The Duke’s Eldest Son Escaped to the Military

The Duke’s Eldest Son Escaped to the Military (162)

Translator: ChubbyCheeks

54 The Establishment of the Empire’s Special Field Army! (3)

Usually, anyone would feel happy if they received Crimson’s congratulatory words. However, Iro only felt gloomy. He could already see his future of being called all over the place. Of course, that did not mean that it was a bad thing. The mobile troops that he could lead were now in the scale of a field army. It was a great merit to be able to lead a field army while the Empire was still intact and not in a precarious situation like in his past life.

‘It’s doable.’

Iron clenched his fists tightly as this thought flashed in his head.

“But how can I recruit brigadier general or higher level individuals?”

Iron tilted his head as he asked this question.

Currently, there was a scarcity of brigadier general and higher level individuals in the Empire.

The corps commander-level and division-level commanders were somehow able to survive in the Northeast. However, most of the brigadier general-level and field army officers-level individuals that were directly below these two ranks had died and left a hole in the army that was still yet to be filled.

The Central Army on the other hand had no corps commander-level individuals while a few division leader-level individuals had survived. But even the surviving ones had to be replaced since they were the people who were stained heavily with corruption.

The West only had one surviving corps commander-level individual while the South had ushered in a huge gaping hole in their ranks with the deaths of their corps commander-level individuals during their recent battle.

The situation in the East was not that good either. Plenty of their fleet commanders had died during their war with the mermaid race and they still had to fill these empty positions.

Not to mention the North. Half of their force had died after the war against the elves.

In a situation like this, it was hard to predict how many years it would take for all of them to recover.

“Uhm… I’m sorry to say this but…”

“Don’t tell me…”

Iron looked incredulously at Crimson, who was hesitating to tell him this piece of news.

“What you’re thinking is correct. You probably have to raise them by yourself.”

“Ho…”

Iron looked at him dejectedly.

If that was the case, it was no different from having no corps commander-level or division leader-level and brigadier general-level individuals.

“I really don’t want to be the one to say this but to compensate you, we will give you a gift instead.”

“A… gift?”

“That’s right. We will give you the authority to appoint your men first. However, you can only appoint the minimum number of individuals to fill in the corps commander-level, division leader-level and brigadier general-level individuals needed to fill in for the field army without reporting to your superiors.”

Iron nodded slightly after hearing Crimson’s words.

“I will also pick those that you are familiar and acquainted with and place them in your army.”

“Those who are familiar and… acquainted with me?”

“That’s right.”

Crimson smiled as he answered Iron.

Iron felt somewhat anxious after seeing him smile like that but he tried to calm down as he waited for his next words.

“Allan Reishor and Peter Marvio expressed that they wanted to join your army.”

“Huh…”

“They’re familiar names, right?”

Iron nodded blankly at Crimson. These were the names of the wizards that attacked him back when he was in the East.

“Why are they…?”

“The Wizard Tower Masters were complaining and saying that they were half-forced to send them. But I believe that they sent these two as an apology. After all, your power and influence has already become this great.”

“Ah…”

Iron could finally feel that his power and influence had grown greater after hearing Crimson’s words.

In his past life, he had always been ridiculed. Even after he had led half of the Northern Army and forces and survived in the Lion Castle Fortress he never received honor. However, he realized that things had changed for him right now.

“This is not the end of our gift. Gaon Temphet and the young lions have requested to be placed in your army.”

Iron’s eyes widened.

Gaon Temphet was the person that would be responsible for the Temphet’s, a famous territorial lord in the North, future. He was an elite born from the Winstell and Temphet Families.

He couldn’t understand why this person would want to join his army. In addition, the bigger problem was the young lions.

“If you’re talking about the young lions then…”

“Saeriden, Ludem and Rodem. These three brothers of yours.”

Iron couldn’t gather his senses after hearing Crimson’s words. All he could do was stare blankly. It seemed like he truly couldn’t understand why these three names would come up in this conversation.

