I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy

Chapter 3: To The Raintlant Frontlines (2)

“Platoon Leader Michael Schmitz and the 33 men below him report their arrival under the command of Cadet Peter Yaeger on April 22nd, the 220th year of the Empire! Loyalty!”

Platoon Leader Michael made his salute with a deep, commanding voice, but the other new recruits hesitated, their salutes awkward.

Seeing this, for a moment, I thought, “Training new recruits is my duty, but this is too much.”

I was tempted to shout at them as the officers of other empires would do, but I reminded myself of my responsibility to lead them.

In real combat, if you didn’t know something when enemy spears and swords were flying around, it wasn’t a sin.

So after accepting their salutes, I looked at them and said loudly,

“You may know it already, but from today, I am your platoon leader, Peter Yaeger. Whenever you see a superior, salute just as Platoon Leader Michael did. I will show you a demonstration, and you should follow.”

As I said this, all 66 eyes of the soldiers focused on me.

“Raise your right arm facing forward, then bend your elbow inward while keeping your hand flat. Your palm should face the ground, and your middle finger should be near your right eyebrow. Platoon Leader Michael will report again, and you will salute as I’ve taught you. Understood?”

“We understand.”

“Your voices are too soft. When a superior commands, you must respond loudly. If you answer softly again, I will severely punish you all as a group. Do you understand?”

While it was true that the military of the Empire had a strict hierarchy and military law due to the caste system, there weren’t any cases where a recruit was punished for speaking softly or failing to salute properly.

Everyone knew that it was only natural for trainees to make mistakes at the training center before going to the battlefield.

Although I couldn’t admit it because of my pride, during my first year at the academy, I made mistakes too. Like shouting the wrong slogans, saluting superiors incorrectly, and making errors during training.

Even the strictest instructors would overlook these mistakes, especially during the first week.

Furthermore, if the frequency of justifiable punishments under military law became too high, the commanding officer’s leadership ability was deemed deficient.

So, it was best to avoid punishments by military law as much as possible.

However, perhaps the recruits found the word ‘severe punishment’ intimidating. Their faces quickly turned tense, and they shouted in unison.

“We understand!”

Only then did I feel relieved, sensing a slight increase in morale among the soldiers under my command.

It might have been a mere 5 minutes, but seeing them understand the need to raise their voices made me a bit proud.

From a commander’s perspective, or from anyone’s view, for that matter, it might seem trivial.

However, even the longest journey for an elite soldier starts with a single step.

“I report again! Platoon Leader Michael Schmitz and 33 soldiers below him, reporting under the command of Cadet Peter Yaeger on April 22nd, the 220th year of the Empire! Loyalty!”

Along with him, the 32 soldiers behind him saluted in unison.

The sight of over 30 people moving at my single command was truly exhilarating.

Exaggerating a bit, it felt like all the hardships and injustices I experienced after being reincarnated into this world were washed away.

“Very well. Now that you’re under my command, I’ll inform you of your duties. Listen carefully, I will say this only once.”

“Yes, understood!”

Having said that, although the soldiers were a bit sloppy in their stance, they all focused their gaze on me.

Once again, I realized the allure of having over 30 people move seamlessly at my single command.

“There are two things I demand from you. First, follow my commands without any questions. Second, once you are part of my platoon, remember that Yaeger’s platoon is a single entity.”

Though times and tactics change, these two principles remain unchanging truths in the military.

Much like the saying that truth was simple, the phrase ‘Obey the command, and you are one body’ was simple enough even for a 7-8 year-old to understand.

Yet, any troop that fully embodied these principles was always hailed as elite, regardless of the era.

I hope that Yaeger’s platoon, which I led, adhered strictly to these two truths and became renowned as an elite unit.

“If you adhere to these two basic yet crucial facts, as your platoon leader, I guarantee that I will reward you. Once the conscription period of 3 years ends, I will ensure you return home safely with pride. Furthermore, I will not forget any of your achievements, ensuring you receive appropriate rewards after the battles. During the times of victory celebrations, I promise ample supplies of alcohol and meat.”

