episode_0034

Our troops pushed straight west to the Ambrosia family’s stronghold.

However, the Ambrosia family did not bother to fight, even giving up the small castles on the front lines.

Ambrosia’s family’s troops number 100,000 to 110,000. 70,000 troops of the Krusenstein family. The opponent would have been overwhelming in terms of number of troops, but the opponent did not bother to fight.

People were puzzled, but I was able to understand. The Ambrosia family has never been able to touch the Harper family. It was because the archers of the Harper family were scary. The Krusenstein family’s army, which erased the Harper family from the map in an instant, must be scary.

However, the Ambrosia family’s choice was absolutely correct. The most difficult situation for us was that the enemy was locked inside the castle and would not fight. Our territory is thin and long, so supply was bound to become more unstable as time passed. So the enemy did not fight and was only biding his time. It was the perfect answer.

‘It’s the matriarch’s trick.’

I thought about it. Gamo, who failed Plan A and Plan B, started Plan C. And Plan C will be a truly scary operation.

The Ambrosia family’s full-scale plan was about to begin. And it would have to be me who would stop that scheme.

This is because in the original history, Leona suffered great damage around this time.

—–

“Master, did you call me?”

One day. Leona called me from inside the military camp. Leona was dressed in her usual dignified armor. she asked me

“What should I do?”

Leona’s question was always like this. It was out of the blue, without any explanation of the context. It was Leona’s lack of communication skills, but it also meant that she trusted her subjects. It meant that things would be understood without having to say anything.

“On the front lines, Ambrosia is leading a 100,000-strong army and is fortifying, and if she fails to do so, she will lose the capital. Right?”

“Yes. I can no longer do this or that.”

“The other person used his/her brain very well. Is there even a good tactician?”

“It may be a scheme of a person named Gamo Frost. It was in excellent shape.”

Indeed, does Leona know? Gamo Frost was known as the strongest tactician in the central region, so it was no surprise.

“Your Majesty, is it possible for you to think about it?”

“Go forward!”

Leona shouted. I said, holding my head.

“There are 70,000 friendly troops and 100,000 enemy troops. Plus, it even has a castle. Is moving forward really the right answer?”

“Of course! Even if there are only 70,000 allies, the 70,000 allies are overwhelmingly stronger than the 100,000 enemies. Knowing that, wouldn’t the enemy also not come out of the castle?”

“Hmm… 70,000 of our army can win against 100,000 of our enemy. But even after winning, it’s a problem. If your power grows too much in a short period of time, you will need time to solidify your inner strength, and while you are solidifying your inner strength, enemies from neighboring countries will attack you at the right time. Moreover, since they have an emperor, there will be a lot of neighboring countries that feel threatened.”

She nodded slightly.

“You will be fighting the world.”

“If we have to fight, we have no choice but to fight.”

I’m not bluffing. In the original story, she actually fights the world. And, fight and win. She dies in the end, but not because she lost the war. Her wars were always tinged with victory.

However, the reason she dies is because she fought and won against the world and committed numerous massacres in the process of becoming the loser of the continent. In the end, she dies due to a rebellion by a subordinate who was opposed to the massacre. That’s the original story.

I don’t know what other people think, but for me, this is the starting point. We face a huge challenge. If she overcomes this difficulty with force, she will live a life completely dominated by the logic of power, and if she overcomes it wisely, her life will be a little more peaceful.

In other words, whether you become a tyrant or a saint depends on this.

“Master.”

“What is it?”

“If you advance, you will be able to destroy the enemy.”

She smiled confidently.

“Hmph, you had the same thought as me… ”

“Not equal.”

“… ”

She paused for a moment, as if she was surprised.

“What does that mean?”

“If we advance, we can win, but the problem comes after we win. Even if you fight against the world and win, you will have to kill many people to force your enemies to submit, and if you kill many people, you will incur antipathy and fear from those who survive. If that happens, then the reign of terror will begin.”

“I am prepared. Fear follows rule.”

