At the same time, Leona asked me about diplomacy.

    “You said it before. Don’t rule the world with fear.”

    “Yes.”

    “But I have already made many enemies. Is there a way to subdue them without killing them?”

    “… ”

    Sure, I told Leona. Don’t rule the world through fear.

    However, it was not a complete rejection of Leona’s method. Leona changed the world greatly. He took advantage of the chaos in the world to drive out the corrupt people who had solidified their vested interests, thereby making life better for the people.

    But the problem was that not everyone could be happy. What do the expelled priests eat for a living? What should the kicked out paladins do? What I learned was politics and what I learned was fighting. Now, it would not be easy to pick up farming tools and focus on productive activities.

    “Master.”

    “What was it?”

    “I do not deny all of your methods.”

    “I know. No one understands me better than you.”

    “The world does not run on carrots and sticks alone. You need both to go back.”

    She nodded. But his expression wasn’t very refreshing.

    “So, let’s keep the master’s method but add a little carrot to it.”

    “What if it’s a carrot?”

    “It is to induce the priests and paladins who were driven out by the lord, and the surrounding lords who lost their merchants, to take the lord’s side.”

    “Is it really necessary? They are the villains who have been destroying the world until now. I don’t want to have villains as subordinates.”

    “Master. From now on, what your lord must save is the world. And there are not only good people in the world. There are also evil people.”

    “… ”

    I also know the slogan of encouraging good and punishing evil. But that is just a catchphrase. The world doesn’t work that simply. Sometimes evil people become good, and sometimes good people become evil.

    Therefore, if we want to save the world, we must not divide people into a dichotomy of good and evil. If we fight with the sole intention of saving everyone, we will eventually be able to stabilize the world.

    “Clergy who extorted money and valuables from the people, monarchs of the central region who did not care about the world and only thought about the safety of their own families. They are all villains. But keep in mind: Even evil people can become good depending on the situation, and good people can also become evil depending on the situation.”

    “Then how should we deal with them to be good?”

    “Let’s open a way to make a living.”

    When a person has a full stomach and a warm back, magnanimity naturally arises.

    —–

    1 year and 8 months later. November 10, 556, Imperial Calendar.

    Two harvest seasons had passed since then, and Krusenstein’s barns were abundant.

    In addition, taxes collected from numerous merchants had also piled up, fully funding the war costs.

    Accordingly, Leona led the army and dispatched to the central region.

    Once again, it was an expedition to the central region.

    The number of troops mobilized in this war was 120,000.

    However, 20% of them were mercenaries.

    80,000 direct troops and 20,000 reinforcements from Blois de Savoy. And it was an army made up of 20,000 mercenaries.

    Why were there so many mercenaries this time that weren’t there last time?

    The reason was simple.

    “Everyone, listen. Our army hired a large number of priests and paladins who lost their jobs in this war as mercenaries. Including the general mercenaries who participated, the number was approximately 20,000. Even if they do something dishonorable, you should never insult them.”

    “Yes!”

    “If you can’t control it, don’t insult it, but rather kill it.”

    “Yes? uh… Yes!”

    Haakon answered with a puzzled expression.

    Yes. Leona hired many of the priests and paladins she had driven out as mercenaries.

    In fact, the central expedition was fully possible even without mercenaries. Haakon and Clemens argued that mercenaries were useless people who only ate money.

    But that is only from a strategic perspective. And the reason the lord hired them was not for strategic advantage but for political advantage.

    Leona was reaching out to them. He said, ‘Even though I have kicked you out, if you obey, I will guarantee you at least a way to make a living.’

    Leona was an enemy to the paladins and priests. Of course, they were still enemies.

    However, by hiring mercenaries this time, Leona was extending a hand of mercy, willing to embrace even her enemies.

    Of course, it wasn’t just those who held hands. There were an enormous number of paladins who joined Leona’s enemies in order to regain their lost vested rights, or to protect vested rights that they might lose.

    But the important thing was that it divided the enemies. Originally, the forces that would hinder Leona for a long time had been dismantled in advance, so even if there was an immediate loss from a strategic point of view, there would be a long-term gain from a political point of view.

    But that wasn’t the only problem.

    Adelheid von Ignati suddenly stepped forward. Adelheit von Ignati was a classically beautiful woman with light blue hair tied back. She was a distant relative of the imperial family, a noble family, and an outstanding person whose political stats were the second highest in the game.

    Adelheit came forward and advised Leona.

    “Master, I have something to advise you.”

    “Allowed.”

    “I understand that this central expedition is aimed at destroying the Ambrosia family.”

    “But?”

    “However, the Ambrosia family and the Kruzenstein family will still have an armistice agreement for the next 7 years. Why are you trying to break the armistice agreement?”

    At this, Leona grinned.

    “Franz.”

    “Yes, my lord.”

    Franz Mayer stepped forward and began to explain.

    “The armistice agreement from three years ago included this clause. The two families will stop fighting for the next 10 years and will not invade neighboring small countries to increase their power. If this is violated, all negotiations become invalid.”

    “I know that.”

    “The Ambrosia family violated this clause. Therefore, the armistice agreement is invalid.”

    “Yes? What do you mean by that?”

    “For nearly three years, the Ambrosia family has been at war with several smaller families, including the Carter family. In the process, the Ambrosia family took territory, and because they took territory, they violated the clause not to invade neighboring small countries.”

    “Ha, but wasn’t the Ambrosia family attacked first?”

    “Whether you were attacked or provoked depends on your perspective. What is certain is that the territory has already been taken and the armistice agreement is now a piece of paper.”

    “… ”

    Adelheit muttered with his head down.

    “That’s… ”

    “That?”

    “Isn’t it against good faith to terminate an agreement citing unavoidable circumstances?”

    It’s against faith. To be honest, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

    In the original work, Adelheit was a character who placed great importance on classical values such as faithfulness. Perhaps the fact that Ignati was a member of a prestigious family affiliated with the imperial family made her personality that way.

    But Krusenstein is a thorough pragmatist. Therefore, in some ways, Adelheidt and Krusenstein were completely different types of people.

    Krusenstein answered Adelheidt’s question.

    “Faith. I also like Shinui.”

    Everyone became quiet. Adelheit openly criticized his lord in front of everyone, causing his subjects to hold their breath.

    “But think about it. Has there ever been a time when things worked out just because of good faith?”

    “… ”

    “5 years ago. If Sir Franz Mayer had remained faithful to Adele von Setia until the end, a great tragedy would have occurred. The war would have been sluggish, causing numerous casualties, and Adele would have caused suffering to many people by ruining politics like Adele did. That is the result of those who keep faith. But Sir Franz chose good cause over good faith. He did not move for his own peace of mind, but for the sake of everyone! That is why we are where we are today. Adelheit, I guess you are here because you also supported Sir Franz’s decision?”

    “… ”

    “Otherwise, you wanted to abandon your faith at the time, but now you suddenly want to keep it?”

    As expected, what he said just now was a bit harsh, so I intervened.

    “Your Majesty, your words are a bit excessive.”

    “… ”

    Leona looked at me, thought for a moment, and then sighed.

    “That’s right. Adelheit, I said too much. Don’t take it to heart and forget it. You are my precious subject.”

    “… Yes.”

    Adelheit stepped back with a somewhat gloomy expression. What would have happened if I hadn’t intervened right away? Or what would have happened if the lord had continued to criticize Adelheit even though I had intervened? It could have been worse than it is now. It’s dizzying just thinking about it.

    In the end, the meeting that day ended leaving everyone feeling uncomfortable.

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