229 – All-Out War in Alas (12)
The evening of a safe victory in war.
I have gathered all the nobles above the baron to my barracks to discuss the course after this battle.
In normal times, even if the war is won, the atmosphere is quite heavy and serious when holding a clean-up meeting.
After giving me the title of duke, it wasn’t enough that he tried to subjugate me as a traitor, perhaps it was because I defeated a bug that was hardly worthy of being called an emperor who drove people into the ridiculous French expedition…
Aristocrats who are quite dignified and have great influence outside have not even drank in my barracks, but they are chattering in a merry atmosphere as if they are drunk.
“hahahaha, I can’t believe this is real or a dream. Count Biermann, Count Frost. You really think we captured all the goddamned Adolphs, right?”
“Oh, my friend. I’ve pinched you so many times that your cheeks are all red, and the nonsense… Are you drunk? If you get drunk before a military meeting, regardless of your status, you will be flogged.”
“I’m not drunk, but my heart is full! Because the left wing I led became the center and defeated the damn Brussels and led the war to victory!”
“That’s also a disease, my friend. You tell me that you actually commanded the vanguard in the left wing. “
And looking around the other side, the two Counts Iris and Isra, who had turned to my side under Emperor Elaine, were also making noise.
“Your Highness said in the past that a knight who lives splendidly is not a strong knight, but a knight who survives is a strong knight. I guess that makes sense.”
“Yes, Count Isra. Although we made a mistake a few years ago, we made the right choice in the end to protect the land and the people, so we are the strongest among the nobles from Elaine. I can’t. Today, I have to give the other counts at least a barrel of wine to say that this blue guy is taking care of me.”
Seeing that, I clicked my tongue in my mind in a moment of bewilderment.
However, even though those guys didn’t perform as well as the counts, they made achievements in their own place.
So, I have no choice but to let it go…
I quietly watched the mutual delight for about 5 minutes, then went up to my seat at the top of the center of the barracks.
Then the nobles, instead of talking excitedly, quietly looked in my direction and bowed.
Just by looking at the way they were showing their respect, I couldn’t believe they were just people who had been having fun until just now.
After 30 seconds, I raised the glass in front of me and declared.
“I declare it once again. Ciel von Kreutel, the King of the Kingdom of Creutel, has completely defeated the evil Emperor of Elaine, Adolph de Elaine! Long live Deus, long live the kingdom of Creutel!”
With that said, the nobles also raised their cups high into the sky and shouted.
“Long live Deus! Long live the kingdom of Creutel!”
“Praise the King for winning freedom from the evil oppressor!”
Then, the nobles emptied the wine in their glasses at the same time as me.
I said with a light joke to properly arouse the atmosphere now.
“Now, the supply corps will be back with plenty of women and drinks, so put off the fun for then. If you enjoy it now, can you not go and play then?”
When I, who usually don’t joke well, made a joke like this, I heard bursts of laughter from the nobles.
So for a moment, I wondered if these gentlemen were forced to laugh over the manager’s cold and chilly gag, but… What is good is good
Also, I’m still in my early 30s, so there’s no way I’ve become like the general manager who’s over 50 with a gag sense.
I clapped once, got their attention, and then went on.
“First of all, in the Battle of the Brightenfield Plain, the allies pushed the 180,000 troops led by the Emperor with overwhelming force, and achieved a great victory that literally overwhelms the enemy. On the other hand, the allies suffered only minor damage: 4,000 killed, 4,000 seriously injured, and 6,000 light injured. Enemy damage is still being estimated, but it is estimated that only 60,000 people will be killed.”
It was said that only 60,000 people were killed in the war, but that number must include some of those who deserted from the battlefield and went missing.
So the actual number of dead was about 50,000, and the emperor only rounded up the dead in this battle, so he suffered damage equal to 1/3 of his strength.
As anyone who has studied strategy or combat even a little knows, in the history of war, if you lose 1/3 of your troops due to death or injury, that army is considered to have lost its ability to fight…
The Emperor’s army will not be able to function properly without long-term reorganization.
No, since the effective control of numerous territories has been lost, it cannot be rebuilt properly because it has not been able to supply military supplies.
The nobles, rather than being happy to hear that, spoke in vain.
“Estimated 60,000 dead… Now the emperor is finished… “
“Still, when the Duke of Brussels appeared on the left wing of the imperial army, I was really taken aback by the sudden change of situation, but in the end it turned out like this.”
“Wow, they say life is futile, and 15 years ago, the Elaine Empire, which thought it would last a thousand years, is ruined like this… “
It seems absurd to say that noblemen who killed so many soldiers with their own hands are now saying that they are so vain.
Those noblemen have lived as nobles of the Elain Empire for at least 30 to 40 years, or their entire lives, unlike me, who only lived for about 15 years as an aristocrat of the Elain Empire.
So, like grandfathers whose hometown has been developed and can’t find their former self, they may feel a little futile.
To evoke such an atmosphere, I cleared my throat twice and went on.
“However, in this war, unfortunately, we failed to capture the dirty emperor, the Duke of Brussels, and a few other counts. And they say they will fight against us again, and it is estimated that they are moving to the direct control of the Elaine family with soldiers.”
I don’t know if it would have been a pity that I couldn’t capture the enemy’s leader, the emperor or the duke, at another time.
I don’t feel regretful that I didn’t catch it right now.
If you say this, you might see me as a strange person, but…
If only one of them succeeds in escaping, the command authority can be unified and systematically reorganized.
Through one organizational power, even half of the defeated soldiers can be gathered together and reorganized successfully to harass our kingdom army…
In the worst predicament, the emperor, regent, and nobles, who have completely lost their influence, will fight for power even in the midst of ruin among themselves.
If I lead an army towards them, there is a high possibility that we will lock ourselves in the castle and fight each other, blaming each other, as in the English Parliament in the Middle Ages.
“It is already too late to pursue, so our troops will take advantage of this gap and divide their troops in a week to take over Count Zach. Also, in Count Jacques, he joins the Brussels Expeditionary Force led by his father. Is there anything you’re curious about or don’t understand?”
After a while, Count Frost stood up quietly from his seat and asked.
“If you secure Count Zach’s territory, now the difference in power between us and the Elaine Empire will be incomparably superior to our allies. Then it would be nice to end the war soon, but why are you willing to join us… ”
We definitely ate 3 counties, no 4 counties, and even the Duchy of Brussels, so we got more profits than mobilizing 150,000 people.
So, I understand the opinion that I should be satisfied and go back here now that I have had enough.
“The Elaine Empire has already reached a point where it can no longer survive because of its defeat in this war. The snail-eating Franchis will gnaw away metallurgically the direct control of the imperial family, which can be said to be the yolk of the Elaine Empire, if we withdraw.”
If that happens, the Franchis will devour some of the money you’ve worked so hard on and run away.
Even though my allies aren’t annihilated or completely consumed, as long as I open my eyes, I can’t tolerate taking away my bread in front of me.
“In order to overcome such a situation, even if it is a little overbearing, I have to recover my physical strength and immediately enter the direct control of the Elaine family. But don’t worry too much. This war will end very easily.”