I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

Chapter 73

Amid the thunderous cheers and fervent applause, Daniel felt a chilling sense of fear.

This speech was supposed to provoke the pacifists…

Yet, when he came to his senses, he realized he had somehow swayed them into becoming advocates for war.

Of course, not all pacifists had been persuaded by the speech’s content.

A few had merely been swept up in the fervor, now glaring at Daniel with clear discontent.

The problem, however, was that these dissenters were so few that they could only be described as a minority.

As Daniel mentally replayed his speech, trying to pinpoint where it all went wrong, he let out a quiet groan.

Damn it. I got too caught up in playing the war fanatic…

The issue was that as the crowd’s cheers grew louder during his speech, he’d unconsciously gotten carried away.

Another critical mistake was his blind trust in the statistical data.

He had assumed that, given the pacifists formed a majority, they would outright reject such a radical call for total war.

But instead…

They had not only refrained from opposing him but had gone so far as to discard their anti-war placards and rise in unison.

And now, this was the scene before Daniel’s eyes:

— “Daniel Steiner! Daniel Steiner! Daniel Steiner!”

Ten thousand citizens, standing together, chanting his name—a sight so surreal it seemed almost fictional.

But it wasn’t.

This was reality, and it was a phenomenon that Daniel himself had created.

Unable to deny this, Daniel gritted his teeth and gripped the podium tightly, holding on as the crowd showered him with adulation.

While Daniel stood there, enduring the praise, Hans, the public relations officer for the Imperial Propaganda Department, was ecstatic backstage.

“It worked! This… this will go down in history as one of the greatest speeches ever!”

Brimming with excitement, Hans turned to his subordinate.

“Contact the head of the press bureau immediately! Tell them to publish articles about this speech and distribute them across the Empire! Every citizen who missed the radio broadcast must know about Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner’s speech!”
“Yes, sir!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the subordinate picked up the phone.

Other staff members, meanwhile, busied themselves typing reports on the telegraph machines set up backstage, the sound of keys clattering furiously.

The excitement in the air was palpable, driven by the pride Daniel’s speech had ignited—not just among the people but even within the meticulously planned propaganda department.

Hans, too, was unable to contain his excitement, clenching his fist tightly.

“Lieutenant Colonel Steiner may not have followed the speech we prepared for him…”

But the overwhelming success of the speech meant that they would likely escape any reprimand from Crown Princess Selvia.

If they were lucky, they might even receive commendations for their work.

Relieved, Hans allowed himself a smile, but the clicking sound of heels on the stage stairs quickly drew his attention.

Turning, he saw Daniel descending the steps.

Even though Daniel had left the stage, the audience was still chanting his name.

It was as if he had become the very embodiment of the ideology to fight against the Allied Nations.

And yet…

Despite the triumphant outcome, Daniel showed no trace of emotion.

Most speakers would be jubilant or overwhelmed with joy after such a successful speech, but Daniel’s eyes remained cold and detached as he glanced at the propaganda staff gathered backstage.

Hans couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the sight.

It was as if he were looking at a figure beyond human limits, an iron-willed individual transcending the ordinary.

Even the pensive look in Daniel’s eyes seemed to speak of someone already planning for the future, refusing to settle for the present.

Such thoughts made Hans hesitant to approach him.

Meanwhile, Daniel was simply lost in thought, overwhelmed by the mess he had created.

This is insane…

He had no idea how to navigate the aftermath of this situation.

While Daniel blinked vacantly, trying to gather his thoughts, Hans cautiously approached him.

“Lieutenant Colonel Steiner?”

Daniel turned to him with a sharp gaze, causing Hans to flinch and awkwardly smile.

“Ah, I see. It seems the speech didn’t suit your tastes. If you had informed us in advance, we could have revised it. This is entirely the fault of the Propaganda Department.”

Hearing this, Daniel let out a weary sigh.

“…I’m tired. I’d like to return to my quarters.”
“Of course! A vehicle is waiting outside. You can leave immediately!”

With a single nod, Daniel began to walk away slowly.

