151 – 155
A report from Adriana.
“This… Is this possible?”
A military strategist. Not even from the Three Kingdoms.
In a situation that is becoming absurd, I look at the report several times.
“Wow…”
I understand why everyone evaluates William highly.
Although there were incompetent military leaders, I thought all William could do was delay.
Unexpected specialization.
Sitting in a chair, I raise an uppercut towards the ceiling.
“Nice!”
Although we have not yet gained complete control over Adriana, with this, we can completely cut off Johannes’s supplies.
“Don’t get too excited just yet.”
Surely this time, Johannes will lead a large army.
If we estimate around 100,000 troops…
Agrippa must land in Byzantium.
Byzantium, slightly north of Nicaea in the central part of the Nicaea territory.
According to the intelligence report, most of the supplies for the Nicaean army come from there.
If we destroy that place, the Nicaean army will collapse over time.
Of course, the Nicaean army might prepare to retake Byzantium…
The commander there is Agrippa.
It will be impossible to defeat him.
No matter what anyone says, he is the commander who stops the demons.
“Hmm… Should I start the process of handing over the imperial faction to Theodora?”
Thinking so, I start drawing up plans on paper.
Hmm… Should I pass the bill?
I am considering passing a tax reform bill at this time.
I couldn’t do it before because I was worried that the imperial faction would start a civil war, but with Bohemia taking such a blow, there should be no power to start a civil war.
Anyway, with Nicaea out of the picture, they don’t have many options.
“Hmm… And submit a demand for the release of the imperial faction to the council…”
If I exercise the voting rights of Nicaea, Epirus, and Aetolia and capture a few anti-imperial factions and a bit of the neutral faction, it is possible.
At that moment…
Theodora will step forward and exercise her veto power.
One of the privileges granted to the emperor, the veto power.
She will use it to veto both the tax reform bill and the request for the dissolution of the imperial faction.
And then she will force me to choose one of the two.
“Hmm… The painting isn’t bad.”
So, I’m here to collect taxes, huh?
It’s like they’re saying I can’t win.
By negotiating like this, I’ll save the Imperial faction while pushing through the tax reform I want.
Not bad.
An Emperor who protects the Imperial faction against the Empire’s tyrants.
Of course, whether the Imperial faction is dismantled or not doesn’t matter.
They’ll try to maintain a good relationship with the Emperor since they now have the Emperor as a shield, right?
In the meantime, I’ll push through the tax reform.
“Alright, alright.”
That’s how I make detailed plans and spend my days looking over documents.
***
A few days later, in the afternoon.
I head to the Gold Area after a long time.
It used to be a path I walked every day, but lately, I’ve only been spending time in the Imperial Court, so it feels awkward to be on this route.
Did Theodora go out too?
Standing in front of my mother-in-law’s room like that…
-Knock, knock!
The guard knocks as he sees me.
-What’s going on outside?
“Um… His Highness, the Emperor, has arrived.”
-Oh? Well, tell him to come in quickly.
Upon my mother-in-law’s words, the guard opens the door.
“Have you been well during this time?”
My greeting brings a subtle smile to my mother-in-law’s face.
“Yes, I’ve been well. But I’ve been worried lately as I hardly see my son-in-law’s face.”
At my kind mother-in-law’s straightforward words, I feel a bit awkward.
“hahahaha… that’s not polite.”
My mother-in-law laughs brightly at my words.
“Well, how about starting to join us for breakfast again from tomorrow?”
After fighting with Theodora in the room and avoiding breakfast intentionally, it’s understandable.
Well, after all… it feels inappropriate to eat together with a woman’s mother whom I’ve been violent towards, no matter how much I try to justify it.
At my words, my mother-in-law’s expression slightly darkens.
“I may not know what happened that day… but how can you live together without quarrels? So, although I know you feel uncomfortable, I don’t think it would be a big issue between a couple.”
My conscience pricks at my mother-in-law’s gentle words.
“Well… I’ll consider that later. What I came here for today is to talk. I know Theodora wants to separate from me.”
At my words, my mother-in-law freezes for a moment.
Then, after frowning for a while, she speaks.
“That child is the Emperor of the Empire…”
From Noble mtl dot com
I cut in and say to my mother-in-law, “I apologize for interrupting, but I have no particular objection to that matter. Rather, I believe it should be returned to her someday.”
My mother-in-law responds cautiously to my words, “That statement…?”
“But we can’t just step aside obediently. Theodora has not yet proven herself, so she cannot easily step back,” I continue, seeing the bewildered expression on my mother-in-law’s face.
“Therefore, I intend to give her power. The Imperial Faction.”
And so, with me as the director, my mother-in-law’s production begins.
William contemplates deeply as he looks at the war map.
“Hmm…”
Unlike the incompetent General Zeko, William, who expects Johannes to lead the army directly to Adrianople this time, is troubled by the current situation.
“It’s going to be a tough battle.”
Reorganizing the surrendered Nicaean army and putting them into action is a difficult task. If there are spies within, it will only complicate matters further.
