the future all armies should move towards.”

And the name of that innovation is.

Line Infantry.

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