233 – Before the Fall of the Elain Empire (4)
After the meeting with my father and the counts, we set off from Brightenfield to the Elysium without delay.
After about two days, even the supply wagons loaded with food brought from the newly occupied territory and the Kingdom of Croytel mobilized all their abilities and brought them.
When that happened, I had the illusion that the entire city was moving, like an army of crazy mercenaries who led more than 50,000 people who were active on the side of the Protestants during the Thirty Years’ War.
No, it’s because the combined troops and warlords under my command total more than 70,000 before arriving at Elysium.
It’s like one of the baronials from the days of Baron Creutel is moving as a whole, and there’s no possibility of meeting the enemy until you enter Elysium.
Maybe that’s why I’m marching in a state of relaxation for the first time in a different world.
That doesn’t mean I won’t be vigilant and scouting for assassination though.
After marching comfortably like this, when it was about time to get hungry, the military bands around us blew short trumpets several times to inform them that it was time to eat.
One of the lieutenants heard this and got off his horse and came up to me and said:
“Your Highness, this is where we are supposed to meet with the chiefs of the local village soon. How are you going to do it like you did this morning?”
“I brought food for that purpose. According to my research, there were about 16 villages around here… Prepare a year’s worth of food for about 1,500 people right now, and cook enough food for everyone in the village to eat at one meal. I will go myself.”
When I said that, the adjutant who initially tried to stop me by saying, ‘Why is Your Highness trying to meet such lowly people in person?’ Sighed as if he had given up and said.
“I will enlist the Royal Guard to escort Your Highness. Also, do not eat the food they give you.”
It’s a very natural concern that they might try to assassinate me by using poisoned food…
“Do you think you have enough food to do that to them now? Didn’t you see, in some villages, there was no grain of wheat, so weeds were put in the bark and porridge was cooked.”
**
When I went to the place I promised them, the village chief and the villagers were waiting for me with nervous expressions.
Until the days when I was a count, I felt sorry for the old village chiefs who didn’t belong to the lower-ranking vassal group and told them to stay at ease.
If I say such a thing now that I am the king, they will be more uncomfortable, worrying that I have offended them.
So, if I truly think of them, they will finish their business as soon as possible and disappear.
As if saying, ‘Please come to our unit to encourage us and don’t leave,’ it would be like giving out something to eat and leaving without showing your face. For smooth governance and strategy in the future, they must also endure inconvenience.
“Captain of the Guard, let them know that I have arrived.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Everyone sound the trumpet!”
With those words, the military band behind me sounded trumpets and drums, and a soldier with a good voice shouted from the SS.
“His Highness Ciel von Kreutel, the King of the Kingdom of Creutel, is coming! Everyone raise an example!”
The soldiers under my command immediately set up examples that matched their respective ranks.
The village chiefs and serfs were looking at each other’s faces as they wandered around when I, a noble man or the king of an enemy country, entered.
The captain of the guards and other vassals who saw that looked at me and asked me quietly if they thought it was rude.
“Your Highness, there are few places here. How about setting an example?”
“It doesn’t do you any good to do that. So, just make threats in moderation.”
Then the serfs will have a preconceived notion that the SS and other soldiers are scary, but the thought that I, the king, am benevolent will settle down.
The SS commander drew his sword and signaled with a wink to the soldiers and soldiers around him.
Understanding the signal, the soldiers pointed their spears and swords at the serfs, and the poor men seemed to realize just what disrespect they had committed.
He knelt on the ground and bowed his forehead with a force as if his head would break, expressing his respect toward me.
I didn’t really want to go this far, but it happened because they didn’t show respect to me because they were scared.
In Korea, no one will point out if the president doesn’t bow when passing by, but here, if you don’t pay respect to me, the king, that’s a sin to die for.
Instead, I’ll give the injured guys a little more food so they can heal their wounds quickly.
“Soldiers, distribute food to the carts they brought and give them a bowl of porridge made with wheat and herring to eat here in consideration of the sincerity they have come this far.”
With those words, the lids of the huge pots of porridge near where they were gathered were opened.
At the same time, the serfs, you and I, rushed away like a swarm of ants, and the village chiefs kept bowing their heads while looking at me, walking backwards to the pot of porridge.
