novelraw Chapter 164: Krafte War - Northern Allied Kingdom (2)
Chapter 164: Krafte War - Northern Allied Kingdom (2)
“Gustav XII is certainly an ambitious man, and full of complaints.”
Talleyrand took a leisurely sip of his coffee, savoring it slowly before he spoke again.
“I think I understand why Countess Aquitaine said it would be entirely possible to win them over.”
Christine took a sip of her coffee and replied lightly.
“So you didn't follow me with complete faith after all.”
“Haha, as I said, Countess Aquitaine is a person who must be trusted. However…”
Talleyrand grinned and gave a wink.
“There's no such thing as 100% in diplomacy. Since we are fundamentally dealing with a country we don't know well, we cannot know what kind of variables might arise.”
“I see. I only observed from a merchant's point of view. So how do you, as a Director-General, see Gustav XII and the Northern Allied Kingdom?”
Talleyrand took another sip of his coffee and replied with a slight smile.“There is a severe gap between a king who is greedy and thinks he is able, and the national power that cannot support him. Of course, I can't be certain, but I doubt this country will ever see a golden age, will it?”
Christine also smiled darkly.
Gustav XII had pretended to be angry and acted as if he were trying to haggle over various conditions for the sake of his national interest, but in the end, he was impatient.
The fame of the Great King of Krafte and the young giants of Francia had stimulated the young king’s desire to perform such feats himself.
Although on the surface he acted as if Francia’s proposal was unpleasant, Gustav XII had clearly been preparing for war, making weapons and cannons from the minerals whose export routes were blocked by the maritime blockade.
Of course, they did not know Christine was aware of such a confidential matter.
“It was a good move not to guarantee the recapture of their territory. I am impressed by Director-General Talleyrand’s eloquence.”
To Christine’s words, Talleyrand replied with a grin.
“There is no guarantee that their army can defeat the Krafte Army, so Francia cannot shed blood to feed territory to an ally we brought in to disperse their forces. This was only possible thanks to the support of Countess Aquitaine.”
“What is immediately important to the vested interests of the Northern Allied Kingdom is to lift the maritime blockade and sell their minerals. It is convenient to use them since the interests of the king and his supporters are separate. What they lack, in the end, is food, and that is something we can solve for them somehow.”
Talleyrand stroked his chin and asked.
“What is the scale of the rebellion within Krafte that will respond to them?”
“Well...”
Christine drew out her words before answering.
“Given the nature of a rebellion, it is difficult to make an accurate guess, but all told, it will be in the tens of thousands.”
“Wow. The rapidly rising hegemon of the northern Empire is in for a hard time.”
“It is possible precisely because they are a rapidly rising hegemon. About half of the Krafte Kingdom's current territory was taken from other countries during the reign of the Great King. Until now, they had been cowering because Krafte was doing well and the outcome of a rebellion against their army was obvious.”
Talleyrand let out a small laugh.
“And on top of that, we defeated the Krafte Army, brought in the Northern Allied Kingdom, and the Countess provided financial support. It's like pouring oil on a dying ember.”
“That's right.”
Talleyrand's expression grew complicated as he looked at Christine, who answered so calmly.
It's easy to say, but neither Krafte nor they are fools.
While carrying out an intelligence operation on such a scale to make Francia believe they were focusing on military operations, she simultaneously bought off the nobles of the Northern Allied Kingdom and instigated the feudal lords within Krafte.
It is hard to imagine how busy she must have been and how much money she must have spent during the two-year armistice that Krafte allowed.
Then there was the matter of the divine power amplification crystals that horrified the National Assembly. Although the Aquitaine Merchant Guild made a fortune during the civil war and the revolution, it would not be an exaggeration to say they poured almost everything into this war.
And yet she was so calm.
In fact, even among those who had cried out for the protection of the revolution in the National Assembly, if asked to donate their entire fortune for its victory, there would be not a few who would hesitate.
Sadly, the more one has, the more it is so.
“Countess Aquitaine is amazing. Even if you weren't a merchant, I think my heart would be pounding if I had bet that much.”
“I am, trembling.”
At Christine’s indifferent expression, which belied her words, Talleyrand was about to chuckle when an attendant arrived.
“Director-General Talleyrand, Countess Aquitaine.”
“Oh—it seems the news we were waiting for has arrived.”
