Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Prince Heinz cleared his mind of distractions, his voice gentle, his gaze fixed on Kazimir as if he were looking at a long-lost friend:

"Kasimir..."

His Highness's voice was deep and resonant, yet unusually warm:
"I remember when you were little, you came to the Ministry of Military Affairs with your father to report on your work. You were only this tall then."

He gestured with his hand to his waist, a look of reminiscence in his eyes:

"In the blink of an eye, you have grown into a pillar of the Imperial military."

A champion in the entire army's martial arts competition, a top eight finalist in the noble martial arts festival, and a capable leader in frontline troops... Zod has raised a fine son for the Empire!

Kazimir bowed deeply, his voice filled with heartfelt respect:
"Your Highness is too kind. I owe my success today entirely to the guidance of my family and the support of my superiors."

Before I left, my father specifically instructed me to convey his regards to His Highness the Prince.

He said, "Your Highness is the pillar of the Imperial military, and a role model that we soldiers will follow throughout our lives."

Prince Heinz smiled and waved his hand, pointing to the large, comfortable leather sofa beside his desk:

"Sit down, sit down and let's talk."

You don't need to be so reserved here.

Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've had a proper chat with you young people.

Talking to you all, hearing about the latest happenings from the front lines, and sharing our thoughts on the future always makes me feel so much younger!

Kazimir walked to the sofa as instructed, but did not sit down immediately. Instead, he maintained a respectful posture and sincerely said:

"Your Highness is in the prime of your life. The safety of the Imperial Army, and even the entire Empire, rests on Your Highness's shoulders."

The empire still needs you to steer it!

These words were not mere flattery, but rather a reflection of Kazimir's true feelings.

He knew all too well the importance of this military genius to the empire, especially in this era of great upheaval.

"Heh, you've got a way with words, kid."

A hint of appreciation flashed in Prince Heinz's eyes—the kind of appreciation one has for a promising young man.

Then the tone shifted abruptly, becoming casual and natural, like an elder giving advice to a younger person:
"Now that you've been transferred to the Ministry of Military Affairs, and the Strategic Planning Department is a core and crucial department, there are some rules and intricacies that I need to explain to you in advance..."

In the time that followed, Prince Heinz, like an experienced mentor, used simple yet profound words to teach Kazimir the survival rules for working in the central military command.

Observe more and talk less; listen more and ask less.

Be down-to-earth and have substance in your words.

Respect procedures and have reverence for rules.

Firm in their stance, loyal to the empire.

Finally, His Highness's gaze sharpened considerably, and he looked directly into Kazimir's eyes:
"The Ministry of Military Affairs is the Ministry of Military Affairs of the Empire."

It is not a military department belonging to any faction or family.

You can only have one stance—

The interests of the Empire are paramount. Any attempt to place personal or small-group interests above the Empire is treason!

Kazimir felt a slight chill run down his spine, immediately stood up, and straightened his back once more:
"Yes, Your Highness, I will keep your teachings in mind."

Loyal to the empire, loyal to one's duty.

Finally, after a slight pause, he added:
"Loyalty to superiors!"

A barely perceptible hint of expectation flashed in Prince Heinz's eyes.

He nodded slightly, then changed the subject again, his tone becoming more casual, as if he were chatting casually about the situation of the front-line troops.

Inside the office, the firewood in the fireplace crackled softly. It was almost time, and Casimir, without further hesitation, naturally picked up the black briefcase from his lap.

He gently placed his briefcase on the coffee table in front of him, then stood up and faced Prince Heinz Klein, who was seated behind the large table.

Prince Heinz's gaze fell on the briefcase, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, a clear displeasure appearing on his face, his voice carrying a hint of reproach:
"Colonel Kazimir, just do your job well."

In the Military Affairs Department, what matters is real ability and solid achievements. What's the point of all this superficial stuff?

The prince's words were blunt and stern, clearly treating the briefcase as some kind of "gift" or "tribute."

Kazimir had anticipated this, and his face showed no sign of panic. Instead, he immediately straightened his back, his gaze open and honest, and answered in a deep voice:
"Your Highness misunderstands. These are some immature thoughts and insights I had while I was on the front lines. I hope Your Highness can correct me."

If these things can be of even the slightest reference value to the Imperial military affairs, it will be my greatest honor.

"Experience leading troops on the front lines? Thoughts and insights?"

