The Imperial Parliament. A place where fifteen nobles, including three Dukes of the Empire, gather, all possessing the esteemed title of Councilor.
These fine individuals meet to discuss important matters of the Empire and then—just for fun—inform the Emperor about their conclusions. You know, to cover all the formalities.
Of course, to put it bluntly, anything deemed irrelevant by this esteemed group doesn’t even make it to His Majesty. It gets cut right here, in this room, like a bad joke before it reaches the Emperor’s ears.
“Chief of the Imperial Staff. Even if your point is valid, sending that amount of supplies to Ross Tannika is a terrible move.”
“That’s correct. While Benito is barely holding the mainland border and Dugal’s coastline is firmly in Ross Tannika’s grip, it’s not like Dedolant’s navy is about to rise from the sea or anything. But still, it’s unreasonable.”
“And what does it cost just to transport these supplies? It’s bordering on being more expensive than the supplies themselves! We’re looking at a ship whose hull costs more than the cargo!”
Predictably, the opposition’s reactions were a bit stronger than anticipated.
It was already irritating enough trying to deliver these goods for free while only collecting their worth—or less—without even mentioning shipping fees. Yet, here I was proposing not only to skip the shipping charges but also to sell the supplies at a discounted rate, with payment deferred to… well, sometime in the future.
The parliamentarians and Ministry of Finance must’ve collectively thought, “What kind of nonsense is this?!”
“Come now, everyone, calm down. Surely the Chief of the Imperial Staff wouldn’t propose this without understanding its implications.”
“Ross Tannika does deserve consideration. Our Emperor himself received their envoy and personally promised them assistance in their plight. But so far, besides defending against Dedolant—they haven’t received much help from us. Our imperial pride won’t allow this to continue!”
“It’s not just pride. Ross Tannika is currently tying down anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 Dedolant troops. But if they surrender or negotiate, guess where those forces might end up?”
Fortunately, there were slightly more supporters than opponents.
So, five against, seven for. Three undecided.
Interestingly, all three Dukes present cast their votes in favor.
This made me appreciate anew how father had cultivated such strong alliances with other ducal families.
If relationships had been strained, I doubt we’d have seen this level of cooperation.
‘So the focus now shifts to either swaying the undecided councilors or converting the opposition.’
Should I lean on imperial pride like the pro side, or tug on the heartstrings of pity for poor Ross Tannika, left to cry alone on the battlefield?
No, no, neither option has enough punch in the current climate.
What’s required is not just pulling the undecided to our side but flipping the opposition entirely.
For this, the method I must employ is… Yes, it’s only this one approach.
“Esteemed members of the Imperial Parliament, I have something important to share with you.”
“And what would that be, Chief of the Imperial Staff?”
“Several months ago, during our aggressive push westward, our Western Legion obtained some intelligence. It was supposed to be relayed right away, but two legions were surrounded, delaying the news.”
First, by mentioning our past defeat and Dedolant’s treachery, I subtly reignited their animosity towards our shared enemy.
“According to this newly arrived intel, it appears Dedolant attempted to sway Ross Tannika to their side right from the start of the war, either through bribes or stronger treaties.”
“Attempted to sway Ross Tannika?”
“Yes. They’re likely finding it inconvenient to fight enemies on both fronts. Though their initial efforts were unsuccessful, Dedolant might seize any opportunity to renew these proposals.”
“…”
“Perhaps Ross Tannika’s continued resistance is nothing but a gambit to secure better terms.”
Everything I’ve said so far is true. Up until the point where Dedolant tried to convince Ross Tannika, it’s all accurate.
Whether they’re still attempting such persuasion? That’s uncertain.
Or whether Ross Tannika would actually abandon us and side with Dedolant? Again, this remains unknown.
Without specific intelligence on this, I can only speculate.
Thus, I haven’t told a single lie. I’ve merely presented facts and reasonable predictions.
“Dedolant is trying to sway Ross Tannika?”
“Could Ross Tannika be wavering against us?”
