Starting with the smashing of Dunkirk

Chapter 88: They've captured the enemy commander-in-chief alive; a mere promotion to colonel isn't enough.

February 25, two days after Congress discussed the issue of additional war funding.

Inside Dunkirk, in a hospital that had just been cleaned up a few days prior, more than a thousand infected wounded were being cared for and treated together.

Lieutenant Colonel Lelouch, who had just distinguished himself two days ago, was now fully focused on the relief efforts for the Empire's wounded soldiers. As for the squabbles taking place in the Diet and his emerging reputation among the members, he was unaware of them and didn't care.

If you count on your fingers, it has been almost two months since Lelouch last returned to Frankfurt to arrange business in the industrial sector.

Under the guiding principle of keeping everything simple and expedited during wartime, and also thanks to the approval agencies for their swift approval process, Faben Chemicals' first batch of sulfonamide capsules officially rolled off the production line more than a week ago and were subsequently expedited to the front lines.

(Note: Lelouch went to Frankfurt on December 26, 1914. He first contacted Adidas to make parachutes, and then Farben Chemicals to work on sulfonamides. If you've forgotten the earlier plot points, you can skip back to Chapter 65 and read it again.)
So, around the time the Dunkirk campaign ended, wounded soldiers of the 6th and 4th Armies were already receiving this new drug in batches, around the 19th.

The subsequent mopping-up operations from the 20th to the 22nd were even more significant. Newly wounded soldiers who emerged during the battles of Neoport, de Panne, and Ypres, once brought down and returned to rear field hospitals, and confirmed to have severe infections requiring sulfonamides for relief, were immediately approved for medication, albeit with very controlled dosages, for fear of excessive side effects.

Five days have passed since the first batch of soldiers received the medication, and the effects are now becoming apparent.

Many soldiers' inflammation has subsided significantly, and some soldiers who were originally in a coma due to high fever have also woken up again.

The medical staff in the field hospital were all speechless at this amazing sight, and at the same time, they were filled with admiration for the company and scientific research experts who developed the new drug.

……

"How many days have you been taking the medication? Are you feeling any better? Do you have any back pain? If you have back pain, be sure to tell your doctor immediately to stop taking the medication."

"Don't just rely on your feelings! Even if you don't feel unwell, you must get a blood test every other day! These drugs were only produced after two rounds of trials, and there are still some risks involved, so we can't be careless!"

In an officers' ward, Lelouch asked the wounded lieutenants one by one with a humble demeanor. Most of them were officers from the assault battalion, trained by Lelouch, and he took them very seriously.

When officers from other friendly units were wounded, Lelouch would visit them to inquire about their condition, and if he had the capacity, he would also inspect the ordinary wounded soldiers. After two days, everyone in the hospital recognized him.

Every time Lelouch passed a hospital bed, he would pick up the lab report hanging above the bed and take a look. It recorded the blood test results every two days, which could give a general idea of ​​whether the wounded soldier had liver or kidney failure.

After looking around the entire dormitory-style ward, Lelouch actually encountered another patient who had developed kidney failure from taking medication, which made him feel a little sorry for him.

Fortunately, the man had two kidneys. Only one of them failed, so he wouldn't die. However, the lifespan of his remaining healthy kidney will definitely be affected.

"I'm sorry, this drug has just been developed and is quite toxic. If you're unlucky, you might die in 5 years. If you're lucky, you might live for another 20 years or so, but you'll definitely get uremia before you turn 60."

I will approve a referral for the 'Wounded Soldiers Mutual Aid Fund,' and you can receive a monthly nutritional allowance equivalent to half of your basic military pay, up to a maximum of 3600 marks for 3 years.

After Lelouch finished speaking, the officer gratefully said that it was unnecessary: ​​"Sir! We are already very lucky to have survived. We survived such a severe infection. What does it matter if the medicine is a little toxic? If it weren't for you introducing this new drug, we would probably be dead by now."

Lelouch patted him on the shoulder: "Yes, I will! I always keep my word. Don't worry, this money was approved by the Bureau of Wounded Soldiers Affairs, and it's coming from the profits of Bayer Pharmaceuticals' new drug plant, a subsidiary of Fabbon Chemicals. It's not my money. You've also provided valuable data for the new drug. Every blood test result you give will be compiled to help the pharmaceutical company refine its processes."

"If it weren't for the lack of time and the fact that your injuries couldn't wait, I would have preferred to use this batch of medicine on the captured enemy wounded soldiers first."

Upon hearing this, all the wounded soldiers were moved to tears, and their loyalty to Commander Lelouch reached an unprecedented level.

