349 – To the North – 1
I tried to soothe my mother, but I stayed at the manor for a day to prepare for any unexpected situation, and fortunately my mother did not shed tears again.
Of course, he still worried about his son going to war, but he seemed to accept that he couldn’t stop it. He just encourages you to take care of yourself, achieve what you want and come back.
“Be sure to come before you go out.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
So the next morning, my mother came to the front gate of Yeongju Castle and asked me several times while holding my hand. She won’t hold back any longer, so please make sure to come to Yeongji before she goes to the north.
“I had a hard time.”
And when I just returned from an overtime shift, the family owner patted me on the shoulder and encouraged me. Perhaps it was encouragement for reading and persuading her mother.
“It was something I had to do.”
“Yes, thank you for saying that.”
After that, he didn’t say anything. I didn’t even bother to open my mouth. The family head and I have already shown each other our feelings in my mansion, and when war breaks out, we will go to the north together. There is no need to catch a person who is tired of working overtime now.
By the way, the Imperial Council is vicious. No matter how late you work, you don’t get off work until after the sun rises.
‘My future.’
It’s bittersweet. One day, I will become an Imperial White, so I have to work in that vicious Imperial Council.
Still, if I work in a high-ranking position in the administration like now, I can hand over the duties of the councilor to Erich, but doesn’t that mean I can’t retire forever?
Either way is a terrible future.
Already, the academy schedule was running toward summer vacation. I was relieved by the fact that vacation was approaching, probably because I was in the position to leave for the north soon. At least during the war, ‘How are you bastards?’ Because you don’t have to worry about the same thing.
‘Last year was terrible.’
It was a sad summer last year when the members did not return home and remained in the Empire as a group. I’m glad I didn’t have anything like that this year.
Damn it, when I heard that they were staying in the empire, thinking of being summoned and bullied by the crown prince and ministers—
“I hear you’re moving soon.”
“Yes. It’s for the Empire, so I’ll be happy to lend a hand.”
At the moment the trauma was about to come to mind, Vilar’s appropriate intervention brought him back to his senses.
At this point, it’s amazing. I almost had a seizure in front of a customer just by thinking about it. The members of the 77 season are legends…
“I’ve never dealt with nomads, but I know from the records that they are ferocious and savage.”
“In general, it is. Less ferocious nomads are eaten by more ferocious nomads.”
As I regained my composure, I joked about Villar’s words, and Villar smiled lightly as well.
It’s been a year and a half since we became a community of twisted fate with the knight in front of us, and we’ve become a relationship where we can exchange jokes like this casually.
“Of course, no matter how ferocious they are, they are powerless before the majesty of the Empire.”
“Of course. How can barbarians go against the mandate of Heaven?”
Instinctively, I almost laughed out loud. Isn’t that what you said in a situation where you already went against it 5 years ago and started going against it again 3 years after the end?
Still, I can’t help it. As the Empire was excited about preparations for war, the Imperial Academy was also in turmoil.
In the first place, it is not that the emperor is secretly preparing for war, and that the powers of the three kingdoms residing in the academy do not have access to secrets, so there is no need to hide it—— Villars’ position, which suddenly became aware of the war preparations of other countries was a bit perplexed. It’s a serious issue in another country to pretend to know, and it has eyes and ears to pretend not to know at all.
The result is this greeting. Strange encouragement to say that no one can go against the mandate of Heaven to an empire that will deal with enemies who have defied the mandate of Heaven.
‘A knight is a knight.’
If he had been a seasoned politician or diplomat, he would have secretly looked for a gap in the situation of war. However, Villars silently wished for the safety and victory of his acquaintances. A heartfelt action possible for a rugged knight.
So what should I do? This blunt knight’s own encouragement, so even if it’s a little strange, you should accept it with a smile.
“…Even if you go against it, it’s obvious.”
Besides, Villar also quickly added, as if he had noticed something odd.
“hahahaha, Lord Villars is right.”
I smiled moderately at Villar and passed on. Anyway, the encouragement was good, so that’s okay.
***
The organization of the expeditionary force proceeded without a hitch. It is only natural that there are no weightlifters like 5 years ago, and the sense of crisis against the nomads is different from before. He even led the public opinion by putting forward the Imperial Baeks, so at least he could lead the campaign without difficulty.
“The 8th Corps, 11th Corps, and 12th Corps of the Western Army have arrived at Hablem Duchy.”
“We will make the 8th Corps commander our enemy, so let the 8th Corps, 11th Corps, and 12th Corps move according to the command of the 8th Corps commander.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After handing over the Marshal Appointment to the Minister of War, he bowed and withdrew. Since the troops borrowed from the Central District Army were scheduled to move along with the enlisted men in the metropolitan area, virtually all troops arrived at their positions.
‘Twelve legions.’
There are as many as 12 corps organized as expeditionary forces, and their size is about 150,000. A figure that overwhelms nomads by more than twice that of the central army alone, which does not include the privates of nobles.