“Kaiden Leonhardt and Aiden Leonhardt had both entered the race for the family head position. It seemed like the remaining young lions wanted to come to you.”

“Ho…”

“Well, you will probably hear the complicated circumstances of your family once they arrive.”

“…I see.”

Crimson smiled as he continued to speak after seeing Iron nod heavily.

“You might not be able to recruit any brigadier general to corps commander-level individuals but think of it in a good way, you are raising the people who will be in charge of the future of the Empire.”

“Haha…”

Iron laughed loudly at Crimson’s words but his expression was not that bright.

He knew the situation of the armies of the Empire so he couldn’t even dare ask for any corps commander or division leader level individuals as well as any brigadier general. For the first time in history, a field army with no brigadier general or higher-level individual was born. Of course, the army was equipped with geniuses who would grow up well in just a few years. But the problem was right now.

A field army with no corps commander, division leader and brigadier general level officers, no matter who saw it, they would all think that they were crazy.

“If this is the case, wouldn’t it be better to just give me corps-level troops? It would be convenient to just expand it to a field army in the future.”

“That won’t work.”

Crimson shook his head firmly after hearing Iron’s words.

In fact, it was far more reasonable for him to start at the corps-level rather than overdo it and start at the field army-level. However, the things in reality wouldn’t work like how they wanted it.

“A general at master-level is placed as a corps commander in charge of corps-level troops? Do you think that makes sense?”

“Uhmm…”

“If you have just obtained just one of the two then I would have somehow placed you under my command. But… you have grown too big.”

Iron sighed quietly after hearing Crimson’s words. His only crime was working hard but the situation had somehow turned complicated.

Crimson would be able to put him as a deputy commander and raise him to become the Northeastern Commander in the future if Iron had just become a general and not a master. The same was true if it was just the other way around.

However, he had become a general and was recognized as the new master by all of the masters in the Empire. His fame was so great that he could immediately push away the other commanders from the limelight.

What would happen if he was suddenly placed as a corps commander in a situation like this?

Anyone who decided to do so would face fierce resistance from the public. And there was no one among the commanders who was willing to face this pressure. After all, the situation that they were facing was difficult enough that they did not need to add the anger of the public to make it more difficult.

“Ha…”

Iron had no choice but to accept this fact. All he could do was sigh and lament his fate.

It’s good to have a field army.

He had no choice but to lead this army. It was frustrating for Iron since he was the one who was going to lead this strange field army that was going to be laughed at by the public.

“How much autonomy am I given?”

“You’ll be given as much as possible.”

“Then… Can I come up with a new military system?”

Crimson tilted his head before nodding at Iron’s question.

“If you want?”

Iron’s expression turned weird when he heard Crimson’s words that were filled with doubt. Then, his thoughts shifted once again.

‘I will break the existing military system and create a new one.’

It was his own mobile army anyway. In addition, they were all in a situation where they needed to reorganize their troops, so this was the perfect opportunity to form his ideal troops.

“Are you making plans already?”

“Wouldn’t it be easier and more comfortable if I do it in advance?”

“Hoho… You’re really diligent.”

Crimson stood up as he said so.

“I don’t know about the other commanders but I’ll do my best to help you if there’s anything that I can help you with.”

“Uhm…”

“Ah! Of course taking out any brigadier general or higher-level officers is out of the question. The same goes for the Ghost.”

Iron bowed his head sullenly when Crimson spoke firmly.

“But I’ll try to place your comrades in your troops as much as possible.”

Iron sighed and nodded his head.

It was clear that his compatriots, the former Northeastern Academy’s strongest generation, would be extremely helpful. And it wouldn’t be too bad to select some of the future elites from each region’s command and place them in his unit.

They had no choice but to send their elites that should have been in charge of their future since they couldn’t give up their brigadier general-level and elite field army officers due to their lack of manpower.

Although it was just a field army with nothing to show and was only in name but in a few years their roots would be the best.