Commander Lelouch is practically an omniscient and omnipotent perfect man.

Lelouch inspected several wards before returning to his temporary office to rest for a while. Upon entering, he found several well-dressed nobles waiting there.

Lelouch didn't even need to look up to know that these people were from the Imperial Prisoner of War Affairs Department and the Imperial Women's Medical Association.

"Lieutenant Colonel Lelouch, you've really worked hard. You even administered medicine to the POWs from Burkina Faso; you're truly compassionate." A young officer greeted him first. This man was Captain Joachim, whom he had met on the train to Frankfurt two months earlier. Joachim was also the nephew of Archduke Mark von Baden and worked in the Ministry of Prisoners of War.

“Mr. Hunter, the new drug you provided is truly amazing! Two-thirds of the severely infected soldiers have recovered! You should have Farben Chemical speed up its production! It could definitely save countless lives.” Beside him, a twenty-year-old woman dressed in an aristocratic nurse's uniform also paid homage to him with an expression and tone full of admiration.

Lelouch nodded slightly to the girl out of politeness. The girl's name was Charlotte Lorinta, and she was Joachim's younger sister.

Standing beside them was an elderly noblewoman nearing fifty, their mother, the Duchess of Anhalt.

Duchess Anhalt is the second elder sister of the Grand Duke of Baden and the president of the "Demanian Women's Medical Association," nominally in charge of the Empire's wartime nursing management.

They were all there to learn about the effects of the initial administration of sulfonamide drugs to wounded soldiers, and also to offer their condolences to wounded soldiers and check on the treatment of prisoners of war from enemy countries.

As a result, they were shocked by Lelouch's miraculous medicine and Joachim and his sister became his fans.

Lelouch didn't take credit, frankly explaining that the new drug still had flaws: "You flatter me. This stuff isn't as powerful as you imagine. The current recovery rate is indeed around two-thirds, but at least one in 15 soldiers who use the drug will experience liver and kidney failure."

Secondary deaths resulting from this medication fluctuate between 5% and 8% of the total number of patients. Therefore, the true cure rate drops from two-thirds to 60%. Of 20 infected individuals who take the medication, 12 survive, 1 suffers poisoning and death, and 7 show no improvement or their infection continues to worsen.

Miss Lorinta quickly comforted them: "This is already very good! Before this, those anti-inflammatory drugs were considered good if they had 20% of the auxiliary effect. Most wounded soldiers still had to rely on their own immune system to tough it out."

"Mr. Hunter, I'm truly curious. How can someone so young know so much? I heard you personally captured Marshal French, the commander-in-chief of the Burkina Faso expeditionary force. At first, I thought you were just a pure, brave warrior."

Lelouch has no intention of answering these questions directly; it's pointless.

The effectiveness of sulfonamides against severe infections is only about two-thirds, and any antibiotic, if used for a long time, will cause bacteria to mutate and adapt, resulting in drug resistance.

Historically, sulfonamides were only used medicinally in 1932, in the form of Prontosil. When it first came out, its anti-infection rate could indeed reach 65%. However, after about ten years of use, by the time the Eastern Front war broke out, its effectiveness against infection had dropped to 50%. Later, penicillin became the only option.

When penicillin was first introduced, its anti-infection rate could reach 95%, which was significantly stronger than sulfonamides' 65%.

From this perspective, in the next few years, we can make a profit with sulfonamides and try to save two-thirds of the Empire's infected wounded. In the future, we still need to save money to continue scientific research and develop penicillin.

However, the most urgent task at present is to further optimize the capsule sustained-release technology of sulfonamides. If we can control the proportion of liver and kidney failure after taking the drug (5% to 8%), we can save more lives.

Lelouch pondered these data to himself, then couldn't resist picking up the case statistics sheet on his desk and carefully checking it.

“第6集团军总计13000名在院重度感染伤员，第4集团军5800名感染伤员，海军和列车炮部队2200名感染伤员，加起来差不多2万人。

Currently, the number of people with infection control after medication is 13800, the number of patients with single kidney failure is 1100, the number of patients with single liver failure is 600, the number of patients with simultaneous liver and kidney failure is 400, the total number of deaths due to failure is 1200, and the number of patients with long-term health deterioration after failure is 900. The number of people saved is 12600...

This number has room for improvement; with further modifications to the medicine, it's estimated that another one or two thousand lives could be saved. However, if the war continues and casualties increase proportionally, these few percentage points will not be insignificant.

