I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 146: Krafte War - Converging Paths (2)

Lumiere, the capital of Revolutionary Francia.

I was being treated to a banquet at a mansion I was invited to.

After enjoying the snail appetizer with a flavorful sauce, I savored the sensation of lightly seared foie gras melting in my mouth.

Next, I enjoyed a luxurious steak made from the finest cut of beef tenderloin, accompanied by wine.

A different wine was served with each dish to ensure a harmony of flavors, and even the bread, a constant accompaniment to my meals, boasted a softness and depth of flavor far superior to what I usually ate.

A feast of deep and diverse flavors, prepared by an uncompromising chef who handled the exquisite, carefully sourced ingredients with care and precision, brought great pleasure to my tongue.

'…So much pleasure, it’s a bit excessive.'

If even I were to live on meals like this every day, I don’t think I could eat the food on the battlefield.

I swirled the wine in my glass and opened my mouth to address Maurice Talleyrand, who was watching me with a look of anticipation.

“…It is quite, quite splendid. Honestly, when it comes to gastronomy, I doubt even the nobles could match the Director-General's discernment.”Though intelligence reports had revealed this, it was still quite difficult to adjust to his being the polar opposite of Maximilien Le Jidor, who drank only cheap, tasteless tea, considering even sugar a luxury.

Whatever my thoughts, Talleyrand nodded with great satisfaction.

“I prepared it with utmost care to welcome a distinguished guest, so I am pleased to hear you say so. The chef will be very proud as well.”

“There would be no guest who would not be satisfied with such a reception. I am deeply grateful for the Director-General’s efforts.”

Well, even Christine and I, who have little interest in food, tend to prepare lavish banquets when inviting guests.

Even so, he was the Director-General of the Revolutionary Party. He was not so corrupt as to lose the support of the citizens entirely, and was perhaps just a little, just a little… enthusiastic when it came to gastronomy.

I cleared my throat and spoke again.

“That aside, you have handled the talks with the Eastern Empire very well. …Just as you promised.”

Talleyrand’s lips twisted into a slight smirk.

“And you, Marquis, have ended the Iberica War in victory. …Just as you promised.”

We looked at each other for a moment, and I asked.

“Is it a draw this time as well?”

“It seems so.”

We both let out a small laugh. Talleyrand then picked up a napkin, leisurely wiped the corner of his mouth, and spoke again.

“The exchange and introduction of the Eastern Empire's firearm technology, which you requested, Marquis, is under consideration on their part. From what their ambassador stationed in Francia says, it seems quite possible.”

“…That is rather incredible.”

My request to acquire their firearm technology was simply a joke.

Talleyrand leaned back in his chair and spoke.

“About a quarter of it was your doing, Marquis.”

“Mine?”

Talleyrand raised his index finger and wagged it.

“Did you not crush the demons' plot in Iberica?”

“Ah, that. …It was only a partial success, though.”

Despite our victory, Gremory's prediction came true, and the Drones were ultimately dismissed as a groundless rumor.

They were horrific beings, difficult to imagine based solely on hearsay, and as all the Drones had disintegrated into dust, leaving no physical trace, there was no evidence.

The testimony of the Revolutionary Army and the Iberian Brotherhood existed, but to the other human nations of the Central Continent, we were nothing more than a subversive state and a group of infidels, respectively.

Moreover, the truth about the Drones was so horrific that the Central Continent seemed even more inclined to deny it as a fantastic tale.

There were many on the continent who were already involved with Abyss Corporation and reaping the benefits, and if such a thing were brought to light, their own interests would vanish.

I don’t know what would happen if I, the Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army, decided to go public, mobilizing the lobbying power of the Aquitaine Merchant Guild…

But rather than mobilizing the already busy Christine for an uncertain outcome, it would be better to prepare for the future fight against Krafte and leave Gremory indebted to me.

“I heard there was a lot of negative public opinion in the Eastern Empire as well. Is that not the case?”

“At the very least, the Tsar considered it quite credible information. Thanks to that, their support for us is being reviewed favorably.”

