The head of the War Planning Department and the deputy director of national defense planning had to first tackle the overhaul of the Okhraine Army’s organization.
The Okhraine Army’s system was a terrible hybrid itself.
Not long ago, it still adopted heavy muskets as standard equipment.
Most of these were surplus items received from the Soviev Empire.
It was absurd to expect effective infantry combat with such surplus items.
If even the soldiers’ armaments were like this, the military organization, including administrative structures, could not be in good order.
“I will integrate the four corps under two headquarters. The capital corps will be reorganized under the capital headquarters.”
There were four corps divided around the capital in four directions.
Due to the extremely vague boundaries, the command system could not function properly in emergencies.
This was also why the southern corps and northern corps could not respond quickly when the coup occurred.
They called it the army headquarters, but each corps had its own discretionary power, which made situation judgments take too much time, inevitably causing confusion in the command structure.
Since the first Minister of War Ernst Feldt also deeply sympathized with this, we decided to boldly divide the forces into the Western and Eastern Corps headquarters.
“We will remove the regional names. The southern corps will be the First Corps, the northern corps will be the Second Corps, and the western and eastern corps will be the Third and Fourth Corps respectively.”
Tapping, I moved the game pieces on the desk.
“And this will be the headquarters of the Special Operations Command.”
“…Isn’t that just the Special Response Brigade headquarters?”
“Yes, that’s right. I plan to expand the facility to house all three special operations battalions in this area.”
“It’s essentially an inheritance.”
“After all, the paratroopers are not needed in such large numbers. They can be used as a trump card, but what we really need now is a thoroughly trained massive regular army.”
One common misconception people have is that special operations forces are always invincible even in modern times.
The battles ahead won’t just involve small-scale infiltration like those in the capital of Kaiev.
There will be tremendous artillery bombardments beyond trenches, and bloody battles over regions involving thousands or even tens of thousands of troops.
Even if special units perform brilliantly, if the main front starts to crumble, there would be no solution.
“The Special Operations Command, as its name suggests, is a direct subordinate unit of the army headquarters that functions as a command itself. All operations are directly connected to the Chief of Staff, but they won’t receive any other interference. I also intend to give the commander maximum autonomy.”
Sony Chepelin, who initially reacted sensitively, nodded quietly after listening to my explanation.
“That… doesn’t sound bad.”
“And one more thing. There is something I want to tell Major General Sony Chepelin in advance.”
“What is it?”
“Perhaps you’ll soon be appointed as the High Mage Commander at the General Staff. After all, you were a key player in the coup.”
“Wouldn’t that be so?”
Given Sony Chepelin’s status as a High Mage and her peak in being a mage soldier, there weren’t many positions in the Okhraine Army where she could be placed.
The position of High Mage Commander, right below the Chief of Staff, was undoubtedly the best career she could build within the Okhraine Army.
Therefore, prior approval was necessary.
While it did bother me a little to tamper with her identity as a mage soldier, it was absolutely necessary given the rapidly changing landscape ahead.
“We will also disband the High Mage Battalions integrated into each infantry division.”
“What?”
“Infantry no longer needs mage soldiers. Or rather, it’s inefficient. Instead, mage soldiers might end up being sacrificed unnecessarily in actual combat.”
The number of mage soldiers officially held by the Okhraine Kingdom is less than 4,000. That’s only a tenth of the 90,000-strong army.
Of course, no country is different.
Mixing such high-level personnel with infantry is truly foolish.
“The fundamental operation principles of the developing military equipment are all based on mages.”
“Aircraft and… the steel box-like vehicle I saw last time?”
“It’s called a tank.”
“Yeah, a tank.”
In the horrifying trench warfare ahead, the types of units expected to perform well were aviation and mechanized units.
Whether they secured air superiority and whether their mechanized forces outnumbered the enemy’s.
These two conditions would determine the outcome of the battlefield.
It was the same in my original history and in Hearts of Iron.
And currently, all those operating these weapons are mages.
Being sacrificed in current tactics by casting a few spells among infantry before retreating is too precious.
“You know, a mage is just a normal human who knows how to use magic. They d*e if hit by a b*llet. And no, they can’t easily defend against bullets either.”
Sony Chepelin couldn’t answer rashly. It was the truth.
“But combat aircraft and tanks are different. They are armored and allow mages to project effective firepower safely from inside.”
“Are you overestimating these new weapons, Colonel Enok?”
Orlando I raised this question this time. He was a very reformist person, but he still held some outdated views.
Moreover, it was a kind of war machinery he had never seen before.
The concept of tanks, which run through battlefields encased in steel plates, was still somewhat unfamiliar and would take some time to fully settle in.
“These weapons are the key to defending Okhraine from the attack of the Soviev Empire.”
In summary, the three core points of the ongoing national defense reform by the Ministry of War are:
Simplification of the command structure.
Efficient deployment of units.
Development of new weapons.
At the same time, as befits the role of the head of the War Planning Department, my friends, the officers under me, must be busy creating various scenarios even as we speak.