Talleyrand took the letter the attendant handed him, tore it open, and smiled.
“Ah, it seems Gustav XII has finally made a bold decision. There will be some more adjustments before the formal agreement is signed, but.”
Christine let out a light sigh and replied.
“I will leave that to the Director-General.”
“Hmm? Are you planning to return to your country first?”
“I have a lot on my plate. I would like to be able to see the results if possible, but it would be troublesome if I couldn’t respond to other matters in the meantime. You are more skilled at diplomacy than I, Director-General, so I will trust you and leave it to you.”
Talleyrand stroked his chin with a very reluctant face.
“Haha, well, this is quite ambiguous, you know.”
“What is?”
“Usually, politicians are desperate to get in on a big deal like this, even just a little. But to think that you've prepared the entire meal and are just handing over the plate to be served to the guest and leaving, it feels strange from the perspective of someone who sees you as a rival.”
Christine stared at Talleyrand, then the corners of her mouth twisted into a smile.
“Was my influence so lacking that I should be attached to the signing of a single treaty?”
At the extremely arrogant remark, Talleyrand's expression contorted slightly.
“Ah, yes. Well, I understand. In any case, both Marquis Lafayette and you are the same in that you do everything you can for your country, yet remain so unpalatable. I will take care of things here very well~ so please go ahead and reassure the National Assembly, which must be on pins and needles.”
Here, Christine hesitated for a moment.
Just as Christine was about to tilt her head and wonder what was wrong with Talleyrand, she spoke slowly.
“I’m not going to my home country, but to the Magic Kingdom.”
“The Magic Kingdom? Why there?”
“I have a business deal…?”
At Christine's uncharacteristically questioning tone, Talleyrand narrowed his brow.
“A deal, even after the matter of the divine power amplification crystals is over? What kind of deal?”
“…It's faster to find a place that doesn’t have an Aquitaine Merchant Guild branch.”
After a moment of silence, Talleyrand spoke again.
“My, even after going to such lengths, it would only be a difference of a few days at most.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
Talleyrand gave a look that said, ‘Ah, what am I to do with this cute young lady,’ so Christine cleared her throat and turned away.
“Yes, well, then please go and give my regards to Marquis Lafayette and Her Majesty the Queen. I will take care of things here very neatly.”
“…Please do.”
“Ah, youth, youth~ I am envious!”
Christine pretended not to hear and left the room.
*
A week had passed since the Battle of Barua.
Fortunately, Eris's eyesight had returned to normal in that time, and our Queen, as if nothing had happened, began to help treat the wounded with her usual cheerful demeanor.
I was also greeting a welcome face.
“I greet the King’s brother!”
“It has been a long time, Karok and Shandra. I express my gratitude for coming this far and for accepting my unreasonable request to defend against the Germania Empire's invasion in our stead.”
Leading the reinforcements of the Iberian Brotherhood, Karok and Shandra had gone north at my request and defeated the Imperial army that had sided with Krafte, thereby protecting Lorraine.
The one-eyed, fierce-looking Orc, who looked like he could chew me up and spit me out, smiled gently, while Shandra, with her usual cheerful face, joked.
“Oh, I almost died. The Imperial army was a disorderly mob, but that Count Wittelsbach was amazing.”
“Ah, Count Wittelsbach.”
He was the strongest knight of the Empire.
His talent was indeed worthy of being called the Empire's strongest, but a gap in experience was his limit.
Had he been training diligently since I defeated him? Shandra is no pushover, so for her to say she almost died…
It will be troublesome if I gave him unnecessary stimulation and he has overcome a wall. I regret not killing him then.
“In any case, thank you once again. If not for you, we would have lost Lorraine, the key defense line of the Francian border.”
“I am glad to repay even a little of the debt our brotherhood owes. From now on, we too will join you.”
“Ah, I ask it of you. Is your king well?”
“Haha, he is full of complaints, saying it was more comfortable when he was fighting a war. He has run away and been caught by his brother several times.”
I imagined the mountain-sized, muscular Orc groaning amidst a pile of documents, then running away only to be dragged back to his office by the skinny Hassan, and I burst out laughing.
“Haha, it is always more difficult to rule than to conquer, but he is your king, none other. I believe he will do well.”
“The king, too, will be pleased with his brother’s trust.”