“That is welcome news. But if the Tsar’s reception was positive, shouldn't more immediate support be possible?”

Talleyrand shrugged.

“The elves are a political entity, too. Just because the Tsar has a positive view doesn’t mean it immediately becomes the national consensus. Given their long lifespans, the power of vested interests is strong. …Well, it’s not something I, an outsider, can fully judge, but it seems there are quite a few among them who are more focused on lining their own pockets than on the interests of the Eastern Empire.”

“Haha, that’s quite…”

Well, they say stagnant water is bound to rot, and elves are water that has been stagnant for hundreds of years, are they not?

It seems they have their own circumstances over there.

“I’m a bit embarrassed to say this, but please expedite this as much as possible, Director-General. Krafte is a formidable enemy, and I would like to mobilize everything I can in this war.”

Talleyrand drained his wine glass and replied.

“I am well aware, Marquis. But you must also understand that this is not something that can be resolved simply by my pressing the issue.”

“That is, well…”

I let out a small sigh and brought up another topic.

“…But there is a matter that the Director-General can help with immediately, is there not?”

This time, Talleyrand sighed and spoke reluctantly.

“That you mean…”

Seeing Talleyrand's expression, I had a hunch.

Well now, it seems we’re in no position to criticize the Eastern Empire’s situation.

*

The next day.

Revolutionary Army Headquarters, Francia.

I was meeting with Louis Desaix, the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army, who, as acting Commander-in-Chief, had overseen preparations for the war with Krafte while I was in Iberica.

Christine was also present, unusually dressed in the formal attire of a naval admiral while in the Capital.

“You have worked very hard, Commander Desaix. You never fail to meet my expectations.”

Unlike that bastard Damien De Millbeau, who is unacquainted with diligence. Though he does seem to have changed a little this time.

“Haha, thank you, Your Excellency the Marquis. However, there is one matter that has not gone well at all…”

Desaix seemed to glance at Christine before bowing his head to us.

“My apologies, Your Excellency the Marquis, and Your Excellency, Countess Aquitaine.”

“No, it is not your fault, Commander Desaix.”

Christine replied lightly, but I furrowed my brow slightly.

The tasks I had requested of Desaix could be broadly divided into two.

The first was a plan to strengthen the Revolutionary Army for the war against Krafte.

Desaix had handled this part flawlessly.

The Revolutionary Army had significantly expanded its reserve forces and successfully completed basic military training, allowing us to mobilize an army of a staggering 250,000, in addition to our existing standing army.

The problem of an insufficient officer corps, which had been managed on an ad-hoc basis due to the sudden revolution and war, was also rectified through intensive supplementary education during the armistice, utilizing the Grandecole system.

As a result, the strength of the Revolutionary Army had nearly doubled compared to the war against the Empire, which had occurred shortly after the revolution with scarce preparation time.

The concern about quality could be partially compensated for by appropriately deploying the standing army, such as the Artillery, Cavalry, and Revolutionary Guard, which were the core of the army and had gained sufficient experience on the Iberian Peninsula.

The problem was the second task.

“Is there still strong opposition within the military?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so.”

“Sigh…”

As I sighed, Desaix spoke.

“The situation is somewhat different from when we faced Valliant in the Capital, Your Excellency the Marquis. Back then, we were dealing only with the Southern Army, composed mainly of forces from nobles who had originally joined the Republic with you. But now, we are in charge of the entire Revolutionary Army.”

After saying so, Desaix discreetly glanced at Christine, who readily nodded and said.

“I am in the same boat as the Marquis anyway, so you may speak freely.”

Desaix gave an awkward smile and spoke again.

“The Northern Army and the military bureaucracy in charge of administration in the Capital and other regions harbor considerable resentment toward cooperating with and being influenced by the Countess.”

“Tsk…”

So that’s how it is.

“In the early days of the revolution within the Southern Army, everyone knew that Countess Aquitaine was Marquis Lafayette's staunchest supporter.”

That was why, in my absence, Christine had been able to mobilize the Southern Army in the Capital with an order I had signed and face off against Raphaël Valliant.