The slight displeasure in Prince Heinz's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a keen interest as if he had discovered a treasure.

The core of the military reform storm in his mind revolves around improving the combat effectiveness of grassroots troops and optimizing the officer system.

Kazimir's words were like a godsend, a godsend.

He needs genuine voices and concrete advice from the front lines and the forefront of practical experience, which are a hundred times more valuable than any gold or silver.

Kazimir took a thick document from his briefcase and handed it to Heinz with both hands:
"These are some immature ideas, Your Highness, please don't laugh at them."

Heinz smiled, took the document, and said:

"It's good that young people have ideas. Sit down."

Let me also understand what the soldiers on the front lines are thinking right now.

Kazimir sat back down on the sofa, staring intently at Heinz, catching every subtle change in his expression, every movement of his fingers as they turned the pages of the documents, and even the rise and fall of his breathing.

Cohen prepared all the documents for him, including the speech he would be giving later, which he had rehearsed many times.

This prophetic child, through a means beyond ordinary comprehension, accurately discerned the long-brewing reform storm in Prince Heinz's heart.

Based on this blueprint, and combined with the actual situation of the Imperial Army, a perfect answer was tailored.

Every piece of data, every case study, and every suggestion in the document has been carefully disguised.

It was so perfect that it seemed to have been made by a young officer who was deeply rooted in the front lines and concerned about military affairs.

Even the wording and writing style of the document perfectly match Kazimir's identity and experience.

Before arriving, under Cohen's guidance, Kazimierz had rehearsed the contents of the document and the possible dialogue scenarios countless times.

Cohen even anticipated every possible reaction and question from Prince Heinz and prepared a flawless response plan for him.

All of this was for one goal: to make Casimir August the prince's most trusted and relied-upon young general, thereby further embedding himself in the core of the empire's military power.

"If everything is as Cohen said..."

Kazimir murmured silently to himself, his gaze fixed intently on the increasingly grave expression on the prince's face as he perused the documents.

"After today, I, Casimir August, will no longer be seen by His Highness the Prince as merely a promising young man, but as a future pillar of the Imperial military with strategic vision and practical experience."

My position... will become extremely important!

It's truly absurd and ironic that the person who helped him do all this was a foreign monarch who was even younger than himself.

The young king, who possessed the ability to see through everything, manipulate people's hearts, and foresee terrifying future events, was like a god standing on a cloud, overlooking the chessboard of the mortal world. With a casual move, he could stir up the winds and clouds of the empire.

Prince Heinz originally intended to examine his juniors and understand the realities on the ground.

At first, he had a slightly approving smile on his face. Kazimir's analysis of the troops' training shortcomings, equipment compatibility, and morale issues was indeed incisive and sharp, far exceeding his expectations for a young colonel.

This made him think even more highly of Kazimir.

But as he continued to read, the smile on his face gradually froze, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and the horror in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

He turned the pages more and more slowly, his gaze becoming sharper and sharper, as if he wanted to etch every word on the paper into his mind!
When he turned to the last attachment to the document, a separately bound document entitled "Draft of Pilot Program for Reform of the Imperial Army Officer System," his pupils suddenly contracted, and he could no longer maintain his composure.

He abruptly looked up, his gaze piercing as he stared at Kazimir, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief and a touch of chilling intimacy:

"Colonel, how did you find out about these things?"

Prince Heinz's reaction was entirely within Casimir's, or rather, within Cohen's, expectations, just as they had rehearsed.

A genuine look of bewilderment crossed Kazimir's face:
"Your Highness, what is it?"
Your subordinate does not understand what you mean.

Heinz's gaze swept over Kazimir's face repeatedly.

The other party's flawless and bewildered reaction made him waver slightly in his judgment.

Could it really be... a coincidence? A brilliant military officer's astonishing insight, perfectly aligned with his top-secret plan? He paused, suppressed his emotions, waved the documents in his hand, and said slowly:

"Oh, I mean, how did you come up with these things?"
Especially this draft plan.

Many of the ideas in it are very bold and forward-thinking.

How did you come up with the idea?

It's no wonder Prince Heinz was so shocked, because the documents Kazimir submitted were almost identical to the reform plans he was currently developing.

Many details that he himself was still pondering could be found in it, as if someone had directly spied on his thoughts.

Especially the attached plan, which even Prince Heinz had to admit was more comprehensive and more feasible than he had anticipated.