Moreover, the walls of the Thessalonica fortress are in ruins, and if that part is only patched up with bricks, it will undoubtedly be vulnerable to magical attacks.
Furthermore, the best way to stop Johannes is to block the path connecting Dyrrhachium and Nicaea.
However, if reinforcements come from the Bulgarian and Byzantine fronts, William’s army will be surrounded.
“In the end, it’s a siege.”
William is considering the method of besieging the enemy by occupying the major city, setting up the main troops there, laying siege, and using the Golden Knights to attack the enemy’s supply lines.
“Hmm… Should I just lay siege altogether?”
The major city of Adrianople.
If they move supplies here and delay, the capture of Byzantium shouldn’t be a big issue.
“I wonder if young Agrif is up to the task.”
As someone who has participated in numerous wars, William feels uneasy about Agrif, who has only led a war once, feeling like a novice.
“Sire. The scouts who went towards Dyrrhachium have returned.”
In response to this news, William says, “So, Johannes is coming himself?”
“Yes. The troops are…”
“Probably around 70,000.”
As William predicts the enemy’s forces like a prophet, Matteo is surprised and asks, “H-How did you know?”
Seeing Matteo’s surprise, William smiles slightly and says, “They need to bring that much to stop me. Probably, reinforcements will come from Byzantium as well. Has there been any contact from the scouts on that side yet?”
“No. They haven’t returned yet.”
With a hand on his chin, William falls into thought.
“Hmm.”
After a long period of contemplation, William finally speaks up, “The defenses seem the best.”
“Excuse me?”
William smiles at Matteo, who doesn’t seem to understand.
“So, there’s that. How are the negotiations with Thessalonica going?”
“Well, it seems like they’re nearing completion.”
At that, William nods thoughtfully.
“Alright. Firmly secure the siege of Thessalonica and tell them that if they don’t surrender, we’ll charge them all with treason and wipe them out.”
Startled, Matteo responds, “B-but is that alright? If the council finds out…”
William reassures him, shaking his head, “I have no intention of executing everyone. It’s merely a bluff.”
Massacring the residents of a major city within the Empire is far beyond William’s authority. Despite being a war, executing them would spark significant opposition within the council. However, William believes it could intimidate the enemy into a swift surrender.
“U-understood, for now.”
After nodding at William, Matteo glances at the map once more.
“Soon… it will be a tough fight.”
William finds himself in a disadvantageous situation with scarce military resources and unfavorable terrain. Yet, knowing the reason he’s here, if Byzantium falls…
“At that time, I can hunt down the enemies.”
***
“His Majesty, the Emperor, and Her Majesty, the Empress Mother, are asking for you.”
Surprised by the news of my mother summoning me, I inquire as such, as it’s uncommon for her to send for me in this manner.
“What might be the reason for my mother summoning me?”
“I only heard that she has something important to discuss.”
Nodding in understanding, I reply, “Alright, I’ll go to her right away.”
Heading towards my mother’s chambers.
“His Majesty, the Emperor, has arrived.”
[Yes, please let him in.]
As the door opens at my mother’s words, she greets me with a bright smile.
“Mother, did you send for me?”
She nods in response to my question.
“hehehe, yes. Are you busy?”
Shaking my head, I say, “I’m fine for now.”
Recently, I’ve started studying diligently, so my workload has increased compared to usual, but it’s not as overwhelming as before.
[No, why?! You used to handle everything, didn’t you?]
[Are then and now the same? I have a schedule too!]
I’ve significantly reduced my workload after a big argument with Devian.
The reason being that I can’t afford to neglect meeting nobles or exceptional talents currently.
It would be impossible to derail Deviang without their support.
-uedeuk.
Just wait and see, I’ll kick you out and make you crawl like a dog.
My mother, who is unaware of my thoughts, says with a bright smile.
“I called you to have a cup of tea after a long time.”
I nod at her words.
“I like that too. I already have a headache.”
My mother is slightly surprised by my words and says.
“Really? Things haven’t been going well lately?”
I nod at my mother’s words, and a good idea comes to mind.
Having watched her father, who was the emperor of this country and known for his wisdom, rule for a long time, I ask her how she would have handled the situation.
“Mother, I’m curious about something. If Father were in the same situation as me, what do you think he would have done?”
My mother looks at the ceiling for a moment, frowns, and then says.
“Well? When he was in power, he maintained absolute authority… I’ve never encountered a situation like this, so I don’t know.”
I sigh at my mother’s words.
“Ah… I see.”
“Why? Are you worried about how to keep the imperial faction alive and well?”
I nod at my perceptive mother’s words.
“Yes, exactly. I’m sure he won’t just sit back and watch the imperial faction. I don’t know how to keep the imperial faction safe from him.”
Although his power has diminished significantly now, in his heyday, he was a powerful force that even the imperial faction had to reckon with.
If such a force supports me, it would undoubtedly be a great help to me, so I cannot simply let him dismantle it.
“Well, then, how about this approach?”
I listen carefully to my mother’s words.