Ch.205How to Persuade a Principled Person

“That is not possible. We cannot deploy Imperial troops based on unverified information, and it would be undesirable to set a precedent of Imperial forces indirectly intervening in civil war. It would remain as justification for future imperial family members to misuse the Imperial army.”

Georg, after listening to Leopold’s story, flatly refused.

It was such a resolute answer that it seemed there was no room for negotiation, but his attitude didn’t seem to break Leopold’s will.

“If you say you cannot deploy troops because the information is unverified, does that mean you would permit the deployment of the 1st Corps if a major invasion is confirmed?”

“That’s a secondary issue. What’s important is that the Imperial army would be intervening in a civil war. If the Imperial forces of 60,000 troops clash with each other, the Empire will shatter. Therefore, this is absolutely unacceptable—an act of treason against the Empire.”

He wasn’t wrong.

The Imperial army, in terms of numbers alone, is a massive military organization where a single corps equals the combined forces of three prince-electors.

And there are four such corps.

If they could turn their swords against fellow Imperial citizens, the Empire would have changed dramatically.

Either the Emperor, with his command over the Imperial forces, would have achieved centralization with overwhelming military power…

Or as Georg said, the corps would have clashed with each other, leading to the dissolution of the Empire.

“You say it’s unacceptable… then what would you do if another corps intervened in the civil war and took sides? Would you suppress them, ignore them, or perhaps take the opposite side?”

Unlike when dealing with Duber, Leopold’s attitude remained consistently calm.

If threats work well on some people, they don’t work on others. Georg was clearly the latter type of person.

“You called intervention in civil war treason. Then, ignoring it would mean tolerating traitors, which would be neglecting your duty. If you take the opposite side, the 1st Corps would also be actively intervening in the civil war… meaning you too would be contributing to shattering the Empire. So, would you choose to suppress them?”

“…I suppose I would.”

Georg, who had been hesitating, reluctantly answered.

As if expecting that response, Leopold continued with a smirk.

“Is that so? But what if those you face are fighting against external enemies of the Empire? Suppressing such people would be aiding foreign enemies, wouldn’t that also be treason against the Empire?”

“…Has Duber agreed to go north?”

Georg asked, seemingly a bit surprised.

His statue-like rigid expression didn’t even twitch, but there was a subtle displeasure in his tone when mentioning Duber’s name.

It seems the two corps commanders don’t have a friendly relationship.

Well, it’s natural that the stubborn, principled Georg wouldn’t be fond of someone like Duber.

“Indeed. The 2nd Corps will soon head to Faelrun territory. To defend against the ‘major invasion.’ Now, will you declare them traitors and suppress them? Knights who have stepped forward to protect the Empire against Werebeasts?”

Georg remained silent for a while.

The principles of neutrality and territorial defense must be clashing in his mind.

Both would be critical beliefs that he couldn’t compromise on.

Of course, Leopold didn’t seem inclined to let Georg reach his own conclusion.

If his decision after deliberation favored neutrality, it would create an insurmountable obstacle.

“I understand your concerns. How could I doubt your loyalty, dedicating yourself day and night to the peace and safety of the Empire? Yes, as you say, Imperial forces intervening in civil war is unacceptable… But this is not a civil war. It’s a suppression. I swear in the name of the Imperial Prince, Leopold Wittelsbach, before Elpinel. The moment the witch Isabella is defeated, all truth will be clearly proven.”

Leopold declared firmly.

Swearing by his name?

Doesn’t the ownership of the name Leopold belong to me right now…?

“When that time comes, it will be revealed to all that I didn’t do this out of lust for power, but to suppress the witch who assassinated the late Emperor and threw the country into chaos. If what I’ve sworn now proves false… lead the 1st Corps and come to behead the villain who has lost the qualification to be a Wittelsbach. If things turn that way, my infamy will reach the heavens—who could stop you from marching to suppress me?”

“However…”

“Besides, aren’t you also inwardly uneasy about leaving the entire north to Duber? If Duber is defeated, the Empire will lose the 2nd Corps and the north will belong to the Werebeasts. Not just the north. When Werebeasts start building their forces in Faelrun territory instead of the Sky Mountains and begin moving south, how many Imperial citizens will become their prey?”

Georg couldn’t readily answer.

It seemed he too was convinced that if a major invasion of Werebeasts actually occurred, Duber alone couldn’t stop it.

Looking at Georg, who was beginning to waver, Leopold drove in the final wedge.