Prince Heinz's recent, meticulously planned and kept secret reform program targets the deepest, most harmful, yet most difficult-to-touch problem in the Imperial Army—the officer promotion and selection mechanism.

This deep-seated problem, like a venomous snake coiled deep within the veins of the imperial army, has been eroding the vitality and fighting power of this massive force year after year.

The traditional officer promotion system of the imperial army has long been firmly controlled by aristocratic clans, family recommendations, and a complex network of power relationships among the imperial high command.

Countless mid-to-high-ranking officer positions were occupied by aristocratic scions who were mediocre in ability, lacked practical experience, or even had only a superficial understanding of military affairs, but possessed illustrious family backgrounds and deep connections.

Like intricately rooted vines, they formed entrenched interest groups and factions within the military.

Officers from commoner or minor noble families who truly gained rich practical experience by working on the border and at the grassroots level, and who understood the hardships of frontline soldiers.

Especially for junior and mid-level officers, the promotion path is extremely narrow.

They often linger in the same position for many years, exhausting their vigor and passion.

Their loyalty, ability, and sacrifice are difficult to translate into the military rank and status they deserve.

Many junior officers and senior non-commissioned officers, who are the backbone of the army and carry out the most dangerous missions, suffer from meager treatment and have no hope of promotion due to a lack of "connections" and "recommendations".

Their professional skills, battlefield wisdom, and the high prestige they had built among the soldiers could not translate into the status and influence they deserved.

This has led to resentment and even despair among countless talented individuals, while those mediocre people who rose to power through connections have taken their positions for granted and remained idle.

The resulting negative consequence is that new tactics and equipment within the military are difficult to promote effectively at the grassroots level due to the lack of authoritative and professional junior officers leading by example and providing explanations.

Military training has become a mere formality, and soldiers lack trust in their superiors who lack practical experience and only know how to talk big.

The resistance to the parachuted "aristocratic officers" greatly reduced the effectiveness of military orders. On the battlefield, orders could not be effectively implemented, coordination was inefficient, and could even lead to disastrous consequences.

Prince Heinz, who rose through the ranks from the bottom, saw this flaw early on. Ironically, Prince Heinz himself was a beneficiary of this corrupt system.

He had the blood of the Klein royal family flowing through his veins, and this bloodline undoubtedly played a crucial role in propelling him forward during his youth.

This opened doors to higher levels for him, providing him with far more resources and opportunities than civilian officers.

He knew better than anyone that without the royal aura, even if he had the same abilities and put in the same effort, he would never have been able to reach the pinnacle of imperial military power in such a short time.

He had wanted to eliminate this drawback before, but the resistance was great. He himself had only been able to sit in this position because he was supported by many military nobles and powerful families.

These families are deeply entrenched in the Imperial military and wield immense power. Their sons occupy a large number of mid- to high-ranking officer positions and enjoy the benefits of the system.

Reform means taking away their cheese and stripping them of the "privileges" passed down through generations.

If we were to turn the blade of reform against them now, just imagining it would unleash a massive wave of opposition.

But we must carry it out no matter how difficult it is, because things are different now than usual.

For a long time, the Central Empire has possessed an overwhelming military advantage thanks to its advanced weaponry and equipment, far surpassing those of other countries on the continent, as well as its powerful foundation of extraordinary strength, legendary experts, magic groups, and inherited sorcerers.

This enormous advantage masked the weaknesses of the military, such as the uneven quality of officers and the rigid command system.

Moreover, no one dared to challenge the authority of the central empire.

To put it bluntly, with such a huge gap in equipment and power, even a pig could easily win the battle if it commanded the Central Empire's army.

The long-standing advantage has led many high-ranking military officers to develop blind confidence.

They are complacent, obsessed with the game of power, and enjoy the benefits brought by the system, while neglecting the true source of the military's combat effectiveness—

Those well-trained, well-commanded, and determined front-line officers and soldiers.

However, these comfortable days are about to come to an end.

Prince Heinz knew better than anyone that the peace on the continent was merely a facade.

If the situation on the mainland changes drastically in the future and war reignites, the Central Empire will inevitably be bogged down in a quagmire of fighting on multiple fronts or even a total war.