As Karok and I exchanged warm smiles, Shandra spoke up.
“Ah, by the way, why did the Imperial army come to Lorraine? Isn't it normal to join up with Alsace, where they already have a bridgehead and are engaged in battle?”
“Haha…”
Tactically, yes.
Of course, on their part, they must have thought they were catching us off guard while we were engaged with the Krafte Army. However, Lorraine is where the defense line we built in preparation for the Krafte Army remains intact.
Even if the Imperial army was a disorderly mob, that defense line must have been a large part of why the brotherhood’s army could win so easily.
“The brotherhood may not know this, but the human nations of the Central Continent are quite political. Since they joined the war late, they must have been trying to achieve some merit they could boast of, rather than just playing a supporting role in a battle Krafte was going to win anyway.”
“Hmm~ how foolish. In the end, they were chased out and had to fight with Krafte anyway.”
I replied with a small laugh.
“Thanks to that, we were saved.”
The army of the Iberian Brotherhood, which places heavy emphasis on melee combat, has a very different doctrine from the Francian army.
Without a plan that considered them in advance, it would have been difficult for them to become an immediate fighting force proportional to their numbers. To be honest, I was seriously worried they would be melted away before they could even get close to the insane firepower of the Krafte Army.
If the Imperial army, although a disorderly mob, had coordinated with the Krafte Army in terms of doctrine and come with them in such a situation, we probably would have had a harder time.
I glanced back and smiled.
“Now, the one who will guide you has arrived, so go and rest. We will have a little time until the next battle.”
“Understood.”
“Yep~ ah.”
Shandra answered alongside Karok, turned her back, and then ran with a big smile upon seeing Gaston, whom I had called to be their guide.
It seems even Gaston is quite happy to see her now, which makes a smile spread on my lips.
I watched as the veteran soldiers waved warmly to the brotherhood's mixed army of humans, orcs, and goblins, while the new recruits' eyes widened at the sight of the orcs.
This much is a sign that prejudice has largely disappeared.
When I first met Kroxx, I never thought it would turn out like this. But at this rate, cooperation will not be difficult.
In the last battle, the Revolutionary Army had about 60,000 casualties, and the Krafte Army about 40,000.
It is quite grim that the exchange ratio was like that even after mobilizing an enormous amount of money for the crystals and pushing Eris to her limits. However, this side has Eris and Archbishop Johan, who cooperates as much as he can without going against the policies of the Holy Theocracy.
Thanks to that, about 10,000 of the casualties have already finished their treatment and can return to the front line.
Since the force Karok and Shandra brought is close to 50,000, our total forces are now virtually the same.
It is a painful blow that the Cuirassiers, the core of the Francian army's strength, suffered extreme damage in the last battle. However, it is not comparable to Krafte, whose casualties all translate to a loss of strength and who have lost a considerable amount of artillery.
If the Krafte Army, which is already at a numerical disadvantage, is now also divided, our chances of victory are high enough.
As I was thinking that, a voice came from behind me.
“The Northern Allied Kingdom has declared war on the Krafte Kingdom. In response, the feudal lords who had been subservient to Krafte, centered around the Duke of Saxony and the Duke of Warsaw, have declared a war of independence.”
I turned my body and replied.
“That is the news I have been waiting for.”
Christine replied with a slight smile,
“And you probably received it before the Great King of Krafte.”
I walked over and hugged Christine.
Christine hesitated for a moment, then spoke in a small whisper.
“Actually, I wanted to see you first, right after the battle ended.”
“Thank you for coming, even like this.”
Ah, this is the command tent, I realized.
As I belatedly realized this and awkwardly let her go, I felt the gazes of those around me.
Ah…
“S-sorry. I was just so happy to see you.”
Christine looked up at me intently and said,
“For you, I worked myself to the bone, spent an enormous amount of money, suffered through a long journey, and as soon as I arrived, I was subjected to a shameful ordeal.”
“W-well…”
While I was fidgeting, Christine opened her fan to cover her mouth and whispered so only I could hear.
“Therefore, I will demand a just compensation, Pierre.”
“…”
I immediately took her hand and started toward my lodgings.
What are you looking at, you bastards.
“I-I didn't see anything, Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief!”
“S-sweep the floor. The floor…”
I could feel the tickling sensation of Christine's soft laughter as she followed me.