episode_0125

From the day the council declared Ioanes an enemy of the state, Roman’s mood has been grim.

First, a civil war broke out, changing the existing system to a wartime system and increasing the authority assigned to me.

Representatively, the right to arrest imperial lawmakers.

I am summoning the lords, soldiers, knights, and wizards by issuing a summons to arrest the lawmakers who are believed to have taken bribes from Ioanes.

Of course, I was worried that a summons to the Kingdom of Eren and the Kingdom of Bohemi would be made to make the front line vulnerable, so I excluded those two places.

“Your Highness the Archduke, this is a report from the Ministry of Intelligence.”

I think about the reports that the Nicaean army that has entered the Duchy of Dupol has surrounded major fortresses, castles, and cities, immobilizing them, and is advancing toward Llorente, where Duke Leopold is staying.

They’re trying to catch the duke and end it quickly.

The 130,000-strong army against the Kingdom of Eren and Bohemi is overflowing.

It would be unreasonable for the two kingdoms to fight against all 130,000 armies.

“First of all… we need to withdraw our troops from Roman.”

The shortest route for us to reach the Kingdom of Eren and the Kingdom of Bohemi is along the side road of the Duchy of Dupol.

The side road will probably be taken over after a while. Considering going back, I think now is the time to send troops.

Currently, there are only over 40,000 soldiers deployed in Romania.

Of course, it will increase in the future, but…

“Lucius, how are the negotiations between Müller and the Kingdom of Sardinia?”

Lucius answers my words carefully.

“ They say they have not yet received a response from their home country and are putting off further negotiations.”

-Thump… thump…

I tap my fingers on the table and get lost in thought.

Let’s not be impatient. You shouldn’t be impatient.

Even if a crisis is right in front of us and Eren and Bohemi fall, it is not a disadvantage overall.

Isn’t war not our Grand Duchy’s specialty, no matter what anyone says?

“Where are Philip and Martin?”

As I look for the two, Lucius points out the door and says.

“I’m currently in the Grand Study Department. Would you like me to call you?”

I nod my head at those words.

“Yeah, I’m going to tidy up a bit before I see William.”

Lucius nods his head at my words.

“Then I will tell you that.”

-Quick!

Seeing that the door is closed, I unfold the map on my desk, unfold the words with military symbols carved into them, and wait for those two.

-Squeak!

“Your Majesty the Archduke, have you found it?”

“Did you call me?”

I say this while looking at the generals wearing silver-white armor.

“Welcome. There is a chair over there, so you can sit there.”

I say this while looking at the two of them sitting on the chairs.

“The reason I called the generals was to dispatch reinforcements to Eren and Bohemi.”

I say as I place a wooden horse with military symbols carved on the map.

“According to the current information from the Ministry of Information, this is the situation.”

“Hmm…”

Philip and Martin frown at my words and become lost in thought.

“So, I am considering moving the troops in Roman, but I would like to hear your opinion.”

“But why can’t I see Eren and Bohemi’s troops?”

I answer that part with a puzzled look on my face.

“The Intelligence Department has not yet established a spy network in Eren and Bohemi, so confirmation of information is delayed, but news will probably come soon.”

Let me finish.

Philip closes his eyes and is lost in thought, while Martin looks at the map and moves his horse around.

I also know that there is no other way than to move Roman’s troops.

“The troop assembly point was set to be the Ern Kingdom. It’s standard.”

By summons, the assembly point for the troops was set at the Kingdom of Erne.

“But looking at Dupol’s situation, it looks like it won’t even last two weeks… no, if we do well, it will fall within a week.”

I nod my head at those words.

“We haven’t collected information yet, but we don’t know how prepared Ern and Bohemi are for war. Even if it were… it wouldn’t be able to stop that many troops for long.”

Seeing both people nod their heads at what I said, I continue speaking.

“In that case, we will divide Roman’s currently deployed troops to save Ern and Bohemi.”

I move two of the four pieces placed in Roman and place them toward Erne and Bohemi.

“Even if Erne and Bohemi are unprepared in the worst case scenario, the entire country will not be occupied while we are moving. We are going to support them with these troops.”

Philip nods his head at my words.

“If everything is occupied, it would be good to prevent the enemy from heading to Roman from Simferopol.”

Simferopol is a fairly large city on the way from the Kingdom of Erne to Romania without passing through Dupol.

“I agree, but… I think the military force is too small. If the opponent has 130,000 troops, it is not a problem that can be solved with 10,000 to 20,000 troops.”