At my words, the soldiers looked at each other in disbelief, as if forgetting I was even speaking.

Although this was a common reassurance from commanders or platoon leaders to Korean soldiers, it must have sounded incredibly novel to the soldiers of this era.

That was because the Empire’s commanders typically mentioned the honor of fighting for His Majesty, trying to boost the soldiers’ morale. They rarely, if ever, spoke of tangible rewards for the soldiers.

However, as I’d become a commander of the Empire, I couldn’t overlook the fact that I should fight for the Emperor.

“For the honor of the Emperor, His Majesty, approach your training with the spirit of a soldier fulfilling his duty! I promise you this. If you do so, you will be able to return to your hometown families as proud sons, husbands to your wives, and the heads of your households, with honor and fulfillment. Long live the Emperor, His Majesty!”

Upon hearing these words, the soldiers, led by the vice-captain, chorused in a voice that seemed deeply moved.

“Long live! Long live!”

“Long live the Emperor, His Majesty!”

I didn’t know if there was real loyalty among them toward an Emperor whom they’d honestly never seen face-to-face.

However, in the soldiers’ eyes, I didn’t see any hint of doubt or distrust toward me.

I suppose this marked a decent first step as a platoon leader.

While a good start didn’t guarantee everything would be resolved well, if the beginning was good, the ending was likely to be as well.

“Now, before we start the intensive training, we will conduct a very basic training session today. I will demonstrate, so watch closely.”

As I said this, the vice-captain turned to the soldiers and instructed them to focus.

Seeing this, I understood why online posts always mentioned that a vice-captain was essential in leading a platoon.

Setting that thought aside, I demonstrated the marching form, as I saw in the standard training videos.

With my arms stretched out and moving at a 45-degree angle, maintaining a step size of about 60cm, I marched back and forth from the left end to the right end in front of the soldiers.

The soldiers, including the vice-captain, looked puzzled, but I disregarded that and explained.

“Typically, during training, we select spear soldiers and crossbow soldiers. Each learns to handle the weapon of their choice. However, I believe that before such a division, the entire platoon must learn to move in unison. So today, we will acquire the method of synchronized walking as I’ve taught.”

The soldiers sensed that this method differed from what they had heard elsewhere, and the vice-captain, representing them, asked,

“We have only a month left until the end of training. Shouldn’t we start by learning how to handle the weapons?”

Had we been on the frontlines, and if he, the vice-captain of this platoon, had voiced such an opinion, I would undoubtedly have considered it. Because his point had merit, and it was more efficient for the soldiers to understand and follow a command than to train them with doubts.

But now is the time to establish my authority.

Furthermore, explaining the essence of the standard to soldiers and the vice-captain might be challenging.

“Vice-Captain Schmitz, follow the order. However, I guarantee this. This method is the best to enhance the cohesion and combat power of the 30 men. For today, the training will end as soon as all 30 men match their steps in just 5 minutes. Surely, synchronizing a walk isn’t too challenging, right?”

Hearing this, the soldiers, unaware of the terror of the standard, brightened up at the prospect of an early training end.

“We can do it!”

Why was it, that, whether in Korea or the Reich Empire, trainee soldiers seemed unaware of the terror of standard training?

Once they experience it, just hearing the ‘standard’ would surely make them grit their teeth.

“Alright. Following the chief’s orders, on ‘one’, move your right foot and left arm, and on ‘two’, your left foot and right arm, synchronizing your steps.”

And so, I began the standard training with my platoon of soldiers.

It went without saying that the soldiers who started training with the intent of finishing within 30 minutes…

…continued the standard training, coordinating their hands and feet, until the sun began to set.

However, the outcome was evident as the basic movements of their arms and legs began to align.

In the warfare of infantry, primarily using spears, the most crucial element was slowly forming.

I might not know how others operate their platoons, but with this training approach for this task, I felt a surge of confidence that we could beat anyone.

Because forming an army that moved as one body through the training methods I received at the academy in just one month was an arduous task.

I wonder if you’ve heard of the nightmare of the Korean soldiers’ ‘Standard Training’.