episode_0196

Johannes Reformation War (1)

After the general royal meeting was over, only Yuno, the Prime Minister, and ministers and vice ministers gathered to have a more in-depth conversation, but Yuno’s mind was filled with only Yuria’s birth.

“Your Majesty! your majesty!! Are you listening? Your Majesty!!”

Yuno was absent-mindedly thinking about Yuria, and only came to his senses when he heard the voice of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marquis Noitora, calling out to him in a loud voice.

“Ah… Ah! I’m sorry. Jim was a little distracted for a moment. Don’t you know Jim’s situation well”

“Of course, I know it well… I heard that the Empress’s mothers’ due date is next week. Since you have some free time, please focus now…”

No matter how much he was the emperor, he had gotten his mother, Yuria, pregnant and was in a position where she couldn’t say even if it broke her mouth that she was now in labor, so Yuno sighed heavily inwardly and decided to focus on the meeting again.

“Hmm…. I understand. Let’s continue… How much did we talk about?”

“I was just telling you that the Holy Kingdom found out that the saint was alive and requested that she be returned to their country”

“Do you dare to openly demand from Johannes Saint Angelina, who is a sinner of the empire and promised to pay for her sins by providing medical services to the people of the empire?”

Juno frowned because it was offensive to him that a kingdom that had never dared to open its mouth before Heinrich undermined the national power of the empire was making such a bold request.

“I have heard that their justification is to burn at the stake a saint who distorted the will of God and massacred good people. The Pope probably doesn’t like the fact that his political opponent is alive”

“But wouldn’t it make sense for them to make such a request for a criminal who committed a crime in the empire?”

“The reason was that their country and the province were allies. It is quite possible for criminals to be extradited between allies”

“That’s right… The Pope really turned his brains around. However, there will be a lot of opposition even within the Holy Kingdom, right? For example, isn’t Jeanne Blumain, the head of the Inquisitors, Angelina’s younger sister? They say they’re going to burn your sister at the stake, but will you stay still?”

In response to Yuno’s question, the head of the intelligence department, Baron Robles, came forward.

” Due to the nature of Seongguk, it is very difficult to run an intelligence organization, so detailed information has not been obtained, but it is said that all the Inquisitor units have been deployed to the border area ”

“You may have heard the reason that you will move together when annexing Zeno as an alliance with your country, but the real intention is…”

“Perhaps if their country starts a war with Tesseito by attacking Zeno, they will wait and see and stick to the winning side and only try to take advantage. It is a very clever tactic that allows you to keep political opponents who may cause trouble on the outskirts while dealing with the saint.”

Yuno’s frown became increasingly frowned upon by the opinions of the Minister of Intelligence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of National Defense.

“Regardless of the situation and the demands of the Holy Kingdom, we can think simply. It should be considered as a standard that a saint should not be sent. I’m sure there’s no one who has forgotten our grand plan that we’ve had for a long time, right?”

“I understand what the Prime Minister said, but in any case, Seongguk’s request makes sense. In any case, that side may end the alliance and stick to Tesseito’s side…”

” Stick with it”

Marquis Noitora was arguing with Rachel when he turned his head when he heard Yuno’s voice coming from next to him.

“Your Majesty! It’s not that easy to decide…”

“No. If you think about it, it’s a very simple problem, isn’t it? Minister of Defense! Do you think there is a possibility that the Tesseito army in the Zenon Plain or the Inquisitor unit from the Holy Kingdom of Johannes, who has come to the border, will advance towards your country?”

Mayer thought about Yuno’s question for a moment and then shook his head.

“I think the possibility of that happening is very small. And even if they invade, all you have to do is mobilize the imperial legionnaires to stop them. The legionnaire’s best specialty is defensive warfare that allows efficient use of dense formations. Moreover, if the terrain is well known to our troops, we are confident that we will never lose. And the enemy will know this well, so they will never come in first”

“That’s right. The enemy commander, Duke Tiruen, whom I saw last time, didn’t look that stupid. Rather, he tried to use Heinrich well to maximize Tesseito’s benefit. Of course, he had the flaw of being a bit excited… but he seemed like a person who wouldn’t be that emotional when leading the military”

“Your Majesty is right. According to the report of a spy sent to Zeno’s occupied territory of Tesseito, it is said that military law is strictly applied and Zeno’s occupied territory is governed very well. It is said that the imperial people living in Zeno are also adapting quite satisfactorily to his conciliatory policy”

“Yes. If this continues, Zenon may fall completely into Tesseito’s hands. So, we must make the most of this opportunity. Rather, provoke the Holy Kingdom of Johannes as much as possible and force the Inquisitor troops to return to their borders! And when the time comes for the decisive battle, after persuading and absorbing the Inquisitor troops through the saint, they occupy the Holy Kingdom of Johannes with only one corps!”