Lelouch estimated that after his rapid rollout of the new drug, at least 8000 more wounded soldiers from the two army groups had been saved recently, perhaps even more. The 12600 survivors couldn't be entirely attributed to him, because even without sulfonamides, there would have been other, more primitive methods of fighting infection, which would have saved some of them as well. Only about 8000 could be considered as people who would have certainly died without sulfonamides.

During the entire Battle of Ypres, the Demacian army suffered over 70,000 casualties. However, because the battle lasted two months, most of the infected wounded soldiers from the first month didn't survive until the new drugs became available. Therefore, the total casualties were only around 50,000, resulting in 20,000 infected patients. Lelouch saved so many of them, roughly equivalent to saving 20% ​​of the total casualties, which is quite remarkable.

If, in the next three years of war, the Empire's casualties in every battle exceed those of the enemy by 20%, the cumulative effect will eventually be an astonishing number.

The nobles standing nearby watched him alone, calculating the accounts, being left out in the cold, but they didn't have time to get angry.

The group waited silently until he finished his calculations before Captain Joachim brought up a topic he had prepared for quite some time:

“Lieutenant Colonel Lelouch, I have one more question about prisoners of war, and I must ask it today.”

"Speak," Lelouch said without looking up, as he wrote furiously, calculating the amount of compensation and nutrition expenses needed for this operation, as well as the amount of pills that Faben Chemical would need to allocate for the next phase.

"I inspected the management files of the prisoner-of-war camp. The new drugs used by our army's rear field hospitals were only gradually introduced in the middle of this month. However, as early as the beginning of this month and the second half of January, you had already used more primitive pills with only simple thick sugar coatings to temporarily administer to soldiers on both sides, especially to seriously wounded prisoners of war from Burkina Faso."

I reviewed the records; the liver and kidney failure rate among those patients was as high as 30%, far exceeding the current 8%. If this data were to get out, it would likely damage international standing and earn them the stigma of being involved in poison experiments…”

Lelouch immediately stopped writing and retorted seriously, "How can this be called a 'poison experiment'? At most, it's just a haphazard accelerated clinical trial. Those injuries and infections weren't intentionally created by us; they were people who would have died anyway. We were trying our best to treat them. At least logically, the probability of saving someone is higher than leaving them to revive naturally. Besides, why would we leak this data? We have a clear conscience! Let's not cause unnecessary trouble."

Lelouch had already figured out that Joachim was just a noble young master, too idealistic and not realistic enough. Only someone who had lived in an ivory tower would ask such a question.

The Duchess of Anhalt and Miss Charlotte Lorinta, who were standing nearby, couldn't stand it anymore and advised him not to meddle.

"Let's say less. Mr. Hunter, this is the attitude that should be taken when doing great things. This is all about expediency in times of emergency, and the starting point is good. What is there to nitpick about? Besides, I heard that he also gave nutritional allowances to the wounded soldiers from Burkina Faso who suffered kidney failure, although not as many as our wounded soldiers. This already exceeds the allowances of most pharmaceutical capitalists."

Joachim was only going through the motions, and once he received an explanation that made sense legally, he stopped being disappointed.

As the group was discussing their work in the humanitarian field, the door to the hospital office was suddenly pushed open, and a marshal in a magnificent military uniform appeared in the doorway, holding a cane.

Everyone in the office was startled. Everyone stood at attention, and Captain Joachim even stood at attention and saluted.

"Isn't this Duke Rupprecht? Huh? He's been promoted to Marshal?" Joachim recognized the Duke and was quite shocked when he saw the Duke's attire and the brand-new cane in his hand.

It seems that the great achievement of annihilating the Burma expeditionary force has finally earned this general another promotion! It must be the decision the empire just made today.

What shocked them even more was that the newly appointed Marshal seemed to value Lelouch highly, and had come to the hospital to visit him personally.

“I heard you were busy with the affairs of the wounded and prisoners of war, and had just returned from being awarded medals in Berlin, so I came to see you.” Duke Rupprecht looked very spirited, and as he walked up to Lelouch, he reached out and tucked Lelouch’s collar.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I will continue to do my duty and serve the Empire." Lelouch stood at attention and returned the salute.

His Highness the Duke was originally scheduled to be promoted to Field Marshal after the Battle of the Somme began in 1916, making him the second member of the Demanian royal family to achieve this rank (the first being his uncle, Field Marshal Leopold, who was already a Field Marshal before the war).
Strictly speaking, Duke Rupprecht's rank of Field Marshal was earned through Douglas Haig's sacrifices. He had previously been locked in a two-year stalemate with the Bohemian army at Ypres, neither side gaining the upper hand. Then, Haig launched the Battle of the Somme, losing 60,000 men on the first day, and continuing this trend at the beginning of the battle. This allowed Rupprecht to reap numerous victories in the defensive battle, finally achieving the rank of Field Marshal.

