Chapter 58: The Emperor Dispenses Rewards (2)
Here, ministers supporting the Crown Prince and those who didn’t subtly contend against each other, their desires were clashing, each wishing to elevate their preferred Prince to the throne.
Thus, when discussing rewards, they requested more for the generals within their own faction.
For those outside their faction, they aimed to diminish their merits and balance them with appropriate wealth, territories, titles, and promotions.
This time too, the opposing faction would have insisted,
‘This is against the principles! He should be rewarded to the maximum limit that a Military Minister can propose.’
This merit was of a level that the Emperor himself should reward directly, like the last time at the Raintlant Front.
There was a solid consensus that any objector would be a fool, so there was no opposition.
“I think a special promotion, a reward of 3000 gold, and generous territory should be granted to the Lieutenant. What do you think?”
“I agree with Your Majesty. However, we need to discuss how many ranks to promote and how much specific territory to grant.”
Different proposals arose in response.
“I, Otto von Meyer, think that granting two ranks of promotion and the territories of Reiner and Schwaltz near the Bruno territory to the Lieutenant would be appropriate. It may seem a bit excessive, but considering his achievements, it’s fair.”
“While his merits are indeed great, as the Finance Minister said, he is a youth whose rapid rise is rare in imperial history. So, why not promote him by only one rank and grant him only the Reiner territory?”
Fernando, who was closer to the Crown Prince faction as he was the Emperor, started contemplating inwardly after hearing this.
This was because it would be no problem to promote Lieutenant Yaeger immediately to Colonel if he were just over 30, but due to his young age, he hadn’t gone through several positions needed to earn a star.
Especially since he still hadn’t attended the staff college
It was clear that when the Crown Prince would inherit the throne, Lieutenant Yaeger would be by his side when he would expand the Empire, wielding his sword and stars on his uniform.
However, employing someone who hadn’t even graduated from the staff college and promoting him to Colonel could cause some objections within the military.
Meanwhile, in this fierce political arena, the two factions began a subtle verbal fight beside the contemplative Emperor.
“Look here, Finance Minister, even in imperial history, no royal has ever ascended so quickly at 21!”
“Well, has there ever been someone who achieved this much at 21? Isn’t that right, Military Minister Otto?!”
“…You’re not wrong. If I had received such commands at that age… I might have just retired.”
They said so since they were in front of the Emperor.
Otherwise, all kinds of vile slurs and condemnations would have been said for the sake of elevating their supported Prince to the throne.
“What do you think, Field Marshal Adelheid? Do you find two rank special promotions unjust, looking at his military achievements?”
“He’s achieved a lot. It’s not unfair, but promoting him from Lieutenant to Colonel is a problem due to his young age. He’s missed the necessary steps due to his youth. It would be better to conclude at Lieutenant Colonel.”
“Since when has the imperial army started valuing age so much?!”
As their argument was intensifying,
“Your loyalty to the Empire is well understood, but haven’t you forgotten that I’m also present here?! Be moderate. I’ve heard that their pursuit continued even after they captured the Lieutenant Colonel. Bring me the detailed report of Lieutenant Yaeger’s actions then. I will make my decision after reviewing it.”
The Emperor’s words silenced the whole meeting room.
Satisfied, Fernando started reading the report meticulously to decide how to train Yaeger as the sword for the Crown Prince.
If he showed a desire for petty rewards despite his great merits, he intended to deliberately command a two-rank promotion and place him in moderately difficult situations.
Then, experiencing continuous political constraints from unexpected places, he would taste the true bitterness of politics and become a humble and excellent general.
If not, and he was an officer who understood politics and how to read people, he was thinking of granting privileges beyond slowing down the speed of his promotion.
Lieutenant Yaeger’s strategy and tactics analysis were already incomparably superior to those of decent generals with ample experience. If he also acquired the skills to live as a member of the elite, he would be qualified to serve the Crown Prince.
During the nearly one hour the Emperor had spent reading the report, some ministers excused themselves and even went to the restroom.
“Since your opinions do not align, I, as the Emperor, will adjust your propositions. Any objections?”
The ministers expressed agreement, somewhat satisfied that not everything the opposing faction wanted was included.
“Firstly, I think promoting Lieutenant Peter Yaeger, who is just 21 and very young, by two special ranks is excessive. So, he will be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.”
The Emperor paused for breath and continued.
“Considering he’s of common birth and maintaining his dignity might be difficult due to his limited wealth, I will grant him the territories of Reiner, Schwaltz, and Salzheim.”
At this point, the high ministers from both factions found it hard to object.
This was because the Emperor increased the territories according to the demands of the Crown Prince’s Faction and broke the one-rank special promotion that the anti-Crown Prince’s Faction wanted.
“Though he hasn’t attended the staff college, his ability to analyze strategies and tactics and his ideas have been proven to be excellent since his time as a student leader. Considering he is too precious a talent to be just a student at the staff college, after his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, he will be appointed as a professor at the staff college for two years, and afterward, he will be treated the same as other graduates.”
The Emperor’s words of creating an unprecedented case at the staff college made the Field Marshal, Military Minister, and each chief of the military open their eyes in surprise.
The elites who made it to that position, including those who were his peers, seniors, and juniors, after at least a 1:1000 competition, could not refute it.
It was because they also agreed that not giving Lieutenant Yaeger an opportunity to teach his tactical and strategic knowledge to the reserve military elites would be a huge loss to the empire while analyzing the war at the Chekovia front to reference for future wars.
“Also, Lieutenant Yaeger will be given the title of Baron, acknowledging his contributions in turning the Empire’s defeat into victory at the Raintlant front and his outstanding performance in this war. If anyone has any objections, speak now.”
As granting titles was the Emperor’s privilege, it could be perceived as challenging royal power unless it was a very special case.
In Lieutenant Yaeger’s case, his merits were so outstanding that there was no proper reason to object.
Thus, the nobles attending the meeting had no choice but to agree with the Emperor’s proposal.
The rewards for Lieutenant Yaeger were decided as follows:
Granting of the territories of Reiner, Schwaltz, and Salzheim
Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and appointment as a professor at the staff college (After fulfilling 2 years of teaching duties, he will graduate.)
Granting of the title of Baron.
Reward of 3000 gold.
Although he didn’t skip several ranks as before, it’s equivalently the best reward, containing everything needed as a noble of the Empire and a future general.
After confirming the reward, the Emperor secretly felt envious that the Crown Prince had acquired such a good commander.
If he had had such a commander under him when he was the Crown Prince, he felt like he would have easily dominated the Republic of Francois.
Meanwhile, high-ranking individuals in the imperial military felt the need for their children, who were now lieutenants or captains, to attend his lectures to survive.
So they secretly went to the dean of the staff college and asked him to expedite their children’s admissions, claiming,
‘Lieutenant Yaeger was going to be a professor by the Emperor’s order. My child is confirmed to enroll after two years. Can you expedite it?’
Under normal circumstances, waiting for admission turns would have been proper, but such tricks easily passed as they weren’t against the law and were the requests of people with 3-4 stars.
Thanks to this, the admission quota of the staff college unexpectedly increased this year.
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