427 – The Grand Marshal likes chicken (1)
Four years later, the imperial palace.
I, Peter Yeager, am now setting out to undertake the most important task of my life.
“Duke, today is the day you must settle the matter with Your Majesty. Otherwise, Duke Keitel and I will have to work overtime endlessly until we die.”
At those words, Minister of Military Affairs Kaitel, who was walking next to me with a cane, sneered.
“Oh my gosh, no matter how this lowly Minister of Military Affairs is allowed to retire, His Excellency the Generalissimo will not be able to leave the hell of overtime work until he is at least my age. “Don’t have unnecessary expectations for your health.”
….. I am 45 years old, Duke Keitel is 75 years old.
Does this mean that for the next 30 years, I will have to spend the next 30 years waking up at sunrise, going to work, and leaving work after sunset, often going to work on weekends as well?
Of course, I don’t just hate this to death.
Because not only will I be recorded in history as the pinnacle of the empire’s soldiers, or perhaps the only general of the empire, but I am currently enjoying power and honor that no soldier in the history of the empire has ever enjoyed.
‘A statue of me covered in gold was erected at the Academy…’
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But what can I do when I think about suffering from this kind of heavy workload for the next 30 years?
“I don’t want to work until I’m 80. “When I get to that age, I want to live comfortably like my father-in-law, watching my great-grandchildren and great-granddaughter Jae-rong.”
“Are you saying that this old man needs to be worked hard until now?”
“That is for the infinite development of the empire…”
Keitel looked at me and ground his teeth.
“Then, when you destroyed Warsaw and petitioned for retirement, you should also petition for this old man’s retirement. Why did you want to retire alone?”
I responded by shaking both hands.
“I am truly sorry, Duke. Instead, when you retire this time, I will gift you the finest wine and whiskey made by our family. “I will prepare a place to celebrate, have a drink with you, and give you a generous gift.”
As we were walking and talking like that, we heard the guards knights whispering behind us.
“Those two have gone through a lot of hard work. Since they are of such high stature and hold so much power, I guess they act like that every year so as not to lose His Majesty’s trust.”
“Still, thanks to you doing things like that, doesn’t His Majesty have complete confidence in you two? Although he holds power, he shows his will to follow His Majesty’s will in both taking power and giving power.”
“This is truly beautiful loyalty.”
At those words, Kaitel and I ground our teeth.
“What nonsense. We really want to retire, don’t we? “Your Excellency the Marshal.”
“I don’t know who those guys are, but if we catch them, we’ll send them to the military headquarters.”
“I heard that the most talented guys from the Fortress Staff College are dispatched to the Logistics Headquarters. Those guys are very lucky.”
Until Duke Keitel became Minister of Military Affairs, it was customary for the most capable officers to go to operational departments or related posts.
As for the fortress, Kaitel and I emphasized the importance of lower supply, so operations changed to second priority and logistics/supply changed to first priority.
So, in a way, it may seem like the path to promotion has been opened for them.
“The Logistics Headquarters is like hell to someone who is not competent. Also, the staff under Lieutenant General Supply, the commander there, work overtime six days a week on a daily basis…”
“Shouldn’t you have suffered a bit when you were young?”
“hahahaha, what your Excellency Marshal said is correct.”
If they are lacking in ability, there is no way for them to get promoted, and they will be treated like dogs and forced to become ‘competent’.
Try working only overtime for 6 days in a week.
You will automatically become competent.
“Your Majesty, I will go in.”
His Majesty’s voice was heard from beyond the door.
“Come in.”
The reason you can feel his displeasure just by hearing his voice is probably because he knows that Minister of Military Affairs Kaitel has brought a letter of resignation.
I and the Minister of Military Affairs immediately bowed in front of His Majesty and politely handed over the Minister of Military Affairs’ resignation letter.
Keitel lowered his head while holding his cane.
“Your Majesty, Sosin is now old and can no longer handle the heavy workload. So now I want to retire and live comfortably for the rest of my life. Please allow it.”
His Majesty placed his hand on his forehead and sighed.
“We didn’t talk about that last year either.”
“Every year, my health gets worse. Please appoint Senior Captain Dönitz as my successor. He will do well, so you don’t have to worry. “I’m old now and my health is…”
Unable to finish speaking, Kaitel coughed violently.
“Even saying this is difficult sometimes. So please allow me to retire. “I’ve managed to survive so far, but I think it’s going to be really difficult from now on.”
Then His Majesty sighed and called someone with a gesture.
The imperial doctor in the corner of the room carefully approached Kaitel, examined his condition, and nodded.
“You are a little exhausted because you worked without taking care of your body in your old age. From now on, you can rest for about 15 days and regain your strength. We will send you the prepared medicine separately. However, please remember that when you return to work, you must take regular breaks while working. If you do that, I think you will be able to work healthily until you are 90. “
The evil doctor sent a signal to His Majesty with a glance.
After hearing those words, His Majesty grinned openly in front of us, showing an expression of joy.
