Chapter 169

Count Ilerias and Count Izza looked taken aback by what I had said, responding with startled voices.

“As Your Excellency mentioned, any noble who participates in the war would want to make a contribution. However, if we are to be precise, isn’t His Excellency the Marquis also in competition with us?”

“That is correct. But what is your reason for wanting to share opportunities for achieving merit with us?”

It was only natural for the two counts to doubt my intentions when I, not even Count Schwabin, who was my lord, proposed to share the merits I would earn while in competition with them.

However, a noble who had truly rolled in the political arena would likely try to exploit the weaknesses of others when they heard such words.

Right now, even someone like Duke Brussels, who was a regent, or Prince Maxburg would have tried to extract a heartfelt confession from me, saying they were very grateful for my help.

Once they understood the full plan, they might politely excuse themselves if it seemed really dangerous, or actively participate if they thought it would be beneficial.

Therefore, while they may have some experience as politicians, they were no match for me, someone who had faced off against seasoned opponents like Duke Brussels since my early twenties.

Moreover, these gentlemen were in a precarious position, having joined the emperor’s expedition and facing the shame of returning without any accomplishments or potentially going bankrupt due to the war, which might force them to kneel before petty merchants.

So, if I told them something made up of 99% truth with a tiny, barely noticeable lie, they would likely misinterpret it as me genuinely wanting to ally with them.

I let out a sigh as I looked at them and then slightly lowered my head to speak.

“Very well, let me explain the reason. First, as you may know, I could not participate in the civil war due to the borders of the Romanian Empire to the east and the Franche Empire to the south. Therefore, unlike other nobles of the Eraline Empire, I could not prove my loyalty properly. Because of this, even now, His Majesty still harbors doubts about me.”

Thus, the emperor pressured me to act as a shield and an anvil to fend off the great army of over 100,000 by placing me at the forefront, trying to wear down the very military forces that formed the basis of my power.

Once I realized this and offered to take the lead, this time…

I brought 30,000 soldiers to the rear, only to have the merit redirected to Duke Orleans and those two counts, making me look like I was merely twiddling my thumbs.

Of course, I couldn’t divulge this background, but everything I said was true, so the two young men would lend me their ears a little more closely.

This is because people generally tend to lower their guard towards those who reveal their weaknesses and genuine feelings.

“Of course, it does not bother me at all that His Majesty doubts me. In fact, I am grateful for the grace of being given the opportunity to serve the rightful emperor only after the civil war ends. Therefore, I must ensure this expedition succeeds. Otherwise, His Majesty will never give me another chance.”

Seeing me, a mere baron, reveal such weakness after accumulating this level of standing and power in just ten years slightly eased the expressions of the two.

After a moment, Count Ilerias, now adopting a serious expression, asked me.

“Then shouldn’t you be aiming for even greater merit? His Majesty is a fair man, and if you achieve prominently in this expedition, he will surely relieve his doubts and acknowledge you.”

That made no sense at all. To clear the emperor’s suspicions…

I would have to at least marry Victoria off to the emperor’s illegitimate child, achieve success in this expedition, and fail to earn any merits while losing half the army.

Only then would he think, “Ah, the Marquis will never again possess the power to shake our empire!” and relieve his doubts.

But to suggest that I should achieve more merit and expand my territory to bolster a powerful foundation was nonsense, you foolish kids…

“I’m not boasting, but the power and territory I have constructed now are stronger than the royal family. Are you saying that someone like me should expand my power even more? His Majesty would think I intended to become independent. That’s why I deliberately declined the title of ‘Duke’ last time—I don’t want to unnecessarily increase my power and draw His Majesty’s suspicion.”

Perhaps because I revealed my true feelings to a seemingly humiliating extent, the two counts finally seemed to understand, retracting their doubtful gazes.

“Indeed… If Your Excellency intended to do so, you would have surrendered to the neighboring Franche Empire or Romanian Empire. They would then bestow upon you the title of Duke and promote a marriage alliance with the royal family… How could we not have suspected you, who rejected all of that…”

“As Count Izza said, if you had no loyalty to our empire, you wouldn’t have volunteered for this expedition. We apologize for our suspicion.”

Even with such words, I had no confirmation that they had truly set aside their doubts.

However, they were now likely prepared to accept what I was saying without prejudice.

In the first place, my intention was to throw out a lure in the form of a genuine opportunity for them to achieve significant merits.

That way, when we held the round to seize the County of Iris, they would leap at the chance for accomplishments like moths drawn to a flame.

“No, if I were in your position, I would surely have been suspicious. Wouldn’t you? Who would readily believe that someone would suddenly come and offer the chance to achieve merit?”

I took a deep breath and then pulled out a map to begin my explanation.

“First, to maximize the advantage of the ‘numbers’ we and our enemies have, we will engage in battle in the Gavella Plain located between Iris and Architel. Both sides will prepare for casualties within their armies, trying to inflict greater losses on the other.”

This is because if we can reduce even a single soldier of the enemy’s forces that would be deployed in the defensive battle after their retreat from the war, we could more easily conquer the remaining territories. If the Franche are able to achieve overwhelming victory against us, they could also launch a counterattack, seizing the territory of the Eraline Empire.

So in this battle, both sides would inevitably force each other into a war of attrition to reduce the number of soldiers.

“That’s why this round will be a prolonged fight unlike other ones. The goal of this war is the annihilation of the enemy. However, on the contrary, it also means… that both the Franche and our eastern expeditionary forces will have their defenses weakened as they concentrate on the extermination of the enemy forces at the front. So you should take advantage of that gap and lead knights to slightly attack the main and rear lines of the Franche forces.”

“If we do that, it could deal a notable blow to the main force, which has only been focused on the front. Moreover, we can shift the attention of the Franche infantry who are engaged in a battle of extermination… If His Excellency Duke Orleans launches a total assault during that opportunity, we may achieve a significant victory in this battle.”

“However… if we expose ourselves, the enemy knights might attack our infantry, leaving us with no means to respond. What do you plan to do about that?”

In response to that, I replied with a hearty laugh.

“I will do my utmost to support your infantry so that they don’t suffer overwhelming losses or are annihilated. So take that opportunity to strike the main force and return quickly. Then, when the main force of Count Ilerias and Count Izza successfully attacks, I will also claim that I contributed to protecting your infantry and rear. I believe that with this, His Majesty will recognize that it was my strategy to ‘humble myself and give you credit so as not to appear too prominent.’”

Though I said that, it applied to someone with a general mindset.

So of course, it wouldn’t hold for someone like Duke Brussels, who made me emperor and now scrutinized my motives, sending me to the western expeditionary forces to diminish my power.

He would rather wonder about my true intentions in relinquishing opportunities to achieve merit to others.

However, the two men before me possessed a general sense of common knowledge and thought in this world.

After nearly ten minutes of contemplation, the two counts responded.

“Very well. Rather than struggling in vain, it seems better to follow Your Excellency’s strategy.”

“I will follow your suggestion. As you mentioned, winning the war could lead us to bankruptcy anyway.”

Then, I spoke to them as if addressing a commendable child.

“I won’t tell you to trust me blindly. However, as long as our interests align, it’s fine to trust me. That way, we can all be happy, can’t we?”

After that, I spent the night thoroughly explaining to them how exactly we could defeat the enemy forces… in very specific terms.

If you can’t pick up on this, you really would be at the level of Schwabin.