94 – Northern Occupation War (11)
At those words, Anastasia did not show any sign of disappointment, but nodded her head as if it were natural.
“Even the warrior chief of the Kergit tribe would not dare to decide the treatment of those who surrendered without the chieftain’s permission. Therefore, it is a felony to enslave without the chieftain’s permission, even those who would be enslaved after losing the war. So I know that even you, who killed Khan, cannot decide how we will be treated.”
It was a situation where officers of other empires would have said a word after seeing the similar comparison between the emperor and the barbarian chief of the north.
In any case, both have the common characteristic of being the highest power in a group.
Her analogy shows that, after all, she is well aware of her situation.
“However, the Emperor of the Empire will not be able to ignore Colonel Jaeger, who killed the evil Khan who threatened the Empire from the north. In addition, high-ranking people will not listen to the story of a tribal chief very seriously. They must be busy dealing with the surrender of numerous tribes and the captives who followed Ludvik, besides us.”
As she said, now the Northern Command, including Count Benner, and His Majesty the Emperor must be worried about how to disperse many captives across the country.
Even if a tribal chief asks for his value and treatment to be improved, there is a high possibility that he will not be accepted or even considered.
So, after negotiating with me, who has the reputation of killing the khan, are you going to make me report my feelings about her to Count Benner or His Majesty the Emperor?
Beyond being bold, this is an almost genius insight.
“Okay, I can’t decide how the Kergits will be treated, but I can add my opinion. So, what do you want?”
She spoke confidently as if she had been waiting for these words.
“The people who came with our tribe are trying to defect to the empire.”
“I’ve come this far, isn’t that a matter of course?”
“To be precise, we will give all the land we have and live where the Empire tells us to live. Not simply being the people of the north who serve the empire like other tribes, but like those who farm and hunt in the empire. I want to become a true citizen of the Empire.”
When most of the barbarians, or northerners, defected to the Empire, it was usually done in this way.
The tribal chief who owns his territory leads the tribal people to the commander of the northern army acting as the emperor of the empire, and reports the size and location of the tribe.
Then, part of the northern army was sent to the place reported by the tribal chief to confirm the location, territory, size, economic power, and military power of the tribe.
If something goes wrong in the north, write a pledge to cooperate with each other, and write a pledge to establish a minimum cooperative relationship.
After that, they received a royal edict from the Emperor, and the tribe officially became northerners belonging to the Empire, and were treated as having entered the Empire’s command.
The problem is that we are not directly managing barbarians who surrendered.
They said that they were insecure people who could betray or attack the empire at any time if their numbers were wrong.
“Why do you think the Empire will purify those who surrender?”
“I do not doubt the Empire. However, it seems that the emperor would rather live somewhere else than those of us who are anti-agricultural and anti-farming remain in the north.”
“It would be better not to show an attitude of suspicion towards His Majesty. I don’t know, but the other officers won’t stand still.”
I said that, but to be honest, now that the dangerous force called Ludvik has disappeared, we are now virtually bordering Sweden.
Since they surrendered, they did not need to be killed recklessly, but since they do not know when they will betray, they will slowly try to lose their strength.
Or, for the sake of the Empire’s safety, we could wipe out entire tribes one by one over trivial quibbles, as Chosun and other nations did in the past.
“I will be careful.”
I nodded in agreement, and asked to properly value her.
“If you simply defect and live on the outskirts, it is enough to swear allegiance to the Empire, and occasionally send soldiers when the Northern Army needs it. However, if you want to become a citizen of the Empire, you have to fulfill your obligations accordingly. Anastasia Kergit, what duty do you intend to undertake?”
Well, actually, from the point of view of His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire, even if the chief of the Kergit tribe went ahead and said this, it was like doing everything to be done.
‘When he defeated the evil Ludvik, we who lived in the north wanted to become subjects of the Empire under the protection of His Majesty the Emperor.’
In this way, not only the Empire, but also among countries such as the Francois Republic, the Reich Empire has a reputation as a great country that succeeded in reforming even barbarians.
And His Majesty the Emperor will want more barbarians to become completely naturalized as citizens of the Empire, starting with these people, so he will be considerate of them so that they can live in fertile and good lands.
The bold and wise blonde-haired beauty in front of me doesn’t seem to be satisfied with just that much.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have risked everything to come here.
“We will become the people of the Empire and serve the Emperor. Our warrior’s family will plow the fields in the land you have chosen, give birth to and raise children. Children born in the lands of the Empire will work for the Empire for the Empire based on the knowledge and memories passed down by their parents who raised horses and livestock in the north.”
Plowing the fields is a way of saying that you will obey the order of the empire, and what the woman said the children want to do.
It must mean that you want to become a professional technician who can teach you how to raise livestock.
“In addition, the warriors I have brought can ride 100 kilometers a day on horseback, and on the battlefield, they can shoot arrows out of reach and disrupt enemy lines. In other words, all are the best liaisons and best cavalry archers. So His Majesty will surely need us too.”
I know very well the power of barbaric cavalry.
Especially since I can’t catch up with them if I shoot arrows and run away while moving around the battlefield with light armament.
Considering that I had no choice but to fight while being hit by arrows, and that I was in trouble when fighting Ludvik several times because of them.
Even now, my teeth are shaking, but if we welcome such cavalrymen to our side, it will be of great benefit.
“I agree to some extent with what Duke Kergit said. However, the people who will live in the territory of the empire can be considerate so that each tribe can live in the same village as much as possible. The warriors could be completely scattered and be given orders by officers from other empires or warriors from other tribes.”
Honestly, all the nobility of the empire are prepared and willing to take this.
As proof of that, in the unit I work for, there are actually household heads who succeeded to the title of Viscount or Count at a young age.
Besides, the soldiers from each territory were mixed in various ways.
Among the soldiers under my command, there are only about 30 people from my territory.
However, if you can’t accept this, and unlike the imperial system, we are one tribe, so if you want to continue serving in the same unit.
It’s understandable enough in the heart, but you won’t be able to recruit people who don’t completely obey the system of the empire.
Also, it was dangerous to gather cavalry in tribal units in the first place.
After saying this, Anastasia put on a serious expression for a moment, pondered, and answered.
“I have been prepared. However, if you put up with that, will you accept all of us as citizens of the Empire?”
I don’t have the authority to decide how to treat them, but honestly, they say they’re willing to go this far, but His Majesty the Emperor and competent prime ministers won’t discriminate against them.
Rather, there was no doubt that the other guys living in the upper part of the north would be hospitable to see the Kergit tribe and make them surrender even if their stomachs were swollen.
So, within the scope of my authority, I decided to convince her.
“The principles of the Empire are simple indeed. Anyone who fulfills his duties as a citizen can enjoy the rights of a citizen.”
Well, of course this includes discrimination based on status or something like that.
She smiled brightly and nodded, as if she understood the meaning of my answer.
“If there is anything else you want, tell me now. Although I don’t dare to be sure that I will be accepted, at least I will be able to deliver.”
So, she and I talked about the treatment of the Kergit tribe and their party all night, and the next day, Anastasia, following Count Benner’s order, went to the Northern Army Headquarters to be examined on the future treatment.
On the way, I saw me and said that I would like to fight under the one who killed Khan, but among the 300,000-plus Imperial Army, I’m sure it won’t be deployed under my command.
After staying here for another month, I received word that a replacement had arrived, and the entire unit on the northern border was finally able to return to headquarters.
“Now, this grueling expedition is really over. I don’t need it all, please, I want to serve in a warmer place.”