The parliamentary members likely found this concept deeply discomforting.
After all, the sting of our loss to Dedolant hasn’t fully faded.
Then, to have our enemies taunting our very pride?
How dare they attempt to sway our allies, who have fought bravely, hoping for our assistance?
“That… hmm…”
“If Ross Tannika surrenders, it will be a disgrace to the Empire. This is not merely a military setback but also a diplomatic defeat!”
Political theories may hold their ground, but they pale before capitalist logic.
Even capitalist logic cannot stand against the brute force of pride.
Helping Ross Tannika might seem like an expensive risk?
But imagine the blow to our national pride if we don’t?
Incidentally, the faction of Marquis Conslor has been getting a fair share of public backlash lately.
Their insistence on decisive warfare through the General Staff, and their advocacy for Dedolant’s surrender, led to the disastrous loss of two legions— a catastrophic failure for an empire that believed itself to be untouchable.
The public’s anger at this debacle must’ve been immense.
Normally, criticizing nobles is unheard of.
But these are extraordinary times. Everyone knows better than to speak aloud against the silent agreement to let bygones be bygones.
“Word has it that the public’s criticism has actually shielded the Royal Family and other noble houses from further attacks.”
The situation being as it is, the Parliament might soon feel the wrath too.
Decisions leading to diplomatic failure could expose them to similar attacks.
If word spreads that the Empire abandoned those who petitioned for help, the repercussions will be severe.
And let’s not forget the weight of the Empire’s “celebrity strategist,” whose reputation precedes him.
The rumor that a bill championed by the Empire’s brilliant tactician made the rounds?
Imagine the public’s outrage if the parliament tried to counter it with talk of budget cuts.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the common folk started clamoring to pay more taxes willingly to support this very cause.
Again, nothing trumps a nation’s pride.
National pride is not an empty boast; it’s the foundation of a thriving nation. The moment it erodes, the nation crumbles.
“Esteemed Councilors.”
Relying solely on pride isn’t enough. Adding capitalist logic to this mix would be the perfect complement.
“Some of you may have concerns about the lack of upfront payment in the supply support bill.”
“Regrettably, Ross Tannika’s current financial state doesn’t leave them with much choice. Would you ask a burglar with nothing but the shirt on his back to pay you before you even defeat him?”
“However, once all is said and done, once the bandit’s property is claimed by the one who stopped him, no one would protest the confiscation of those spoils.”
The Empire has momentarily forgotten something essential—a truth buried amid centuries of conquest.
This war is about more than restoring lost prestige. It’s about extending our imperial influence over the western continent. Expanding our territory to reshape the order of the continent under the Empire’s banner.
Once this war concludes, the Empire will reap the rewards, overflowing with treasures.
And every one of those treasures belongs solely to us. That’s how it must be.
Others might claim credit for their contributions, but they’ll never be true victors, merely beneficiaries of our success.
Any suggestion to share the spoils will not be tolerated.
“Generosity now will give us leverage later. It’s an excellent moral and strategic weapon. If you’re worried about changes in their allegiance, consider this response.”
“Could any kingdom, in a hundred years, truly challenge the Empire’s dominance after this war?”
*
That winter, the Empire forewent the customary New Year Celebration.
Instead, they pledged before their ancestors to exact retribution on the vile Dedolant.
The Emperor’s vow resonated strongly with the populous, who prayed fervently for imperial victory.
With the new year upon them, the first initiative was the supply of materials to Ross Tannika.
A perilous trek indeed, crossing the Dedolant-occupied southern coast of Dugal, which is, ironically, less threatening due to Benito’s struggles and Ross Tannika’s naval superiority.
The timely arrival of our goods revitalized Ross Tannika, who’d faced difficulties sourcing iron, which is predominantly found in Dugal and Dedolant.
Our support proved invaluable.
After spending roughly two weeks there, Chief of the Imperial Staff, Kael, returned to his post.
Exactly one week later, Dedolant launched a formidable winter offensive.
Their target? None other than Setongrad, forever a symbol of their humiliation.
