At least the Murderous Knights would not lose. Because they were the vanguard that trampled on their opponents and committed massacres during the Eight Year War.
So, as before, the opponent of the Revolutionary Army was left to Deonh Hardt's knights. He didn't have to worry about it anymore, he just had to read a report later.
The Emperor was sitting at the head of the conference room, leaning his elbow on the handle, leisurely stroking his chin, watching them continue their discussion.
Every time golden eyes resembling those of a wild beast flashed, the nobles who were exchanging opinions were shocked, but no one pointed it out.
What they needed to pay attention to now was none other than the Emperor's notification that occurred a little while ago.
This was an agenda that had been thrown out as if it were nailing down the fact that this was not the end of the war.
'Which kingdom should I choose as my next conquest?'
This was said at a time when the kingdom of Ireon had been subdued and the arrangement had not yet been completely done.
Although there were many people who opposed the war in the first place, no one took it as a risk.
It's not because they changed my mind right away. Just because they could feel with their own skin that theEmperor was in a very bad mood right now.
As their lives were precious, they could not say anything and could only continue the meaningless discussion.
Then, in the suffocating atmosphere, a nobleman dared to open his mouth to the Emperor.
"I apologize, Your Majesty, but no matter how I think about it... this war is going to be difficult."
A trembling voice. The nobles around him held their breath.
He closed his eyes tightly, as if he thought he was dead after saying this, but the Emperor did not punish him right away.
The beast, which had been watching the situation in the conference room with its chin up, slowly lowered its arms and straightened its posture.
Something similar to a smile appeared on the expressionless lips.
"The reason is?"
"The problem of military history... is big. It's a matter of troops..."
The Emperor immediately knew what he wanted to say.
Instead of saying something, the Emperor nodded as if asking him to continue, and the nobleman, who gained courage, began to speak slowly.
"The conquered kingdom's very existence is a variable. A certain number of troops are needed to monitor them and prepare for unexpected situations. The Revolutionary Army within the Empire is an example of that variable."
"And since I have no intention of stopping the war, the number of operational troops will continue to decrease."
"Yes that's right. There are limits to using the troops absorbed from conquered kingdoms, so the problem will only grow as time passes."
Battles are bound to result in casualties. It may be okay for now, but the longer they fought the next war and the next war, the more the impact of the empty seats will be felt like a snowball rolling.
When you occupy a kingdom, a certain amount of troops are sent there. Considering this, it was obvious that the number of troops that could be deployed would be drastically reduced in the future.
'If you completely crush the occupied royal family and gather all your troops as you did during the Eight Year War, it doesn't mean that you won't be able to hold out...'
Given that the Emperor accepted the surrender of the Kingdom of Ireon and spared the royal family, the situation was already different than the Eight Year War, where he slaughtered all royals mercilessly.
The noble glanced at the Emperor.
Fortunately, it seemed to be okay so far.
"...Materials can be obtained through conquest, but not soldiers. Unlike other kingdom armies, the imperial army is an army with strong pride and loyalty to the Empire. Soldiers gained through conquest will never do that."
"Hey, leave it at that."
The Emperor seemed like he was going to explode, so another nobleman next to him carefully stopped him.
Other nobles who had ties to him also quietly called him because they did not want to see the head of someone they were close with blown off in front of their eyes.
"Yes, the army can be replenished by conscripting commoners. It would be enough to just sweep out the poor in the slums right now. Since the people of the Empire are fighting for the empire, loyalty is natural..."
"Bullshit! Soldiers' motivation is also important in war! How motivated must the person who was forcibly taken be!"
"If they want to live, they will pick up their sword and fight."
"I'm saying that now...!"
"That's enough, focus on the original agenda, Margrave Amiable! Even if the motivation is low, how dare you when you have the numbers..."
"There are limits to pushing through the numbers and operating like a puppet according to the commander's plans! So...!"
The Margrave Tender Amiable, who had been raising his voice in agitation without realizing it, inadvertently turned his head and looked at the still silent Emperor, then stopped breathing. Other nobles who had been following his gaze without thinking also stopped breathing for a moment when they saw the Emperor.
The Emperor's golden eyes were glaring at them with murderous intent, ready to explode at any moment.
"..."
"..."
In the silence, the Emperor raised his hand and smoothed his chin. Even though it was an insignificant action, the nobles' bodies shrank greatly.
"I didn't know you guys had this kind of talent. How can you bark so well?"
"..."
"But I heard some things that I couldn't ignore."
A cold voice fell as if it had brought with it the chill of the mountaintop in the middle of winter.
"You said that troops can be replenished by conscripting commoners."
An overwhelming sense of death poured down throughout the conference hall. Something was wrong. The nobles, who felt that their lives were at stake, hurriedly lowered their heads. The Emperor, without hiding his anger, began to chew on each word.
"Do you know why commoners pay taxes?"
During the Eight Year War, people were conscripted. This was an unpleasant experience that forced him to confront his own priorities and selfishness, and it settled in a corner of his heart.
This plan was put forward as a last resort when troops were running low. How irritated he was while ordering this.
How dare they casually offer up the very thing that caused him to feel guilty and intensely self-loathing and started his nightmares in earnest.
"Taxes are the price of protection and welfare."
In return for collecting taxes, they protected them and took care of them so that they could make a living.
