Chapter 6: Reorganising the army pt.2
The concept of "Sungun Politics" or militarism had reached a world-class status, and its influence was evident in the strategic decisions of nations. Germany, upon hearing the news of Romania's military reorganization, was jubilant. The consensus among German leaders was that Romania was just a step away from joining their defensive alliance. The German emperor and his ministers privately discussed the possibility of offering Romania an additional 200 million marks to cover military training costs, signaling a strong desire for Romania to formally join the alliance. The German General Staff even developed a plan that would allow the transfer of more divisions to the Western Front, should Romania join the League.
This move was perceived by France as a result of Germany's efforts to woo Romania, leading to widespread belief that there was a secret agreement between the two nations. Russia, embroiled in a conflict with Japan and focused on the decisive battle at Fengtian, paid little attention to these developments, confident that Romania would align with the European powers when pressured.
Britain, caught up in a shipbuilding frenzy, only expressed serious concerns without taking any concrete action. Austria-Hungary saw this as beneficial; it would alleviate some pressure on the Eastern Front and enhance their influence in the Balkans.
Conversely, the news was not welcomed in Bulgaria. King Ferdinand, intrigued by Romania's initiative, inquired if a similar transformation was possible for his army. However, the Chancellor of Exchequer promptly dismissed the idea due to financial constraints, and the military advised against it given the existing tensions along the Ottoman border.
In Romania, the military initially welcomed the reorganization. However, they were unaware of Edel's subsequent plans, which included an advanced officer training program. This program, led by a German advisory group and senior officers like Pretzel, required junior officers to undergo rigorous training and pass an exam before they could return to their original units. The program started with the Janitor Division and the Third Division of the Romanian Army.
Edel, curious about the army's reception to the new training program, consulted General Pretzel. Despite some complaints from lower-level officers, the General assured that these were minor and could be managed by the War Department. Edel, still consolidating his power, agreed to this approach to avoid conflicts with the nobility.
Edel then raised the issue of anti-corruption within the military with General Pretzel, suggesting that improving salaries could mitigate corruption. The General agreed, noting that a salary increase would likely resolve many issues.
The following day, Edel met with Prime Minister Sturley to discuss military salaries. He argued that the reorganization increased the demands on officers, making the current salaries insufficient. Prime Minister Sturley, aware of the financial strain, mentioned that the government had already planned a modest 10% salary increase. Edel, however, pushed for a 40% increase, emphasizing that this was necessary to meet the soldiers' needs and maintain morale.
The discussion was intense. Prime Minister Sturley expressed concerns about the financial implications and the potential demands from other government sectors for similar increases. He argued that the government had to consider all citizens, not just the military. However, he conceded to a 20% increase as a compromise, respecting Prince Edel's position.
Edel, still unsatisfied, countered with a final offer of a 30% increase, stating that this was the minimum acceptable to ensure the army's reorganization could proceed. After much negotiation, the Prime Minister agreed to the 30% increase, allowing Romanian military salaries to reach 80% of those in Germany. This agreement significantly boosted Edel's prestige within the military and smoothed the path for the ongoing reorganization efforts.
"Miloc has been summoned this time because we need your spies to closely monitor the high-ranking military officials to determine if there are any misconducts," the aging king instructed the head of the spies. "Watch them closely, Miloc. I want to know their every move," he added, waving his hand dismissively. Miloc, an unassuming figure, nodded silently and departed as quietly as he had arrived.
"Edel, I hope you will not disappoint me this time," King Carol I said to the crown prince. "Father, I will not let you down," Edel replied, fully aware of the gravity of his father's support. If he were to fail, his chances of ascending to the throne would be significantly diminished. This realization added a considerable weight of pressure on Edel's shoulders.