But I can’t be careless. This is an invasion war, not a defense war. In order to deal with nomads in the plains, there must be at least three times more, and this war is not simply a subjugation, but a war in which the nomads are captured by showing the dignity of the empire. The bigger the gap, the better.
‘It’s at the level of the last subjugation army.’
Looking at the documents reporting the movements of the soldiers, it is estimated that more than 100,000 troops are moving to the north or near the islands. Combined with the 150,000 central army, more than 250,000 troops are moving to conquer the north.
It’s not the best, but it’s a second best result. The Empire, which has not yet completely erased the aftermath of war and succession disputes, moves the same size of troops as before. This in itself would put pressure on the nomads. Although they suffered a blow to quality and quantity, they can instill a perception that the empire remains the same.
‘If only it had exceeded 400,000.’
For a moment, such a thought crossed my mind, but it was only hopeful. Unless it was a war with the eastern kingdoms, investing 400,000 people in the north was an act where the losses outweighed the gains.
The imperial army boasts 1 million people, including the central army, the emperor’s army, and the local army, the enlisted soldiers of the lords. More than 40% of the imperial army is tied up in the grasslands? There is no way the eastern wolves will miss that opportunity. You can’t lose the East to get a desolate grassland, can you?
So I checked the documents again, erasing the futile delusion from my head.
‘It would be enough if there were four enemies.’
The important thing now is to select a marshal to manage the local army.
Fortunately, Count Tyleglehen and former Count Horfeld, who were active in the last subjugation war, also served this time. Even if there are only these two, there is no problem in taking over the local forces.
For the other two, it’s enough to choose between the western and northern lords─
‘…I have to leave it to the prince.’
I need to take this opportunity to spread the crown prince’s influence to the west and north as well. If the crown prince directly seeks out and appoints a great lord with the qualifications of an enemy, they will be no different from the crown prince’s supporters.
I reached for the communication tool on the table. To entrust the appointment of enemies to the crown prince, and to call upon the servants to be given separate orders.
***
The communication sphere glowed purple and soon after, a teleport wizard appeared in front of the inn. It was not the prince’s summons, but the emperor’s summons, so how could it be late?
Even now, the Northern Expeditionary Force is being organized, and I am the war inspector of the Expeditionary Force. If you show even a little bit of procrastination, it is dangerous in many ways.
“Are you here? Your Majesty is waiting for you.”
When I arrived at the imperial palace, the imperial knight commander quickly opened the door.
I’m going crazy. A pass that skips even the minimum inspection? I am unsure of what the hell he is trying to say.
‘Are you trying to entrust a real surveillance mission?’
I know, the emperor knows, and everyone knows that the emperor wants me to act as a joker, not an inspector. But suddenly, the emperor’s suspicious soldier exploded, and I even wondered if he was really trying to entrust me with a surveillance mission.
Then it’s difficult. In the name of inspecting the inside of the expeditionary force, which must fight in the best condition? Trolling is an art to that extent.
‘No way.’
I quickly brushed off my anxious thoughts. Yes, no matter how suspicious the emperor may be, it will not be an inspection order. There’s no way the emperor who got caught in the back of his throat because of the 2nd prince and the Asilon family’s trolling would do the same thing.
…Isn’t it?
Since the imperial palace was so large, it took quite a while to get from the main gate to the emperor’s office. Still, as soon as the vice-captain of the Imperial Knights, who was guarding the front of the office, checked my face, he only did a minimum test and passed me. It’s really fortunate that I prevented it from being too late.
And at the same time as the relief, the anxiety was further amplified. No, I somehow understood it up to the main gate of the imperial palace, but it’s like this in front of the office? No matter how minimal the inspection was, if it’s a place where you face the emperor, no matter how thorough it is, it’s not enough?
‘What the hell are you trying to do?’
I feel like I’m breaking out in a cold sweat. Are you contemplating a beheading of Khan? Before the expeditionary force entered the north, followed Khan Mogaji?
“Is the Inspector General here?”
“Long live the Emperor. Your favored servant, Karl Krasius, greets the sun of the noble and great Empire.”
Of course, there is no point in rolling my head alone. In addition, he had already entered the office and even greeted the emperor.
“Come closer.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At the emperor’s command, he bowed and approached cautiously.
“Raise your head because the inspector’s job is by no means light. I’m going to speak briefly.”
As I quickly raised my head, the emperor held out something.
I instinctively received something before I could figure out what it was. Dare to keep the emperor waiting is a traitor.
‘Seal?’
Belatedly checking the item, I saw a white seal.
By the way, this sounds strangely familiar, doesn’t it? Have I ever seen this?
“It’s the seal of the Marquis that belonged to Asilon. It must be familiar since it was collected by the Inspector General.”
Ah.
After hearing that, I remembered. The seal of the Marquis taken from the head of the family at the time when he went to notify the demotion of the Marquis of Asilon.
‘This was originally white.’
When I took care of it, I was confused because it was red.
…What kind of notification did you do? X)