Damn, isn’t that the second most terrifying sight after the terrible water battle at Bastion Castle or the Battle of Richen Hill?
‘I guess I’ll sleep with his face in Charlotte’s chest today. ‘Otherwise I’ll have nightmares.’
“As expected, he is our doctor. “It is truly wonderful that you are taking care of not only the health of me, the emperor, and the members of the imperial family, but also of the health of the pillars of the country, such as Minister of Military Affairs Kaitel, so that they can remain loyal to the end.”
“It is too much to say, Your Majesty.”
“As a reward for your hard work, I will give you 500 gold, so use it to buy something delicious for your grandson.”
The attending physician answered as he stepped back.
“I will send about a month’s worth of health-boosting medicines to Duke Keitel’s family, along with medicines. “If you take the medicine consistently, your physical strength will be restored as if you were in your 40s.”
If he had said when he was young, I would just pass it off as an exaggerated rhetoric, but seeing that he is just in his 40s, it makes me think that if he takes that tonic, it will have a direct effect on the Minister of Military Affairs at Kaitel.
‘Anyway, is your Majesty planning to serve our Duke Caiemon until he is 90 years old? I don’t think so either…’
As if it was only natural, His Majesty grabbed a pen, wrote down a vacation order, and handed it to Keitel.
“I’ll take a month to rest well and get my body back on track before I return.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Then, His Majesty carefully whispered into Kaitel’s ear.
“The empire’s supply system is still a mess. I think you will have to work until you are at least 90 to see systematic supply. Until then, I’ll just ask. And there was a report a while ago that the supply to the Rhineland was a bit messed up…”
At those words, Kaitel blushed and gritted her teeth.
“I will personally call the Rhineland division commander to his office instead of military duties and bring him to his senses.”
“hehehe, don’t be like that.”
“The inefficient use of the imperial people’s taxes is unforgivable.”
Then, Minister of Military Affairs Keitel gave up submitting his resignation today again in order to resolve the Rhineland issue and enjoy a month of vacation.
No, if you are ready to resign, you should say, ‘I will leave this work to Senior Captain Karl Dönitz.’ And then lock yourself in a corner of your house and think about recuperating.
As someone who rose to the rank of Minister of Military Affairs solely with his ability to provide supply and administrative support, when I heard that a problem had arisen in his field, he even threw down his cane and ran away.
“Major Anton! Is that bastard destroying the supply system I built while working overtime? Did that guy called the Major General sleep with a textbook as a pillow while taking classes at the General Staff College?! “I won’t leave you alone.”
‘… That’s why His Majesty thinks it’s a trick and won’t accept his retirement…’
When the Rhineland incident is over, instead of military duties, I will go to the office and plan a ‘retirement’ plan that might work for next year.
And Major General Anton is probably as good as dead.
It’s a big sin just to cut off supply, but there’s no way Kaitel can sit still after suffering a disaster that delayed his retirement because of that…
“Your Majesty.”
His Majesty smiled brightly and answered those words.
“Oh, Marshal. Is there anything else you want to say?”
“Even though the Minister of Military Affairs looks so healthy, he is already 75 years old. “He has lived in good health for a long time, but he has devoted himself to the empire so far, so shouldn’t he be allowed to rest now?”
His Majesty said those words with a very evil smile.
“I think that a capable old subject would live a rewarding and happy life if he devoted his talents to the empire rather than retiring and living alone and reminiscing about the past. And considering the Minister of Military Affairs’ age and health, I am giving him twice as much vacation time as other officers.”
I couldn’t refute those words.
Due to the nature of my position as Grand Marshal, I am often unable to rest on the weekends, so I use the vacation certificate I receive instead for about 40 days of vacation each year.
Kitel has 40 days of leave plus 40 days of leave for nursing care due to old age.
And he only spends about 10 days recuperating a year, and other times, he travels far away to play during his recuperating vacation.
Even though he was away for such a long period of time, he worked so hard on the Logistics Headquarters staff to the point where they were scared, that there has been no hole in the Empire’s supply since the defeat of the Allied Forces, except for the corruption of front-line commanders, so that’s not to say.
“Besides, if you really hated it, you would have actually collapsed instead of acting like that.”
I could only nod my head at those words.
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Then His Majesty smiled an evil smile that really reminded me of King Sejong the Great.
“Isn’t it a heartless duty for me, the emperor, to give him the opportunity to devote himself to the empire until such an old age?”
Then he pretended to shed tears and said.
“And since I lack ability, I have no choice but to continue to serve older, capable subjects.”
Seeing you smile while pretending to cry, I think I’ll be like this and work until I’m 100.
‘Ah, Hwanghee Jeongseung. What about you?’
After thinking of someone who does not exist in this world, I presented a new strategy plan to His Majesty.
“Your Majesty, I have some good news. “The United Kingdom and the Francois Republic, the lion and the rooster, fought and finally spread.”
The evil smile of a wild beast facing delicious prey appeared on my face.