160 pieces(2)
It had been about a month since the end of the Battle of the North Sea.
The Federation of Easterfield, Austria and the Netherlands negotiated an armistice agreement between Russia and Britain through a conference.
Russia, who thought that it had won a single naval battle, was quite displeased, and on the contrary, Britain, which had lost its naval power, expressed a strong will to end a ceasefire at any cost.
Although their positions are so different, once the agreement has started.
This is because Lee Hwan directly prepared the agreement table so that he would not be able to get rid of it without proceeding with the agreement.
The armistice agreement held in Vienna, Austria, was attended by Russia, Britain, and the military chiefs of each country respectively.
In this agreement, there was going to be a wide discussion on the extent and territory of the two sides’ territorial waters, as well as their influence on diplomacy.
The person to carry out the agreement under Yi Hwan’s order was Kunta Shakhtus, the second-in-command of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As an African-born diplomat, Kunta Shakhtus knew almost every language and had a deep understanding of the local culture.
In a nutshell, it means that in diplomacy, they are all-round beauty.
Kunta Shakhtus handed out proposals to the defense chiefs of Britain and Russia respectively.
“I made a blank space where you can write down the positions of both sides. Please write what each other wants in your proposal.”
“Uh… … .”
“A proposal is just a proposal. Once you’ve made a suggestion, if you don’t think it’s going to work, you can edit it again. We have plenty of time, so don’t worry too much.”
It was simply to write a proposal to confirm each other’s position, but the atmosphere on both sides was quite determined.
Kunta took a step back and declared to start writing.
“Then let’s get started.”
swish… … !
The proposal, written at the start, was filled with content in an instant. It was as if he had been waiting.
‘Are the wars starting to get tougher?’
Although Russia was in a position that it was regrettable that the war ended like this, it was not in a situation where it would continue the war forever.
Although there was a limit to what could be gained through war, the military expenditure was astronomical.
If Russia had steadily purchased new weapons in the first place and imported cartridge rifles through a contract with Easterfield, the sudden military expenditure might not have occurred.
Of course, it would be absurd if there were no military expenditures in war, but at least there would be no debt.
On the other hand, the British hoped that the agreement would be reached while maintaining their national power as much as possible.
He knew very well that he was not in a situation where he could get anything from Russia, so he wanted a place in the armistice.
There was only one reason why both of them were so similar.
It was because of Easterfield.
No matter how much they fought, it was virtually impossible to expand territory or explore trade routes because Easterfield was blocking them.
After a while, the written proposal finally reached each other.
“Well, then, please read the proposals, write down the parts you want to revise, and send them to me.”
“Great… … !”
As soon as they received the proposal, both sides let out sighs in a similar tone, as if they had put it together.
Kunta smelled the intense scent of negotiation breakdown on their faces.
‘… … After all, it won’t be easy.’
In fact, it was absurd to expect smooth negotiations in a time where the positions of each other were completely different.
Kunta knew it so well that he wanted to receive the modifications first.
After a while, a piece of paper about each other’s complaints was delivered to Kunta.
The result was so absurd that it made me laugh.
“… … You don’t find any matches anywhere. If so, we will propose an arbitration proposal, so please take a look.”
“That’s right.”
There was no room for negotiation.
But Kunta knew their position all too well.
If he had been there, he would probably have taken the same expression and the same action.
Nevertheless, there were many reasons for Kunta to act like this.
After a while, Kunta’s mediation proposal was delivered to each other.
Then their faces became much brighter than before.
‘It looks like you like it.’
In fact, Kunta already knew how they would turn out.
If I thought about it from their point of view, all the answers were already there, so it was enough to just find out the exact number.
For that reason, Kunta listened to both sides of the story and made an appropriate proposal for it.
First of all, the two sides, who were hurt by their sharp differences in their positions, must have wondered why they had such a meeting.
However, since I heard a bad sound from the beginning, I couldn’t help but laugh at the next alternative.
This is because humans are animals that feel good when they say bad things first and then praise them.
The same applies in negotiations.
“How are you? Do you like it?”
Even though he was well aware of his feelings, Kunta deliberately asked questions more aggressively.
Both sides nodded their heads in bitterness.
“It’s much better than before.”
“But there are still things I don’t like. It’s because they’re making ridiculous conditions from the other side.”
“… … Did you get in and out of my mind? Below are our alumni.”
Right now, we are arguing like this, but if we meet in war, we will fight as if to death again.
If it would have ended just by talking to them, they wouldn’t have come this far in the first place.
Kunta again proposed mediation.
“Then can I do another mediation?”
“… … Let’s see.”
