166 – Eastern Franchi Expedition (1)

The day after arriving at Champagne Castle, I headed straight to the barracks where the Duke of Orléans was staying.

As I was about to enter, two escort knights guarding the entrance crossed their spears and blocked my way.

“Please pause. I will check your schedule and identity.”

“I am Ciel von Kreuttel, Marquis of the Eline Empire and second-in-command of the Eastern Expeditionary Force. I have an appointment to meet with His Highness, the commander of the Expeditionary Force, this morning.”

“Your identity has been verified. Sub-commander, please go inside. Your Highness is waiting for you.”

According to the report of Colonel Samuel and Captain Short, this man was evaluated as a person with some competence in both war and government… Regarding war, I think we need to revise our evaluation in a slightly better direction.

Because those who are vigilant are not unconditionally masters, but to the extent that there is a saying that all masters are vigilant… Because external boundaries are important.

In particular, if you see me, the marquis, being guarded in this way in our territory, at least I won’t suffer a crushing defeat from the enemy’s surprise attack.

It’s not to the extent that the strategy needs to be drastically modified, but it can be a variable to some extent.

After passing the knight standing guard, I immediately bowed my head and paid my respects to the duke.

“Your Highness, Duke of Orléans, Ciel von Kreuttel, second-in-command of the Eastern Expeditionary Force, has been present as ordered.”

“Yes, it was hard.”

“No, as usual, I was supposed to be present as soon as I arrived last night… Didn’t Your Highness allow me to take a good rest for the day?

“Aren’t we working together for the empire? For our second-in-command, we can do that much. Okay, sit down comfortably.”

On the surface, it seems like a story of high-ranking people who get along well, but the relationship between the two of us is just pretending to be friendly in order to successfully carry out the war.

So, if you strip away the pretentious attitude between the two of us and look at the sincerity inside, it will look like this.

‘No matter what… I can’t let Marquis Ciel play an active part in this war. No, at least I have to destroy that bastard’s army as much as possible… His position as the leader of the East is at risk.’

‘This emperor’s expedition is unlikely to be so successful that even some great generals will raise both hands and give up. So, if you take this opportunity to stand in the rear of the retreating expeditionary force and defeat the enemy under the pretext of defending the Earl of Iris… The territory can be greatly expanded.’

Even if allies have different plans for each other, isn’t this true aristocratic politics?

Anyway, the Duke and I need to maintain a cooperative relationship until we enter the Marquis of Simon, so it’s good to hold hands now.

As I sat down on the chair prepared by the duke, he opened the map with a serious expression and said,

“As you already know, the troops mobilized for this expedition were 40,000 from our family, 30,000 from your family, 20,000 from Elias, and 15,000 from Isra. A total of 105,000 soldiers were mobilized. And I think the French Empire will mobilize troops roughly the same size as ours.”

“As you said, they must keep Italy, Cardinal Martimus, and Spania in check… We cannot mobilize more soldiers than that.”

“However, as you know, this war is a war for the purpose of occupation. So, to ensure victory, we need at least three times as many troops… Due to our circumstances, we could only mobilize 100,000 people. So, before I announce the strategy as commander-in-chief, I would like to hear from you, who have won great victories in several battles.”

“good. Please wait a moment.”

That’s what he said, but the duke must have already decided on his own expedition plan.

Nonetheless, asking me for my opinion would be an intention to avoid objections by saying that even the deputy commander had already agreed to the operation he had decided during the upcoming military meeting.

However, perhaps His Highness Orléans will have no choice but to accept my opinion and act.

Because, that person who wants to be the leader of the East will offer a powerful bait that can’t be refused.

First of all, I placed the wooden horse symbolizing the expeditionary force on the map of the Earl of Akitel and started talking.

“First of all, our troops will go from Champagne Castle to Akitel Castle, which will be the base for Count Akitel.”

“I guess so. That way, without being wary of the rear, I can turn with the enemy in the Countess of Iris… Because they can destroy the castle they own and occupy it.”

“However, when I judged the situation calmly… We believe we can capture the land without fighting a single battle in the Earldom of Akitel.”

When the duke heard that, he asked with an excited expression on his face.

