Chapter 163

I, Joseph von Orleans, was born as the heir of the illustrious Orleans Count family, which has a history spanning hundreds of years since the founding of the Empire.

Growing up, I watched the steadfast backs of my grandfather and father, who protected our family, and I wanted to become someone like them.

Thus, I did not shy away from the etiquette, knowledge, military knowledge, martial arts, and wisdom that a noble should possess, nor from taking the lead in the wars involving our family as an heir.

Perhaps because Deus was moved by my efforts, I soon became a competent heir, known as the hope of Orleans, and the next count.

Thanks to siding with the current Emperor, who was the second prince at the time, during the internal conflict that threatened the survival of our family, I was granted a broader territory and the title of Duke.

There was a time when I thought everything would go well if I just resolved the civil war, but I soon found myself steeling my resolve and preparing meticulously for a sudden expedition order.

However, in war, unexpected variables always arise, and I am currently racking my brain to devise strategies to resolve these variables.

“Count Valier, what did you say?”

“Yes, Your Highness the Duke. Marquess Siel von Croilet has sent you a letter. However, the contents are somewhat peculiar.”

“The opponent is that Marquess Siel, isn’t it? I wouldn’t be surprised by anything he does. I’ll read it myself.”

Count Valier immediately handed me the letter, and it contained truly shocking information.

It’s one thing for the Marquess to volunteer for the vanguard in order to regain the Emperor’s trust, but to not ask for any reward in return?

He claims that he will offer me ample compensation if he just does that?

A person with such a powerful army and enough economic power to shake the country that the Emperor would have to be cautious about would not willingly sacrifice himself for a war without any reward to regain “His Majesty’s trust.”

“Count Valier, I have serious doubts that this letter was written by that damned Marquess. Isn’t that so?”

“However, the seal and signature used are indeed those of the Marquess. It seems he has caught wind of the secret agreement between His Majesty and the Brussels regent, the Duke of Orleans. Or it’s also possible that someone exposed it…”

First of all, the possibility that Valier spoke of regarding the exposure of the secret agreement is almost zero.

This is because when this secret agreement was made, we did so in the hidden chamber of the palace, and the only people who participated were the regent, His Majesty, and myself.

Additionally, when we made the secret agreement, we decided that each would only inform their most trusted chief vassals.

And as for my chief vassal, the regent’s, and His Majesty’s, they are trustworthy counts who have served loyally for generations.

Such individuals would not easily forsake the honor, fame, and status that their families have built over generations to become subservient to that damned Marquess.

“The Count of Hunt from the Brussels Duke’s family, you, Count of the Paltra Court under His Majesty… all of them would lose the trust and honor built by their ancestors if they lose the trust of their respective lords.”

“That is correct. So…?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Seeing that he mobilized more soldiers than the assigned military service and volunteered for the vanguard, he must have figured out that we intend to send the Marquess to the front lines to force a consumption of his forces. Damn it, it seems he recognized a method we used too often to purge large noble families.”

At those words, Valier smirked and sighed.

“However, as long as Your Highness the Duke is the overall commander… it will be easy to push Marquess Croilet into a fierce and difficult war as per the agreement, and when it comes to ‘damage and reorganization of the unit,’ we can have the reserve forces back at the rear. If he refuses, he can be punished for disobeying military orders…”

“In the case of purging other nobles, that might work. However, the opponent is Marquess Siel von Croilet. Even if he is thrown into an incredibly unfavorable situation, he will endure tenaciously and achieve victory in ways one cannot even imagine. He must have said such provocative statements with confidence. And a battlefield where accomplishments are hard to achieve means that if he wins there, we must offer substantial rewards.”

“You are not considering the possibility of the Marquess failing.”

“He is a madman known for defeating the army of Count Architel, dubbed the strongest in France, with less than a thousand losses. No matter how unfavorable the battlefield, he will undoubtedly achieve results. That means I and the other nobles will be left in unfavorable circumstances.”

If only he hadn’t said to put him in the vanguard, I could have forced him into the front and made him bleed without this need for worry…

But now that he openly declared his intention to excel in the vanguard, the second-best solution would be to deprive that fellow of the opportunity to shine.

