Chapter 11

【Chapter 11: The Rebel's Gun】

I train the only female platoon in the 6th Special Operations Regiment while also reporting to my superiors.

"The training results are excellent. They are disciplined, intelligent, and serious."

When I report this, Colonel Altsar nods thoughtfully as he takes the report.

"I would say that's a relief to hear... but you seem to have something on your mind, Lieutenant?"

I've been seen through. She may not be particularly skilled militarily, but she seems to have a talent for managing people.

I decide to be honest with my concerns.

"They are a bit too excellent, to the point of being unnatural."

"More so than male soldiers?"

The soldiers I commanded in my previous platoon were also quite competent. They were well-organized and functioned well as a combat unit.

However, I feel that this female platoon has even greater potential. They are surprisingly easy to teach.

This feeling reminds me of when I taught a special entrance class at a cram school in my previous life. It was a class for students aiming for prestigious schools.

So I respond accordingly.

"Among the soldiers I've trained, they are the easiest. It feels like I've scooped out the cream of the crop from a large group."

Colonel Altsar then smiled happily. It was a really good smile. What was that about?

"I see, it seems you are even more capable and diligent than I imagined. You've seen through it well. They are 'selected' infantry."

"What do you mean by that?"

In response to my question, Colonel Altsar answers straightforwardly.

"I protected the impoverished women of the Medilen territory without discrimination, but those who were unsuited for military life left. It was their own choice."

"I see, that makes sense."

Colonel Altsar must have welcomed a considerable number of women into the regiment.

Of course, not everyone is suited for being a soldier. In fact, the majority are not.

"Where are they now?"

"I rehired some of them as military personnel at the regiment headquarters. They work in the mess hall, laundry, and the clothing and weapon repair workshops."

"I see."

Now that I think about it, there are no men in any of these roles. The mess hall, laundry, and workshops are all staffed by older women. They must all have their own stories.

"The military is also a large consumer, creating many jobs in the surrounding area. Are you saying that even these jobs are used to help women?"

"Yes."

Colonel Altsar nods quietly.

"You understand well, Lieutenant."

"An incompetent staff officer is not needed in the military. If that's the case..."

I smirk.

"As the regiment grows, the number of such military personnel will also increase, right?"

"Yes. I would like to expand it further. After all, the state will pay their salaries."

Since it's not coming out of his pocket, Colonel Altsar looks relaxed.

I also look relaxed.

"I agree. Our beloved country does not spend a single coin on helping the weak. I don't care what happens to the treasury."

"Hey, I am a member of the 'Five Royal Families.' Be careful with your remarks."

Colonel Altsar chuckles.

This should be fine. Feeling reassured, I place the prepared documents on the desk.

"Here is a proposal for the improvement of the 1st Female Infantry Platoon as a step towards that goal."

"You work fast."

"The issues were clear."

I feel pleased with myself, acting like a competent staff officer.

In reality, the issues were straightforward. I think the previous staff officers just lacked motivation.

Colonel Altsar quickly finishes reading the proposal and nods in agreement.

"I see, that's why you were reassigned here."

Did I make a mistake?

But Colonel Altsar is laughing.

"I understand the need for new boots and tents. We want the best equipment for marching. I also agree with the bulk purchase of undergarments. They can be used for bandages, and most importantly, clean clothes prevent disease."

"Your insight is appreciated. Each soldier's foot size should be measured and recorded."

Everyone's feet are different, so it's better to have them measured by a cobbler or a foot doctor.

While we can't make custom molds like the nobility, the cobblers' guild in the Schweidler Empire has standardized wooden foot models. Boots made to these standards should allow the soldiers to walk more comfortably and quickly.

However, this is rarely done in the Schweidler military. Only one-size-fits-all boots are issued, so soldiers have to modify them to fit.

Since they are cheap and break easily, many soldiers just endure the discomfort without modifying them.

"Infantry can't do their job if they can't walk."

"True. As someone who values marching speed, this is a non-negotiable point. Fine, I'll cover the cost from my own pocket."

Since the upper echelons, or the imperial family, are reluctant to spend money, Colonel Altsar has decided to use his own funds to procure the equipment. This is indeed faster, and the higher-ups will likely turn a blind eye.

The colonel looks at me intently.

"But what about the proposal to shorten the rifles? You should know that the length of the barrel affects the range, and the importance of range, right?"