That was the duty of nobles with estates and the duty of the Emperor.
"But while you were collecting taxes like that, did you just say that if there is a shortage of troops, you should immediately conscript the people first?"
It's not as easy as it sounds, and even he couldn't do it himself.
"So what you're saying is that the people of the Empire are from the Empire, so loyalty is a given? There are degrees of barking with your mouth. What on earth are you misunderstanding and what are you saying? It is a choice for the people of the Empire to protect the Empire, and it is the duty for the Empire to protect the people of the Empire! The people of the Empire are free to abandon the Empire if it fails to fulfill its role!"
"How can a commoner..."
"If the Empire doesn't treat its people properly, do you think the people of the Empire would sit in the Empire and take up arms to protect it? This illusion is oily and ridiculous. I can already see that that humble place will be destroyed by the people of the Empire who have turned away, and your heads will be hung on a guillotine."
"Your majesty!"
"You are talking too much!"
"Are you saying too much?"
Did they really not know why he was so angry?
When there was a shortage of troops during the Eight Year War, the first thing theEmperor did was order the nobles to participate in the war. So they probably didn't know that there was a method like this. It was just that their own safety and property were more important to them than the people of the Empire.
'You have a right to be angry at me for pushing the war, but...'
If the Emperor is out of his mind, shouldn't his subordinates come to their senses? What if they all lost their minds together?
It's disgusting. Even them and themselves. So he couldn't control it.
Without realizing it, he grabbed the handle of the sword that was leaning against the throne.
It was when he heard the Prime Minister clear his throat that he became aware of his actions.
"Hmm."
He woke up to the sound that brightened the atmosphere.
The others seemed to have come to their senses as the atmosphere calmed down a bit, and the nobles who had kept their mouths shut with faces filled with fear hurriedly bowed.
"I'm sorry."
"We were stupid."
"...Yeah, that was stupid."
The Emperor looked around at the pale complexions of the nobles, let go of the sword handle, and covered his face with one hand. A black ghost hovered in one corner of his vision. He could tell without even thinking about what it was because of. He gritted his teeth and spat out the words.
"It is not a sin, but it is a sin for the person standing on top to be foolish. Don't you know how many people's lives are determined by each document you fill out and each word you utter? I think you need to rethink what noblesse oblige is ...I feel sorry for the Margrave of Amiable, but I have no intention of postponing or stopping the war. So let me make it clear right now. If we run out of troops, I will be the first to order you to join the war."
Just like it was during the Eight Year War.
"The standards are the same as then. If there are two or more men in the family, one of them must participate in the war with more than half of the soldiers. Otherwise, more than 2/3 of the soldiers must be surrendered."
"..."
"Conscription of commoners is only a last resort."
"..."
The Emperor, who looked at the silent nobles for a moment in silence, let out a silent sigh and crossed his legs.
As his posture became more comfortable, the atmosphere among the nobles also became a little more relaxed, and after giving them a moment to compose themselves, the Emperor soon opened his mouth again.
"Then let's get back to the main agenda. Which kingdom should the next war be with?
***
After breaking up the meeting and returning straight to his office, theEmperor threw his sword aside and sat down in a chair. He placed both elbows on the desk and pressed his temples, then looked down at the desk without thinking.
There was pottery there that he had been examining before the meeting.
One of the trophies of the Kingdom of Ireon.
Did they say it was royal porcelain?
Even though he was not an expert on crafts and had no discernment, the craftsmanship was so elaborate and beautiful that he could tell it was amazing.
And the thought he had at that time was...
'Can't I sell this and turn it into war funds?'
He consciously tried not to think about the unpleasant events in the conference room and focused on the object in front of him.
But it was useless.
The Emperor was looking around at the pottery, and when he lifted it up to check the bottom, he noticed something strange.
A black stain on white porcelain.
He rubbed it with his thumb to see if there was something on it, but there was nothing on his hand. The Emperor, who was looking at his neat thumb, shifted his gaze back to the porcelain. As his eyes met, the black blob moved.
Wiggle.
And–
The ceramics began to turn black, like ink spreading on paper.
"Your Majesty, this is Ardal..."
Clink!
At the sound of something breaking, Prime Minister Ardal's expression stiffened as he stood in front of the door. He quickly opened the door without asking permission and his eyes widened as he saw the devastation unfolding in the office.
It was broken. A priceless piece of royal porcelain.
"Your Majesty... What is this now..."
His lips were trembling. The Emperor, who let out a dry exclamation, responded indifferently to the groan-like voice that followed.
"...The pottery is ugly. It seemed like it was a defective product."
"But...! Your Majesty doesn't know how to look at porcelain!"
The Prime Minister's cries, as always, were ignored. The Emperor looked down at the broken shards of pottery.
...The hallucinations became worse. It was enough to interfere with his daily life.
It was clearly a hallucination when he shattered the ceramics.
A being that remained in the realm of the mind and could not have a direct impact on reality.
He raised his head. His eyes met with something dark, giggling, looking at him from behind the Prime Minister.
'...'
The Emperor smiled.
The Prime Minister frowned, asking if he was laughing now after the accident, but he didn't care.
This was also why he was in a low mood in the conference room. He needed to focus on government work, but he was constantly interrupted, so how could he feel good?
He had no intention of enjoying heaven anyway, so why were they urging him so hard?
'They have no patience.'