857 – Elite Army, Elite Officers – 4

The last project (or so he thinks) of Jeon Seung-gong, who devoted himself to the royal family, the empire, and the military for a long, long time.

The enormous ambition to create a new educational institution, and one that was not a conventional comprehensive educational institution, but one for military purposes.

To be honest, if it was someone other than Jeon Seung-gong who dreamed of it, I would have stopped him, but if Jeon Seung-gong pursues it with passion, it does seem possible. If Jeon Seung-gong’s authority, achievements, and the Emperor’s active support are included, even in the worst case scenario, something like the ‘Imperial Academy Military Science Department’ could come into existence.

Compared to the opening of the military academy, this is a disappointing result, but I think that alone is a satisfactory result for Jeon Seung-gong. It would be nice to get full after the first drink, but Jeon Seung-gong knows that it is only possible if he is lucky.

So, I was thinking of a reason to dissuade Jeon Seung-gong from retiring while leaving the Military Academy to the Minister of Education, Minister of War, and Minister of War to decide on their own─

“His Excellency Jeon Seung-gong asked me if I had any intention of becoming a teacher.”

“yes?”

I went to the lake because my father wanted to see me for a bit. While I was sitting next to him and fishing, something unexpected came out of me.

“Are you a teacher?”

“Yes. He said he was thinking of creating an academy to train soldiers and that he wanted me to be the instructor.”

I was momentarily silent at those words. I knew that Jeon Seung-gong was serious about the military academy, but I never thought he would start by organizing the teaching staff when the construction site hadn’t even been decided.

‘You made up your mind.’

Sure. If the construction of the military academy goes awry, a small educational institution will be established in the Duchy of Hablem. Even if it is difficult to call it an academy or a military academy, it will be the first and only military educational institution in the Empire that will open with great fanfare. And it will be private, not state-run.

Of course, even if he is a Duke, it is a serious problem for a single nobleman to run an educational institution, especially one related to the military. Jeon Seung-gong knows this, so he will pretend to be a ‘gathering of passionate and loyal young men who discuss military science’.

However, this may be okay until the reign of the former Emperor and the current Emperor, and the reign of Prince Ewald and the Crown Princess, but the problem is what happens after that. Even families become strangers as generations pass. A duke who is a blood relative has a military training institution? This is crazy from the perspective of the imperial family.

That’s why it’s hard to understand. There’s no way Jeon Seung-gong wouldn’t know about the problems I’m concerned about, and he’s not the kind of person who would sell the future for his own desires.

“It seems that His Majesty is appealing for support while also promoting it to future soldiers.”

My father solved the most difficult question.

“I’m embarrassed to say it myself, but this father had a certain position in the military. He seems to be contacting not only me but also other retirees, so it seems that the elders who had a great influence on the military are the teachers.”

“Your Majesty is preparing a great gift for the future.”

“You are right. We are gathering elders who we hardly ever see in person in one place for the sake of the future, and that too for the sake of education.”

A gathering of military veterans. Education from famous generals who have gained various experiences in the military and even participated in wars and earned merits.

Only then could I understand Jeon Seung-gong’s extraordinary journey, which was not an extraordinary journey. As my father said, this was a publicity stunt and an appeal for support.

“Children who are interested in the military have to choose one of two paths. They can ask their parents to teach them through military connections, or they can go to the academy and brainstorm with like-minded peers. Neither of these paths is easy, right?”

“In such a situation, if you can only receive teachings from elders whose faces you can see every day by utilizing your connections, and from many of them…”

“No one will support and welcome Your Majesty’s will more than others. If it is not simply Your Majesty’s wish, but also includes the broad support of the nobles, things will only become easier.”

I found myself nodding in agreement at the clear explanation.

You can only receive knowledge from these miraculous people for three to four years after pouring in your connections and financial resources to just meet their faces, and even then, you only have to receive their teachings once or twice. How many people would turn down such a tempting environment?

It would be like seeing Handel, Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven at a music college, or seeing von Neumann or Einstein at an engineering school. If anyone has even the slightest interest in becoming a soldier, it is obvious that they will run like a dog and knock on the door of the military academy.

“Oh, really. It’s only been a few years since you retired, and now you’re taking on the position of principal?”

“Principal? It’s too much for me. I’m embarrassed to have even been offered a teaching position.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Just a moment ago, you said, ‘This father had established his position in the military.’

Moreover, my father did not simply mention his position as a mere memory or exaggeration, but actually had a considerable presence in the military. It would be more strange if his presence was weaker as the head of the prestigious military family of Crassius, but even taking that into account, his presence was considerable.

First of all, he had an advantage over others in that he was a direct descendant of the Crassius family, and he was well-liked by his colleagues and subordinates when he was in the military, and he had distinguished himself in two Northern Wars. Furthermore, the people who could be called superiors by my father were my grandfather’s comrades in arms, so he was well-received by his superiors.

He is a complete being who has everything. If my father had not left the military to become a member of the Imperial Diet, he would have been the commander of the territorial army or a key staff member of the General Headquarters by now. Considering that the situation appointed my father as a field marshal, it means that even the situation recognized him as a great general.

