episode_0062

Anyway, now that I’d finished writing the book, we were ready to leave.

There was no reason to stay in the Great Plains any longer.

“Then we’ll be on our way. Please take care, Chieftain.”

“Safe travels, son-in-law. I hope you bring a grandchild with you next time we meet. Preferably three?”

“W-We’ll try our best.”

“If it’s too difficult, feel free to write me a letter anytime. I’ll get some good stamina boosters and send them over.”

“…..”

I also bid farewell to my father-in-law and mother-in-law.

When we arrived, we were treated as honored guests, but now we were leaving as new family members taking away their daughter.

We hadn’t even had a proper wedding yet, but they already wanted grandchildren, which was a bit 부담스럽긴.

No, I still have so much to do, it would be hard if she got pregnant.

It will take at least another year to control the direction of the war and set the world on fire.

It sounds like an excuse since we’ve already been doing it raw, but in any case, we have no plans for a second child for the time being.

“Kalia, you take care too. Be careful.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Ah, and I’ll make good use of the book my son-in-law wrote. What was it called, Juche ideology? I skimmed through it and the content seemed quite plausible.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

It’s the essence of the know-how and doctrines of the world’s top dictatorship experts, so it will be useful enough.

It’s up to Mahdi to figure out how to spread it among the nomads and gain their support.

I believe he’ll do well since he’s the head of the organization.

How could he run an intelligence organization if he can’t even do this much propaganda?

“We have a long way to go. Let’s get going, honey.”

Retracing the same path we came, we crossed the two borders in about three weeks.

From the Great Plains to Nabr, from Nabr to Elaine.

Security was tighter and inspections increased due to the war, but it wasn’t difficult to pass through.

Thanks to our organization’s know-how in spreading intelligence agents everywhere and constantly exchanging information.

“They should be here to meet us by now…”

“Branch manager-niim!! You’ve finally arrived!!”

And so, when we finally arrived at the Elaine branch.

We were greeted with somewhat unexpected news.

“The revolt is spreading?”

The internal unrest in the Kram Empire, which I thought would be a one-off event, had actually spread to the surrounding areas.

* * * * *

“So, what happened was–”

This was the situation.

In one village, unable to bear the starvation and exploitation, they raided the military warehouse and stole food.

In response, the Kram Empire army sent several suppression forces to resolve the riot, but they failed.

This was because the resistance of the rioters was too strong and the morale of the dispatched troops was at rock bottom.

“It seems that they repeatedly dispatched forces from about company to battalion size, but they were all crushed. A large number of weapons were also seized.”

“By civilians who haven’t even been trained?”

“Surprisingly, it seems so.”

“What the hell are they doing…?”

Seeing the army retreating, the nearby villages and rural areas were also ignited.

They thought, if those guys can do it, why can’t we?

Since the suffering from harsh exploitation was the same everywhere, they all joined in when they saw a possibility.

As a result, a significant area of the Kram Empire was engulfed in flames that started from within.

The total area is comparable to a decent earldom.

“I expected it wouldn’t end in a short period of time, but I never thought it would turn out like this.”

“Why hasn’t the Kram Empire suppressed it?”

“Probably because they underestimated it. The difference in desperation and the level of the troops themselves would also be a problem.”

Why did this happen?

I could roughly guess the reason.

The peasants who started the uprising had nothing to lose.

They must have had the idea that if they lost or were caught even once, everyone would die.

That’s why they would have resisted desperately, even if their combat power was lacking.

‘Because their family’s lives are at stake.’

On the other hand, what about the suppression force?

They must have been drawn from the rear security maintenance unit. Those substandard guys who just play around and eat.

Even if they were superior in terms of armaments and skill, they wouldn’t be able to fight with such a rotten mental state.

It’s a natural result, considering that the difference in combat power between the militia and the army is not as extreme as in the 21st century.

“Ismael. What do you think will happen now?”

“Hmm…”

In response to Kalia’s question about future trends, I gave a definite answer after a brief thought. Since there were many other people around, I spoke in a polite tone as before.

“Is it early April now?”

“It is.”

“It’ll be over soon. A large-scale suppression order will be issued within a month at the latest. And it will be at an unprecedentedly harsh level.”

Kalia and the organization members were puzzled by this.

“Why? Isn’t there a possibility of attempting negotiation or compromise?”

“I don’t think so. The momentum has become too great.”

It’s a simple principle.

Small riots or complaints are subject to tolerance and mercy.

But when it reaches a level that threatens the system, the leader’s choice turns to repression and violence.

