NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31
“This is just not right. Yeah, no matter how I think about it, this is definitely not okay!”
“What? Didn’t we do something similar before? Absolutely not! Not even close!”
“Back when the meteor fell and morale in the army hit rock bottom. That time was different; we used the dragon to lift everyone’s spirits.”
“Back then, we only suffered a psychological setback. That means, if we can equally restore that psychological part, we can turn this around!”
“Nothing was lost in terms of supplies or lives, after all!”
“Kaya, could you step outside for a moment?”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I have something urgent to discuss with the department head here. Please.”
With Kaya here, she would definitely side with me. So, I decided to leave my younger sister outside the office for a bit. Fortunately, someone requested a word with Kaya, so that worked out.
“Department head. War Planning Department Head?”
Kaya stepped outside with the man. I continued speaking in as serious and solemn a tone as I could muster.
“No matter how I look at it, this just doesn’t align with me.”
“Why’s that?”
“The one in charge of stabilizing the army should be the commander. I’m completely clueless about military matters, so I would only hinder, not help.”
I presented a pretty logical reason for my opposition. However, my effort was swiftly shot down.
“There’s nothing to worry about. The one in charge won’t be you. I just want you to offer appropriate advice and sharp wit beside the one responsible.”
Just like what happened recently with Nobogord. And like on the Pavilion front, too.
At those last words from the department head, I slapped my forehead in disbelief.
So that was the main reason for this whole situation.
Honestly, it all lined up a bit too perfectly.
But when I think about what happened with Nobogord and what happened on the Pavilion front, if you break it down, it was all just luck.
It was only thanks to Lady Fortune smiling upon me; otherwise, I would have been declared a sinner.
“I think you’re being too humble.”
“I’m not being humble, department head. This is a completely different situation. Just having a bit more knowledge as an ordinary guy is an immense burden.”
“There were opinions that we’d struggle a lot just based on the Pavilion front. Our War Planning Department was monitoring the Pavilion front with utmost care above all else.”
“….”
“But, Prince Kael, you took charge and the situation changed in an instant. The alliance was thrown into chaos, with them tearing each other apart. You know that well, right?”
“Well… that’s true.”
It seems this isn’t going to work. I need to change tactics.
“Isn’t the second army about to depart soon?”
“Right.”
“Then why are we focusing on stabilizing the 7th Legion? Can’t we just retreat them to the rear and shift to the second army?”
At my question, the department head muttered, “That’s not how it works, unfortunately.”
He took out a cigarette from his pocket, offered it to me, then returned it to his pocket.
Seeing that, it looks like there’s something I’m not aware of.
“Transitioning units is a straightforward military issue. But this is more than that.”
“Are you saying there’s a political issue involved?”
“Yes. Think about it, sending one of the elite legions, the 7th Legion, to fight just once and then retreating. Imagine how anxious the citizens of the Empire would be.”
“….”
“On top of that, the pro-peace faction, who are currently keeping their heads down due to the three-nation alliance, might suddenly become emboldened. That would escalate internal chaos too much.”
In other words, they are trying to create the illusion of ‘nothing happened’ at all.
It’s absurd, but then again, when I think about it, it’s not completely unreasonable.
If we pull back the 7th Legion, the three-nation alliance will gain momentum.
Momentum on the battlefield is more important than anything else. Once swept away, you won’t stop until the end.
In the worst-case scenario, it could even affect the Pavilion front that we just secured.
“Therefore, the 7th Legion needs to stabilize the situation and head back to the battlefield.”
“Any lost troops or supplies will be compensated by the second army.”
“That part will be handled by the commanders, as you said. What’s important now is how to stabilize the mood of the 7th Legion, and that’s it.”
Hearing this, I finally understand why I was singled out.
From the perspective of the commander of the 12th Legion who was with me, I would feel like the top candidate.
To put it metaphorically, it was like being smeared with honey and standing in front of a beehive.
“Sigh.”
“I understand your worries. But as I said, just help with the stabilization. After that, the Legion Commander, the other commanders, and the Empire’s leadership will decide.”
Yes, and that’s precisely what worries me. I have a premonition they might pile on more work.
I’m supposed to only stabilize things, and as soon as I do that, they’ll probably say, “Oh, by the way, could you handle this too?”
“I just need to go in and stabilize things, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Really?”
“…For the moment.”
Aha. So ‘for the moment’ means just that.
