Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Dividing the Prisoners
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What are some ways to ruin the relationship between people who are face-to-face?
There are many methods, but one that I particularly want to highlight is this.
The difference in information. Whether they know something or not. The resulting clash of opinions.
"Give the prisoners from Burkhai and Kaden short breaks. Give the Porland prisoners even more than them. Oh, and of course, you know to blatantly discriminate in their work hours, right?"
I'm working myself to death, while those guys right next to me are lounging around carefree.
They're not injured, they haven't sold out information. Just because their kingdoms are different.
What do you think our prisoner friends will make of that scene?
"Let's assign the guards differently too. Put the burlier, scarier ones near the prisoners from those two kingdoms, and mild-mannered soldiers by the Porland prisoners."
On top of that, I ordered the guards near the prisoners from those two kingdoms not to utter a single word.
Conversely, the guards for the Porland prisoners were told to smile a lot and talk a lot.
We need to split the atmosphere perfectly in half. Make some feel like prisoners, others like friends.
"Prisoner rations. This is important. Supply the Porland natives with the same rations our soldiers get, not prisoner food. Conversely, halve the usual prisoner rations for those from the two kingdoms."
Nothing drives people mad quite like discrimination over food.
It can make even seasoned, high-ranking folks feel slighted.
Let alone frontline soldiers whose only joy is eating, hit with blatant favoritism?
‘They'll go absolutely insane, jumping around. Even if they suspect something's up, there won't be any real issue.’
The key here is that everyone has to be able to see it all.
We can't keep the prisoners from the two kingdoms separate from the Porland ones.
The two groups need to clearly see what's happening to each other.
Oh, and the most important part. This is basically the climax.
"They sleep in the same space. ...What if a fight breaks out? That would be great for us. I hope a brawl erupts among the prisoners."
From their perspective, we're treating devils like them kindly to those guys!
What will the Burkhai and Kaden prisoners think when they see that spectacle?
‘Those bastards are trying to drive a wedge between us! Don't fall for it! Don't trust them!’?
As if. Of course they'll think something's going on between the Empire and Porland.
Meanwhile, the Porland soldiers will feel unjustly treated but subconsciously side with us.
They've suffered under those two kingdoms before, so they'll smirk inside, thinking it serves them right.
And if they hear complaints from the two kingdoms' prisoners about why they're being treated worse?
Will the Porland guys really go, ‘Oh, you're right. Starting tomorrow, we'll work with you and share our food’?
‘As if that would happen.’
And that very night, the news I'd been waiting for arrived.
"Young Master Kael. There's been a fight in the prisoners' barracks. Fortunately no deaths, but there are injuries..."
"Who won?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes. Given the numbers, it must be the prisoners from Burkhai and Kaden."
I see. Then our Porland friends must feel really hard done by.
If an Empire soldier yells ‘You bastard!’ right then, the picture would be perfect.
How could I hold back? The provocation is obvious—I have to jump in.
"Starting tomorrow, increase the workload for the Burkhai and Kaden prisoners."
"Ah..."
"And have the Porland prisoners take their breaks right in front of the work area."
"Is that wise? We're already discriminating so openly that tensions among the prisoners are..."
"That's exactly why. To make them fight more. Blatant discrimination. Yes, do that."
Our Empire continues treating the prisoners from the two kingdoms and Porland differently.
That'll enrage the two kingdoms' guys, and they'll keep provoking the Porland prisoners.
Even the Porland friends, who initially saw them as fellow prisoners, will get angry.
I'm dying to know what nonsense those two kingdoms' prisoners will spout when we send them back in that state!
"Officially release the Porland prisoners. For Burkhai and Kaden, not all of them—just a few. And not through normal channels; make it seem like they escaped."
From the Three Kingdoms alliance's perspective, whose words will they heed more?
The ones who ate well, were treated great, came back glowing unnaturally for prisoners, and even got released.
Or the ones who starved, got abused, returned looking like beggars after barely escaping alone.
Regardless, the Burkhai and Kaden command won't stay quiet, right?
"...Even if Porland jumps up claiming injustice, they won't have a leg to stand on. Young Master Kael."
"If they do jump, that's even better for us. The two kingdoms will see it and think Porland's overreacting because they're hiding something."
After thanking the commander in charge of the prisoners for their hard work,
I headed straight to the Legion Commander for the next operation.
