Chapter: 342
Using the Imperial Count to stir the atmosphere for war, the Emperor declared not just a campaign against the nomads, but an outright conquest of the North. Even the nobles, usually quick to panic, were thrown into disarray with this strategy far exceeding simple punitive expeditions.
“Your dedication is truly something for the ages. I, too, am deeply moved by this beautiful loyalty.”
But at this point, saying “Your Majesty, that’s a bit much” was impossible. The public sentiment was already leaning towards war—this was not just the Emperor’s whim but a spontaneous request from the nobles themselves. Anyone daring to dissuade the Emperor would be labeled a traitor who spoke out of both sides of their mouth.
“The might of our valiant soldiers cannot be sent North lightly. We need to discuss the detailed organization of the expeditionary force. Many loyal persons hurried here at my sudden summons, so I propose we take a break and then continue this discussion.”
With those parting words, the Emperor turned away, dropping a bombshell on the nobles and buying time while organizing the expeditionary force for the conquest of the North.
Now, the nobles had only one option: fervently hope for the victory of the expedition—an expedition that would include their own private troops—and contribute to solidifying the Empire’s mandate. A loss for the expedition would mean the fall of the imperial authority and the Empire itself. If the nobles wanted to maintain their power, the Empire had to survive.
Thus, the nobles, wearing serious expressions, either sunk into solitary contemplation or huddled together to murmur among themselves. Overturning public sentiment was out of the question, so they’d need to brainstorm on how to improve their odds.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
While observing the nobles, the Minister tapped my shoulder.
“Come outside for a bit. It’s much too stifling in here.”
The Minister left the conference room with the other heads of departments. His face had displayed a mix of confusion, despair, and awkward irritation all at once.
It was definitely a time when any extra commentary might just get my soul snatched away. I willingly followed since honestly, I wasn’t keen on huddling in a crowd of hundreds whispering away.
Outside the conference room, clusters of nobles and bureaucrats were already scattered about. It was rare for cultured nobles to openly discuss things like this, but today wasn’t about factional fights; it was about the Empire as a whole. It was a situation where it didn’t matter who overheard.
Thanks to that, even the officials of the Ministry of Finance didn’t need to find a hidden room to discuss matters openly.
“The conquest is genuine. This isn’t just a ploy to coax something out of us.”
The Minister spoke formally since there were other heads of departments around. At his words, the other heads murmured in agreement.
They all knew about the prior summons from the Minister of the Imperial Household that came before this call. Until the Emperor’s official announcement, a slim possibility had existed—had they just been pranked with a hilarious ruse? But that possibility vanished after hearing confirmation from the Minister of the Imperial Household.
The declaration of the Northern conquest was not a show to earn the nobles’ submission and compliance. It had genuinely become the Empire’s goal.
“Over the past 300 years, the Empire has made attempts to occupy northern territories, but compared to the vast lands of the North we aim to conquer, those efforts were minimal. Is it truly possible to conquer such land?”
With confusion still written across his face, the Chief Taxation Officer stated what everyone was thinking, to which the Chief Review Officer quickly responded.
“Surely His Majesty has considered the concerns we hold?”
At first glance, it sounded like a rebuttal, but beneath it lay a bitter acknowledgment of uncertainty. The Chief Taxation Officer’s individual concerns had just become our collective opinion. Even the Chief Review Officer had to agree that the conquest of the North would be incredibly difficult.
Of course, I felt the same way. Looking back through history, settled nations might have repelled nomadic incursions, but there hadn’t been a record of successfully merging the nomadic homelands. Unlike a settled nation that has the glaring weakness of having a capital city, nomads don’t exactly have a central base or command post. What region would suffice for it to be called conquest…?
No, it’s all a backwater, isn’t it? Even if we conquer it, we wouldn’t see economic gains—only massive sunk costs. The Empire didn’t expand slowly into the North for no reason.
“When it comes to the conquest—”
The hesitation from both the Chief Taxation Officer and the Chief Review Officer, along with the somber expressions of the other department heads, prompted the Minister to speak in a hushed tone.
“You aim not for direct conquest but for indirect influence.”
“Indirect, you say?”
The Chief Taxation Officer’s query was met with a silent nod from the Minister.
‘Indirect influence?’
What does that even mean? Isn’t that how things were done before the big purge?
Discussing conquest in an assembly of high-ranking officials and just leaving it at that would cause the Emperor trouble. It would allow nobles to think the Emperor’s boasting was just hot air.
“Perhaps the Northern territories could fill the thirteenth seat of Eshilon.”
‘Ah.’
Understanding dawned as I heard those words.
*
In the audience room near the conference hall. It was not quite a fit place for the Emperor to linger, yet he sat there unbothered, sipping tea.
What can you do if the Emperor feels comfortable? A less noble setting doesn’t diminish the holiness of where the Emperor resides.
“Crown Prince.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It seems you have much to say.”
The Emperor’s unruffled observation made me jolt a little.
I’d tried to contain myself, yet I must have appeared as a fidgety rookie in the Emperor’s eyes. Was it my fault, or was my father’s insight just far beyond comprehension?
“…My humble perspective makes it tough to grasp your intentions, so I harbored some doubts.”
I paused before eventually revealing my inner thoughts.
I understood the declaration of war. If the nomads regrouped after a loss in the last war and were convinced with mere words, they might think little of the Empire again. Those aiming for a second uprising among the nomads had to be subdued with force.
But launching a punitive expedition and conquering the North are two entirely different beasts. A punitive expedition can simply wipe out rebels and retreat, while conquest demands that the Empire manage and control the vast, desolate Northern territories.
