Not long after the declaration of war, an unexpected guest arrived at my ho.
Typically, when soone shows up uninvited, it’s either Duke Visconti coming to visit his granddaughter or Baron Mancini asking for help with securing a court position. But today, the visitor was none other than my forr superior, Baron Ducat.
"Well, General. What brings you here today? I’m sure the military is busy with all the preparations for war, so you must be overwheld," I asked.
Under normal circumstances, Baron Ducat would have made a joke, teasing about how I was out of military service now, and how a superior officer is always a superior officer, so I should at least offer so refreshnts. But today, he sighed heavily and spoke without any trace of humor.
"I’ve co to seek your advice regarding this war."
Just like it’s common sense to look where you’re going to stretch your legs before lying down, people know when and how to joke. It’s like trying to crack a joke at a funeral—you’d never do it.
I knew I needed to approach the situation seriously.
"Though I’m a baron of the Empire, I am, after all, a civilian. Is it even appropriate for soone like to discuss the Empire’s war strategy?" I asked.
"You were the one who devised the strategy for the war with the Duchy of Milania, weren’t you? I’m simply repeating what you said," Baron Ducat replied.
He then pointed to his epaulets.
There were two stars on them—no, three stars now, wasn’t it? He’d been promoted to a full colonel.
"One of those stars is practically a gift from you. If I were to go to the headquarters and make a confession, General Ragusa would probably appoint you as the staff officer. Being a staff officer at headquarters—now that’s quite an honorable position."
With my honorary rank recognized, I could live with Erika, Kris, and Chloe at the military residence. After all, I’d be a colonel.
But I felt a little fearful—once you’re stationed there, you’d probably never retire, becoming one of those generals who never leave.
"Please spare ."
"You’re really sothing, you know that? Most of the guys around , if you offered them a staff officer position, they’d throw away their administrative positions and jump at the chance. There are so many, in fact, that we couldn’t even fit them all into a cart."
I, however, was just a baron, and if Erika's son inherited the title, I could retire imdiately. But if I entered the army, I would still have to serve even after passing on the title.
I wasn’t addicted to land-grabbing gas, so why should I continue to serve in the military?
My service ended when I reached sergeant; that was enough for .
"Well, enough joking around. As you know, there is only one path for the Empire of Toscana to directly attack the Kingdom of Lyon," Baron Ducat continued.
"The route through the village of Bio, part of Rothschild's domain, which leads to Guillau City," I replied.
The Empire of Toscana and the Holy Empire are connected by land, but the Kingdom of Lyon doesn’t share a direct border with them.
Thus, to reach the Kingdom of Lyon without crossing another country’s borders, they would have to resort to sea travel.
"Of course, they could try to land at other ports by sea. However, the only reliable route for maintaining a steady supply line would be the one through Bio village, connecting to Guillau City," he explained.
In war, combat is considered the "highlight," like a dramatic scene in a story, but to succeed in those battles, maintaining supply lines is critical.
Without supplies, everything goes to waste.
"If the supply route becos too extended, the risk of pirate or enemy navy attacks increases exponentially. And if the supply convoy is cut off... well, our army could starve to death," he said gravely.
In a world where concepts like the Geneva Conventions and human rights are valued, starvation might seem unimaginable. But if it ca to that, the soldiers of the Empire of Toscana would quickly transform into "marines" without anyone needing to tell them.
They might not wear red berets and just underwear, but they’d manage to scavenge the food and livestock of the locals, with a quick "Kippai" move, ensuring their survival.
Once that started, it ant the intelligence of the entire army would degrade to that of marines.
It would be a disaster.
"I would like to avoid a massacre of civilians," I thought.
I was rely a student of history, learning from the mistakes of the British Empire or Nazi Germany, not a monster who instigates petty wars like the Opium War and blas everything on the Jews.
"So, I’ve co to you for advice on how to force the surrender of this port city, Guillau," he said.
I had to suppress a smile that was threatening to rise. In truth, I had planned to volunteer to go to Guillau City to recomnd their surrender even without being asked. But now, the Colonel was directly requesting my help, offering a chance to play the "patriot" role, risking my life in service to the Empire.
But thinking about it, this felt strange.
I was already a patriot.
So, let's correct that—I was a patriot who was given an opportunity to serve the country once again.
"It won’t be easy," I said.
Baron Ducat sighed deeply upon hearing my words.
Regardless, I began laying the groundwork for earning "honor" by emphasizing the great sacrifice it would take for to go to Guillau City and recomnd their surrender.
So might say I was just playing a rigged ga, but at this mont, I felt no sha in it.
After all, recomnding Guillau’s surrender was the truth, and there was nothing wrong with a rchant exaggerating a little to increase the value of their goods.
‘Everyone is just trying to survive,’ I thought.
"I’m very close to Mayor Guillau and the city council. The mayor even tried to offer his granddaughter as a concubine," I added.
True fraudsters often work with facts—things like "if we develop here, there’s a huge profit to be made," or "soone tried to push for developnt here," are often true. But they’re still trying to sell land that’s as barren as the moon for the price of gold.
I wasn’t a fraudster, but as a rchant, I had to practice ‘crafty lies’ to raise the value of my goods.
‘I have no reason not to follow that thod,’ I thought.
"However, Mayor Guillau is very strict about separating personal and professional matters. Though our trade made him a fortune, he still taxes without any discount," I continued.
This was true.
He had passed a special tariff law that only applied to , so he could collect taxes based on it.
‘The special tariff law gives a 75% discount on the regular tax rate.’
It’s a 75% bargain, and asking for more is just theft.
To maintain a sustainable relationship, there has to be give and take.
Baron Ducat frowned and said, "It won’t be easy. It won’t be easy. But is there any thod?"
"Offering wealth won’t be enough to sway him," I replied.
He was already on our side. The rest was just a matter of signing the oath of allegiance. But to receive the huge reward I’d be due for winning him over, I would have to make Mayor Guillau seem like an exceptional loyalist.
Or rather, make him appear that way.
‘Convincing a loyalist looks more impressive than swaying ten treacherous ones,’ I thought.
"But there’s still a way. I’ve noticed that Duke Guillau is a very suspicious man, and he will likely try to purge Mayor Guillau and his subordinates," I said.
"... That despicable man would never leave the Mayor and his group alive if they’re within your reach. I can understand that," Ducat replied.
If I were Duke Guillau, I would have done the sa—trying to purge Mayor Guillau by any ans necessary.
If that bastard were a soldier, he would have sold state secrets to North Korea.
He was a traitor, but a very useful one to .
"If others try to persuade him, he won’t listen. I’ll go and convince him myself. As an Imperial noble, I’ll risk my life for His Majesty the Emperor," I declared.
Hearing this, Baron Ducat grabbed my hand tightly, his eyes misty with emotion.
"Truly, it’s you. It’s truly you... I can’t even lift my head in front of you," he said.
"Please don’t do that, I feel guilty," I thought.
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