"Chapter 2: Secret Strategy"

Though I've told no one, I have faint memories of a past life. It seems I was a soldier in some country, and more specifically, I handled their military logistics. That country, despite being small, arrogantly called itself an empire and waged war with every nation around it. Talk about troublesome.

They poured money into offensive weapons, completely neglecting logistics like food, ammunition, and transport. I thought, 'Are they idiots?'

My past self went through hell. I repeatedly emphasized the importance of logistics to my superiors, but they ignored me. Not only that, they mocked and ridiculed me. 'You don't fight, so you're not a warrior. Just deliver the supplies,' they said. How cruel. Poor past me, what hardships you endured.

Eventually, they planned a jungle campaign without considering supply lines for weapons, ammo, or even food. We protested the recklessness of the plan, but it was futile. 'We can't fight like this! We'll starve!' we argued, only to be laughed at.

'Endure with willpower!' they said. I was dumbfounded. It was a guaranteed failure. No food, no water, no weapons, no ammo, and no supply routes. We were at our wit's end. 'What can we even do?'

Then someone suggested, 'If we lack food, we'll bring cows!' I was utterly flabbergasted. 'That's impossible! That's not a strategy, it's madness!' I yelled, but they ignored me. I was in despair.

A few sane superiors agreed we couldn't fight like that, but they were dismissed for 'lacking spirit.' I couldn't understand their logic. After much agonizing, I realized they were simply too stupid to reason with. What could I do?

All that remained were spirit-obsessed fools.

I prepared for death.

As expected, supplies ran out, and we suffered a crushing defeat.

My memories ended as I fled through a muddy jungle in the rain.

I probably died. How pitiful.

Even now, I think they were idiots. You can't fight without food! How can you fight without arrows, spears, or weapons? They were insane. 'Endure with willpower'? If that worked, no one would starve. You suffered greatly, past me.

But now, I see it as a valuable experience.

I'll use that experience to improve logistics and win. For my past self, I'll win this time with supply lines!

As I pondered, Ryu spoke up.

'Sir Han, you never cease to amaze. When you mentioned a winter campaign, I worried about the cold, but you've thought of everything. This uniform is so warm!'

'Ah, I've been thinking about this for a while. When I heard about the winter campaign, I rushed to prepare. Our territory has plenty of sheep, so I thought we could make wool winter uniforms. Warm, right?'

'Yes, and this fur hat is the best!'

'There's more to come. Look forward to it.'

'This is incredible. What else is there?'

In this era, the concept of logistics doesn't exist. Plundering enemy lands for food is common. Battlefield rations are usually just jerky and bread. That's how they've fought until now. I can put my experience to good use here.

Since winter wars are rare, our army has almost no winter gear. The enemy probably doesn't either. The Royal Land Army might be in dire straits. That works to our advantage.

I devised winter equipment. Using our abundant wool, I made winter uniforms. I doubled the tent fabric and added a thin towel layer for insulation. We also provided fur mats and wool blankets for sleeping.

The biggest issue for marching is ill-fitting shoes, leading to blisters and severe injuries.

I suffered from that in my past life. 'Fit your feet to the shoes, not the shoes to your feet,' they said. Impossible! I thought it was a joke, but they were serious. Unbelievable. I'm amazed they fought like that.

So, we measured everyone's feet and provided custom shoes with wool lining for warmth. It wasn't too difficult, and it greatly improved march speed and reduced injuries.

We also improved meals. I created something like a kitchen car: a wagon with a clay oven. Sand lined the floor to prevent the heat from burning the wood, also stabilizing the oven.

The wagon's side walls opened upward, providing a roof for the cooks. Each wagon had six ovens and large pots, each making stew for ten people. The pots hung from ceiling hooks. It was quite a challenge to build.

Each kitchen car feeds sixty people.

We also prepared numerous wagons to carry food, including vegetables, firewood, torches, mats, and tents.

We converted most of the cavalry to infantry, using their horses for transport, allowing us to pull many wagons.

'The cavalry must be grumbling about walking,' Ryu said.

'They'll have warm beds and hot food. They'll thank me later.'

'I hope so.'

They're definitely complaining. Proud cavalrymen. But they can't fight on an empty stomach or sleep in the cold. They can complain now, but they'll thank me later.

Evening came. We'd reach the assembly city tomorrow. As we stopped to camp, we saw a faint army ahead. Their flags showed it was Lord Schwartz's force. I considered greeting them but decided to send a messenger since we'd meet in the city tomorrow.

We camped for the night. As everyone set up tents, the cooks prepared dinner in the kitchen car. The snowy ground made lighting fires difficult, but the dry sand ovens made it easy. The pots held a stew of jerky, onions, carrots, garlic, beans, and sheep milk. It smelled delicious. We also had black bread and jerky.

As I watched the stew cook, someone approached.

'That smells good. Give me some!' It was Lord Schwartz and Lady Edel.

Lord Schwartz is the supreme commander. Lady Edel is a young baroness in her twenties.

'This is an honor, Lord Schwartz, Lady Edel. I should have come to you. I apologize.'

'It's fine. We came to see this rumored kitchen car.'

'It's not fair to have such good food here,' Lady Edel said, slightly annoyed.

'Not at all. We'll serve everyone.' I stammered, surprised.

'This is the kitchen car? Well-made. We need these for the whole army.'

'It's unfair to have this just for yourself.'

'We didn't have much time, and it was a trial, so...'

'We'll order them after the war. It's useful. We'll pay, of course.'

'I'll pay too, please.' Lady Edel winked. How could I refuse a beautiful woman? (Though I'll make Lord Schwartz's too.)

'Understood. I'll gladly make them.'

'Good, I'm counting on you.'

'Please do.'

A soldier brought steaming bowls.

'Please, have some.'

I invited them to my tent, but they decided to eat there. I quickly set up chairs and a table.

Lord Schwartz and Lady Edel ate in silence.

'This is good. With food like this, morale will be high. We should equip the whole army. Agreed?'

'Yes, sir. I'll do my best.'

'I have high hopes.'

'It was delicious. I'll come again.' She winked again.

'I'll be waiting.'

'Edel likes it too. Interesting.'

'Don't tease me.'

They left.

'That was surprising,' Ryu said.

'I almost died. But if the whole army gets kitchen cars, morale will improve. That's good.'

'It seems so.'

We ate and slept in the warm tent. I slept well.

We marched all day and saw the city in the distance.

'We'll reach the city soon,' said Willy Yan, one of my commanders, reservedly.

He's a loyal, experienced, and reliable officer in his early forties. A skilled spearman and a master of defensive cavalry tactics. I'm lucky to have him.

My other commander, Klaus Stein, is an eighteen-year-old with red hair and gray eyes. He was a street urchin leader I promoted for his fighting prowess. He's utterly loyal to me. Small but incredibly strong, he wields a heavy axe effortlessly. Rough around the edges, but a powerful attacker and a lovable rascal. I like him.

'Right, let's prepare to enter the city.'"