Thanks for the honest answer! I’m feeling much better now. Haha.
“I wish the 7th Legion had acted a bit slower.”
“No, department head. That’s uncertain.”
“What do you mean?”
Since I had plotted the scheme, I had roughly calculated its potential outcome.
On the Pavilion front, it wasn’t necessary to achieve victory over the enemies.
After all, I had already sown enough doubt; it would explode sooner or later.
But the 7th Legion is different. For one, there are nearly no Polrand troops in that theater.
The main force is Burgai, and the auxiliary is Kaden. The military strength of these two kingdoms is crucial.
If we merely confront them, the enemies will be forced to stabilize their internal chaos.
When I say stabilizing internal chaos, it refers to one of two scenarios.
Either they take more time against Polrand to learn the truth.
Or the two kingdoms split Polrand among themselves and use that strength to fight the Empire.
Whichever it is, I must keep the strongest Burgai among the three eastern countries occupied.
That way, Burgai will be focused on the Empire while verbally provoking Polrand further.
With that, the provoked Polrand will finally be depicted exiting the alliance.
“Is the 7th Legion caught in some kind of scheme?”
“Not at all. They just lost in a pure clash of momentum.”
“I guess the alliance must have felt quite urgent, seeing as they fought so fiercely to push back against the 7th Legion due to the issues on the Pavilion front.”
That means there was a compelling reason for the 7th Legion to fight.
They definitely didn’t drop their guard or make fruitless attacks.
The only problem was that the enemy’s resistance far surpassed expectations.
“However, thinking about it this way… it sounds like the alliance is taking considerable damage too.”
“That’s what they say. Therefore, even though the 7th Legion lost, the enemy couldn’t chase them down.”
In other words, it was a hell of a fight, leaving everyone sprawled out.
It’s a silver lining that the enemy didn’t retaliate, or else the Pavilion front would have been at risk too.
“There are many layers involved in this situation.”
“Indeed.”
Today, that saying comes to mind again: tactics are subordinate to strategy, and strategy is subordinate to politics.
“Department head, is there anything I should be cautious about regarding the stabilization approach?”
“I haven’t heard anything different. Rather, the higher-ups seem to be paying keen attention to find any method to lift the mood of the 7th Legion.”
“The fact that we can use any method at all?”
Any method at all. Any method at all. I muttered that part several times.
“Department head, is it really okay to use any means possible?”
“That’s what I’ve said. Do you have a good idea?”
I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, but something suddenly popped into my head.
“Department head.”
“I’m listening.”
“Can I possibly use a certain esteemed individual?”
I expressed my thoughts to the department head.
A moment later, I saw department head Eugene’s face twist in a strange way.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Didn’t you just say any method will do?”
“Still, this… crap, this isn’t something I can decide on my own.”
As he muttered that, the department head scratched his head and told me to wait a moment.
When I asked where he was going, he answered as if it were only natural.
“I need to go see Your Excellency the Chancellor. That matter isn’t under our War Ministry, but the Ministry of the Palace.”
*
The Second Princess, Isabelle Heldenberg. Currently, she was in the Eastern Empire.
A war had broken out between the Empire and the three eastern kingdoms.
They declared war first, and the Empire merely responded.
Until then, peaceful gestures had been demonstrated through the pro-peace faction.
Thus, this war cannot be said to have been instigated by the Empire.
Rather, it is safe to say that they are responding to the aggression of others against their will.
But that’s that. Ultimately, with the war having broken out, some will die and some will be injured.
From now on, I must monitor and soothe public sentiment. I absolutely must.
For that reason, Isabelle voluntarily came to the East.
“…The 7th Legion lost?”
I couldn’t express how shocked I was to hear that news.
It wasn’t a total defeat. Burgai also suffered severe damage.
However, it was the Imperial Army that retreated, so the term “defeat” was appropriate.
As that news spread, it was only natural that the Eastern Empire would express anxiety.
Though it hasn’t escalated into chaos yet, it’s undeniably shocking.
“Thank goodness.”
Yes, it was a relief. The fact that the Princess herself was here.
I could quickly stabilize public sentiment and also contain the noble class.
The Emperor must have allowed her to come to the East, expecting her to play this role.
For the sake of the Emperor. For the sake of her sister. And for the sake of this Empire.
Today, Isabelle was still busy with her schedule, going from place to place.
“Your Highness the Princess.”
Until one day, when Kael suddenly barged in.
“Let’s work together on something.”