NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24
What are some ways to ruin the relationships between those who are face-to-face?
There are various methods, but one I’d like to highlight is the difference in information. The presence or absence of knowledge leads to conflicting opinions.
“Give the prisoners belonging to Burgai and Kaden a shorter rest. The Polrand prisoners should be given more time. And of course, you know that we should blatantly discriminate against their working hours, right?”
I’m working to the bone while those over there are just lounging around. They’re not injured, nor have they sold any information. They’re just being treated differently because their Kingdom is different.
What would our prisoner friends think upon witnessing that scene?
“Let’s arrange the guard soldiers differently. Let’s place more brutish and intimidating ones near the prisoners of the two Kingdoms, and more gentle soldiers beside the Polrand prisoners.”
As a bonus, I instructed that the guards near the prisoners of the two Kingdoms must not speak a single word. Conversely, the guards for the Polrand prisoners need to laugh a lot and talk plenty.
We need to divide the atmosphere perfectly in half. Some are prisoners. Some are friends. That kind of feeling.
“The prisoner diet. This is important. For those from Polrand, provide a diet not for prisoners, but the one our soldiers receive. On the other hand, reduce the diet for the prisoners from the two Kingdoms to less than what was originally given to the prisoners.”
It’s hard to find something more maddening than differentiating based on food. Even the elderly and those in high positions can feel hurt.
How much more so when openly discriminating against the only thing the soldiers in our battlefield have to rely on, food?
‘They’re definitely going to go crazy. They might suspect something without any issues.’
What’s crucial here is that all of this must be visible to one another.
You can’t keep the prisoners from the two Kingdoms separate from the Polrand ones.
The two groups must clearly see what happens to each other.
Ah, and the most important part. In fact, this can be considered the climax.
“Let’s have them sleep in the same space. …What if a fight breaks out? Well, that would be good for us. I really hope that a fight breaks out among the prisoners.”
To them, the sight of demons being nice to those folks would surely provoke thoughts like, “They’re trying to drive a wedge between us! Don’t be fooled!” or something similar, right?
Could it really be that? Of course, they’d think there’s something going on between the Empire and Polrand.
Conversely, the soldiers from Polrand, even if they feel wronged, may unconsciously think it’s comfortable. They have suffered in the past from the two Kingdoms, so they might find it amusing!
If they hear complaints from the two Kingdoms’ prisoners about why they are being treated differently, would they really say, ‘Ah, right. We’ll start working together and share meals from tomorrow?’
‘Does that make sense?’
And that night, the awaited news came in.
“Prince Kael, there was a fight in the prisoners’ quarters. Thankfully, there were no fatalities, but there were injuries…”
“Who won?”
“What? Ah, yes. Since there was a numerical difference, we think it was the Burgai and Kaden prisoners.”
I see. Then our Polrand friends will surely feel wronged.
If the Empire steps in and shouts ‘You bastards!’ it would really complete the picture beautifully.
How can I hold back? When I see chaos, I must join in right away.
“From tomorrow, we will increase the workload of the Burgai and Kaden prisoners.”
“Ah….”
“And the Polrand prisoners will rest in front of their work area.”
“Is that okay? The atmosphere among the prisoners is already….”
“It’s meant to provoke more fighting. Open discrimination. Yes, just like that.”
Our Empire continues to treat the two Kingdoms and the Polrand prisoners differently.
Then the people from the two Kingdoms will get angry and keep provoking the Polrand prisoners.
The Polrand friends, who initially thought they were all prisoners, will also feel the rage.
I’m curious to see what they will say when we finally send our prisoners back!
“Let’s formally release the Polrand prisoners. As for the Burgai and Kaden prisoners, not all, just a few. And let’s not do it through regular means, but make it seem as if they escaped.”
From the perspective of the three-nation alliance, whose words will they listen to more?
The ones who were well-fed and treated exceptionally well, looking like they’ve radiated health upon their release, even though they were technically prisoners.
On the other hand, the ones who suffered and didn’t eat, looking ragged, yet escaping alone.
At the very least, the command of Burgai and Kaden must be in chaos.
“…Even if Polrand complains that they were wronged, there’s not much we can say. Prince Kael.”
“If they’re angry, that’s even better for us. The two kingdoms will think there’s something they’re hiding.”
After thanking the commander in charge of the prisoners for their hard work, I went to find the Legion Commander for the next operation.
“Letter?”
“Yes, Legion Commander.”
“I’m sending a letter to the commander of the three-nation alliance. So, what kind of content are you planning to send?”
With a smile, I handed him the prepared item.
“…Prince Kael?”
