106 – Francois’s Eastern Expedition (3)
Shortly after, the major of the gendarmerie brought an officer with the rank of baronet in front of me, saluted him, and then left.
I carefully read the document containing his performance evaluation, observing his face and standing posture closely.
He is the head of a baronial family that has been passed down for four generations, graduated from the Academy in 10th place, and treats officers well, but tends to treat soldiers harshly due to their low status…
Seeing as how he rose to the rank of lieutenant at the age of 23, he seems to have some ability, but is he human trash with a personality flaw?
That bastard couldn’t forget how he had fun raping a woman from a village he knew was plundering on another battlefield, and her liver was swollen, even though I, the brigadier general, gave him another strict order…
“Sinner, what is your name?”
At those words, the officer who committed the crime in front of me trembled and spoke.
“Leon, this is Lieutenant Leon von Granz.”
“Yes, Lieutenant Granz. Do you know what crime you have committed? Or should I tell you?”
“I was caught trying to rape a girl from the village I had just plundered.”
What should not be misunderstood here is that even in modern warfare, where human rights are widely recognized, looting and s*xual crimes continue to occur after war.
And the level of civilization and society of the Reich Empire, where I live, is similar to that of Europe during the Renaissance, so it is a bit too barbaric.
While I was fighting several wars, I met several soldiers and officers who committed crimes such as arbitrarily raping women they met in enemy territory and had their heads cut off.
Still, people with even the slightest level of class will rarely commit such a thing because it would bring great trouble to the family if they were caught.
“Do you know how punishment is carried out?”
“…… I understand that under military law, you can be beheaded. But that’s because I truly love that woman. I will take her as my concubine and take responsibility until the end. Please have mercy.”
His face as he said this showed more of an annoyance that a big obstacle was blocking his future due to his unlucky fate rather than fear of death or feeling sorry for the victim.
In a cartoon called Prison Diary that I saw a while ago, it was said that rather than reflecting on their sins, most of the prisoners in prison complain that they suffered like this because of the victims and show no remorse.
This guy is the son of a b*tch who proves what he said.
I was going to kill that guy anyway in order to establish military discipline and solidify my cause, but this is what happened.
I will use the bones of that lieutenant, who is no better than a dog, to protect my position.
Even though the damn law is in favor of the nobles, even in times of war, the military law, which applies to everyone as equally as possible, is violated.
He is trying to avoid punishment without any remorse just because he is the son-in-law of an earl and holds the title of baron?
“Javira, the military law clearly promised that a noble or an officer would take as a concubine a woman he raped while plundering. “There is a custom of reducing punishment when it is fulfilled.”
From noble mtl dot com
Because in this world dominated by the religion of Deus, the value of a woman who loses her chastity drops drastically, making marriage itself very difficult.
The only thing an unmarried woman can do while living alone is selling alcohol or food at an inn or making clothes.
If a noble or officer accepts a concubine, they assume some form of responsibility and are often exempted from execution.
Furthermore, if he holds the title of baron, he will serve in a position in the rear for five years, then be promoted to captain and be dishonorably discharged from military service.
Of course, that alone would effectively lead to the downfall of that baronial family…
“But you damn son of a b*tch. If you were truly sane, would you hope to survive after thus blurting the cause of an important battle under the watchful eye of the Deusian Pope? And why not take her as a concubine and reduce the punishment? It’s not even explicitly stated in military law. Instead of reflecting and hoping for leniency, you defend yourself with such bullsh*t. “You don’t even know what class your superior is from, do you?”
At those words, the color disappeared from the face of Lieutenant Leon, the officer in front of him, and his composure disappeared.
Has he finally realized that he might die?
In an idiotic way, he started talking as if he was trying to threaten me using his social status.
“As you know, Brigadier General, I am the head of the 4th generation Baron Granz family and the son-in-law of Count Guderian. So killing me wouldn’t look very good among the nobles. And from now on, I will truly change my mind and make a living, and I will take responsibility for Emilia, the woman I violated, and take care of her as my concubine, so please…”
Now I am once again grateful that I have the rank of brigadier general.
Because if I had met a bastard like this when I was the commander of the 24th Regiment, I wouldn’t have been able to legally kill this bastard.
However, if I use my sword, which was given to me by His Majesty the Emperor himself, and the authority granted at the same time, I can kill the s*xual criminal in front of me.
