233 – Battle of the Hanseatic County Occupation (6)
Time passed and we were greeted by 20,000 reinforcements sent by Count Hogen.
“Count Hogen, welcome. “I was waiting for you to come.”
Count Hogen, who discovered me, got off his horse and walked towards where I was.
No matter how middle-aged you are, considering that in this world you have to be at least 60 years old to have a middle-aged look on your face…
He is an old man who has lived for at least 60 years, so it is not a fault that his body is a bit chubby, but isn’t that a bit too extreme?
Why are people so round?
“Okay, thank you for coming this far to meet me. Since he was a former mercenary leader, I was worried that he would be unfamiliar with etiquette, but I was worried in vain.”
The reason why he gained so much weight is because he looks like a snowman. What he says is very cheesy.
Just hearing that literally makes me feel bad, but…
If we interpret it in the way of nobles, for whom talking back and forth is as natural as breathing, isn’t this what it means?
‘It’s nice to see a man who used to be a lowly mercenary leader take care of himself.’
Someday, I want to do whatever it takes to make that bastard suffer an ‘unfortunate accident.’
But in the past, there was an insurmountable ‘wall’ between me and the Count, so I couldn’t even fight back.
The situation is a little different now.
As long as I don’t openly act like a bully, I can hit the person who bothers me first, whether it’s a count or something else.
Why? Although I am not of the same status as the Count, I am fully qualified to compete on the same stage.
In order to achieve this, he clamored for Margrave Estelle to give up his position as a direct vassal.
Thanks to this, I no longer have to wait until the fire breaks out.
No, if I hold back, only I and my subordinates will become idiots.
“Even though I was of humble origin, His Highness the Fourth Prince trusted me, so I did my best to live up to his expectations.”
Count Hogen heard those words and began to clear his throat.
“Ah, that looks very desirable. “Let’s continue to work hard like this.”
I have nothing to say, so just look at me pretending to praise, you idiot.
“The reason His Majesty the Fourth Prince hastened to send I, Hougen, is to prevent the invasion of the Second Prince’s faction, which is eagerly targeting the Hanseatic County. “You know that, right?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And our Highness said this when he sent me.”
Seeing that you are showing off your status and friendship with a high-ranking person, it seems like you are trying to kill my spirit.
Is it because I suddenly become a vassal of the 4th prince and won the first important battle that will determine the future of this faction, so I look that much of a threat?
Or is he trying to use this opportunity to cajole me and bring me under his influence?
Anyway, our faction hasn’t really grown yet, and they’re already trying to start an internal faction fight like that.
I know you want to be the de facto second-in-command of this faction, but isn’t this a hasty act?
“Because the number of troops brought by Baron Cologne and Baron Maurer was small, there must have been many inconveniences in stabilizing the Hanseatic County.”
It seems like the Fourth Prince sent it with good intentions, but that gentleman used it strangely and ended up falling for it.
The Count tapped my shoulder and smiled like a neighborhood brother.
“With only 7,000 men, there would have been limitations in maintaining security in the newly occupied county or preventing the invasion of hostile factions. Even if there was a problem while occupying the county, I won’t hold you responsible. Did nothing really happen?”
A noble may say one word to an enemy, but he can never say two words to an ally in a public place like this.
So, no matter what his intentions, if I report that there is a problem here, unless it is treason or a serious false report, he will be ignored.
Instead, they will try to erode my face and standing.
He knew that would happen and handled the job perfectly.
“You may have heard from a messenger a few days ago, but fifteen days ago, I personally drove out the 3,000 troops led by Viscount Aachen. After that, there has been no sign of any movement from the Second Prince’s faction to send troops separately.”
“Is that so? But how on earth did you figure out the enemy’s movements?”
Are you finding fault with things like this?
I understand your desire to control my spirit, but isn’t this a bit too much?
No, Martin is such a threat to the vassals belonging to the Fourth Prince’s faction that they have no choice but to keep him in check.
Okay, if that’s the case, I’ll accept it as much as it is unreasonable.
“Wouldn’t you be able to tell just by looking at how frequently merchants transporting goods such as food, iron, and hay move? In addition, we have gathered rumors around us through the information guild, so the information is probably not incorrect.”
“Then how are security management and administration handled?”
“Currently, I am maintaining security and defense posture using the 7,000 troops I temporarily stationed there and the 3,000 troops I gathered by conscripting local serfs.”
Last time, when security was urgently needed and an attack by the Second Prince’s faction was imminent, 7,000 men were conscripted from the local area.
There was no need for that anymore, so the remaining 4,000 people dispersed.
“Administration is not within my jurisdiction, so I did not touch it.”
The reason I didn’t touch the administration was largely because it was beyond my authority, but in fact, it was because I couldn’t handle it to this point.
However, since there is a shield called ‘authority’, my deliberately not touching it will be interpreted as an exemplary action to protect the good.
The count was interrogating me, and when he could no longer find fault with me, he started laughing.
“hehehehe, the work was done perfectly. As expected, Margrave Estelle would approve.”
It’s like bowing down and bowing down, but it’s not that bad.
“It is an honor.”
“First of all, there are matters to be handed over, so let’s go together to the capital of the County of Hanja. And bite useless people around you.”
Hougen waved his hand and killed all of his guards.
Then he gave me a profound look and quietly said goodbye.
“Hmm, you know. Our direct vassals are looking after His Highness the Fourth Prince, who will become the future emperor, but there are also conflicts of interest within them. “Do you understand why?”
Among the independent activists who shunned self-interest and were innocent, there was a fight within the Provisional Government over whether to support the Communist Party or capitalism.
It is impossible for there to be no conflict of interest in our faction, which is full of self-interest.
And at the center of it all is ‘How much can I eat?’
“The benefits we can obtain in the future are limited, but this is probably because our greed is infinite.”
“You understand quickly.”
How on earth could someone who doesn’t even know this participate in a dangerous civil war?
Count Hogen clucked his hands and spoke in a whisper.
“So we have to make some concessions to each other… But honestly, I think Margrave Estelle is too greedy.”
What kind of bizarre babble is this?
“No, don’t you say that most of this county will be under the direct control of His Highness the Fourth Prince?”
Well, it’s only me and Dalton who contributed, and if you give us both our share, honestly, why should the Fourth Prince give you the territory?
No, if they are separated, the interests will become more complicated and internal division will only occur.
In this case, it is common sense that the prince takes the occupied territory and distributes it or not according to each person’s future achievements.
“And if he holds absolute power, wouldn’t he be able to monopolize the rights later?”
Hogen, Hogen, what kind of bullsh*t is that?
Even Stalin, the human butcher, said this to the Comintern-affiliated forces that joined the Provisional Government.
‘Let the country become independent first and devote yourself to the communist movement.’
So, until independence in 1945, the left and right cooperated and Kim Il-sung and his brother fought while working on their own.
His actions since then have been so trash that even burning and tearing up his entire body in hell would not be enough.
“So, shouldn’t you join hands with me and keep some room for checks?”
If I receive this kind of offer, I can say that I now have the qualifications to be recognized as a full-fledged vassal by my direct vassal forces.
When I think about it like that, I feel like my shoulders are shaking.
But apart from that, I would be a fool if I accepted that offer.
“I really appreciate the Count’s offer, but isn’t it time for everyone to fight as one under His Highness the Fourth Prince and Margrave Estelle? So, I will just accept your wishes.”
“I understand that you don’t understand the need to go back down the difficult path. After completing the handover, you and Baron Maurer must immediately return to the castle where Margrave Estelle is staying.”
And fifteen days later, we ordered our soldiers to return and headed straight to the castle where the Margrave was staying.