Even more terrifying is that the gods hidden behind the scenes, while not personally engaging in combat, will inevitably use various means, such as bestowing divine arts, providing divine artifacts, leaking technology, or even directly dispatching chosen ones, to greatly enhance the hardware capabilities of the armies of the nations they support.

By then, the Central Empire's proud advantage in equipment and superhuman strength will be drastically leveled under the intervention of the gods.

When the gap between steel and magic becomes less significant, the key to determining the outcome of war will return to its most primal and brutal level—

The personal qualities, tactical skills, and on-the-spot adaptability of commanders at all levels.

And the soldiers' training level, fighting spirit, and ability to coordinate operations!

If by then, the mid-to-high-level command positions in the Central Empire's army are still held by those "aristocratic good-for-nothings" who lack practical experience, only know how to talk about war on paper, and have risen to their positions by virtue of their ancestors.

If those truly capable, experienced, and combat-ready officers who have risen through the ranks are still blocked from promotion and unable to fully utilize their talents.

Then, what awaits the Imperial army will be disastrous consequences.

One incompetent general can cause the deaths of thousands of soldiers!

Throughout history, how many powerful armies have been destroyed by weaker enemies due to the incompetence of their generals and the mistakes of their command?
Such a tragedy must never be repeated in the Central Empire!

His recent headache is how to push forward his reforms in a relatively mild way that will not provoke too much opposition from the nobility.

However, the document that Casimir brought today was similar to his thoughts, also discussing the issue of promotion for junior officers.

He barely mentioned this to outsiders, only hinting at the general direction to his trusted advisors, without revealing any specific details.

How could Casimir August, a colonel and regimental commander in the Northern Army Group, so accurately grasp his deepest thoughts, and how could he propose an almost identical plan in such detail?

It's utterly baffling!
Faced with Prince Heinz's questioning, Kazimir, with a focused mind, delivered the speech he had rehearsed countless times:

"Is Your Highness referring to the draft document I wrote concerning the selection and promotion of military officers?"

To be honest, I've been pondering the idea of ​​the drawbacks of the officer promotion system and the necessity of reform for a long time.

My uncle was the former chief of operations of the Northern Border Army Group. In his later years, he expressed his deep sorrow over the rigidity and poor command within the army group. I can still recall many details of these words, which remain vivid in my memory.

My uncle mentioned most often those smart, capable soldiers and junior officers who had worked their way up from the bottom and accumulated rich practical experience.

He said that these people were the true backbone and spark of the imperial army.

However, due to a lack of connections and illustrious backgrounds, their path to promotion was almost completely blocked.

Father had sighed more than once that if these people could be truly promoted and given important responsibilities, the fighting power of the imperial army would surely reach a new level.

I will remember those words.

A knowing glint appeared in Prince Heinz's eyes. He knew Kazimir's uncle, a former operations chief of the Northern Army Group known for his meticulousness and pragmatism.

The old general's sense of crisis and insight into the army's problems were well-known in military circles, and it makes perfect sense that Kazimir, who inherited the title from him, was also deeply influenced by him.

Kazimir noticed the subtle change in the prince's eyes, which reassured him somewhat. He continued to advance the "script" that Cohen had meticulously crafted for him:
"What truly made me decide to systematically organize these thoughts into a written document was a special mission some time ago."

I have been ordered to contact several main divisions of the Northern Army Corps to coordinate exercises and equipment replacement.

During that period, I frequently came into contact with junior officers at the battalion and company levels, went deep into the platoons and squads, and ate and lived with the soldiers.

In the barracks, during patrol breaks, and in drunken grumbles, I heard almost the same injustice and disheartening sentiment.

Promotions are based solely on lineage, honors on family crests, and scheming is more valuable than hard work—this is an almost open complaint among lower-ranking officers.

These words truly resonated with Prince Heinz, who was acutely aware of the hardships faced by the rank-and-file soldiers.

Kazimir continued:

"Furthermore, I have carefully studied all the instructions issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs over the past six months."

Whether it's the stringent requirements for strengthening the combat training and assessment of junior officers, or the detailed regulations for regularly submitting soldier status reports.

These directives, pieced together, all subtly point to a core problem: the rigidity of the Imperial military's personnel structure.

Casimir's analysis was clear, logical, and meticulous.

The prince's admiration deepened. He slowly sat back in his high-backed chair, offering no further questions or doubts. Kazimir's explanation had completely dispelled the last vestige of doubt in his heart. (End of Chapter)