“Your Highness’s questions are valid. It’s indeed strange not to harbor such doubts.”
The Emperor showed no sign of anger toward my questions; instead, he acknowledged them as reasonable.
“The light of Livnoman is destined to cover the North, but such a task shall not be achieved through the blood of our soldiers.”
However, the Emperor then made an even less comprehensible statement. How could he proclaim war with the Imperial Count at the forefront and then say it isn’t to be achieved through blood? What on earth was he expecting to use to subdue the Khan and conquer the North?
If the Emperor had mentioned peace, I could have thought that perhaps he was wishing for a cold peace requiring troops gathered at the borders. The nomads wouldn’t dare invade because of the mountains and fortresses in the North, and the Empire could maintain its borders while ignoring the nomads. Then we might achieve some weird, twisted peace.
‘Not that either.’
But once the Emperor declared outright war in front of the nobles, half-hearted peace was no longer an option. Bloodshed would be a must.
“A person is willing to sacrifice their life for the safety of their country, faith, and family.”
In the ensuing silence, the Emperor spoke again.
“The Khan’s forces are comprised of tribes that did not support the traitor in the Great Purge War. They harbor neither the conviction to establish a nomadic state nor the will to rectify their faith.”
I couldn’t help but agree with those words. When the traitor put the Empire in jeopardy, how many tribes backed the anti-Empire banner? If they had managed to stand firm and not align themselves with a traitor, it would indicate their feelings towards the Empire weren’t as hostile as they might have first appeared.
“Their only attachment lies in family. If the safety of their families is at stake, and personal gain is included, they would gladly embrace the Empire.”
To them, the Empire was just distant, while the Khan seemed close.
With that addition, the Emperor raised his teacup again.
‘The Empire is distant; the Khan is near.’
The Emperor’s final words echoed in my ears.
*
Once the nobles outside returned to the conference room, it wasn’t long before the Emperor appeared. Seated back on the throne, his gaze swept over the nobles, emotionless. Did it feel as though he was silently saying, ‘I’ve given you time, now prove your loyalty,’ or was that just my mood?
It seemed I wasn’t the only one sensing this; the nobles spoke in unison of offering their private troops and treasury. They eagerly bowed down, showing their willingness to contribute for the stability of the Empire and the fortification of the Emperor’s mandate. Unable to prevent war, they sought to either get into the Emperor’s good graces or establish a foothold for claiming the spoils of victory.
“Your loyalty is indeed beautiful. The grace of the Great Emperor bestowed upon your ancestor is a blessing for our royal family and the Empire.”
“I understand your heart, but regrettably, if your brave soldiers leave their posts, the Eastern kingdoms might entertain foolish thoughts.”
“Sending troops that must valiantly fight in the North so far is illogical. There are many ways to prove your loyalty, so do not feel disheartened.”
As the flood of voluntary tax payments surged, the Emperor leisurely selected what he needed. Troops that could be taken without issue, troops whose absence would leave the borders in jeopardy, and cases where he needed funding more than manpower. On the spot, the Emperor efficiently consolidated the nobles’ offerings.
The nobles wore grim expressions, but there was nothing they could do about it. If they fancied an argument, they’d better hope they could become the Emperor themselves.
“The dedication and resolve of all the officials must be reciprocated by the royal family. Minister of Defense, keep in mind the involvement of the Northern armies as well as the Western and Central forces.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
In the midst of this, the Emperor expressed his intention not just to mobilize the regional forces formed by the nobles, but also to call forth the central troops under his command.
He issued orders to review all central forces except for those stationed in the Eastern kingdoms, far from the North, and the Southern naval forces, aiming to construct an expeditionary force of truly immense proportions. Just going by numbers alone made it seem like it could rival or even surpass the last war.
“And since many legions will be deployed, we’ll need Military Supervisors as well.”
At that, my gaze instinctively turned toward the Minister. Last time, the person who served as the Military Supervisor during that war was the Minister himself, then Chief of the Information Department.
Of course, the Emperor wasn’t placing a military supervisor because he didn’t trust the troops. Rather, they were reviving an older system to send as many special forces as possible while avoiding any suspicion from the foreign powers or civilians. The Minister was in the Information Department, and as a noble with a title, he was the perfect fit for the role of Military Supervisor.
And it seemed they intended to utilize this inspector system again in this war. Honestly, if the plan was to strike the North hard, the more forces they had the better—
“I hereby appoint Inspector General Carl Krasius as the Military Supervisor. Temporarily halt the current duties of the Inspector-General and prioritize your work as Military Supervisor.”
Wh…?
‘What?!’
Why is my name being mentioned there?!
“Your Majesty, I humbly plead, but the role of the Military Supervisor is reserved for noble titles granted by the royal family—”
“The contributions made by Inspector General Carl Krasius over the years are substantial. I will bestow upon him the direct domain of the royal family in Wiridia while appointing him as the Count of Wiridia. This title can be inherited by his descendants.”
In response to the Minister of Justice’s interjection, the Emperor awarded the title without hesitation.
‘This is insane.’
What the hell is going on?!
Of course, I desperately wanted to take down Dorgon. So once this summoning ended, I had been thinking about how to find just the right justification to join in.
Yet, I’d never imagined it would morph into this kind of situation.
“Carl Krasius of Wiridia. As Military Supervisor, ensure the ideals of the expeditionary force are upheld and do your utmost to stabilize the North. Having participated in the recent Great Purge War as a Count, I believe you will do well.”
The Emperor’s words struck me like a confirmation of a death knell.
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