And these scenarios are based on the newly restructured unit formats mentioned earlier.
That is to say,
I had no intention of backing down on this reform plan, even if Orlando I asked me to.
After all, I had to reorganize the units into the most efficient form as seen in Hearts of Iron.
“All good, all good. But, Colonel Enok…”
“Yes, Major General?”
“This is just a notification! Even if you’re the head of the War Planning Department, isn’t this too much?”
Facing the High Mage with a puzzled expression, I shrugged my shoulders and replied.
“The War Planning Department has always been like this.”
“Hey…! What kind of attitude is this!”
“Who taught you that, Major General Sony Chepelin?”
“You seem to be stubborn just like the youngest general.”
“Darn it, I wish I could go back in time.”
“Self-reflection is always like this. Accept it, Sony.”
We burst out laughing at Orlando I’s words. We wouldn’t be able to laugh like this for much longer.
Until then,
this minor nation had to be reborn, both militarily and diplomatically.
The big step for Okhraine’s survival was just beginning.
*
The Polania Republic.
Capital Prava.
The faces of those gathered in the Presidential Palace in the center of Prava were all gloomy.
“The Rhinehardt Empire has enacted the National Defense Law. At the same time, it has also concluded a mutual defense treaty with the Soviev Empire.”
“Meanwhile, a puppet regime of the Soviev Empire was born in the east of Okhraine. Isn’t it like being surrounded by enemies on all sides!”
In the rapidly changing international situation, the country receiving the most pressure was not Okhraine but the Polania Republic.
Like Okhraine, the Berzhaba Kingdom, which declared independence simultaneously with the fall of the Rus Tsar Empire, underwent a revolution about ten years ago and was reborn as the Polania Republic.
Back then, Polania proudly acted as a member of the Empire Alliance.
However, after several changes in government, it has now reached a point where it cannot maintain even a nominal good relationship with neighboring countries, including the Rhinehardt Empire and the Soviev Empire, which are part of the Empire Alliance.
Of course, political issues certainly exist, but the main reason for the Polania Republic to engage in conflicts with neighboring countries is clearly the ‘territory’ issue.
The Soviev Empire, like it did with Okhraine, has persistently demanded the cession of the northern territory owned by the Polania Republic.
On the other hand, the Rhinehardt Empire is in a fierce dispute over the effective control of “Gdansk City,” which it absorbed by subtly stationing troops during its civil war with the Polania Republic.
The pretext is sufficient.
The enemy’s strength overwhelms the republic.
It was a fact that everyone gathered in the conference room anticipated: the fire of the raging war worldwide would eventually ignite the Polania Republic directly.
“In case of war, our republic will be attacked from all sides.”
To begin with, its geographical location is disadvantageous. In a way, it’s worse than Okhraine.
At least it borders the Pry Free Democratic State to the west, making it slightly more likely to receive help from the Free Union side.
“Still, there are treaties in place, so support from the Pry Free Democratic State and the Walter Tri-Countries can be counted on.”
“If only it were that simple…”
Naturally, the Polania Republic had not neglected preparations.
The Polania Republic Army possessed considerable military strength, and its population mobilization capability in case of war was not inferior compared to the two empires to the north.
Weapons and equipment were also modernized, having signed contracts with the Pry Free Democratic State and the Britton United Kingdom, so…
Even the two empires would find it slightly daunting to swallow the Polania Republic so easily.
Nevertheless, President Joseph Faust of the republic sought a more certain and stable plan.
Why didn’t the Polania Republic, despite its name as a “republic,” formally join the Free Union?
Whether it’s the Empire Alliance or the Free Union, ultimately, they all move for their own interests.
Even if they cooperate with the Free Union, it’s uncertain whether countries far away like the Polania Republic would genuinely help them due to geographical distance.
Joseph needed a more reliable partner.
That’s when it happened.
The secretary, dressed in formal attire, hurried into the meeting room and approached President Joseph Faust, whispering cautiously.
“Mr. President, the Ukrainian ambassador to Polania has arrived.”
“Hmm…!!”
“The ambassador and the Ukrainian official accompanying him in secret are said to be close aides to Enok Revendale. Rumors say they are in a romantic relationship.”
At this, Joseph Faust’s eyes flickered slightly. He hadn’t thought he would come, but to send his lover as a proxy?
An unofficial meeting arranged secretly.
He had thought it would be someone who wouldn’t cause a stir internationally, so it wouldn’t matter if they were known publicly.
“So, who is it?”
“It’s Major Lumina Blue, a young officer. She was often seen assisting Enok Revendale during his stay in the Rhinehardt Empire last time.”
If she were truly Enok Revendale’s lover, it made sense to send a low-ranking officer like her as an envoy to meet the president alone.
If she were sent as a proxy, everything she brought would be considered direct opinions from Enok Revendale and the Ukrainian royal family.
“Lumina Blue, Major…”
Joseph Faust slowly savored the name.
For some reason, it felt familiar, but it was probably just a coincidence.