“But now, the Southern Army has grown significantly larger, and the Northern Army, which has had no involvement with the Countess, and the military bureaucracy responsible for administrative duties in the rear, perceive the Countess's involvement as a kind of… struggle for vested interests.”

“So they are refusing to cooperate properly with Aquitaine.”

“Exactly, Your Excellency the Marquis. I regret to say this, but Her Excellency Countess Aquitaine, simply by being a young female noble and a great merchant, invites the resentment of the military, a machoistic group. Furthermore, she became an Admiral of the Navy. There is probably no army anywhere that likes the navy meddling in their domain.”

At this point, I, too, shifted my gaze toward Christine, but she offered an explanation with a perfectly composed face.

“Besides, unlike the generals who almost all follow your lead, many of the new officers appointed to expand the army are influenced by the Revolutionary or Liberty parties and do not particularly like nobles.”

I scratched the back of my head.

“I did try asking for cooperation from Director-General Talleyrand and Director-General Brissot…”

Christine let out a small, sharp laugh and spoke.

“There is probably no one among those director-generals who can control their party as effectively as you can. This is not a matter that can be resolved by influencing individual director-generals. In the end, this is an inevitable problem that arises from the process of rapidly expanding an army formed by the convergence of people with entirely different interests.”

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue involuntarily.

Someone has openly declared intelligence warfare on Christine. The Chancellor of the Krafte Kingdom, Justin von Wittenfeld.

From Christine’s reports, he leads an intelligence organization that seems to have been designed from its inception to support warfare.

To counter them, we need to establish a counter-intelligence system by closely coordinating Aquitaine, led by Christine, with the military. However, the military itself is shunning Christine and refusing to cooperate.

“Should I force it through, using my authority as Commander-in-Chief?”

Desaix gave a bitter smile.

“With all due respect, I do not believe that would be a wise method, Your Excellency the Marquis. It's the perfect way to get accused of being wrapped around a woman’s finger and manipulating the army, even before the war begins, if we're not careful.”

“I don’t think that's a good method either. Krafte's intelligence warfare is not yet a tangible threat, and there are many assemblymen who are already wary of your power, which has become too consolidated after Valliant’s ouster. There's no good in dividing national opinion just before the most dangerous war.”

With Christine adding her two cents, I also gave a bitter smile.

“I was just thinking out loud.”

Cooperate actively with a merchant noble and an admiral who isn't even in the army, and reveal all confidential matters to her, just to prevent a potential terrorist attack from an enemy nation?

Honestly, even if they refused, I would have nothing to say.

But I feel sorry for Christine.

“…I’m sorry, Christine. Since it has come to this, I will have to ask you to be thorough at least in the supply sector that Aquitaine manages. I will also try to strengthen security within the army.”

The problem is I don’t think that will be enough to stop all the machinations of a man Christine herself holds in high regard…

“Leave that to me. And…”

Christine gave a slight smile and said.

“I don't intend to just take it lying down. If I give up one thing, I have to take one back.”

“Haha, that’s reassuring.”

Certainly, if Christine’s plan succeeds, Krafte will be dealt a blow they never saw coming.

“Well then, we’ve gathered all the cards we can…”

I looked down at the Alsace-Lorraine region, the border area between the Germania Empire, home to the Krafte Kingdom, and Francia.

The region that would once again become the battlefield for preliminary skirmishes.

The opponent is mankind's strongest army and the Great King, known as the greatest commander on the Central Continent.

The residents there are truly star-crossed.

“All that’s left is to see how it plays out, I suppose.”

As I slowly close my eyes.

-I hope you use the two years' grace wisely. I expect a war befitting your resolve, so do not disappoint me!

The face of the Great King comes to mind. An old man whose age suggested he might need a cane, yet he used that cane as a baton, so vigorous he exuded a sense of madness.

I don’t know how many times in my life I will meet a person with such a powerful impression.

Opening my eyes, I met the gazes of Desaix and Christine one by one, then said.

“I do look forward to seeing what kind of face he’ll make and what he’ll say when that Great King tastes defeat.”