However, the village chiefs arrived later than the serfs, so they were pushed back a long time, and in the meantime, they tried to cut in line by asserting the authority of the village chief, but were discovered by merchants and soldiers who spread porridge. I was told to go to the back and stand in line again, staring endlessly at the end of the endless line, and finally, after receiving a sign from the soldiers to come to me, I had no choice but to come to my side and sit in the same seat as me.
Just in time, hearing the sound of the serfs eating porridge deliciously, the village chiefs began to growl from their stomachs as if they had starved for several days.
Other monarchs would show here their personality and openly lavish meals to show how great they are.
“Since you haven’t eaten in a few days and you seem hungry, let’s start with a story. First of all, I really regret that you are suffering so much from Emperor Elaine’s madness. Because of that, even you, the village chief, almost starved for several days.”
In Korea, village chiefs and village heads do not have much power.
So even if there is a severe famine, the peasants may starve to death, but it is common for the village chief not to starve even a single meal.
The village chiefs listened to my words and vehemently agreed, and before they knew it, they began to nod their heads full of hatred towards the Emperor.
The Emperor… Usually, at times like this, there is a chance that at least one person will come out who would be reluctant to speak ill of the emperor whom he used to serve. How in the hell did he exploit the territory with a piece of sh*t.
From Noble mtl dot com
“So I, the future ruler of this land, brought food to show mercy. The serfs you brought are eating it. Look back.”
When I looked back, the serfs were eating cleanly, almost washing dishes, as if not leaving a single drop of porridge behind.
“… It’s a delicious porridge that can be eaten in a few days… I can’t leave a single drop… “
“What is the importance of an emperor… Killing doesn’t matter… I’d rather die now… “
“They said that if we went under His Majesty King Creutel, we would all be brutally killed, damn Elaines… Instead of killing them, they even give you porridge.”
I only gave you a bowl of porridge, but if you just listen to what he says, you will see that he even comes out with the spirit of being loyal to him as an eternal loyalist.
It proves that the situation is much more serious than we thought.
If food had not been brought, a massive starvation would have occurred.
And then I clapped my hands to get the chiefs’ attention and then said,
“With a bowl of porridge, all the serfs in your village turned to me. So, no matter what, the Frenchy guys come and ask you to defect. To refuse.”
After hearing that, everyone nodded and said.
“Is it possible? Even if Grandpa Franchi, not Franchi, comes along, I will absolutely take Your Highness’ side.”
“Anyway, Emperor Elaine has abandoned us for a long time. So… Please give me a bowl of porridge… “
“I think I will starve to death.”
They say that now, but after filling their stomachs for the moment, they may think of something else when they return to the village with the grain they shared.
You may not directly oppose me, but since the food we shared isn’t that plentiful, something like the idea of trying to solve it by stealing the food from the next village.
So you have to teach them more strictly so that they behave properly.
I signaled to my men and served them the serfs’ soup with pickled herring and beef jerky.
The village chiefs would eat it right away after seeing it, but no one touched it, probably because they didn’t have my permission.
Even when I started eating the meal set in front of me, none of the village chiefs moved their spoons.
After 15 minutes or so of a simple meal, I ordered the attendant to clean up the meal and then said.
“Oh, because I am hungry. Sorry, then let’s start talking. As you all know, the food we brought will be a bit short.”
To be precise, it is the amount that can last for one year without dying of starvation.
“So, if we are gone, you may feel hungry and want to rob the next village of food…” “
The village chiefs seemed to understand what I was saying, so they held out their hands and shook them vigorously.
“No. I would never do anything like that. I will never touch other people’s food. Trust me, I won’t do anything crazy to repay the kindness you’ve given me.”
“How would you treat His Majesty’s surname that way?”
It’s fortunate that they know what they have to do to survive because they’re the nobles who make a living in the village.
Otherwise, I would have had to explain in more detail.
And I said with a satisfied smile.
“Then go ahead and eat. Aren’t you my people too? Then you deserve to be full.”
At the same time, the village chiefs ate all the food in front of them as if they had heard a rumor.
Then, I took the soldiers and set off again.
After that, they are free to do whatever they do, but if they start a fight to steal food from another village…
Inevitably, a disaster may occur in which the serfs of the village have to be killed.
I hope that doesn’t happen… Do.