“I will follow Your Majesty’s orders!!”

The ministers and vice-ministers gathered before the king bowed in obedience to Yuno’s command, and Yuno glared at a spot on the map in front of him.

“And next time…”

“It’s Zenon. If the Holy Kingdom falls into their own hands, the Northern Army, Western Army, and even the newly trained Guard Corps… can be pushed back with overwhelming power”

Mayer’s words ignited a fire in the hearts of all his subjects.

This was because a war was just around the corner that could revive the national prestige of the empire, which had fallen to the ground during Henry’s reign, and announce the complete revival of the Balkans.

“Rachel! Hyria! Diane!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“The three are the corps’ weapons, supplies, and equipment! Please prepare thoroughly so that everything goes well! Baron Derian! How is the training progress of the Guard Corps?”

“We are preparing for all training to be completed in the next two months! We are making thorough preparations to meet the date that His Majesty mentioned last time, so please don’t worry!!”

“One month!”

“Yes?”

Even though Baron Derian asked the question as if it were absurd, Juno was very calm.

“This war is a fight against time! So, let’s make sure that all training and preparation can be completed within one month!! This is the bodyguard corps that I will personally lead, so shouldn’t I be able to do that?”

“Your Majesty! It’s too much…”

“Tell them that after the training, I will conduct a test and award the title of 1st Guards Corps to the corps that I deem to be the best, and provide all soldiers with a gold coin and a week’s vacation in compensation for their injuries. With a product like that, it would be worthwhile for soldiers to train”

“Well, of course, but… Um…”

Derian stuttered and glanced at Yuno instead of him.

Juno followed Derian’s gaze, wondering why he was doing this, and there he felt the angry gaze of Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Rachel with a light in her eyes.

“Your Majesty!! What should I do if you give me such a reckless command without consulting with me!!”

“Ah, no!! It is used from the imperial family’s internal money, not from defense expenses…”

“You are not saying that royal family money is not national finances, are you? Even if it is not such a big reward, the soldiers will train hard when they receive the royal order!! That is why the soldiers are paid a salary and their families are taken care of by the government”

“Of course, most of what the Prime Minister said is correct, but not so much in the military area. The military must be well fed and clothed in order to maintain good military discipline. If you want to shorten 2 months of training to 1 month, you need to give them some kind of reward. I have no intention of revoking my order”

No matter how perfectly Rachel managed finances and handled national policy flawlessly, Yuno had no intention of following her advice when it came to military affairs, and Mayer was also nodding his head as if his thoughts were right.

But even if Yuno was right, Rachel wasn’t one to meekly back down.

“Even if what His Majesty says is right!! It’s like a million gold coins. In full bloom!! This is the cost to maintain one army for one month!! Of course, I know very well that your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress do not indulge in extravagance!! However, the main purpose of the deposit is only an emergency fund!! Such funds…”

When an angry Rachel raised her voice, all her subjects bowed their heads. This was because they were extremely afraid of getting noticed by Rachel, as their department could have their budget cut if they looked at her for no reason.

That moment when Yuno was also momentarily speechless by Rachel’s logical words. The door to the palace opened and an urgent voice was heard looking for Yuno.

“Your Majesty!! The Empress’s mothers have begun labor pains!!”

“What, what? Uh, which empress are you talking about?”

The owner of that urgent voice was Jennifer, and Yuno jumped up from his throne at the sound of her voice.

“Empress Eliza and Empress Catherine both started labor at the same time!!”

‘Oh, no, mom went into labor a week later than expected, and you two are going through another week early? driving me crazy…’

“This is not the time!! Prime minister! You too, come along! I have to take care of Eliza!!”

“Yes! Your Majesty!!”

Upon hearing that her younger sister was going to give birth, Rachel also quickly followed Yuno.

As the emperor and prime minister, the most powerful people, disappeared, the remaining subjects left the royal palace, rejoicing that no sparks were flying among them and the birth of a successor who would continue the empire, and praying for a safe delivery for the two empresses.

current situation map

*Blue Tesseito occupied territory