Establishing the War Departments

Victor said with a smile, "Saruman, you know that after I was promoted to Marquis, I have many privileges that are different from when I was a Viscount!"

Saruman: "I know, they can mint their own coins, have the power to bestow titles upon lower-ranking nobles, and establish Inner Court..."

Victor interrupted him, "That's right, it's about setting up Inner Court!"

Saruman was instantly excited. The Marquis could indeed establish an Inner Court system, although he couldn't establish a complete system like the Grand Duchy by directly setting up a palace and appointing high-ranking officials to manage ceremonies and rituals.

However, the Marquis's Inner Court could also bestow titles upon Court Noble and even establish high-ranking civil officials similar to Prime Minister.

Saruman almost thought he was about to be appointed as a senior advisor to Victor's Inner Court. He had heard before that high-ranking nobles abroad would appoint senior advisors to help them manage the various systems of their fiefdoms, including political advisors and military advisors. These were all people of high rank and power, and they could be directly granted noble titles by their lords for their good performance. Could this be his chance?

However, Saruman quickly realized that even if these advisors were to be appointed, it wouldn't be his turn. The most suitable person for political advisors would be General Powell, and the military advisors would be several Regimental Commander.

Just as he was racking his brains trying to figure it out, Victor continued, "I will formally establish the Inner Court system, but considering that my territory already has a relatively sound government system, I will only improve it, and will not make major changes."

However, there is a pressing problem that needs to be addressed: compared to the normal division of labor within the Inner Court system, my territory lacks an institution to assist me in managing the military forces within my territory.

The original Operations Staff Department was actually only convenient for some of my work during wartime, reducing the energy I expended; it was not really an auxiliary management body.

Therefore, I plan to establish War Department!

Victor looked at Saruman and said, enunciating each word clearly.

Saruman immediately understood and quickly suppressed his excitement, saying, "I am willing to help Your Marquis establish this War Department so that Your Excellency can better manage the troops in your territory."

Victor nodded. It was quite good that Saruman understood what was going on so quickly, and he even had the self-awareness to know that he was not the best candidate for Minister of the War Department!

After all, Saruman was only the Chief of the General Staff, and his Operations Staff Department consisted of only one or two hundred people. Although he was of a high rank, he did not hold a very high position in the Golden Sunflower Family's private army system. If Saruman were to become the Minister of the War Department, it would only cause turmoil in the entire army.

Although Victor could control the consequences, there was no need for it. It would be better for the Minister of the War Department to remain a nominal position in the future, at least while he is in office. Otherwise, if he has too much power, his presence will definitely affect Victor's absolute control over the army.

"That's right, I want you to help me establish this War Department. However, our territory is very special. I will divide the War Department into two: an Army War Department and a Navy War Department. In the future, the General Staff will also be split into these two War Department."

Your task is simple: help me set up the framework for these two War Department and fill them with officers from the Operations Staff Department and the territory's army."

Victor had this idea for a while, because the territory's army had already begun to downsize, and the combat troops would be reduced by half. Although the original structure would be retained, there would definitely be a large number of officers without positions, and these two War Department were prepared for these idle officers.

After all, most of these officers are still young, and many of them were personally trained by Victor and participated in the Civil War, so they have been trained and are like veteran soldiers. It would be a waste to let them leave the army just like that.

Victor needs departments like this, to absorb these talents, so that when they are needed again in the future, they can be used to expand the troops once more.

Saruman asked curiously, "My lord, what should I do?"

Victor began to explain, "There are two War Department with similar structures, but considering that the Navy is smaller and less important than the Army, the Navy War Department will have some reduced organizational structures!"

The Army War Department should have the following departments:

Operations Staff Department: Responsible for formulating operational plans, commanding military operations, and coordinating the operational tasks of various units. It is the core department of the War Department and usually includes operations staff, intelligence analysts, etc. It is responsible for monitoring the battlefield situation in real time and providing decision support.

Military Intelligence Department: Responsible for collecting, analyzing, and processing enemy intelligence, including information on enemy troop strength, deployment, and operational intentions, to provide intelligence support for operational decision-making.

Logistics Department: Responsible for the logistics work of the army, including material supply, equipment maintenance, transportation support, medical care, etc., to ensure the combat effectiveness and continuous combat capability of the troops. This includes departments such as material procurement, warehousing management, and transportation scheduling.