“That’s not all. With the northern army having come down to the mainland, if you don’t head to Faelrun, only Duber’s 2nd Corps will remain there… You know Duber better than I do. Can you guarantee he won’t commit atrocities against the people of Faelrun? No, it’s more than that. What if he completely occupies Faelrun and, taking advantage of the Empire’s chaos, declares independence? Can you guarantee such a thing will never happen?”

Leopold also didn’t miss the subtle displeasure Georg had shown when mentioning Duber’s name.

Georg distrusts and despises Duber.

So it was natural for him to think Duber might do such things.

“It’s all hypothetical, but the only person who can monitor and prevent such things from happening is, as far as I know, the commander of the 1st Corps, Lord Georg. Won’t you make a wise decision, not for me, but for the people of the north, and indeed for all Imperial citizens?”

After hesitating for a long time, Georg had no choice but to nod.

“I hope I won’t have to cut down the bloodline of Empress Anna with my own hands.”

It was an incredibly heavy threat, but Leopold smiled, unconcerned.

With this, the 1st Corps had also agreed to the deployment.

—-

“That’s unexpected. He seemed like a stubborn man who would never bend his will.”

“That’s how principled people are. If you make their conflicting principles clash and provide a suitable reason for one of them, they have no choice but to choose that one. In their minds, they haven’t bent their will, but have chosen one of two options of their own accord.”

Watching Leopold grin, I honestly couldn’t hide my discomfort.

…If you were this capable, why didn’t you do better before?

Well, even back then, though he was passive, he must have been skilled at handling negotiations.

Just looking at how he brought all three secular prince-electors to his side… he must have been quite capable in this area from the beginning.

“Anyway, with this, the northern issue is settled for now… The princess should also return and rest. We’ll have to leave for the east within two days at the latest. Thank you for your hard work today.”

“All I did was glare, so it’s hardly work. By the way, didn’t you correct yourself earlier and call me Baron of Median?”

Leopold stroked his chin as if he’d been asked a difficult question.

…I wasn’t trying to press him. I was just curious about the reason.

“Ah, that… Regrettably, with the agreement with Ka’har broken, your status as a foreign princess will be difficult to recognize within the Empire. So, your official status is now Baron of Median. With Aishan-Gioro becoming an enemy of the Empire, it would be problematic to continue using that name, wouldn’t it? Until Orhan dies, you’ll have to get used to being called Baron of Median for the time being.”

I see.

I don’t mind, but I’m not sure how Hersella would feel about it.

That woman’s life goal seemed to be exterminating her own relatives, so maybe she wouldn’t care either.

—-

Once the corps commanders made their decisions, preparations for deploying the 1st and 2nd Corps proceeded swiftly.

Surprisingly, there was little resistance from knights or soldiers.

The 1st Corps trusted Georg’s judgment, and the 2nd Corps didn’t bother opposing something the 1st Corps had agreed to.

Thus, two corps totaling 30,000 soldiers, 500 knights, and 3 Masters were organized as the Northern Defense Force.

The reason there were only 3 Masters was that the Imperial Knights Order itself only had six Masters.

Most people who became Masters through hard work were often recruited by lords who offered better treatment than the Imperial Knights Order.

Even those who remained in the central army rather than serving lords were usually assigned to the Royal Guard.

Of course, Leopold had a solution for everything.

Eight Masters belonged to the Royal Guard.

Three of them still remained under Ernst, and one had died in the palace collapse, but four still remained.

Leopold assigned all of them to escort the 2nd Prince Karl.

In fact, Karl had given up all his rights as royalty and left for the north, so in principle, he wasn’t eligible for Royal Guard protection.

However, if Leopold were to die in battle, Karl would be the only prince.

In that case, to continue Carolus’s bloodline, his succession rights would have to be restored, so no one could oppose the rationale of sending escort knights in preparation for such a scenario.

Leopold’s escort would be handled by a Master under Lord Wien, Percival, and unusually, Duber’s eldest son Pierre, who had been appointed to the Royal Guard.

Given that Pierre’s skills were far below Percival’s, the escort was merely nominal, and in reality, he was being held as a hostage to prevent Duber from acting rashly… but from his perspective, becoming a Royal Guard despite his skill level must be an honor, right?

Percival also seemed pleased to have a junior, as he was smiling while requesting dozens of rye breads from the cook.

—-

The day before heading east.

I visited Frider’s group to tell them about what had happened and the upcoming schedule.

They should know about this too.