“But where will I put my command?”

Crimson pondered for a while after hearing Iron’s question.

“You can choose between the Northwest and the Southeast.”

Iron frowned as Crimson pointed to the wall where the map of the Empire was hung.

“Isn’t the Central Army Command located in the Southwest region?”

“Ah…”

Iron understood what Crimson was implying right away.

The current Empire had Commands in all four directions, the East, the West, the South and the North with the Central Command and the Northeastern Command added on top of that. However, after the Central Command moved to the Southwest, the only remaining regions were the Northwest and Southeast.

Iron was lost in thought as he looked at the map that Crimson had pointed at earlier.

Both places had pros and cons.

If he chose the Northwest.

1 It is convenient since he can connect with the Northern Army·Northeastern Army.

2 He can be involved in the new trade route from the East to the West.

3 He can also borrow the power of the Lion Family and the Northern Lords.

These three points were attractive enough. It was also a good place to confirm and check the existence of the birdmen and the beings of the void. Of course, it would be difficult for him to affect the West since there was a huge mountainous terrain blocking their path but he could find a way and make it work.

But did that mean that the Southeastern region was not attractive?

That was not the case at all.

If he chose the Southeast.

1 He can be connected with the East and the South.

2 He can exert and show my influence in the Southern Kingdoms.

However, it was regrettable that he wouldn’t be able to use the familiar Northern forces here. All of his connections and power are concentrated in the Northeast and the North. He had ties with the Eastern Commander but if he was talking in that sense then he also had ties with the Western Commander.

But it did not mean that there was no merit at all. Establishing a Command in the Southeast would allow him to create a separate navy from the East or create another influence in the South. It would also be convenient for him to directly make connections with the Southern Kingdoms.

Iron frowned after he thought about everything.

If he considered the present, choosing the Northwest was the best choice but if he considered the future then the Southeast was a better choice.

‘If I take good control of the Southeast, I think I will be able to exert greater power and influence…’

The Northeast was growing well enough. It was difficult to grow even faster even if he established a Command in the Northwest.

Then, what about the Southeast? The Empire’s Southeastern region had long become a wasteland after the Southern Kingdoms left. It was to the point where the Southern Command couldn’t even think about restoring it once again. If he could devour it himself then he would have an easier time connecting with the Southern Kingdoms in the future. In addition, it was once an important trade route with other continents so it had a high strategic value.

“Have you decided?”

“…Yes.”

“Where?”

“The Southeast.”

Crimson looked at Iron strangely after hearing his answer.

In all honesty, he believed that he would choose the Northwest. The South was in a dangerous situation but the same was true for the West. It was also the place where he could get the fastest help from the North so it was the perfect place for him to raise a newly established field army. And the place was also not that far away from the Lion Family so he could get help from them too.

But he abandoned all of that and chose the Southeast?

“Why?”

“There’s nothing for me to do here.”

Crimson looked puzzled.

“Although the field army will not be up to par yet, the area where the Command will be built will be a safe area right away.”

“That’s right.”

“Currently, there is more danger in the Southeast than in the Northwest. And it would be more helpful for the Empire if I go down the Southeast. Considering all of that, it would be right for me to go to the Southeast.”

“Uhm…”

“My work is over in the North and the Northeast.”

Crimson looked disappointed when he heard Iron’s firm tone. If he had remained in the Northwest, he could stop by sometimes and continue the relationship that they had. He had a lot of pretexts to meet and get involved like training or becoming allied forces.

But Iron chose the Southeast.

“It’s going to be difficult.”

“I know.”

“Are you prepared?”

“…Yes.”

Unlike the Northwest, the Southeast was still in the middle of war. He might lead his incomplete army and fight real wars right away. It was a situation where he would be faced with a lot of trouble and hard work.

“Hoo… May fortune accompany you on the battlefield.”

All Crimson could do was wish him luck. After all, Iron made such a choice despite knowing everything.

***