Although we may not be able to significantly weaken Croilet’s power, if our family and other nobles achieve great merits in the expedition and seize vast territories in eastern France, the situation will change.

As the one leading the greatest power in the east, I will also reign as their overlord.

Then, I will no longer have to worry about Marquess Croilet.

In fact, he, who will have weakened compared to our eastern forces, will have to crawl before me…

“Count Valier, since it has become difficult to exhaust Marquess Siel von Croilet’s forces by placing him in the vanguard during this war… the nobles from our east must mobilize more soldiers to expand our territory to keep him in check. And naturally, the Orleans Duke family must be at the center of this. Given the circumstances, I shall take on the role of the vanguard as the overall commander.”

Upon hearing my words, Valier frowned as if resigned.

“Yes, I understand. How many soldiers shall we gather?”

“At least 40,000. If possible, I want to conscript 50,000. Our family’s fate depends on this war. We will borrow money from the merchants of the accursed Medica family with the condition of allowing exclusive trade in the newly acquired territories and impose taxes. If that is still not enough, borrow with the lowest interest possible.”

“I will comply with your orders.”

The survival and prosperity of our family hinge entirely on this war.

If we lose, the family will fall, and if victorious, our family will grow to such an extent that we will not envy the regent of Brussels.

“Oh, Count Valier. Inform His Imperial Majesty of this news and command other counts and barons to increase their prepared forces by 1.5 times.”

**

Two months after sending the letter, I received a letter from the Emperor along with the Duke of Orleans’s letter.

[I, Joseph von Orleans, was greatly impressed by your loyalty and enthusiasm, and at the same time, I felt reassured knowing that there is someone who can take my place with such firm resolve. Thus, I willingly recommended Siel von Croilet as the vanguard for His Imperial Majesty’s Eastern Command. However, His Imperial Majesty declined, saying that other lords must also be given opportunities to achieve merit. Nevertheless, he declared that he would remember your passion and loyalty to show devotion even while doing what others shun and foregoing rewards. – Joseph von Orleans-]

[To Marquess Croilet. There are still quite a few in this Empire who doubt the loyalty of the Orleans Duke as you have heard. However, having heard of your courage and bold demeanor this time, none of those foolish ones will be able to doubt Siel von Croilet’s loyalty. Although I was unable to grant your request, I am bestowing upon you the command baton of Deputy Commander and the flag as a price of loyalty to prove it on the battlefield. I trust you will become the shield of the Empire. – Adolf de Elaline-]

Since people are already wary of me, if I hadn’t spoken, they would have placed him in the vanguard and demanded unreasonable sacrifices.

For example, they might press him into being a battering ram and use the majority of the Eastern Command as a hammer to crush the enemy, etc.

Even so, with the cannons and rifles that are now somewhat taking shape, using a large number of matchlocks, he could not only withstand but also achieve victory.

If that were to happen, they would have to grant me unimaginably vast territories and high titles as a reward for succeeding in what was thought impossible.

Unlike the soldiers I could gather in the fields like a harvest, soldiers properly trained as elites take a long time to cultivate, and a lot of them would perish.

And I would have to invest a long time preparing personnel to replace them, while the Emperor of Romania and the Empire of France and the Emperor Elaline won’t sit back and let this happen.

Thus, I successfully managed to deceive them into believing that there would be something wicked behind my leading in the vanguard, allowing another individual to take that position instead.

Now my task is… to produce as many cannons and matchlocks as possible and ensure they can be pulled by wagons.

Moreover, if you play political games like that, I will do the same in return.

“Order the Intelligence Command to secretly meet with the heads or heirs of noble families participating in the expedition who are under 30 years old and leak the information. At this time, we must approach them somewhat deferentially and invest in beauties and bribes.”

If I were to use this on someone like Schwabin, it would become a magical strategy that allows me to manipulate them as I wish, and at the very least boost the confidence of the young nobles.

Surely, many nobles blinded by merit will charge forward and suffer tremendous losses.

Then the Emperor, the regent, and the Duke of Orleans, who are tormenting me, would be quite pleased.