“However, if they are going to face off against our army, it is more advantageous for them to force attrition from the Earldom of Architel. isn’t it? When they fight us, it would be easier to reduce the power of allies in Akitel, recruit some of the serfs in Akitel to fill the numbers, and then fight in Iris and Simon… ”

“It would be the case in a normal manor, but… According to my research, soon after Count Akitel lost the Battle of Waine, he raised taxes to support his remaining vassals. Thus, the lives of the serfs were ruined. And serfs say they can no longer live in such a territory, and it often happens that they flee to the Marquis of Creutel or the Earl of Ilias.”

“Not once or twice, but often? If you are caught escaping, you will be immediately executed or downgraded to slavery, but if such dangerous things happen often… It must be that public sentiment is already at the bottom. If done well, I think it might be possible to take over the Earldom of Akitel without blood. If not… ”

I’m sure you’ve given me a ploy to take a county without blood, so if the ploy succeeds, you’re asking me to tell you what you want in return?

When I heard these words, if I were a half-hearted noble loyal to the Empire, I would say this.

‘Please let the commander-in-chief personally record my achievements and tell His Majesty in detail, and put me in a good position to make a major contribution in the next round.’

However, in order to prove loyalty to the real Empire and pretend to be an aristocrat full of ambition…

It is most effective to show that you care about other nobles and the empire, and at the same time take care of your own interests.

“Starting with the occupation of Akitel, we will occupy the Countries of Iris and the Marquis of Simon. In the meantime, looting will be allowed several times. I don’t deny the effectiveness of plunder, but as long as the occupation is conducted with fewer troops than the enemy… It is a dangerous act to make enemies of the serfs who live in this land.”

“… . That makes sense. If the number of serfs in the occupied territory is wrong, you can kill them or apply appropriate sanctions. Still, in the meantime, the soldiers might be consumed a little bit. Also, Architel, Iris, and Simon will become our territory in the future… You don’t have to cut open the goose that produces money.”

“That’s right. Specifically, ban looting and buy food, even at a low price, with money. Even so, there will be less information leaks from riots, assassinations, or serf intrigues in our occupied territories. Also, if all these thoughts are the thoughts of His Highness the Commander… ”

“My reputation goes up, and you, who will share the occupied place as territory, can get a little more affluent place, right?”

Externally, everything will be praised as the Commander-in-Chief’s honorable act, but externally, I will release the secret agents from Aquitel and spread rumors that it is all my proposal.

At the same time, he hired a windman from among the local serfs…

‘The Marquis of Creutel, who loves the serfs, is buying food at his own expense after discovering the conspiracy of the commander of the Eastern Expeditionary Force to plunder this territory. Also, considering that the food situation will be difficult due to the grain confiscated by Franchi, he will try to take measures so that he does not starve through the Hamburg Merchant Chamber.’

What if you spread rumors like this, and actually released the grain and food the warlords brought to the serfs at a time when the allies were starting to fall behind the enemy?

Rather than collaborating with Franchi’s great army, the serfs will at least not turn us into enemies according to the custom of ‘do not kill unless you join the enemy directly’ as always.

Also, some will tell the enemies unknown byways or terrain, and after defeating the enemy, they will obediently follow the rule of our family.

“Yes, Your Highness the Duke.”

“Already young guys don’t want to listen to me, but if I personally capture Akitel without a single engagement… I’m sure the guys will listen to me well. So the expedition will be more comfortable.”

“After that, I think we will probably engage in the Bridge Plains, on the border between Iris and Architel. The army under the Marquis of Creutel is expected to serve as a reserve in the rear, and the future battleground is not well predicted… It won’t be too late to talk about the details after conquering the Architel county.”

“Just go in and see.”

**

The next day, the duke unilaterally notified us of his strategy at a military council.

First of all, the organization was as I thought, with the army of the Duke of Orléans in the vanguard, Elias Isra on the left and right wings behind, and the rest of the barons, as there were few soldiers brought, so they were organized under the counts of the left and right wings.

Naturally, as the Duke ordered, I was entrusted with the reserve in the rear.

And the duke insisted that he would be able to enter the county of Akitel without fighting, and that all of this was possible thanks to the hints I gave him.

After the operation was notified like that, a week later… We entered the county of Akitel.

Upon entering, the duke ordered the soldiers:

“Scatter in groups of 30 and inform all villages in Akitel to be at ease as looting, murder, and rape will never happen. At the same time, buy the right amount of food, but pay the minimum cost.”