I nod my head at those words.

“That’s right. I plan to use it to tie them up.”

They cannot just go to a city where 10,000 to 20,000 people are deployed.

You never know when or where they will cut off supplies. In order to maintain superiority, you will need to deploy at least 30,000 to 40,000 people.

In the meantime, I have to think of a new strategy.

Honestly, I don’t want it to go this far.

The moment Erne and Bohemia collapse. The war becomes a long one.

I still feel sick to my stomach. I can’t imagine how much it will make me feel sick if the game continues for a long time.

The moment the Erne breaks through.

Landing in the Adriatic is difficult.

If the Nicaean army leaves the basin and enters the plains, there will be a supply route directly from Nicaea.

You can’t use it because you might end up isolated.

“Hmm… First of all, I have to hope that Ern and Bohemi are well prepared for war.”

I nod my head at those words.

“That’s right.”

“However, I am worried that the nobles within the empire will have other thoughts due to Roman’s empty troops, or that Ioannes will use the navy to sail up the Tiber River.”

At those words, I smile softly and shake my head.

“It’s coming up the river… Don’t worry about that. Honestly, I think it would be better that way.”

Martin just smiles and says, without mentioning that he will be an ally with the United Kingdom yet.

“You have a hidden card. Then I will believe it.”

“Yes. Here’s something that might surprise you. I hope to send you good news soon.”

Philip nods and smiles.

“So, who is going to provide reinforcements? I think either me or Martin will go. Who are you thinking of?”

This job requires you to be adept at improvising and skillfully controlling collapsing battle lines.

As the right person…

“I would like to send General Martin.”

Martin’s face smiles brightly at my words.

“Haha, General Philip, I guess I won this bet.”

Philip’s face distorts slightly at Martin’s words.

“Chet, Your Majesty the Archduke. I’m not doubting Your Majesty’s firearms, but wouldn’t I be a better fit?”

Philip protests, trying to change my mind, but I shake my head.

“General Philip has something else to do, but I guess you two made a bet?”

The two people are embarrassed by my words.

“Nothing special, we made a bet on who would get to the battlefield first.”

I am puzzled by Martin’s words.

Is it good to go to war? You want me to bet on something like that?

“Haha, I made a bet that the person who receives His Highness’s call first would be a better general.”

I laugh awkwardly at Philip’s words.

“Is that possible? General Philip has something else to do.”

He nods his head with a stunned face at my words.

Is there “? We just follow orders.”

“Haha, thank you for saying that. General Martin, please leave Roman and go to Eren by the day after tomorrow.”

Saying that, I stand up.

“I have to go see Sir William. I’ll just leave now.”

Two people stand up at my words.

“Are you really going to go with His Majesty the Emperor?”

I nod, looking at the two people’s worried looks.

“If you go with Mary and 10,000 soldiers, what could happen?”

In fact, as soon as he found out that William was heading to Roman, he summoned Mary.

She is someone who usually hates leaving the Grand Duchy, but when she heard that William was coming to Roman, she was surprised and had no choice but to cooperate.

“Has Princess Mary arrived?”

When the two people spoke in surprise, I answered.

“Yes. Mary will also go with us, so don’t worry too much.”

“If you say so…”

I say, watching Martin and Philip meet their eyes.

“Then I’ll just leave.”

That’s how I leave the Grand Duke’s office and go out of the imperial palace.

White, white carriage.

Eight beautiful white horses pulling a carriage.

The carriage, decorated here and there with gold, is extravagant and extravagant.

I personally don’t like it because it’s such a flashy carriage, but what can I do?

It’s a carriage exclusively for the imperial family.

As I was about to board the carriage, I heard a familiar voice.

“Oppa?! Why are you so late?!”

I wave my hand lightly and say to Mary’s cry.

“Are you here?”

And then quickly get into the carriage.

As we get into the carriage, Theodora has a sullen expression.

“Why are you so late?”

“Haha…”

I say, scratching the back of my head shyly at her appearance.

“Well… I have something to take care of quickly. Hmm… What is the coachman doing? I can’t wait to go.”

When I give the command, the carriage starts moving.

“But… did you sleep a little?”

I say that while rubbing my eyes a little.

“Yeah, two hours ago? I slept that much.”

At my words, Theodora’s face becomes thoughtful and she speaks.

“Two… two hours? You sleep some more. And then I collapse.”

I wave my hand and say that.

“Don’t worry. I won’t fall down.”

As I wave my hands like that, I think and ponder more about the future in my head.

***