"A letter?"
"Yes, Legion Commander."
"Sending a letter to the Three Kingdoms alliance's supreme commander. Alright. What does it say?"
At his question, I smiled and handed him the one I'd prepared in advance.
"...Young Master Kael?"
The Legion Commander took the letter from me, looked it over, and tilted his head.
He must be baffled. Can't be helped—it's not really a ‘letter’.
"Did you bring the wrong one? There's nothing you could call content; just basic greetings. Half the sentences are smudged and unreadable."
"Then I brought the right one, Legion Commander."
No matter how powerful suspicion is as a weapon, without constant fanning, it dies out.
So you have to pump it full of suspicion's wind every single day, without rest.
Until it all builds up and explodes with a bang among them.
"They already suspect something from how we treated and released the prisoners. If the commander gets this letter on top of that, what do you think he'll think?"
"Normally, he'd assume it's enemy intrigue. But..."
"Suspicion once ignited has no mercy."
Burn. Burn bright and fierce. Burn each other to ashes.
Wasn't Cao Cao, who pulled off such a brilliant prank, thinking the same as me?
"Then we should send the messenger as quietly as possible."
Now the Legion Commander gets it instantly. I love it!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "The Imperial Army treated our soldiers very generously."
"No abuse at all, hardly any labor, and the guards were extremely friendly."
"The two kingdoms' soldiers might not know, but the story's already spreading among our Porland troops."
Bethel, the supreme commander on the Pavilion Pass front for the Three Kingdoms alliance, had to clutch his head.
It would have been better if they'd fought cleanly and gotten crushed.
The Porland soldiers returned—looking so unlike prisoners it was suspicious.
They'd eaten and slept so well their faces glowed radiantly.
Calming the two kingdoms' commanders, who were foaming at the mouth, had been a nightmare.
Meanwhile, the Empire kept stabbing at them with daggers.
‘Escaped,’ my foot—it was obvious they'd been deliberately released: the Burkhai and Kaden soldiers.
The moment they returned, an uncontrollable blaze erupted in the alliance camp.
"I'm wondering why they're only pampering Porland prisoners. Ah, not suspecting anything, of course."
"We need to look after our starved, mistreated prisoners. Hand over some of Porland's supplies."
"Ahem. Since the Porland soldiers were treated well, they might fight harder now. They'll get released anyway if captured."
They'd all shouted ‘This is an Imperial trap!’ at first.
But as whispers grew among the troops, they shot suspicious glares as if nothing happened.
I'd yelled and tried persuading—what the hell is this?—but it was no use.
They'd already calculated that Pavilion Pass meant defeat for the alliance.
So all that was left was deciding whose fault—who's kingdom's fault—the defeat was.
Win or lose the war, it was all about who gained the upper hand in future dominance. Nothing else.
"Idiots..."
And they targeted the easiest mark: Porland. Their own ally.
With the supreme commander being Bethel himself, and the prisoner issue on top—perfect scapegoat.
They'd use it to squeeze Porland for men and resources while denying them command.
Obvious. That's how the two kingdoms always treated Porland.
Not comrades or friends. Just a punching bag to rip resources from when needed.
Now, hatred for the two kingdoms outweighed anger at the Empire.
"Commander."
At that moment, a Porland commander cautiously entered the tent.
"An Imperial messenger has arrived."
"A messenger? Why's the camp so quiet then?"
"He came quietly to our Porland side. Says he has a letter. What should we do?"
"...Bring him in for now."
Can't kill a messenger. Have to check the letter.
Bethel took the so-called letter and immediately scowled.
"Was that really an Imperial messenger just now?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes, Commander. He carried a white flag and the Imperial banner."
"Then what the hell is this?"
Bethel thrust the letter at his fellow Porland commander.
Smeared and obscured sentences everywhere. Beyond that, just bland greetings.
As the two were about to discuss the absurdity,
"Commander!"
The tent flap flew open, and a group of commanders stormed in.
From Burkhai and Kaden. All looking extremely hostile.
"We heard. An Imperial envoy came. Why sneak in without a word?"
"What's that in your hand? From the Empire, maybe?"
"Why are you reading it alone without telling us? Aren't we an alliance?"
...Fuck. Alliance? Alliance??
Bethel barely restrained himself from hurling the letter at them.