I Became A Black Merchant In Another World Chapter 268

There’s a famous saying among married n:

"Forgiveness is easier than permission."

Many n who buy high-end PCs, PlayStations, or Nintendo Switches without their wives knowing often live by this logic.

Interestingly, there are many people who apply this reasoning to politics, war, and business managent...

"Isn’t that Baron Rothschild?"

At that, all the eyes in the room turned to .

Guillau City itself was quite friendly toward , so no one openly shouted for to leave.

“The Kingdom of Lyon and the Toscana Empire were supposed to be on the brink of war, weren't they? So why is Baron Rothschild here? Isn’t it dangerous for you?”

So questioned why I was here.

“Baron, the Kingdom of Lyon has stationed a large number of troops in Guillau City. It’s dangerous for you to stay here!”

Those who had gained significant economic benefits from urged to leave quickly.

The fact that no one was trying to kill , despite my being a noble from an enemy nation, was surprising enough—but they were still concerned for my safety.

Seeing that no one here seed to dislike ...

It seed that persuading them would be much easier than I originally thought.

In this world, there are madn who, just because they dislike soone personally, will ruin a hundred billion-won deal.

But there were no such people in Guillau City.

"I’ll get straight to the point since the situation is urgent. I, Fabio de Rothschild, have allied with Mayor Louis Baudelaire and succeeded in eliminating all the commanders of the troops sent by the Kingdom of Lyon."

As soon as I spoke these words, the people gathered in the room began to stir.

Angry voices began to rise, and there was a general sense of hostility, as if a riot could break out any mont.

When so of the enraged individuals tried to approach the platform where I stood, a few soldiers fired their guns into the air.

“If anyone attempts to harm the Baron or acts suspiciously, next ti, we’ll be using swords, not warnings.”

The best way to control people isn’t through lavish rewards or flattery.

It’s by instilling the fear that defying could cost them their lives.

Confucius himself argued that, during a forest fire, if there were people who refused to help extinguish it, they should be executed imdiately, as it was the most effective way to ensure cooperation.

I, too, had no reason not to use fear to control them.

With a whip to break their spirits, and a carrot to reward them when they listen, the thod works wonders.

“Anyone who doesn’t wish to follow is free to leave. I won’t stop you, and as soon as you step out of this chamber, the soldiers won’t smash your skulls with maces.”

Whether or not they believe it, I will make sure to follow through on my words.

When convincing people, especially large groups, killing them outright is not the way to go.

But creating an atmosphere of fear, where people believe they could die if they defy , will lead to those who act loyal in front of but secretly plot behind my back.

‘Giving them the freedom to make a choice.’

Of course, it’s the person’s own responsibility if they choose to invest in a risky venture and lose their principal.

The friend who makes a wrong decision might, by sheer coincidence, be ambushed by bandits while trying to leave the city with their family...

But that would be the result of their own choices, and they will have no one to bla but themselves, even in death.

“However, I ask that you hear out one last ti.”

It’s easier to justify a cri after it’s committed, just as it’s easier to convince soone to rationalize their actions after the fact.

“The Count of Guillau has been planning to purge everyone in positions of power in the city, from the mayor to guildmasters, for so ti.”

This is a line that often circulates on the internet.

Goebbels, a master of propaganda, said it only takes one word to stir up an entire crowd, but to refute it requires dozens of papers.

Though Goebbels never actually said this in his lifeti, it remains a historical truth that applies in any era.

The false rumors about tobacco being beneficial for health, which spread throughout Europe and Asia during the Age of Exploration, persisted well into the early 1900s.

People even encouraged infants to smoke for their health.

It took trendous effort and funding to correct this mistaken belief.

Similarly, it will likely take a lot of ti and effort before anyone realizes that the propaganda I’m spreading is fabricated.

‘By the ti they figure it out, the war will already be over.’

“You might find this hard to believe, but think about it. Didn’t the Count of Guillau seem to be particularly wary of you? For example, didn’t he appoint soone far less capable than to the city council? Or wasn’t he collecting unusually high taxes?”

The way I’m speaking is similar to that of a fortune teller.

These charlatans don’t read the person’s unspoken thoughts. Instead, they subtly probe for information while pretending to have mystical insights, making the person believe in their abilities.

They might ask things like, "Haven't you had terrible headaches lately? Or perhaps you’ve been troubled by so pain in your stomach? Or maybe you’ve had trouble finding a job despite your qualifications?"

By casually ntioning issues that are likely to concern soone, they create the illusion of supernatural knowledge.

I’m doing the sa here, subtly triggering the insecurities and frustrations of the powerful figures in Guillau City, making them feel they’re part of the sche.

‘If they keep hearing this, they’ll eventually fall for it.’

“All this is part of the Count’s plan to eliminate those closely connected to after this war ends. It’s a well-thought-out sche.”

In this world, purging soone without preparation rarely happens.

When you decide to purge soone, you begin by looking for ways to remove them, bribing people around them, and creating a reason to demote them or send them to a faraway post.

If things go wrong, the one attempting the purge risks losing their own life.

In Korea, the Duke of Suyang never expected his head to be severed by Kim Jong-seo during the Gyeoyu Jeongnan, when he unexpectedly started gathering incompetent individuals and attempted the purge.

“The Count of Guillau is trying to purge you all without cause. Why, then, do you continue to pledge loyalty to him? Is it because you’re like livestock, ready to be slaughtered without even realizing it? It doesn’t make sense for us, as human beings, to submit so easily when we know our lord is planning to betray us.”

In Joseon, under the Confucian influence of the ruling scholars, it was expected that when a monarch sought to purge their ministers, they would quickly die after receiving poisoned wine.

But in the Toscana Empire or the Kingdom of Lyon, if soone tried to purge without justification...

It’s only natural for the people to rise up and rebel, even if only to cut off their clothes if they can’t cut off their head.

The prominent figures in Guillau City must have been repulsed by the Count’s behavior.

“Why do you think Mayor Louis Baudelaire and other influential figures in Guillau City have cooperated with , a foreign noble?”

Humans generally act and judge according to common sense.

That’s why, during the Second World War, the French worked hard on the Maginot Line but were easily overtaken by a quick flank attack.

And why the Empire of Japan was able to pull off the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

When persuading people, common sense must always be applied.

“So, I ask that you cooperate with . The Emperor of Toscana will not abandon you. Those who no longer wish to follow the Emperor and I can leave. I won’t stop you, and I won’t prevent you from taking your wealth and leaving for another part of the Kingdom of Lyon.”

I won’t stop them.

If they’re unlucky, they’ll be massacred by bandits.

And those who abandon will undoubtedly et a bad end.

But fortunately, those here have chosen wisely.

“We will also join the Toscana Empire. We trust you, Baron.”

In this way, I was able to secure the foothold I needed for the Toscana Empire to invade the Kingdom of Lyon.

Soon after taking control of Guillau City, the Toscana Empire’s main forces entered the city.

Leading the vanguard was Baron Ducat.

He entered with an army of 20,000 soldiers.

“I never thought... I never imagined you’d take Guillau City without shedding a drop of blood. Truly, Baron, why not accept a military commission now? I could ask the Emperor to appoint you imdiately.”

“I decline.”

“...I think you’d be an outstanding general.”

“I am not suited to be a soldier.”

Baron Ducat shook his head as he listened to my words.

“Then, if you wish for success, this is your opportunity.”

Guillau City, now under the Count’s control, was essentially a vacant house.

“I understand. Then I wish you luck.”