“Politics driven by fear and politics centered on fear are different. A little fear may be necessary, but if you treat people with fear, you will become a fearful person to your subordinates.”

“… So does that mean you have a better idea?”

“I don’t know if it’s a better idea. Because I’m not sure either. But if you like that idea, would you listen to it?”

“Tell me.”

I explained the plan I had planned to my lord for a while. Then the lord said this with a puzzled expression.

“There was such an operation?”

“Yes. Rather than moving forward, it will be an operation that will allow you to take control of the central region slowly but surely.”

“You are more than I thought… He was a cunning person.”

I smiled at those words.

“Your Majesty, cunning is a good virtue in difficult times.”

Rules of the game.

‘The game sucks’ was always a high praise.

—–

The next day, Leona sent a messenger to the castle of Godwin von Ambrosia, the lord of the Ambrosia family. After hearing the messenger’s proposal, Godwin slapped his knee and stood up.

“Leona has surrendered to us!”

That’s because the terms of the armistice negotiations presented by Leona were shocking.

—–

A. The Krusenstein family transfers the capital of the empire, Arcadia, to the Ambrosia family.

B. The Krusenstein family delivers the new recruit of Princess Vlasia von Arcadia to the Ambrosia family.

C. The two families will stop war for the next 10 years and will not invade neighboring small countries to increase their power. If this is violated, all negotiations will be invalid.

—–

It was a shocking condition. Leona handed over both the capital and the emperor to the Ambrosia family. Ambrosia laughed loudly.

“Hahaha! The Krusenstein family has recognized our hegemony!”

This condition was tantamount to admitting that the Ambrosia family was the losers of the world.

Ambrosia immediately stamped the negotiation document and tried to send it. but…

“Master!!! Lord!!! It’s not possible!!! Please don’t receive it!!! Lord!!! Please stop!!!”

A man ran into the conference room, screaming loudly.

When the door opened, what was seen there was Gamo Frost.

“Why are you doing that? Gamo.”

“This is a trap! Please don’t take it! If you accept this armistice agreement, our family will be ruined!”

Godwin’s eyes widened at those words.

“Trap? this? What trap?”

“Think about it! If the ally has a princess and a capital, they will naturally have to enthrone the princess as emperor, and if the Ambrosia family, which already has a huge territory, enthrones the princess, those who are jealous will join forces and attack the Ambrosia family! Then we will have to fight the world! This is such a trap! The imperial family is a horse. If you can digest it, it’s medicine, but if you can’t digest it, it’s poison. A poison that can melt even the greatest power.”

East and West, all over the world. There were countless people who arbitrarily established themselves as emperors or declared themselves emperors and then fell. If a powerful person establishes an emperor, he can dominate the world, but if a powerless person establishes an emperor, he is likely to destroy himself. Krusenstein was trying to secretly pass on poison by pretending to be medicine. Because I have no intention of digesting it myself.

“That was your intention!”

Godwin couldn’t even imagine. I wouldn’t have guessed that this armistice agreement contained such an intention. But it was fortunate. Thanks to the presence of the matriarch, I was able to escape without being deceived.

“Then what should I do?”

“Please accept water. If we give them the capital, it will be an image of our army acknowledging the hegemony of the Krusenstein family. However, accept the capital, but not the princess. The Ambrosia family and the Krusenstein family share the princess and the capital city in half. By keeping the place and giving the people, the two families share hegemony half and half. That’s the best for now.”

Godwin quenched his appetite. If he received both the capital and the princess, he would be able to establish the emperor and control the empire as he pleased. Why can’t I develop greed for knowledge? But if you swallow that power, you will die. This was the Holy Grail. A poisoned chalice.

“Is hegemony being shared half and half? It’s a shame.”

“But it’s better than dying.”

“If it weren’t for you, I would have been in big trouble.”

“Is that so? What would you have done without me? Hahaha!”

The matriarch laughed. The gold teeth embedded in his molars shone brightly.

Godwin also laughed, but the two did not know. Franz Mayer was also preparing Plan A and Plan B. The fact that there was not just one trap.