As one staff member watched him depart, they leaned toward Hans and asked quietly,

“Amazing. I’ve never seen someone frown after delivering such a successful speech. Why do you think that is?”

Hans, still staring after Daniel with a mix of admiration and respect, smiled softly.

“How could we ever hope to understand the mind of a genius? But one thing is certain…”

With a reverent tone, Hans added,

“As long as he lives, the Empire will never fall.”

*****

Two weeks later, at the Imperial Propaganda Department.
In the office of Minister Schiller Dynes.

Knock, knock—

Schiller, reviewing documents, lifted his head.

Seeing the wall clock above the door pointing to noon, he immediately knew who it was.

Hans, the public relations officer.

Schiller had instructed Hans to compile data and report to him at precisely this time.

“Come in.”

As soon as Schiller spoke, the door swung open.

Hans entered, arms laden with a stack of documents, struggling under the weight. He stumbled forward and dropped them heavily onto Schiller’s desk.

“…What on earth is all this?”

Startled, Schiller stared at the pile. Hans, wiping the sweat from his brow, answered.

“This is all the data on the changes that have occurred in the Empire since Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner’s speech. You asked me to compile everything and bring it to you. Would you like to start with the most critical statistics?”

Hans fished out a specific report from the pile and handed it over.

Taking the document, Schiller reviewed the data, and his eyes widened in shock.

Survey on Public Opinion Regarding the War
Sample group: 1,000 citizens from major Imperial cities
Respondents: Approximately 18,000
Question: What are your thoughts on the current war being conducted by the Empire?

_____________________________________

• Frequency Analysis:
  1. The war must continue – 14,166 respondents (78.7%)
  2. The war must stop – 2,376 respondents (13.2%)
  3. Unsure / No response – 1,458 respondents (8.1%)

_____________________________________

More than half of the pacifists had shifted their stance to support the war.

Now, those advocating for peace were an insignificant minority.

In just two weeks.

This monumental shift had occurred within two weeks of Daniel Steiner’s speech.

Stunned, Schiller looked up.

“Is this for real? So many people have changed their stance?”
“Yes. Those inspired by Lieutenant Colonel Steiner’s total war speech are altering their views. Even now, the percentage supporting the war continues to rise. Furthermore…”

Hans pulled out several more documents and handed them to Schiller.

“As you’ll see in these papers, the number of military recruits has exploded since his speech. Training camps can’t accommodate the influx, and enlistment dates are being delayed as far as two years from now.”
“Good heavens…”
“On top of that, munitions production has surged. If the current trend continues, output this month is projected to be 43% higher than last month.”

Schiller blinked in disbelief and asked,

“Munitions production? How is that possible?”
“Factory workers have volunteered for overtime, even when told there’s no budget to pay them extra. It’s a miracle fueled by patriotism. Additionally, corporate sponsorship for the munitions industry has flooded in…”

Hans handed over yet another document.

“With the funds now secured, we can construct at least two more large-scale munitions factories. This will prevent any shortages of essential military supplies for the influx of new recruits.”
“…What about war bonds? How are they selling?”
“War bonds are…”

Hans hesitated briefly before bursting with excitement.

“They’re selling extraordinarily well! Not just among civilians, but corporations are buying them too! In just two weeks, 27 billion marks’ worth of bonds have been sold!”

Twenty-seven billion—three times the original projection of nine billion.

They had sold three times the target amount in only two weeks.

This incredible success… all of it stemming from a single speech by Daniel Steiner…

Schiller sat dazed for a moment before letting out a hollow laugh.

“Perhaps… we are standing at a historic crossroads.”

Since Daniel’s total war speech, the Empire had been roaring to life.

It was as if the nation were breaking out of its shell, ready to spread its wings and take flight.

Amid the mountains of data, Schiller could see it:

The vision of the Empire once again becoming a great nation.

Feeling the flame of hope ignite within him, Schiller clenched his fist tightly.

Indeed. If it’s Daniel Steiner… he might just create it…

A new era.

An everlasting, glorious Empire!