Although they have set their sights once in a while, Easterfield has been mediating with ‘world peace’.
If you do not unilaterally respond to this, there is a possibility that the relationship with Easterfield will deteriorate.
So Britain and Russia had no choice but to be careful.
Once again, there was a compromise.
This time, they look at the proposal with a better expression than before.
But neither side seemed to like it very much.
“How are you?”
“Great… … !”
“If you still don’t like it, there’s nothing you can do about it. Negotiations are bound to break down.”
“It’s a breakdown.”
“However, we would like to suggest one condition from Easterfield’s side.”
“Conditions?”
“In addition to naval battles, all land battles are fought in a designated place.”
“… … What does that mean?”
“Europe is being severely damaged while the two countries are at war. So, I want you to fight in a line where there is no harm.”
“Huh… … !”
“However, we will fully open our borders so that we can advance tactically on land. Please report it in advance.”
Russia’s eyes lit up.
Until now, there was not enough space to fight on land, so they had to do so much in naval battles.
The UK, on the other hand, is very upset.
“It’s a bit… … .”
“Let’s go! Let’s do that!”
“No, is this the place where you came to sign a truce?! Doesn’t this seem a little off?”
Kunta was well aware that the road would be rampant on the British side.
But for Britain, this would certainly not be a bad condition.
He unfolded an operational map produced by Easterfield.
👌👌👌👌👌
Then, the places where you could advance were listed by list.
Although the whole of Europe was used as a battlefield, the place where the war took place was like a wasteland or an uninhabited field.
In a nutshell, it was to rent an unused space as a battlefield.
However, there were many hidden devices that would give Britain an absolute advantage.
It was a complex terrain where howitzers could be used.
There were marshes all over the place, and there was also a forest of spruce trees, which was unfavorable to the cavalry.
In a word, would you say that the battlefield is perfectly balanced?
“Oh, what if this is it?”
“How are you? You’re going to use the whole of Europe at will. However, you only need to compensate a little for the intelligence consumed in war. Maybe that would be better for both sides?”
Of course, these terrains weren’t bad for Russia either.
Artillery existed in Russia as well, and if they concentrated their firepower into one, it would be difficult for Britain to escape from a numerical inferiority.
“However, you must not attack merchants to secure trade routes. Do you know?”
“… … All right.”
“Even at sea, you only advance on a set route. Instead, raid or do whatever you want.”
If done wrong, the war may escalate, but the damage to civilians will definitely be reduced.
This arbitration proposal did not have much difficulty in obtaining the consent of both parties.
“good. Let’s do this!”
“Hereafter alumni!”
In the end, the two sides had to wage a war again on the line that drained each other’s power as Easterfield induced.
***
Easterfield’s 10th Fleet, which occupied the South China Sea, established a pirate base here.
But his words were pirates, his actions were not.
Their main task was to loot the houses of the dignitaries or loot the tribute ships that came up to the emperor in a sincere manner.
Also, the crops and fortunes thus turned went to the poor people.
The behavior of the 10th Fleet’s private fleet was ironic itself, to the extent that it was thought that it was looting only for grassroots.
Their actions were contradictory, but now there was no one who cursed Easterfield 10th Fleet in the Central Plains continent.
No, it was to the extent that they voluntarily moved to the pirate island after hearing that they would give you a full meal of grain and meat.
[City of Mercy]
These signposts were hung in the ports occupied by the 10th Fleet, and if they actually applied for relocation, they immediately distributed enough rice to avoid hunger.
Eating meat soup over hot rice was a common wish for the grassroots of East Asia, and people from all directions came to visit us regardless of nationality.
Yuhara of Kanto was at a loss for words as she watched the scene with her own eyes.
“… … Helping grassroots by pirating? Isn’t that crazy?”
“Why are you crazy?”
“If you think you’re going to get a lot of money like this, then why the hell are you pirating?”
Yoo Ha-ra followed Lee Gak on a private ship and robbed the private property of the great dignitaries, fully enjoying piracy.
However, the 10th Fleet spread rice everywhere as if nothing was left behind.
The strange thing was that none of the soldiers following the 10th Fleet had any complaints.
“Even though rice and meat are scattered all over, treason does not occur. Do you owe anything?”
“It’s debt. Our Easterfields are overflowing with these grains and meats. It means that you don’t do piracy to make a living.”
“… … You’re good at lying. Where in the world is such a country?”
“Hey, I can’t help it if I don’t believe it. But ask the pirates on the privateers. What kind of life are they living now?”
Yuhara still doesn’t understand.
Lee Gak smiled with a sympathetic smile.
‘Probably will be converted soon.’