Upon receiving the letter, the Legion Commander examined it and tilted his head.
He must have been puzzled. And rightfully so, for this is not just any ‘letter.’
“Did you bring the wrong one? There’s nothing here that could be called content. It’s just a simple greeting, and even half of the sentences are smudged and unreadable.”
“In that case, I have brought it correctly. Legion Commander.”
No matter how powerful suspicion is as a weapon, if you don’t feed it, it will eventually die out.
So, I must keep blowing air into this wind of suspicion without a break.
Until finally, when they gather and gather, it explodes among themselves!
“There’s already been a previous suspicion raised regarding the treatment and release of the prisoners. If the commander receives a letter, arriving to find such content, what do you think they’ll feel?”
“In a normal situation, they’d think the enemies are employing a divisive tactic. But….”
“There’s no mercy for flames that have already been ignited with suspicion.”
Burn, blaze up! Burn brightly, until every last one of you burns up!
Surely, Cao Cao had a similar thought when he played such a wonderful prank, right?
“Then, it would be best to send this letter quietly with the envoy.”
Now, the Legion Commander reads me like a book. I absolutely love it!
*
“It seems the Imperial Army is treating our soldiers very generously.”
“There was no abuse whatsoever, and they hardly made us work, with the guards being very friendly.”
“The soldiers from the two Kingdoms may not know, but the story has likely already spread among our Polrand soldiers.”
The commander on the pavilion side of the three-nation alliance, Bethel, had to clutch his head.
He would have preferred if a decisive battle had broken out instead.
The Polrand soldiers returned. It was almost hard to believe they were once prisoners.
They had been fed and slept well, their faces radiating health.
How much trouble had it caused to comfort the commanders of the two Kingdoms who had been fuming at such a sight?
In the midst of it all, the Empire kept firing daggers in their direction.
Though it may be termed an escape, it was evidently deliberate leniency shown to the prisoners of Burgai and Kaden.
As soon as they returned, the flames within the alliance army flared up uncontrollably.
“I’m curious as to why only the Polrand prisoners were taken care of. Oh, I’m not accusing anyone.”
“We need to take care of the prisoners who didn’t eat or sleep. Please supply some provisions from Polrand.”
“Hmmm. If the Polrand soldiers were treated well, they might fight with more enthusiasm. After all, once captured, they’ll be freed again.”
It wasn’t long ago that everyone shouted, ‘This is a trap from the Empire!’
Yet now, as the murmurs among the soldiers grew stronger, they cast suspicious glances as if nothing had happened.
They threw tantrums, ranting about what was happening, but it wasn’t easy to persuade them.
After all, calculations led to a defeat for the pavilion’s forces.
So what’s left is to assign blame for that loss. Which kingdom will bear the responsibility?
Whether they win or lose, the only concern is who will hold the upper hand for future power dynamics.
“What foolish people….”
And they picked the easiest target, Polrand.
The commander must have thought it was just right, especially with the added issue of the prisoners in Polrand.
Using this as a pretext to pressure Polrand while extracting human and material resources without granting any command authority.
It’s so predictable. The two Kingdoms have always treated Polrand this way.
They’re neither friends nor companions. Just a punching bag to exploit whenever something’s needed.
Now, hatred towards the two Kingdoms has overshadowed the anger directed at the Empire.
“Commander.”
At that time, a Polrand commander cautiously entered the barracks.
“The envoy from the Empire has arrived.”
“An envoy? How could it be so quiet in the camp?”
“They quietly came over to our Polrand side. They say they’ve come to deliver a letter; what should we do?”
“…First, bring it to me.”
I can’t kill an envoy. And since they’ve brought a letter, I need to check it.
When Bethel received the so-called letter, he couldn’t help but grimace.
“Was that truly an envoy from the Imperial Army just now?”
“Yes? Ah, yes, Commander. They were holding a white flag along with the Imperial Army banner.”
“Then what the heck is this?”
Bethel handed the letter he was holding to the same Polrand commander.
With words smudged and obscured, what was left were merely simple greetings.
Just as he was about to continue the absurd conversation with the two, a commotion erupted.
“Commander!”
Suddenly, the entrance to the barracks was pushed aside, and a group of commanders rushed in.
All were from Burgai and Kaden. The atmosphere was extremely tense.
“I’ve heard the news. I heard an envoy from the Empire has arrived. What business do they have arriving so quietly?”
“What you’re holding in your hand… Isn’t that something sent by the Imperial Army?”
“Why has the commander been keeping this to himself without saying a word? Aren’t we an alliance?”
…What the hell. An alliance? An alliance??
Bethel barely managed to suppress the urge to throw the letter he was holding at them.