Chapter 3

As usual, it was a day spent organizing the list of supplies to be sent to the rear and pondering how to withdraw each unit in sequence.

“Ugh… Damn those incompetent higher-ups.”

Just the troops tied to the Northern Front alone numbered a whopping 70,000. A full 70,000. That’s the size of an entire corps by Korean military standards.

Ensuring their safe withdrawal to the rear is absolutely no easy task.

If we retreat all at once without a plan, we’ll get wrecked by the enemy’s full-scale offensive. But if we dawdle too much, we’ll likely be discovered soon.

We had to retreat the frontlines with minimal losses, maintaining the right pace and order.

Of course, doing anything moderately and appropriately is the hardest part. Because no one knows where that “moderate” line is.

The Commander-in-Chief, who should be handling this, is the embodiment of incompetence, so his very existence is a hindrance. In the end, I had to prepare everything alone.

While I was racking my brain, my subordinates suddenly swarmed into my tent, shouting.

“Lieutenant General Roytel!! Are you inside?!”

“What are you all doing here? I told you to go and discipline the troops.”

“We heard a terrible rumor. Is it true that the reason we’re retreating is because of the Queen?”

Damn it. I clearly told them to keep their mouths shut. Did that bastard Kais go around blabbing?

Flustered, I barely managed to keep a straight face and asked where they heard the news.

“Who told you that?”

“A friend working at the Headquarters tipped us off. The royal family suddenly cut the budget and demanded a reduction of the frontlines.”

“There’s also a rumor that the Queen spent a fortune on jewelry. It’s already spreading in the capital.”

…Damn it. My warning to keep it a secret was pointless. The news had already spread to the public.

Was it because this remote area has slow communication?

If they pieced together clues from internal information through connections, they must already be almost certain.

Since the answer was already out, denying it would only raise suspicions, so I decided to admit the truth.

“…Yes. The Queen needed money for a tiara, so there’s not enough budget for the army. That’s why we’re retreating to save money.”

“What the hell! Are they all insane?!!”

“After all the hell we’ve been through to defend this place!!”

The soldiers and officers of the Northern Army, including me, are the heroes who fought the most intense battles in the harshest conditions in the entire kingdom.

Once stationed here, most die before completing their minimum service period, but we survived to the end.

We couldn’t transfer to other units and were forced to stay here, enduring together.

That’s why our attachment to this region, our pride in our achievements, and our sense of dedication to the nation were so strong.

Hearing that we’re being driven out due to the royal family’s foolishness, everyone erupted in anger.

The atmosphere turned so hostile that even treasonous remarks were being thrown around.

“If there’s no money, they should abandon other fronts and focus here! Why are they abandoning this natural fortress?!”

“There are hundreds of bunkers built on this snowy field! Our engineers built them, drenched in sweat! Are they insane to leave them and retreat?!”

“If they were going to do this, they should’ve given the retreat order from the start! Why waste lives here meaninglessly?”

As the deputy commander, it was my duty to stop their insolence and punish them, but I didn’t feel like it.

Though they didn’t say it outright, their thoughts were similar to mine. I just restrained myself publicly due to my position and dignity.

“Sir, aren’t you frustrated too? After over 10 years of hard work, it’s all for nothing.”

“You’ve fought here the longest, Sir. You must be the most aggrieved.”

“…I’m pissed too, guys. But what can we do?”

I sighed and bowed my head. I understood their anger, but there was nothing I could do to respond to their grievances.

No matter how much of a three-star general I am, I’m still outranked by those parachuted in. What power or connections do I have to overturn the King’s orders?

“Even if I protest and get angry, nothing will change.”

“Sigh…”

The subordinates sighed.

Though they vented their frustrations, they must know that we’re essentially forced to obey without any choice.

“Go back for now. Cool off and rest. We’ll discuss this topic again tomorrow.”

Reluctantly, they nodded, saluted, and left.

Staring at the pitiful sight of their blue uniforms retreating, I could only light another cigarette.

Probably because it lacked a filter, but the cigarettes in this world tasted incredibly harsh.

* * * * *

Though I managed to soothe the officers’ discontent, I had an even more serious and pressing problem.

What was it?

It wasn’t the retreat operation preparations.

Though complicated, I had a rough outline. With a bit more work, I could complete it.

Managing the soldiers’ morale was still manageable.

Though the retreat news caused unrest, the full truth hadn’t come out yet. Spreading some fake news could easily calm them down.

The problem was my future.

‘I can’t keep this military life going much longer.’

No matter how I looked at it, there was no hope for further promotion or recognition of my achievements.

A few months ago, there was still a chance, but not anymore. Thanks to that damn King’s orders, my career was completely ruined.

Karl VII, that fool, probably ordered the retreat just to save money, but from the military’s perspective, it’s entirely different.

Announcing victories and defeats and taking responsibility is solely the military’s duty.

Even if we lose territory due to the King’s orders, externally, it’s our responsibility.

The only correct narrative is that the military’s mistakes caused the loss of territory, forcing the retreat.

But what if no one actually made a mistake?

Then we start fabricating. Altering records and framing someone to create a scapegoat.

I’ve seen this happen several times during my time in the Korean military. If someone’s determined to bury you, they’ll use every means to make you the ultimate scumbag.

“This time, the scapegoat is me…”

But the Northern Front Commander-in-Chief has deep connections in the capital, like Won Gyun. He’s not an easy target.

On the other hand, brigade or division commanders from the Northern Army are too ambiguous to convincingly frame.

In the end, the most likely target is me.

High enough in rank, but a fast-rising outsider who’s envied by established generals. No connections, so there’s no political burden in discarding me.

That’s probably how I’m perceived in the capital.

No matter how much I’ve experienced or achieved, human emotions aren’t rational.

No matter how much I tout my hard-earned achievements, they’ll be completely ignored.

My accomplishments will be downplayed as lucky successes, and my impressive career will be dismissed as superficial.

That’s why I’ll be the sacrificial lamb to calm public opinion.

“Should I preemptively submit my resignation?”

Seeing my future so clearly, I even considered striking back first.

If I resign before the attack comes, I might get less flak. I could also keep my military pension.

“Should I go crazy and pin it all on the Commander-in-Chief?”

I even thought about gathering reporters upon retirement and spinning the narrative that this whole mess is the Northern Front Commander-in-Chief’s fault. But I quickly gave up on that.

While I could deliver one last big “screw you” at the cost of my reputation, the backlash would be too severe. That petty bastard would surely try to screw me over even after I retire.

Once I lose my officer status, I’d be defenseless and completely at their mercy.

Even if I could endure being ruined, my family back home would suffer too. That’s something I absolutely can’t allow.

Ah, I suddenly miss my family. It’s been over 10 years since I last saw them, and their faces are starting to blur.

‘Life really sucks.’

I worked hard to become a Lieutenant General, endured all sorts of hardships to protect the country, and in the end, I’m just being discarded.

I understand it logically, but it still feels like crap. My patriotism is evaporating in real-time.

If I could go back in time, I’d rather be a beggar than a soldier.

‘Sigh. Let’s just sleep for today.’

After much pondering, it was already late at night. I decided to hit the sack to prepare for tomorrow. I need to work hard to soothe the subordinates and finish the preparations.

* * * * *

However, the next day, things started going completely differently than I expected.

“Sir, let me be blunt. How about we overthrow this country together?”

I gave them time to calm down, and now they’re preparing a coup.