I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy

To build a strong army, strict discipline was necessary.

Because only with strict and fair discipline would soldiers train hard to avoid punishment and fight, risking their lives in war.

This principle was well understood by the legendary General Yi Sun-sin of the Imjin War, and those who study the history of war even say this…

“In General Yi Sun-sin’s camp, there might have been more people who died due to violating discipline than those who died in battle.”

However, the current Imperial Army had somewhat ambiguous discipline, so there was a need to correct it in the right direction.

“From now on, in our division, it is prohibited for commanders of each unit to impose discipline on soldiers beyond a certain level privately, except in emergencies.”

At those words, the officers looked at me with bewildered expressions.

According to what we, including myself, learned at the Academy and Staff College, one of the duties of an officer was to correct soldiers who behaved improperly.

This was because a wide range of disciplinary actions were allowed for this purpose.

Such disciplinary actions included simple push-ups, sit-ups, running around the training ground with gear, caning, whipping, and pay cuts.

Until now, making the most of these powers had yielded decent results in boosting soldiers’ morale and training levels.

Honestly, giving soldiers push-ups as a punishment to get them to focus had little use beyond that.

“General, I have a question. Then, how do we manage soldiers during training?”

“Push-ups and similar punishments are allowed to focus soldiers’ minds. Additionally, it’s permitted to scold or give minor punishments for minor issues that arise during unit life.”

“Then, what do you plan to do in other cases, General?”

To put it simply, I planned not to lower but to raise the average level of punishment.

However, this would be done officially, based on criteria that could be accepted by everyone from senior officers to privates.

“Good question, Lieutenant. From now on, all punishments beyond mild reprimands for all soldiers will be carried out according to strict rules, and all of these will be executed in front of the soldiers. This is to make the offending soldiers feel shame along with the punishment so they don’t repeat their actions. It’s also to make other soldiers take caution by witnessing it.”

This method was the driving force behind Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, known as the Lion of the North, turning the weak Swedish army into a strong force.

Because, although not as much as the noble officers, soldiers also live with their own sense of honor and pride as military personnel.

Even if military law was strict, if the content and punishment were reasonably understandable, soldiers would realize and reflect on their mistakes, or at least be restrained by their peers.

Moreover, the elimination of unnecessary punishments would also greatly reduce injustice.

“Therefore, effective immediately, any soldier above the squad leader who decides that punishment beyond a mild reprimand is necessary must report this to their company commander with a brief reason. If there is a soldier subject to discipline, the company commander will execute the punishment in front of everyone every Saturday morning, based on the rules and the information received from the subordinate non-commissioned officers and officers.”

However, introducing a culture of public punishment might lead to situations where commanders fabricate achievements for their personal evaluations, as was often reported in the Korean military.

Common sense would dictate that if a commander covered up the presence of problematic soldiers in their unit and reported no issues, they were likely to be evaluated as managing their unit well.

Additionally, if there were many problematic soldiers, it could negatively affect a commander’s evaluation, even if it was clear that it wasn’t the commander’s fault.

Conversely, someone might emerge who reports excessive punishment or even trivial matters to demonstrate how well they have been enforcing discipline.

“All punishment contents will be reported up to the higher command. For corporal punishment of more than 30 lashes, it will be reported to the regiment commander, and for less than 30 lashes, to the battalion commander for review. The number of disciplinary actions taken by all commanders and their reasons will be stored as part of their personnel evaluation and reviewed before any personnel action. If appropriate punishment and discipline were administered, even if the number was somewhat high, it would be considered an effort in managing the unit and would be favorable for promotion. The opposite will result in disadvantages.”

By doing this, most would think this way even if they received somewhat harsh punishment…

“Ah, I received this punishment because of what I did.”

“For your information, all military regulations will be equally applied and executed for all officers, including myself, and disciplinary actions less than corporal punishment will not be recorded in personnel evaluations up to three times, regardless of rank. However, if punished more than three times for the same minor offense, it will be referred to a military court for consideration of personnel actions such as dismissal.”

Officers, being nobility, often receive reduced punishment compared to soldiers due to their status and face.

Therefore, complete, equal punishment was almost nonexistent.

However, like the anecdote from the Three Kingdoms where Cao Cao pretended to cut off his own head after his horse trampled a barley field to set an example, and the army’s discipline was straightened, if officers were aware that they were subject to the same laws, even if the level of punishment was slightly reduced, soldiers would trust the law more.

Moreover, if they knew that receiving more than three punishments, even for minor offenses, would openly lead to disadvantages in a military court, both soldiers and officers would truly strive to comply thoroughly.

“Training is canceled for today. Instead, all commanders are to disseminate and ensure the soldiers understand the rules I have established today. Additionally, I will personally conduct the discipline scheduled for this Saturday to serve as an example.”

---

Saturday morning, at the 7th Guard Division’s training ground.

“The General said the punishment would be according to the rules listed here, but will the same standards apply to the officers?”

“Sergeant, I might doubt others, but would General Yeager spout nonsense? That’s why our platoon leader also made a fuss, saying it would be a complete disgrace to be caught violating the rules.”

“Indeed, that’s why he endured until the end last time, resisting the urge to go to the bathroom during training as usual. If one leaves training for the bathroom, regardless of the reason, it’s ten lashes.”

Originally, since the discipline should be conducted at the company level, there was no need for such a large number of personnel to gather at once.

However, to demonstrate that it would be carried out this way, the entire division, consisting of over 8,000 troops, was assembled.

Moreover, as was typical of an army short on gossip, there were many whispering about the impending discipline.

“Now, let’s begin the discipline. First, Captain Klein von Stein, step forward.”

At those words, Captain Klein quietly stepped forward under everyone’s gaze, with all eyes focused on him.

For him, a noble who valued honor, this alone would be sufficient punishment, but the law was strict.

“Captain Stein, you violated the rule that states you should not drink more than two glasses of beer during lunch and dinner while on duty. Am I correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct. I drank about three glasses, as I usually do.”

“Luckily, there was no mock battle that day, but if there had been, your drinking could have caused harm to the soldiers. Since it’s already specified in the rules, there’s no room for excuses.”

Hearing this, he quietly bowed his head.

Originally, in the Imperial Army, there was a tradition of leniency as long as one did not drink enough beer to become intoxicated at lunch unless in a very urgent situation.

Because beer was almost equivalent to cola in Korea.

However, becoming intoxicated from drinking too much could become a serious issue, so I had regulated it to one 500ml glass.

“Excessive drinking during duty hours, regardless of whether you’re a commander, non-commissioned officer, or soldier, is against the rules. Therefore, effective today, you will run around the training ground in full gear for a week. If you wish to object, do so now.”

“None, General.”

“From the end of today’s trial, you will wear armor and carry your gear around under the supervision of the military police.”

Wearing armor with full gear amounted to carrying around 50-60kg, which was an incredibly tough ordeal.

Since everyone could see it, it would be truly embarrassing for a noble’s dignity.

In this manner, I individually disciplined a total of 14 officers and soldiers today.

And, as I intended, the combat will and morale of both soldiers and officers had significantly increased.

Time passed, and the day for the unit’s founding ceremony approached.

The Guard Division needed a royal family member to symbolize the division, and I naturally requested the Crown Prince to grace the occasion.