‘Maybe you could have been a candidate for the next deputy commander.’

When I think about it, my heart swells. My father is a deputy commander, my eldest son is a minister, and my second son is a member of the Imperial Diet. Even though it is our family, there is no corruption like this.

It couldn’t be more fortunate that the Crassius family is an Imperial Hundred family, and that my father was the one who gave it to me.

“Anyway, I didn’t know that I would become a government official again in the form of a teacher, but His Excellency Jeon Seung-gong is putting in effort for the future. I, who am younger than him, can’t just sit around and do nothing.”

“Father has already fulfilled his devotion and duty. Even if I refuse, Your Majesty will be convinced.”

“If it had been someone else who had asked me to do it, I would have refused. But it was Your Majesty’s request, after you had devoted half your life to the military.”

Since it was Jeon Seung-gong’s request, I couldn’t refuse. The reason was so simple and clear that I immediately understood.

Just as I thought I would have discouraged someone else from opening a military academy, my father couldn’t bring himself to turn a blind eye to Jeon Seung-gong’s suggestion. Whether it was because of the gap between a duke and an imperial count, or because of the respect and awe he had for Jeon Seung-gong as a military man, or because of my relationship with Jeon Seung-gong─in any case, if it weren’t for Jeon Seung-gong, it wouldn’t have happened.

“…and Teresa asked why her brothers were out and her father was home alone.”

“ah.”

I couldn’t help but sigh at the bitterness in my father’s voice.

Of course, Teresa was happy that she could see her father every day, unlike her brothers who she couldn’t see very often, but from the father’s perspective, it must have felt like his daughter had pointed out that he was unemployed.

So it is natural for a father to consider re-employment. No father would sit still and listen to his precious youngest daughter ask, “Are you unemployed?”

‘Is this my future?’

My heart sank for a moment. I wondered if I would soon hear something like, “Why is Dad always at home?” from my children.

If such a disaster really happens, what should I do…?

I don’t know. It’s such a terrible future, I can’t even dare to face it.

Jeon Seung-gong’s exciting ambition to open a military academy became a hot issue throughout the empire.

In the meantime, the opening of the military academy was completely omitted, saying that it was Jeon Seung-gong’s self-proclaimed last dance. It’s not just that Jeon Seung-gong didn’t spread his decision to retire to the neighborhood, but the emperor must have been gritting his teeth and controlling things. If Jeon Seung-gong’s retirement as deputy commander were to become public knowledge, it would be a headache.

‘It’s obvious that we’ll fight again as soon as we hear the news of your retirement.’

The conflict between the commanders and staff members has been quiet thanks to the suppressor called Jeon Seung-gong. If Jeon Seung-gong enters lame duck, the quiet conflict will naturally raise its head. That is not something that can be done for the sake of the Empire and the Imperial Army.

That’s why, even when I heard additional news about the military academy, and even when I occasionally received calls from other nobles through the communication channels, I just nodded as if I didn’t know anything. If I continued the conversation for too long and the words ‘Jeon Seung-gong is considering retirement’ came out, the empire would be in flames.

But that meta of no thoughts and no feelings was shaken for a moment.

“Florence is aiming for a teaching position.”

The Minister of Finance visited our residence during lunch hour for the first time in a long while.

The minister, who had been patting each of the children who had been warmly welcoming him, sat down as soon as he entered the reception room and got straight to the point.

‘Florence?’

The minister’s words made me think for a moment. Florence, who was Florence?

‘ah.’

However, the thought was short. The fact that she was mentioned by name, rather than by title, meant that she was someone that the minister and I knew. In fact, Florence was someone I had spent about two years with, beyond what I remembered.

Florence Rotid of Helon, Commander of the Central Army. One of the heroes who wounded the Khagan during the Great Suppression War, and a veteran who was promoted to Commander of the Central Army in recognition of his achievements. A person who has acquired the title of Baron (with attached land) from an ordinary noble family far from the right of succession.

It is said that the person is aiming for a teacher position. Surely he is not talking about a teacher at the Imperial Academy, so he must be talking about the Military Academy.

“No, what do you mean by that when you haven’t even decided on a construction site, let alone opening a school? If you’re retired, then I don’t know, but what about the current commander?”

“He said that since he was already promoted enough to be the commander of the Central Army, he now wants to step down. He wants to take it easy and teach his juniors.”

“Are you relaxed?”

Wasn’t he the type of person who was far from being easygoing?

“I’ve heard that there are quite a few people who are aiming for teaching positions. They have no desire for promotion and are tired of military life… Those are the things that are the scariest.”

I nodded immediately at the minister’s words. Those kinds of people are usually stagnant, rotten water.

“Anyway, the special relationship between you and His Excellency Jeon Seung-gong is well known in the military, so they will be contacting you soon. Please be aware of this in advance.”

I smiled bitterly at the minister’s heartfelt warning.

There will be a fire in the communication area for a while.