The Personnel and Veterans Administration Department is responsible for the recruitment, selection, training, promotion, rewards and punishments of naval personnel, as well as the welfare and resettlement of veterans, ensuring the stability and quality of military personnel.

Training Department: Responsible for formulating and organizing the implementation of military training plans, improving the combat skills and tactical level of troops, including military training, exercises, assessments, etc., to ensure that troops are in a good state of combat readiness.

Equipment Department: Responsible for the procurement, research and development, maintenance and upgrading of military weapons and equipment, ensuring the advanced nature and reliability of the troops' weapons and equipment, cooperating with military industrial enterprises in the territory, and promoting the development of military equipment.

Military Law Department: Manages all Military Judge and temporarily oversees the Military Police Corps. It is responsible for maintaining military discipline, security management, and military justice, ensuring order and discipline within the military, and handling illegal and disciplinary violations by military personnel.

The same applies to the Navy War Department; you can merge them in terms of organizational functions.

As Victor spoke, Saruman took notes, and Saruman would ask questions whenever he didn't understand something.

"My Marquis, the territory already has Intelligence Department, so why does the army need to establish a separate Military Intelligence Department?"

Victor: "The territory's Intelligence Department is more like Intelligence Security Department. It collects a wide variety of intelligence and is also responsible for counter-espionage and the territory's intelligence and security work. The military Intelligence Department only focuses on the military field, which can ensure that the relevant intelligence is more accurate!"

Saruman: "Can the Ministry of Personnel appoint all officers in the territory's army? Isn't that a bit of an overreach of power?"

Victor: "Of course, the personnel department can only adjust the selection of officers below the rank of Detachment Commander within the military system, but this still requires the review and approval of the Regimental Commander; while officers at the rank of deputy regimental Regimental Commander and above in the Territorial Legion are personally reviewed and selected by me."

In this way, the Territorial Legion is managed in parallel with the War Department, with the Army War Department cooperating with senior officers of the existing territory troops to manage this legion.

Saruman: "Then how should the existing Military Academy be managed, and under which department should it be placed?"

Victor: "These are just the standing departments of the War Department. It doesn't mean the War Department only manages these. The Military Academy and even the Military Stud Farm can be subordinate management units of the War Department!"

Saruman: "Could the Navy Department's Equipment Department be larger? After all, as far as I know, the Navy has higher requirements for ships, and it might need more relevant personnel in this area!"

Victor: "That's right, you're absolutely right. The navy's requirements for equipment are far greater than those of the army. After all, if the navy's ships are unreliable, the consequences could be much more serious!"

"Saruman, you understand quickly. It seems that assigning this task to you was the right decision!"

The two discussed for a long time and further optimized the organizational structure of the two War Department before finalizing the plan.

Saruman tentatively suggested, "In that case, the existing Operations Staff Department will have to be split up. The new Operations Staff Department will only perform the literal tasks, which should greatly improve work efficiency."

However, this makes it inappropriate for me to be addressed as Chief of the General Staff. Marquis Excellency, how about we simply abolish the title of Chief of the General Staff and just change the name to Chief of Staff?

Victor: "Oh, so you're going to be demoted for no reason. Are you willing to accept that?"

Saruman: "Marquis Excellency, you jest. If you need me, I can go and serve as a common soldier!"

Victor laughed heartily after hearing this, "It's my loss to send someone like you to be a soldier!"

The reason I've put you in charge of this job is because you're very suitable, and I don't intend for you to continue doing the work of chief of staff!

"As long as you can establish these two War Department well, you will become the Deputy Minister of the Army War Department, and I will personally confer upon you the title of Baron!"

Saruman was overjoyed to receive confirmation from Victor that he would be granted the title of baron. Unable to hide his delight, he asked, "Marquis Excellency, who is the Minister of the War Department?"

Victor: "It's most likely one of the current Regimental Commander! I haven't decided who it is yet. Do you have any recommendations?"

Saruman quickly shook his head; any answer at this point would be a loss of points, so it was better to keep his mouth shut.

Seeing this, Victor stopped teasing Saruman: "You don't need to overthink it. Right now, given the size of the territory's army, the War Department is just a tool to help me manage the army. It certainly can't be above the army, but its functions will definitely be improved step by step in the future."

Saruman understood what Victor meant and quickly nodded.

"Alright, this task is now in your hands. Once you have drafted the detailed plan, submit it to me promptly, and I will convene a meeting with the senior officers of the territory's army for deliberation."

"Yes, Marquis Excellency!"

Saruman immediately took his leave.