Now, thanks to Lelouch's butterfly effect, he has made a great contribution by "annihilating the Burmese army" and has been promoted to marshal almost a year and a half ahead of schedule.

The Duke was well aware of Lelouch's contributions and naturally reciprocated by giving him even more important responsibilities.

So when the Duke reached out his hand, an adjutant immediately opened a file bag and handed it to him. The Duke took it and then passed it on to Lelouch.

"During my emergency trip back to Berlin to receive my promotion and medal, I also took the opportunity to visit the General Staff and report on the major meritorious generals and officers."

You personally led the assault battalion into Ypres and captured French alive; no reward is too high for you.

The General Staff has approved your promotion to colonel. I have also reassigned you as the commander of the 6th Army's directly subordinate airborne regiment, and concurrently as the 6th Army's operations staff officer.

In addition, I also met with Minister Baden, who said that he had recently asked me to help handle some matters concerning wounded soldiers and prisoners of war. If I handle them well, he will consider finding me a suitable division-level position in a government department.

As the Duke spoke, his eyelids suddenly twitched involuntarily as he noticed that Minister Baden's sister, nephew, and niece all seemed very friendly and admiring towards Lelouch.

Duke Rupprecht became somewhat wary: "What's going on with Brother Baden? Is he trying to poach talent from our Baria faction? His niece doesn't seem to be married yet. Is he trying to use a marriage alliance to win over a genius like Lelouch and make him work for him? No wonder he promised to find him a department-level position..."

In Demania, it was common for military officers to concurrently hold administrative positions, and the corresponding ranks were basically similar to those in the East: "county/department level / county/regiment level" and "city/bureau level / city/division level".

A colonel who is a regimental commander and also holds an administrative position is usually a section chief in a department or bureau within a ministry. A major general who is a division commander and also holds an administrative position is usually a section chief in a ministry.

Rupprecht wanted to keep this miracle boy working for him, at most allowing him to spare some time to do some part-time work for his brother Baden, but the priorities had to be right.

Thinking of this, Duke Rupprecht's sense of crisis intensified. He immediately decided to give Lelouch a little more incentive to keep him in check:

"After this battle, all the soldiers who participated are exhausted. I'll grant you a maximum of two months' leave so you can focus on your own affairs. Feel free to ask for anything you need."

If you have time, you can also take a vacation in Munich. Neuschwanstein Castle is always open to you, and you are welcome to visit. If Albrecht had even two or three points of your ambition, I would be very satisfied.

Furthermore, I intend to first grant you the title of ordinary knight, adding 'Von' to your name. Continue to perform well, and when you become a general, I can grant you the title of hereditary knight, further changing the suffix to 'Ritter Von'.

Duchess Andorhal, along with Joachim and Charlotte Lorinta, were also taken aback by Duke Rupprecht's extravagant gesture.

They knew the Duke valued this young man highly, but they never expected it to be to this extent.

He was only promoted to colonel, yet he was given the title of knight and allowed to add "Fon" to his name.

Knights whose titles cannot be inherited can simply be prefixed with "von". Knights whose titles can be inherited are "Ritter von", while the highest-ranking military knights, "military barons", are "Freiherr von".

Historically, Vice Admiral Hipper received the title of "von" before the Battle of Jutland, and after the Battle of Jutland, he was promoted to "Ritter von" for his great contribution in saving the navy.

As for the baronial title "Freiherr von," it was not originally granted by the Barea royal family during World War I. This was mainly because Demania did not win the world war, and no Barea general's military achievements were so outstanding that the king needed to grant him a hereditary baronial title based solely on military merit.

As for higher ranks, theoretically, military merit titles could go up to viscount or count, but those were no longer titles that the King of Balia had the authority to bestow; they had to be bestowed by the emperor himself, and in fact, none of them were bestowed during World War I.

As for the ranks of "Duke" and "Marquis," in all Western countries, these titles cannot be obtained through military merit; they can only be acquired through royal blood. The rank of Earl represents the theoretical pinnacle of military merit.

Lelouch possessed the soul of a modern man, so he didn't really care about whether it was Feng or not. However, the members of the Baden royal family knew that the Baden faction had no chance against Duke Rupprecht's lavish spending as soon as they saw it.

In the future, I can only try to build a good relationship with Lelouch and treat him like a guest advisor, occasionally asking him for advice when needed.

(End of this chapter)