"Of course."

I nod and explain to my superior.

"Shortening the rifle has few benefits. If the effective range is shorter than the enemy's, we have to advance while being shot at, and we are at a disadvantage in bayonet combat."

"True. So, there must be something that outweighs these disadvantages?"

"Yes, sir."

I feel relieved that my superior understands quickly and seize the opportunity to explain further.

"The standard rifles of the empire are too large for the soldiers in my platoon, making them difficult to handle during loading. The weight is also significant. In fact, there is a clear difference in firing speed."

The Schweidler military's muskets are unnecessarily long to give an advantage in bayonet combat. They are too heavy and long for marching and shooting. Even I find them cumbersome.

With the current rifles, it's impossible to reload in less than twenty seconds. A few seconds can make a difference in a firefight, where the one who fires the next shot first has the advantage.

"Since we are at a disadvantage in a firefight, I thought lighter would be better."

"True, lighter equipment is generally better, but..."

Colonel Altsar looks puzzled. That's understandable. Rifles are the lifeline of infantry.

"Are you suggesting the rifles be as short as cavalry carbines?"

"Yes, I plan to use cavalry carbines."

We need about two hundred, including spares, so we can't use a complicated procurement method. We'll have to gather unused cavalry carbines from various sources.

"How can infantry without the mobility of cavalry use cavalry carbines to defeat the enemy?"

"I couldn't include this in the report, but I plan to modify the barrels and bullets."

I didn't want to, but there was no other solution.

"The musket balls are spherical, but I will make them acorn-shaped."

This shape is similar to the "Minié ball" from my previous life, used in early rifles.

"I will add a hollow to the back of the bullet to more efficiently capture the combustion gases during firing. This will improve accuracy and extend the effective range."

Colonel Altsar looks a bit skeptical.

"Really? A long, thin bullet might fly off in a strange direction when fired."

"Exactly. To stabilize the trajectory, I will cut spiral grooves into the barrel to impart a spin to the bullet as it is fired."

I take a real bullet out of my pocket to show him.

"The bullets can be made from casting sand. The barrel modification is quite complex, but this will dramatically improve range and accuracy. It was useful for poaching, as it allowed for sniping from a distance. I have tested it."

After reincarnation, I often went poaching with an old soldier. We would enter the private forests of the nobility to hunt birds and animals. The meat was nutritious, and the feathers and furs could be sold for a good price on the black market.

The colonel is impressed.

"How did you never get caught? If the gamekeepers found you, you'd be lynched and left as fertilizer in the forest."

"We bypassed the security and quickly achieved our objectives. It's the same as what we're doing now."

Gamekeepers manage vast forests with a small team, so complete security is impossible.

Additionally, they are often busy with animal husbandry, so we could avoid patrols by targeting their less active periods.

The colonel smiles wryly.

"I thought you were a 'diligent and capable man,' but I'll have to revise that to 'diligent, capable, and dangerous man.'"

"It's an honor."

In this country, street children who followed the law would surely die. I need to turn a blind eye to "minor illegal activities." It's a small act of rebellion against a cruel society.

"I have connections from that time, so I'll ask them to help with the barrel modifications."

"You scoundrel."

Colonel Altsar chuckles, takes the bullet, and examines it.

"We will need a large number for military use. Can you get them in time?"

"Even a few rifles per squad will allow for effective use. I'll give them to selected marksmen to target enemy officers, non-commissioned officers, and buglers."

It will likely take over a year to equip the entire platoon with Minié rifles, so we'll start by using them as sniper rifles.

The colonel ponders for a moment, then nods.

"Fine. I'll cover the cost. That way, I don't have to report it to the higher-ups."

He intends to keep the new weapon for himself. It's hard to say who the real scoundrel is.

She continues.

"If we use an excellent weapon, the enemy will eventually start using it too. To keep it from the enemy, we must keep it from our allies as well. Don't you agree?"

"You're right."

If the new rifles are issued to the entire Schweidler military, they will inevitably fall into enemy hands through capture or diversion. This would lead to a firefight between the new rifles, resulting in a high number of casualties on both sides.

So, for the sake of my compatriots, I will keep this technology secret for a while.

Colonel Altsar folds her hands on the desk and looks up at me.

"Well, I've approved all your requests. Do you have more?"

"Yes."

I submit the next set of documents.