Normally, compromise or harmony is possible, but in this situation where the security of the country is at stake, that possibility itself disappears.

“You said that small-scale units failed, right? Then I think they’ll mobilize a division or more this time. They’ll bring in field armies that were operating on the front lines and plan to crush them.”

“Then there will be disruptions in food production.”

“Wouldn’t they endure that much? The stability of the country and the control of the rear are more important to the ruler than that food.”

Even if people are swept away, the land and buildings remain.

Then later, they can send vagrants or bring slaves to live there and restore the region’s productivity.

From the ruler’s point of view, it doesn’t matter who lives there as long as food production and manpower mobilization are properly managed.

So there is a sufficient possibility that they will choose ultra-strong suppression while enduring short-term human casualties.

“…I think it’s better to cancel the plan to dispatch operatives. We were planning to spread the situation in the rear.”

“That’s a wise decision.”

Why send people to an area that will soon be devastated? What a waste of money.

It’s more efficient to record the tragedy that will happen there and inform other countries.

Then we can cause a public opinion war and annoy the empire’s leadership.

Well, even that has a practical effect–

No, no. Wait a minute.

“Hey, Kalia-yang.”

“What’s wrong, Dang-, no, Ismael-ssi?”

“Do you know how the Kram Empire’s conscription system is organized?”

Kalia tilted her head at my question, but answered properly.

“Basically, they recruit troops by region to form units.”

Regional conscription – training – unit organization.

In other words, people from the same hometown become affiliated from enlistment to discharge.

This is a common method because long-distance travel is not easy. As far as I know, this system was common until the 20th century.

“Do you know where people conscripted from southeastern Kram were deployed?”

If so, there must be a unit composed of people from the area where the riot occurred this time.

“It’s possible. It will take some time to contact the local branch to find out. Why are you suddenly asking this?”

“Because I came up with a simple way to screw over the empire.”

If the situation goes according to my plan and intentions…

Not only the Kram Empire, but also the world economy could be plunged into hell as a bonus.

* * * * *

And a few weeks later.

“The order has been given. Trample and burn everything thoroughly!”

“Don’t leave a single one alive. They are all traitors who have betrayed His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Fire all the artillery until it turns bright red! Destroy everything and deploy troops!”

As Ismael predicted. A thorough offensive began on all areas where the uprising had occurred.

The mobilized troops numbered approximately 13,000.

A force slightly less than two divisions launched an offensive against the rebels all at once.

“The soldiers are coming in droves!!”

“E, everyone, calmly hold your positions. We must defend this bank to prevent them from entering the village–Keheok!”

Thoroughly and mercilessly.

The Kram army waged a near-extermination war against its own people.

They blocked the transportation routes.

They established a siege.

And they poured out generous shelling with well-prepared artillery.

“General. There is a messenger holding a white flag over there.”

“Shoot him. The headquarters’ directive is that no prisoners are needed.”

There was no surrender or surrender recommendation.

Even if the other party made an offer, they ignored it.

Because they had no intention of accepting it in the first place.

They repeated attacks and pressure as if they were annihilating the remnants of an enemy country.

The sight of the residents, driven into a corner, being swept away by simultaneous firing as a last resort, was even inhumane at first glance.

“They shot a child who was begging for his life!”

“You monstrous bastards. Do those things have no hearts?”

Why can they be so cruel?

The reason was none other than their origin.

The troops deployed this time were all front-line troops who had fought against the Helvetia Republic.

They had just come from fighting the enemy, so they were all full of murderous intent.

They were from a different region and there was little interaction between regions due to the feudal system.

This means that there was no sense of empathy between the soldiers and the rioters.

‘Because they saw them as traitors or enemies, not compatriots or fellow citizens.’

That’s why they could be merciless.

This is the same principle as when the Beijing garrison refused to suppress the protesters in the Tiananmen Square Massacre, so they brought in local troops.

The less sense of belonging there is, the less hesitation there is in committing atrocities.

“The operation is going very smoothly. If this continues, we will be able to suppress all unrest within the next month.”

“The country will finally be quiet.”

The Kram army’s leadership was satisfied as they watched the riots being suppressed quickly. They said that the problem that had been bothering them had disappeared.

* * * * *

However, contrary to their expectations, the country did not stabilize just because the riots disappeared.

“The nobles killed my father and mother!!”

“We’re already sad enough that we’re starving every day, but now you’re laying your hands on our families, you sons of bitches!!”

This is because some soldiers who had heard about which regions had been affected started a rebellion.