Although he didn’t rape a citizen of the empire, he tried to blackmail me using his status, so I need to make him really nice.
“If it were a different war, or if I wasn’t your boss, Lieutenant Granz, your defense would have worked. “But I am a general of the empire who is loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Then, I took out from its sheath the treasured sword bestowed by the emperor and the symbol of the power of summary judgment, which was stuck at my waist.
“Furthermore, you violated the will of the Deus Pope and raped a woman, trampling on the cause of this war. “I want to kill you brutally, but it’s a shame that I can’t because I really need your head right now.”
“Please save me.”
As I approached him with my sword, one step at a time, the lieutenant even peed his pants.
“Still, I believe that you tried to disobey the orders of His Holiness, the representative of Deus, even though you were not excommunicated. “Your soul will go to hell for blaspheming him.”
I am a modern person who was possessed by another world, so I roughly believe in Deus, thinking that he exists and that I should live a good life.
Laura, the other officers, and even His Highness the Crown Prince all believe in the existence of Deus and sincerely believe in it.
So the fact that he will fall into hell must be, in some sense, more frightening to that guy than dying.
Like that, I raised the treasured sword high with both hands, aimed it at the guy, and said.
“Furthermore, if your father-in-law is the Earl, then my father-in-law is the Marquis of Venner, the next enemy. My successor is His Majesty the Emperor and Crown Prince of the Empire. The fact that I have this treasured sword, symbolizing the emperor’s authority, in my hand at this age is proof of that. This piece of trash is worse than this dog. Plural? Instead of revenge, my father-in-law, the Count, will thank you for killing you and give you a gift for your hard work.”
Of course, I won’t accept that gift… For me now, killing this guy has a lot to do with what the Minister of Military Affairs told me to do: create a weakness.
Because even if you forgive this guy, you won’t be criticized by anyone or your reputation will be damaged.
Even though he is a noble, instead of flattering or providing convenience to other nobles, it is known that he personally killed a noble bastard who was a vicious criminal who violated military law.
It’s the same as declaring that I will distance myself from the noble faction with my own hands.
“Die, you dirty son of Satan.”
In a world that believes in Deus, this is the harshest insult, and I swing my sword sharply at him.
There’s some blood splattered on my armor and sword, but that’s not important right now.
“Call the commander of the military police and have him bring in the parents of the woman this bastard raped, and before sending the villagers away, show them that they will execute anyone who has committed rape, robbery, or murder, including this bastard. .”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Until that bastard’s head rots, it is used to spread the word that it is the word of someone who committed crimes such as violence and rape beyond necessity in the just war watched over by Deus. “I take responsibility.”
However, given the current situation, it is highly likely that when there is a discussion later, we will just say a few words about the matter and move on.
There is absolutely no need to get into trouble by taking responsibility.
By leaving such instructions, I want to create a good image for the Reich Empire when it rules over this region in the future.
With personal regret for becoming a victim of war crimes, he went to the home of the girl who had been raped by the Granz guy and offered a sincere apology.
“I’m sorry. Only the rebellious Francois Republic government and the army they led should have been punished. How could an innocent virgin be treated like this by an officer of our Reich Empire? “I find it unfortunate.”
They then informed us that the culprit was summarily tried, along with appropriate compensation for damages.
After this, we did not touch Francois’ serfs and continued to plunder the villages and fields of the Eastern Front.
We tried to create the impression that we are an army that enforces justice and does not touch citizens as much as possible.
**
A month later, the entire Eastern Expeditionary Force, including me, gathered again at the scheduled location and time.
A meeting was held to agree on the route of advance again and to devise a plan to plunder while advancing to the eastern part of Francois.
The messenger came into the barracks where the strategy meeting was being held and shouted.
“François’ 10,000 troops have entered the Château de Chavennes!”
This could be a major hindrance to the policy of plundering and advancing on territory in the future.
Because, until now, we had divided each village into brigades and sabotaged them.
If there are 10,000 Francois troops right behind us, we would have to move in units of at least one division (8,000 men) to fight them alone in a situation where reinforcements cannot come.
Then the number of villages that can be plundered at once will be reduced by half.
I don’t know who commands the army here, but I thought it was a really good idea…
I will have to give him a proper f*ck in return.
“12Th Brigade Commander Peter Yeager, I have a request to make to you.”