46 – Meanwhile in the North – 8
“I wanted my father to lead the army again and come out to the plains, but that doesn’t work.”
Usami Arca answered Emilia’s words.
“The Archduke Kronor must have come to his senses from the previous defeat.”
“Are you insane?”
“Under Prince Cronor, there is an outstanding wizard named Dorothea von Cronor. Dorothea-sama’s magic skills are so excellent that even I can’t guarantee victory.”
When it comes to who is the strongest magician in the north, people usually think of Usami Arca. However, Dorothea’s skills are as good as Usami Arca’s. She knew this well because she was Emilia, her family.
“If Dorothea-sama is determined and stands on the side of Suseong-gun to protect the castle, it will be difficult for us to drop the castle. No matter how much I bombard the castle with magic, the defense side will always have an advantage over the attacking side. Realizing that, the Archduke had no chance of fighting Emilia-sama, so he decided to focus only on Mercury. If you focus on defense, it will be difficult to drop the castle.”
“Your father has changed a lot, too.”
If it was like before, I would never have lost my pride. Did the experience of almost losing his life change the character of the archduke? Or maybe it’s the opium’s fault.
“Would it be difficult to drop the castle even if I invested 6 times as many troops?”
“We may win, but the damage will be great.”
If Emilia led the army from the front and entered with 6,000 troops, she would be able to push back somehow, but the damage to her allies would be great.
“It’s not what I want the children of the North to die in these pointless fights.”
“Yes. I am of the same opinion.”
“Rachnar.”
At that moment, Emilia called the captain’s name. Lachnar von Skane, who did not know if his name would be called, replied in surprise.
“yes!”
“Do you have any thoughts?”
To this Lachnar von Skane replied.
“How about accepting the soldiers who broke away from Kronor as allies?”
“The deserters?”
“Yes. I know that there are quite a few nobles who deserted from the army of Grand Duke Kronor, or returned to their hometowns with their troops. I think it’s only a matter of time before we can create a large army of 10,000 if we attract them to our army’s formation and recruit soldiers from our territory. After that, it pushes the numbers. No matter how competent a wizard is, it will be difficult to stop an army of 10,000.”
“Well… ”
Emilia pondered for a while before replying as follows.
“no.”
“Yes?”
“It will never happen.”
Rachnar was a bit taken aback by Emilia’s affirmation. he was puzzled Because if it were me, I would have done it that way. What on earth was Emilia saying no to because of the difference between herself and herself?
“Why?”
“Because there are many opium addicts among those who have deserted from the army of Grand Duke Cronor. Opium is like paint. Even though it is small at first, when it meets water, it dyes the water black. If even a small amount of opium spreads among the troops, they could follow in the same footsteps as my father.”
And with only one shot left to win, such a gamble was not good.
Raknar agreed with Emilia’s opinion. Rather than Emilia’s opinion being right and her own opinion wrong, it was a difference in disposition. Emilia was a perfectionist who pursued a flawless army, and she was an ordinary general who didn’t care as long as the army was running.
“Hmm… There is one way.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Usami Arca who said that.
“What way? Usami?”
“If Emilia-sama doesn’t make a mistake, Grand Duke Cronor’s forces will have no future.”
“Yes.”
“There will be few people who don’t know that.”
“I guess so.”
“How about using that?”
Usami’s strategy that brought such luck was as follows.
Although Grand Duke Cronor has come to his senses, he has lost trust due to numerous mistakes so far.
In other words, the commanders under the Archduke would no longer believe in the Archduke. Buy such commanders and receive the head of the archduke. Then you will be able to enter easily without war.
“Even though Emilia-sama accepted my pledge of allegiance, I have never contributed to the faction. If you leave the behind-the-scenes work to me, I will bring the head of Archduke Cronor this time.”
Emilia thought. He had already won a fair game against Grand Duke Cronor. Now that he’s shown his overwhelming power, it’s time for him to come out behind the scenes. then…
“Usami Arca.”
“Yes.”
“I will allow the operation. Please bring me the head of Carl von Kronor.”
“Yes! Just leave it to me.”
—–
Even though it’s Usami Arca from Grand Duke Cronor’s army.
On the way out, he planted a bomb of some sort.
Of course, a bomb was not a real explosive.
He had placed several officers under his command.
Then, by combining the information received from the spies, they determine which one is the truth.
And according to the intelligence of the spies, it seemed that the commanders under Grand Duke Cronor were already running out of dissatisfaction.
There are constantly defectors, and it seems that deserters are also appearing.
And Usami Arca used spies to gather the dissatisfied people of Cronor’s forces in one place.
“Has everyone gathered?”
Dissatisfied officers gathered in a dark corner of the warehouse in the castle of Grand Duke Cronor.
“I don’t think there’s anyone here who doesn’t know that we’re going to die if we go on like this.”
At those words, several officers let out salivations. That’s right. Going on like this, they had no choice but to die.
“When I think that going to see my family and hugging a bar girl without my wife’s knowledge is the end, my heart breaks.”
“… ”
“… ”
“But what if I told you there was a way to survive?”
At that, the officers began to mumble.
“How can you survive? What way?”
“A letter has arrived from the elder Usami Arca.”
“Usami!”
Someone screamed and covered his mouth. This is because Usami Arca was a traitor who betrayed Grand Duke Cronor and became attached to Emilia.
“Elder Arca said that whoever brings the head of Grand Duke Cronor will be sealed as a count and will be given a prize of 10,000 ducats.”
“count!”
They, too, knew what the title of count was. Unlike the barons, the counts were nobles who were in charge of one axis of real politics. It was not a matter of playing and eating for the rest of my life. It is a place where wealth and power can be inherited from generation to generation!
“for a moment. Isn’t it a rebellion to bring the head of Grand Duke Kronor?”
“It’s a rebellion.”
“… ”
“… ”
After a moment of silence passed.
“Hello! There is a rebel here! Arrest the interest!”
One person stood up and shouted, but everyone stared blankly at the person who stood up, but no one tried to move.
“What are you doing! Hurry up and arrest interest… ”
But he couldn’t speak. Someone behind him took out a dagger and stabbed him in the chest several times.
Soon, the officer who had been shouting for the arrest of the rebels became quiet, and the discussion began again.
“If he was the usual Grand Duke of Cronor, he wouldn’t have even dreamed of it, but now he’s very weak because he’s addicted to opium. Maybe we can catch it with our own strength.”
“right.”
“The count can only be given to one person, but 10,000 ducats can be divided among several. I’ll join right away Anybody want to join?”
Then dozens of people raised their hands and the warehouse became cluttered.
“Everyone stop. It would be quick to count the people who won’t participate. Is there anyone who won’t participate here?”
Then they all put their hands down. Not a single person raised a hand. The spy grinned.
“You know everyone is participating. It’s two o’clock in the morning.”
Tonight, Archduke Cronor will die.
—–
When it was 2 o’clock in the morning.
Grand Duke Cronor was sitting on the bed, lost in thought.
Lately, Grand Duke Cronor hasn’t been able to sleep properly.
Until recently, the Grand Duke of Cronor was the true Grand Duke who ruled over the entire northern region, but recently he had become a small force with only a few castles.
Even if you borrow Dorothea’s power to protect the castle, the rest of the territory will be taken away.
Will he be able to make a comeback? While I was thinking about that, there was a sudden uproar outside.
“Damn things. They ban opium, so now they drink and fight.”
Grand Duke Cronor left the room after thinking so.
But as soon as the Archduke left the room, he couldn’t help but be astonished.
It was because dozens of soldiers and officers with bloody swords were glaring at him as they came out of the room.