As the investigative team delved deeper, the complexities facing the crown prince began to mount. The implicated parties grew increasingly restless and started to conspire among themselves. Earl Ferralenscu handed a letter to his servant, instructing, "Give this letter to General Protec." "As you wish, Lord Earl," the servant replied, taking the letter and departing swiftly. Alone, Ferralenscu massaged his temples, frustrated by the crown prince's relentless scrutiny. "If only the prince hadn't pressed so hard, none would need to cross the future king," he thought. The military's meager salaries hardly allowed for a decent living, and Ferralenscu had hoped to arrange a few scapegoats to appease the prince and secure his own peaceful retirement. But the crown prince's persistent pursuit forced the military leaders to remind this young royal that the army had its own longstanding rules. The thought of King Carol I backing his son made Ferralenscu resent the old king for his indirect involvement.
"My lord, we have discovered that Earl Ferralenscu's servants are frequently leaving the estate," a spy reported to Miloc, who was seated at his desk. "And where do they go?" Miloc inquired, his gaze fixed on the spy. "They've been seen visiting General Plotke, Viscount Millesl, and General Lauren Creed, among others, who have also been quite active lately," the spy answered earnestly. "It appears these senior officers are planning some sort of gathering," Miloc commented dryly, a joke he thought amusing, though the attending spies dared not react. "Increase surveillance on them. I want a detailed report on their conversations and the meeting locations. There can be no errors. Do you understand?" Miloc demanded, his stern gaze intimidating the spy who quickly saluted and replied, "Understood, sir."
Miloc later relayed his findings to King Carol I. "The army is like a garden overgrown with weeds after being neglected for too long," he reported. "What are your thoughts on this, Miloc?" the king asked. "Your Majesty, I am here to follow your commands. This issue should be addressed by someone else," Miloc responded, aware of his role as merely the king's observer, where personal opinions could prove perilous. "You tedious fellow," the king muttered, then instructed, "Continue monitoring them and report any abnormalities."
King Carol I had a profound affinity for the military, rooted in his heritage from the Hohenzollern family, making him particularly sensitive to military control. Meanwhile, Edel found himself increasingly beleaguered by the growing military complications. In his past life as an ordinary person, his biggest concerns had been mundane, his interactions limited to conversations with a computer. Now, tasked with significant responsibilities, he lamented the ease with which fictional heroes on the internet seemed to achieve great feats, while he struggled with his first major challenge.
"Your Highness, seeing you so burdened daily, we wish we could offer more help. Perhaps you should take a break," suggested Emina and Kariluna, two maids who noticed the crown prince's distress. Edel, feeling a spark of warmth at their concern amidst his hectic schedule, smiled and agreed, "Yes, let's rest." The maids blushed, understanding the prince's appreciation.
The following morning, Edel reminisced about the comforting company of the two women the previous night, appreciating their empathetic support during stressful times. As he stepped out, he was approached by Captain Carust. "Any news from Carust?" Edel inquired. "Your Highness, the King has sent you a document," the captain replied, handing over the papers.
Edel scanned the document, which detailed the collusion among high-ranking officers, including Earl Ferralenscu. It seemed King Carol I was entrusting this matter to Edel, testing his capabilities and aiming to purge the army of disloyal elements. This was also an opportunity to reaffirm the royal family's authority and quell any unrest.
"Did His Majesty provide any specific instructions?" Edel asked. "He only said that you should review this and you would understand," Carust responded. After pondering for a moment, Edel instructed, "Send a telegram to the inspection team to accelerate their efforts. Use whatever means necessary to expose the major players behind this."
With the directive issued, the inspection teams intensified their efforts across Bucharest, leading to an increase in confrontational encounters. At the headquarters of the Seventh Division, the team confronted Colonel Slob, the logistics officer, who was accused by his subordinates of issuing questionable orders. "They are slandering me; I never instructed them to do such things," Colonel Slob protested. However, when presented with an account book bearing his signature, he defensively claimed, "That's forged. Anyone could obtain my signature." Unconvinced and determined to extract the truth, the team leader ordered, "Keep questioning him in shifts. Don't let him rest until he talks. We'll see how resilient he is."
The team leader, focused on uncovering the full extent of the conspiracy, explained to his puzzled team, "It's not enough to simply convict him; we need to know who's behind him." The operation to cleanse the military of corruption and restore order under the crown prince's command was now in full swing.
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